Undefeated versus undefeated. Brother takes on brother. #MACtion is wilder than ever. The Akron Zips (13-5, 6-0 MAC) and the Miami RedHawks (14-4, 6-0 MAC) will battle with first place in the Mid-American Conference on the line at 2 p.m. ET Saturday in Akron, with the game broadcasted on ESPN+. It is this week’s Mid-Major Basketball Game of the Week.
Both teams are led by brothers John Groce and Travis Steele, as they meet for the fourth time. Both brothers have won at home, and Groce broke the tie during the MAC Tournament in Cleveland. With seeding and sibling rivalry on the line, what are the keys to the game?
Keys for the Zips
Amani Lyles dominates both sides of the court
Lyles has been a crucial piece of the Zips rotation, putting in work on both ends. He was last week’s MAC Player of the Week, and the Zips need his dominance to beat out a tough Miami squad. Against Buffalo, Amani recorded a career-high four blocks. On the season, he is averaging 1.7 blocks and 7.2 points per game. He is averaging three blocks and 11.6 points per game in the past three games. It will be essential for the Zips to get Amani going on both ends of the court. His defensive prowess takes away many opportunities for Miami to capitalize on fast-break points, while his inside scoring helps spread the floor, allowing Groce’s team to get more open 3-pointers.
Keep shooting 3s
The Zips have gone from hot to cold on 3s throughout the season. In their toughest matchup thus far, keeping firing from behind the arc will be important. In their first half against Toledo, the Zips shot 3 for 16 from behind the arc, leading to their halftime deficit. They did not abandon the 3 and shot a respectable 6 for 13 in the second half, contributing massively to their comeback victory. With 3-point specialists like Bowen Hardman and Seth Wilson, the Zips need to shoot from behind the arc a healthy amount and not get scared if they aren’t falling their way right off the bat.
Keys for the RedHawks
Minimize and capitalize on turnovers
The RedHawks and the Zips are both committing around 12 turnovers per game. In a tough road environment, turnovers will be very significant for keeping the crowd in check. The RedHawks need to minimize the number of turnovers they commit to ensure Akron does not get any easy chances for a fast-break dunk. They also need to capitalize on Zips’ turnovers to help keep the crowd out of the game. The RedHawks are averaging 20 points off turnovers per game, and this is a mark they should strive to hit versus the Zips.
Shoot efficiently from 3
Throughout their season, Miami’s 3-point shooting has varied heavily. Their 3-point shooting percentage has varied from 6% to 63%. They must shoot well from beyond the arc to beat a top-tier MAC team on the road. They need to make sure their attempts count against the Zips. It will be essential for Miami to wait for better shots to appear instead of forcing them. If the RedHawks shoot above 40% from 3 on 20-plus attempts, they should be in a good position to pull off an upset on the road.
Final Thoughts
These game keys will be massive in determining who comes out on top. Akron is undefeated at home, so it will take an excellent game from Miami, which they are undoubtedly capable of. This game will play a role in determining who wins the regular-season title.
