Friday, March 29

Akron vs. UCLA March Madness free live stream: How to watch, TV, odds | NCAA men’s basketball tournament


AKRON, Ohio — The reigning MAC champion Akron Zips head out to Portland for the first round of the NCAA tournament as they battle UCLA. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:50 p.m. Eastern.

WATCH LIVE, INCLUDING FREE STREAMS: DirecTV Stream and Sling TV (promotional offers).

The Zips secured the MAC title with a 75-55 win on Saturday night against a Kent State team that suspended four players, including three for the first half, for a vulgar video posted on social media. UCLA, which went to the Final Four last season, lost to Arizona in Saturday night’s Pac-12 Championship Game, 84-76.

Who: No. 13 Akron (24-9) vs. No. 4 UCLA (25-7).

When: Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Time: 9:50 p.m. Eastern.

Where: Moda Center, Portland, Ore. (19,980).

TV: TBS.

Cable channel finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, WOW.

Live streams: DirecTV Stream and Sling TV (promotional offers).

Latest line: UCLA -13.5.

Announcers: Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and Andy Katz.

Read some of what Terry Pluto of cleveland.com wrote about the stories of the Akron team that made it to the NCAA tournament.

How did they do it?

It’s a good question when it comes to the Akron Zips emerging as winners from the Mid-American Conference men’s basketball tournament last weekend at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

The Zips were picked to finish fifth in the MAC preseason poll. There was a separate vote about which team would win the MAC Tournament. Five teams received votes – not one for Akron.

Or how about the preseason individual players predicted to make the first or second All-MAC teams? Akron had one player named. That’s K.J. Walton, a transfer who left the team early in the season.

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Did these Zips really win three games in three days against the top three teams in the MAC?

Can you believe these Zips are headed to the NCAA tournament in Portland, where they will face UCLA Thursday night?

“It has a lot to do with the character of our team,” said Akron coach John Groce. “I love what we are doing, and how we are doing it.”

Groce meant how Akron emerged the as the MAC’s toughest defensive team at the time of year when it meant the most. He was talking about how the team’s key players were hardly recruited.

“I have been at a lot places,” said Akron athletic director Charles Guthrie. “I’ve never seen a team this close. I was in the locker room after some tough losses. Coach (Groce) didn’t get down the players. He really did use those games as teaching moments.”

IT COULD HAVE BEEN OVER EARLY

In the middle of February, the Zips lost three MAC games in a row. They also had lost both games to rival Kent State in the regular season. That usually is a very strong hint that a weak tournament showing is coming.

At that point, the Zips were 9-6 in the MAC. Good, but not special.

Then they finished the regular season winning five MAC games in a row. That raised their conference record to 14-6, good for a No. 4 seed in the tournament.

First, they knocked off Buffalo, the preseason favorite. Next, they beat Toledo, which had the MAC’s best regular-season record at 17-3. Finally, they dominated Kent State to earn the automatic NCAA berth.

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“It’s been remarkable,” said Groce. “I’m so proud of this team.”

For team hats, shirts or other gear:

Visit Fanatics, Lids, Champs Sports, Dick’s Sporting Goods and New Era.

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