The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Continues Homestand vs. Texas Southern on Thursday
December 26 | Men's Basketball
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Texas Southern at Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
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Texas Southern (1-11) at Akron (6-4)
Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 • 7 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 6:30 p.m. ET.
Akron Coach Keith Dambrot
(Akron, 1982):
Is in his ninth season at Akron, posting a 190-91 (.676) mark. Dambrot is 298-161 (.649) in 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach. This is his first meeting with the Tigers.
The Series: This is the first meeting between the Zips and the Tigers. Akron is 6-1 all-time against members of the SWAC, including a 76-46 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 18. UA's only loss to the league came against Mississippi Valley State (93-81) on Dec. 4, 1992.
Zips Welcome Texas Southern to the JAR
Akron plays host to Texas Southern for the first-ever meeting in game three of a six-game homestand.
News, Notes and Storylines
• Akron posted its second-consecutive 30-point victory on Dec. 23, defeating Cleveland State 87-57.
• Nick Harney poured in 19 points in just 17 minutes off the bench to lead the way offensively, all but two of those points coming in the second half. It was the third time in his career that he scored more points than minutes played.
• Big men Zeke Marshall and Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell were close behind putting up 18 and 15 points, respectively, and combining for 12 rebounds.
• The Zips posted back-to-back 30-point wins for the first time since the 1988-89 season (102-44 vs. Brooklyn College; 88-53 vs. Western Illinois; 92-50 vs. Weber State). Coincidently, that was the last time UA posted three-straight 30-plus point wins.
• In games through Dec. 23, the Zips are 12th in the nation in 3-pointers made per game (8.9) and have connected on fewer than six long balls just once this season (four, at Creighton).
• Zeke Marshall continues to own the defensive space around the rim, blocking more shots (39) than 163 DI teams and is averaging more swats per game (3.90) than 213 DI squads (games through Dec. 23).
• Akron has two players scoring in double figures and seven averaging 8.7 points per game or better, including Zeke Marshall (12.2), Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell (10.0), Alex Abreu (9.7), Brian Walsh (9.1), Nick Harney (8.9), Chauncey Gilliam (8.7) and Jake Kretzer (8.7). In games through Dec. 26, the Zips are the only team in the MAC with seven players averaging at least 8.7 ppg.
• The Zips are 42-19 (.689) in the month of December under ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot, including a 29-3 mark at home (.906).
A Look at the Tigers
Texas Southern enters tonight's game with a 1-11 record and have lost nine-straight games. In all, the Tigers are 0-8 on the road this season and are coming off a 48-45 home loss to Florida International on Dec. 22.
TSU has two players scoring in double figures, led by Omar Strong (15.5 ppg) and Ray Penn (12.8 ppg). Fred Sturdivant is the team's leading rebounder (7.5 rpg).
On the Line vs. Texas Southern
• A victory would be Akron's sixth in its last eight contests.
Cleveland State at Akron Recap
Akron shot a blistering 53.2 percent from the field and fielded five scorers in double figures in the Zips' 87-57 rout of Cleveland State on Dec. 23 at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Out-sized and overmatched, CSU had no answer for Akron's balanced attack. Nick Harney poured in 19 points in just 17 minutes off the bench to lead the way offensively, all but two of those points coming in the second half.
Big men Zeke Marshall and Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell were close behind putting up 18 and 15 points, respectively, and combining for 12 rebounds. UA came together as a team to out-rebound the Vikings, 43-23.
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 had 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. 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, seven 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 42-19 (.689) in the month of December under ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot, including a 29-3 mark at home (.908).
• Akron has won 16 of its last 17 December home games, with UA's only loss coming against VCU in overtime on Dec. 29, 2011 (76-75).
Home Cooking
Akron is 108-17 (.864) at Rhodes Arena under ninth-year head coach Keith Dambrot (4-0 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).
Free Basketball
So far this season, the Zips have played three overtime games in their first 10 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.
Now Starting for Akron
Through 10 games this season, the Zips have started five different lineups. Last season, Akron had six different starting lineups, with the fifth different line-up coming 12 games into the campaign.
Inside the Scoring Numbers
The Zips have been one of the top defensive squads in the league over the last nine seasons. In 281 games under head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips have held 202 opponents to 70 points or less, going 163-39 (.807). Akron has held 157 of those foes to 65 points or less, going 137-20 (.873). On the flip side, Akron is 27-52 when allowing 70-plus points (.342).
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 4.5 points per game in the first half, while allowing the competition to shoot 42.8 percent from the floor and 44.3 percent from long range.
• However, the second half has been a different story. The Zips are +8.0 points per game in the scoring column while holding opponents to 37.1 percent shooting from the floor and 26.3 percent from behind the arc.
• UA is shooting 3.4 percent better in the second half (49.3 vs. 45.9) and is converting on 69.4 percent from the charity stripe, compared to 65.2 percent in the first 20 minutes.
Shooting the Lights Out
After a sub-par shooting performance against Oklahoma State on Nov. 15 (21-of-70, .300), the Zips have been shooting the lights out over the past seven games. Akron is connecting on 49.7 percent from the field (193-of-388) over the previous seven contests. The Zips have shot at least 42 percent from the floor in each contest during the run and have posted four performances over 50 percent.
In UA's first three games, the Zips shot 41.5 percent from the floor and shot better than 40 percent just once (57.6 percent vs. John Carroll).
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 +9.4 scoring advantage over the competition (29.5-20.1), having been out-scored twice this season (38-21 vs. MTSU; 46-38 vs. UAPB). The Akron reserves are shooting 43.2 percent from the floor while holding opponents to just 34.7 percent.
Breaking Down the Stats
• Junior guard Alex Abreu ranks fifth in the MAC and 20th in the nation in assist rate, recording a dime on 39.75 percent of the field goals made by the Zips while on the floor.
• Senior center Zeke Marshall is second in the MAC and third in the nation in block rate, swatting 13.53 percent of the shots taken by Akron opponents while on the floor. Redshirt freshman center Pat Forsythe is fifth in the MAC (9.86) in the same category. He would rank 14th in the nation if he qualified (20 mpg min.).
• As a team, the Zips are tied for 51st nationally in points per possession, averaging 1.06 points per trip down the court. Akron's shooting has also been effective this season as UA is averaging 1.15 points per shot (tied for 24th).
Breakout Performance
After a solid week of practice, sophomore guard Deji Ibitayo had a breakout all-around performance against Cleveland State on Dec. 23. He recorded career highs for rebounds (7) and assists (6), while tying his career high for blocked shots (1) to go along with four points.
Making the Most of His Minutes
Junior forward Nick Harney is making the most out of his minutes off the bench this year. In Akron's win over Cleveland State, Harney scored a game-high 19 points in just 17 minutes. It was the third time in his career that he scored more points than minutes played in a game [at Miami (Ohio), 11 points/10 minutes, Jan. 7, 2012; vs. Kent State, 21 points/14 minutes, Jan. 21, 2012).
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 eighth in the nation in blocked shots per game (6.6) in games through Dec. 23.
• Senior center Zeke Marshall continues to be one of the premier shot blockers in the nation. In games through Dec. 23, Marshall is fourth in the nation in blocked shots per game (3.90), has blocked more shots (39) than 163 DI teams and is averaging more swats per game (3.90) than 213 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 seventh in the MAC with 1.40 blocked shots per game.
• Combined, Marshall and Forsythe have more blocked shots per game (5.40) than 10 of 12 league programs (Akron, 6.6; Toledo 5.5) and 323 DI teams (out of 347).
RPI Watch
• Entering today's game, the Zips check in at No. 46 in the Ken Pom RPI rankings (games through Dec. 25). Akron's out-of-conference schedule is the 63rd-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).
• UA could add one more high-RPI opponent with the 2013 Sears BracketBusters event.
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 second in 3-pointers made (22), second in points per shot (1.27), third in 3-point percentage (.440), fourth in minutes played (25.3 mpg), fifth in rebounds (4.1 rpg) and tied for fifth in scoring (8.6 ppg) among all freshmen (games through Dec. 23).
Looking for No. 200 & 300
Head coach Keith Dambrot can reach two coaching milestones this season. He needs 10 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 two wins away from winning his 300th career game (15 seasons).
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 remain at the same program.
Compared to those coaches, Dambrot ranks third in wins and is one of only two coaches in 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 230-67 12/29
Georgetown John Thompson, III 193-83 1/5
Akron Keith Dambrot 190-91 12/27
Chattanooga John Shulman 135-135 12/28
Loyola (Md.) Jimmy Patsos 131-126 12/28
La Salle John Giannini 126-130 12/29
Maine Ted Woodward 85-133 12/29
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 77 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 41 points to join the group.
– 959 - 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)
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 2-3 so far, falling 80-73 at Detroit on FOX Sports Detroit in its last TV appearance (Dec. 15).
A Look at the Polls
• Two opponents appeared in the Dec. 24 editions of the AP and USA TODAY Coaches polls. Creighton (16/13) and Oklahoma State (22/22) appeared in both polls.
• Akron is ranked 21st in the Dec. 24 edition of the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. Five of UA's mid-major opponents appeared in the poll, including No. 1 Creighton, No. 11 Middle Tennessee and No. 14 Ohio. Detroit (19) and Western Michigan (9) received votes.
Career List Watch
• Senior center Zeke Marshall, with 285 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 115 games over the last three-plus seasons. The Zips would need to appear in six postseason games to tie and seven for Marshall 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 (336). He is currently sixth on the all-time UA list, passing Nick Dials (326, 2006-08) against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He needs nine dimes to crack the top-five (Andy Hipsher, 344, 2000-04).
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 (285). At his current pace of 3.9 blocked shots per game this season, he should break the MAC record of 301 (Lonnie Jones, BSU, 1998-02) in roughly four more games (Western Michigan, Jan. 9).
• 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 (210-125 overall; 190-91 Akron, 20-34 CMU), fifth in overall wins (210), sixth in league games winning percentage (.620, 103-63) and seventh in conference wins (103).
