These are two teams that are unpredictable and can win their first-round match-up in this year's NCAA Tournament.
Were they Conference Tournament Champions: Yes, they defeated Kent State in the finals of the Mid-American Conference tournament.
Where they finished in the regular season standings for their conference: They finished tied for second place in the MAC this season.
Record this Season: 24-10
Their record against teams from the Power Five conferences this season: 0-0
Best victories this season: @ South Dakota State, Bradley, @ Northern Kentucky, @ Gardner-Webb, @ Kent State, Ohio, Toledo, Ohio (neutral court), and Kent State
Quad 1 and 2 Losses: @ UNLV, Utah State (neutral court), Drake (neutral court), St. Bonaventure (neutral court), @ James Madison, @ Toledo, and @ Ohio
NET Ranking: 125
KenPom Ranking: 145
College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 111
Barttorvik Ranking: 159
Quadrant 1 Record: 0-3
Quadrant 2 Record: 2-3
Quadrant 3 Record: 6-2
NCAA Tournament: As a No. 14 seed, they will play No. 3 seed Creighton. The likelihood of Akron pulling off the upset is at 11.4%.
Were they Conference Tournament Champions: Yes, they won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.
Where they finished in the regular season standings for their conference: They finished in first place but they were tri-regular season champions of the Ohio Valley Conference this season with UT Martin and Little Rock.
Record this Season: 26-8
Their record against teams from the Power Five conferences this season: 0-4
Best victories this season: Chattanooga, Mercer, Austin Peay, and @ North Alabama
Quad 1 and 2 Losses: @ Alabama, @ Purdue, @ Penn State, @ Indiana, and @ Little Rock
NET Ranking: 106
KenPom Ranking: 111
College Basketball Power Index Ranking: 103
Barttorvik Ranking: 133
Quadrant 1 Record: 0-2
Quadrant 2 Record: 0-2
Quadrant 3 Record: 3-2
NCAA Tournament: As a No. 14 seed, they play No. 3 seed Illinois. The probability of them winning their first-round match-up is 11.8%.