| Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament | |
|---|---|
| Conference basketball championship | |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Format | Single-elimination tournament |
| Current stadium | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse |
| Current location | Cleveland, Ohio |
| Played | 1980–present |
| Last contest | 2024 |
| Current champion | Akron Zips (5th) |
| Most championships | Ball State Cardinals, Kent State Golden Flashes, Ohio Bobcats (7) |
| TV partner(s) | CBS Sports Network, ESPN2 |
| Official website | getsomemaction.com – Men's basketball |
| Sponsors | |
| VisitMyrtleBeach.com (2016–2019) FirstEnergy (2009–2015) Kraft Foods (2001–2008) | |
| Host stadiums | |
| Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (2000–present) SeaGate Centre (1996–1999) Savage Arena (1985, 1987–1989, 1995) Battelle Hall (1993–1994) Cobo Arena (1990–1992) Rockford MetroCentre (1984, 1986) Crisler Arena (1980–1982) | |
| Host locations | |
| Cleveland, Ohio (2000–present) Toledo, Ohio (1985, 1987–1989, 1995–1999) Columbus, Ohio (1993–1994) Detroit, Michigan (1990–1992) Rockford, Illinois (1984, 1986) On-campus sites (1983) Ann Arbor, Michigan (1980–1982) | |
The Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament is an NCAA Division I postseason single-elimination tournament. The winner of the tournament receives the Mid-American Conference (MAC) automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. As of 2021, the top eight teams in conference play qualify for the tournament.[1] Since 2000, the MAC Tournament has been held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland and is planned to be held there through at least 2030.[2] The finals are broadcast on ESPN2 while the semifinals on CBS Sports Network & the quarterfinals are on ESPN+ for streaming.
The tournament was first played in 1980 and expanded to include all conference members in 2000. The tournament continued to involve all conference members (barring postseason bans due to NCAA sanctions) through the 2020 edition, which was canceled in progress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, as part of a broader suite of changes to MAC postseason tournaments triggered by the pandemic, the MAC announced it would reduce its men's and women's basketball tournaments to 8 teams, with all qualifying teams playing in Cleveland. Additionally, the MAC eliminated its basketball divisions and increased its conference schedule from 18 to 20 games. These changes will remain in place through at least the 2023–24 season.[1] Ball State, Kent State, and Ohio have the most tournament championships with seven.