The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Travels to Valparaiso to Conclude 2K Sports Classic
November 17 | Men's Basketball
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2K Sports Classic Game Notes in PDF Format
Game Day Coverage:
Listen to Free Audio Stream (SportsRadio1350.com) - Both Games
Follow Free Live Statistics (Valparaiso)
Follow Free Live Statistics (Duquesne)
Watch Free Video Stream (Valparaiso)
(rv/-) Akron (2-0) at Valparaiso (2-1)
Friday., Nov. 18, 2011 • 8:30 p.m. ET
Valparaiso, Ind.
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000)
Television: None.
Webcast/Live Statistics:
Available at GoZips.com – Webcast and live statistics free of charge.
Radio: SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) and for free at SportsRadio1350.com. Andy Garcia (play-by-play) (8:00 p.m. ET airtime).
(rv/-) Akron (2-0) vs. Duquesne (1-1)
Saturday., Nov. 19, 2011 • 6 p.m. ET
Valparaiso, Ind.
Athletics-Recreation Center (5,000)
Television: None.
Live Statistics:
Available at GoZips.com – live statistics free of charge.
Radio: SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship) and for free at SportsRadio1350.com. Bill Baker (play-by-play) (5:30 p.m. ET airtime).
Akron Concludes 2K Sports Classic
The University of Akron men's basketball teams will conclude the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer this weekend with a road game against Valparaiso (Nov. 18) and a neutral site game against Duquesne (Nov. 19). Both games will be played in Valparaiso, Ind.
Storylines
• Akron opened its 2011-12 home slate with a 95-65 victory over Hiram. The win was the 39th-straight win over the Terriers for Akron.
• Sophomore guard Alex Abreu led five Zips in double-figures with 15 points. He added six assists, six rebounds and three steals.
• Nikola Cvetinovic (14), Brian Walsh (14), Nick Harney (13) and Quincy Diggs (11) also reached double digits in the scoring column.
• The Zips had five players score in double digits for the first time this season. Last year, Akron had four games with five or more players reach double figures in the scoring column.
• Junior forward Quincy Diggs earned Mid-American Conference East Division Player of the Week honors on Nov. 14 after averaging 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.0 assist per game. The Zips went 2-0 last week.
• This year's appearance in the 2K Sports Classic is Akron's first appearance in the event.
• Akron is 47-29 all-time in regular season tournaments, including a 12-8 mark under eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot.
• In the latest AP Top-25 poll, the Zips received one vote. It is the first time since Nov. 12, 2007, that Akron has been listed in the poll.
• A weekend sweep of Valpo and Duquesne would give Akron its first 4-0 start since the NCAA Runner-up 1971-72 squad. The Zips have started a season 4-0 on 20 occasions.
• If the Zips defeat Valpo and Duquesne, they would be the first team in the current format of the 2K Sports Classic to go undefeated and not win the event (Since 2009).
• Akron's win against Mississippi State was the first for the Zips over a high major opponent since the Zips' 65-60 overtime win at Florida State during the 2008 NIT (March 18, 2008).
A Look at the Crusaders
Valparaiso enters the weekend with a 2-1 record following an 88-38 win over Holy Cross (Ind.) on Nov. 14. Ryan Broekhoff and Kevin Van Wijk lead the team in scoring with 15.3 ppg each while Broekhoff averages 9.0 rpg while Van Wijk is averaging 8.0 rpg.
The Zips are 5-1 against Valpo, including a 2-1 record on the road in a series that started during the 1990-91 season. Akron's only loss at Valpo came on Feb. 21, 2009, at 74-66 loss as post of the ESPNU BraketBusters event.
Last Time Out Against Valpo
Jimmy Conyers had 22 points while Brett McKnight pitched in with 17 points to lead Akron to a 77-57 win against the Crusaders at Rhodes Arena on Dec. 27, 2009.
The Zips shot 55.4 percent from the floor (31-of-56) and forced 18 Valpo turnovers to improve to 5-1 in the series (3-0 at Rhodes Arena).
A Look at the Dukes
Duquesne enter's the weekend with a 1-1 record and will face Valparaiso on Friday before taking on the Zips on Saturday. The Dukes fell 67-59 at No. 16 Arizona on Nov. 9 before downing Green Bay 84-66 at home on Nov. 13.
The Dukes have five players averaging double figures, led by Sean Johnson's 13.5 ppg. B.J. Monteiro (13.0 ppg), Eric Evans (11.5 ppg), T.J. McConnell (10/.5 ppg) and Andre Marhold (10.5 ppg) are also in double figures. McConnell and Mamadou Datt lead the team in rebounding (5.0 rpg).
Overall, Duquesne leads the all-time series 12-8, but Akron has won the last six meetings.
Last Time Out Against Duquesne
Romeo Travis posted a double-double (26 points, 11 rebounds) and Nick Dials added 23 points as the Zips defeated Duquesne 87-74 to improve to 22-6 on Feb. 26, 2007, in Pittsburgh.
Akron finished the game shooting 52.5 percent from the field (31-of-59) in the win, but committed 18 turnovers and was out-rebounded 42-37.
Akron-Hiram Recap
Alex Abreu led five Akron players in double-figure points as the Zips topped visiting Hiram 95-65 on Nov. 12 in their home opener at Rhodes Arena as part of the 2K Sports Classic.
Abreu had 15 points and shot 5-for-8 from the field, including making 4-of-6 3-pointers, to go along with a game-high six assists and six rebounds, all off the defensive glass.
Pacing the sophomore point guard in double figures was Nikola Cvetinovic and Brian Walsh, with 14 each, Nick Harney with 13 and Quincy Diggs with 10.
Akron built a 57-35 halftime lead and continued to control the tempo in the second half, pushing its lead as high as 32 points (85-53) with 4:40 to play.
Keeping Things Neutral
The Zips have had a lot of success facing teams on neutral courts under eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot. In 36 previous games, Akron is 23-13 (.639) at neutral sites. Saturday's game against Duquesne will be Akron's only neutral-site game until the Mid-American Conference tournament.
Home Cooking
Akron is 92-15 (.860) at Rhodes Arena under eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot (1-0 overall, 0-0 MAC this season). The Zips have recorded nine-straight winning seasons at home overall and have won at least 13 home contests in six of the last seven years. In fact, the Zips have not posted a losing home record since 1995-96 (2-11).
MAC East Player of the Week
Junior forward Quincy Diggs earned his first Mid-American Conference East Player of the Week honor on Nov. 14 after helping the Zips open the season with a 2-0 mark.
Diggs, averaged 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.0 assist per game. He shot 66.7 percent from the floor (12-of-18) and 75.0 percent from long range (3-of-4).
In Akron's 68-58 road win in the season-opener at Mississippi State on Nov. 9, he scored a game and career-high 19 points while grabbing four boards and dishing out one assist in 33 minutes of play.
On Nov. 12, Diggs posted his second-consecutive double-digit scoring performance, posting 10 points, six boards, two steals and one assist in Akron's 95-65 win over Hiram.
Let the Block Party Continue
Junior center Zeke Marshall picked up right where he left off last season. Marshall is averaging 3.0 blocked shots per game on the early season, including a five-block performance against Mississippi State on Nov. 9.
For his career, he has 42 multi-block games and has reached double figures in the block column in seven-straight contests and has four or more blocked shots in 11 career games. He has blocked at least one shot in 16-straight and in 64-of-73 career games.
Spreading Out the Points
Last season, the Zips had four games in which five or more players reached double figures in the scoring column, including back-to-back games for the first time in nearly 12 years. So far this season, the Zips have achieved the feat once in two games.
The Zips had five players Alex Abreu (15), Nikola Cvetinovic (14), Brian Walsh (14), Nick Harney (13) and Quincy Diggs (11) hit double digits against Hiram (Nov. 12).
Last season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Dec. 29), five Zips reached double figures while six players hit double-digits in the scoring column against Oral Roberts (Jan. 3). The last time this happened was Jan. 30 and Feb. 3, 1999. Akron has not had three-straight games with five-plus players in double figures in the Division I Era (1980-81).
Making an Early Impact
Sophomores Brian Walsh and Nick Harney have stepped into the Akron rotation early this season to make an immediate impact. The two have combined to average 21 points and six rebounds over the first two games.
Walsh is tied for second on the team in scoring (11.5 ppg) and is averaging 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Harney is averaging 9.5 ppg and 2.5 rpg for the Zips to start the season.
Defensive Effort
The Zips have put up a solid defensive effort over the first two games of the season. So far, Akron is allowing just 61.5 ppg, have forced 17.0 turnovers per game and have converted 34 total turnovers into 47 points (23.5 ppg).
Bench Power
The Akron bench has provided a ton of productivity early on this season. In two games, the Zips' bench players hold a 63-28 scoring advantage and are averaging 31.5 points/game.
Inside the Scoring Numbers
The Zips have been one of the better defensive squads in the league under eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot. In 239 games, the Zips have held 175 opponents to 70 points or less, going 141-34 (.806). Akron has held 136 of those foes to 65 points or less, going 118-18 (.868). On the flip side, Akron is 23-41 when allowing 70-plus points (.359).
Lights, Camera, Action
The Zips will appear on television five times this season, with the potential for nine additional TV games to be added to the schedule. Akron won its first TV game, a 68-58 road win over Mississippi State, on Nov. 9 on ESPNU. Last season Akron went 9-7 on TV.
A Look at the Polls
• For the first time since Nov. 12, 2007, the Zips are receiving votes in the AP poll. Akron received one vote in the latest edition of the poll.
• Three opponents appeared in the latest AP-Top 25 and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls. Cleveland State (43/13) and West Virginia received votes in both polls (1/10) while Marshall (1) was listed in the AP poll and VCU (3) was listed in the Coaches poll.
• After a 2-0 start to the season, the Zips moved up to No. 12 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll and received one first-place vote. Additionally, ten Akron opponents also appeared in the poll, including No. 4 Cleveland State, No. 13 VCU, No. 14 Kent State and No. 16 Detroit. Middle Tennessee (45), Western Michigan (11), Ball State (8), Miami (Ohio) (6), Easter Michigan (1) and Valparaiso (1) all received votes.
How Hard is it to Win 20 Games?
• The Akron Zips are the only team in the Mid-American Conference to have won 20-plus games the last six seasons. How hard is it to win 20-plus games on a regular basis? In the last four seasons, only 34 of 346 teams (9.8 percent) have won 20 games each year. Over the past five years, that number drops to 24 of 346 teams (6.9 percent). At the end of the 2010-11 season, only 20 teams, including Akron, were able to reach 20 or more wins (5.8 percent) in the last six seasons.
• On the coaching side of 20-win seasons, head coach Keith Dambrot is currently tied for 14th place among active coaches with current 20-plus game winning streaks (6). Eighteen active coaches in Division I basketball have posted longer streaks of 20-win seasons than Dambrot and only three of those coaches (Mark Few, Gonzaga; Stew Morrill, Utah State; Dana Altman, Creighton) have posted longer streaks of 20-win seasons than Dambrot solely at mid-major programs.
Defending the Crown
For the second time in three seasons, the Zips open up play as the defending Mid-American Conference champions. Since joining the Division I ranks, Akron posted records of 21-9 (1986-87) and 24-11 (2009-10) in the season following a conference championship.
Repeating as tournament champion in the MAC is no east feat. Since the tournament began in 1980, only two teams, Ball State (1989-90) and Kent State (2001-02), have successfully repeated as tourney champs.
Akron and the SEC
The Zips improved to 2-3 against the Southeastern Conference (2-0 vs. Mississippi State; 0-1 vs. Alabama; 0-2 vs. Kentucky). Akron head coach Keith Dambrot is 2-0 against the SEC, with both victories coming against the Bulldogs.
A Winning Standard
Since taking over the program before the 2004-05 season, eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot has created a winning mentality in the program that has not been seen in 110-plus seasons of basketball. Of the five senior classes to win 90 or more games in their career, four of those have come under Dambrot. The current senior class of Nikola Cvetinovic, Brett McClanahan and Kyle Petersen currently sit at 72 wins and need 26 more to tie the school record for most wins in a career (97).
• Class of 2010 (2007-10) – 97 wins
• Class of 2009 (2006-09) – 96 wins
• Class of 2011 (2007-11) – 94 wins
• Class of 2008 (2005-08) – 92 wins
• Class of 1966 (1963-66) – 91 wins
Career List Watch
• Senior forward Nikola Cvetinovic is on pace to break Steve McNees' (141, 2008-11) record for career games played. Currently sitting at 109 contests, Cvetinovic needs to appear in 33 games to take over the top spot. Looking at the schedule, the Zips would have to play in four postseason contests for Cvetinovic to take over the top spot.
• Junior center Zeke Marshall, with 157 blocked shots in his career, needs just nine swats to pass Romeo Travis (165, 2004-07) for the career mark. Marshall already owns the single-game (9), single-season (92), freshman season (59) and sophomore season (92) blocked shot records.
• After breaking the freshman season assists record (128), sophomore guard Alex Abreu is setting his sights on the career top-10. He currently has 137 assists and needs 125 dimes to pass Mike Dowdell (261, 1984-87) for tenth place. Abreu's 128 dimes last season were also the ninth-best of any season in program history.
Looking at the MAC Record Book
• Junior center Zeke Marshall entered the season in 14th place on the career blocked shots list for the Mid-American Conference (157). He needs 19 swats to pass Dan Roundfield (CMU, 1972-75) to move into the top-10 (175). Should he have a repeat performance of 92 blocked shots from last year, Marshall would finish the season in fifth place (243). If Marshall posts the same number blocks the next two seasons as he did the last two seasons (151), he would break Lonnie Jones' (Ball State, 1998-2002) conference record of 301 by one blocked shot.
• Compared to other coaches all-time in the MAC, head coach Keith Dambrot is in fifth place with a .628 win percentage while coaching in the MAC (184-109 overall; 164-75 Akron, 20-34 CMU), eighth in overall wins (184), 10th in conference wins (90) and 11th in league games winning percentage (.600, 90-60).
Winning Ways
• In his time at Akron, head coach Keith Dambrot has led the Zips to a 164-75 (.686) record, the most wins of any UA coach in their first seven season. He ranks third in UA history in wins (164) and winning percentage (.686).
• Through his first seven seasons, Dambrot led the Zips to a 162-75 record (.684). The program's 162 wins are tied for the top spot in the MAC and tied for 29th-best in the nation during that period.
1,000-Point Club
For the second-consecutive season, a Zips' student-athlete has the potential to join the Akron 1,000-point club. Senior forward Nikola Cvetinovic enters the season with 842 career points and needs 158 points to become the 39th player to break the 1,000-mark. If he maintained his 11.7 ppg average from the 2010-11 season, he would score his 1,000th point at Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 7.
The Century Club
• Senior guard Brett McClanahan enters the 2011-12 campaign having appeared in 93 career games. Barring injury, he will play in his 100th-career game, joining senior forward Nikola Cvetinovic, at Cleveland State (Dec. 10).
• Junior center Zeke Marshall is also closing in on the 100 games played mark. He currently sits at 73 games and needs to appear in 27 more contests to reach the century mark. If he doesn't miss a game, he will play in his 100th game at Ohio on Feb. 25.
The Drive for 500
This season, the Zips will have the opportunity to notch win No. 500 as a Division I program. Currently sitting at 481 wins, Akron needs 19 victories to reach the 500 plateau.
Climbing the Coaching Ladder
Eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot continues to climb the coaching ranks at The University of Akron. Currently sitting at 164 wins at the helm of the Blue and Gold, Dambrot needs 15 wins to pass Tony Laterza (178, 1960-68) for second place on the career wins list. Russell Beichly (1941-59) owns the school record with 286 career victories.
Let's Go Streaking
• Akron has enjoyed six-straight 20-win seasons (23-10 in 2005-06; 26-7 in 2006-07; 24-11 in 2007-08; 23-13 in 2008-09; 24-11 in 2009-10; 23-13 in 2010-11). It is the longest streak of 20-win seasons in school history. The Zips have won at least 19 games in each of head coach Keith Dambrot's first seven seasons (19-10 in '04-05).
• UA has advanced to the postseason in four-straight and five of the last six years, participating in the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2011, the National Invitation Tournament in 2008 and 2006, and the College Basketball Invitational in 2010.
• The Zips have appeared in the MAC tournament championship game five-straight times, with those being the only five appearances in their 19 years in the league.
• Akron has hit at least one 3-point bucket in 345-consecutive games, 239-straight under head coach Keith Dambrot. The last time the Zips missed from long range was Dec. 27, 2000, against Purdue at Rhodes Arena (0-for-10). The UA opponents' streak of 3-point buckets ended at 25-straight games last season against Western Michigan on Feb. 9, 2011 (0-for-12). Two games later, the Zips held Bowling Green (Feb. 15, 2011) scoreless from long range (0-for-8) and the streak now stands at 12 games. Akron has shut out opponents from behind the arc six times under coach Dambrot.
Oh Canada
For the first time in 12 years, the Zips took a foreign trip, traveling to Canada for five exhibition games this past August (12-18). The trip, the first since the 1999-2000 squad went to Italy, Malta and France, saw Akron go 5-0 while averaging 87.2 ppg.
Junior Chauncey Gilliam and sophomore Nick Harney led the way, averaging 13.6 ppg each while sophomore Josh Egner led the team in rebounding with an average of 5.4 rpg.
Gold Medal for The Serb
Senior forward Nikola Cvetinovic spent the summer with the Serbian National Team at the 2011 World University Games in China (Aug. 13-22).
Serbia finished pool play 3-1 and surged to a 68-55 win over Canada in the title game to repeat as World University Games champions. Cvetinovic's best game came in a win against Hong Kong in which he posted nine points and 10 boards. For the tournament, he averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Preseason Predictions and Accolades
The Zips enter the season as one of the favorites to win the Mid-American Conference and the right to represent the league in the NCAA Tournament.
• Rivals.com picked the Zips as the team to beat in the East while naming Nikola Cvetinovic and Zeke Marshall preseason second-team All-MAC.
• Sporting News also tabbed the Zips as the favorites in the MAC. Cvetinovic was named preseason All-MAC and the league's best leader, while Marshall was tabbed as the top shot-blocker.
• The MAC Preseason Poll tabbed Akron to finish second in the east and the squad with the second-best chance of winning the MAC Tournament. Marshall was tabbed as preseason All-MAC as well.
• Lindy's had Akron ranked second in the East in the preseason while naming Cvetinovic preseason second-team All-MAC and Marshall the league's best defender.
