Game 21- PCCC

[clarkwgriswold]

The Zips head to the barn in Brimfield Friday night to face the arch-rival.  The Flushes come into the game at an uncharacteristic 13-7 and are 4-4 in the MAC.  They are coming off of a home win against BG.

VonCameron Davis leads the team at 15.4 ppg.  Jalen Sullinger, fresh off of his brief tour of Furman in South Carolina, averages 11.8 ppg.  Cli’ron Hornbeak (that sounds like some rare Australian bird) leads the team in rebounding at 6.4 rpg.  They are first in MAC defense and last in offense.  They are 11th in field goal percentage, led by Sullinger’s awful shooting thus far.

It will be interesting to see how these teams with such different styles plays out.  I predict it will be extra chippy and Mr. Pinky will be extra pink.  I expect Gray to bounce off of Davis quite a bit as he’s the Zips best body up defender.
 

[Blue & Gold]

I still can't believe a team with a 1-2 punch of seniors VonCameron Davis & Jalen Sullinger are struggling on the offensive end of the floor.

Edited yesterday at 01:17 PM by Blue & Gold
to avoid a jinx

[Captain Kangaroo]

Kent being the MAC's #1 defense...and seeing how the Zips struggle against the press...I predict Kent will not let us casually walk the ball up the court. 

 

Seems like a 62-61 slog in the making. Hopefully the Zips depth makes the difference.

[ZipsFan31]

I got a bad feeling about this game… just seems like a game where the Flushes go unconscious and hit everything they shoot. 

 

I like our depth and look for Tarvi to have a big game. Last year he was the difference maker. 

[johnnyzip84]

With Okonkwo's tendency to leave his feet, I hope the Zips follow the food additive genius's advice and have Gray (and Lyles, Marvin and even Seth Wilson) take shifts guarding VonCameron Davis or else this could easily devolve into a matchup nightmare down low if James is forced to sit for most or all of the game.

 

I think it'll also be key for the Zips to key their emotions in check. That's always difficult in this rivalry (Tavari and Ali both had TFs over there last year).

 

Despite their record, I still think Kent has talent - albeit incredibly inconsistent. Sullinger has been a good shooter in the past (although probably benefited from Santiago being another threat), so you have to wonder if that will return this year.

 

Bottom line is I'll take ANY W this Friday - no questions asked.

[csims0917]

Can we please not have any technicals. It’s going to be an emotional environment but we can’t lose our cool on the road. Can’t give the crowd any more ammo

[Captain Kangaroo]

30 minutes ago, csims0917 said:

Can we please not have any technicals. It’s going to be an emotional environment but we can’t lose our cool on the road. Can’t give the crowd any more ammo

I don’t think it can be helped. Ali’s tech last year was for turning his head towards the Kent bench after making a 3 and saying “You can’t stop me.”

 

Referees in these types of games love to “take control of it” and issue weak techs. 

[kreed5120]

By the metrics (NET & Kenpom) Kent is still ranked as the 2nd best team in the MAC. Kenpom has their defense ranked #53 in the country. Kent can only stay in the game (with chance of winning late) by making it physical, slowing the pace, and forcing Akron to play sloppy offense. If Akron's able to control the tempo, I think we'll be able to win fairly comfortably (10+). 

[zippy5]

17 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

By the metrics (NET & Kenpom) Kent is still ranked as the 2nd best team in the MAC. Kenpom has their defense ranked #53 in the country. Kent can only stay in the game (with chance of winning late) by making it physical, slowing the pace, and forcing Akron to play sloppy offense. If Akron's able to control the tempo, I think we'll be able to win fairly comfortably (10+). 

Yep that's the key imo, make them play at our pace

[Let'sGoZips94]

5 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

Kent being the MAC's #1 defense...and seeing how the Zips struggle against the press...I predict Kent will not let us casually walk the ball up the court. 

 

Seems like a 62-61 slog in the making. Hopefully the Zips depth makes the difference.

 

Miami tried full court pressing us nearly the entire game and let led to very easy transition baskets. Akron has shown better composure as of late (last night being the exception) with full court press defense. 

 

I don't believe Kent has the horses to slow this game down like they'd like to. They have benefited more from atrocious shooting performances (beyond what is probably affected by Kent's defense) by their opponents more than they have their own defense. Kent will have to make their shots to be in this game/beat us, assuming officiating isn't completely slanted in their favor. 

 

5 hours ago, ZipsFan31 said:

I got a bad feeling about this game… just seems like a game where the Flushes go unconscious and hit everything they shoot. 

 

I like our depth and look for Tarvi to have a big game. Last year he was the difference maker. 

 

At halftime in their game last night vs. BUGS, Kent was shooting 68%(?) from the field and 60% from 3. They were up by 20 or a little less than 20 IIRC. They finished the night shooting 51.9% from the field and 45.5% from 3; VCD was 4-7 from 3 despite being a ~28% 3P shooter all season. Despite these ridiculous shooting percentages (both significantly above their season averages), they only scored 75 pts and won by 18. If we look at the BUGS numbers, they ended up shooting 32.1%(!!!!!!!!) from the field and 26.9% from 3.

 

Just imagine Akron's margin of victory if our opponents shot 32% from the field and 27% from 3 on a night where Akron shot way above their season averages. Kent has a large uphill battle on Friday because of their offensive deficiencies. 

 

4 hours ago, johnnyzip84 said:

With Okonkwo's tendency to leave his feet, I hope the Zips follow the food additive genius's advice and have Gray (and Lyles, Marvin and even Seth Wilson) take shifts guarding VonCameron Davis or else this could easily devolve into a matchup nightmare down low if James is forced to sit for most or all of the game.

 

I think it'll also be key for the Zips to key their emotions in check. That's always difficult in this rivalry (Tavari and Ali both had TFs over there last year).

 

Despite their record, I still think Kent has talent - albeit incredibly inconsistent. Sullinger has been a good shooter in the past (although probably benefited from Santiago being another threat), so you have to wonder if that will return this year.

 

Bottom line is I'll take ANY W this Friday - no questions asked.

 

Talent aside, what they're lacking is leadership in that locker room. Kent's locker room is always full of knuckleheads, but the knuckleheads have eventually all bought in because of one or two leaders. Last year's team was kept together by Santiago IMO (the only respectable player they've had since Michael Porrini). I don't know if Sullinger or VCD have the same leadership qualities that Santiago seemed to have. 

 

3 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

By the metrics (NET & Kenpom) Kent is still ranked as the 2nd best team in the MAC. Kenpom has their defense ranked #53 in the country. Kent can only stay in the game (with chance of winning late) by making it physical, slowing the pace, and forcing Akron to play sloppy offense. If Akron's able to control the tempo, I think we'll be able to win fairly comfortably (10+). 

 

And making their shots. Their game vs. Ohio was physical, slow, and sloppy, yet they still lost 61-59 because they didn't make their shots. 

[kreed5120]

2 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Miami tried full court pressing us nearly the entire game and let led to very easy transition baskets. Akron has shown better composure as of late (last night being the exception) with full court press defense. 

 

I don't believe Kent has the horses to slow this game down like they'd like to. They have benefited more from atrocious shooting performances (beyond what is probably affected by Kent's defense) by their opponents more than they have their own defense. Kent will have to make their shots to be in this game/beat us, assuming officiating isn't completely slanted in their favor. 

 

 

At halftime in their game last night vs. BUGS, Kent was shooting 68%(?) from the field and 60% from 3. They were up by 20 or a little less than 20 IIRC. They finished the night shooting 51.9% from the field and 45.5% from 3; VCD was 4-7 from 3 despite being a ~28% 3P shooter all season. Despite these ridiculous shooting percentages (both significantly above their season averages), they only scored 75 pts and won by 18. If we look at the BUGS numbers, they ended up shooting 32.1%(!!!!!!!!) from the field and 26.9% from 3.

 

Just imagine Akron's margin of victory if our opponents shot 32% from the field and 27% from 3 on a night where Akron shot way above their season averages. Kent has a large uphill battle on Friday because of their offensive deficiencies. 

 

 

Talent aside, what they're lacking is leadership in that locker room. Kent's locker room is always full of knuckleheads, but the knuckleheads have eventually all bought in because of one or two leaders. Last year's team was kept together by Santiago IMO (the only respectable player they've had since Michael Porrini). I don't know if Sullinger or VCD have the same leadership qualities that Santiago seemed to have. 

 

 

And making their shots. Their game vs. Ohio was physical, slow, and sloppy, yet they still lost 61-59 because they didn't make their shots. 

I said stay in the game with a chance of winning late. They were certainly in the game against Ohio in the closing minutes. I never said if they force us to play their style of ball that they would definitively win.

[Let'sGoZips94]

56 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

I said stay in the game with a chance of winning late. They were certainly in the game against Ohio in the closing minutes. I never said if they force us to play their style of ball that they would definitively win.

 

I know; unlike Kent, I can read. 😉 I was simply adding another caveat to your statement. They also slowed the game down, made it sloppy, etc. vs. Miami and still lost by essentially double digits (I think it was by 9 thanks to garbage time points). 

[clarkwgriswold]

There will invariably be some chippiness, especially if the Zips get on a run.  The Zips need to keep their composure if that happens.  

 

I think Isaiah Gray is important in this one, especially if he's the guy to guard Davis.  When Davis came to KSU, I didn't think much of him after looking at some of his high school clips but he has really turned into a fine player.

[NWAkron]

Anyone know what's going on with NIU's non-football teams?

 

Throw out everything for the Akron/PCCC game.  Unpredictable.

[Z.I.P.]

33 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

Anyone know what's going on with NIU's non-football teams?

 

Throw out everything for the Akron/PCCC game.  Unpredictable.

I hear the MAC's gonna let 'em stay!  But that's just a rumor!  😉

[clarkwgriswold]

Total under 135- PCCC wins

Total over 135- Zips win

Total over 155- Zips win big

[NWAkron]

57 minutes ago, Z.I.P. said:

I hear the MAC's gonna let 'em stay!  But that's just a rumor!  😉

Thx.  As I said, a weary world awaits.