In the upcoming NCAA Tournament first-round matchup, the No. 4 seed Arizona Wildcats (22-12) will face the No. 13 seed Akron Zips (28-6) on Friday, March 21, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Arizona, under coach Tommy Lloyd, boasts a high-octane offense, averaging 81.7 points per game, ranking them among the nation’s top scoring teams. The Wildcats are led by star guard Caleb Love, who contributes 16.6 points and 3.5 assists per game, and seven-foot sophomore Henri Veesaar, who has been pivotal in both scoring and defense. Despite a challenging inaugural season in the Big 12, Arizona’s experience against top-tier competition has prepared them for tournament play.

Akron enters the tournament with significant momentum, having won 21 of their last 22 games and dominating the Mid-American Conference with a 20-1 record. The Zips employ a fast-paced, perimeter-oriented offense, averaging 84.6 points per game and ranking eighth nationally in scoring. Their balanced attack features seven players with at least 30 made three-pointers this season, highlighting their shooting depth. However, their smaller lineup may struggle against Arizona’s size, particularly when contending with Veesaar in the paint. While Akron seeks its first NCAA Tournament win, the Wildcats’ combination of size, depth, and tournament experience positions them as the favorites in this matchup.