MAC Finals Preview
#3 Buffalo vs. #5 Akron
Well after a regular season that saw 5 of 12 MAC team claim a share of a division championship, and 3 more finish one game out of that log jam this tournament has finally sorted out which two teams are the class of this conference. After losing a heartbreaker to bitter rival last Sunday and seeing their seed drop from a potential #1 all the way to a #5 and being forced to play on Tuesday it would have been hard to picture that Akron would get to the finals of the MAC tournament for the third consecutive season. Well after playing a tough overtime game with Toledo on Tuesday night, and falling behind early against Miami on Thursday the Zips have found another gear. Not only were they able to come back and beat Miami by 10, but they were able to come out last night with a really inspired defensive performance against top seeded Bowling Green winning by 8 and not looking at all fatigued by their extra day of work this week. The question will be if Akron can keep it up for one more night and finally seal the deal and get to the NCAA tournament. Each of these teams won on the others home court this season so it is as even a matchup is you are going to find.
Buffalo has taken care of business in this tournament with a tough win over a gritty and experienced Kent State team, and a workman like effort over Ball State in the semis. They are primed and ready to take that NCAA tournament bid tonight after having been the best team in the conference for much of the year. If that is going to happen though they are going to need another big game from F Max Bodreau. This goofball has been playing really well in this tournament and has lead the Bulls in scoring in each of their two wins. He is going to need to continue his increased scoring output against Akron’s excellent post defense for Buffalo to be successful. The Bulls are a tenacious defensive team who play decent offense. Their emphasis on good team defense should help them in this one as Akron is more athletic at just about every position. The zips have also been relying on hot outside shooting in this tournament. Getting after Akron’s shooters especially G Steve McNees who is a streaky shooter in the midst of a career hot streak is going to be a big key for Buffalo. They have to keep up the defensive pressure against the Zips and not let them get out to a big lead early. Buffalo can’t play Akron from behind. They need to open up a lead, control the pace, and not let Akron make one of their big runs. This is Akron’s fourth game in five days their are going to be a little bit tired unless they are able to get out and score some uncontested baskets on the break, or hit some open three pointers, then they can get by on adrenaline.
Reggie Weatherspoon is a far better tactician than Keith Dambrot and has consistently gotten more out of the talent he has on his roster. Even though Dambrot has been to the last two MAC finals he has failed to seal the deal either time including an embarrassing loss in 2006 to a Miami team they dominated in the regular season. Dambrot has failed to find the winning formula with better teams than this one. I look for a big game out of Bull’s G Rodney Pierce on both ends of the floor which will help lead to another Akron collapse in Cleveland.
My Pick: Buffalo
Themocracy