The Akron Zips look to keep their winning streak alive against a tough Ohio Bobcats team in their building. The Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio, is one of the more difficult road destinations in the MAC, and the Zips (21-5, 13-0 MAC) have all eyes on them with their first in the nation 14-game win streak. The game tips off at 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2.
Below are the keys to the game:
For the Zips:
- Get the offense back on schedule.
The Zips had a really rough offensive performance in their last matchup against the Northern Illinois Huskies. Judging by records, Akron should have blown the Huskies out. Instead, the Zips had one of their worst shooting nights of the year, shooting just under 43% from the field and 5 of 21 on 3-point tries. If the Zips want to keep their streak alive, they must drastically improve their offensive output. The team is averaging 84.2 points per game, which is good enough for ninth in the country. Akron almost certainly needs to get back to this level of offense to beat Ohio (14-12, 8-5 MAC) in their building.
- Get Nate Johnson rolling
Nate Johnson has been instrumental to the Akron Zips’ success this season. He has dominated both sides of the floor, averaging 14 points per game on the offensive end and two steals on defense. As of late, Johnson has become a very streaky player. He has been starting games cold and not having a large impact until the second half.
To beat a tough opponent in Ohio, Johnson’s impact cannot just be limited to his streaks. His ability to generate steals and fast break opportunities keeps Akron’s pace high. They are hard to beat when Akron plays at that high pace. It is hard to get that pace going without Nate Johnson being impactful on both ends of the floor.
For the Bobcats:
- Defensive Improvement
Ohio currently allows an average of 75.6 points per game, which places them at 285th nationally. This is an unfavorable matchup for the Bobcats against the nation’s ninth-best scoring team. To help limit the Zips’ ability to score, Ohio needs to take away open looks from 3, as the Zips will take any open look they get. Strengthening the perimeter defense is crucial. If Ohio can lock down the perimeter, it will be very hard for the Zips to generate offense. Ohio has the size advantage and should use it to its favor, forcing the Zips into the paint to score.
- Leveraging Key Players
Jackson Paveletzke has been a standout performer for the Bobcats, who ranks 51st nationally in assists per game. In their last game versus Central Michigan, he contributed 22 points. Akron has a tough time defending guards, especially those with playmaking abilities, like Paveletzke.
Moving the ball is a good way to weaken the defense of the Akron Zips. The Bobcats can use his playmaking abilities to generate open looks from 3. Another key player for the Bobcats is forward AJ Clayton. Clayton leads the MAC in blocks and is sixth in 3-point field goals per game. This creates a massive matchup problem for the Zips defending someone athletic enough to get into the paint but also with an efficient 3-point shot. The Bobcats can use him to spread the floor and help generate more open looks.
Final Thoughts
The Bobcats and the Zips are two of the best basketball programs in the MAC and it will be exciting to see them face off. The Zips are looking ahead at an undefeated MAC regular season, while the Bobcats are scrapping for better seeding in Cleveland.
