Arizona Faces Akron in NCAA Tournament Opener March 21

The Arizona Wildcats, seeded 4th in the NCAA Tournament, will face the Akron Zips, seeded 13th, in the first round on March 21 at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Arizona finished the season with a record of 22-12, but struggled late in the regular season, losing five of their last eight games, although they performed well in the Big 12 tournament. In contrast, Akron, with a record of 28-6, won the MAC Championship and enters the tournament with a seven-game winning streak and high-scoring averages. Both teams will be looking to advance to the next round, with the winner facing either Oregon or Liberty. Akron, still seeking its first NCAA Tournament victory, acknowledges the challenge posed by Arizona's experienced player, Caleb Love, who has a history of strong tournament performances. Head coach John Groce expressed respect for Love's skills, indicating that stopping him would be a significant challenge for Akron.