TEAM: Akron Zips
2023-24 RECORD: 24-10, 13-5 MAC
HEAD COACH: John Groce
PRESEASON MAC COACHES POLL: 2nd of 12 teams
2023-24 RECORD: 24-10, 13-5 MAC
HEAD COACH: John Groce
PRESEASON MAC COACHES POLL: 2nd of 12 teams
OVERVIEW:
(all rankings are MAC)
>> Akron put together another fine season last year, capping it off with a one-point MAC tournament championship game win over rival Kent State. That gave UA an NCAA tourney berth, and the Zips fell to No. 3 Creighton (77-60).
>> This is John Groce's seventh season at Zips head coach. Akron owns am 85-39 mark over the last four seasons. In Mid-American Conference play, the Zips are 81-48 under Groce and 52-22 over the last three years, owning the best winning percentage (.743) in the league.
>> Last year's run was spearheaded by . . .
(all rankings are MAC)
>> Akron put together another fine season last year, capping it off with a one-point MAC tournament championship game win over rival Kent State. That gave UA an NCAA tourney berth, and the Zips fell to No. 3 Creighton (77-60).
>> This is John Groce's seventh season at Zips head coach. Akron owns am 85-39 mark over the last four seasons. In Mid-American Conference play, the Zips are 81-48 under Groce and 52-22 over the last three years, owning the best winning percentage (.743) in the league.
>> Last year's run was spearheaded by . . .
. . . Enrique Freeman. The MAC Player of the Year became the first Zip to be selected in the modern two-round NBA Draft era. He was also an AP Honorable Mention All-American.
>> Among the other losses are Ali Ali, Greg Tribble and Sammy Hunter. The former was named to the All-MAC First Team, while Tribble earned All-MAC Defensive Team and All-MAC Honorable Mention honors.
>> Akron completed its non-conference schedule with a 7-5 record. The Zips won five straight during one stretch but lost three of their last four. The most recent result was a 76-75 loss at Princeton Dec 30.
>> Junior guard Tavari Johnson leads UA scoers with an average of 12.8 ppg.
>> Junior guard Nate Johnson is contributing 11.9 ppg.
>> Senior Isaiah Gray is just off double figures with an average of 9.9 ppg.
>> James Okonkwo, a 6-8 senior who was previously at West Virginia and North Carolina, leads UA rebounding with an average of 8.6 per game.
>> The Zips rank second in scoring offense (82.4 ppg) and are fifth in scoring defense (73.3 ppg). That leaves Akron with a plus-7.4 margin.
>> Akron has connected on 43.0 percent from the field (9th MAC) overall and is ranks second in 3-point percentage (11.2%) -- just a tenth of a point behind Miami.
>> UA leads the pack in rebounding, gravving 40.1 per game. It is also first (17.42) in assists and fifth in turnover margin (+2.00).
>> Akron opens MAC play Friday at Bowling Green.
>> Among the other losses are Ali Ali, Greg Tribble and Sammy Hunter. The former was named to the All-MAC First Team, while Tribble earned All-MAC Defensive Team and All-MAC Honorable Mention honors.
>> Akron completed its non-conference schedule with a 7-5 record. The Zips won five straight during one stretch but lost three of their last four. The most recent result was a 76-75 loss at Princeton Dec 30.
>> Junior guard Tavari Johnson leads UA scoers with an average of 12.8 ppg.
>> Junior guard Nate Johnson is contributing 11.9 ppg.
>> Senior Isaiah Gray is just off double figures with an average of 9.9 ppg.
>> James Okonkwo, a 6-8 senior who was previously at West Virginia and North Carolina, leads UA rebounding with an average of 8.6 per game.
>> The Zips rank second in scoring offense (82.4 ppg) and are fifth in scoring defense (73.3 ppg). That leaves Akron with a plus-7.4 margin.
>> Akron has connected on 43.0 percent from the field (9th MAC) overall and is ranks second in 3-point percentage (11.2%) -- just a tenth of a point behind Miami.
>> UA leads the pack in rebounding, gravving 40.1 per game. It is also first (17.42) in assists and fifth in turnover margin (+2.00).
>> Akron opens MAC play Friday at Bowling Green.
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