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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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 24: Head Coach John Groce of the Akron Zips (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 24: Head Coach John Groce of the Akron Zips (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

Groce’s Tournament Coaching Magic

John Groce’s Illinois tenure may understandably be viewed as disappointing, but if the Zips find their way to the NCAA Tournament, the coach has a strong track record of March success.

Since 2000, among coaches with at least three tournament appearances, only six are undefeated in the first round (per Barttorvik). The list includes Roy Williams (Kansas/North Carolina), Chris Holtmann (Butler/Ohio State), Frank Martin (Kansas State/South Carolina), Chris Beard (Little Rock/Texas Tech), Mike White (Florida) and yes, John Groce (Ohio, Illinois).

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Groce made the Big Dance twice with Ohio, 2009-10 (14-seed) and 2011-12 (13-seed). The 14-seed squad upset Georgetown before falling in the Round of 32 to Tennessee. The 13-seed team took down both Michigan and South Florida before losing to North Carolina in the Sweet 16. In his one tournament appearance with Illinois (2012-13), the 7-seed Illini beat Colorado before falling to Miami in the Round of 32.

Does Groce really have some secret sauce that can produce tournament success? Probably not, but this trend isn’t entirely insignificant either.

Conclusion

Akron has struggled its last three games, losing close contests to Buffalo and Kent St. and earning a one-point victory over Eastern Michigan. If there’s one factor that can explain this, its poor 3-point shooting.

After shooting at least 35% from three in 14 straight games, the Zips have shot 26.7%, 33.3% and 20.7% the last three (21-80, 26.3% combined). Is this simply a cold stretch or will it persist? The next few games should provide insight.

Next. Top-25 mid-major power rankings. dark

With the team’s experience, elite (outside of past few games) 3-point shooting, and a sprinkle of Groce’s tournament magic, the Akron Zips are fully capable of making noise come March. A tournament bid is far from a given, but in the meantime, the Zips will be firing away from downtown.