Texas Tech Faces Akron in 5 vs. 12 NCAA Tournament Matchup

Red Raiders look to overcome recent struggles without injured star JT Toppin

Mar. 18, 2026 at 7:10am

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Texas Tech, the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region, enters the NCAA Tournament on a three-game losing streak after the loss of leading scorer and rebounder JT Toppin to a torn ACL. They will face 12th-seeded Akron, who earned an automatic bid by winning the MAC tournament. The Zips are led by MAC leading scorer Tavari Johnson and have won 19 of their last 20 games, but Texas Tech has made four Sweet 16s in the past eight seasons.

Why it matters

This matchup features a battle between a traditional NCAA Tournament power in Texas Tech and an up-and-coming Akron squad looking to pull off the upset. The Red Raiders' struggles without Toppin have raised questions about their ability to make a deep run, while the Zips aim to earn their first-ever NCAA Tournament win under coach John Groce.

The details

Texas Tech (22-10) has lost three straight games, including a blowout loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament, since losing first-team All-American JT Toppin to a torn ACL on Feb. 17. Akron (29-5) rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to beat Toledo 79-76 in the MAC tournament final and earn an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The Zips are led by MAC leading scorer Tavari Johnson (20.1 ppg) and rank 7th nationally in scoring offense (88.4 ppg) and 10th in field-goal percentage (50.3%).

  • Texas Tech lost to Iowa State 75-53 in the Big 12 tournament quarterfinals on March 9, 2026.
  • JT Toppin suffered a torn ACL on February 17, 2026.
  • Akron beat Toledo 79-76 in the MAC tournament final on March 11, 2026 to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

The players

JT Toppin

Texas Tech's leading scorer (21.8 ppg), rebounder (10.8 rpg) and shot-blocker (1.7 bpg) who was named a first-team AP All-American before suffering a torn ACL on February 17.

Tavari Johnson

Akron's leading scorer, averaging 20.1 points per game, and fifth in the MAC in assists per game at 5.0.

Grant McCasland

The head coach of Texas Tech, who has led the Red Raiders to four Sweet 16 appearances in the past eight seasons.

John Groce

The head coach of Akron, who is looking to lead the Zips to their first-ever NCAA Tournament win.

Christian Anderson

Texas Tech's new leading scorer (18.9 ppg) and assist leader (7.6 apg) after Toppin's injury.

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What they’re saying

“We jumped out on Iowa State and I think we played well. The compete level just needs to stay high. That's what we're going to work on.”

— Grant McCasland, Texas Tech Head Coach

“I know Grant McCasland and he's done a great job. His teams are always physical, they're tough, they're competitive.”

— John Groce, Akron Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the Texas Tech-Akron matchup will advance to face the winner of the 4 vs. 13 game between Virginia and Furman in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This game will test whether Texas Tech can overcome the loss of star player JT Toppin and regain their early-season form, or if Akron's high-powered offense and tournament experience can lead to an upset of the higher-seeded Red Raiders.