The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Travels to Detroit Saturday for Noon Contest on FOX Sports Detroit
December 14 | Men's Basketball
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Akron at Detroit Game Notes in PDF Format
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Akron (4-3) at Detroit (5-4)
Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 • 12 p.m. ET
Detroit, Mich.
Calihan Hall (8,295)
Television: FOX Sports Detroit. Dan Dickerson (play-by-play) and Earl Cureton (color).
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 11:30 a.m. ET.
Akron Coach Keith Dambrot
(Akron, 1982):
Is in his ninth season at Akron, posting a 188-90 (.676) mark. Dambrot is 296-160 (.649) in 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach. He is 2-0 all-time against the Titans, with both wins coming as head coach of the Zips.
The Series: Akron holds a slim 4-3 lead in the series, which began during the 1935-36 season. The Zips have won two-straight and four of the last five meetings, including an 81-63 win at Rhodes Arena last season (Nov. 26). UA is 2-2 in Detroit, including a 77-69 win in its last trip to Calihan Hall (Dec. 2, 2010).
Zips Close Road Trip at Detroit
Akron concludes its stretch of six-of-eight games on the road on Saturday at Detroit.
News, Notes and Storylines
• Akron is coming off a 77-61 loss to No. 16/13 Creighton in Omaha, Neb., on Dec. 9.
• Nick Harney led the Zips with 14 points and five boards, in addition to an assist and a blocked shot. Zeke Marshall (12) was the only other UA player that scored in double figures.
• For just the 12th time in 112 career games, Zeke Marshall did not lead or share the lead for blocked shots in a game for the Zips. Redshirt freshman Pat Forsythe led Akron with a career-high four swats at Creighton.
• Against Creighton, Akron had fewer assists (14/17) and more turnovers (11/8) than an opponent for the first time this season.
• The Zips rank ninth in the nation in 3-pointers made per game (9.0) and have connected on fewer than seven long balls just once this season (four, at Creighton).
• Zeke Marshall continues to own the defensive space around the rim, blocking more shots (29) than 146 DI teams and averaging more swats per game (4.14) than 229 DI squads (games through Dec. 9).
• Akron has three players scoring in double figures and seven averaging 7.0 points per game or better, including Zeke Marshall (12.0), Alex Abreu (11.1), Brian Walsh (10.1), Jake Kretzer (9.7), Chauncey Gilliam (8.7), Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell (7.8) and Nick Harney (7.3). In games through Dec. 14, the Zips are the only team in the MAC with seven players averaging at least 7.0 ppg.
• The Zips are 40-18 (.690) in the month of December under ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot.
• In his nine seasons at the helm of the Zips' program, Keith Dambrot has led Akron to a 33-6 record (.846) against teams from the state of Michigan and a 10-4 record (.714) when playing in the "Great Lakes State."
A Look at the Titans
Detroit enters today's game with a 5-4 record and is riding a three-game winning streak, with all three wins coming at home. The Titans last played on Dec. 10, defeating Alabama State 81-68
Detroit has four players scoring in double figures, led by Ray McCallum's 19.2 ppg. Jason Calliste (12.8 ppg), Nick Minnerath (11.6 ppg) and Doug Anderson (11.2 ppg) also average double-digits in the scoring column. Anderson is the team's leading rebounder (6.4 rpg).
On the Line vs. Detroit
• A win over the Titans will snap a three-game losing streak in true road games.
• A victory would be the third-straight against Detroit and the third-straight on the road in the series for Akron.
Last Time Out vs. Detroit
Nikola Cvetinovic led Akron with 16 points and had six rebounds to help the Zips to an 81-63 victory over Detroit in a non-conference men's basketball game at Rhodes Arena on Nov. 26, 2011.
Cvetinovic was 6-of-8 from the field, including 1-of-1 from behind the arc, to be one of four Akron players to score in double-figures. Nick Harney had 15 points while Brett McClanahan and Zeke Marshall had 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Marshall became the school's all-time leader in the blocked shots category, passing Romeo Travis' mark of 165 blocks with his 166th and 167th career blocked shots.
For the game, Akron shot 54.2 percent from the field (32-of-59) and 50.0 percent from 3-point range (8-of-16). Detroit closed out the game shooting 42.6 percent from the floor (23-of-54) and 33.3 percent from behind the arc (4-of-12).
The Titans' Chase Simon led all scorers with 27 points.
Akron vs. Creighton Recap
Akron dropped a 77-61 decision to No. 16/13 Creighton on Dec. 9 at the CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Nick Harney led Akron with 14 points, five boards, one assist and one blocked shot. Zeke Marshall finished with 12 points, two rebounds and two blocked shots.
The Zips shot 42.1 percent from the floor (24-of-57) and 23.5 percent from long range (4-of-17) while the Bluejays connected on 48.4 percent (30-of-62) and 45.5 percent (10-of-22) respectively.
Pat Forsythe had a nice game off the bench with six points, three rebounds and four blocked shots in 16 minutes.
Doug McDermott led Creighton with a game-high 30 points.
Just How Young Are They?
• Akron entered the season as the ninth-youngest teams in the nation, with 16 players having a total of 15 seasons of collegiate experience (0.94 years/letters won per player). In fact, 12 of 16 players have one year or less in the experience column prior to 2012-13.
• Last season, the Zips had 15 players with a total of 19 seasons of collegiate experience, the 20th-youngest team in Division I basketball (1.27 years/letters won per player. Akron is one of just four teams to appear on this list in each of the past two seasons (Navy, Illinois State and Wright State).
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 holding top scoring honors in back-to-back games. So far this season, six players have had a least a share of the top-scoring performance, with Brian Walsh as the only player to lead the Zips in back-to-back game.
Welcome to December
• The Zips are 40-18 (.690) in the month of December under ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot, including a 27-3 mark at home (.900).
• Akron has won 14 of its last 15 December games at home, with UA's only loss coming against VCU in overtime on Dec. 29, 2011 (76-75).
The Road Warrior
Akron takes to the road a lot in the first eight games of the season, playing six of those contests away from Rhodes Arena. The Zips have already played at Coastal Carolina, three games in Puerto Rico and at Creighton, with one road game left at Detroit. In all, UA will travel 6,504 miles.
One bright side to the long road stretch...the Zips will play six-straight home contests beginning with a matchup against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the JAR on Dec. 18.
Lights, Camera, Action
The Zips will appear on television a minimum of nine times this season, with the potential for 12 additional TV games. Akron has gone 2-2 so far, falling 77-61 at No. 16/13 Creighton on NET Sports/ESPN3 in its last TV appearance (Dec. 9).
A Tale of Two Halves
• The Zips have seen a major difference in their play between the first and second halves of games this season.
• Akron is out-scoring opponents by a slim 1.7 points per game in the first half, while allowing the competition to shoot 46.4 percent from the floor and 48.0 percent from long range.
• However, the second half has been a different story. The Zips are +8.6 points per game in the scoring column while holding opponents to just 37.6 percent shooting from the floor and 24.5 percent from behind the arc.
• UA is shooting 2.1 percent better in the second half (47.6 vs. 45.5) and is converting on 72.0 percent from the charity stripe, compared to 66.1 percent in the first 20 minutes.
Solid Bench Play
• The Akron bench has been the catalyst for success under ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot and this year is no different.
• The Zips' bench holds a +10.7 scoring advantage over the competition (28.7-18.0), having been out-scored just once this season (38-21 vs. Middle Tennessee, 12/2/12). The Akron reserves are shooting 41.9 percent from the floor while holding opponents to just 36.1 percent.
Free Basketball
So far this season, the Zips have played three overtime games in their first seven contests for the first time in program history. The previous high was two overtimes to start the 1980-81 campaign. The school record for overtimes played in a season is six, which occurred during the 1983-84 campaign.
Breaking Down the Stats
• Junior guard Alex Abreu ranks fourth in the MAC and 20th in the nation in assist rate, recording a dime on 40.55 percent of the field goals made by the Zips while on the floor.
• Senior center Zeke Marshall leads the MAC in block rate and is fifth in the nation, swatting 14.49 percent of the shots taken by Akron opponents while on the floor. Redshirt freshman center Pat Forsythe is fourth in the MAC (12.51) in the same category. He would rank ninth in the nation if he qualified (20 mpg min.).
• As a team, the Zips are tied for 60th nationally in points per possession, averaging 1.05 points per offensive possession. Akron's shooting has also been effective this season as UA is averaging 1.14 points per shot, which is tied for 34th nationally.
Akron vs. the Horizon League
The Zips are very familiar with the current programs in the Horizon League, with today's contest being Akron's 210th game against the conference's nine members. Overall, UA is 123-86 (.589) and is .500 or better against every league member except for Green Bay (3-5). In addition to Detroit (4-3), Akron also plays Cleveland State (33-32) on Dec. 23.
Welcome to the Block Party
• One area the Akron defense has been stout is in the shot blocking category. The Zips lead the Mid-American Conference and are 10th in the nation in blocked shots per game (7.1).
• Senior center Zeke Marshall continues to be one of the premier shot blockers in the nation. In games through Dec. 9, Marshall is fourth in the nation in blocked shots per game (4.14), has blocked more shots (29) than 146 DI teams and is averaging more swats per game (4.14) than 229 DI squads.
• Redshirt freshman Pat Forsythe is emerging into a solid shot blocker in his first season with Akron. He is second on the team and fifth in the MAC with 1.57 blocked shots per game.
• Combined, Marshall and Forsythe have more blocked shots per game (5.71) than 10 of 11 league programs and 326 DI teams.
RPI Watch
• Entering today's game, the Zips check in at No. 61 in the Ken Pom RPI rankings (games through Dec. 12). Akron's out-of-conference schedule is the 16th-hardest in the nation.
• So far, Akron has played three teams inside the top 40 of the RPI, including Creighton (No. 15), Oklahoma State (No. 24) and Middle Tennessee (No. 38). Three of the Zips' next five games come against teams in the top 140 of the RPI, including No. 137 Detroit, No. 124 Cleveland State and No. 99 Princeton.
• UA could add one more high-RPI opponent with the 2013 Sears BracketBusters event.
Inside the Scoring Numbers
The Zips have been one of the top defensive squads in the league over the last nine seasons. In 278 games under head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips have held 200 opponents to 70 points or less, going 161-39 (.805). Akron has held 155 of those foes to 65 points or less, going 135-20 (.871). On the flip side, Akron is 27-51 when allowing 70-plus points (.346).
MAC Freshman of the Year Resume
Freshman wing Jake Kretzer is building a nice resume for Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year consideration. He ranks first for 3-pointers made (17), second in offensive rebounding (1.9 rpg), second in minutes played (27.43 mpg), third in 3-point percentage (.472), third in field goal percentage (.468), fourth in scoring (9.7 ppg) and sixth in rebounds (4.0 rpg) among all MAC freshmen in games through Dec. 14.
And Then There Were Seven
In 2004, college basketball saw 34 programs hire new head coaches, including ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot. Of those 34 coaches to take over new programs that year, only seven of those coaches remain at the same program.
Compared to those coaches, Dambrot ranks third in wins and is one of only two coaches of that group to lead their program to seven-straight 22-plus win seasons (Thad Matta, Ohio State).
School Coach W-L Next
Ohio State Thad Matta 228-66 12/15
Georgetown John Thompson, III 192-83 12/15
Akron Keith Dambrot 188-90 12/15
Chattanooga John Shulman 134-134 12/16
Loyola (Md.) Jimmy Patsos 130-126 12/15
La Salle John Giannini 125-129 12/15
Maine Ted Woodward 84-131 12/14
Of the coaches not at the program they were hired at in 2004, only Lon Kruger (UNLV, 2004-11) won more than 150 games (161-71).
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 one of only 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.
The Century Club
Junior guard Alex Abreu has appeared in 74 games in two-plus seasons for the Zips. Barring injury, Abreu and the Zips need to play in three postseason games for him to reach the century mark this season, joining senior center Zeke Marshall.
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 79 points to join the group.
– 921 - 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)
Looking for No. 200 & 300
Head coach Keith Dambrot can reach two coaching milestones this season. He needs 12 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 four wins away from winning his 300th career game (15 seasons).
A Look at the Polls
• Two opponents appeared in the Dec. 10 editions of the AP and USA TODAY Coaches polls. Creighton (16/13) and Oklahoma State (24/23) appeared in both polls.
• Akron is ranked 19th in the Dec. 10 edition of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. Eight of UA's mid-major opponents appeared in the poll, including No. 2 Creighton, No. 7 Ohio and No. 11 Middle Tennessee. Eastern Michigan (20), UNC Asheville (9), Detroit (7), Cleveland State (5) and Western Michigan (4) and all received votes.
Home Cooking
Akron is 106-17 (.862) at Rhodes Arena under eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot (2-0 overall, 0-0 MAC this 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).
Career List Watch
• Senior center Zeke Marshall, with 275 blocked shots in his career, broke the career mark 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 112 games over the last three seasons. He would need to appear in 29 games to tie and 30 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. Against Penn State on Nov. 18, he became just the ninth player in UA history with 300 career assists (316). He is currently eighth on the all-time UA list and needs three dimes to pass Steve McNees (318, 2007-11) for seventh place and 11 assists to pass Nick Dials (326, 2007-11) for sixth.
Looking at the MAC Record Book
• Senior center Zeke Marshall passed Ohio's John Devereaux (260, 1980-84) and Jason Terry (262, 1992-96) in Puerto Rico to take over sole possession of second place on the MAC list for blocked shots (275). At his current pace of 4.14 blocked shots per game this season, he should break the MAC record of 301 (Lonnie Jones, BSU, 1998-02) in roughly six more games (Coppin State, Jan. 2).
• Compared to other coaches all-time in the MAC, head coach Keith Dambrot is fifth in league history with a .627 win percentage while coaching in the league (208-124 overall; 188-90 Akron, 20-34 CMU), fifth in overall wins (208), sixth in league games winning percentage (.620, 103-63) and seventh in conference wins (103).
