Akron @ Central Michigan - Running game notes
Posted January 26th, 2008 by mrasor
Men’s basketball
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The pregame hosts kept talking about the game being played at Rose Arena, which sounds a lot like Rhodes Arena. It had me wondering if these guys knew what they were talking about, but they did.
I was hoping Michael Reghi would announce the game. My wish was granted.
Isn’t it soothing to play a defense that isn’t as tenacious as Kent State’s?
The Zips are having their way in getting the ball down to Jeremiah Wood.
It would be so much fun to be this crain operator. Take a look at that video during the next commercial break.
Back to the pregame show… The hosts mentioned Cedrick Middleton as being “hot.” While I don’t expect these guys to know everything about Akron, Middleton has been quite cold since MAC play started. His stats: 27.9 percent from the field, eight assists in five games and 7.6 points per game.
Keith Dambrot addressed it at the postgame press conference on Wednesday. He said he’d keep riding Middleton. The Zips would be much better off with Darryl Roberts getting some of his 28 minutes per game. As I write that, Middleton nailed a 3.
Nate Linhart, aka the MVP, had a similar funk early in the season. He came out of it by focusing on defense and not trying to force his shots on offense. The problem with Middleton is that his knees aren’t in good shape, so you have to ask whether a comeback is feasible while he is still playing a lot of minutes. Why not give him a couple weeks off to rest?
Don’t get me wrong. Middleton can contribute because of his talent and character. A nagging injury and confidence issue is hindering that.
Wood has missed a lot of chip shots this game. Still, Akron’s doing a good job of swinging the ball and finding him in position.
Akron is getting rather sloppy with the ball. Nick Dials has at least four turnovers.
My posts are getting less frequent because my puppy keeps nibbling on my legs. It’s cute and painful.
In other MAC action: Ball State is beating Ohio in Athens, 37-27 with 15 minutes left in the second half. Later today, Eastern Michigan will play at Miami and Buffalo is at Toledo.
The Zips are in unfamiliar territory. Even in the games they lost, they have held a first-half lead. The Chippewas are playing more like Akron than Akron is. They are running the break and playing tight perimeter defense. Even CMU’s post play has been superior.
I like how CMU is engaging Akron’s guards at half court, rather than the 3-point line. I think the Zips would be more effective using that strategy, too.
This is a frustrating game for Akron offensively. The Zips are missing a lot of easy shots. The turnovers speak for themselves. Combine that with a subpar defensive effort and it should not be surprising Akron’s losing. There is a lot of time left, and I still think the Zips will win by at least the spread (six).
As we all expected, Ohio came back to beat Ball State, 61-59.
Akron has done an atrocious job of defending Nate Minnoy, who is listed as a swingman, but plays like a power forward. He reminds me of Nate Miller from Bowling Green. Jimmy Conyers is probably the best Zip to stop him, but I haven’t seen Conyers since the beginning of the first half.
Minnoy has 21 points — 17 coming in the second half. If the Zips lose, blame Dambrot’s reluctance to use Conyers on Minnoy and Wood’s countless blown layups.
In his conversation with Dave Ruthenberg, Rick Boyages of the MAC said CMU has trouble getting teams to play in Kalamazoo because of its poor location (not near major airports). Akron is pretty fortunate in that regard.
Middleton drew a charge on Giordan Watson to give Akron the ball with a chance to win. The Zips called their final timeout. They need to feed Wood. Period.
Akron drove down and CMU poked it away. Dials tried to return back down the floor with six seconds left. He lost the handle in trying to pass to McNees. McNees eventually gathered the ball, but was swarmed and could not get off a desperation 3-pointer in time.
Bad defense + disorganized, sloppy offense = loss. This should be a wake-up call for Akron, who will have three days to figure out the offense before Toledo visits on Wednesday.
Final score — Akron 64, Central Michigan 65
January 26th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
[...] Akron @ Central Michigan - Running game notes Akron @ Central Michigan - Running game notes I was hoping Michael Reghi would announce the game. My wish was granted. Isn’t it soothing to play a defense that isn’t as tenacious as Kent State’s? 17:30 — Akron 4, Central Michigan 2. more… [...]
January 26th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
The Zips seem to be sleep-walking through this game. Central Michigan is getting every loose ball and pounding us on the boards. It does not look good, but still 6 minutes left and I expect CM to fade.
January 26th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Once again, Keith Dambrot teams underachieve. Gag against Kent State. Gag against a BAD Central Michigan team. In four years not a single major win and yet he gets a clean pass from everyone. Why?
January 26th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
It’s a disappointing loss, but let’s not forget KD hadn’t “gagged” in the previous three games against Kent. For every overachievement (like @ Dayton), you have to excuse an underachievement.
January 26th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Same old, you’re a moron. Perhaps you don’t remember the Hipsher years. Worse yet, review the Coleman Crawford years. Go root for the Buckeyes
January 26th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Yeah, we haven’t made the push over the top yet, but KD is doing an excellent job and most of us feel he’s really taking the program to a level it’s never been. It takes time. The future’s bright. We’re definitely an elite mid-major now and most of us are thrilled with that and quite proud. Who would have ever thought that Akron would be an elite mid-major program?!
January 27th, 2008 at 12:26 am
“We’re definitely an elite mid-major now and most of us are thrilled with that and quite proud.”
Are you kidding???What have you done to qualify as an elite mid-major? Over the past few days I have read so many posts from Akron fans suffering from severe cases of delusions of grandeur. Stop beating your chest about your MAC Tourney Runner-up and your mini-winning streak against KSU. Until you make the NCAAs and win a few games you are not “elite”. Your coach is smart enough to recognize who the “elite” mid-major team is in this area of the country (KSU) and wants to be like them.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
On the last play of the game, the ball goes from Nick to McNeese and not from Nick to Wood or Linhart who was wide open under the net. WOW
January 27th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
#1: Nick Dials as a D-1 starting point guard? Sorry, too many turnovers to play the position. This is akin to Larry Hughes playing point for the Cavs.
#2: Yet another game the Zips HAD to have, just like KSU on Wed., and they come up a few points short.
#3: Calling this team an “elite” mid-major is preposterous.
#4: If these players don’t wake up and bring their A game every night, it’ll be another sad, disappointing end.
January 27th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Akron is not a mid-major program….. yet. Win 20 plus games a year for ten straight years then talk mid-major power. Akron hasn`t won jack for a long time. Kent is a mid-major powerhouse. They`ve proved it for 10 years. Quite your whining and face facts. Geez!!!!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:37 am
I agree with all four of Smack’s comments, especially the need for this team to bring their “A” game each night. This team has average physical talent at best, and their wins are usually the result of shear effort and grit. They certainly did not give that kind of effort against C. Michigan on Saturday, and the result was a loss against a mediocre West Division team.
I see where another outstanding, high-character member of Kent State’s basketball team has made the news after getting picked up for DUI at 2:30am Saturday morning.
January 28th, 2008 at 11:29 am
And he was promptly suspended indefinitely. He did not play on Sunday. Let all of us with no character flaws continue to hurls stone at KSU players.
January 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
i see the Kent job squad is still around. Good for you guys, really. It is nice that you come out and talk trash about once a year. Its cute. You guys almost resemble a real fan base.
January 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Most of the comments were in response to the completely biased coverage of the KSU win last Weds. And I never realized you could judge a fan base by how many people post on comments on a message board. MY GOD, there are a lot of stupid people in Akron.
January 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
“Are you kidding???What have you done to qualify as an elite mid-major? Over the past few days I have read so many posts from Akron fans suffering from severe cases of delusions of grandeur. Stop beating your chest about your MAC Tourney Runner-up and your mini-winning streak against KSU. Until you make the NCAAs and win a few games you are not “elite”. Your coach is smart enough to recognize who the “elite” mid-major team is in this area of the country (KSU) and wants to be like them.”
Yep, Kent sure is the elite program in this part of the country. After all, they did win some games in the NCAA tourney SIX YEARS AGO! What have you done since then? Yep, you won the MAC tourney all of ONE more time. Granted, that’s one more than the Zips have won. What program is really “up and coming?”
Kent since ‘02- 0-4 post season, scoring dif (-10)
Akron since ‘02- 1-1 post season, scoring dif (-1.5)
Quit living off of one run (as impressive as it was) more than 5 years ago. Yeah, Kent has won 20+ games for x amount of seasons, but as all you flash fans like to say to us zips fans “It don’t mean nothin’ unless you win the MAC and beyond.”
January 28th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
To Rowdy Z, We`ve been living off a TEN year run of 20 plus wins in a row. Akron would be thrilled to have that kind of record. I remember ten or so years ago Kent came into the JAR to play the ZIPS. The fans held up signs saying ” we`d rather play your girls team.” Yep, Akron basketball was never the same for the next 8 years. Kent punked your rear ends. And yes, we are damned proud of a MAC record nine, 20 win seasons in a row. Soon to be 10. B.T.W. 98-99 = Tourney Champs & NCAA, 99-00 = NIT, 00-01 = Tourney Champs & NCAA, 01-02 = Tourney Champs & Elite 8, 02-03 = NIT, 03-04 = NIT, 04-05 = NIT, 05-06 = Tourney Champs & NCAA, 06-07 = OOOps! Why don`t you shut your trap about Kent B-Ball. Akron fans one day might be just as proud of their TRADITION!
January 28th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Well who would be the elite mid-major program in this area of the country then? I guess if you consider the A-10 mid-major then Dayton maybe? Butler from the HL? Try to engage me in an intelligent basketball discussion would ya?
January 29th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Hey Akron…….. 1986