Central Basketball Association

For the 2016 CBA Post-season Tournament, which is set to begin next weekend in Indianapolis, the top three teams from each division will advance to the playoffs, with the winners of each division receiving a first-round bye. The second-seed of each division will play the third-seed of the opposing division in the first round. The lower advancing seed will play the higher division winner seed in the semifinals. The championship game will be held at the home site of the higher remaining seed. 

The opening round of the playoffs is scheduled to be on Saturday, May 14th, with the first game at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time and the second game at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The semifinal round of the playoffs is scheduled to be on Sunday, May 15th, with the first game at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time and the second game at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The exact matchups will be determined this upcoming Sunday evening, following the conclusion of the last regular season game in the league. 

Below are the scenarios for each team, in terms of clinching a playoff position within their division. 

NORTH DIVISION:

1. Fort Wayne (7-0)

• Has qualified for the playoffs.
• Has won the North Division title and earned a first-round bye.
• Will qualify as the overall top-seed in the postseason with a win versus Springfield this Saturday OR with a loss by Middle Tennessee to Bowling Green on Saturday OR with a loss by Middle Tennessee to Memphis on Sunday.
• Will qualify as the overall second-seed in the postseason with a loss at Springfield this Saturday AND two wins by Middle Tennessee this weekend AND an overall point differential less than Middle Tennessee. Currently Fort Wayne has a point differential of +100 for the regular season, while Middle Tennessee has a point differential of +36. 

2. Columbus (4-3)

• Has qualified for the playoffs. 
• Will qualify as the second-seed in the North Division with a win versus Indianapolis on Sunday OR with a loss by Indianapolis versus Peoria on Saturday. 
• Will qualify as the third-seed in the North Division with a loss versus Indianapolis on Sunday AND two wins by Indianapolis this weekend.

3. Indianapolis (3-3)

• Has qualified for the playoffs.
• Will qualify as the second-seed in the North Division with a win versus Peoria on Saturday AND a win versus Columbus on Sunday. 
• Will qualify as the third-seed in the North Division with one more loss. 

4. Springfield (2-5)

• Have been eliminated from playoff contention by virtue of losing their head-to-head tiebreaker with Indianapolis (0-2).

5. Peoria (1-6)

•  Have been eliminated from playoff contention. 

SOUTH DIVISION:

1. Middle Tennessee (5-1)

• Have qualified for the playoffs. 
• Will win the South Division title and earn a first-round bye with a win versus Bowling Green on Saturday, by virtue of winning the head-to-head tiebreaker (3-1). 
• Will qualify as top-overall seed for playoffs with a win versus Bowling Green on Saturday AND a win versus Memphis on Sunday AND a Fort Wayne loss to Springfield on Saturday AND a regular season point differential greater than Fort Wayne. Currently, as stated above, Fort Wayne is ahead of Middle Tennessee in point differential by 64 points.
• Will qualify as the second-seed in the South Division with a loss to Bowling Green on Saturday. 

2. Bowling Green (5-2)

• Have qualified for the playoffs. 
• Will win the South Division title and earn a first-round bye with a win versus Middle Tennessee on Saturday AND a loss by Middle Tennessee versus Memphis on Sunday, OR will win the South Division title and earn a first-round bye with a win versus Middle Tennessee on Saturday AND a win by Middle Tennessee versus Memphis on Sunday AND have a greater regular season point differential than Middle Tennessee. Currently Bowling Green has a regular season point differential of +51 and Middle Tennessee has a regular season point differential of +36. 
• Will qualify as the second-seed in the South Division with a loss to Middle Tennessee on Saturday, OR will qualify as the second-seed in the South Division with a win versus Middle Tennessee on Saturday AND a lower regular season point differential than Middle Tennessee. The head-to-head tie-breaker would not apply since a Bowling Green victory over Middle Tennessee would tie the season series at 2-2. 

3. Memphis (2-4)

• Will qualify as the third-seed in the South Division with one more win, OR will qualify as the third-seed in the South Division with two losses AND a greater regular season point differential than Mississippi. Currently, Memphis has a regular season point differential of -9 and Mississippi has a regular season point differential of -81. 

4. Mississippi (1-6)

• Will qualify as the third-seed in the South Division with a win versus Memphis on Saturday AND a loss by Memphis to Middle Tennessee on Sunday AND a greater regular season point differential than Memphis. Currently, Mississippi trails Memphis by 72 points in regular season point differential. The head-to-head tie-breaker would not apply since a Mississippi victory over Memphis would tie the season series at 2-2. 
• Will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss versus Memphis on Saturday. 

(Photo by: Michael Pronzato / CBA Photos)