NWAkron

Kittens Attack has this game figured out: "Akron will be a tough game, good chance for a huge win. I think they will overly key in on DW and we need to have Hunter, Roderick & the Brown Bros spot and and drain their open threes. Simple as that. Last Edited: 1/25/2023 8:06:56 AM by Andrew Ruck"

Zips are now the hunted.

He was in and then out tonight. He was at the end of the bench with no chance of going back in. bad turnover. bad floater. then he was sent to Siberia.

DeKalb is the Bermuda Triangle of MAC basketball.

And just like that... I watched the end of that game and Ravenna didn't execute and Santiago couldn't bail them out. NIU's Coit had 32 points. Toledo held off Bates (who is probably happy he got to show off on national TV and not too upset about the loss)

Well, well, well.

After Tavari made that god awful, high school style turnover, did we see him again?

I would agree. I had a pretty good perspective from my seat and he pushed that guy out of the way.

That Fat Guy has gotten away with murder.

Ugh. Hang on guys.

No give up from Hawks. Brutal ending this will be. Zips look tired.

I can't believe that. Not Groce's type.

Was just thinking, they need Lyles in there

Buffalo up 19 at Muncie. Could be one of those nights in the MAC.

Groce will re-group them during long time out.

Yes. Zips seem a bit surprised and frustrated. But missing every shot will do that.

Bueller? Bueller?

2 fouls on Freeman. Fat Boy for Miami is doing what he wants.

nice article in ABJ today. From article focused on Castaneda: "Tribble said Castaneda reminds him of former Zip Loren Cristian Jackson, an ice-water-in his-veins type of point guard who had little problem taking his teammates and putting them on his shoulders. That, given Jackson’s accomplishments while at UA, represents high praise. “You see other guys couldn't get it going,” Tribble said of the Broncos game. “Other guys weren't making shots and then he just was making everything. I think it's very important to have a guy like that on our team from previous years. He's very similar to Cristian Jackson and that standard.” ZIPS 'I'll do whatever it takes to win': Xavier Castaneda leads way for Akron men's basketball George M. Thomas Akron Beacon Journal For those who watched the University of Akron men’s basketball team play Western Michigan with an objective eye, there can be no doubt that the Zips struggled against the then 6-12 Broncos. But that’s not a huge surprise for the Zips, who have had to claw their way to a .500 record in road games. They are at home Tuesday against Miami. Saturday’s 63-55 win over the Broncos, though, may have revealed the team has yet another player who can lift the team on his shoulders when necessary. Point guard Xavier Castaneda was the only UA player to score double figures, finishing with 32 points — just one shy of a career best — on 11-of-25 shooting. Xavier Castaneda leads Mid-American Conference in scoring That fact falls in line with what the Chicago, Illinois, native has accomplished this season. Last year he was the Zips' second-leading scorer, just behind Ali Ali, with 13.2 points per game to Ali’s 13.6. This season? He leads the Mid-American Conference with 19.9 points per game, having increased his scoring output by more than 50% over last year. Teammate Enrique Freeman said it’s a matter of Castaneda living in the moment, knowing it’s his senior year. He, however, doesn’t discount the talent. More:University of Akron point guard Xavier Castaneda finding his way in Zips uniform “X is that guy. He can really score at all three levels. I could only imagine what the scouting report would say, but I think we do a good job of feeding him …everyone's willing to just be good passers and give the next guy the open shot,” Freeman said. Zips guard Greg Tribble sees the difference in his teammate and the way he asserts himself on the court. “I feel like he's more comfortable,” Tribble said of Castaneda. “He was confident last year, but you could tell he got that swag, and I just feel like he just more comfortable with the system and what coach wants out of him and he's just doing it at a high level right now.” Coach John Groce said a lot went into the win over the Broncos, including the fact his team held the Broncos to 38% shooting and took care of the ball, only turning it over three times. But he said he also sees the improvement in Castaneda. “I think No. 1 experience, No. 2 familiarity with the system, No. 3 different roster,” Groce said when asked about the boost in Castaneda’s scoring. “So different roster, different role a little bit, some more opportunities for him to score. And he's taken full advantage of those.” Teammates: Xavier Castaneda is just that guy Castaneda doesn’t hesitate when asked how he’s different from last year. “I’m just the same guy as last year,” he said. Perhaps it is comfort level for him. As the new guy last year, he led but more by example. There are subtle differences this year. Much of it is still by example on the court, but when he missed the first two games of the conference schedule, Groce gave him credit for being on the bench encouraging his teammates. For someone who acknowledges his like for author Malcolm Gladwell and the appreciation his favorite basketball player, Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, had for Gladwell it’s not surprising Castaneda doesn’t see a difference or pay attention to the numbers. “Just doing what's needed to win,” he said when asked about the difference. “I'm not chasing any awards, any points, anything like that. I'm just trying to go out there and win every single game. Every single game.” He does acknowledge the roles others have played in his increased production. “I just think more opportunities,” he said, “a combination of that and my teammates. I give them a lot of credit.” Akron Zips point guard appreciates 'Mamba mentality' Castaneda's teammates give him a lot of credit, too. Tribble said Castaneda reminds him of former Zip Loren Cristian Jackson, an ice-water-in his-veins type of point guard who had little problem taking his teammates and putting them on his shoulders. That, given Jackson’s accomplishments while at UA, represents high praise. “You see other guys couldn't get it going,” Tribble said of the Broncos game. “Other guys weren't making shots and then he just was making everything. I think it's very important to have a guy like that on our team from previous years. He's very similar to Cristian Jackson and that standard.” Groce can see the comparison to Jackson, but he also understands what makes Castaneda tick — having a bit of Bryant’s Mamba mentality — “working to be better today than you were yesterday.” Groce calls him one of the highest-level competitors he’s ever coached. “I mean, he's the type of dude, if he's on the bus playing euchre or Spades or chess or checkers, he's trying to win every time. And if he's not, he's pissed.” That is the attitude that could serve the Zips and Castaneda well as they trudge through the MAC schedule, which, as usual, won’t be an easy trek. Who wins the conference and eventually the season-ending tournament is rarely predictable. In the early going, Toledo (4-2) is right there. The most surprising team might be Ball State (4-2), which beat the Zips while Castaneda was out with a wrist injury. And, of course, there is UA archrival Kent State. The Golden Flashes, riding a 10-game winning streak, are undefeated in conference play and look like the team to beat. In short, much like last season, the Zips are going to need to peak at the right moment, and it doesn’t hurt to have a player who doesn’t shrink from the moment. For Castaneda, the calculus is simple. “I'll do whatever it takes to win,” he said.

-13.5 Toledo -18.5 v EMU. (and on CBSSN). Bates is giving the Hurons the wrong type of publicity.

so this is like a science? who knew? i didn't.

Is the 3 ball easier to shoot because the player knows pretty much the distance each time he shoots, so if there is an inside out play there's that catch and shoot rhythm? with the 10 foot, 15 foot, etc it's a tougher shot

While watching one of the MAC games over the weekend (maybe it was Broncos/Zips) the announcers talked about shooting 3s with the inside out movement. They mentioned that there is a rhythm to that pass and shoot that raises the likelihood of a basket. I'm not sure on the 15 footers they get the same set and shoot.

I wasn't necessarily serious when I put that out there. But, for example, PCCC goes to NIU tomorrow night and in the past you may expect NIU to pull off an upset at home but it doesn't seem like that is going to happen this year with the bottom feeders. https://getsomemaction.com/stats.aspx?path=mbball&year=2022&conf=true

the heart wants what it wants.