The Dustin Ford Era

[zippy5]

i want Jaquay Randolph

[RoyalBlu]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

This is a massive haul for Akron. He is projected as a HM start/mid-major all-conference. He's a 2-way player and his game is very well rounded. He is an elite finisher at the rim and dangerous enough from 3. IMO this is this our best signing with Tahj a close second.

 

 

What is the link to this website

[kreed5120]

16 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said:

What is the link to this website

 

Below is the link, but you have to have a login to do anything. The site owner gave me free access.

 

https://beyondtheportalbasketball.com/app

[RoyalBlu]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Below is the link, but you have to have a login to do anything. The site owner gave me free access.

 

https://beyondtheportalbasketball.com/app

 

I wish I was you🤣

[Zips1991]

5 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

This is a massive haul for Akron. He is projected as a HM start/mid-major all-conference. He's a 2-way player and his game is very well rounded. He is an elite finisher at the rim and dangerous enough from 3. IMO this is this our best signing with Tahj a close second.

 

 

I need someone to explain to me like I'm 5 why he rates so well by these metrics but his stats were just so-so.

[kreed5120]

1 minute ago, Zips1991 said:

I need someone to explain to me like I'm 5 why he rates so well by these metrics but his stats were just so-so.

 

You need to look at the advanced stats. His eFG% was .592 and .598 the year before so this past year wasn't a fluke. He rebounds really well for being a wing. Plays good defense. IMO he's a lot like Eric where he does a lot of things very well, but isn't elite at any 1 thing in particular.

 

I really hate looking at counting stats as it's frankly lazy. Would you want a player that averages 20/game, but chucks up 30 shots a night to get it? Of course not. But if you insist at looking at counting stats remember he only played 23 mpg. If he projects to play 30 mpg you can bump his numbers up ~30%. I would also expect him to a more focal part of the offense so his usage will increase compared to Illinois State, which in turn will increase the counting stats.

[AkronAlumnus]

16 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

I need someone to explain to me like I'm 5 why he rates so well by these metrics but his stats were just so-so.

I was a bit perplexed that he’s marked as HM Starter and MM All-Conference and wasn’t All-MVC, though I still think he’ll be an asset based on his production against strong competition and playing in what’s likely a superior conference

[kreed5120]

11 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

I was a bit perplexed that he’s marked as HM Starter and MM All-Conference and wasn’t All-MVC, though I still think he’ll be an asset based on his production against strong competition and playing in what’s likely a superior conference

 

Probably only a starter on a low end HM, think Boston College. Definitely not on a Duke or Kansas. Also, you have to remember the MVC is one of the top mid-majors and many of the people who finish ahead in those all conference teams either graduated or transferred up to a HM.

 

Evan Miya graded him as the 22nd best player in the MVC this past season. It wouldn't seem unreasonable to me that he would have been a top ~10 player in the conference next year had he stayed given that many of the players regarded as better than him left.

Edited 18 hours ago by kreed5120

[Let'sGoZips94]

24 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

I was a bit perplexed that he’s marked as HM Starter and MM All-Conference and wasn’t All-MVC, though I still think he’ll be an asset based on his production against strong competition and playing in what’s likely a superior conference

 

He also came off the bench a chunk of the time on a team that made it to the NIT Final Four. He's going to get more PT here, which will likely make him a 12 ppg, 6 rpg type player. That's All Conference in the MAC. 

[AkronAlumnus]

22 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

He also came off the bench a chunk of the time on a team that made it to the NIT Final Four. He's going to get more PT here, which will likely make him a 12 ppg, 6 rpg type player. That's All Conference in the MAC. 

I agree, this is my second favorite pickup behind Colin

[tpsjugglerdude]

So with the rule change that was announced a few weeks ago that allows basketball teams to take international trips on a yearly basis, is this something we will see the Zips take advantage of? 

[NWAkron]

14 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

He also came off the bench a chunk of the time on a team that made it to the NIT Final Four. He's going to get more PT here, which will likely make him a 12 ppg, 6 rpg type player. That's All Conference in the MAC. 

Not so sure.  I'm getting some Hester/Roscoe vibes.  We will see.

[Reslife4Life]

Thursday night ford will be throwing out the first pitch at the RubberDucks Game

[ZipsFan31]

I am happy with these additions they are good players but I am getting worried we will have a Major Log Jam at the 3-4 slots. I do not think any of these guys can play the 2 except maybe Henderson but here are the players we have for the Wing 

6'5 Josh Henderson

6'6 Collin White 

6'6 Ty Pence 

6'5 Zach Halligan 

6'6 Marvin Musiime- Kamali 

 

Do you play Josh Henderson in the jammed up backcourt or do you make MMK your 3rd string Center. 

those are 5 guys that all expect to play who is sitting the bench all season? 

[Let'sGoZips94]

1 minute ago, ZipsFan31 said:

I am happy with these additions they are good players but I am getting worried we will have a Major Log Jam at the 3-4 slots. I do not think any of these guys can play the 2 except maybe Henderson but here are the players we have for the Wing 

6'5 Josh Henderson

6'6 Collin White 

6'6 Ty Pence 

6'5 Zach Halligan 

6'6 Marvin Musiime- Kamali 

 

Do you play Josh Henderson in the jammed up backcourt or do you make MMK your 3rd string Center. 

those are 5 guys that all expect to play who is sitting the bench all season? 

 

Henderson is a 2G

White is a 3/4

Pence is a 3/2

Halligan is a 3

MMK is a 4/3

 

White and Pence will be the focal points of the group. Henderson might be a focal point - hard to say without seeing him in action (so many good things have been said about him) and Halligan/MMK are supporting depth pieces. If we're relying on Halligan & MMK to take huge leaps and become dependable, we're in trouble. With the way it's setup, they're not in that position. This roster is pretty well stacked. 

[kreed5120]

7 minutes ago, ZipsFan31 said:

I am happy with these additions they are good players but I am getting worried we will have a Major Log Jam at the 3-4 slots. I do not think any of these guys can play the 2 except maybe Henderson but here are the players we have for the Wing 

6'5 Josh Henderson

6'6 Collin White 

6'6 Ty Pence 

6'5 Zach Halligan 

6'6 Marvin Musiime- Kamali 

 

Do you play Josh Henderson in the jammed up backcourt or do you make MMK your 3rd string Center. 

those are 5 guys that all expect to play who is sitting the bench all season? 

 

MMK I'm not sure logged a single minute at PF last year and was ahead of Barre in the rotation. Why would you assume he's 3rd string C? Also, I think several of the other guys can play minutes at the 2. 

 

Personally, I like the size. It allows us to switch more on defense without finding ourselves with a 6'7 wing backing down our 5'11" guard in ISO. Having to send help defense as frequently as we did last year was what led to many breakdowns defensively last year.

Edited 1 hour ago by kreed5120

[Let'sGoZips94]

Just now, kreed5120 said:

 

MMK I'm not sure logged a single minute at PF last year and was ahead of Barre in the rotation. Why would you assume he's 3rd string C. Also, I think several of the other guys can play minutes at the 2. 

 

Personally, I like the size. It allows us to switch more on defense without finding ourselves with a 6'7 wing backing down our 5'11" guard in ISO. Having to send help defense as frequently as we did last year was what led to many breakdowns defensively last year.

 

Bingo. Not to mention closing out is a low harder with small guards vs. larger wings (pun not intended). Miami OH's athleticism was a fraction of Akron's, but they're 3P defense was far superior because the close out was more effective with 6'5"+ players all over the court. Akron wasn't built to play lockdown defense last year; they'll be built for it this year, that's for darn sure. 

[ZipsFan31]

Here is how I see the line up looking and then you have MMK to Play Center and PF depending on injury and Fouls. I am the biggest MMK fan. he was a great FT shooter and showed signs of a few straight line drives last season. I think he could have an Amani like improvement on the perimeter, and expand his game to the stretch 4