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SEATTLE — The Akron Zips are dancing again with the hope securing their first March Madness victory in program history.
Thirteenth-seeded Akron will face No. 4 Arizona during a first-round NCAA Tournament game in the East Region on Friday night at Climate Pledge Arena. The winner will advance to meet No. 5 Oregon or No. 12 Liberty on Sunday in the same venue.
Akron (28-6) versus Arizona (22-12) is scheduled to tip off at 7:35 p.m Friday. Check back here for updates throughout the game.
Here is some pregame information:
The Zips are 0-6 in Division I NCAA Tournament games (1986, 2009, '11, '13, '22 and '24). The 1980-81 season was Akron's first as a Division I team.
Under the guidance of coach John Groce, Akron has won three of the past four Mid-American Conference Tournaments and thereby seized the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2022, '24 and '25.
The Zips also entered March Madness three times with coach Keith Dambrot (2009, '11 and '13) and once with coach Bob Huggins (1986).
NCAA Tournament: 'It just brings supreme confidence': Akron's John Groce has March Madness upsets on resume
Here are the results of Akron's six Division I NCAA Tournament games:
This is Arizona's 39th time in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats entered this year's tourney with a record of 60-37 in March Madness. They have been to the Final Four four times and won one national championship in 1997 with coach Lute Olson.
Arizona has earned an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of Tommy Lloyd's four seasons as its head coach and compiled a record of 4-3. The Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024. Those runs sandwiched a first-round exit in 2023, when second-seeded Arizona lost 59-55 to No. 15 Princeton.
Akron basketball column: Can the Zips advance in March Madness bracket? Outlining their path
Entering this year's NCAA Tournament, No. 13 seeds have upset No. 4 seeds in 21.2% of their matchups since the March Madness field expanded in 1985.
Heading into the 2025 games, No. 13 seeds had an all-time record of 33-123 against No. 4 seeds.
March Madness: Akron basketball crams for Arizona. What to know about their matchup
Akron plays in the Mid-American Conference, and Arizona plays in the Big 12. They each met the MAC's Central Michigan this season.
Arizona crushed visiting Central Michigan 94-41 on Dec. 21.
Akron defeated Central Michigan 87-71 on Jan. 7 at Rhodes Arena and won 85-82 at Central Michigan on Feb. 15.
More Akron Zips hoops: Seth Wilson brings pregame tradition inspired by Ric Flair to NCAA Tournament
Akron listed these players as projected starters:
Arizona listed these players as potential starters:
The game will be televised nationally by truTV, with Lisa Byington serving as the play-by-play announcer, Robbie Hummel and Jalen Rose as analysts and Andy Katz as the sideline reporter.
It can be heard on national radio via Westwood One Sports, with Ryan Radtke assigned as the play-by-play announcer and P.J. Carlesimo as the analyst.
It can be heard on local radio via WHLO (640-AM), with Dave Skoczen doing play by play and Joe Dunn analyzing.
Akron and Arizona have never played each other.
Before Akron hired Groce in 2017, he had been at the helms of Ohio (2008-12) and Illinois (2012-17). However, he has never previously faced Arizona as a head coach.
Groce led Ohio into March Madness twice and Illinois once. In 2012, Ohio advanced to the Sweet 16 as a No. 13 seed. Groce's NCAA Tournament record as a head coach is 4-5.
Lloyd has been a head coach since 2021, when Arizona hired him, so he has not previously met Akron as a head coach.
However, Lloyd was notably a Gonzaga assistant coach from 2001-21, and Gonzaga eliminated Akron from the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron vs Arizona score March Madness, NCAA Tournament updates
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Thirteenth-seeded Akron will face No. 4 Arizona during a first-round NCAA Tournament game in the East Region on Friday night at Climate Pledge Arena. The winner will advance to meet No. 5 Oregon or No. 12 Liberty on Sunday in the same venue.
Akron (28-6) versus Arizona (22-12) is scheduled to tip off at 7:35 p.m Friday. Check back here for updates throughout the game.
Here is some pregame information:
What is Akron Zips basketball's history in the NCAA Tournament?
The Zips are 0-6 in Division I NCAA Tournament games (1986, 2009, '11, '13, '22 and '24). The 1980-81 season was Akron's first as a Division I team.
Under the guidance of coach John Groce, Akron has won three of the past four Mid-American Conference Tournaments and thereby seized the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2022, '24 and '25.
The Zips also entered March Madness three times with coach Keith Dambrot (2009, '11 and '13) and once with coach Bob Huggins (1986).
NCAA Tournament: 'It just brings supreme confidence': Akron's John Groce has March Madness upsets on resume
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Here are the results of Akron's six Division I NCAA Tournament games:
- 2024: No. 14 Akron lost 77-60 to No. 3 Creighton in Pittsburgh
- 2022: No. 14 Akron lost 57-53 to No. 3 UCLA in Portland, Oregon
- 2013: No. 12 Akron lost 88-42 to No. 5 VCU in Detroit
- 2011: No. 15 Akron lost 69-56 to No. 2 Notre Dame in Chicago
- 2009: No. 13 Akron lost 77-64 to No. 4 Gonzaga in Portland, Oregon
- 1986: No. 15 Akron lost 70-64 to No. 2 Michigan in Minneapolis
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What is the Arizona men's basketball team's history in the NCAA Tournament?
This is Arizona's 39th time in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats entered this year's tourney with a record of 60-37 in March Madness. They have been to the Final Four four times and won one national championship in 1997 with coach Lute Olson.
Arizona has earned an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of Tommy Lloyd's four seasons as its head coach and compiled a record of 4-3. The Wildcats advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2024. Those runs sandwiched a first-round exit in 2023, when second-seeded Arizona lost 59-55 to No. 15 Princeton.
Akron basketball column: Can the Zips advance in March Madness bracket? Outlining their path
What is the NCAA Tournament men's basketball history for games between No. 4 seeds and No. 13 seeds?
Entering this year's NCAA Tournament, No. 13 seeds have upset No. 4 seeds in 21.2% of their matchups since the March Madness field expanded in 1985.
Heading into the 2025 games, No. 13 seeds had an all-time record of 33-123 against No. 4 seeds.
March Madness: Akron basketball crams for Arizona. What to know about their matchup
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Did the Akron Zips and Arizona Wildcats have any common opponents this season?
Akron plays in the Mid-American Conference, and Arizona plays in the Big 12. They each met the MAC's Central Michigan this season.
Arizona crushed visiting Central Michigan 94-41 on Dec. 21.
Akron defeated Central Michigan 87-71 on Jan. 7 at Rhodes Arena and won 85-82 at Central Michigan on Feb. 15.
More Akron Zips hoops: Seth Wilson brings pregame tradition inspired by Ric Flair to NCAA Tournament
You must be registered for see images attach
Who are Akron's projected starters?
Akron listed these players as projected starters:
- Guard Nate Johnson (14 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals)
- Guard Tavari Johnson (13 points, 3.9 assists, 1.9 rebounds)
- Guard Isaiah Gray (9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals)
- Guard Seth Wilson (6.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists)
- Forward James Okonkwo (7 points, 7.3 rebounds)
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Who are Arizona's potential starters?
Arizona listed these players as potential starters:
- Guard Jaden Bradley (11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals)
- Guard Caleb Love (16.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals)
- Guard Anthony Dell'Orso (7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists)
- Forward Trey Townsend (8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1 assist)
- Forward Tobe Awaka (8.2 points, 7.8 rebounds)
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How to watch today's Akron-Arizona basketball NCAA Tournament game on TV. How to listen on radio
The game will be televised nationally by truTV, with Lisa Byington serving as the play-by-play announcer, Robbie Hummel and Jalen Rose as analysts and Andy Katz as the sideline reporter.
It can be heard on national radio via Westwood One Sports, with Ryan Radtke assigned as the play-by-play announcer and P.J. Carlesimo as the analyst.
It can be heard on local radio via WHLO (640-AM), with Dave Skoczen doing play by play and Joe Dunn analyzing.
What is the history between Akron and Arizona in men's basketball?
Akron and Arizona have never played each other.
Before Akron hired Groce in 2017, he had been at the helms of Ohio (2008-12) and Illinois (2012-17). However, he has never previously faced Arizona as a head coach.
Groce led Ohio into March Madness twice and Illinois once. In 2012, Ohio advanced to the Sweet 16 as a No. 13 seed. Groce's NCAA Tournament record as a head coach is 4-5.
Lloyd has been a head coach since 2021, when Arizona hired him, so he has not previously met Akron as a head coach.
However, Lloyd was notably a Gonzaga assistant coach from 2001-21, and Gonzaga eliminated Akron from the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron vs Arizona score March Madness, NCAA Tournament updates
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