What Is 2008 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament

Overview

The 2008 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament was the postseason championship event for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during the 2007–2008 NCAA Division I season. It featured 12 teams from the conference competing in a single-elimination format to determine the MAC's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.

Hosted at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, the tournament maintained its tradition of centralizing the event in a neutral city to boost attendance and regional exposure. The 2008 edition marked the 13th consecutive year the finals were held in Cleveland, solidifying the city as a key venue for MAC basketball.

• March 7–15, 2008 were the official dates of the tournament, beginning with first-round games and culminating in the championship final.
• The Akron Zips won their first MAC Tournament title in school history, finishing the season with a 27–7 overall record.
• Buffalo Bulls reached the final as the #2 seed in the East Division but fell 74–67 in the championship game.
• The tournament champion, Akron, earned an automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Tournament as a #13 seed in the South Region.
• Quicken Loans Arena, now known as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, hosted the event with an average attendance of over 12,000 per game.

How It Works

The MAC Tournament uses a structured single-elimination format with seeding based on regular-season conference performance. Teams are divided into East and West divisions, and the top six teams from each division qualify, creating a 12-team bracket.

• Seeding: Teams are seeded 1–6 in each division based on conference win percentage. Tiebreakers include head-to-head results and point differentials.
• First Round: The #5 and #6 seeds in each division play in the opening round, with winners advancing to the quarterfinals.
• Quarterfinals: Held on March 11, 2008, the four division winners hosted games if they finished in the top four of the overall standings.
• Semifinals: The final four teams competed on March 14, 2008, with Akron defeating Kent State and Buffalo overcoming Ball State.
• Championship Game: Played on March 15, 2008, Akron defeated Buffalo 74–67 to claim the title and NCAA Tournament berth.
• NCAA Bid: The tournament winner receives an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, regardless of regular-season record.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the top-performing teams in the 2008 MAC Tournament based on seeding, wins, and key stats:

The table highlights how both divisions contributed to competitive balance, with Akron and Buffalo from the East emerging as the strongest teams. Akron’s undefeated run included victories over Central Michigan, Bowling Green, and Kent State before defeating Buffalo. Ball State, the West Division champion, was considered a strong contender but lost to Buffalo in the semifinals. The tournament demonstrated the depth of the MAC, with multiple programs capable of deep runs.

Why It Matters

The 2008 MAC Tournament was a pivotal moment for Akron basketball, marking the program’s first conference tournament title and NCAA appearance since 1986. It also elevated the profile of head coach Keith Dambrot, who was instrumental in building Akron into a consistent MAC contender.

• Historic win for Akron: The 74–67 victory was the first MAC Tournament title in the school’s history, ending a 22-year championship drought.
• NCAA Tournament appearance: Akron earned a #13 seed in the South Region, facing #4 seed Xavier in the first round.
• Buffalo’s rise: The Bulls’ runner-up finish signaled the emergence of a new power in the MAC under coach Reggie Witherspoon.
• Television exposure: Games were broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU, increasing national visibility for MAC programs.
• Attendance success: Over 45,000 fans attended the tournament, with the final drawing a crowd of 14,104.
• Pathway for mid-majors: The tournament exemplified how mid-major conferences provide access to the NCAA Tournament through conference success.

The 2008 tournament remains a benchmark for Akron’s program and a testament to the competitive nature of the MAC. It underscored the importance of postseason performance in shaping a team’s legacy and national recognition.