Trey Townsend is the easiest participant to alert his Arizona teammates about what can occur if they do not totally get ready for first-round opponent Akron.
Townsend used to be some of the stars of the 14th-seeded Oakland workforce that took down No. 3 Kentucky in closing yr’s first around of the NCAA Match.
After moving to Arizona for his 5th season of school basketball, Townsend will intention to assist the fourth-seeded Wildcats (22-12) keep away from the dissatisfied strive of the Thirteenth-seeded Zips (28-6) in Friday’s East Area play at Seattle.
As Townsend is aware of, the terrain is treacherous in March. He contributed 17 issues and 12 rebounds on an afternoon three hundred and sixty five days in the past through which teammate Jack Gohlke etched his title into March Insanity lore with 32 issues — together with 10 3-pointers — within the 80-76 takedown of Kentucky.
“100%,” Townsend mentioned. “It’s March and anything else can occur, particularly at the moment. Any workforce can beat any one. You do not need to forget any individual. You face issues if you’re overlooking any one, interested by what is forward.
“We now have discovered from our struggles in the beginning of the season to by no means underestimate any opponent, and simply play love it is your closing sport. As a result of in reality, now that we are right here, each and every time we stand at the court docket, it may well be the closing time.”
The Wildcats had a bumpy stretch run this season, going simply 5-6 over the overall 5 weeks. Two of the losses have been to Houston — which earned a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Match — together with a 72-64 setback within the Giant 12 match name sport on Saturday.
Arizona trainer Tommy Lloyd mentioned he hadn’t observed Akron play this season at the day when the pairing used to be unveiled. In fact, the trainer has since observed a number of the Zips.
He identified it in reality does not topic that Akron is the lower-seeded workforce.
“We are excited, however now that the match’s set, you have to throw the seeds out now and cross play the video games,” Lloyd mentioned.
Caleb Love leads the Wildcats with a 16.6 scoring moderate, however his intention is inconsistent. He’s capturing simply 38.6 p.c from the sector and 32.3 p.c from 3-point vary.
Akron has received seven instantly video games and pilfered the Mid-American Convention’s computerized bid in wild model whilst overcoming an 18-point deficit within the name sport.
The Zips have been taking part in on protection in a tie sport and effectively stopped the strive of Miami (Ohio) to head forward. Akron then used to be in transition, and Nate Johnson drove for the layup with 2.3 seconds left to provide the Zips a 76-74 victory.
“In that second, I simply informed myself to not rush,” Johnson mentioned. “If I would have rushed, I most likely would’ve air-balled it or one thing loopy.”
Johnson, who leads the Zips in scoring at 14.0 issues a sport, averaged 26.5 issues over the past two video games of the MAC tourney.
His exploits put Akron into the match for the 3rd time in 4 seasons.
The Zips, even though, have not begun to win an NCAA sport in six earlier makes an attempt. Akron misplaced to Creighton 77-60 within the 2024 first around.
Zips trainer John Groce mentioned he stuck Arizona on tv from time-to-time all the way through the season.
“We all know they are excellent, clearly, and I do know Tommy Lloyd does an excellent task of training them,” Groce mentioned. “I have if truth be told studied them a bit of bit prior to now as a result of I used to be eager about how briskly they play and their tempo. I do know he does a excellent task.
“Clearly, you would not have the kind of season they have had until you are in reality excellent, and I do know he is an awesome trainer.”
This would be the first assembly between the universities. The winner will face both No. 5 seed Oregon or No. 12 Liberty in Sunday’s 2nd around.
–Box Stage Media
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