Akron Zips men's basketball | ||||
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University | University of Akron | |||
Athletic director | Charles Guthrie | |||
Head coach | John Groce (8th season) | |||
Conference | Mid-American | |||
Location | Akron, Ohio | |||
Arena | James A. Rhodes Arena (capacity: 5,500) | |||
Nickname | Zips | |||
Student section | AK-Rowdies | |||
Colors | Blue and gold [1] | |||
Uniforms | ||||
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NCAA tournament runner-up | ||||
NCAA Division II 1964, 1972 | ||||
NCAA tournament Final Four | ||||
NCAA Division II 1964, 1966, 1972 | ||||
NCAA tournament Elite Eight | ||||
NCAA Division II 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 | ||||
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | ||||
NCAA Division II 1958, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1975 | ||||
NCAA tournament appearances | ||||
NCAA Division II 1958, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1975 NCAA Division I 1986, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024 | ||||
Conference tournament champions | ||||
OAC: 1959, 1964, 1965, 1966 OVC: 1986 MAC: 2009, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024 | ||||
Conference regular season champions | ||||
OAC: 1934, 1945, 1946, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1965, 1966 OVC: 1986 MAC: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020 | ||||
Conference division season champions | ||||
1998, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020 |
The Akron Zips men's basketball team represents the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference East division. The Zips are currently coached by John Groce. Prior to becoming members of the MAC in 1992, the Zips were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and the Mid-Continent Conference. They had played in NCAA Division II into the mid 1970s, where they reached the National Championship Game twice, both of which they lost.
In 2008, the Zips officially announced they had signed a three-year partnership to be outfitted by the LeBron James line by Nike. They are now the only team with a LJ23/Nike contract. Nike has released several Zips themed versions of LeBron's shoes. Some are available to the public, while others are exclusively for the members of the basketball team. [2]
The team first played in the NCAA Division I tournament in 1986 when Bob Huggins was its coach. The Zips won their first MAC East division title in 1998. In 2006, the Zips received an invitation to the NIT and won their first post season game at Temple University before falling in the second round. In 2007, the team won their second MAC East title and tied the school record for wins in a season in the Division I era with 26. They also made their first appearance in the MAC Tournament Championship game, which they lost on a last-second shot 53–52 to the Miami RedHawks. The loss cost them the MAC's automatic berth and they were subsequently not selected for either the 2007 NCAA tournament or NIT, despite finishing with a 26–7 record. The Zips posted a 24–11 record (11–5 in the MAC) in 2008 which included a second-straight appearance in the MAC tournament championship game and a berth in the 2008 National Invitation Tournament.
The team was established in 1901, when the school was still known as Buchtel College, playing out of Crouse Gym, the school's original building, built in 1888. They played their first game against Mount Union College, a 120–9 loss. [3] The team played just four games in the 1901–1902 season, winning their final two against the Western Reserve College medical school. The team's first three seasons were spent without the benefit of a head coach. This changed with the arrival of the first head coach, Earl Williams, who would coach from 1904 to 1908. [3]
Growing too big for Crouse, the team began playing at the Akron Armory, just a few blocks off-campus, in the 1920s. The Zips began play in the Ohio Athletic Conference in 1923 where they would compete from 1923 to 1965 except for 1936–1944 when the University left the OAC and competed as an independent. During their first season back in the OAC, Akron would unknowingly find themselves on the opposite end on what could be considered the first gambling scandal in college basketball history with five of Brooklyn College's players being arrested in a failed attempt to throw a January 29, 1945 game against Akron. [4] In the OAC, Akron would win 8 conference titles and five tournament titles, three of them under legendary coach, Tony Laterza. In 1954 the Zips moved into their own on-campus home, Memorial Hall, located to the east of Crouse Gym.
After the 1965–1966 season Akron left the OAC for good and competed as an independent in the NCAA's College Division, which would later be renamed Division II. When the NCAA divided into three divisions in 1973, the Zips would play one season in Division III before moving to Division II, where they would play from 1975 to 1980. During the final three years as a Division II member, the Zips were part of an earlier Mid-Continent Conference for two years before joining the Ohio Valley Conference for the 1979–1980 season (though they did not play conference games until the 1980–1981 season), their last in Division II.
The Zips participated in the NCAA Division II tournament on seven different occasions, making the Division II Final Four three times (1964, 1966, and 1972) and reaching the championship game in 1964 and 1972, falling to Evansville and Roanoke, respectively. [3] Coach Laterza's winning percentage at UA of .751 (178–59 from 1960 to 1968) remains best in the history of the program.
Akron attained NCAA Division I status in 1980 and began play in the Ohio Valley Conference that fall. [3] In 1983, the Zips moved into their current arena, the James A. Rhodes Arena, just to the east of old Memorial Hall. In 1984 Bob Huggins began coaching the team, leading the Zips to the 1986 OVC title and tournament title to gain their first berth in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as a No. 15 seed, where they fell to the 5th-ranked and No. 2-seeded Michigan Wolverines 70–64 in the first round. Akron would play one more season in the OVC and earn a berth in the 1987 National Invitation Tournament before another stint as an independent from 1987 to 1990. Huggins would lead the Zips to the 1989 NIT before leaving Akron after the season to coach at Cincinnati. Akron would rejoin the Mid-Continent Conference in 1990 and compete for two seasons before officially beginning play in the Mid-American Conference in 1992. The Zips struggled early on as members of the MAC including a disastrous 0–18 MAC season in 1995–1996 which saw the Zips finish the season 3–23 overall on a 21-game losing streak after a 3–1 start. Akron posted their first winning season in MAC play during the 1997–1998 season under coach Dan Hipsher going 13–5 and winning the first MAC East division title and qualifying for the MAC tournament for the first time. The Zips posted winning MAC records in 1998–1999 and 1999–2000 before struggling for several seasons, ultimately leading to the dismissal of Hipsher and the hiring of Keith Dambrot as head coach in 2004. [3]
Dambrot had previously coached at nearby St. Vincent - St. Mary High School in Akron and had coached LeBron James. Dambrot lead a resurgence in Zips basketball, posting a winning record (19–10, 11–7 MAC) in the 2004–2005 season, their first winning campaign since 2000, and a second MAC East division title in 2007. Under Dambrot, the Zips had won 21 or more games in each of the last 12 seasons (beginning in 2005–2006) and had made ten postseason appearances: the 2009, 2011, and 2013 NCAA tournament, the 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2017 NIT, the 2010 CBI, and the 2014 CIT. [3] The 2006–2007 team tied the school record for wins, finishing 26–7, but failed to earn an invitation to any postseason tournament. In 2007, the Zips advanced to the MAC tournament championship game for the first time in program history, losing on a last-second shot 53–52 to the Miami RedHawks at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. They made a second appearance in 2008, falling to arch-rival Kent State 74–55. Finally, in 2009, the Zips defeated Buffalo in the MAC Championship Game and advanced to their first NCAA tournament in 23 years, falling to Gonzaga in Round One. The Zips fell to Ohio in the 2010 MAC Championship Game, but returned to beat Kent State in the 2011 MAC Championship Game (their 5th consecutive appearance in the title game) to advance to the NCAA tournament for the 2nd time in 3 seasons. [3] Dambrot left the Zips to take a head coaching position at Duquesne University.
Groce had coached at the University of Illinois since 2012 before being hired as the Head coach for the Zips. The Zips had a rough start adjusting to their new head coach, finishing 14-18 overall on the season and losing to Eastern Michigan in the Quarterfinals of the MAC tournament 58-67. During the 2019-2020 season the Zips finally caught their stride with Groce at the helm finishing the season with a record of 24-7, the best since Groce began his tenure. However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the MAC tournament was cancelled and no conference champion was crowned. [7]
Season | Overall record* | MAC tournament record | Postseason record |
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Coleman Crawford (1992–1995) | |||
1992–93 | 8–18 (3–15) | Did not qualify | – |
1993–94 | 8–18 (2–16) | Did not qualify | – |
1994–95 | 8–18 (4–14) | Did not qualify | – |
Dan Hipsher (1995–2004) | |||
1995–96 | 3–23 (0–18) | Did not qualify | – |
1996–97 | 8–18 (6–12) | Did not qualify | – |
1997–98 | 17–10 (13–5) | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinal | – |
1998–99 | 18–9 (12–6) | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinal | – |
1999-00 | 17–11 (11–7) | 0–1; Lost in quarterfinal | – |
2000–01 | 12–16 (9–9) | 0–1; Lost in first round | – |
2001–02 | 10–21 (5–13) | 1–1; Lost in quarterfinal | – |
2002–03 | 14–14 (9–9) | 0–1; Lost in first round | – |
2003–04 | 13–15 (7–11) | 0–1; Lost in first round | – |
Keith Dambrot (2004–2017) | |||
2004–05 | 19–10 (11–7) | 1–1; Lost in quarterfinal | – |
2005–06 | 23–10 (14–4) | 1–1; Lost in semifinal | 1–1; NIT second round |
2006–07 | 26–7 (13–3) | 2–1; Lost in final | – |
2007–08 | 24–11 (11–5) | 2–1; Lost in Final | 1–1; NIT second round |
2008–09 | 23–13 (10–6) | 4–0; Won tournament | 0–1; NCAA tournament first round |
2009–10 | 24–11 (12–4) | 2–1; Lost in final | 0–1 CBI first round |
2010–11 | 23–13 (9–7) | 4–0; Won tournament | 0–1; NCAA tournament first round |
2011–12 | 21–12 (13–3) | 1–1; Lost in final | 0–1; NIT first round |
2012–13 | 26–7 (14–2)† | 2–0; Won tournament | 0–1; NCAA tournament first round |
2013–14 | 21–13 (12–6) | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | 0–1; CIT first round |
2014–15 | 21–14 (9–9) | 3–1; Lost in semifinals | – |
2015–16 | 26–9 (13–5) | 2–1; Lost in final | 0–1; NIT first round |
2016–17 | 24–7 (14–4) | 2–1; Lost in final | 1–1; NIT second round |
John Groce (2017–Present) | |||
2017–18 | 14–18 (6–12) | 1–1; Lost in quarterfinal | – |
2018–19 | 17–16 (8–10) | 1-1; Lost in quarterfinal | – |
2019–20 | 24–7 (14–4) | – | – |
2020–21 | 15–8 (12–6) | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | – |
2021–22 | 24–10 (14–6) | 3–0; Won tournament | 0–1; NCAA tournament first round |
2022–23 | 22-11 (13-5) | 1–1; Lost in semifinals | – |
2023–24 | 24–10 (13–5) | 3–0; Won tournament | 0–1; NCAA tournament first round |
* –Tournament Titles shaded in ██ dark gold. Regular-Season Titles shaded in ██ light gold.East Division Titles shaded in ██ light blue.
* – Overall record includes tournament/postseason results; Regular season conference record contained in parentheses.
* –† Indicates regular-season and tournament title.
Since joining the MAC for the 1992–1993 season, the Zips have appeared in the last 23 conference tournaments, making their first appearance in 1998, the same year they won their first MAC East division title. [8] Since then they have posted a record of 30–19 in tournament play including consecutive appearances in the championship game between 2007 and 2013 for which is the current record for consecutive appearances. Additionally, they also hold the record for best winning percentage in the MAC Tournament at 0.612. [9]
Year | Seed | Location | Round | Result |
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1998 | 3rd | Akron, OH | Quarterfinal | L 95–88 to (6) Kent State |
1999 | 4th | Akron, OH | Quarterfinal | L 80–74OT (5) Bowling Green |
2000 | 4th | Akron, OH | Opening | L 75–73 to (13) Central Michigan |
2001 | 9th | Oxford, OH | Opening | L 69–56 to (8) Miami |
2002 | 11th | Kalamazoo, MI | Opening | W 90–83 over (6) Western Michigan |
Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | L 60–58 to (3) Bowling Green | ||
2003 | 6th | Akron, OH | Opening | L 79–77 to (11) Ohio |
2004 | 11th | Muncie, IN | Opening | L 76–72 to (6) Ball State |
2005 | 6th | Akron, OH | Opening | W 79–66 over (11) Eastern Michigan |
Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | L 66–60OT to (3) Western Michigan | ||
2006 | 3rd | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 72–57 over (6) Western Michigan |
Semifinal | L 77–69 to (7) Toledo | |||
2007 | 2nd | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 82–53 over (7) Central Michigan |
Semifinal | W 61–54 over (3) Kent State | |||
Final | L 53–52 to (4) Miami (OH) | |||
2008 | 3rd | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 81–60 over (6) Central Michigan |
Semifinal | W 73–62 over (2) Western Michigan | |||
Final | L 74–55 to (1) Kent State | |||
2009 | 5th | Cleveland, OH | Opening | W 93–922OT over (12) Toledo |
Quarterfinal | W 73–63 over (4) Miami | |||
Semifinal | W 63–55 over (1) Bowling Green | |||
Final | W 65–53 over (3) Buffalo | |||
2010 | 3rd | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 97–892OT over (6) Eastern Michigan |
Semifinal | W 66–64 over (7) Western Michigan | |||
Final | L 81–75OT to (9) Ohio | |||
2011 | 6th | Akron, OH | Opening | W 67–53 over (11) Eastern Michigan |
Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 82–752OT over (3) Miami | ||
Semifinal | W 79–68 over (2) Western Michigan | |||
Final | W 66–65OT over (1) Kent State | |||
2012 | 1st | Cleveland, OH | Semifinal | W 78–74 over (4) Kent State |
Final | L 64–63 to (3) Ohio | |||
2013 | 1st | Cleveland, OH | Semifinal | W 62–59 over (4) Kent State |
Final | W 65–46 to (2) Ohio | |||
2014 | 4th | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 83–77 over (5) Ohio |
Semifinal | L 64–60OT to (1) Western Michigan | |||
2015 | 7th | Akron, OH | First Round | W 76–52 over (10) Northern Illinois |
Cleveland OH | Second Round | W 58–45 over (6) Western Michigan | ||
Quarterfinal | W 53–51 over (3) Kent State | |||
Semifinal | L 68–59 to (2) Buffalo | |||
2016 | 1st | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 65–63 over (8) Eastern Michigan |
Semifinal | W 80–66 over (12) Bowling Green | |||
Final | L 64–61 to (3) Buffalo | |||
2017 | 1st | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 79–62 over (8) Eastern Michigan |
Semifinal | W 74–70 over (4) Ball State | |||
Final | L 70–65 to (6) Kent State | |||
2018 | 11th | Kalamazoo, MI | Opening | W 79–78 over (6) Western Michigan |
Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | L 67–58 to (3) Eastern Michigan | ||
2019 | 8th | Akron, OH | Opening | W 80–51 over (9) Miami |
Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | L 82–46 to (1) No. 18 Buffalo | ||
2020 | 1st | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | – |
2021 | 8th | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 74–67 over (6) Bowling Green |
Semifinal | L 81–74OT to (2) Buffalo | |||
2022 | 4th | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 70–68 over (5) Buffalo |
Semifinal | W 70–62 over (1) Toledo | |||
Final | W 75–55 over (2) Kent State | |||
2023 | 3rd | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 101–77 over (6) Buffalo |
Semifinal | L 79–73 to (2) Kent State | |||
2024 | 2nd | Cleveland, OH | Quarterfinal | W 75–63 over (7) Miami |
Semifinal | W 65–62 over (3) Ohio | |||
Final | W 62–61 over (8) Kent State | |||
Totals: 11 finals appearances, 5 championships, 38–21 record in tournament |
The Zips have appeared in six NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 0–6.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | #15 | First Round | #2 Michigan | L 64–70 |
2009 | #13 | First Round | #4 Gonzaga | L 64–77 |
2011 | #15 | Second Round | #2 Notre Dame | L 56–69 |
2013 | #12 | Second Round | #5 VCU | L 42–88 |
2022 | #13 | First Round | #4 UCLA | L 53–57 |
2024 | #14 | First Round | #3 Creighton | L 60–77 |
The Zips appeared in eight NCAA Division II men's basketball tournaments. Their combined record was 19–8.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | Austin Peay Evansville | W 76–61 L 70–82 |
1964 | Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | Ithaca Le Moyne Hofstra North Carolina A&T Evansville | W 94–77 W 62–38 W 77–58 W 57–48 L 59–72 |
1965 | First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | Steubenville Buffalo St. Michael's | W 72–70 W 69–58 L 87–101 |
1966 | Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Third Place Game | Youngstown State Steubenville Long Island Kentucky Wesleyan North Dakota | W 70–51 W 93–76 W 74–68 L 74–105 W 76–71 |
1967 | First Round Sweet Sixteen | Mount St. Mary's Winston-Salem | W 98–72 L 80–88 |
1971 | First Round Regional Third Place | Cheyney Wooster | L 89–100 W 77–68 |
1972 | Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship | Philadelphia U Youngstown State Southern Colorado Tennessee State Roanoke | W 54–52 W 87–71 W 92–77 W 71–69 (OT) L 72–84 |
1975 | Round of 32 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | Eastern Illinois St. Joseph's (IN) Tennessee State | W 76–62 W 58–52 L 69–72 |
The Zips have appeared in seven National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 3–7.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | NA | First Round | Illinois State | L 79–72 |
1989 | NA | First Round | Ohio State | L 81–70 |
2006 | #8 | Opening Round First Round | #7 Temple #2 Creighton | W 80–73 L 71–60 |
2008 | #6 | First Round Second Round | #3 Florida State #2 UMass | W 65–60 L 68–63 |
2012 | #5 | First Round | #4 Northwestern | L 76–74 |
2016 | #6 | First Round | #3 Ohio State | L 72–63OT |
2017 | #7 | First Round Second Round | #2 Houston #6 UT Arlington | W 78–75 L 85–69 |
Note: Beginning in 2006, the NIT began using a seeding and region system similar to what is used in the NCAA tournament.
The Zips have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Their record is 0–1.
Year | Location | Round | Opponent | Result |
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2014 | Fort Wayne, IN | First Round | IPFW | L 97–91 |
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All-America [10] | ||
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Name | Year | Team |
Len Paul | 1972 | 1st Team AP |
Romeo Travis | 2007 | Honorable Mention |
Isaiah Johnson | 2017 | Honorable Mention |
Enrique Freeman | 2024 | Honorable Mention |
Academic All-America | ||
Nate Schindewolf | 2001 | Second Team |
These records are up to date as of the 2023-2024 season. [11]
Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocked shots |
The following former Akron players were selected in the NBA draft:
Keith Brett Dambrot is an American former college basketball coach who was most recently the men's basketball head coach of Duquesne University. In his final year, he led them to their first tournament appearance since 1977, and first tournament win since 1969.
The Ohio Bobcats are the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio University, located in Athens, Ohio, United States. Ohio University is a charter member (1946) of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), is currently in the East Division of that conference, and sponsors teams in six men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level for college football.
The Blue and Gold Wagon Wheel, now known simply as the Wagon Wheel, is awarded to the winner of the annual college football game between the Zips of the University of Akron and the Golden Flashes of Kent State University. The trophy is, as the name implies, the wheel from a horse-drawn wagon that is painted blue and gold, the school colors for both universities. It was first contested in 1946 when the rivalry resumed after World War II.
The Akron Zips are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The Zips compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East division. Akron sponsors 17 varsity teams across six men's, 10 women's, and one coed NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of competition for college football.
The Kent State Golden Flashes men's basketball team represents Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The Golden Flashes compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East Division. The team was founded in 1913 and played their first intercollegiate game in January 1915. They joined the Mid-American Conference in 1951 and have played in the East division since the MAC went to the divisional format in 1997. Home games are held at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, which opened in 1950 and is one of the oldest arenas in college basketball. Rob Senderoff was hired as head coach in 2011, the 24th coach in the program's history.
The Ohio Bobcats men's basketball team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team is a member of the Mid-American Conference competing in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Bobcats have played their home games in the Convocation Center since 1968.
James Patrick Christian is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach of the Canisius Golden Griffins. He previously served as the head coach at Boston College, Kent State, TCU and Ohio.
John Gordon Groce is an American college basketball coach, currently the head coach for the Akron Zips men's basketball team. Prior to coaching for Akron, he was the head coach at Illinois and Ohio.
The Kent State Golden Flashes baseball team is a varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The team competes at the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Mid-American Conference. The head coach is retired Major League Baseball player Jeff Duncan, who was hired in June 2013.
The 2009–10 University of Akron Zips basketball team represented the University of Akron in the college basketball season of 2009–10. The Zips, led by head coach Keith Dambrot, are members of the Mid-American Conference and played their home games at James A. Rhodes Arena. They finished the season 24–11, 12–4 in MAC play, lost in the championship game of the 2010 MAC men's basketball tournament and were invited to the 2010 College Basketball Invitational where they lost in the first round.
The 2009–10 Mid-American Conference men's basketball season was the 64th college basketball season in the conference's existence. The conference features 12 teams in two divisions, East and West, who compete for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular season and tournament titles. Kent State won the MAC regular season title with a record of 13–3. Ninth-seeded Ohio won the MAC tournament received the MAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship tournament. There they defeated Georgetown 97–83 before losing to Tennessee in the second round. Armon Bassett of Ohio was named the tournament MVP.
The 2011–12 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by eighth year head coach Keith Dambrot, played their home games at James A. Rhodes Arena and were members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. The Zips finished the season 22–12, 13–3 in MAC play to finish as East Division champions and overall regular season champions. Akron failed to win the MAC tournament losing in the championship game to Ohio. As regular season champions, the Zips received an automatic bid into the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Northwestern.
The 2012–13 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by ninth year head coach Keith Dambrot, played their home games at James A. Rhodes Arena and were members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 26–7, 14–2 in MAC play to finish in a tie with Ohio for the East Division championship and the overall MAC regular season championship. They were also champions of the MAC tournament, defeating Ohio in the championship game, to earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA tournament where they lost in the second round to VCU.
The Kent State Golden Flashes women's basketball team represents Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The Golden Flashes compete in the Mid-American Conference and last played in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament in 2024. Founded in 1973 as a club team, the Kent State women's basketball team received varsity status in 1975 and played their first official game in January 1976. Through the 2023–24 season, the Flashes have six total appearances in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament along with four Mid-American Conference tournament championships, five MAC overall titles, and nine MAC East division titles. Home games are held at the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, which has been the team's home venue since 1977. The head coach is Todd Starkey, who was hired April 19, 2016.
The 2015–16 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by 12th year head coach Keith Dambrot, played their home games at the James A. Rhodes Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. Akron finished the season 26–9, 13–5 record in conference, winning the East Division title as well as the overall regular season MAC championship. The Zips advanced to the championship of the MAC tournament where they lost to Buffalo. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference title, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost to Ohio State in the first round.
The 2016–17 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by 13th-year head coach Keith Dambrot, played their home games at the James A. Rhodes Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 27–9, 14–4 in MAC play to win the MAC East Division and MAC overall regular season championship. They defeated Eastern Michigan and Ball State to advance to the championship game of the MAC tournament where they lost to Kent State, losing in the championship game for the second consecutive year. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Houston in the first round before losing to Texas–Arlington.
The 2017–18 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by first-year head coach John Groce, played their home games at the James A. Rhodes Arena as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. They finished the season 14–18, 6–12 in MAC play to finish in last place in the East Division. In the MAC tournament, they defeated Western Michigan in the first round before losing to Eastern Michigan in the quarterfinals.
The 2022–23 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by sixth-year head coach John Groce, played their home games at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio as members of the Mid-American Conference. As the third seed they defeated Buffalo in the first round of the MAC tournament before losing to Kent State to finish 22–11 and 13–5 in MAC play
The 2008–09 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by head coach Keith Dambrot, played their home games at Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio, as members of the Mid-American Conference. The Zips won the 2009 MAC tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as the 13th seed in the South region. Akron lost its first-round game in the tournament to Gonzaga, 77–64.
The 2024–25 Akron Zips men's basketball team represents the University of Akron during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by eighth-year head coach John Groce, play their home games at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio as members of the Mid-American Conference.