Akron Zips Have Only Made the NCAA Tournament 4 Times

By Trevor Lowry
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Akron Zips have only made the NCAA Tournament four times. One of those trips to the dance was this past year.

Akron had high hopes entering the 2013 NCAA Tournament, but that was until they were matched up against the VCU Rams. Once the ball was tipped, the game was pretty much over.

Akron ended up losing the game by the score of 88-42. VCU was great this past season, but that is still embarrassing no matter who you play or how bad you are.

After having 26 victories on the season and earning a No. 12 seed, I am sure this is not what the Zips expected. A No. 12 seed seems to beat a No. 5 seed every year, so Akron probably thought that it was going to be that team. Too bad that was not the case whatsoever.

The other three times that this team made the dance was in 2011, 2009 and 1986. Unfortunately, the Zips were one-and-done in all four of their tourney appearances. However, making the tourney in 2009, 2011 and then again in 2013 is a very good accomplishment for this team. Who knows? Maybe the Zips could be one of the mid-major teams of the future.

However, for that to happen, they will have to at least win one game in the Big Dance. That has yet to be seen, but Akron was still great this year and hopefully it will be this good for a long time to come. In all fairness, VCU was a really good basketball team and it will have the talent to have its best team yet in the 2013-14 college basketball season. Who knows if the same can be said about Akron, but making the tourney for just its third time this year should be considered as a successful season.

If you’re a tweeter, feel free to follow me @TheTrevorLowry.

Share On FacebookShare StumbleUpon

You May Also Like