Zips will face EMU in first round of MAC Tournament

Men's basketball

Akron will play Eastern Michigan Tuesday at 7 p.m., with the winner getting a shot at No. 3 Miami.

The Zips dropped a game at Ypsilanti on Feb. 2 by a 60-56 count. Akron shot only 30.6 percent and the Eagles' star Brandon Bowdry went for 25 and 11.

I think Akron got pretty lucky with this bracket. They dodged Northern Illinois -- the only low seed that can really give you problems. They are also in the weaker side of the bracket. The winner of the Akron/EMU vs. Miami game will play Western Michigan, Bowling Green or Northern Illinois. It's not a difficult road to Saturday.

I'm sure if you asked Keith Dambrot in private, he would tell you that Ohio and Kent State are the two most dangerous teams right now. As it stands, Akron will only have to play one of them, and it would be for the MAC Championship.

Below is the rest of next week's schedule:

Tuesday, March 8 (High Seed Campus Sites)
No. 12 Toledo at No. 5 Ohio, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Eastern Michigan at No. 6 Akron, 7 p.m.
No. 10 Northern Illinois at No. 7 Bowling Green, 7 p.m.
No. 9 Central Michigan at No. 8 Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 10
No. 2 Western Michigan vs. No. 7/No. 10 Winner, Noon
No. 3 Miami vs. No. 6/No.11 Winner, 2:30 p.m.
No. 1 Kent State vs. No. 8/No. 9 Winner, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Ball State vs. No. 5/No. 12 Winner, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 11
No. 2/7/10 vs. No. 3/6/11 Winner, 7 p.m.
No. 1/8/9 vs. No. 4/5/12 Winner, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 12
Championship Game, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)

[poll id="9"]