Mid-American Conference Basketball

Six years ago, Buffalo men's basketball wasn't even an afterthought at a national level.

The Bulls had never been to the NCAA tournament and had only once earned a share of a regular-season conference title (2009). They finished a couple of seasons in the KenPom top 100 but never sniffed the AP Top 25 or an at-large bid.

Sam Pellom is still the only player from the program to ever play in the NBA, and he went undrafted prior to brief stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks almost 40 years ago.

In a sport with more than 300 teams, Buffalo was just a nameless face in the crowd.

But the Bulls are no longer anonymous.

Far from it, actually.

Since hiring Bobby Hurley as the head coach before the 2013-14 season—the team transitioned to Nate Oats two years later without missing a beat—Buffalo has won three MAC regular-season titles and three conference tournaments. After close calls against No. 5 seed West Virginia in the 2015 NCAA tournament and No. 3 seed Miami the following year, the Bulls finally broke through and destroyed No. 4 seed Arizona 89-68 in the first round this past March, securing the first tournament win in school history.

For most mid-major programs, that kind of five-year run would be the end of the story—a once-in-a-lifetime stretch of success fueled by a kid the recruiting services whiffed on and a head coach bound for greatness elsewhere.

For Buffalo, it was only the beginning, as this year's Bulls are arguably the best mid-major team not named Gonzaga.

And, no, we're not forgetting about Nevada. That's just how good Buffalo is.

Forget about anonymous, Buffalo is a unanimous top-25 team in the latest AP poll, appearing on all 64 voters' ballots for the first time this season. The 16th-ranked Bulls are 16-1 overall with road wins over Syracuse and West Virginia. They are breezing through league play with a 4-0 record and an average margin of victory of 19.8 points.

Both on KenPom and in the NET rankings, this is a top-20 team. If they can keep that status for another two months, they won't be a plucky No. 12 or No. 13 seed but instead the fringe title contender that a No. 12 or No. 13 seed is hoping to upset in the first round.

So what has been the secret to their emergence?

Turnovers.

Or, rather, a lack of turnovers.

From 2002-13, Buffalo turned the ball over on at least 20 percent of its offensive possessions in each season, according to KenPom. And unless you're incredible at something else, it's hard to win with any sort of regularity when you're giving the ball away that often.

In each of the past six seasons, however, the Bulls' turnover rate has been below 20 percent, including a mark of 14.7 this year that ranks in the top 10 nationally. At Buffalo's pace of roughly 74 possessions per game, that's an improvement of four turnovers per game.

And when the Bulls do cough it up, at least they aren't setting up their opponents with fast-break opportunities. According to KenPom, Buffalo's steal rate on offense is 5.8 percent, trailing only Michigan for the best rate in the nation. From 2002-14, Buffalo's best steal rate was 9.5 percent, and it was typically hovering closer to 11.0. Cutting live-ball turnovers in half is a phenomenal first step to getting better.

It's more than just that, of course. This is Georgia Southern's sixth consecutive season ranking in the top 50 in offensive steal rate, but you don't see the Eagles in the AP Top 25—or even in the KenPom top 100. In addition to limiting careless mistakes, Buffalo has also made strides on defense, has always done a good job of crashing the offensive glass and has mastered the art of getting old and staying old, consistently having a bunch of key upperclassmen in the fold.

This year, that last bit is more pertinent than ever, as five of the Bulls' seven leading scorers are seniors.

CJ Massinburg is the top scorer and the name most college basketball fans probably know—he put up 43 points in the early win over West Virginia. But he, Jeremy Harris and Nick Perkins are each averaging better than 13 points and six rebounds per game for a team loaded with experience and ways to beat you.

No need to worry that the mid-major dynasty is going to disappear this offseason along with that quintet, though. There are several transfers sitting on the bench ready to make an impact next season, most notably among them Antwain Johnson from Middle Tennessee. And Oats and his staff are no strangers to building rosters from the transfer market. Three of this year's five top seniors began their careers at JUCO schools.

That's why it feels like we're looking at more than just a flash in the pan.

Buffalo will need to maintain this level of dominance for several more years—and reach a Sweet 16 or two—before people begin to seriously entertain the notion this could be an East Coast Gonzaga.

However, the bones are there for the Bulls to become an annual staple atop the MAC, given their proven ability to find players with some college experience who fit their system like a glove.

                

Advanced stats courtesy of KenPom.com.

Kerry Miller covers men's college basketball and college football for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter: @kerrancejames.

Kent State basketball recruit Kalin Bennett became "the first student-athlete with autism to sign a national letter of intent to play a team sport at the NCAA Division I level" when he signed with the Golden Flashes earlier in November, according to Elton Alexander of The Plain Dealer.

Bennett hopes to inspire others with autism or struggling with conditions of their own:

"I want to make an impact not just on the court, but with kids that are struggling with the same things I am. I want to use this platform to inspire other kids with autism and non-autism. I want to let them know, hey, if I can do this, you can do it, too. A lot of times they feel alone and by themselves, and I felt that same way growing up."

Bennett, who stands 6'10" and weighs 300 pounds, is expected to be a major contributor for Kent State. Given his size and instincts, he projects as a rebounding machine. But like all prospects, he comes with some question marks.

"Keep the weight off him and he'll be OK," his AAU coach, Kevin Howard, said, noting that his conditioning would be a big factor in ensuring he gets the most out of his potential. "He's got everything else you would want, including a lot of intangibles. Kalin strives for perfection."

But his autism does present its own unique challenges at times on the court.

"Some stuff he gets really fast, and some stuff he has to process," his teammate at Link Year Prep, Dannie Smith, told Alexander. "The big thing is, when he does have a question, he keeps asking it, instead of moving on to the next play." 

Bennett also asked those questions as a child.

"I don't know if you have ever been around an autistic child, but they are brutally honest. They want to know," his mother, Sonja Bennett, said. "They are not being defiant. They are not trying to be nasty. But they can have hard questions that they want you to answer."

Communication, however, is a huge part of success for any team, as is a desire to achieve perfection. In that regard, Bennett's inquisitive nature and desire to understand the game on a deeper level is a strength. And Bennett said he chose Kent State for the many support systems the school already has in place for students with autism. 

As for Bennett's aspirations off the court, he said that he hopes to one day open his own charity.

"I want to be able to make a place where (autistic) kids can just come by, have fun, don't feel no fear being around other people," he said. "Be able to express themselves, be able to be who they are without worrying about what people think about them, or how they process stuff."

The scheduled men's basketball game between Central Michigan and Western Michigan on Friday night was postponed due to a shooting on the CMU campus. 

According to ESPN.com's Tom VanHaaren, Central Michigan University police said a suspect remains at large after fatally shooting two people in Campbell Hall on Friday morning.

Police named 19-year-old James Eric Davis, Jr. as the suspect and noted he was admitted to a hospital Thursday for what was believed to be a drug-related incident. He was released Friday morning not long before the shooting occurred.

With the Central Michigan campus still under lockdown, the game could not go on as originally scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Chippewas are fifth in the MAC West with a 6-11 conference record and sit at 17-13 overall. Western Michigan is fourth in the MAC West at 9-8 with an overall record of 17-13.

The MAC tournament begins Monday, though it remains to be seen if the game between CMU and WMU will be played before then given the more significant concerns of the shooting's aftermath.

Ball State basketball player Zach Hollywood died Tuesday at the age of 19.

The school released a statement confirming Hollywood's death, which Ryan O'Gara of the Star Press shared:

On behalf of Ball State University, it is with profound sadness that we learned today of the passing of Zachary "Zach" Hollywood, a student from Bradley, Illinois. Zach has been a part of our community for the past year. During his time on campus, he was a member of the men's basketball team and made many positive impressions throughout campus. This is a tragedy. Our heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends and teammates.

O'Gara noted Hollywood was found at Varsity House Apartments and died at the scene.

Tayler Persons and Trey Moses were some of Hollywood's teammates who reacted to the news of his death:

We love you Hollywood!! We got you forever!!! We gonna miss you, but we already know you are gonna be right there with us! As we get this 💍

— Tayler Persons (@TaylerPersons8) August 22, 2017

Not just a teammate but my best friend and my brother .. I love you bro , watch over me 🙏🏾 https://t.co/tHtUUpIi1n

— Trey Moses (@treymoses32) August 22, 2017

While Hollywood was a redshirt freshman and didn't see game action for Ball State last season, his profile on the school's athletics website noted he was a second-team all-state selection during his final year of high school in Illinois.

Central Michigan's Marcus Keene is dropping a nation-leading 29.6 points per game.

Check out the NCAA's offensive powerhouse above.

Western Michigan basketball player Joeviair Kennedy was officially charged on Dec. 12 with murder and armed robbery in the death of fellow student Jacob Jones, according to the Associated Press.

The incident in question took place Dec. 8. According to the AP, authorities allege Kennedy killed Jones "during a robbery of a cellphone and money." A second suspect was arrested in the slaying on Friday, according to police, per the Associated Press (h/t theScore).

The school suspended Kennedy, who was averaging 3.1 points in 7.4 minutes per game, on Dec. 9.

Western Michigan played on Dec. 10 against James Madison, and head coach Steve Hawkins spoke about the incident after the win.

"It's a devastating loss for our university," the coach said, per Cory Olsen of MLive.com. "It's a devastating tragedy for everybody involved. Lives were changed forever. We're very, very respectful of that, and we're very shook by the whole thing."

Kennedy was in his second year with the program, but the 20-year-old from Muskegon, Michigan, redshirted last season.

The school's official site has deleted his profile since the incident, and he is no longer listed on the current roster.

The field is set for the Mid-American Conference Tournament, and a new power could emerge from the fray as teams tune up for the big NCAA tournament and March Madness later this month. 

The East Division has been ruthlessly dominant in this tournament for the better part of a decade, with teams from this division winning nine years running. 

Akron and Ohio took turns winning in the past five years, but neither team will be favored to win the tournament this time around. 

Western Michigan, Toledo, Buffalo and Akron earned the top four seeds and will wait for the other eight teams to battle it out before playing their first games. The tournament begins on March 10 and will come to its conclusion on March 15.

Here's a look at the teams that have the best shot to win this year. 

Toledo (26-5, 14-4 MAC)

Western Michigan has the top seed in the tournament, but Toledo is better equipped to win. Both teams finished the regular season with 14-4 records in the MAC, but the Rockets had a better overall record, losing just five contests all year.

The only non-conference loss Toledo suffered came against Kansas, but losing to the Jayhawks is nothing to be ashamed about. 

The Rockets feature a dynamic duo at the guard positions. Julius “Juice” Brown and Justin Drummond average 29.3 points combined, with both players averaging at least 14.5 points per game. Forward Rian Pearson is a dangerous outside threat who is making 41.8 percent of his attempts this year from behind the arc.

The biggest concern for the Rockets is the team's lackluster defense. Raphielle Johnson of CollegeBasketballTalk.com elaborates: "Toledo’s a very good offensive team but if there’s a concern entering the conference tournament it’s the fact that they’re 11th in the MAC in field goal percentage defense and tenth in defensive efficiency."

So if the hot hands get cold offensively, then Toledo could certainly be ousted.

Western Michigan (21-9, 14-4 MAC)

The Broncos won their first MAC regular-season title in 10 years after taking down rival Central Michigan 78-64 last Saturday.

Head coach Steve Hawkins knows this is a special time for his players.

"It’s great for the kids, it’s great for the program and it’s a testament to everybody’s hard work, including our community," he said after securing the top seed, via David Drew of MLive.com. "It’s really truly about being able to deliver that and for these kids to enjoy that."

As the top seed, Western Michigan will not have to play until the semifinals, which are scheduled to take place on March 15 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

If momentum has anything to do with the tournament outcome, then the Broncos will likely win after closing out the season with 10 wins in their last 11 contests. 

Led by senior guard David Brown and senior center Shayne Whittington, Western Michigan has the players to win inside or outside the paint. These two leaders are averaging 35.2 points per game between them, and Whittington is a strong defender inside. 

Akron (20-11, 12-6 MAC)

While the Broncos and Rockets are clearly the favorites to win this tournament, it would be foolish to count out Keith Dambrot’s Zips. Akron has gotten to the finals seven years running, and Dambrot's leadership and experience coaching big games will be a big factor. 

Here's what Dambrot had to say about the upcoming tournament, as noted by Sartaj Aujla of WZIP-FM Sports Power Talk:

Demetrius Treadwell is one of the most dominant players in the tournament. The senior forward has been a terror against MAC competition all year long, averaging 16.1 points and 9.4 rebounds while posting double-doubles 10 times against conference foes. 

Treadwell will need to be at the top of his game for the Zips to emerge victorious, because consistent offensive production hasn't been a strong suit from the rest of Akron's starters this season. Forward Quincy Diggs is the only other player on the team who is averaging more than 8.8 points per game. 

Akron's chances of winning the tournament this year are slim, but this squad's leadership is strong and anything can happen.

The University at Buffalo has hired former Duke star Bobby Hurley as its new basketball head coach, according to Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com.

Hurley will replace Reggie Witherspoon, who went 198-228 in 14 years with the Bulls.

Hurley led Duke to two national titles in 1991 and 1992, being named the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four in 1992. He averaged 11.3 points and 7.4 assists in the 1990-1991 season, and 13.2 points and 7.6 assists in 1991-1992. 

Following his college career, he went on to play in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings and the then-Vancouver Grizzlies. During his first season, he was injured in a car accident, which may have been a reason for his rather pedestrian pro career. 

The 41-year-old began coaching as an assistant under his brother, Dan, in April 2010 at Wagner. He moved on to Rhode Island when Dan accepted a position there in 2012.

Buffalo hopes this move gives the basketball program a jolt. Witherspoon led the Bulls to 18 wins or more in each year from 2008-09 to 2011-12, but a 14-20 campaign this season (7-9 MAC) was a disappointment.

Rhode Island didn't fare well under the Hurleys this season (8-21, 3-13 A-10). The Bulls are hoping they can fare better under Bobby Hurley in the 2013-14 campaign.

Buffalo ranked 190th in the nation in points per game this season, as well as 182nd in assist-to-turnover ratio. The Bulls also allowed 67.7 points per game, ranked 188th in the country, via TeamRankings.com.

Needless to say, Hurley has a lot of work to do. We shall see if his ability as a player will translate as a coach for Buffalo in his first stint as the head man.

Virginia Commonwealth and Akron will fight for their tournament lives in one of the upset specials, otherwise known as a No. 5 vs. No. 12 battle in the NCAA tournament.

Admittedly, this five vs. 12 battle has a bit of a different feel. After all, VCU is the kind of small school we usually find in the role of the 12 seed. 

However, after their run to the Final Four as an 11 seed and advancing to the round of 32 last year, the Rams have raised their profile and won't be sneaking up on anyone. 

The Rams finished the regular season with a 26-8 record. They made it to the finals of the Atlantic 10 tournament before falling to an outstanding Saint Louis team, 62-56. 

Meanwhile, Akron won the MAC tournament and finished the regular season 26-6. This is the second time in the last three years that the Zips have made the tournament, but just the fourth time overall. They have yet to advance past the first round. 

The Zips, while posting an outstanding regular season, do not have a win against a top-25 team. 

These two are battling in the South bracket with the winner advancing to take on the winner of the No. 4 Michigan vs. No. 13 South Dakota State game.

Game Information

Where: Auburn Hills, Michigan 

When: Thursday, March 21, at 9:45 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Live Stream: March Madness On Demand

Betting Line: VCU -7 according to Vegas Insider on March 18

VCU Injuries (via USA Today): F Mo Alie-Cox, Eligibility, Out; G Jordan Burgess, Eligibility, Out

Akron Injuries (via USA Today): G Alex Abreu, Suspension, Out Indefinitely 

Video Preview

What's at Stake?

This is the NCAA tournament. I think we all know what's at stake here: a chance to advance! 

For VCU, this is a chance for head coach Shaka Smart to continue to build on the amazing success he has found with the Rams. 

As for the Zips, this is a golden opportunity to take the program to new heights. It is impressive that this team is back in the tournament after appearing in 2011, but it is time for this program to take the next step and advance past the first round. 

Players to Watch

VCU: F Juvonte Reddic 

Junior forward Juvonte Reddic has been outstanding this season. He is second on the Rams in points at 14.4 per contest. 

He also leads them in rebounds (8.3), blocks (0.9) and field goal percentage (56.1). 

Reddic is a nice inside presence. The kind a team can lean on in the tournament to help prevent prolonged stretches of ineffectiveness. 

Akron: C Zeke Marshall

At 7'0", senior center Zeke Marshall has a big inside presence. He is an adept shot-blocker who averages 3.7 blocks per game. He also hauls in 7.1 rebounds per game. 

Marshall certainly isn't only a presence on the defensive end. He is the Zips' leading scorer at 13.0 points per game, and he tallied that mark with a 65.4 field goal percentage. 

Key Matchup: Akron's Ball Handling vs. VCU Defense

Akron needs to make taking care of the rock a top priority in this game, and if the Zips don't have some success in that regard, they are in for a long night. 

Akron is 214th in the nation at 13.7 turnovers per game. That's not a good stat for any matchup, but particularly this one. 

The Rams are first in the nation in forcing opposition turnovers at a whopping 19.9 per game. 

If the Rams can consistently force Akron into turnovers, they will create easy buckets and steal the will to win from the Zips. 

Prediction: VCU 74, Akron 62

VCU is going to wear Akron down. This game may be close at the end of the first half, but the Rams' defense will prove to be too much. 

The Rams have plenty of tournament experience, a sound team, a great coach and they are ready to once again advance past the first round, and have a legitimate shot of going beyond that. 

Help yourself to a printable bracket and follow along with the live bracket. Make your picks for the 2013 NCAA tournament here with the Bracket Challenge Game.