Has anyone actually seen Akron play this year? Any thoughts on how we will do or what we need to do to win. Their wins and losses indicate some bipolar play. Anyway any thoughts about this game.

(01-27-2014 09:58 PM)flying dutchman Wrote:  Has anyone actually seen Akron play this year? Any thoughts on how we will do or what we need to do to win. Their wins and losses indicate some bipolar play. Anyway any thoughts about this game.

Akron made it to the MAC Tourney finals last year, losing to CMU. They bring back a lot of that team including two seniors who are two of the top scorers in the MAC this year (one of whom is last year's MAC POY Rachel Tecca) as well as their little sparkplug senior point guard who I believe leads the MAC in assists this year. Their strength is their offense more so than their defense.

I suspect that if Vegas made book on WBB, Akron would be the favorite even with the game being in Savage. Still I give the Rockets a chance if they play some defense, don't have a serious shooting slump and eliminate a lot of the turnovers that plagued them at Ohio, but I suspect that it will be an uphill battle all the way.

In the most general terms, the way I see the MAC this year at this point is that CMU and BG are clearly the class of the conference and Kent is clearly the cellar dweller. The other 9 teams are going to be competing for positions 3-11---so I wouldn't write off UT chances completely for this game, but it won't be easy.

(01-27-2014 10:55 PM)T-Town Wrote:  

(01-27-2014 09:58 PM)flying dutchman Wrote:  Has anyone actually seen Akron play this year? Any thoughts on how we will do or what we need to do to win. Their wins and losses indicate some bipolar play. Anyway any thoughts about this game.

Akron made it to the MAC Tourney finals last year, losing to CMU. They bring back a lot of that team including two seniors who are two of the top scorers in the MAC this year (one of whom is last year's MAC POY Rachel Tecca) as well as their little sparkplug senior point guard who I believe leads the MAC in assists this year. Their strength is their offense more so than their defense.

I suspect that if Vegas made book on WBB, Akron would be the favorite even with the game being in Savage. Still I give the Rockets a chance if they play some defense, don't have a serious shooting slump and eliminate a lot of the turnovers that plagued them at Ohio, but I suspect that it will be an uphill battle all the way.

In the most general terms, the way I see the MAC this year at this point is that CMU and BG are clearly the class of the conference and Kent is clearly the cellar dweller. The other 9 teams are going to be competing for positions 3-11---so I wouldn't write off UT chances completely for this game, but it won't be easy.

Thanks so if we play the the 2nd half of the oh game both halls against Akron we will win easy or will it still be close???

Not many teams w two players scoring in the twenties. Our post defense is weak. Not good.

I've seen at least parts of I think 3 Akron games this year. They are an offensive juggernaut, are always playing fast-break ball, getting shots up often with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. Tecca is the real deal. Although Bradford is a better athlete and all-court player, I believe Tecca is a better pure scorer. If she gets the ball on the block, I have not seen anyone be able to stop her. She can also hit the 3 and is a monster on the boards. However, she runs very hot and cold. In the CMU game, although I think she scored in the 20s, she could have easily scored 40 I think, as she missed numerous close in easy (for her) shots. So, cold for her is scoring 20 instead of 40.

Luburgh is one of the best pure shooters in the MAC. Again, can get very streaky and hit a ton of off-balance jumpers in a row. But, other than those two, offensively they don't have much. It seems like 75-80% of their offense, if not more, runs through those 2. If at least one of them is cold, they are vulnerable.

And their vulnerable because they don't play defense. It seems to be little more than a suggestion. Against CMU for large swaths of the game CMU got the ball in the paint and to the bucket without any effort at all. I think UTs worst defensive games of this year, are an average (at best) defensive outing for Akron.

So, I worry about Tecca putting up 50 against our depleted post, and our transition D being able to keep up with the track meet that AU brings (especially if players have to play 40 minutes). But on the other end, if we run our offense crisply and shoot even half-way decent, we should be able to score more or less at will against them... but of course, that remains to be seen.

Thanks so if we play the the 2nd half of the oh game both halls against Akron we will win easy or will it still be close???
[/quote]

Can you explain this question to me? I'm not being a smart ass, I just don't understand what you are asking.

(01-28-2014 09:59 AM)djsfw57 Wrote:  Thanks so if we play the the 2nd half of the oh game both halls against Akron we will win easy or will it still be close???

Can you explain this question to me? I'm not being a smart ass, I just don't understand what you are asking.
[/quote]

QUESTION: "If UT plays defense as well for the entire game against Akron as they played defense in the second half of the Ohio game, will the game still be close or will UT win easily"

MY ANSWER: I don't see an easy UT win against Akron under any circumstances (barring a few key players for Akron fouling out early), but I could be wrong. Earlier I said that I thought 9 MAC teams would fight it out for positions 3-11 and I stand by that statement; however, I see Akron ending up a lot closer to the 3 spot than the 11 spot----most people picked them to win the East before the season started and BG asserted themselves with wins over both Michigan and tOSU among others.

(01-28-2014 10:34 AM)T-Town Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 09:59 AM)djsfw57 Wrote:  Thanks so if we play the the 2nd half of the oh game both halls against Akron we will win easy or will it still be close???

Can you explain this question to me? I'm not being a smart ass, I just don't understand what you are asking.

QUESTION: "If UT plays defense as well for the entire game against Akron as they played defense in the second half of the Ohio game, will the game still be close or will UT win easily"

MY ANSWER: I don't see an easy UT win against Akron under any circumstances (barring a few key players for Akron fouling out early), but I could be wrong. Earlier I said that I thought 9 MAC teams would fight it out for positions 3-11 and I stand by that statement; however, I see Akron ending up a lot closer to the 3 spot than the 11 spot----most people picked them to win the East before the season started and BG asserted themselves with wins over both Michigan and tOSU among others.
[/quote]

Yes that's what I meant and thanks for your answer too