Akron Zips Basketball 2011-2012

[Steve_424]

Treadwell is really starting to come on for the Zips. Gilliam has filled in nicely as a starter as well.

 

[czvo]

Ohio dominates UNI in Iowa. This team is for real, and might be the best in the MAC.

 

[Steve_424]

Ohio dominates UNI in Iowa. This team is for real, and might be the best in the MAC.

Very impressive win. The MAC East should be very strong - again.

 

[Steve_424]

After a tough loss at Cleveland State the Zips came home and did what they were supposed to do in handling four straight "cupcake" matchups. Next up is VCU at home, which will be a tough challenge for the Zips.

 

[I.K.W.T]

After a tough loss at Cleveland State the Zips came home and did what they were supposed to do in handling four straight "cupcake" matchups. Next up is VCU at home, which will be a tough challenge for the Zips.

Had floor seats for each of those games, "cupcake" matchups is the understatement of the year. Those teams blew.

 

[Steve_424]

Had floor seats for each of those games, "cupcake" matchups is the understatement of the year. Those teams blew.

Definitely...I have no problem with the way they schedule though. Start tough then go really easy for a few right before conference play...gives them the opportunity to fix whatever they need to before conference play and build up the confidence a bit as well.

 

[I.K.W.T]

Definitely...I have no problem with the way they schedule though. Start tough then go really easy for a few right before conference play...gives them the opportunity to fix whatever they need to before conference play and build up the confidence a bit as well.

Yes sir. Zeke has eseentially carried us with Harney being out due to failing a drug test. Speaking of Harney, he sits on the bench during games with sweats and his headphones on the entire game, and doesn't care what is going on. He needs to be disciplined.

 

[The Voice]

Last I checked Ohio University is 10 in RPI

 

[Steve_424]

Last I checked Ohio University is 10 in RPI

They've had a great non-conference run and have to be considered one of the favorites to win the MAC. Unfortunately, the MAC beats the MAC up, and that will kill any chance they have of an at-large bid.

 

[Bob_The_Cat]

They've had a great non-conference run and have to be considered one of the favorites to win the MAC. Unfortunately, the MAC beats the MAC up, and that will kill any chance they have of an at-large bid.

The biggest difference with this Ohio team is the fact that they've played their best basketball on the road all season. Also, this team is incredibly deep. They'll run a 10-man rotation, and the 5 off the bench are probably better than most starting 5's in the MAC. This team is extremely unselfish, but they have multiple guys that can take over when needed. Teams always struggle on the road in the MAC, which is why I see what they've done in the non-conference as being extremely encouraging. Wins @Marshall, @Oakland, @UNI, and @Wright State are all good road tests and as good or better than nearly all of the teams in the MAC. Add in a great performance on the road against #4 Louisville (up by 6 with 3 min left, held Louisville under 60) and you have a team that should do extremely well in the MAC.

The biggest thing, though, is that Ohio will return every player from this team, barring transfers or defections. Looking forward to getting this MAC season started.

 

[Steve_424]

The biggest difference with this Ohio team is the fact that they've played their best basketball on the road all season. Also, this team is incredibly deep. They'll run a 10-man rotation, and the 5 off the bench are probably better than most starting 5's in the MAC. This team is extremely unselfish, but they have multiple guys that can take over when needed. Teams always struggle on the road in the MAC, which is why I see what they've done in the non-conference as being extremely encouraging. Wins @Marshall, @Oakland, @UNI, and @Wright State are all good road tests and as good or better than nearly all of the teams in the MAC. Add in a great performance on the road against #4 Louisville (up by 6 with 3 min left, held Louisville under 60) and you have a team that should do extremely well in the MAC.

The biggest thing, though, is that Ohio will return every player from this team, barring transfers or defections. Looking forward to getting this MAC season started.

They have been very, very impressive, but I still stand by belief that they'll get tripped up in MAC play. It happens every single year to the MAC's best teams, and I expect no different for OU this season. I definitely think it will either be them, Akron, or Kent State that wins the MAC Tournament.

 

[The Voice]

Ohio is the quietest good team in college hoops

No team has managed to fly under-the-radar more than the Ohio Bobcats. Ohio has just one loss, a close one at Louisville.

The 11 victories? Six have come in the form of true road games, including wins at Northern Iowa, Marshall and Oakland. Not bad for a program that was expected to fall into the abyss after the departure of Armon Bassett, Steven Coleman and Alex Kellogg shortly after the NCAA tournament first-round upset over Georgetown a few years ago.

Bassett, a one-time Indiana guard, got into off-court trouble and put his name in for the NBA Draft. Coleman took a shot at a rap career and Kellogg gave up basketball.

"We lost three starters in five months," Ohio coach John Groce said.

Therefore, the Bobcats coach had no option but to go with the youth movement and after struggling to an 8-11 mark out of the gates, Ohio finished strong, winning 12 of its last 17 and earning a postseason trip to the CBI. But no one -- including Groce -- could have predicted this year's near-flawless start. Ohio was picked to finish third in the MAC. In its division.

However, point guard D.J. Cooper (right) continues to mature and has no shortage of help -- from well-traveled wing Walter Offutt, forwards Ivo Baltic and Reggie Keely and a team that Groce said is his deepest since arriving in Athens. Clark Kellogg's other son, Nick, as well as Saint Louis transfer Jon Smith and freshman Stevie Taylor have all been solid and made key contributions.

"We play 10 guys every night," Groce said. "They all play before the 10-minute mark of the first half. We're deeper, they play harder and this is the most cohesive team I've had."

It's also a team that doesn't have a single senior on its roster. Cooper, Baltic and Keely are juniors and were on the team that knocked off Georgetown two seasons ago. Offutt, who began his career at Ohio State, has two years with Groce after leaving Columbus after just a few games as a freshman, then going to Wright State for a brief stint before arriving at Ohio.

"He's athletic, explosive and can rebound and score," Groce said. "He's something we really needed on this team."

Cooper's scoring has dipped, but his overall floor game - and mental makeup - have improved, according to Groce. In fact, the entire team has begun to learn to prepare in an identical manner whether the opponent is Louisville or the sister's of the poor.

"I like the direction we're headed," Groce said. "But we have to keep getting better."

Maybe then people will begin to take notice.

.

Also an ESPN insider article is on espn.com, but I don't have insider.

 

[Steve_424]

Tough loss to VCU in OT tonight...Akron controlled the entire game and then got sloppy at the end. The zebras didn't help matters, but they've got to finish teams off when they've got them down. On a side note, this was the first time since their first game of the season that they've had everyone active. They should be firing on all cylinders when MAC play arrives.

 

[I.K.W.T]

Great game tonight, crowd was intense. The officials don't deserve any of the blame, we played ourselves to a loss with our stagnent offense and turnovers. Plus, not feeding Zeke hurt us a ton. VCU won a game that great teams win.

 

[Steve_424]

Great game tonight, crowd was intense. The officials don't deserve any of the blame, we played ourselves to a loss with our stagnent offense and turnovers. Plus, not feeding Zeke hurt us a ton. VCU won a game that great teams win.

Can't agree there...Akron takes the majority of the blame for not closing VCU out, but the referees certainly made an impact. The non-call on Abreu's three point attempt near the end of regulation especially was a game-changer. Even so, Akron still should have won the game had they taken care of the basketball.