The University of Akron Athletics
Thursday, March 21
Pittsburgh, Pa. | PPG Arena
1:30 PM
University of Akron
vs
Creighton
Akron Prepares for Creighton in the NCAA Tournament First Round
March 19 | Men's Basketball
No. 14 Akron (24-10, 13-5 Mid-American) vs No. 3 Creighton (23-9, 14-6 BIG EAST)
Thursday, Mar. 21 – PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, Penn.
1:30 pm ET – TNT - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 322-212 | At Akron: 140-80
Creighton: Greg McDermott | Overall Record: 603-354| At Creighton: 323-159
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tied: Creighton Leads 3-1 (0-0 NCAA | 0-1 NIT) Groce vs. Creighton: First Meeting
First Meeting: Creighton 71, Akron 60 In Omaha, Neb. (Mar. 16, 2006)
Last Meeting: Creighton 82, Akron 70 In Omaha, Neb. (Dec. 3, 2016)
At Akron: 1-0 | Neutral: 0-0 | At Creighton: 3-0 |
Current Streak: 2L
WHAT'S AHEAD
The Akron Zips battle the Creighton Bluejays in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21 for the 5th all-time meeting. Akron and Creighton can be viewed on TNT with Andrew Catalon , Steve Lappas, and Evan Washburn on the call. Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst). Live stats are also available on GoZips.com.
SCOUTING THE BLUEJAYS
The Creighton men's basketball team is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the 25th time in program history and ninth time in the past 13 years after earning an at-large bid to 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
Creighton enters the NCAA Tournament with a 23-9 record after tying for second place in the BIG EAST Conference regular-season standings and falling in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
This year's club features First Team All-BIG EAST forward Baylor Scheierman (18.4 ppg., 9.0 rpg.) as well as Second Team All-BIG EAST selections Trey Alexander (17.6 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.8 apg.) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.1 ppg., 7.4 rpg., 3.0 bpg.). Rounding out the Bluejay starting five are Steven Ashworth (10.7 ppg., 4.2 apg.) and Mason Miller (5.7 ppg., .455 3FG%).
Kalkbrenner joins Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning as the third man in league history to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year three times or more. The Florissant, Mo., product has also been named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year.
He is just the third player in league history to win the recognition more than twice, joining four-time selection Patrick Ewing (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) and three-time honoree Alonzo Mourning (1989, 1990, 1992).
Scheierman became the first Division I men's player in NCAA history to surpass 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 three-pointers, and became the 11th men's player in NCAA history to score at least 1,000 points at multiple Division I schools.
Scheierman authored Creighton's first point/rebound/assist triple-double in program history on Feb. 13 vs. Georgetown, his 14 double-doubles are the most by a Bluejay in the last 40 seasons, and his 1,100 career defensive rebounds are the most by any player in the country in the last 25 seasons. He has been named to the First Team All-Conference three times, having earned First Team All-Summit League accolades in 2020-21 and 2021-22 while enrolled at South Dakota State. He was an Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST choice last year in his initial campaign at Creighton.
Creighton is coached by Greg McDermott, who owns a 323-159 record in his 14th year with the Bluejays. This year marks his 12th trip to the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level, including trips to the Third Round in 2012, 2013 and 2014, a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2021 and last year's Elite Eight run as Creighton's coach. McDermott's nine NCAA Tournament appearances and nine NCAA Tournament victories are more than any Bluejay basketball coach in school history.
This year marks Creighton's 25th postseason bid in the last 27 seasons, which includes 16 NCAA Tournament bids in that span. The Bluejays have won at least one game in 12 of their last 14 postseason appearances. This will be Creighton's sixth straight trip to the NCAA's that comes via an at-large bid. CU is 18-25 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Creighton's No. 3 seed matches the program's best in history, as it was also a No. 3 seed in 2014.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
The Zips finished as the No. 4 scoring team (74.0) in the MAC while ranking first in scoring margin (+8.2), and first in scoring defense (65.9). The Zips rank No. 2 in field goal percentage (.456) and third in opponent field goal percentage (.427). Akron was ranked No. 4 in 3's made per game (8.1) and first in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (.297). The Blue and Gold is third in rebounding (38.2), first in rebound margin (+4.6), first in opponent rebounding (32.2), and second in defensive rebounding (26.4). The Zips are also fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.15).
The Zips are 96th in the nation in effective field goal percentage (.600), 45th in rebound margin (+4.6), 82nd in defensive rebounds per game (26.41), 23rd in scoring defense (65.9), 49th in scoring margin (+8.2), and 10th in 3-point percent defense (.297)
KEY PERSONNEL
Three players are averaging double-figure scoring - Enrique Freeman (Sr.) - 18.6 - All Ali (Sr.) – 15.6 - Greg Tribble (Sr.) - 10.5
ENRIQUE FREEMAN
OTHER KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Sammy Hunter (8.8 PPG, 32 GS-32 GP, 26.3 MIN, 59-of-162 3pt, 10 blks)
Nate Johnson (7.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 23.6 MIN, 23 GP-20 GS, .433 FG%,)
Shammah Scott (5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 18.9 MIN, 34 GP-2 GS, .377 FG%)
AKRON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Akron has made 22 postseason appearances, including the NCAA Tournament 15 times with nine of those showings coming as a Division II institution.
Akron enters its sixth NCAA Division I NCAA Tournament in 2024. Akron is 21-14 all-time in NCAA postseason play, but has yet to advance to the round of 32 in the NCAA DI Tournament. Akron first appeared in March Madness in 1986, as Bob Huggins led the Zips as a 15 seed in the Midwest Regional on March 14, 1986 at the H.H.H. Metrodome (Minneapolis,Minn.) against the second-seeded Michigan Wolverines (L, 70-64).
The Zips never went back to the Big Dance until head coach Keith Dambrot led the Zips to three NCAA appearances in five years, starting in 2009 as a 13 seed against four seed Gonzaga (L, 77-64) in the South Regional on March 19, 2009 at Rose Garden Arena (Portland, Ore.). The Zips next trip was in 2011 at the Southwest Regional on March 18, 2011 at the United Center (Chicago, Ill.) as the 15-seed Zips fell to the teo seed Notre Dame (69-56). Akron made an appearance in 2013 when the Zips earned a 12 seed and fell to fifth-seeded VCU (88-42) in the South Regional on March 21, 2011 at The Palace of Auburn Hills (Detroit, Mich.).
Akron has made the Big Dance once under coach John Groce in 2022. The No. 13 Seed Zips faced the No. 4 seed UCLA Bruins in Portland, Ore., in the East Region and fell 57-53 to UCLA.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be just the fifth time that Akron and Creighton will meet. It is the first ever time the two schools have met in the NCAA Tournament and just the second post season meeting. Akron and Crieghton met in the NIT Tournament in 2006 with the Bluejays winning 71-60. The Zips are 0-3 at Creighton and 1-0 in Akron against the Bluejays.
AKRON IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT
Akron is 37-21 all-time in the MAC Tournament, 30-10 in its last 40 tournament games. The Zips have won at least one game in the MAC Tournament every year since the 2004-05 season and set an unprecedented 17-of-19 semifinal appearances. The Zips' runs of the consecutive title games (7) and semifinal appearances (13) are the longest streaks in MAC history. The Zips are 31-15 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Akron is 7-6 in opening round games, 1-0 second round, 14-4 in the quarterfinals, 11-5 semifinals, and 4-6 in title games.
LAST TIME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT (MAR. 17, 2022)
PORTLAND, Ore. - The University of Akron men's basketball displayed for the entire nation the heart and tenacity that has defined its 2021-22 campaign before a late rally from UCLA thwarted the Zips' bid for their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in Division I as the Bruins escaped with a 57-53 triumph in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 17 from the Moda Center.
Junior Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.) directed Akron's offensive efforts registering a game-high 18 points, while pulling down six rebounds. Sophomore Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) added his 18th double-double with a 14-point, 10-rebound performance.
The Zips finished the contest shooting 39.6 percent from the field, while UCLA capped its comeback connecting on 35.2 percent of its attempts on the night. The Bruins secured the win on the strength of hitting five second-half three pointers and a 18-6 run to close out the game.
Akron led for 27:06, while there was 10 lead changes and four tied scores. The Bruins held the lead for only 10:27. In addition, the rebound battle was even at 34 apiece while the Zips outscored the Bruins 26-10 in the paint.
HISTORY OF 13 VS. 4 SEEDS IN MARCH MADNESS
Thirty-two 13 seeds have upset 4 seeds since the NCAA tournament field expanded in 1985. Going into the 2024 NCAA tournament, No. 13 seeds had a 32-120 record all-time. That equated to a 21.05 winning percentage.
The Last five to do so were Furman def. Virginia, 68-67(2023), Ohio def. Virginia, 62-58 (2021),
North Texas def. Purdue, 78-69 (OT) (2021), UC Irvine def. Kansas State, 70-64 (2019), and
Marshall def. Wichita State, 81-75 (2018). The MAC has also seen Buffalo (2018), Ohio (2012), and Kent State (2001) post wins as the No. 14 seed since 2000.
Some more tidbits:
MAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Enrique Freeman was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year on March 12 by the conference office.
Freeman becomes the fourth player in Akron history to be named the MAC Player of the Year; joining Romeo Travis (2007), Isaiah Johnson (2017), and Loren Cristian Jackson (2020). He was also a unanimous selection by the 11 opposing head coaches.
Earning All-MAC First Team honors for the second year in a row and All-Defensive Team honors for the third time in his career, Freeman led the conference in double-doubles (28), rebounds per game (12.8), total rebounds (397), defensive rebounds per game (9.16), and field goal percentage (.584). He is first in the NCAA in double-doubles (28), rebounds per game, and total rebounds.
THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Freeman has 30 double-doubles this season, ranking 1st in the NCAA, and is the only player in the MAC to average a double-double. He is 1-of-15 players in Div. I to average a double-double and has recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds 15 times. Freeman recorded 11 consecutive double-doubles from Nov. 28 to Jan. 16 and had recorded 15-straight from Jan. 23 through March 15.
ONE BY ONE THEY FALL
Enrique Freeman became the all-time leading rebounder after recording 12 rebounds in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals against Miami to break Fred Golding's (1956-59) record of 1,360.
NEW MAC TOURNAMENT RECORD
Recording 21 rebounds against Ohio in the MAC Tournament semifinals (Mar. 15, 2024), Freeman set a new MAC Tournament record for rebounds in a single tournament game.
THE FINAL 5
Akron senior forward Enrique Freeman was one of 5 finalists for the 2024 Karl Malone Award as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 7. The annual honor is in its tenth year and recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball.
Later in March, the finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committees. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone Award are composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Akron-Creighton will advance to face the winner of South Carolina and Oregon in second-round play.
Thursday, Mar. 21 – PPG Paints Arena – Pittsburgh, Penn.
1:30 pm ET – TNT - WHLO 640
HEAD COACHES
Akron: John Groce | Overall Record: 322-212 | At Akron: 140-80
Creighton: Greg McDermott | Overall Record: 603-354| At Creighton: 323-159
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tied: Creighton Leads 3-1 (0-0 NCAA | 0-1 NIT) Groce vs. Creighton: First Meeting
First Meeting: Creighton 71, Akron 60 In Omaha, Neb. (Mar. 16, 2006)
Last Meeting: Creighton 82, Akron 70 In Omaha, Neb. (Dec. 3, 2016)
At Akron: 1-0 | Neutral: 0-0 | At Creighton: 3-0 |
Current Streak: 2L
WHAT'S AHEAD
The Akron Zips battle the Creighton Bluejays in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21 for the 5th all-time meeting. Akron and Creighton can be viewed on TNT with Andrew Catalon , Steve Lappas, and Evan Washburn on the call. Fans can listen to Akron Sports Radio Network on WHLO 640 AM with Dave Skoczen (PxP) and Joe Dunn (Analyst). Live stats are also available on GoZips.com.
SCOUTING THE BLUEJAYS
The Creighton men's basketball team is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the 25th time in program history and ninth time in the past 13 years after earning an at-large bid to 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
Creighton enters the NCAA Tournament with a 23-9 record after tying for second place in the BIG EAST Conference regular-season standings and falling in the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
This year's club features First Team All-BIG EAST forward Baylor Scheierman (18.4 ppg., 9.0 rpg.) as well as Second Team All-BIG EAST selections Trey Alexander (17.6 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.8 apg.) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (17.1 ppg., 7.4 rpg., 3.0 bpg.). Rounding out the Bluejay starting five are Steven Ashworth (10.7 ppg., 4.2 apg.) and Mason Miller (5.7 ppg., .455 3FG%).
Kalkbrenner joins Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning as the third man in league history to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year three times or more. The Florissant, Mo., product has also been named a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year.
He is just the third player in league history to win the recognition more than twice, joining four-time selection Patrick Ewing (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985) and three-time honoree Alonzo Mourning (1989, 1990, 1992).
Scheierman became the first Division I men's player in NCAA history to surpass 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 three-pointers, and became the 11th men's player in NCAA history to score at least 1,000 points at multiple Division I schools.
Scheierman authored Creighton's first point/rebound/assist triple-double in program history on Feb. 13 vs. Georgetown, his 14 double-doubles are the most by a Bluejay in the last 40 seasons, and his 1,100 career defensive rebounds are the most by any player in the country in the last 25 seasons. He has been named to the First Team All-Conference three times, having earned First Team All-Summit League accolades in 2020-21 and 2021-22 while enrolled at South Dakota State. He was an Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST choice last year in his initial campaign at Creighton.
Creighton is coached by Greg McDermott, who owns a 323-159 record in his 14th year with the Bluejays. This year marks his 12th trip to the NCAA Tournament at the Division I level, including trips to the Third Round in 2012, 2013 and 2014, a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2021 and last year's Elite Eight run as Creighton's coach. McDermott's nine NCAA Tournament appearances and nine NCAA Tournament victories are more than any Bluejay basketball coach in school history.
This year marks Creighton's 25th postseason bid in the last 27 seasons, which includes 16 NCAA Tournament bids in that span. The Bluejays have won at least one game in 12 of their last 14 postseason appearances. This will be Creighton's sixth straight trip to the NCAA's that comes via an at-large bid. CU is 18-25 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Creighton's No. 3 seed matches the program's best in history, as it was also a No. 3 seed in 2014.
ZIPS AT A GLANCE
- 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament Champions
- 24-10 record, including 13-5 mark in league play
- 109-45 overall record over the past five seasons and a 66-25 conference record
- The Zips are making their sixth appearance in the NCAA (Div. I) Tournament and fifth since joining the MAC.
The Zips finished as the No. 4 scoring team (74.0) in the MAC while ranking first in scoring margin (+8.2), and first in scoring defense (65.9). The Zips rank No. 2 in field goal percentage (.456) and third in opponent field goal percentage (.427). Akron was ranked No. 4 in 3's made per game (8.1) and first in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (.297). The Blue and Gold is third in rebounding (38.2), first in rebound margin (+4.6), first in opponent rebounding (32.2), and second in defensive rebounding (26.4). The Zips are also fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (+1.15).
The Zips are 96th in the nation in effective field goal percentage (.600), 45th in rebound margin (+4.6), 82nd in defensive rebounds per game (26.41), 23rd in scoring defense (65.9), 49th in scoring margin (+8.2), and 10th in 3-point percent defense (.297)
KEY PERSONNEL
Three players are averaging double-figure scoring - Enrique Freeman (Sr.) - 18.6 - All Ali (Sr.) – 15.6 - Greg Tribble (Sr.) - 10.5
ENRIQUE FREEMAN
- Freeman has 30 double-doubles this season.
- Ranks 1st in the NCAA in double-doubles, rebounds, and rebounds per game.
- Only player in the MAC to average a double double.
- 1-of-15 players in Div. I to average a double-double.
- Has recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds 15 times.
- Scored 71 total points (23.7 per game), 42 total rebounds(14.0 per game), and 12 total blocks (4.0 per game) in the MAC Tournament and was named the MAC Tournament MVP.
- Set a MAC Tournament record for rebounds in a game with 21 against Ohio (Mar. 15) in the Semifinals while scoring 24 points and setting a career-high in blocks with seven.
- Was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year on March 12 by the conference office. He was also named to the All-MAC First Team for the second time and All-Defensive Team for the fourth time.
- No. 1 in career rebounds (1,391), No. 3 in career scoring (1,822), No. 2 in career blocks (187)
- Named All-MAC First Team and All-MAC Tournament Team
- Has scored in double-figures in 22 games and has scored 15 or more points in 15 games this season.
- Has hit five or more shots from the field 18 times.
- He is second on the team with 15.6 points per game and is shooting .482 (133-of-276) from the field while averaging 33.2 minutes per game.
- Ali has also recorded 20 or more points six times and has made seven or more free throws six times.
- Scored his 1,000th point as a Zip on March 2 against Northern Illinois.
- Became the 49th player in prgram history to score at least 1,000 points at Akron and is currently 43rd in all-time scoring with 1,080 points.
- An All-MAC second team award winner in 2021-22, Ali played for Butler the past season where he scored 6.5 ppg and had 2.7 rpg in 18 appearances and 12 starts.
- Was an All-MAC Honorable Mention.
- Named to the 2024 All-MAC Defensive Team.
- Averaging 10.5 points per game this season with double figure scoring in 17 games.
- He set a new career-high in points score (20) and made field goals (8) at James Madison.
- Tribble has scored 15+ points nine times.
- He's second among the Zips in free throw percentage with an .740 clip.
- Starting every game he's played this season, Tribble is third on the team with 29.0 minutes per game.
OTHER KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Sammy Hunter (8.8 PPG, 32 GS-32 GP, 26.3 MIN, 59-of-162 3pt, 10 blks)
Nate Johnson (7.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 23.6 MIN, 23 GP-20 GS, .433 FG%,)
Shammah Scott (5.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 18.9 MIN, 34 GP-2 GS, .377 FG%)
AKRON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
Akron has made 22 postseason appearances, including the NCAA Tournament 15 times with nine of those showings coming as a Division II institution.
Akron enters its sixth NCAA Division I NCAA Tournament in 2024. Akron is 21-14 all-time in NCAA postseason play, but has yet to advance to the round of 32 in the NCAA DI Tournament. Akron first appeared in March Madness in 1986, as Bob Huggins led the Zips as a 15 seed in the Midwest Regional on March 14, 1986 at the H.H.H. Metrodome (Minneapolis,Minn.) against the second-seeded Michigan Wolverines (L, 70-64).
The Zips never went back to the Big Dance until head coach Keith Dambrot led the Zips to three NCAA appearances in five years, starting in 2009 as a 13 seed against four seed Gonzaga (L, 77-64) in the South Regional on March 19, 2009 at Rose Garden Arena (Portland, Ore.). The Zips next trip was in 2011 at the Southwest Regional on March 18, 2011 at the United Center (Chicago, Ill.) as the 15-seed Zips fell to the teo seed Notre Dame (69-56). Akron made an appearance in 2013 when the Zips earned a 12 seed and fell to fifth-seeded VCU (88-42) in the South Regional on March 21, 2011 at The Palace of Auburn Hills (Detroit, Mich.).
Akron has made the Big Dance once under coach John Groce in 2022. The No. 13 Seed Zips faced the No. 4 seed UCLA Bruins in Portland, Ore., in the East Region and fell 57-53 to UCLA.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be just the fifth time that Akron and Creighton will meet. It is the first ever time the two schools have met in the NCAA Tournament and just the second post season meeting. Akron and Crieghton met in the NIT Tournament in 2006 with the Bluejays winning 71-60. The Zips are 0-3 at Creighton and 1-0 in Akron against the Bluejays.
AKRON IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT
Akron is 37-21 all-time in the MAC Tournament, 30-10 in its last 40 tournament games. The Zips have won at least one game in the MAC Tournament every year since the 2004-05 season and set an unprecedented 17-of-19 semifinal appearances. The Zips' runs of the consecutive title games (7) and semifinal appearances (13) are the longest streaks in MAC history. The Zips are 31-15 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Akron is 7-6 in opening round games, 1-0 second round, 14-4 in the quarterfinals, 11-5 semifinals, and 4-6 in title games.
LAST TIME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT (MAR. 17, 2022)
PORTLAND, Ore. - The University of Akron men's basketball displayed for the entire nation the heart and tenacity that has defined its 2021-22 campaign before a late rally from UCLA thwarted the Zips' bid for their first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in Division I as the Bruins escaped with a 57-53 triumph in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 17 from the Moda Center.
Junior Xavier Castaneda (Chicago, Ill.) directed Akron's offensive efforts registering a game-high 18 points, while pulling down six rebounds. Sophomore Enrique Freeman (Cleveland, Ohio) added his 18th double-double with a 14-point, 10-rebound performance.
The Zips finished the contest shooting 39.6 percent from the field, while UCLA capped its comeback connecting on 35.2 percent of its attempts on the night. The Bruins secured the win on the strength of hitting five second-half three pointers and a 18-6 run to close out the game.
Akron led for 27:06, while there was 10 lead changes and four tied scores. The Bruins held the lead for only 10:27. In addition, the rebound battle was even at 34 apiece while the Zips outscored the Bruins 26-10 in the paint.
HISTORY OF 13 VS. 4 SEEDS IN MARCH MADNESS
Thirty-two 13 seeds have upset 4 seeds since the NCAA tournament field expanded in 1985. Going into the 2024 NCAA tournament, No. 13 seeds had a 32-120 record all-time. That equated to a 21.05 winning percentage.
The Last five to do so were Furman def. Virginia, 68-67(2023), Ohio def. Virginia, 62-58 (2021),
North Texas def. Purdue, 78-69 (OT) (2021), UC Irvine def. Kansas State, 70-64 (2019), and
Marshall def. Wichita State, 81-75 (2018). The MAC has also seen Buffalo (2018), Ohio (2012), and Kent State (2001) post wins as the No. 14 seed since 2000.
Some more tidbits:
- Basketball legend David Robinson was on the right side of the first 13-4 upset in 1985. Robinson's Navy Midshipmen cruised to a 78-55 victory over fourth-seeded LSU in the opening round.
- Of the 32 upset victories, six finished in the Sweet 16, starting with Richmond in 1988 and most recently with La Salle in 2013.
- The No. 13 seed is 7-2 in games decided by one point.
- Multiple 13 seeds have upset 4 seeds in five years: 1987, 2001, 2008, 2018 and 2021
MAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Enrique Freeman was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year on March 12 by the conference office.
Freeman becomes the fourth player in Akron history to be named the MAC Player of the Year; joining Romeo Travis (2007), Isaiah Johnson (2017), and Loren Cristian Jackson (2020). He was also a unanimous selection by the 11 opposing head coaches.
Earning All-MAC First Team honors for the second year in a row and All-Defensive Team honors for the third time in his career, Freeman led the conference in double-doubles (28), rebounds per game (12.8), total rebounds (397), defensive rebounds per game (9.16), and field goal percentage (.584). He is first in the NCAA in double-doubles (28), rebounds per game, and total rebounds.
THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Freeman has 30 double-doubles this season, ranking 1st in the NCAA, and is the only player in the MAC to average a double-double. He is 1-of-15 players in Div. I to average a double-double and has recorded 20+ points and 10+ rebounds 15 times. Freeman recorded 11 consecutive double-doubles from Nov. 28 to Jan. 16 and had recorded 15-straight from Jan. 23 through March 15.
ONE BY ONE THEY FALL
Enrique Freeman became the all-time leading rebounder after recording 12 rebounds in the MAC Tournament quarterfinals against Miami to break Fred Golding's (1956-59) record of 1,360.
NEW MAC TOURNAMENT RECORD
Recording 21 rebounds against Ohio in the MAC Tournament semifinals (Mar. 15, 2024), Freeman set a new MAC Tournament record for rebounds in a single tournament game.
THE FINAL 5
Akron senior forward Enrique Freeman was one of 5 finalists for the 2024 Karl Malone Award as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 7. The annual honor is in its tenth year and recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball.
Later in March, the finalists will be presented to Malone and the Hall of Fame's selection committees. The Selection Committees for the Karl Malone Award are composed of top men's college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Akron-Creighton will advance to face the winner of South Carolina and Oregon in second-round play.
Players Mentioned
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