The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Selected to Win MAC, Johnson Named to Preseason All-MAC Squad
October 28 | Men's Basketball
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Cleveland, Ohio – For the fourth consecutive year, the Akron men's basketball team was selected to win the Mid-American Conference East Division while ranking as the favorite to claim the MAC Tournament title, according to the 2016-17 MAC Preseason Men's Basketball Poll.
The 12 head coaches and 24-member MAC News Media Panel also named senior center Isaiah Johnson (Cincinnati, Ohio) to the East Division Preseason All-MAC team, announced by the league office on Friday.
"It's our goal to win both the regular season and tournament every year regardless of where we are picked," Zips' head coach Keith Dambrot said. "Obviously, we weren't the clear-cut favorite, because Ohio received more first-place votes. We have tremendous amount of respect for all the teams in the league, and know how difficult it is to compete for a championship."
The Zips received 15 first-place votes for 194 points, edging out Ohio, who finished second in voting with 190 points and 16 first-place votes. Buffalo (144 points, five first place vote) was picked third overall in the East followed by Kent State (116 points), Bowling Green (63 points), and Miami (49 points).
Eastern Michigan is the favorite in the West Division, receiving 16 first-place votes and 178 points, while Ball State finished as runner-up with 12 first-place votes and 158 points. Northern Illinois received five first-place votes and 144 points for the third spot trailed by Toledo (100 points, one first-place vote), Western Michigan (95 points), and Central Michigan (77 points, two first-place votes).
"Ultimately, the most consistent team will win the regular-season championship," Dambrot said. "And, the tournament championship will be decided by whichever team has the best three-consecutive games."
In addition, the Zips were selected as the favorite to claim the season finale in March. Akron received 15 votes to be crowned champions at the MAC Tournament, holding a four-vote margin over Ohio (11). Eastern Michigan earned three votes, while Buffalo and Northern Illinois each had two. Rounding out the tournament voting were Central Michigan, Kent State, and Miami with one vote apiece.
Under 13th-year head coach Keith Dambrot, the Zips return three starters and nine letterwinners from last season's Mid-American Conference Regular-Season Championship squad, including five of the top eight scorers from last season.
Johnson, a 2015-16 First-team All-MAC and Sixth Man of the Year selection, will be joined by fellow senior forward and returning starter Kwan Cheatham, Jr. (Cincinnati, Ohio). Johnson averaged a team-high 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 47 blocked shots per game, while Cheatham pulled down a second-best 4.9 rebounds and 34 blocks per game to go along with 7.2 points a night.
The fire and ice combination of juniors Antino Jackson (Houston, Texas) and Noah Robotham (Las Vegas, Nev.) will lead the backcourt with help from MAC All-Freshman team selection sophomore Josh Williams (Akron, Ohio). Jackson, and his high-energy approach, was second in team scoring a year ago with 11.8 points per game. He buried 68 long distance field goals and led the Zips' with 121 assists and 41 steals. On the other hand, Robotham's methodical approach to navigating the offense adds 9.7 points per game with 56 triples and a second-best 108 assists and 34 steals. Williams found his groove mid-season and delivered back-to-back-to-back 20-point performances. He averaged 6.6 points with 58 3-point field goals while adding 47 assists and 14 steals.
Returning juniors Aaron Jackson (Gahanna, Ohio) and Jimond Ivey (Cleveland, Ohio) should see an increased role form their 9.4 and 8.6 minutes per game last season, respectively. Both, Jackson and Ivey averaged 2.6 points and nearly two rebounds per game.
Redshirt junior Craig Eubanks (Cleveland, Ohio), redshirt freshmen Daniel Utomi (Houston, Texas) and Emmanuel Olojakpoke (Houston, Texas) also look to provide a new spark on both ends of the floor, while newcomers Tavian Dunn-Martin (Huntington, W.Va.), Michael Hughes (Liberty, Mo.), and Ty Dalton (Houston, Texas) will aide the Zips' quest for a fourth regular-season and MAC Tournament championship runs.
The Zips finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 26-9 overall record, including a 13-5 league mark and an undefeated 15-0 showing at James A. Rhodes Arena. Dambrot led Akron to its eighth MAC Tournament title game appearance in the last ten seasons and an unprecedented 11th-straight semifinal. The Zips' runs of consecutive title game and semifinal appearances are the longest streaks in MAC history.
Akron earned the No. 6 seed in the 2016 National Invitation Tournament. It was Akron's sixth appearance in the NIT and fourth under Dambrot (1987, 1989, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016).
Akron tied the school record for wins in a season (26) and set program records in 3-point FG made (409) and attempted (1,069) in a season, as well as, made (20) and attempted (43) in a game.
The Akron men's squad travels to Youngstown, Ohio to open the season at the Northeast Ohio Coaches vs. Cancer event against Youngstown State on Nov. 12 at 7:45 p.m., immediately following the Cleveland State and Kent State season opener. The Zips home opener is scheduled for Nov. 17 against American at 7 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Season Tickets on Sale Now
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2016-17 campaign, with ticket packages starting at $60 for General Admission to $810/seat for mid court.
Also available is a $175 Alumni All sport plan that includes season tickets for all of our ticketed sports (MBB, WBB, volleyball, football, men's soccer, and women's soccer).
Akron faculty and staff may purchase Upper Reserved season tickets for $175 and Lower Reserved for $260 plus applicable donation. The Zips also offer a family plan allowing two adults and two children season tickets for $210.
Another option is the All-Access 10-pack available for $100 that allows fans 10-undated vouchers which can be redeemed for 10 general admission tickets for any of Akron's ticketed sporting events.
Tickets can be purchased online anytime at GoZips.com/Tickets, or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Mondays through Fridays by either calling 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visiting The C.P. and Cornelia S. Chima Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium - Summa Field (located at 375 E. Exchange Street, near Gate 1 at the southwest corner of the venue, at the corner of E. Exchange and S. Union streets).
2016-17 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Akron (15 first place votes) – 194 points
2. Ohio (16) – 190 points
3. Buffalo (5) – 144 points
4. Kent State – 116 points
5. Bowling Green – 63 points
6. Miami – 49 points
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Eastern Michigan (16 first place votes) – 178 points
2. Ball State (12) – 158 points
3. NIU (5) – 148 points
4. Toledo (1) – 100 points
5. Western Michigan – 95 points
6. Central Michigan (2) – 77 points
2017 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Akron (15), Ohio (11), Eastern Michigan (3), Buffalo (2), NIU (2), Central Michigan (1), Kent State (1), Miami (1).
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
Isaiah Johnson, Sr., C, Akron
Blake Hamilton, Sr., W, Buffalo
Jimmy Hall, Sr., F, Kent State
Antonio Campbell, Sr., F, Ohio
Jaaron Simmons, Jr., G, Ohio
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team
Franko House, Sr., F, Ball State
James Thompson IV, So., F/C, Eastern Michigan
Marin Maric, Sr., C, Northern Illinois
Jonathan Williams, Sr., G, Toledo
Thomas Wilder, Jr., G, Western Michigan
