Open Chat: MAC Tournament first round

The MAC Tournament is officially upon us, and if it's anything like Friday night's season finale, we're in for a treat.

11. Miami vs. 6. Ball State - 7:00 p.m. ESPN3 -

12. Bowling Green vs. 5. Kent State - 7:00 p.m. LINK

9. Toledo vs. 8. Eastern Michigan - 7:30 p.m. ESPN3

10. Western Michigan vs. 7. Northern Illinois - 8:00 p.m. ESPN3

The hottest team coming into the evening is Miami, which has won three of its last four over Buffalo, Akron and Kent State, just losing narrowly to the Ohio Bobcats in the season finale. Ball State is coming off a missed opportunity at a MAC West division title, and has the unfortunate task of having to try and beat the hottest team in the league for a third time this season.

Kent State was unable to punch its ticket to Cleveland early on Friday, so instead it has to host 12 seeded Bowling Green. At least it's a short drive to Quicken Loans Arena should they hold on against Spencer Parker and the Falcons.

Toledo and Eastern Michigan literally just met in their previous game, with the Eagles coming out on top. By winning the Eagles won themselves a home game in front of what they hope to be a few more than dozens of fans this time. The Rockets are quite similar to EMU in that they are almost too talented of a team to have slipped this far in the standings. Should be a fun one in Ypsilanti.

WMU somehow defeated Central Michigan in a road game on Friday and their reward is a trip to DeKalb, where they hope their luck in basketball is far more favorable than in football. The bad news for the Broncos? NIU dominated Ball State last week from the opening tip - all without their star center, Marin Maric. Perhaps the Huskies are reheating at just the right time.