For the first time ever, the Akron Zips will be March Madness participants for a second consecutive year.
Just like a year ago, the Zips earned the Mid-American Conference's automatic bid by winning the MAC Men's Basketball Tournament . And, again, it went down to the wire Saturday night before Akron pulled it out, this time by a 76-74 score over Miami when Nate Johnson hit a short floater in the lane with 2.3 seconds left.
A year ago, the Zips lost 77-60 to Creighton in a first-round game in Pittsburgh. Will they enjoy more success against Arizona in the 2025 NCAA Tournament when the teams meet in a first-round game at 7:35 p.m. Friday on truTV?
For fans who fill out brackets, Akron (28-6) will be tempting to pick as a Cinderella team because of its firepower.
Above all, the prediction hinges on whether the Zips will be hot from 3-point range. They know their clearest path to victory begins behind the arc, so expect them to fire away.
Still, No. 13 seed Akron faces an uphill climb against No. 4 seed Arizona (22-12). And the winner of the UA-Arizona game will advance to face either No. 5 Oregon or No. 12 Liberty, so the mission beyond Round 1 wouldn't become much easier, at least not on paper.
UA's John Groce is coaching wizard who has led a MAC team to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16, where his 2011-12 Ohio Bobcats took North Carolina to overtime before being eliminated in a 73-65 loss.
So is a historic run possible for Akron? Yes, but only if the Zips drain outside shots at an impressive rate.
The safe bet is Akron will be one and done in the NCAA tourney, let's call it by an 86-82 score, yet expecting the unexpected is the beauty of March Madness.
Buy Akron Zips NCAA Tournament tickets vs. Arizona
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Zips vs Arizona prediction, pick for March Madness first round
