Mid-major predictions: Gonzaga, MAC race will dominate
Buffalo, Central Michigan and Ohio are expected to battle for Mid-American supremacy, while Gonzaga should set the bar for all mid-majors.
2021 Schedule
2021 Schedule
13-8, 2nd in MAC
- 11/2525L 93-75
- 12/9W 82-71
- 12/12W 79-62
- 12/15W 69-51
- 12/18L 79-70
- 12/21W 73-64
- 12/22CANC
- 1/2W 90-87
- 1/6W 83-58
- 1/9W 79-63
- 1/13L 104-73
- 1/16L 93-84
- 1/20L 70-67
- 1/23W 92-69
- 1/27W 83-74
- 1/30W 66-62
- 2/3L 69-66
- 2/6W 74-71
- 2/10W 81-78
- 2/13W 84-71
- 2/17L 76-67
- 2/24L 72-67
- 2/27h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- TBD
- 3/6h:mm a z, US/Eastern
- Full Schedule
Goestenkors hired as assistant at Central Mich.
Former Duke and Texas coach Gail Goestenkors was named associate head coach to Heather Oesterle at Central Michigan on Saturday.
Who wins BPI's women's NCAA tournament bracket simulation?
Using a single-simulation method, we picked the entire tournament using BPI-weighted coin flips.
Who's the top women's player of the year candidate in every conference?
From Louisville's Dana Evans in the ACC to Gonzaga's Jill Townsend in the WCC, we break down which players have stood out in each conference.
Who is the mid-major player of the year front-runner?
South Dakota's Ciara Duffy, whose team is up to No. 2 in our mid-major top 10, is the favorite, with Bella Alarie and Micaela Kelly also in the race.
Who are the leading candidates for mid-major player of the year?
South Dakota's Ciara Duffy is the front-runner for mid-major player of the year. But Missouri State edges the Coyotes in our mid-major rankings.
Jones, Evans lead No. 9 Louisville past Central Michigan
Jazmine Jones scored 25 points and Dana Evans had 24 -- both career highs -- to lead No. 9 Louisville to a 76-63 victory over Central Michigan on Thursday.
Oesterle succeeds Guevara at Central Michigan
Heather Oesterle will succeed Sue Guevara as head coach at Central Michigan. Guevara, who led the Chippewas to the MAC title the last three years, is retiring.
Colley's late layup lifts Spartans over Chippewas, 88-87
Shay Colley's driving layup with 7.6 seconds left lifted No. 9-seed Michigan State to an 88-87 victory over No. 8 Central Michigan in a first-round NCAA Tournament game on Saturday.
Best of 2019 women's NCAA tournament Saturday
A look at the best of Saturday's first-round games in the 2019 women's NCAA tournament.
2019 NCAA women's basketball tournament -- Chicago Regional preview
Notre Dame and Stanford are favorites to reach the regional semis. But don't expect the rest of the chalk to hold in this high-scoring region.
Women's NCAA basketball tournament 2019 bracket winners and losers
The ACC has eight teams in the field, including No. 1 seeds Notre Dame and Louisville. Tennessee and Central Michigan are also big winners.
Women's bracketology: Buffalo on the move after MAC upset
Buffalo is up to a 10-seed -- and Central Michigan dropped to an 8 -- after Friday's MAC semis. Bethune-Cookman and Little Rock joined the field.
MAC teams dominate espnW mid-major rankings
Gonzaga remains No. 1, and UAB moves to No. 2, but Ohio, Central Michigan, Buffalo and Toledo give the poll plenty of Mid-American flavor.
Gonzaga takes over top spot in espnW's mid-major rankings
Gonzaga is the new No. 1 team in espnW's mid-major top 10. Central Michigan, South Dakota, UAB and Ohio round out the top five.
Drake remains No. 1 in espnW's mid-major rankings
Belmont jumped one spot to No. 2 in our updated mid-major rankings, but the Bruins still trail No. 1 Drake, which is 6-1 and beat South Carolina.
Notre Dame, Oregon will collide in Elite Eight
The top-seeded Irish didn't lose their composure after trailing No. 4 Texas A&M by double digits, while the No. 2 Ducks were never really threatened by surprising 11-seed Central Michigan.
Kevin Pelton ESPN Senior Writer
The biggest drama at the conclusion of Oregon's 83-69 win over Central Michigan was whether Ducks star Sabrina Ionescu would record her 11th career triple-double and second in this year's NCAA tournament. Ionescu fell one rebound shy, but will have more opportunities as Oregon advances to take on No. 1 seed Notre Dame in Monday's regional final. The Ducks used their size advantage to end the Chippewas' run, which had seen them take out two higher-seeded teams to reach the Sweet 16. Oregon held a decisive 42-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Ionescu makes epic play for Ducks (0:28)
Kevin Pelton ESPN Senior Writer
Central Michigan cut Oregon's lead down to nine with 4:36 left in the third quarter, but the Ducks responded with an 11-2 run to finish the period. Justine Hall capped the surge with a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving Oregon a 66-48 lead as we head to the final quarter.
Kevin Pelton ESPN Senior Writer
Ruthy Hebard powered No. 2 seed Oregon to a 40-25 halftime lead over 11th seed Central Michigan. Dominating smaller Chippewa defenders, Hebard put up 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes of action. Central Michigan, which made 14 3-pointers in winning at Ohio State to reach the Sweet 16, shot just 3-of-14 on 3s in the first half.
Kevin Pelton ESPN Senior Writer
Oregon is exploiting its size advantage over 11th-seeded Central Michigan, which starts just one player taller than 6-foot-1. Led by eight points on 4-of-6 shooting from Ruthy Hebard, the Ducks have gotten 14 points in the paint and lead the Chippewas 24-12 after one quarter in Spokane.
Mid-majors making noise in the tourney, more
LaChina Robinson delves into the mid-majors that are making noise in the NCAAW tourney and chats with University of Buffalo coach Felisha Legette-Jack and Central Michigan's Sue Guevara. Plus, WNBA champion Candace Parker joins to break down the Sweet 16!
What's in a number?
Buffalo coach Felisha Legette-Jack and Central Michigan coach Sue Guevara discuss their Sweet 16 runs in the latest Around the Rim podcast with LaChina Robinson. Plus, WNBA champ Candace Parker helps preview the regional semifinals.
Expert picks: Predicting the Sweet 16
A pair of No. 11 seeds brought the #MACtion to the Sweet 16. Can Buffalo and Central Michigan pull off more upsets, or will chalk favor a field that still includes all the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds?
2020-21 MAC Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | 12-3 | - | 16-4 |
| Kent State | 9-4 | 2 | 10-6 |
| Ohio | 10-5 | 2 | 12-6 |
| Central Michigan | 11-6 | 2 | 13-8 |
| Buffalo | 9-6 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Northern Illinois | 9-6 | 3 | 11-9 |
| Ball State | 10-7 | 3 | 12-9 |
| Eastern Michigan | 7-5 | 3.5 | 10-7 |
| Toledo | 6-11 | 7 | 10-11 |
| Western Michigan | 4-12 | 8.5 | 5-13 |
| Akron | 3-12 | 9 | 6-12 |
| Miami (OH) | 2-15 | 11 | 3-18 |