2024-25 Season

[RoyalBlu]

5 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

That was a very good St. Mary's team we lost to. 

 

With the possible exception of St. Mary's, I wouldn't consider any of those teams to be mid-major.

[MDZip]

St. Mary's just beat USC 71 to 36. I'm not feeling as bad about the Zips 20-point loss. 😂

[Let'sGoZips94]

3 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

With the possible exception of St. Mary's, I wouldn't consider any of those teams to be mid-major.

 

I would agree, which is why SMC being in the same category as them for talent is impressive. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Akron is currently ranked #3 in the country in 3 point attempts per game.

 

We also rank...

• #1 in FG attempts per game
• #4 in 3P made per game
• #16 in offensive rebounds per game
• #8 in assists per game

Groce wants more. 

 

 

(do not look at our defensive rankings)

[RoyalBlu]

16 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Akron is currently ranked #3 in the country in 3 point attempts per game.

 

We also rank...

• #1 in FG attempts per game
• #4 in 3P made per game
• #16 in offensive rebounds per game
• #8 in assists per game

Groce wants more. 

 

 

(do not look at our defensive rankings)

 

This is the trend in the game of basketball now ... volume shooting, especially 3-pointers. If you force the opposition to shoot with you, then defense becomes negligible. Not my particular cup of tea, but that's basketball now, no matter what level.

 

[clarkwgriswold]

I think it's all an indicator of the nature of Groce.  He adapts to what he has rather than trying to pound square pegs into round holes.  He has shooters and depth now, so it's off to the races with lots of three pointers.  Last year, he had a dominant post player and not much depth and he slowed it down and played inside out.  In Groce I trust.

[NWAkron]

2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

I think it's all an indicator of the nature of Groce.  He adapts to what he has rather than trying to pound square pegs into round holes.  He has shooters and depth now, so it's off to the races with lots of three pointers.  Last year, he had a dominant post player and not much depth and he slowed it down and played inside out.  In Groce I trust.

Viable back up bigs should apply elsewhere

[Hilltopper]

https://wvmetronews.com/2025/01/13/morgantowns-sharron-young-enjoying-the-moment-in-freshman-season-at-akron/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1nuTEBxt673uwTzKQYtSpnSPvc2W00J-pYp72x9ZEpHdF-Noqp7o_yHxw_aem_2toQ7GFvqL5pfF9L8tIqow

[1981 grad]

18 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

https://wvmetronews.com/2025/01/13/morgantowns-sharron-young-enjoying-the-moment-in-freshman-season-at-akron/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1nuTEBxt673uwTzKQYtSpnSPvc2W00J-pYp72x9ZEpHdF-Noqp7o_yHxw_aem_2toQ7GFvqL5pfF9L8tIqow

Thanks for sharing.  Great article.  I like his approach about coming off the bench.  I think his presence has helped to elevate Tevari's game. Too early to think about frosh of the year in the MAC?  I know we have had this discussion in the past, but when is the last time an Akron player won that award?

[Blue & Gold]

 

[ZippyRulz]

On 11/30/2024 at 10:16 AM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Akron is currently ranked #3 in the country in 3 point attempts per game.

 

We also rank...

• #1 in FG attempts per game
• #4 in 3P made per game
• #16 in offensive rebounds per game
• #8 in assists per game

Groce wants more. 

 

 

(do not look at our defensive rankings)

 

In late Jan., #3 in 3-point average at 31.7, #20 in attempts.

 

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/team/625

 

[NWAkron]

Zips leading conference in:

 

3 point %

3 point FGs made

Scoring

FG %

FG % defense

3 point defense.  

Assist/turnover ratio

FT %

Combined rebounds

Margin of victory (by a lot)

Blocked shots

Assists

[LZIp]

7 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

Zips leading conference in:

 

3 point %

3 point FGs made

Scoring

FG %

FG % defense

3 point defense.  

Assist/turnover ratio

FT %

Combined rebounds

Margin of victory (by a lot)

Blocked shots

Assists

Soo…just about every single category? Lol. I know the MAC is down, but I’d really love to see this team get another swing at their OOC with the way we are playing right now. Looking forward to the south Alabama game.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Saint Mary's ranking as the top mid major at the moment, according to this account. 

 

[kreed5120]

20 hours ago, ZippyRulz said:

 

In late Jan., #3 in 3-point average at 31.7, #20 in attempts.

 

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/team/625

 

 

My concern about the Zips this season is over the course of the season you're going to have off shooting nights. Do they have it in them to win a physical, gritty contest when the shots aren't falling?

[blueandgold]

4 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

My concern about the Zips this season is over the course of the season you're going to have off shooting nights. Do they have it in them to win a physical, gritty contest when the shots aren't falling?

Kind of like the Bowling Green game.

[Let'sGoZips94]

20 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

My concern about the Zips this season is over the course of the season you're going to have off shooting nights. Do they have it in them to win a physical, gritty contest when the shots aren't falling?

 

Nearly the entire month of December was "off" shooting wise. 

 

Opp: 3P%

 

NKU: 44%

Milwaukee: 40%

Yale: 33.3%

Jackson St: 23.1%

Princeton: 30.4%

BUGS: 28.6% (January)

 

The Princeton and BUGS games taught this team what it takes to win without shooting lights out. Prior to those games, if I remember correctly, they were ~250 or so on average for most defensive metrics. They are currently top ~150 in the mostly-unaffected-by-Akron's-style defensive metrics (stat categories that our up-tempo style doesn't naturally inflate). According to TeamRankings, we are...

 

66th in Opp. Turnovers per Game

73rd in Opp. Assists/Turnover per Game

82nd in Opp. Assists/FGM per Game

109th in Opp. Shooting Efficiency

116th in Opp. 2P%

117th in Opp. Shooting %

126th in Blocks per Game

143rd in Opp. 3P%

 

Here are some other metrics that stand out...

 

Rebounds per Game: 22nd

Offensive Rebounds per Game: 64th

Assists/Turnover: 47th

 

 

Outside of our assists, none of these metrics have anything to do with our shooting. During the OOC portion of the schedule, we were heavily reliant on the 3-ball. Even if that was falling, the team didn't know how to do the other things well - rebounding, defense, etc. - to make up for the poor shooting. There are quite a few variables that played into what caused those deficiencies, and they seem to have been ironed out since. We are currently a true 10-deep team, meaning all 10 guys can contribute positively during the course of a game. We were arguably 7-8 deep in November/December. Wilson was MIA, Hardman was a reliability in every aspect (even his shooting at the time), Okonkwo was getting bullied down low and didn't contribute much offensively, MMK wasn't playing much, etc. The rest of the guys didn't have the chemistry yet to know their roles; Nate Johnson wasn't the leader he is today, Isaiah Gray was trying to make too much happen at times and played out of control, Tavari would go iso-ball and kill possessions, Shammah didn't have the confidence he does today, Young was still getting his feet wet as a freshman, and Lyles was hurt for an extended period of time. 

 

Our ball movement and off-the-ball movement has improved tremendously as the chemistry has been built. It has been interesting to watch teams try to push us off the 3P line, only to have a backdoor cut found for an easy layup, or our plethora of athletic guards drive by a pressing defender only to have limited help in the paint (typically leading to a layup although we have missed our fair share). This is the stuff that takes time to build with so many new pieces. November and December were some of the most frustrating months I can remember as an Akron basketball fan, but we shouldn't let it cloud our judgement of what this team is now and is capable of going forward. The growth they've exhibited is incredible and kudos to Groce & his staff for keeping the guys locked in going into MAC play. 

[NWAkron]

That's some serious Stats Salad.

[kreed5120]

Also, I would say rebounding is very much a counting stat. The faster pace a team plays, the more shot attempts and misses in a game there will be on average. Therefore there will be more rebounding opportunities. Ideally, you would want to look by rebounding margin, which Akron is doing well at #75, and more preferably by rebounding rate. That way you can see what percentage of misses you rebounding compared to your competition.

 

My main concern is you say our numbers have improved in January, which is true. That just happens to correspond when our opponents got conveniently much easier. Miami was the first decent team we've beaten all season. Beating the teams you're supposed to beat is always a positive, but I want to see better consistent play against other higher quality competition before I buy in. If we play the second leg of the MAC-Sun Belt challenge like we did against Miami I'll buy in. Right now I'm cautiously optimistic.

[1981 grad]

I have watched a lot of Akron basketball and here is something I have never seen before, emptying the bench when you have 30 point basketball game means bringing in one guy, Evan Wilson.  By playing 10 guys and red shirting everyone else, our bench is Evan.  And even more bizarre is that he is in for 3 minutes and gets a T.  The first time I saw Freeman play was during a blowout his frosh year.  Can anyone name a fan favorite who would come in during a blowout in past years?  

[NWAkron]

10 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

Can anyone name a fan favorite who would come in during a blowout in past years?  

That white guy.

[zippy5]

Nick Goddard

[clarkwgriswold]

Scott Walter

[NWAkron]

2 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Scott Walter

yes, that one.

[Let'sGoZips94]

57 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Also, I would say rebounding is very much a counting stat. The faster pace a team plays, the more shot attempts and misses in a game there will be on average. Therefore there will be more rebounding opportunities. Ideally, you would want to look by rebounding margin, which Akron is doing well at #75, and more preferably by rebounding rate. That way you can see what percentage of misses you rebounding compared to your competition.

 

My main concern is you say our numbers have improved in January, which is true. That just happens to correspond when our opponents got conveniently much easier. Miami was the first decent team we've beaten all season. Beating the teams you're supposed to beat is always a positive, but I want to see better consistent play against other higher quality competition before I buy in. If we play the second leg of the MAC-Sun Belt challenge like we did against Miami I'll buy in. Right now I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

Eh, our OOC wasn't spectacular. Saint Mary's (23rd), Yale (80th), Ark St (92nd), Milwaukee (107th), and Princeton (130th) are all higher NET than any MAC school we've played (Miami is 155th, Ohio is 162nd, Toledo is 198th), but Omaha (202nd), Lamar (213th), N. Kentucky (254th), Alabama St. (296th), and Jackson St. (313th) are all in the range of the bottom half of the MAC schools we've played. Our defensive numbers weren't great vs. the lesser part of our OOC and outside of Milwaukee, nobody lit it up offensively against us (87 pts by Saint Mary's had more to do with their height advantage on rebounds). If you're waiting for the game vs. South Alabama (128th coming off a loss vs. lowly ULM), I don't know what you're looking for that we're not showing already vs. Miami/Ohio/Toledo.

 

Our two closest losses were to Arkansas State (80-75 in OT) and Princeton (76-75 on a last possession shot). In the Ark St. game, Hardman played 5 minutes (3 pts), Seth played 12 minutes (5 pts), and although Isaiah Gray played 32 minutes he only had 4 pts on 3 2PA and 0 3PA. Those 3 pieces have since found their footing in this system, and if that game were played again, we most likely win that game. In the Princeton game, Seth Wilson played 15 minutes providing 0 pts on 2 shot attempts and Nate Johnson played 36 minutes (way above his recent average minutes per game). If our more recent balanced attack was exhibited in that game, we probably win.

 

What is our optimism and outlook on the season like if we're 16-3 instead of 14-5 because a few pieces clicked a bit better earlier in the season, leading to simply 1 more basket in each game that would've given us victories in both? 

 

It's ok to trust your eyes right now. This is a good team with one of the deepest scoring rosters I've seen in quite some time in college basketball, especially at the mid major level. Cautiously optimistic isn't a bad thing as long as you allow yourself to enjoy the ride instead of waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

 

Go Zips!

Edited Tuesday at 05:13 PM by Let'sGoZips94