The University of Akron Athletics
Men's Basketball Conlcudes Regular Season on Friday vs. Kent State
March 06 | Men's Basketball
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Kent State at Akron Game Notes in PDF Format
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Kent State (16-14, 7-10 MAC) at Akron (19-11, 11-6 MAC)
Friday, March 7, 2014 • 7 p.m. ET
James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
Akron, Ohio
Television: ESPN2. Mike Crispino (play-by-play) and Darrin Horn (analyst).
Webcast/Live Statistics: Available at GoZips.com – webcast and live statistics free of charge.
Radio: Akron-IMG Sports Network – 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 10th season at Akron, posting a 229-105 (.686) mark. Dambrot is 337-175 (.658) in 16 seasons as a collegiate head coach. Coach Dambrot is 12-16 all-time vs. Kent State, including a 12-12 mark at Akron.
Series: Kent State holds a 71-68 advantage. The Zips have won seven of the last 10 in the series. The Zips are 39-23 in Akron, posting wins in two of the last three games at the JAR. Kent State won the first meeting this season in Kent on Feb. 1 (60-57).
Akron Concludes Regular Season on Friday
Bragging rights are on the line when the Zips play host to Kent State on Senior night at Rhodes Arena.
News, Notes and Storylines
• A 26-8 run in the second half and 25 points from Quincy Diggs pushed Akron to an 83-71 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday night.
• Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell finished the night with 17 points while Nick Harney rounded out the Zips' scoring with 14 points.
• The Akron defense has held nine of the last 11 opponents to 66 points or less, giving up an average of 61.2 points per game. Buffalo is the only team to crack 66 points during that stretch, doing so twice.
• Akron has posted a 32-17 record (.653) when facing a MAC East Division team for the second time around in a season under head coach Keith Dambrot.
• The Zips close the regular season with three-straight home games for the first time since playing four-straight at home to conclude the 1988-89 campaign (4-0). Akron is 2-0 so far on the homestand.
• Tonight's game marks the 17th time in the last 18 regular-season meetings that either UA and/or KSU is in first place or is playing for first place in the MAC East (dating to 2005-06).
• Akron has hit 10 or more 3-pointers in 10 games this season. The Zips are 8-2 when they make double-digit long balls in a game. Akron is fourth in the Mid-American Conference in 3-pointers made per game (7.1).
• The Zips are 45th in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage (34.0 percent) and 64th in offensive rebounds per game (12.55) in games through March 5. Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell is 25th in the nation in offensive rebounding (3.45 rpg).
• Ten of the 12 Akron players to see action this season have at least one game with 11 points. Three of those players have at least one 20-point performance this year: Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell (4), Quincy Diggs (4) and Jake Kretzer (1).
Scouting the Golden Flashes
Kent State enters tonight's game with a 16-14 record and a 7-10 mark in MAC play. The Golden Flashes are coming off a 73-61 loss to Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday and have lost three of their last four games. Kent State is 5-7 on the road (3-5 MAC).
Two Golden Flashes are averaging double figures in the scoring column, including Kris Brewer (11.9 ppg) and Derek Jackson (11.1 ppg). Mark Henniger is the team's leading rebounder (5.0 rpg).
On the Line vs. Kent State
• Akron will lock up a bye (No. 4 seed) in next week's MAC Tournament with a win over Kent State.
• A Zips' victory will move head coach Keith Dambrot past Miami (Ohio)'s Darrell Hedric (1971-84) into fourth place on the all-time MAC league wins list (129).
• A victory over the Golden Flashes will give the Zips 39 MAC wins over the last three seasons, most in any three-year stretch in school history.
• With a win, the Zips would become just the 12th Division I team to post at least 20 wins in each of the last nine seasons.
• A victory will give the Zips a 5.5-3.5 lead in the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge.
What You May Not Know About the Series
• Akron and/or Kent State have played in the MAC Title Game in each of the last eight years.
• The Akron-Kent State series (139 games) is the most played series in program history, ahead of Wooster (92), Baldwin-Wallace (91), Youngstown State (88), Mount Union (70) and Cleveland State (67).
• The first team to score 60 points in the rivalry has won 31 of the last 33 games in the series.
• The Zips and Golden Flashes will play on TV for the 27th-straight game, the longest streak in the MAC between two league programs.
Last Time Out vs. Kent State
A fall-away 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left was the difference as the Akron Zips dropped a 60-57 decision at Kent State on Feb. 1.
After Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell tied the game with 34 seconds to go, Kent State's Darren Goodson hit a hit a fade-away 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining. Jake Kretzer's mid-court heave would be off target giving Kent State the 60-57 win.
Treadwell led the Zips with 16 points and 10 boards for his fifth double-double in the last six games. Quincy Diggs (15) and Nick Harney (11) also reached double figures.
Both teams shot 44.4 percent from the field, with the Zips going 20-of-45. Akron won the rebounding battle 33-27, but committed 18 turnovers.
Goodson led Kent State with 12 points.
Buffalo at Akron Recap
A 26-8 run in the second half and 25 points from Quincy Diggs pushed Akron to an 83-71 victory over Buffalo on Tuesday night.
Diggs led all players in scoring with 25 points on 9-of-15 shooting (4-of-8 from 3-point range). His points came along with five boards, four steals and a team-high three assists.
Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell finished the night with 17 points off a 9-for-12 showing from the free throw line. He also grabbed six rebounds. Nick Harney rounded out the Zips' scoring with 14 points after going 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe. He ended the game with four boards.
Buffalo's Joshua Freelove led the Bulls in scoring with 17 points.
Akron out-rebounded the Bulls, 36-28. The Zips committed 12 turnovers to the Bulls' 15.
Protecting the Ball
Over the last four games, the Zips have turned the ball over just 47 times (9.4 tpg), including a season-low four turnovers at Buffalo (Feb. 19). During that stretch, Akron has not posted more than 12 turnovers. In the previous 25 games, the Zips averaged 14.4 turnovers per game and had just nine games with 12 or fewer giveaways.
DBO Dan Peters Honored by USBWA
Akron Director of Basketball Operations Dan Peters was named one of three recipients of the United States Basketball Writers Association's (USBWA) Most Courageous Award on Feb. 20.
Peters will share this year's award with Dau Jok of the University of Pennsylvania. Kirsten Moore of Westmont College was selected as the recipient of the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award for women's basketball.
Peters was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December and is currently on a leave of absence while receiving chemotherapy. He will receive his award during tonight's season finale.
The Zips are honoring Peters by wearing a patch this season with a purple ribbon and the words "4 Pete's Sake."
MAC Play Notes
• Akron is just the 13th team in the MAC's 67-year history to open play as a two-time defending regular season champion.
• The Zips were the last undefeated team in MAC play this season, going 3-0. This was the third-straight season that Akron was the last team to post a loss against a league foe (3-0 in 2011-12; 13-0 in 2012-13).
• Akron is 80-35 against the West Division (.696), including winners of 23 of the last 25 contests, since divisional play began during the 1997-98 season (50-14 under head coach Keith Dambrot).
• The Zips have posted a 24-10 mark (.706) in the last 34 games against the MAC East dating back to the start of the 2012 league schedule. Akron is 3-1 against the MAC East at the conference tournament during that stretch.
• Akron is 27-5 at home in league play since the start of the 2011 MAC schedule (.844).
• UA has seen a ton of success in league play since the start of the 2004-05 season. Akron is 118-47 overall (.715), including a 70-12 mark in MAC play at home (.854). The Zips' 118 wins are the most in the league during that stretch.
• The Zips have won 38 of their last 49 regular-season MAC games (.776).
Going for the Three-peat
As the two-time defending Mid-American Conference regular season champions, the Zips opened league play looking to do something that is rare in the MAC...win three-straight regular season crowns. In 67 years of basketball, 12 teams before the Zips had a chance to three-peat (including shared titles), with only one program claiming at least a share of three-straight regular season titles. From 1948 through 1951, founding member Cincinnati won four-straight titles. In fact, of the 11 previous back-to-back champs not to three-peat, only three finished second in their bid for a third title.
Three Years of MAC Success
With a 38-11 record in conference play over the last three seasons, the Zips have a chance to break the school record for MAC wins over a three-year period.
The most wins for Akron in a three-year stretch in MAC play is 38, as the Zips went 38-12 from 2006-08 and 38-14 from 2005-07. Akron will need to defeat Kent State to break that mark.
By earning a 39th win over three seasons, the Zips can put their mark in the MAC recordbooks as well. With an Akron win, the Zips will post the second-most wins in league history over a three-year stretch in which a team played 50 games (39-11).
If the MAC Tournament Started Today...
If the MAC Tournament started today, the Zips would be the No. 4 seed and would receive a bye into the MAC Tournament semifinals on Thursday, March 13. Here's how the seeding would break down: 1. Western Michigan; 2. Toledo; 3. Buffalo; 4. Akron; 5. Ohio; 6. Eastern Michigan; 7. Miami (Ohio); 8. Northern Illinois; 9. Kent State; 10. Bowling Green; 11. Central Michigan; 12. Ball State.
MAC Tournament Seeding Scenarios
Here are the MAC Tournament seeding scenarios for the Zips heading into the final game of the season.
An Akron win & a Buffalo win...
• The Zips will be the No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament.
An Akron win & a Buffalo loss...
• The Zips will be the No. 4 seed in the MAC Tournament. The Zips would earn a share of the MAC East title but lose the tie-breaker. (H2H 1-1; Div Record: Both 6-4; UB 1-0 vs. WMU, UA 0-1).
An Akron loss & wins by Ohio & EMU...
• The Zips will be the No. 4 seed, winning the tiebreaker. (H2H: UA 3-1, Ohio 2-1, EMU 0-3).
An Akron loss & an EMU win...
• The Zips will be the No. 4 seed, winning the tiebreaker. (H2H: UA 2-0 v. EMU).
An Akron loss & an OU win...
• The Zips will be the No. 5 seed, losing the tiebreaker. (H2H 1-1 v. Ohio; Ohio 1-1 v. UT, UA 0-1).
PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge
Akron enters the contest with a 5.0-3.5 lead in this season's PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge. The Zips have earned points with wins in men's and women's cross country, a win by the football team in November, a season sweep by the women's basketball team and a win by men's indoor track and field at the MAC Indoor Championships. Tonight's contest will earn the winner 0.5 points in the overall standings. For more information on the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge, visit: www.wagonwheelchallenge.com.
Bring on Kent State
Several Zips players have elevated their game when it comes to playing neighborhood rival Kent State. Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell has posted double-doubles in the last four meetings, averaging 14.5 points, 12.8 rebounds 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals in those games. Nick Harney has also had success against the Golden Flashes, posting four double-digit performances in sevens meetings, including a career-high 21 points in a meeting with Kent State on Jan. 21, 2012.
Inside the Scoring Numbers
The Zips have been one of the top defensive squads in the league over the last 10 seasons. In 334 games under head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips have held 241 opponents to 70 points or less, going 196-45 (.813). Akron has held 188 of those foes to 65 points or less, going 165-23 (.878). The Zips are 33-60 (.355) when allowing more than 70 points.
Now Starting for the Zips...
So far this season, the Zips have used 10 different starting lineups, with 11 different players getting at least two starts. Only one player, Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell, has started every game this season.
Lights, Camera, Action
The Zips will appear on television at least 15 times this season, plus possible TV games during the MAC Tournament. Akron is 6-8 on the year, defeating Buffalo 83-71 on TWC Sports Channel in its last TV appearance (March 4).
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. Zeke Marshall was the only player to lead the Zips in scoring in more than back-to-back games, leading Akron in four-straight contests.
• So far this season, seven Zips have had at least a share of top scoring honors, Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell being the only player to hold at least a share of top scoring honors in at least three-straight games (4).
Road Warriors
• Like their non-conference schedule, the Zips will open Mid-American Conference play in a familiar way...on the road. Akron played seven of its first 11 league games on the road, opening MAC play 4-0 before its loss at Kent State (Feb. 1).
• During the non-conference portion of the schedule, the Zips put their frequent flyer memberships to work. Akron played four true road games and three games in Hawaii at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Adding up the round trip miles, the Zips logged 15,941 miles before MAC play began in January.
• The Zips tallied 3,278 miles during league play. When combined with the non-conference travel, Akron logged 19,218 miles during the regular season. To put that into perspective, the Earth's circumference at the equator is 24,901 miles. If flying in a straight line heading west, one would make it to Athens, Greece, or could make nearly eight trips (four round trips) between New York City and Los Angeles.
Zips Get Program Win No. 1,500
With its 65-63 win at Bowling Green on Feb. 9, Akron became the 55th Division I program (56th overall) to win 1,500 games all-time. The Zips joined Minnesota, USC, Montana State, North Dakota, California and Utah State as programs to eclipse 1,500 victories this season. Akron's 1,503 wins are the most by any Mid-American Conference team.
RPI Watch
• In games through March 5, the Zips hold the No. 107 spot in the RPI Forecast rankings. Akron is No. 109 in the NCAA RPI.
• The Zips have 10 opponents (13 total games) on their schedule with an RPI of 125 or better in both RPI rankings (RPI Forecast/NCAA), including Iowa State (12/11), Toledo (42/38), Saint Mary's (61/61), Middle Tennessee (63/67), Cleveland State (82/83), Ohio (84/86), Eastern Michigan (85/85), Western Michigan (89/92), Buffalo (100/93), and Oregon State (105/105). The Zips are 6-7 against those opponents. Miami (Ohio) (151/164), South Carolina (164/172), Oral Roberts (178/194) and Bowling Green (179/178) are just outside the top-150.
A Look at the Polls
• Akron received 12 votes in the March 3 CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll. Seven opponents appeared in the poll, including No. 7 Toledo, No. 20 Buffalo, No. 22 Saint Mary's, No. 23 Western Michigan and No. 24 Cleveland State. Ohio (40) and Eastern Michigan (6) received votes.
• One opponent appeared in the March 1 AP poll and two opponents USA TODAY Coaches poll. Iowa State is ranked No. 16 in the AP poll and No. 17 in the Coaches poll. Middle Tennessee received one vote in the USA TODAY Coaches poll.
The New Block Party
There's a new block party in Akron following the graduation of Zeke Marshall, the all-time blocked shots leader at Akron and in the Mid-American Conference.
Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell became the first player not named Zeke Marshall to swat five shots in a game in the past eight seasons (at Eastern Michigan). Quincy Diggs, Pat Forsythe and Isaiah Johnson have each posted at least one game with four blocked shots this season. They are the only four players with four swats in a game since the 2007-08 season.
Home Cooking
Akron is 131-20 (.868) at Rhodes Arena under 10th-year head coach Keith Dambrot (12-2 overall, 6-2 MAC this season). UA has now won 48 of its last 53 games at the JAR (.906). The Zips have recorded 12-straight winning campaigns at home, including this season, and have won at least 13 home contests in eight of the last nine years. UA's last losing record at home came in 1995-96.
Long Range Leaders
The Zips have been one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the MAC this season, sitting in the top-fourth in the MAC in 3-point percentage (4th, .342) and in 3-pointers made per game (4th, 7.1) (games through March 4). In fact, the Zips are the only team in the league with four players with 35-plus 3-pointers made: Jake Kretzer (48), Quincy Diggs (45), Reggie McAdams (42) and Nyles Evans (36). Pat Forsythe and Isaiah Johnson are the only Zips without a 3-point make or attempt.
A Mix of Youth and Experience
On paper, the Akron roster may look like a youthful one, but it is also an experience roster. The Zips list nine freshmen and sophomores on the roster. UA's five sophomores have made 246 appearances and 66 starts in their Akron careers. Pat Forsythe is the only sophomore to appear in all 63 games, with Carmelo Betancourt (61), Jake Kretzer (59) and Reggie McAdams (57) all appearing in at least 57 out of 63 games.
Looking at the MAC Record Book
Compared to other coaches all-time in the MAC, head coach Keith Dambrot is fourth in overall wins (249), fourth in league history with a .642 win percentage while coaching in the league (249-139 overall; 229-105 Akron, 20-34 CMU), tied for fourth in league wins (128) and fifth in league games winning percentage (.643, 128-71).
The Century Club
Against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 16, senior forward Quincy Diggs appeared in his 100th career game. With is start against Buffalo on March 4, he earned his 100th career appearance wearing the Akron Blue and Gold.
