Akron Seeks First NCAA Tournament Win

The Zips look to make history after three straight MAC Tournament titles.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 4:23am

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Akron's men's basketball team has reached the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time, but is still seeking its first-ever tournament win. The Zips, the 12th seed in the Midwest Region, will face Texas Tech in the first round on Friday in Tampa, Florida. Akron is led by a veteran roster, including two All-MAC selections, and is one of the highest-scoring teams in Division I this season.

Why it matters

Akron has been a consistent contender in the Mid-American Conference, but is looking to take the next step and win an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in program history. The Zips have the firepower to potentially pull off an upset, which would be a significant milestone for the mid-major program.

The details

Akron (29-5) is the 12th seed in the Midwest Region and will face Texas Tech (22-10) in the first round. The Zips are led by senior forward Amani Lyles, who is averaging a double-double, and senior guard Tavari Johnson, the MAC's leading scorer. Akron ranks seventh in Division I in scoring at 88.4 points per game and ninth in 3-pointers made. Texas Tech has had to adjust after losing star guard JT Toppin to a torn ACL in February, but still has a potent offense led by sophomore Christian Anderson and senior Donovan Atwell.

  • Akron will face Texas Tech on Friday, March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.
  • Akron won the MAC Tournament championship on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The players

Amani Lyles

Akron senior forward averaging a double-double of 14.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

Tavari Johnson

Akron senior guard and first-team All-MAC selection, leading the conference in scoring at 20.1 points per game.

Shammah Scott

Akron senior guard and the MAC's Sixth Man of the Year, hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the conference championship game.

John Groce

Akron's ninth-year head coach, previously took Ohio to the Sweet 16 in 2012.

JT Toppin

Texas Tech junior guard, the only player in Division I ranked in the top 10 in points and rebounds per game, suffered a torn ACL in February.

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What they’re saying

“We're ready to take that next step, and we take pride in that. We're not going to back down from anybody. We want to make history again.”

— Amani Lyles, Akron senior forward

“We're in this position for a reason. We just have to stay together and play hard.”

— Shammah Scott, Akron senior guard

“You've got to have a good enough team. I think we do. Two, you've got to be prepared, and I can assure you we're going to be really, really prepared. And three, you've got to get a little fortunate.”

— John Groce, Akron head coach

What’s next

The winner of the Akron-Texas Tech matchup will face either Alabama or Hofstra on Sunday, March 23, 2026.

The takeaway

Akron has built a consistent winner in the MAC, and now has its sights set on making history by winning an NCAA Tournament game for the first time. The Zips have the offensive firepower and veteran leadership to potentially pull off an upset, but will need some luck to advance past the first round.