The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Opens Exhibition Slate Wednesday Against Tiffin
October 30 | Men's Basketball
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Tiffin (0-0) at Akron (0-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012 • 7:00 p.m. ET
Akron, Ohio
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Television: None.
Webcast/Live Statistics: Available at GoZips.com – webcast and live statistics free of charge.
Radio: SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF) in Akron (flagship), for free at SportsRadio1350.com and on iHeartRadio. Steve French (play-by-play) and Joe Dunn (analyst) will have the call beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Akron Coach Keith Dambrot (Akron, 1982): Is in his ninth season at Akron, posting a 184-87 (.679) mark. Dambrot is 292-157 (.650) in 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach. He is 1-0 against Tiffin, a program he coached from 1984-86 (40-23).
The Series: This will be the just the second meeting between the Zips and the Dragons. Akron is 1-0 against Tiffin, winning the only meeting 97-35 at Rhodes Arena on Nov. 19, 2006.
Akron Opens 112th Season of Basketball
The University of Akron men's basketball teams opens its 2012-13 campaign and the 112th season of basketball tonight in an exhibition contest against Tiffin.
News, Notes and Storylines
• UA enters the season as the defending Mid-American Conference regular season champions.
• Akron, which posted a 22-12 overall record (13-3 MAC), won its first regular season MAC crown en route to a league-best sixth-straight conference tournament title game appearance.
• The Zips return four starters and eight letterwinners from last season's squad.
• UA's appearance in the 2012 NIT was the fifth in program history (1987, 1989, 2006, 2008, 2012).
• Over the last eight seasons, the Zips have posted 184 victories, the most in the Mid-American Conference and tied for the 31st-most nationally during that period (Illinois, Georgetown, Marquette, New Mexico and Creighton).
• The Akron offense was one of the best in the MAC last year, with the Zips finishing first in 3-point percentage (.370), second in scoring (72.2), scoring margin (+6.3) and field goal percentage (.462), as well as third in assists (14.0).
• The Zips' were one of the top teams nationally at defending the 3-point line last year, finishing 18th in the nation in 3-point percentage defense (30.1).
• The Zips will face 11 opponents that played in the postseason in 2012 and eight teams that won 20-plus games, with the potential for both numbers to grow based on how the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Bracket and the Sears BracketBusters game unfold.
• Head coach Keith Dambrot is 1-0 against Tiffin, a program he coached from 1984-86 (40-23).
• Assistant coach Terry Weigand, a two-year starter at Tiffin (1985-86), holds the assists records for a single season (291) and career (489).
A Look at the Dragons
Tiffin (15-14, 7-12 GLIAC) enters the 2012-13 season following a 2011-12 campaign that saw a seven-game improvement in the wins column from the previous season.
The Dragons return their second-leading scorer in junior guard Joe Graessle (17.9 ppg) from a season ago. Graessle is also the squad's top returning rebounder (4.0 rpg).
Last Time Against Tiffin
Cedrick Middleton led all scorers with 16 points as the Zips defeated Tiffin 97-35 at Rhodes Arena on Nov. 19, 2006, in the only regular-season meeting between the two programs.
The 35 points put up by the Dragons was a then-arena record-low for a UA opponent.
Akron held Tiffin to just 14 first-half points, and scored 40 points off of the Dragons' 30 turnovers in the win. UA dominated the rebounding category, 40-23.
Jeremiah Wood tallied his third-straight double-digit game with 14 points, while Nick Dials and Nick Goddard each pitched in 11.
Last Time Out
In another nail-biter for the Akron men's basketball team, the Zips fell 76-74 to Northwestern in the first round of the 2012 National Invitation Tournament on March 13.
The loss ended the season for the Zips as UA finished with a 22-12 record. The game ended with Alex Abreu's shot to win it as time expired, but his 3-pointer would not fall. He finished with four points and a career-high tying 10 assists.
Quincy Diggs led the way for the Zips with 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Zeke Marshall had 17 points and seven boards, while Chauncey Gilliam had 12 points and Nikola Cvetinovic added 10 points.
For the game, Akron shot 44.8 percent from the floor (30-of-67) and connected on 31.6 percent from long range (6-of-19). The Zips had 20 assists to 12 turnovers and won the rebounding battle 40-22.
Drew Crawford led Northwestern with 27 points.
Just How Young Are They?
• Akron enters the season as one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 14 players having a total of 15 seasons of collegiate experience. In fact, 10 of 14 players have one year or less in the experience column.
• Last season, the Zips had 15 players with a total of 19 seasons of collegiate experience, the 16th-youngest team in Division I basketball.
Who to Guard Tonight?
One aspect of the Zips' lineup that makes it so hard to defend is the ability for any player to lead the squad in scoring on any given night. Last season, eight different players led Akron in scoring, with only two players – Zeke Marshall and Nikola Cvetinovic – leading the way in the scoring column in back-to-back games.
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 in each of the last seven seasons. In fact, only 17 teams (Akron, Butler, BYU, Duke, Florida, Gonzaga, Kansas, Louisville, Marquette, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Syracuse, Texas, Utah State and Xavier) have won 20-plus games in the last seven seasons.
• Taking things one step further, the Zips are only one of seven programs with at least 22-plus wins during that same stretch (Akron, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Utah State).
• On the coaching side of 20-win seasons, head coach Keith Dambrot is currently tied for 13th place among active coaches with current 20-plus game winning streaks (7) and tied for the tenth-longest streak at the same program. Only two coaches [Mark Few, Gonzaga (13); Stew Morrill, Utah State (12)] have posted longer streaks of 20-win seasons solely at mid-major programs.
Defending the Crown
For the first time is program history, the Zips open up play as the defending Mid-American Conference regular season champions.
Repeating as regular season champion in the MAC is no easy feat. Since the conference went to its current 12-team format, only Kent State (2010-11) has repeated. In 65 years of basketball, only 11 programs have repeated as regular season champions, with only two repeat champions coming in the last 30 years (Ball State 1989-90; Kent State 2010-11).
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.
• The MAC Preseason Poll tabbed Akron to finish second in the East (122 points, five first-place votes) and the squad with the second-best chance of winning the MAC Tournament (six votes). Marshall was tabbed as preseason All-MAC for the second-straight season.
• Lindy's picked the Zips to win the MAC East and represent the league in the NCAA Tournament. Marshall earned First-Team All-MAC while junior guard Alex Abreu was named to the Second Team. Marshall also was named the best defender and NBA prospect in the MAC, in addition to being the No. 11 center in the nation.
• The Blue Ribbon Forecast has Akron ranked as the favorites to win the MAC East and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament in 2013.
• Rivals.com picked the Zips to finish second in the East while naming Zeke Marshall preseason First-Team All-MAC.
• Athlon Sports also tabbed the Zips to finish runner-up in the MAC East. Marshall was named preseason All-MAC.
• CBSSports.com picked the Zips second in the MAC East. Although the Web site did not name an All-MAC team, it stated that "pretty much every coach in the league agrees that Abreu is the best play on the team (Akron)."
Peeking at the Schedule
• In 2012-13, the Zips will face 11 opponents that played in the postseason in 2012 and eight teams that won 20-plus games.
• Akron's non-conference schedule includes four teams that finished inside the top 100 in last season's RPI (Creighton, 23; Middle Tennessee, 56; Cleveland State, 89; Princeton, 86).
• Depending on how the bracket falls during the 2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off, UA could add two more opponents from last season's RPI top 100 (NC State, 36; UMass, 62; Tennessee, 90) in addition to a potential high RPI opponent in the Sears BracketBusters.
2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off
• Akron will be one of eight teams to play in this year's 2012 Puerto Rico Tip-Off Nov. 15-18 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
• The Zips will be joined in the field by Massachusetts, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Providence, Tennessee and UNC Asheville.
• The event will be Akron's second trip to Puerto Rico for a regular season tournament, but the first for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Zips played in the 2005 San Juan Shootout (Dec. 19-21), defeating Mount St. Mary's 74-61 and Mississippi State 83-72 before falling to Clemson 66-59.
1,000 Point Club
Senior center Zeke Marshall is on pace to become the 40th member of Akron's 1,000-point club. Marshall needs 163 points to join the group.
– 837 - Zeke Marshall (2010-Present)
39. 1,013 - Sam Serves (1942-47)
38. 1,023 - Nate Linhart (2006-09)
37. 1,041 - Hank Vaughn (1946-50)
36. 1,046 - Dru Joyce (2004-07)
35. 1,055 - Bobby Walker (1946-50)
Inside the Scoring Numbers
The Zips have been one of the top defensive squads in the league over the last eight seasons. In 271 games under head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips have held 196 opponents to 70 points or less, going 158-38 (.806). Akron has held 152 of those foes to 65 points or less, going 132-20 (.868). On the flip side, Akron is 26-49 when allowing 70-plus points (.347).
Career List Watch
• Senior center Zeke Marshall, with 246 blocked shots in his career, broke the career blocked shots record at Akron against Detroit on Nov. 26, 2011. Marshall also owns the single-game (9), single season (94), freshman (59), sophomore (92) and junior season (95), and Akron Rhodes Arena single-game (7) blocked shot records.
• For the third-straight season, the career games played school record could be equalled or eclipsed. Senior center Zeke Marshall has appeared in 105 games over the last three seasons. He would need to appear in 36 games to tie and 37 games to break the school record of 141, set by Steve McNees (2008-11) and Nikola Cvetinovic (2009-12).
• After breaking the freshman and sophomore season assists records, junior guard Alex Abreu is setting his sights on moving up the career top-10. He enters the season with 277 career assists, good for ninth on the career list. He needs 23 dimes to become the ninth player in school history with 300 assists and 24 assists to pass Joe Jakubick (300, 1980-84) for eighth on the list.
Looking at the MAC Record Book
• Senior center Zeke Marshall passed Ben Poquette (CMU, 1974-77) against Oral Roberts (Feb. 18, 2012) to move into the top-five all-time (246) for career blocked shots in the MAC. He needs 12 blocked shots to pass EMU's Theron Wilson for fourth place (257). Against Ohio (Jan. 14, 2012), he became just the eighth player in MAC history with 200 blocked shots. At his current pace of 2.3 blocked shots per game for his career, he should break the MAC record of 301 (Lonnie Jones, BSU, 1998-02) in roughly 24 more games.
• Compared to other coaches all-time in the MAC, head coach Keith Dambrot is fifth with a .628 win percentage while coaching in the league (204-121 overall; 184-87 Akron, 20-34 CMU), tied for fifth in overall wins (204), sixth in league games winning percentage (.620, 103-63) and seventh in conference wins (103). He needs one win to break a tie with Ohio's Larry Hunter (1990-01) for sole possession of fifth place for wins as a MAC coach (204).
Long Range Defense
The Akron defense finished the 2011-12 season allowing opponents to connect on just 30.1 percent from behind the 3-point arc. In fact, the Zips have held 18 opponents under 30.0 percent from long range, including a shutout of Valparaiso (0-of-14) on Nov. 18. The Zips closed out the season 18th in the nation in 3-point defense.
Looking for No. 200 & 300
Head coach Keith Dambrot can reach two coaching milestones this season. He needs 16 wins to become just the second coach in school history with 200 wins at Akron, joining Russell Beichly (286, 1941-59). Dambrot is also just eight wins away from winning his 300th career game (15 seasons).
Lights, Camera, Action
The Zips will appear on television a minimum of seven times this season, with the potential for 12 additional TV games. Last season Akron went 10-6 on TV.
Home Cooking
Akron is 104-17 (.860) at Rhodes Arena under eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot (13-2 overall, 7-1 MAC last season). The Zips have recorded 10-straight winning campaigns at home, including last season, and have won at least 13 home contests in seven-of-eight years. UA's last losing record at home came in 1995-96 (2-11).
The Century Club
Junior guard Alex Abreu enters the 2012-13 campaign having appeared in 67 career games. Barring injury, Abreu and the Zips need to play in three postseason games for him to reach the century mark, joining senior center Zeke Marshall.
A Look at the Polls
• The AP and USA TODAY Coaches preseason polls are full of Akron opponents. Four opponents appeared in each poll, with North Carolina State (6/6) and Creighton (16/15) ranked in both polls. Oklahoma State (14/6), Ohio (9, AP) and Middle Tennessee (3, USA TODAY) received votes. Potential Puerto Rico Tip-Off opponent Tennessee (15/10) also received votes in both polls.
• Akron finished just outside the top-25 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 final poll (April 4), receiving 26 votes. Six Zips' opponents also appeared in the final poll, including No. 2 Creighton, No. 9 Ohio and No. 10 Middle Tennessee. Detroit (30), Cleveland State (7) and Buffalo (2) also received votes. Potential Puerto Rico Tip-Off opponent UNC Asheville (15) also received votes.
Let's Go Streaking
• Akron has enjoyed seven-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; 22-12 in 2011-12). 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 eight seasons (19-10 in '04-05).
• UA has advanced to the postseason in five-straight and six of the last seven years, participating in the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and 2011, the National Invitation Tournament in 2006, 2008 and 2012, and the CBI in 2010.
• The Zips have appeared in the MAC tournament championship game six-straight times, with those being the only six appearances in their 20 years in the league. The run is also the second-longest active streak in the nation behind Gonzaga (15).
• Akron has hit at least one 3-point bucket in 377-consecutive games, 271-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 is at 29 games. Akron has shut out opponents from behind the arc seven times under Dambrot.
A Winning Standard
Since taking over the program before the 2004-05 season, ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot has created a winning mentality in the program that has not been seen in 112 seasons of basketball. Of the six senior classes to win 90 or more games in their career, five of those have come under Dambrot. Zeke Marshall, the lone member of the senior class that has been with Akron for his entire career, has helped Akron to 69 wins and counting.
• Class of 2010 (2007-10) – 97 wins
• Class of 2009 (2006-09) – 96 wins
• Class of 2011 (2008-11) – 94 wins
• Class of 2012 (2009-12) – 92 wins
• Class of 2008 (2005-08) – 92 wins
• Class of 1966 (1963-66) – 91 wins
Winning Ways
• In his time at Akron, head coach Keith Dambrot has led the Zips to a 184-87 (.679) record, the most wins of any UA coach in their first eight seasons. He is second in UA history in wins (184) and fourth in winning percentage (.679).
• Through his first eight seasons, the program's 184 wins are the most in the MAC and tied for the 31st-best mark in the nation during that period.
Returning Letterwinner Notes
• Senior forward Chauncey Gilliam appeared in all 34 games, making 27 starts (25 of the last 26 games) last season. He reached double figures in 11 games, including three of the last four contests, and led Akron in scoring three times. He averaged 7.6 points per game as a starter.
• Senior center Zeke Marshall enters his senior campaign as the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year. In 34 games, he led the MAC in blocked shots (95) and blocked shots/game (2.8) while breaking the single-season (95) and career (246) school records for blocked shots. He was named Second-team All-MAC and is 56 swats away from setting the MAC career blocked shots mark (301 – Lonnie Jones, BSU). Marshall is just the second player in the history of the MAC (since 1974) to lead the league in blocked shots for three-consecutive season. He finished with more blocked shots than 122 DI programs.
• Senior guard Brian Walsh, a 2012 Academic All-MAC selection, appeared in all 34 games, including 27-straight starts to close the season. He finished second in the MAC in 3-point percentage (.434) and the top 3-point shooting mark in conference play (.442). He also averaged 1.4 3-pointers made in MAC play, tied for 15th in the league. Walsh finished second on the team in free throw percentage (.803).
• Junior guard Alex Abreu enters the season following a record-breaking sophomore campaign. He earned Second-team All-MAC honors and was named to the MAC All-tournament team last year after setting the sophomore assists mark with 149 dimes. Abreu is one of only seven players in Akron history with two 100-assist seasons. He finished top-10 in the MAC in 3-point percentage (third, .430), assist-to-turnover ratio (fourth, 1.9), free throw percentage (fourth, .818), steals (fourth, 1.8 spg) and assists (fifth, 4.8 apg), and ranked in the top-100 nationally in assists/game (70th) and steals/game (72nd). He is ninth in program history with 277 career assists.
• Junior forward Nick Harney appeared in 29 games last season, averaging 8.3 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He led the Zips in points per 40 minutes played (21.66), the second-best mark in the MAC. Harney finished second on the team and seventh in the MAC in field goal percentage (.522). He scored a career-high 21 points against Kent State, including 19 in the second half, on Jan. 21.
• Junior forward Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell appeared in 32 games in his first season as a Zip, averaging 7.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He finished third on the team and 19th in the MAC in rebounds/game (5.1) while finishing first on the team and ninth in the league in offensive rebounds/game (2.2). He led the MAC in rebounding rate, grabbing 20.39 percent of Akron's rebounds while on the floor.
• The Zips also return junior guard Luke Avsec (2 games, 0.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg) and sophomore guard Deji Ibitayo (10 games, 1 start, 2.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg).
Returning Non-Letterwinner Notes
• Josh Egner played in 10 games as a sophomore before sitting out most of the season with a back injury. He received a medical redshirt and will be a redshirt sophomore in 2012-13.
• Blake Justice utilized his redshirt season during the 2011-12 campaign and will be a redshirt freshman this season. He scored 2,183 career points at Peebles High School in Peebles, Ohio. For his career, he connected on the second-most 3-pointers made (314) in Ohio high school basketball history. He earned Second-Team All-State honors and was the District Co-Player of the Year.
Newcomer Notes
• Carmelo Betancourt joins the Zips from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. This point guard was a starter on the U18 Puerto Rican National Team and helped Montrose Christian (Md.) to the 2011 ESPN Rise National High School Championship. He also played in the 2011 Nike Global Challenge and represented his native country at the 2010 Jordan Brand Classic International Game.
• Pat Forsythe, a Brunswick, Ohio, native, transferred from West Virginia during the offseason and will have four years of eligibility remaining after receiving a transfer residence waiver on Oct. 8. He appeared in seven games for the Mountaineers last season, averaging 2.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He grabbed a season-best seven boards against Alcorn State (Nov. 17).
• Jake Kretzer, a native of Waverly, Ohio, averaged 19.1 points and 8.2 points per game in his high school career. He was named the DII Player of the Year by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association in addition to First-Team All-Ohio. He owns the WHS scoring (1,665) and 3-pointers made records (180).
• Reggie McAdams joins the Zips after a successful basketball and football career at Elida High School in Elida, Ohio. As a senior, he averaged 22 points and nine boards in earning AP DII Ohio Co-Player of the Year and First-Team All-Ohio honors. He helped EHS to a state runner-up finish in 2012. On the gridiron, he was the 2011 DIII Offensive Player of the Year and was named First-Team All-Ohio at quarterback.
The Dambrot Coaching Tree
A key part to Keith Dambrot's success has come from the knowledge and expertise of his coaching staff. Comprised of individuals that have played for him, both at Akron and previous coaching stops, the current staff includes Zips' assistant coaches Terry Weigand (Tiffin, 1985-86), Rick McFadden (Akron, 2003-05) and Charles Thomas (Eastern Michigan, 1987-89), as well as graduate manager Matt Futch (2004-2006) and video coordinator Steve McNees (2008-11).
Shaka Smart, a Dambrot assistant from 2004-06, is in his fourth season at VCU and led the Rams to the 2011 Final Four. Lamont Paris (2004-10) and Jeff Boals (2006-09) are currently on staff with Big 10 programs, including Wisconsin and Ohio State respectively.
Dambrot Signs Ten-Year Contract
On July 20, 2012, head coach Keith Dambrot agreed in principle to a new ten-year contract, one of the longest fixed-term contracts in all of Division I college football and basketball.
Dambrot, who has compiled a 184-87 (93-39 in Mid-American Conference play) record in eight seasons at the helm of the Zips' program, is now under contract through the 2021-22 season.
National Coaches' Diary Series
For the fourth-consecutive season, head coach Keith Dambrot is participating in the National Coaches' Diary Series from CollegeChalkTalk.com. He is one of nearly 85 coaches from over 25 different conferences contributing this season and is the only MAC representative.
Follow coach Dambrot at collegechalktalk.com/coachesDiary.
Dressed by LeBron James and Nike
Since June 2008, the Akron men's basketball program has been partnered with Nike under which the Zips' shoes, game uniforms, warm ups and accessories are licensed under the Nike and LeBron James Trademarks. The Zips are just one of four college programs in the country that are partnered with the LBJ line of Nike equipment [Kentucky, Miami (Fla.) and Ohio State].
USA TODAY Coaches Top-25 Voter
Head coach Keith Dambrot is one of 31 coaches at Division I schools on the USA TODAY Board of Coaches and will participate in this season's top-25 balloting.
Dambrot, voting for the first time in the poll, replaced former Miami (Ohio) head coach Charlie Coles as the Mid-American Conference representative following Coles' retirement from coaching. Each of the 31 voting members are members of the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Coaches vs. Cancer of Northeast Ohio
Head coach Keith Dambrot and the Zips are one of four teams in Northeast Ohio raising funds for Coaches vs. Cancer of Northeast Ohio.
Joining Dambrot are Rob Senderoff (Kent State), Jerry Slocum (Youngstown State) and Gary Waters (Cleveland State).
For more information on Coaches vs. Cancer of Northeast Ohio, go to CVCNortheastOhio.org.
CollegeInsider.com Shots from the Heart
For the first time, Akron will be represented in the annual CollegeInsider.com Shots From the Heart event.
Assistant coach Charles Thomas will take part in the event, which raises awareness and money for the Skip Prosser Foundation and the American Heart Association, beginning in November.
Thomas is one of 64 assistant coaches taking part in the NCAA Tournament bracket-like event.
For more information on Shots from the Heart, go to www.collegeinsider.com/shots/.
