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Zips react to Tournament announcment / Photo: Akron Media Relations

Akron (23-12) and Gonzaga (26-5) will be playing in the South Regional with whoever advances past the first two rounds to the Sweet 16 playing in Memphis, Tenn. This will mark the first time the Zips and Bulldogs have met.

The Zips are making their second appearance in the NCAA Tournament and first since the 1985-86 season when former UA head coach Bob Huggins led Akron to a 22-8 record and an Ohio Valley Conference title. The Zips faced fifth-ranked Michigan that season, falling 70-64 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Akron has played in the MAC Tournament Championships in each of the last three years and posted 20-plus wins in each of the last four seasons, while fifth-year UA head coach Keith Dambrot recorded 19 victories his first season. Akron was an NIT participant in 2005-06 and 2007-08.

On both occasions, the Zips won their first-round meeting – winning at Temple in overtime (80-73) in 2006 and at Florida State (65-60) last season. Akron’s post-season run ended in the second round on both occasions, falling at Creighton (71-60) in ’06 and at UMass (68-63) in ’08.

Despite posting a school-record 26 victories, going 26-7, in 2006-07, winning the 2007 MAC East title (13-3) and having a final RPI of 67 after falling the 2007 MAC Tournament Championship game, the Zips did not receive an NCAA nor NIT at-large invitation.

 This season marks Gonzaga's 11th-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its 12th overall appearance.

The Zags, who were ranked as high as fourth this season and currently sit at 10th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll, earned the West Coast Conference regular season title, finishing with a perfect 14-0 record, and then won the WCC Tournament title for the ninth time in 11 years, defeating Saint Mary's College, 83-58, in the championship game.

The winner of the Gonzaga/Akron game will play the winner of the Illinois/Western Kentucky contest.

courtesy Akron Media Relations