Time to Slay Zip Demons

So game #13 is up next as BG continues to work toward a finish in the top of the MAC at best, and a bye at worst.  Obviously, the only path forward is to keeping winning, and that's doubly true at home.

Enter The Zip. 

There's no two ways about it...the Akron game has been a horror film for the Falcons.  That kangaroo has been a Freddie Krueger-like character to our program.  Here's ZIPPY!

Since 2005, Akron has beat BG 27 out of 29 times.  I haven't checked, but I don't believe there can be possibly any streak even similarly close to that kind of run.  BG won in 2009 (to vault to the #1 seed) and then in 2017.  BG lost both games last year, though by a collective four points, so perhaps there's more promise to the Huger/Groce era than the HugerJansOrrDakich/Dambrot era.

So, as long as we are exorcizing demons, how about this one?

Akron is 6-6 in MAC play.  They have a kenpom of 100.  They have lost 3 of their last 4 in the conference, including losing @UT, beating Kent, losing to Buffalo and @Ball State.

They are two games out of a bye--and they play Kent in the closer--so if they can get one more game on them they have a shot to get a bye.

The overall storyline is that Dambrot left a couple years ago and most of the team went with him.  Groce has been in heavy rebuilding mode, but he's a proven winner in the conference and Akron is a place you can win.  They were 6-12 in the MAC last year, so Groce has them headed in the right direction.

Tuesday's game will pit the best offensive team in the MAC and the best defensive team.  That should be very interesting.  In fact, for the year, Akron is the #22 defensive team in the country.  Knowing that, it wouldn't be surprising to find out they are 11th in the MAC in offense while BG is third in defense.  BG might not get the scoring they are used to, so shutting down Akron would be a great way to go.

Akron is poor on offense.  They are last in shooting.  They try a lot of 3FGs....#2 in the MAC, yet they are last in 3FG shooting.  They are also #11 in 2FG% shooting.  They take very good care of the ball, but are 10th in rebounds and 11th in getting to the line, though #3 at making FTs.  Simply put, BG has to keep them off the scoreboard, mostly by missing shots.  Then, you can hope that the team gets some transition going which will help the scoring.

Flipping it around, again, they are just really good on defense.  BG has lived on the 3FG, but Akron is the top 3FG defending team in the MAC.  They are second on shooting overall and 5th on defending the 2FG.  They do force turnovers, as well.  That's a potent combo.  They are just average on the boards, and give up very few FTs.  This will be a challenge for BG.

Their leading scorer is Loren Christian Jackson.  He's a 5'8" transfer from Long Beach State.  He's scoring 13.3 PPG, but it's rough...31% and 21% shooting.  Jimond Ivey is scoring 12.6 on 49% and 30%.  He also averages 6.3 RPG. 

Tyler Cheese is a JUCO transfer scoring 12.1 PPG.  He's shooting 41% and 16% and leads the team with 6.6 RPG.

Daniel Utomi scores 12 PPG, on 34% and 34% shooting.  Deng Riak, an Australian transfer from East Carolina, has 6.5 RGP in 24 minutes.  He's 6'10''.

They play a very tight rotation, with 7 players and the 7th playing 10 minutes a game.  (This is a huge switch from the Dambrot era).  They are #312 in the country in bench minutes.

Akron has a lot to play for.  Yes, they have lost 3 of 4, but UT and UB (the losses) are top MAC teams.  They did lose to Ball State.  I think the key will be BG playing great defense, keeping Akron from getting going with scoring, and then managing even to score against Akron's defense.  BG may need to look to penetrate for 2FGs more than they are used to.  And get over the hump against this team.