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September 11th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Akron Zips
Overall Rank:
#62
Conference
Rank: #1 MAC
2005-06:
23-10, 14-4, 2nd (t) East
2005-06
postseason: NIT
 Akron fell short
last year of making their first trip to the NCAAs since 1986.
Coach Keith Dambrot will give it another shot this season and
has a squad that has the talent to work its way to the top of a
tough MAC East division.
Who’s Out:
The
frontcourt lost much of its size and experience with the
graduations of Matt Futch and Rob Preston. Futch started 23
contests during his senior campaign, averaging 4.8 points and
3.6 boards. Preston added 8.0 points and 3.9 rebounds off the
bench. Athletic forward Darryl Peterson was relegated to the
bench during much of his senior season and averaged 7.1 points.
Seldom used Chad Mraz will not be returning to Akron this
season. Adam ‘Bubba’ Walther saw action in eight games last
year before opting to transfer to inner-state conference rival
Ohio.
Who’s In:
Jimmy
Conyers missed out on his freshman season in order to
concentrate on his academics. The 6-5 wing has plenty of
athleticism and should be starting right away. Point guards
Jeremy Sallee and Steve McNees will add some depth on the
perimeter. When healthy, Jeremiah Wood is a double-double
waiting to happen. The 6-6 forward missed all of last season
recovering from an ACL injury. He has only played in ten games
over the last two years and if he is anywhere near his form
prior to that, Wood’s return will be a major boost for the
Zips. Small forward Chris McKnight earned all-state accolades
while at Lancaster High School in Ohio and should contribute off
the bench as a freshman. Big man Mike Bardo is the only player
over 6-7 on the roster. It would be very helpful if the 6-10
center could at least provide a few quality minutes to give
Akron a true post presence.
Who to Watch:
Nick
Dials averaged 10.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists during
his first full season with the Zips after transferring in from
Ohio State. Dru Joyce will join Dials in the backcourt and
provide another long range threat. Joyce, who averaged an
amazingly balanced 10.0 points and 5.0 assists per contest as a
junior, has developed into a great floor leader and should
become a more well-known commodity in the MAC as a senior.
Cedrick Middleton saw most of his action off the bench last year
and that will probably be the case this year as well. The 6-0
junior averaged 8.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists last
year.
Final
Projection:
Romeo Travis, a
6-7 forward, led the squad last year with 13.8 points and 6.8
rebounds en route to first-team All-MAC honors. The frontline
won’t have as many problems as its short stature would indicate,
especially in a guard oriented league like the MAC. Travis and
Wood are great rebounders and fit well into the up-tempo offense
and the tough defensive style that Coach Dambrot likes to
employ. The MAC, especially the East division, will be tough,
but the Zips have the tools to reach the NCAAs this year. Of
course, they did last year too but ran out of gas in the MAC
Tournament.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Dru Joyce,
Senior, Guard, 10.0 points per game
Nick Dials,
Junior, Guard, 10.2 points per game
Jimmy Conyers,
Sophomore, Guard, DNP last season
Jeremiah Wood,
Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Romeo Travis,
Senior, Forward, 13.8 points per game
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