Akron Basketball Opens Cayman Islands Classic against WKU

2022 Cayman Islands Classic
Akron Zips (2-1) vs Western Kentucky (3-0)
Monday, Nov. 21 • John Gray Gymnasium
Grand Cayman Island • 1:30 PM (ET) • FloSports TV

TV: FloSports https://flosports.link/3L1U9GA
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/3OlbzQ0
Live Radio: WHLO 640AM - https://ihr.fm/3fFmzLo

What's Ahead
The Akron Zips men's basketball program returns to Grand Cayman Island for the 2022 Cayman Islands Classic on Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 21-23. Akron opens the tournament against Western Kentucky at John Gray Gymnasium on Monday, Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. Fans can follow the games live on FloSports TV (subscription) with Scott Warmann (PxP) and Jess Settles (analyst) calling the action. The Zips' radio broadcast will air on the Akron Sports Network WHLO 640 AM with hosts Dave Skoczen and Joe Dunn. The pregame show starts 30 minutes prior to the contest. The free audio stream is available at iHeart Radio. Fans can also follow the action on GoZips.com via Live Stats.

Head Coaches:
Western Kentucky
Rick Stansbury (Campbellsville '82)
Overall: 418-239 (21st season)
Record at WKU: 125-73 (7th season)

Akron Zips
John Groce (Taylor '94)
Career Record: 278-192 (15th Season)
Record at Akron: 96-60 (6th Season)
Overall MAC Record: 88-68 (at Ohio and Akron)

Scouting Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky currently owns a 3-0 overall record, defeating Eastern Kentucky (66-60), Kentucky State (127-61) and Indianapolis (68-50). The Hilltoppers average 87.0 points per game on 49.2 percent shooting from the floor and 54.2 percent effort from beyond the 3-point arc (39 of 72), draining 13.0 triples a game. In addition, Western Kentucky shoots 72.7 percent from the free throw line on 13.0 attempts per game.

Four players average double figures as Luke Frampton leads the squad with 15.7 points and a remarkable 81.3 percent shooting effort from beyond the 3-point arc (13 of 16). He shoots 75.0 percent from all areas of the court, (15 of 20) and adds eight rebounds and four steals. Dayvion McKnight follows in scoring with 14.3 points per game and is second in assists (14) and third on the glass (14). Jairus Hamilton adds 14.0 points per game and is the second leading rebounder (22) with 7.3 boards per game. Jamarion Sharp leads the squad in rebounding with 25 total boards and 8.3 per game. He adds a team-best 16 blocked shots. Emmanuel Akot rounds out the double-digit scoring with 10.3 points per game and leads the team in assists (17).

Defensively, WKU limits its opponents to scoring 57.0 points per game on 29.8percent shooting from the floor and 29.9 percent from 3-point range, allowing 9.7 long distance strikes per night. The Hilltoppers caused 49 turnovers (16.3 to/g) with 25 steals (8.3 stl/g) and 25 blocked shots (8.3 blk/g). WKU outrebounds the opponent by a +1.7 margin as the opponent grabbed 124 total boards (41.3 rebs/g) compared to the 129 total rebounds (43.0 rebs/g) secured.

Return to the Cayman Islands Classic
In 2018, Akron went 1-2 in its inaugural Cayman Islands Classic appearance at John Gray Gym-nasium. The Zips opened against No. 16 ranked Clemson, falling 72-69. Akron and Illinois State battled in the second game as the Redbirds posted a 73-68 win. The Zips played St. Bonaven-ture in their final game and rallied to a 61-49 win. Loren Cristian Jackson earned All-Tournament team honors. In three games, Jackson averaged 16.3 points, 4.3 Assists and 2.3 rebounds. Jackson opened the tournament with a 25-point performance against No. 16 ranked Clemson.

Regular Season Tournaments
Akron is 67-44 all-time and 46-37 in the Division I era (since 1980) in regular season tourna-ments and 7-6 over the last four years under Groce (7-9 at Akron). Akron posted a 1-2 record in the 2021 Gulf Coast Showcase, 3-1 record in the Global Sports Shootout and 1-1 mark in the DC Holiday Hoops Fest, In 2018-19, the Zips went 2-2 at the Cayman Island Classic, and in Groce's first season, Akron posted an 0-3 mark at the 2018 Diamond Head Classic. Akron has posted multiple wins in 13 of the last 16 in-season tournaments, including three champion-ships.

The Zips won two tournaments in 2016-17, the Savannah Invitational (4-0) and Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational (2-0). In 2015-16, Akron went 2-0 at the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic to claim the title. In 2014-15, Akron posted a 2-1 record in the Gildan Charleston Classic follow-ing the previous tournament runs at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off (2012, 2-1), 2K Sports Classic (2011, 2-2), the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic (2010, 3-1), the Glenn Wilkes Classic (2009, 2-2), the Legends Classic (2008, 2-2), the Top of the World Classic (2007, 2-1) and the San Juan Shootout (2005, 2-1).

Freeman, Castaneda Tabbed Preseason All-MAC, Zips Picked Third
Freeman earned first team preseason All-MAC accolades, while Castaneda was selected second team All-MAC. The Zips received two first place votes and 127 voting points overall for the third-place ranking, while Kent State and Toledo were picked to finish first and second with six first-place votes (135 pts.) and four first-place votes (131 pts.), respectively.

Freeman was named 2022 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, MAC Tournament MVP and Second Team All-MAC and finished the 2022 campaign ranked No. 1 in the NCAA in field goal percentage (.665). He landed in the nation's Top 20 in six categories: No. 4 total rebounds (367), No. 6 rebounds per game (10.8), No. 8 double-doubles (18), No. 9 defensive rebounds per game (7.53) and No. 19 offensive rebounds per game (3.26). Freeman was one of 13 players in the NCAA to average a double-double in points (13.2) and rebounds (10.8). He led the MAC in 5-of-6 categories, ranking No. 2 in offensive rebounds per game.

Castaneda averaged a second-best 13.6 points per game and led the squad from behind the 3-point arc, shooting 37.3 percent (75 of 201) with a team-best 75 made 3-pointers. He scored in double figures 27 times with four 20+ point performances. He finished in third in the MAC for free throw percentage with 82.3 percent (107 of 130) en route to being named All-MAC Honorable Mention. Castaneda also garnered 2022 MAC All-Tournament Team honors.

Akron at a Glance
The Zips return nine players from last season's championship squad and adds six newcomers headlined by transfers graduate Trendon Hankerson (Novi, Mich.) and junior Sammy Hunter (Nassau, Bahamas). Also joining the Blue and Gold for 2022-23 are freshmen Tavari Johnson (Chicago, Ill.), Amani Lyles (Columbus, Ohio), Prince Mosengo (Congo, Africa) and Ryan Prather, Jr. (Clarksburg, Md.).

• Akron is 40-16 over the last three years in MAC play, best winning percentage (.714) in the conference
• 2022 Mid-American Conference Tournament Champions
• Posted a 24-10 record, including 14-6 mark in league play
• The 2019-20 MAC regular season champions finished with school-record 24 regular season wins (postseason canceled due to COVID-19)
• Akron entered the 2022 NCAA Tournament with an eight-game winning streak

Akron's Run to the Dance
Akron to the 2022 MAC Tournament Championship and fifth appearance all-time in the NCAA Tournament. The Zips finished the season 24-10 overall record with a 14-6 league mark, finishing tied for third in regular-season MAC play. As the fourth seed, the Zips defeated fifth-seeded Buffalo (70-68) and top-seeded Toledo (70-62) before posting a 20-point win over second-seeded Kent State (75-55) in the MAC title game. The Zips closed out regular season play on a five-game winning streak and added three consecutive wins to secure the 2022 MAC title. After winning eight consecutive contests, Akron entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 13 seed and played against the No. 4 seed UCLA Bruins in the First Round of the East Region at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon on March 17, 2022. The Zips fell 57-53.

2022-23 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
(First Place Votes)
1. Kent State (6) – 135 points
2. Toledo (4) – 131
3. Akron (2) – 127
4. Ball State -- 94
5. Ohio -- 91
6. Buffalo -- 82
7. Eastern Michigan -- 68
8. Western Michigan -- 66
9. Bowling Green -- 42
10. Central Michigan -- 38
11. Miami -- 36
12. Northern Illinois – 26

MAC Tournament Champions: Kent State (4), Toledo (3), Akron (2), Eastern Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1)

2022-23 MAC Men's Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Enrique Freeman, F, Akron, Jr.
Payton Sparks, C, Ball State, So.
Sincere Carry, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
JT Shumate, F, Toledo, Sr.
Lamar Norman Jr., G, Western Michigan, Sr.

Second Team
Xavier Castaneda, G, Akron, Sr.
Kevin Miller, G, Central Michigan, So.

Emoni Bates, F, Eastern Michigan, So.
Malique Jacobs, G, Kent State, R-Sr.
Setric Millner Jr., F, Toledo, Sr.

The University of Akron Athletics

Akron Basketball Opens Cayman Islands Classic against WKU

Players Mentioned

Xavier Castaneda

Enrique Freeman

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