MAC Basketball

[The Voice]

They are. Luckily, they have what is considered their one of, if not their best overall recruiting class in program history.

It starts with BJ Gladden, a 6'5", 185 lb wing who passed up offers from Tennessee, Wake Forest, and VCU, among others to come play for Keith Dambrot. His uncle, LeBron Gladden (not joking...that's his name) played for Dambrot when he was coaching with Ashland. Gladden is a BCS-caliber athlete and should compete for minutes immediately.

Isiah Johnson is next, a 6'9", 275 lb center who passed up on Xavier, Ohio, and Kent State to come to UA. He was named AP Division I first-team all-state on is the Southwest District player of the year. He should contribute as Pat Forsythe's backup immediately.

The Zips also added size in 6'8", 210 lb Kwan Cheatham. Cheatham will likely redshirt next season, but is said to have a ton of upside to his game.

Finally, Akron added Aaron Jackson, a 6'5", 185 lb wing who passed up Ohio and Toledo in favor of Akron. Jackson is a great athlete who will also likely redshirt next season.

The biggest additions will come from experienced players being added to the roster.

First, it's likely that Quincy Diggs will be back for his senior season. Second, they've added JUCO point guard Nyles Evans, shown here playing against several current Zips.

The depth chart will likely look like this:

C-Pat Forsythe/Isaiah Johnson
PF-Demetrius Treadwell/Nick Harney
SF-Jake Kretzer/Reggie McAdams
SG-Quincy Diggs/BJ Gladden
PG-Nyles Evans/Carmelo Betancourt

With OU losing so many important players and Kent losing both Evans and Holt, Akron should be the pre-season favorite to be the last team standing in Cleveland once again in 2014.

I can do that too.

Javarez Willis was a four star recruit when he signed with Texas Tech. He sat out this year and will play for OU.

Wadley Mompremier is a 6'9" 220lb Center who passed up on Akron, Cleveland State, Northwestern, James Madison, ODU. With interest from VCU.

Maurice Ndour- JUCO 6'8" 200lb PF. UC, providence and St. Johns offered, Pitt was interested.

D.J. Wingfield - Groce loved this kid and it's rumored he wanted him. He had offers from the top of the MAC.

 

[DJTJ]

BG's recruiting class is garbage, and we won't have enough scoring to compete next year. I expect a lot of blowouts.

 

[Derek]

I liked the freshmen Kent State had this year, mainly Spicer. Doesn't look like they've officially signed anybody yet for this year although the list of guys "considering" Kent State seems like a decent list of guys.

However, I have no faith in Senderoff to put anything together and they'll probably just end up bring in some JUCO guy to be their best player. I really hate how many JUCO/transfer guys Kent brings in.

My only hope is that they can throw together a solid run soon and Senderoff will get paid off somewhere else. They really need some new blood in the program. Christian was Heath's assistant, Ford was Christian's and Senderoff was Ford's. I pray for an outside hire the next time the position is open.

 

[Steve_424]

I can do that too.

Javarez Willis was a four star recruit when he signed with Texas Tech. He sat out this year and will play for OU.

Wadley Mompremier is a 6'9" 220lb Center who passed up on Akron, Cleveland State, Northwestern, James Madison, ODU. With interest from VCU.

Maurice Ndour- JUCO 6'8" 200lb PF. UC, providence and St. Johns offered, Pitt was interested.

D.J. Wingfield - Groce loved this kid and it's rumored he wanted him. He had offers from the top of the MAC.

You don't have to tell me about OU's incoming class - I know it's a damn good one.

Here's the catch - Akron, which was the better team this season, brings back a better team for next season.

 

[davedugan43]

Let's just agree that OU and Akron are gonna be right back in CLE next March.

:hide:
*awaits Chardon's KSU defense*

 

[Huber.]

BG's recruiting class is garbage, and we won't have enough scoring to compete next year. I expect a lot of blowouts.

Why is BG always in the middle/bottom of football and basketball in the MAC? Coaches? Facilities?

 

[DJTJ]

Why is BG always in the middle/bottom of football and basketball in the MAC? Coaches? Facilities?

Not facilities. We just built the Stroh Center, which is basically a top notch basketball arena/practice facility. Gorgeous building. Our football team's Sebo Center is top notch as well.

Football is on the up and up. Last year, nationally ranked defense, and outside of the Toledo and VTech game (yes, I stand by the fact that had we had a better than a bottom three QB in the conference, who is thankfully gone, that we would, and should have beat Florida), we should have won every game. That program is on the upswing big time, and will play for Conference titles.

Basketball, though, is coaching. Everyone here loves Orr, but I can't stand his dependency on seniors, especially ones that shoot as terrible as Crawford and Calhoun did this season. Couple that with pretty bad recruiting classes, and basketball is just going to blow for awhile.

At least we have Football, and thank god for a competitive Hockey Team. Otherwise, sports here would just stink.

 

[Huber.]

Yeah I have been to the Stroh center a couple of times and it's pretty nice which is why I thought they would starting getting better recruits. Not sure if I would say the hockey team is competitive though.

 

[DJTJ]

Yeah I have been to the Stroh center a couple of times and it's pretty nice which is why I thought they would starting getting better recruits. Not sure if I would say the hockey team is competitive though.

We're most certainly competitive, and we're incredibly young. I think most of our "leaders" are sophomores. We play every team really hard at home, and like young kids, play average at home. We turned things around in December, had a point streak against ranked teams, and finished the season 12-9-2. Considering the fact that we went 3-16, and turned it around with that big point streak, we ended up being really competitive. They really think that, because of our conference switch and not having to play Miami, Notre Dame, Michigan, OSU, and State, that we have a legitimate chance at playing for the NCHA crown (and going over .500 without a doubt), which is pretty big considering the fact that BG almost lost Hockey due to a lack of revenue and disinterest in a historic program.

 

[Steve_424]

Let's just agree that OU and Akron are gonna be right back in CLE next March.

:hide:
*awaits Chardon's KSU defense*

I really don't think so.

OU and Kent will be in the mix for sure, but I think next year will be the year someone else steps up to take on Akron on Saturday in Cleveland. Toledo and Buffalo are both possible.

 

[The Voice]

You don't have to tell me about OU's incoming class - I know it's a damn good one.

Here's the catch - Akron, which was the better team this season, brings back a better team for next season.

OU brought back a sweet 16 team last year and couldn't get it together. I know Akron didn't switch coaches, but you never know how the season will play out.

I really don't think so.

OU and Kent will be in the mix for sure, but I think next year will be the year someone else steps up to take on Akron on Saturday in Cleveland. Toledo and Buffalo are both possible.

Is Toledo eligible next year?

 

[Steve_424]

OU brought back a sweet 16 team last year and couldn't get it together. I know Akron didn't switch coaches, but you never know how the season will play out.



Is Toledo eligible next year?

OU was still a damn good basketball team this year. They only lost to one MAC team - Akron - 3 times. I agree that we don't know how the season will play out, but he Zips' returning roster + Dambrot's track record gives me confidence they'll be playing Saturday night in Cleveland.

Not sure on Toledo...I thought it was only one year, could be wrong though.

 

[davedugan43]

OU was still a damn good basketball team this year. They only lost to one MAC team - Akron - 3 times. I agree that we don't know how the season will play out, but he Zips' returning roster + Dambrot's track record gives me confidence they'll be playing Saturday night in Cleveland.

Not sure on Toledo...I thought it was only one year, could be wrong though.

Also got crushed by Memphis, Belmont, lost to Oklahoma, Robert Morris, Winthrop...we're trying to improve our OOC schedule, but who knows what the team will look like next year.

 

[Steve_424]

Also got crushed by Memphis, Belmont, lost to Oklahoma, Robert Morris, Winthrop...we're trying to improve our OOC schedule, but who knows what the team will look like next year.

Absolutely.

We're talking MAC though, and OU didn't lose to anyone but Akron this year.

 

[Steve_424]

Some offseason news:

- Quincy Diggs has a 95% chance of returning to Akron next year. In other Zips news, Nyles Evans, a JUCO PG officially signed and Blake Justice will transfer out.
- Darius Paul, Western Michigan's MAC Freshman of the Year, is transferring
- Drew McGhee, Allen Roberts, Jared Tadlock, and Jon Harris are leaving Miami