Busting Brackets
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MAC Basketball: Can the Akron Zips make noise in 2020 NCAA Tournament?

By Jacob Zinkula

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 24: Head Coach John Groce of the Akron Zips directs his team in the game against the Louisville Cardinals during the first half at KFC YUM! Center on November 24, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 24: Head Coach John Groce of the Akron Zips directs his team in the game against the Louisville Cardinals during the first half at KFC YUM! Center on November 24, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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MAC Basketball
AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 21: Melvin Johnson #32 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams drives for a shot attempt in the first half against the Akron Zips (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Akron isn’t only the favorite to represent MAC Basketball come March, but the Zips are capable of making noise as well.

The Akron basketball program has never won an NCAA Tournament game. After losing as a 15-seed back in 1986, it took 23 years for the Zips to get back to the Big Dance.

(Credit to KenPom and Barttorvik for statistics and ACC Digital Network for GIF)

Program Background

Keith Dambrot, Akron’s coach from 2005-2017 (and LeBron James’ former coach) helped get the program moving in the right direction. After taking over a team that went 13-15 the season prior, Dambrot led the Zips to 12 consecutive winning seasons. This stretch included three tournament appearances in 2009, 2011 and 2013 (13, 15, 12 seed), but these squads weren’t able to get within 10 points of an upset victory.

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When Dambrot left to coach Duquesne after the 2016-17 season, John Groce took over the reins. Groce, Illinois’ head coach from 2013-2017, was fired after a four-year tournament drought. In his first year at the helm (2017-18), Akron’s “seasons above .500” streak was snapped with a record of 14-18.

Following 2017-18, there were surely Akron fans that privately feared the “ship had sailed” when it came to chasing that elusive NCAA Tournament victory. The Zips might have other plans, however.

Righting the Ship

The struggles in 2016-17 can partially be explained by the team’s inexperience (323rd nationally). A season later, some maturation (103rd) helped the Zips get back above .500 (17-16).

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This season, Akron is among the “oldest” teams in the sport (18th) and its paying dividends. The Zips currently rank 74th in KenPom and are probably the favorites to represent the MAC come March (many will argue for Bowling Green, however).