EAST

AKRON ZIPS

Season record: 21-9 (11-5 Mid-American Conference)

Leading scorer: Senior F Jeremiah Wood (13.5 points per game)

Key Wins: Temple (67-65)

Against Kent State: L 75-69 (Jan. 23)

Outlook: Akron has gotten a boost from Jeremiah Wood’s recent return from a knee injury. He adds a significant post presence to the team’s good shooters. Last season the Zips were a miracle last-second 3-pointer from being MAC champions. It’s doubtful they’ve forgotten that.

OHIO BOBCATS

Season record: 19-11 (9-7)

Leading scorer: Senior F Leon Williams (15.8 ppg)

Key Wins: at Maryland (61-55), Kent State (71-59), George Mason (69-57)

Against Kent State: W 71-59 (Jan. 19), L 72-62 (Feb. 16)

Outlook: The Bobcats have a talented post tandem in Leon Williams and Jerome Tillman and good outside shooters in Bubba Walther and Bert Whittington IV. But they have been inconsistent – particularly on the road. They compiled a 7-10 record away from home this season.

MIAMI REDHAWKS

Season record: 15-14 (9-7)

Leading scorer: Senior F Tim Pollitz (15.9 ppg)

Key Wins: Xavier (59-57), South Alabama (64-59), Mississippi State (67-60), at Illinois (61-58, OT)

Against Kent State: L 74-62 (Jan. 17), L 50-39 (March 4)

Outlook: Don’t be fooled by Miami’s record. The RedHawks had a difficult non-conference schedule that included losses to Dayton, USC, Louisville, Kansas and Cincinnati. Then, after beginning MAC play 1-4, they won seven of their next 10, with two losses coming in double overtime. The RedHawks play tough defense, and remember: They’re the defending champs.

BOWLING GREEN FALCONS

Season record: 13-16 (7-9)

Leading scorer: Junior F Nate Miller (13.1 ppg)

Key wins: at Cincinnati (69-67), Ohio (52-49), Miami (55-52), Kent State (89-83)

Against Kent State: L 63-49 (Jan. 12), W 89-83 (March 1)

Outlook: The Falcons are a young team, but they defeated Ohio, Miami and Kent State during the regular season. While first-year coach Louis Orr prefers a defensive, grind-it-out game, the Falcons proved they can play offense too in their 89-83 victory over the Flashes.

BUFFALO BULLS

Season record: 10-19 (3-13)

Leading scorer: Junior G Andy Robinson (13.1 ppg)

Key Wins: South Florida (76-69)

Against Kent State: L 68-63 (Jan. 6), L 76-66 (Feb. 19)

Outlook: The Bulls struggled this season, beginning MAC play 0-8. However, two of those losses came in double overtime, and they did lead the Flashes at half-time Jan. 6. Don’t count the Bulls out; in the MAC Tournament, anything can happen.

WEST

WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS

Season record: 19-11 (12-4)

Leading scorer: Sophomore G David Kool (16 ppg)

Key wins: Davidson (83-76), Southern Illinois (57-41)

Against Kent State: L 67-58 (Jan. 27)

Outlook: It may be easy to dismiss the Broncos’ 11-4 MAC record, given that they play in the supposedly inferior MAC West division. But the Broncos have defeated top-tier MAC East teams in Miami and Akron, and they were leading in the second half against Kent State before going cold on offense and losing.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS

Season record: 13-16 (8-8)

Leading scorer: Senior G Giordan Watson (16.3 ppg)

Key wins: at Michigan (78-67), Akron (65-64)

Against Kent State: L 79-66 (Feb. 12)

Outlook: Led by guard Giordan Watson, Central Michigan ranked second in the MAC in scoring this season with 70.8 points per game. The Chippewas play a physical style that can make other teams uncomfortable, and if they can do that against teams in the tournament, they have a fighting chance.

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES

Season record: 13-16 (8-8)

Leading scorer: Junior G Carlos Medlock (14.6 ppg)

Key wins: Illinois State (72-63), Western Michigan (81-71)

Against Kent State: L 77-67 (Jan. 30)

Outlook: If Eastern Michigan plays a home game but nobody in Ypsilanti watches it, does the game actually happen? The Eagles averaged just 921 fans for home games this season, making Eastern Michigan the NBC of the MAC. But the Eagles could make a run if they are hitting their 3s; they finished second in the MAC with 236 3-pointers.

TOLEDO ROCKETS

Season record: 10-18 (7-8)

Leading scorer: Junior G Tyrone Kent (17.0 ppg)

Key wins: Kent State (59-56), Ohio (54-52)

Against Kent State: W 59-56 (Feb. 2)

Outlook: If this tournament was being played at Toledo’s home court, Savage Hall, the Rockets would have a much better chance of winning it all. Given the fact that the Rockets are 0-15 away from home this season, their prospects don’t look good.

BALL STATE CARDINALS

Season record: 6-23 (5-11)

Leading scorer: Senior G Peyton Stovall (13.8 ppg)

Key wins: None

Against Kent State: L 64-61 (OT) (Feb. 6)

Outlook: Ball State began the season 0-11 before defeating IPFW on New Year’s Eve. But the Cardinals proved how tough they can be Feb. 6, when they gave the Flashes all they could handle at the M.A.C. Center. They led late in that game but ultimately came up short in overtime.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES

Season record: 6-21 (3-12)

Leading scorer: Freshman G Darion Anderson (11.8 ppg)

Key wins: at Akron (88-78)

Against Kent State: L 82-67 (Feb. 9)

Outlook: It’s hard to root against Northern Illinois, given what the university has gone through this year. The Huskies have struggled this season, especially in their 3-point defense: Opponents make 39.4 percent of their 3-point attempts against Northern Illinois. Still, if the Huskies make a run, they’ll become the feel-good story of the tournament.

-Doug Gulasy