These guys went 1-1 last night losing their total play. Thank goodness no totals tonight of which the haven’t been doing so good.
By Ky McKeon
Akron makes the 240-mile trek down I-77 to square off with Marshall, a team off to a 5-1 start overall and 4-2 against the spread. But just one look at Marshall’s schedule will tell you all you need to know about the significance of that start.
The Thundering Herd haven’t played a KenPom top-200 opponent all season, and the only top-250 opponent they played (Queens) ended in a narrow defeat.
On the flip side, Akron has faced three top-100 opponents and has an impressive 19-point win over Western Kentucky. The Zips are far more battle-tested.
The key for Akron tonight will be keeping the Herd out of transition. Marshall plays at the second-fastest pace in the country on offense and ranks 11th in initial field goal attempt rate in transition, per Hoop-Math.
Akron falls within the upper third in the country in points per possession allowed on the run and preventing transition opportunities.
But Akron also plays exclusively in the half-court on offense, which will slow the game down. No team has a lower rate of plays ending in transition than Akron, per Synergy.
Akron star big man Enrique Freeman will be tasked with stopping 7-foot-1 center Micah Handlogten, who has come on strong for Marshall in his first season.
Freeman, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, will be, by far, Handlogten’s toughest test to date. If Freeman can keep Handlogten off the glass, the game swings heavily in favor of the Zips.
Finally, if you’re a fan of trends, here’s an interesting one for you. Of current active coaches, Marshall head coach Dan D’Antoni holds the second-worst ATS record over the past three seasons (18-31).
Akron vs. Marshall
By Ky McKeon
Akron makes the 240-mile trek down I-77 to square off with Marshall, a team off to a 5-1 start overall and 4-2 against the spread. But just one look at Marshall’s schedule will tell you all you need to know about the significance of that start.
The Thundering Herd haven’t played a KenPom top-200 opponent all season, and the only top-250 opponent they played (Queens) ended in a narrow defeat.
On the flip side, Akron has faced three top-100 opponents and has an impressive 19-point win over Western Kentucky. The Zips are far more battle-tested.
The key for Akron tonight will be keeping the Herd out of transition. Marshall plays at the second-fastest pace in the country on offense and ranks 11th in initial field goal attempt rate in transition, per Hoop-Math.
Akron falls within the upper third in the country in points per possession allowed on the run and preventing transition opportunities.
But Akron also plays exclusively in the half-court on offense, which will slow the game down. No team has a lower rate of plays ending in transition than Akron, per Synergy.
Akron star big man Enrique Freeman will be tasked with stopping 7-foot-1 center Micah Handlogten, who has come on strong for Marshall in his first season.
Freeman, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, will be, by far, Handlogten’s toughest test to date. If Freeman can keep Handlogten off the glass, the game swings heavily in favor of the Zips.
Finally, if you’re a fan of trends, here’s an interesting one for you. Of current active coaches, Marshall head coach Dan D’Antoni holds the second-worst ATS record over the past three seasons (18-31).
|
