Can Akron Zips Make the 2014 NCAA Tournament?

The Akron Zips are definitely not a household name in college basketball, but they did manage to make the 2013 NCAA Tournament. However, can they pull off this same feat in the 2013-14 college basketball season?

First and foremost, someone is going to have to step up for Zeke Marshall. Marshall was the leading scorer and second leading rebounder on the team, so he will definitely be missed. He put up 13 points per game and seven rebounds per game. Those kinds of numbers are very hard to replace and it is always tough finding a new big man.

However, there should be enough talent coming back for the Zips to dance once again. The bottom line is the fact that this team will have to win the Mid-American once again.

Not many teams get at-large bids in this conference and I doubt next year will be any different.

Akron is coming off of a season where it went 26-7 and 14-2 in the MAC. However, Ohio managed to tie the Zips with a 14-2 record. Whether the case, it is all about winning the conference tournament for teams such as Akron, who play in a mid-major conference.

So, no matter how good or bad the Zips finish in the regular season, all they will have to do is win their conference tournament–always easier said than done. Even if this team does manage to dance again, a better tourney outing would be nice, considering that Akron lost to VCU in its very first game by the score of 88-42.

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