Why 2018 Will Belong to the Zips Men's Basketball Team

There are plenty of easy Akron-related predictions one could make (ex: the soccer team winning the MAC).  But predictions are supposed to be bold, so here goes:

2018 will belong to the Zips men's basketball program.

As of this writing, Akron is struggling a bit.  Their win over Concord Friday night snapped a three game losing streak, as they came home from the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii with great memories but no wins to show for it.  The Zips stand at a respectable 7-5, but without a true signature win (Fort Wayne is their only win against a team with a winning record, and Fort Wayne is not what we'd call a signature win).  They are also 0-5 away from James A Rhodes Arena.

Of course, conference play is what matters most in the MAC, a league with a ton of parity right now.  Aside from Central Michigan (10-2), all other MAC teams are within 3 games of each other in terms if overall record.  Kent State is the only team with a losing record at 6-7.

Truth be told, we won't know what these Zips are until MAC play begins.  We'll find out right away though, as Akron begins the conference slate with road games at Western Michigan and Toledo and a home tilt against rival Buffalo.  Realistically, the Zips will likely be up and down the rest of the way.  They are a uniquely young team - 7 of the 10 scholarship players eligible to suit up this year are either sophomores or freshmen.  Jimond Ivey is the only returning starter from last year's regular season champion.  And with with that youth comes inexperience.  Keith Dambrot's teams almost always had a veteran presence about them.  Unfortunately, with so many transfers in and out of Akron, John Groce has not been afforded that advantage in year one.  With that said, John Groce knows how to win at Quicken Loans Arena in March.  While I won't go as far as predicting them to win on Saturday, I do think they'll make a run that will reinforce that Akron Basketball is alive and well.

Next season, the 2018-2019 campaign, is where the Zips might be something really special.  They will add two dynamic transfer guards - Eric Hester (Florida) and Loren Jackson (Long Beach State) and talented big man Deng Riak (East Carolina).  Consider what ESPN Recruiting felt about the trio coming out of high school:

Deng Riak - 80 Scout Grade, 12th best player overall in Florida's Class of 2016
Eric Hester -79 Scout Grade, 11th best player overall in Florida's Class of 2016
Loren Jackson - 76 Scout Grade, 9th best player overall in Illinois' Class of 2016

They'll also add Lepear Toles, a 6'4" guard ESPN was also high on, giving him a 74 Scout Grade and naming him the 15th best player overall in Ohio's Class of 2016.

These four will join the 8 returning scholarship players to form an uber-athletic, high-upside team.  Consider this possible depth chart:

Olojakpoke/Sayles
Utomi/Parrish
Riak/Kostelac
Ivey/Toles/Patton
Hester/Jackson/Cotton

That team is talented enough not just to do damage in the conference, but also in the NCAA Tournament.

As John Groce gets comfortable in Akron, his young players grow, and his super-talented transfers officially become eligible, Akron Basketball will find itself in a familiar place - atop the Mid-American Conference.  Yes, 2018 will belong to the Zips Men's Basketball team.