Tough Loss to the Zips

UNCG 59 - Akron 83

Akron Beacon
UNCG Athletics
Akron Athletics

This quote from the Akron Beacon Journal's article sums up my thoughts of the game.

UA took uncontested shots inside and outside all night in a one-sided game that seemed over soon after it started.

Positives
- Another big game for Evans --- Brandon Evans continues to be a bright spot for the Spartans. Evans led UNCG with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Brandon has done a really good job of attacking the basket and finding open teammates.

Negatives
- Slow starts --- UNCG got down 18-4 to start the game off. It was over after that. UNCG continues to play very poorly at the beginning of games and spend the rest of the time playing catch up. With three ACC teams and a very good A-10 team coming up on the schedule, things could be ugly for a while.
- No Fight --- In every game this season, the Spartans have found a way to crawl back into each game. The Zips never had to worry about that on Friday night.

The Spartans have a quick turn around to their next game. UNCG travels to Richmond to play a noon game on Tuesday. So, there's no time to dwell on the loss. Hopefully Coach Dement can make some quick adjustments and get the guys to playing better soon.

UNCG (2-6) @ Akron (5-3)

When: Friday, December 18 7 pm
Where: Rhodes Arena (5,500)
TV: None

Akron Athletics
Zips Nation Forum
Akron Blog

Spartan Notes:
- Last time out, UNCG dropped a home game to Princeton, 65-50. Ben Stywall lead UNCG with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
- The Spartans are 2-2 in road games this season. UNCG dropped it's first 2 games at Duke and Virginia Tech before rebounding with 2 straight wins against USC-Upstate and Samford.
- Including Princeton, UNCG has out rebounded its last three opponents.
-Stywall leads UNCG in points (13.0) and rebounds (9.0). Kyle Randall leads in assists (2.4).
- For the season, UNCG shooting 39.5% from the field, 33.6% from behind the arc and 68.7% from the free throw line.

Zips Notes:
-Akron defeated Malone College (NAIA) 62-30 on Saturday. Brett McKnight had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
- Akron defeated UNCG 75-53 in Fleming Gym last season. "Humpty" Hitchens and Nate Linhart each scored 13 points for the Zips. Ben Stywall lead UNCG with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
- Media members picked Akron as the preseason favorite in the MAC conference.
-The Zips come into the contest sporting a 3-1 home record so far this season. Their only loss was the home opener to Austin Peay.
-No Akron player is averaging double digits in points. However, 4 players are averaging over 8 points.
- Nikola Cvetinovic lead Akron in scoring (8.9). Zeke Marshall Leads in rebounds (6.0). Hitchens leads the Zips in assists (2.4).
- For the season, Akron is shooting 40.8% from the field, 33.3% from behind the arc and 59.5% from the free throw line.

My Thoughts:
The Zips have a very tall team, and should have a huge size advantage over UNCG. However, the stats point to Akron not being a good shooting team (especially free throws). If it's close game down the stretch, I like UNCG's chances of taking advantage of this bad free throw shooting by Akron.

The Spartans have played much better on the road. For whatever reason, the guys have came out as the visitors and shot really well. Maybe they can continue the good play on the road against a team that is still trying to hit their stride. With a tough finish to the non-conference schedule, it would be great to pick up another win.

Go Spartans !!!

Regular Season Recap - December

Let's continue with the recaps.

December
Citadel (L) - A close game that, at the time, I was shocked to see the Spartans lose. I just couldn't fathom UNCG dropping a game to "lowly" Citadel in Fleming. It turns out that even Davidson would lose at home to the Bulldogs. The Citadel have battled their way to bye in the SoCon Tournament. As for the game, Damian Eargle was suspended, and it really hurt UNCG. He might have been the difference maker in a close game.

*** Let's note that in between the home games with the Charleston teams, Chancellor Linda Brady excited Spartan fans by announcing that UNCG would move all of its home games next season to the Greensboro Coliseum.

Charleston (L) - UNCG played a great first half, but couldn't keep it going in the second half and fell hard. Charleston even tried to help by missing a bunch of free throws.
ECU (L) - The Pirates absolutely throttled UNCG in the second half in Greenville. The ECU return game in the Greensboro Coliseum next season should be a lot of fun.
Kent State (L) - Another second half collapse for UNCG. The Spartans led this one at the half, but couldn't hold on. Kendall Toney hit a couple of big 3's.
Dayton (L) - The Spartans were crushed by a really good Dayton team on the road. I really won't be shocked if Dayton gets in the NCAA Tournament and makes plenty of noise. Their defense was way too much for an already poor shooting UNCG team.
Akron (L) - The first of a few "throw away" games that UNCG played this season. The Spartans didn't do much in this game and very few people actually showed up to watch it anyways.

Turn Away

UNCG 53 - Akron 75

News & Record
UNCG Athletics
Akron Beacon Journal
Akron Athletics

The good:
- Damian Eargle - 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 blocks in 19 minutes of action. If UNCG could get this kinds of production from Eargle and Bone at the same time, they would be in much better shape.
- Ben Stywall - 11 points and 11 rebounds. When he decided to take it to the basket, good things happened. Wish he could get some help b/c he's been a bright spot for this team so far.

The Bad:
- Free throw shooting - Ben Stywall 7-8. Everyone else 6-12.
- Turnovers - 22. Ugh.

The Ugly:
- Point guard play - It was worse than awful. Combined UNCG points guards' stats ... 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 7 turnovers.

Moving on ...

Akron (7-4) @ UNCG (1-8)

When: Wednesday, Dec 31 2 pm
Where: Fleming Gym (2,320)
TV: None/ Spartan All-Access

Akron Athletics
Akron Forum - Zips Nation
Rasor on the Zips - Blog

Spartan Notes:
- Last time out, UNCG fell to Dayton 75-44. The Spartans scored just 15 first half points. Mikko Koivisto scored 10 points.
- This will be the first UNCG home game since a December 6 loss to College of Charleston. This will be the second (and last) non-conference home game for UNCG.
- This is the second straight season that a MAC conference team will visit Fleming Gym. Last year, Kent State visited Greensboro.
- Koivisto still leads UNCG in scoring (12.6) and assists (2.6). Ben Stywall leads in rebounding (8.1).
- For the season, UNCG is shooting 36.1% from the field, 29.2% from behind the arc and 65% from the free throw line.

Zips Notes:
- Akron built on a 2 point halftime lead to beat St. Francis (NY) 77-70 on Sunday. Jimmy Conyers (17 pts) led three Zips in double figures.
- My recap on Akron's wins/losses/RPI can be found here.
- Nate Linhart (11.5), Brett McKnight (11.2) and "Humpty" Hitchens (10.8) are all averaging in double figures. Linhart is also leading Akron in rebounds (5.7) and assists (2.0).
- So far this year, Akron is shooting 42.4% from the field, 32.7% from 3 point range and 71.6% from the free throw line.

My Thoughts:
There was an almost sellout crowd for Kent State last year. Even though this year's squad is playing poorly, I'm interested to see what the turnout will be for this season's marquee OOC game.

As far as the game goes, UNCG will have to show a lot of improvement in all areas of it's game to compete in this one. Akron has 9 players averaging double figures in minutes played and they seem to spread around all of the stats.

Let's hope the layoff and some home magic can bring UNCG together and get them another win in 2008.

The rest of the OOC schedule

Just figured I'd put up some info on the other 6 of UNCG's out-of-conference opponents. These are current as I write this post. I'll try to update it every few days. So, check back often. All of my RPI numbers come from RealtimeRPI.

*Red - Where they were when UNCG lost to them.
*Green - Where they were when UNCG defeated them.

NC State (3-0)
Current RPI: 227
Wins: @ New Orleans, High Point, Winthrop.
Losses: None.

East Carolina (7-1)
Current RPI: 126
Wins: Coker, St. Andrews, Campbell, VCU, @Winthrop, @UNCW, Limestone.
Losses: George Mason.

Kent St (4-5)
Current RPI: 216
Wins: NC Central, St. Louis, UNCW, Youngstown St.
Losses: Illinois, Texas A&M, @Kansas, St. Mary's, Western Carolina.

Dayton (9-1)
Current RPI: 36
Wins: Wofford, Deleware St, Bethune-Cookman, Mercer, Auburn, Marquette, Troy St., @Akron, Coppin State.
Losses: @Creighton.

Akron (7-4)
Current RPI: 102
Wins: Canisius, Winthrop, Urbana, @Niagra, @Fairleigh Dickinson, NC A&T St. Francis (NY).
Losses: @ Pitt, Eastern Kentucky, Dayton, @VCU.

Princeton (2-8)
Current RPI: 323
Wins: @ Army, @Fordham.
Losses: Maine, Central Michigan, South Carolina, @St. Bonnie, Rutgers, Manhattan, Central Conn State, Lafayette.

Last updated: 12/30/08