Game 26- Toledo

[Hilltopper]

2 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

White hot. Dawson is 2-16 in his last three games. 

Scott is also 2-16 over his last 5. 0-9 in the last 3.

Edited February 20, 2024 by Hilltopper

[Illini Zip]

It's hard to fathom such poor shooting numbers and from so many players. Especially, the fact that many of these shots are wide open and all of these guys are upperclassmen. It must be a mental block at this point. Hopefully they regain their confidence soon. Tonight would be nice.

[roopride]

Go ZIPS!!!   

[dirtyolcrowe]

Tavari!!

Tavari!!

Tavari!!

[1981 grad]

1 hour ago, Illini Zip said:

It's hard to fathom such poor shooting numbers and from so many players. Especially, the fact that many of these shots are wide open and all of these guys are upperclassmen. It must be a mental block at this point. Hopefully they regain their confidence soon. Tonight would be nice.

I hate to say this but when you look at the stats for the most part Thornton, Scott, and Dawson have struggled offensively most of the year especially when we have played the better teams.  Every player has an off night shooting such as Sammy.  You have to wonder if Dawson is struggling after last year's injury.  But I see Sammy and Thornton just being misses on talent.  How many times have we seen Sammy bail on a layup where he does not go up strong.  I have seen Thornton drive to the basket and score but those moments are getting fewer and fewer.  It seems with these 3 there game is now limited to perimeter shots that they are missing.  We need more from these players to get to the next level.  I know it seems stupid to complain about a team that has only lost one game but can anyone on this board say that they are happy with the offensive output of Thornton, Scott and Dawson this year?

[clarkwgriswold]

Line on Draftkings right now is Zips +2.

[clarkwgriswold]

I think part of the problem with Thornton and Scott is that they've never played regularly enough to get into the flow or a rhythm. I guess that's the curse of their depth to some extent.  That's unlikely to change with Tavari's play improving and minutes expanding.

[Reslife4Life]

I do believe that players like Dawson or Scott should drive to the basket more. But the offense that we run, through Freeman back to basket, is a good system for what we currently do. We wouldn't still be doing this 25 games in to the season if the staff and most importantly the players believed in one another to take those 3s. Its been a tough shooting couple of weeks, but I don't think we are going to change how Enrique handles the ball, so the shots just have to fall sometime

[LoyalZIP]

Thornton doesn't belong in the same discussion as those guys. He is a classic 2-way PG who makes the most of his minutes as a distributor and defender. His numbers, though with limited minutes, reflect that. Scott has been the biggest disappointment. Dawson has at the very least had some moments, but Scott's shot has not come around. 29% in MAC play. He has also, save for the dunk vs. WMU, come up empty on fast break attempts repeatedly. The thing about each of these guys that still keeps them dangerous is the threat they are to make shots. It's not like we're surrounding Freeman with 4 Shaqs. While Akron lacks a 3-point sharpshooter, Hunter, Dawson, Scott, Ali, Tribble, Tavari, even Thornton all have shown the capability to be shooters. 

 

The archetype for the player Akron is "missing" wears #21 for Toledo. Keeping him in check back on 2/2 won Akron that game. 

[Captain Kangaroo]

Quote

While Akron lacks a 3-point sharpshooter, Hunter, Dawson, Scott, Ali, Tribble, Tavari, even Thornton all have shown the capability to be shooters. 

Hunter - maybe. Tavari - yes. Everyone else...Bad.

 

We're 25 games into the season and Dawson, Scott, Ali, Tribble and Thornton (for the past month) make me cringe when they hoist a three. 

 

Ali brings a mid-range game to the table, and has a knack for run-stopping buckets. Tribble's floaters also help us ride out some dry spells from beyond the arc. If the other guys are struggling from 3, they don't bring much else to the offensive side of the table.

[kreed5120]

I'm most confident in Ali figuring it out within the next month. Mainly because he has shown in the past that he can be that player and isn't coming off of any major injuries. I don't think he'll be a .400 3P% shooter moving, but .350-.370 is serviceable. Especially since he's been very efficient inside the arc. We'd probably have another 3-4 losses right now had he not returned.

 

We really need one of the other guards to step up and provide some floor spacing. The longer this drought continues, the more aggressive teams will become at clogging the paint and double teaming Freeman. You just aren't going to win games that matter if you can't make 3s in today's college game. It's way overpowered.

Edited February 20, 2024 by kreed5120

[AkronAlumnus]

4 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Line on Draftkings right now is Zips +2.

thoughts on this? @everyone

[1981 grad]

I do not bet on basketball but if there were a line on Dawson taking and missing the first 3 of the game, money in the bank.

[Reslife4Life]

I think I would take Zips +2

 

The O/U is 150.5

Even though it is against Toledo, any Akron game where the total is that high I would take the under

[kreed5120]

29 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

I think I would take Zips +2

 

The O/U is 150.5

Even though it is against Toledo, any Akron game where the total is that high I would take the under

I would tend to agree, but based off the success Toledo had pushing the ball in the second half, I expect them to make that a key part of their game plan. It really comes down to which team can dictate pace.

[LoyalZIP]

Akron hasn't won at Toledo since Zeke Marshall blocked 9 shots (IIRC all in the first half) in a 71-56 victory in January of 2013. Many of the games haven't been close, either. At one point, Akron had a similar drought against Buffalo but 11 years is pretty wild considering everything Akron has done over the years. Maybe we're due. I hope so. 

[NWAkron]

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

I would tend to agree, but based off the success Toledo had pushing the ball in the second half, I expect them to make that a key part of their game plan. It really comes down to which team can dictate pace.

And who wants it more. 😏 

[Zips08]

2 hours ago, LoyalZIP said:

Akron hasn't won at Toledo since Zeke Marshall blocked 9 shots (IIRC all in the first half) in a 71-56 victory in January of 2013. Many of the games haven't been close, either. At one point, Akron had a similar drought against Buffalo but 11 years is pretty wild considering everything Akron has done over the years. Maybe we're due. I hope so. 

That's wild 

[clarkwgriswold]

As much as the Zips three point shooting hasn't passed our collective eye test, the team is 6th in the MAC in three point shooting percentage and second in three pointers made.  They are also first in three pointer defense, which helps ease the pain a little.

[AkronAlumnus]

I think Akron wins a relatively close one! 

[AkronAlumnus]

Akron by 3-5 points 

[Reslife4Life]

making them shoot threes so far. Good adjustment

[AkronAlumnus]

I don't like Toledo's coach. idk something about him screams complacency. I'd hate to have him as a coach

Edited February 21, 2024 by AkronAlumnus

[clarkwgriswold]

Don't put the ball on the floor after you beat the trap and have the advantage.

[Reslife4Life]

Bring careless with the ball so far