Game 26- Ohio

[clarkwgriswold]

The Zips take the nation's longest win streak into Athens Saturday night to face the 14-12/8-5 Bobcats.  The Bobcats are coming off of a two point win over CMU.

 

6'8" senior forward AJ Clayton continues to lead Bobcat scoring at 14.3 ppg while being second in rebounding at 5.4 rpg.   Sophomore guard AJ Brown and junior guard Jackson Paveletzke each score 13.2 ppg, with Paveletzke leading in assists at 5 apg.  

[1981 grad]

The game has a 6:00 P.M Sat. starting time and is being nationally broadcast on ESPN 2.  I hope there is a big crowd at the arena when the Zips used to fill the Ozone over a decade ago.  The Zips can hopefully bring their A game and show to the nation that we are a talented team.  Maybe a good showing on national TV and the nations longest winning streak can get us that elusive one vote in the national polls.

[Reslife4Life]

Big game, I know Ohio isn't at the top of their game right now, but it is still a game in the convo on saturday night. This would be a huge one to get that 15th consecutive 1-0

[zippy5]

probably the biggest challenge in the MAC yet

[Zippy87]

We've struggled from distance over the last two games:

 

vs CMU: 5-18, 27.8%

vs NIU: 5-21, 23.8%

 

Wilson was was 2-9 in those games and is 3-14 over his last 3. Not to pin it all on him, of course, but the offense seems to operate so much more efficiently when he's on target from deep. 

[1981 grad]

13 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

We've struggled from distance over the last two games:

 

vs CMU: 5-18, 27.8%

vs NIU: 5-21, 23.8%

 

Wilson was was 2-9 in those games and is 3-14 over his last 3. Not to pin it all on him, of course, but the offense seems to operate so much more efficiently when he's on target from deep. 

Great point.  He is a streak shooter.  Meanwhile, Scott has really shot the ball well the last 2 games and has filled this gap.  I am amazed at how much better he is playing this year.  Not only is he shooting better but ten times better attacking the basket.

[Hilltopper]

Scott has been our most consistent player during MAC play. He seems to have really embraced his role as leader of the second unit. He also is usually in at the end of the game.

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 hours ago, 1981 grad said:

The game has a 6:00 P.M Sat. starting time and is being nationally broadcast on ESPN 2.  I hope there is a big crowd at the arena when the Zips used to fill the Ozone over a decade ago.  The Zips can hopefully bring their A game and show to the nation that we are a talented team.  Maybe a good showing on national TV and the nations longest winning streak can get us that elusive one vote in the national polls.

 

High Point (ranked 2 spots higher than us in NET after last night) received a vote last week for the AP Poll from some random Cedar Rapids Gazette voter. Couldn't find a single connection between him and High Point that would explain this. 

 

2 hours ago, zippy5 said:

probably the biggest challenge in the MAC yet

 

At Kent will still be the biggest road opponent challenge, but in terms of how we're playing and showing we can flip the switch on the road at OU, I agree. 

 

1 hour ago, 1981 grad said:

Great point.  He is a streak shooter.  Meanwhile, Scott has really shot the ball well the last 2 games and has filled this gap.  I am amazed at how much better he is playing this year.  Not only is he shooting better but ten times better attacking the basket.

 

29 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

Scott has been our most consistent player during MAC play. He seems to have really embraced his role as leader of the second unit. He also is usually in at the end of the game.

 

We have given Nate his flowers a lot during MAC play, and deservedly so. However, echoing and adding onto the above sentiments, I think Shammah Scott is our MVP. As Hilltopper said, he's the leader of the second unit which contains a true freshman guard, a defensive liability shooting guard, a streaky shooting guard, and 2 less physical post players. Our depth has needed Scott to be that glue that holds all those odd pieces together. His shooting is much improved along with his decision making. He has become the complete package and should be the front runner for 6th Man of the Year. 

[1981 grad]

17 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

High Point (ranked 2 spots higher than us in NET after last night) received a vote last week for the AP Poll from some random Cedar Rapids Gazette voter. Couldn't find a single connection between him and High Point that would explain this. 

 

 

At Kent will still be the biggest road opponent challenge, but in terms of how we're playing and showing we can flip the switch on the road at OU, I agree. 

 

 

 

We have given Nate his flowers a lot during MAC play, and deservedly so. However, echoing and adding onto the above sentiments, I think Shammah Scott is our MVP. As Hilltopper said, he's the leader of the second unit which contains a true freshman guard, a defensive liability shooting guard, a streaky shooting guard, and 2 less physical post players. Our depth has needed Scott to be that glue that holds all those odd pieces together. His shooting is much improved along with his decision making. He has become the complete package and should be the front runner for 6th Man of the Year. 

If you review last years board, many posters had given up on Tevari and was hoping he would transfer.  Others had given up on Lyle and did not see him having a future with the Zips.  Personally, I was hoping that Scott would transfer.  Never happier to be dead wrong on my basketball acumen.  

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 hour ago, 1981 grad said:

If you review last years board, many posters had given up on Tevari and was hoping he would transfer.  Others had given up on Lyle and did not see him having a future with the Zips.  Personally, I was hoping that Scott would transfer.  Never happier to be dead wrong on my basketball acumen.  

 

I was admittedly wrong about both Tavari, Lyles, and Shammah. In previous seasons, we had too much turnover to truly see the impact of Groce & his staff. We saw Freeman, we saw Tribble, and I feel like the collective thought was "these are simply special guys that put the work in to get better," somewhat dismissing the extent to which Groce & his staff are able to develop players. We didn't get a chance to see the development in bulk. Tavari, Shammah, and Lyles have really opened my eyes to what this staff is capable of development wise, and I cannot wait to see where Akron ascends to with them in charge. 

[clarkwgriswold]

2 hours ago, Hilltopper said:

Scott has been our most consistent player during MAC play. He seems to have really embraced his role as leader of the second unit. He also is usually in at the end of the game.

You could really see the growth of his game and Groce's corresponding confidence in him as the season would down last year and through the tournament as he was consistently in during the crucial points at the end of games.

[zippy5]

Tbh I'm excited for Okonkwo next year

[1981 grad]

15 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

Tbh I'm excited for Okonkwo next year

I am excited about his game this year.  When he first came to the Zips, I wondered how a 3rd or 4th year player could have so little offense.  He has really improved each game and has provided much needed rebounding and toughness around the boards.

[LZIp]

22 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

Tbh I'm excited for Okonkwo next year

He’s played all 4 years. Do we think he might get a medical redshirt for his freshman year?

[zippy5]

2 minutes ago, LZIp said:

He’s played all 4 years. Do we think he might get a medical redshirt for his freshman year?

3 games, 10 total minutes. He gets a fifth year of he wants it, yes 

[BlueGold Zip]

7 hours ago, Hilltopper said:

Scott has been our most consistent player during MAC play. He seems to have really embraced his role as leader of the second unit. He also is usually in at the end of the game.

Just the latest in our history of Seniors stepping it up!!! Deji Ibitayo, Jimmy Conyers, Jimond Ivey, Xavier Castaneda, Greg Tribble, just to name a few.  

[Illini Zip]

2 hours ago, zippy5 said:

Tbh I'm excited for Okonkwo next year

Some days he’s better at finishing around the rim than others. We were so spoiled with Freeman being almost automatic. May I ask what encourages you that he has a higher ceiling? I do like his energy for defending, rebounding and dunking. But he is currently fouling too much. 

[clarkwgriswold]

10 hours ago, BlueGold Zip said:

Just the latest in our history of Seniors stepping it up!!! Deji Ibitayo, Jimmy Conyers, Jimond Ivey, Xavier Castaneda, Greg Tribble, just to name a few.  

 

Just like the good old days where you saw consistent player development over 4 years.  

[clarkwgriswold]

9 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

Some days he’s better at finishing around the rim than others. We were so spoiled with Freeman being almost automatic. May I ask what encourages you that he has a higher ceiling? I do like his energy for defending, rebounding and dunking. But he is currently fouling too much. 

 

Is there a jugs gun for basketballs?  If there was I'd like to see him catch 500 passes a day!  His hands are a little iffy at times.  

[zippy5]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

Is there a jugs gun for basketballs?  If there was I'd like to see him catch 500 passes a day!  His hands are a little iffy at times.  

right, he's a big dude, can run with our pace, seems to always have solid positioning.. if he fine tunes some post moves and controlling the rebounds he gets his hands on I think he'd really be a handful

[Captain Kangaroo]

1 hour ago, zippy5 said:

right, he's a big dude, can run with our pace, seems to always have solid positioning.. if he fine tunes some post moves and controlling the rebounds he gets his hands on I think he'd really be a handful

Probably why schools like West Virginia and North Carolina invested a look at him. He definitely has the athleticism and the motor.

[zvillezip]

Groce and his staff have a history of developing players into big time players.  Okonkwo is a good college player.  If he sticks around and develops as he could under this staff he could be great, especially in the MAC.  Another year of development, especially focused on offensive skills, would probably make him more attractive to overseas pro ball.  I hope he returns.  Would be the makings of another great Akron team.

[Illini Zip]

Anybody know how Rich Brisco is developing as a red shirt? He seems to be very similar in style as Okonkwo. I wouldn’t expect him to play much next year regardless of what happens with Okonkwo. I’m just curious if he’s a keeper.

 

Edited 14 hours ago by Illini Zip

[clarkwgriswold]

I'm looking forward to Mahaffey next year as I've heard he was very good up until he hurt his knee.