The MAC has used its current tournament format since the 2019 edition . The top four seeds receive byes into the quarterfinals ; all other teams start play in the first round at campus sites . The survivors of these games join the top four seeds at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland for the remainder of the tournament . This structure has been used in the MAC men 's tournament since that tournament 's 2016 edition . The men 's and women 's tournaments are held concurrently . From 2012 to 2018 , the No. 1 and 2 seeds earned a " double-bye " to the semifinals , with the No. 3 and 4 seeds beginning tournament play in the quarterfinals . Teams seeded 5 – 12 had to play an additional two rounds , beginning with campus-site games in the first round . All other games were at the venue now known as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse , which has served as the regular host for the men 's tournament since 2000 . When the MAC adopted this format , it abandoned a former practice of awarding the top two seeds to its divisional winners . Teams are seeded based on conference record , regardless of their place in their division — though no division champion is seeded lower than fourth
2016 edition
2016 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament
Mid-American Conference Women's Basketball Tournament