The 2012-2013 Akron Zips: The Breakthrough Year That Wasn't

[UAZip0510]

There's been a lot of discussion centered around the Zips finally breaking through as a program and making an NCAA Tournament run.  2012-2013 might have been that year, if not for some significant off-court issues.

 

On October 2, 2012, Quincy Diggs was suspended for the 2012-2013 season.  Diggs was MAC Sixth Man of the Year the previous season and was primed to break out even more.  The loss of Diggs hurt significantly, but Akron still rolled through the MAC, achieved a Top 25 ranking, and looked like a team that would make a March run.  Then, on March 7th, Alex Abreu was arrested and charged with two third-degree felonies of drug trafficking and drug abuse.  Abreu's Zips career was done.  Even still, the talented Zips managed to win the MAC Tournament title.  Unfortunately, they drew an awful matchup - VCU - and half of the team came down sick the night before the game.  Akron was drubbed and the season was over.  

 

You can't change the past and actions bring consequences, but I can't help but think of what might have been if Diggs didn't get suspended and Abreu wasn't arrested.  

 

F - Treadwell (Jr) / Harney (Jr)

F - Gilliam (Sr) / Kretzer (Fr) / McAdams (Fr)

C - Marshall (Sr) / Forsythe (Fr)

G - Diggs (Sr) / Walsh (Sr) / Ibitayo (So)

G - Abreu (Jr) / Betancourt (Fr)

 

That roster is STACKED and would have easily be the most talented roster in program history.  As we discuss Keith Dambrot constructing a roster to take this program to the next level, I can't wonder if he already built it once, but lost it due to poor off-court decisions/actions by his players.  

[Blackburn]

That roster was talented. But I think the off the court issues saved them.  Without Zeke, Akron doesn't get their NCAA appearances.  He was a game changer in the MAC.  But he wasn't when the Zips moved on to top talent in the country (i.e. NCAA tournament). 

 

Having Abreu would have been nice vs VCU, but I don't think the outcome would have been different.  Score, yes. But the outcome, no.  Diggs was always up and down. Moody. So you never know what you were going to get with him.  

 

But it is a good enough question to make you wonder a little. I just don't think it is as talented as we think. Again, without Zeke, team doesn't make in through the MAC.

[kreed5120]

Who honestly knows how that season plays out without the losses of those 2 players. Maybe we beat Kent with Abreu and get a better seed therefore not having to play VCU. Maybe Abreu has another 4/15 shooting night like he did in our loss to Buffalo and we lose to Kent in the semifinals. Personally, I'm not going to dwell on what could have been as there are just too many moving variables.

[clarkwgriswold]

23 hours ago, UAZip0510 said:

There's been a lot of discussion centered around the Zips finally breaking through as a program and making an NCAA Tournament run.  2012-2013 might have been that year, if not for some significant off-court issues.

 

On October 2, 2012, Quincy Diggs was suspended for the 2012-2013 season.  Diggs was MAC Sixth Man of the Year the previous season and was primed to break out even more.  The loss of Diggs hurt significantly, but Akron still rolled through the MAC, achieved a Top 25 ranking, and looked like a team that would make a March run.  Then, on March 7th, Alex Abreu was arrested and charged with two third-degree felonies of drug trafficking and drug abuse.  Abreu's Zips career was done.  Even still, the talented Zips managed to win the MAC Tournament title.  Unfortunately, they drew an awful matchup - VCU - and half of the team came down sick the night before the game.  Akron was drubbed and the season was over.  

 

You can't change the past and actions bring consequences, but I can't help but think of what might have been if Diggs didn't get suspended and Abreu wasn't arrested.  

 

F - Treadwell (Jr) / Harney (Jr)

F - Gilliam (Sr) / Kretzer (Fr) / McAdams (Fr)

C - Marshall (Sr) / Forsythe (Fr)

G - Diggs (Sr) / Walsh (Sr) / Ibitayo (So)

G - Abreu (Jr) / Betancourt (Fr)

 

That roster is STACKED and would have easily be the most talented roster in program history.  As we discuss Keith Dambrot constructing a roster to take this program to the next level, I can't wonder if he already built it once, but lost it due to poor off-court decisions/actions by his players.  

 

Unfortunately, scientific studies have conclusively established that drug dealers and other criminals are generally better basketball players than altar boys and honor roll students.  

[Dr Z]

I sure hope the Zips win tonight, so fans have better topics to discuss. 

[zipfan84]

On 3/14/2017 at 10:44 AM, UAZip0510 said:

There's been a lot of discussion centered around the Zips finally breaking through as a program and making an NCAA Tournament run.  2012-2013 might have been that year, if not for some significant off-court issues.

 

On October 2, 2012, Quincy Diggs was suspended for the 2012-2013 season.  Diggs was MAC Sixth Man of the Year the previous season and was primed to break out even more.  The loss of Diggs hurt significantly, but Akron still rolled through the MAC, achieved a Top 25 ranking, and looked like a team that would make a March run.  Then, on March 7th, Alex Abreu was arrested and charged with two third-degree felonies of drug trafficking and drug abuse.  Abreu's Zips career was done.  Even still, the talented Zips managed to win the MAC Tournament title.  Unfortunately, they drew an awful matchup - VCU - and half of the team came down sick the night before the game.  Akron was drubbed and the season was over.  

 

You can't change the past and actions bring consequences, but I can't help but think of what might have been if Diggs didn't get suspended and Abreu wasn't arrested.  

 

F - Treadwell (Jr) / Harney (Jr)

F - Gilliam (Sr) / Kretzer (Fr) / McAdams (Fr)

C - Marshall (Sr) / Forsythe (Fr)

G - Diggs (Sr) / Walsh (Sr) / Ibitayo (So)

G - Abreu (Jr) / Betancourt (Fr)

 

That roster is STACKED and would have easily be the most talented roster in program history.  As we discuss Keith Dambrot constructing a roster to take this program to the next level, I can't wonder if he already built it once, but lost it due to poor off-court decisions/actions by his players.  

 

Good post and I agree completely. What I remember most was Nick Harney handling the point during the MAC tourney. A 6'-8" point guard! He had such raw talent. Of course, his off-court issues ultimately overshadowed that. As they did with Diggs, Abreu, & Tree.

 

KD learned his lesson and has since stayed away from such high risk/high reward players. I agree with that strategy. I bet his players graduation rate has been at, or near, the top of the MAC too.

Edited March 15, 2017 by zipfan84

[skip-zip]

On 3/14/2017 at 11:47 AM, Blackburn said:

Having Abreu would have been nice vs VCU, but I don't think the outcome would have been different.

 

You forget the rest of the story:

 

1) We had just played that VCU team to a 1-point overtime game the year before.  

 

2) Alex was not the only guard we lost for that game.  Deji was out with a back injury, and Walsh had food poisoning.  

 

Playing VCU with basically 1 Guard, who was a freshman (Carmelo) is a recipe for disaster.   I'd love to play that game over again with Abreu, Diggs, Walsh, and Deji. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

25 minutes ago, skip-zip said:

 

You forget the rest of the story:

 

1) We had just played that VCU team to a 1-point overtime game the year before.  

 

2) Alex was not the only guard we lost for that game.  Deji was out with a back injury, and Walsh had food poisoning.  

 

Playing VCU with basically 1 Guard, who was a freshman (Carmelo) is a recipe for disaster.   I'd love to play that game over again with Abreu, Diggs, Walsh, and Deji. 

Didn't Forsythe also have food poisoning?

[skip-zip]

2 minutes ago, lilroodude said:

Didn't Forsythe also have food poisoning?

 

Yes, He was on IV right before the game.  I'm not sure about Walsh.  

 

I was just commenting only about the depleted Guards, since that had such an enormous impact on the game because of VCU's pressure.   

[1981 grad]

I went to that game and my thought was the only one that looked like he belonged on the court was Tree.  Everyone else looked slow compared to the athletes on VCU.  Harney was our point guard and he could not handle the ball against continuous pressure.  The only good thing about that day was watching Michigan play and I believe they made a run to the finals that year.

[skip-zip]

3 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

Harney was our point guard and he could not handle the ball against continuous pressure. 

 

I thought that was a brilliant move by the coaches to use a forward with some ball handling skills in the MAC tournament that year, when we had almost no PGs left.  But that was a bad situation for him against a team that pressures like that.  

[ewbrooman1]

1 hour ago, skip-zip said:

 

Yes, He was on IV right before the game.  I'm not sure about Walsh.  

 

I was just commenting only about the depleted Guards, since that had such an enormous impact on the game because of VCU's pressure.   

I remember Walsh being sick, too. I also remember him running off court to the tunnel or locker room during the game. 

[Captain Kangaroo]

Lots of Zips fans were sick that night too. The Abreu Flu. 

[UAZip0510]

7 hours ago, Dr Z said:

I sure hope the Zips win tonight, so fans have better topics to discuss. 

 

What's wrong with this as a topic?

[1981 grad]

When Big Dog has the ball down low just get out of the paint.  Our spacing is just not that good when he has the ball.  In the next possession they did better.  There is nothing their center can do against Big Dog.  Good first half.   We took some long three balls but we also made some.  Our guards just cannot defend the dribble penetration but that has been a problem all year.