Akron Zip Basketball Faces Uphill Battle for NCAA Tournament Bid

Despite strong conference records, Akron and Miami of Ohio struggle to get national attention and at-large bids

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:52pm

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The author, a longtime fan of the Akron Zip basketball team, laments the current state of mid-major programs trying to earn NCAA tournament bids. Despite Akron going 17-1 in conference play for the second straight year, they are overshadowed by the undefeated Miami of Ohio Redhawks. The author argues that scheduling difficulties and the NCAA selection committee's shifting priorities make it increasingly difficult for mid-majors to earn at-large bids, even with impressive records, as was more common in the 1990s.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges faced by mid-major basketball programs in gaining national recognition and earning NCAA tournament bids, even when they have strong regular season records. It raises questions about the fairness of the selection process and the obstacles mid-majors face in scheduling high-major opponents to boost their resumes.

The details

The author, a native of Akron, Ohio, has been a longtime fan of the Akron Zip basketball team. Despite Akron going 17-1 in conference play for the second straight year, they are overshadowed by the undefeated Miami of Ohio Redhawks, who are 31-0 overall. The author argues that mid-majors like Akron face scheduling difficulties, as high-major programs are reluctant to play them, fearing a potential loss that could hurt their own tournament chances. The author also notes that the NCAA selection committee's priorities have shifted, making it harder for mid-majors with multiple losses to earn at-large bids, even though this was more common in the 1990s.

  • Akron went 17-1 in MAC play last year and this year.
  • Miami of Ohio went 18-0 in conference and 31-0 overall this season.

The players

Akron Zip

The basketball team from the University of Akron, a mid-major program that has struggled to earn NCAA tournament bids despite strong conference records.

Miami of Ohio Redhawks

The undefeated basketball team from Miami University, a mid-major program that has gained national attention this season.

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The takeaway

This story highlights the ongoing challenges faced by mid-major basketball programs in gaining national recognition and earning NCAA tournament bids, even when they have strong regular season records. It raises questions about the fairness of the selection process and the obstacles mid-majors face in scheduling high-major opponents to boost their resumes.