(WXYZ) -- Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan are among the four teams who did not qualify for the 2021 MAC men's basketball tournament.
Last-place Northern Illinois also did not qualify.
The conference adopted an eight-team format for its men's and women's basketball tournament this year, with all games in Cleveland. Past tournaments included all 12 teams participating, with the top four receiving first-round byes to Cleveland and the remaining eight starting with first round games at campus sites.
Even if a team must opt out prior to the start of the tournament due to COVID-19 concerns, a replacement team will not be selected, per conference protocol.
2021 MAC Men’s Basketball Tournament
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland
Thursday, March 11
Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 1 Toledo vs. No. 8 Ball State, 11:00 a.m. ET (ESPN+)
Game 2: No. 4 Kent State vs. No. 5 Ohio, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 3: No. 2 Buffalo vs. No. 7 Miami, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Game 4: No. 3 Akron vs. No. 6 Bowling Green, Time TBA* (ESPN+)
Friday, March 12
Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 5:00 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, Time TBA* (CBS Sports Network)
Saturday, March 13
Championship
Game 7: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
*Minimum 30 minutes between completion of prior game in the session
