Akron Zips 2018-2019 Basketball Preview: Can the Zips Return to the Top of the MAC?

Above: Can Senior Jimond Ivey lead the Zips back to the promised land?

After 13 seasons at The University of Akron and 12 straight 20+ win seasons, Keith Dambrot left the Zips to become head coach at Duquesne University.  Akron Athletic Director Larry Williams moved quickly to replace Dambrot with a familiar name to MAC basketball fans, John Groce.  Groce had spent five seasons as head coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini, finishing all but one of them with a winning record.  However, that wasn’t enough for Illinois as they decided to move on from Groce following the 2016-17 season.  Groce is, of course, best known for his major success at Ohio University, some of which came against the team he currently leads.  Groce went 85-56 there in four seasons, leading the Bobcats to two MAC Tournament Championships and two NCAA Tournament runs, once of which they advanced to the Sweet 16. 

Groce’s first season in Akron brought mixed results.  The Zips had lost Isaiah Johnson and Kwan Cheatham Jr. to graduation, while Antino Jackson, Noah Robotham, Josh Williams, Aaron Jackson, Michael Hughes, Tavian Dunn-Martin, and Ty Dalton transferred elsewhere.  This, along with it being late in the recruiting season, forced Groce to be creative in their replacements.  Virshon Cotton, Malcolm Duvivier, Mark Kostelac, Eric Parrish, and Torrey Patton arrived with talent but, aside from Duvivier, very little experience as true freshmen.  The result was an up-and-down season that the Zips finished 14-18 overall and 6-12 in the conference.  The team did pull an upset against Western Michigan in the First Round of the MAC Tournament but lost a 9-point halftime lead to Eastern Michigan in the Quarterfinals on the strength of a 28-4 second half run by the Eagles.  Zips fans, for the first time since 2006, would not get to see their favorite team play on Friday evening at The Q. 

Despite last season’s record and disappointing finish, there is reason to believe the Zips’ stay at the bottom of the conference will end up being a short one.  The team will again have many new faces and will likely take time to gel, but it’s a roster loaded with talent. 

Jimond Ivey and Daniel Utomi will start again this season and will lead the Zips.  Both had bouts with consistency last season, but both – especially with more talent around them and newfound familiarity with John Groce’s system - seem primed to break out in 2018-19.  Ivey, the team’s lone senior player, will look to finish his Zips career as a MAC Champion.

Emmanuel Olojakpoke started and played just under 20 minutes per game last season, so it’s probably fair to expect he’ll split time with Deng Riak to assure the Zips always have a shot blocker on the floor, although who starts games may depend on several factors.  It’s also possible Groce starts the pair together, although that may create issues with floor spacing. 

If Groce opts not to start the Olojakpoke/Riak duo, his fourth starter may be sophomore Jaden Sayles.  Sayles only started one game last year but played well down the stretch before missing the rest of the season with an injury.  In his final two games against Buffalo and Bowling Green, he played 43 minutes, scoring 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting.  Akron will need him to rebound a bit more (27 in 234 MP) but the talent is clearly there.  He’ll play a big role on this team, whether it’s as a starter or a reserve. 

Mark Kostelac averaged 12 minutes per game last season, but most of that was due to Olojakpoke and Sayles missing significant time.  With both back and Riak available, we’d expect Kostelac to play limited minutes and continue to develop. 

The guard position beyond Ivey is where things get a bit murky.  That’s not to say there isn’t talent, but there’s plenty of new faces:

5’8” Loren Jackson comes from Long Beach State, where he averaged 5.8 points in 18.9 minutes per game as a freshman.  Those who have seen him play expect a smart player who will can thrive in the open floor.   

6’4” Tyler Cheese started 20 games for Florida Southwestern State, averaging 15 points and 6 assists per game.  He was named to the Suncoast Conference All-Conference First Team and was ranked as the 52^nd best JUCO player in the country by JUCORecruiting.com.

6’4” Channel Banks averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists per game at Sheridan Community College last season.  He notably shot 38% on 3-Pointers (90 attempts).  His offers included MAC rival Central Michigan. 

6’2” Jeremy Roscoe comes from Panola College where he averaged 11 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds per game.  Roscoe notably shot 43% on 3-Pointers (105 attempts) and, along with Banks, should give the Zips an outside scoring threat. 

6’6” LePear Toles, a Canton, Ohio native, arrives from State Fair Community College where he averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game.  Toles was a star high school player, ranking 25^th on Stark County’s all-time scoring list.  When Toles committed, Coach Groce highlighted his winning attitude and leadership qualities. 

6’9” Forward Xeyrius Williams, a transfer from the University of Dayton, and 7’0” Forward Khadim Gueye will occupy the Zips’ 12^th and 13^th scholarships but must sit out this season due to NCAA Transfer Rules.  

You’ll notice Florida transfer 6’3” Guard Eric Hester missing from the list.  Hester, a 4-Star recruit out of high school, showed flashes of great potential at Florida, and has the talent to be a star in the Mid-American Conference.  Unfortunately, he’s no longer listed on Akron’s active roster.  Just A Blog from Akron previously reported he wouldn’t be eligible until January 2019, and we continue to hear that.  However, there is now added mystery with Hester’s removal from the roster and the Zips roster already seemingly filled.  Stay tuned to our Twitter account @Zips_United as we follow any developments to this story. 

Akron’s schedule features two teams in the Preseason Top 25 – a November 19^th showdown in the Cayman Islands Classic against #19 Clemson and a road trip to #7 Nevada on December 22^nd.  The Zips will also have two other solid opponents from the Cayman Islands Classic.  They’ll face either Georgia or Illinois State on Day 2, and either St. Bonaventure, Creighton, Boise State, or Georgia State on Day 3. 

In conference play, the Buffalo Bulls will once again open the season as the preseason favorite to win the conference.  The Bulls were MAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions last season and knocked off #4 seed Arizona in the 1^st Round of the NCAA Tournament.  The Bulls return four of their top five scorers from a year ago, including the top three, all Seniors.  Ball State will be the favorite in the West.  They won 19 games last season before spiraling to end the year.  They’ll return the core of that group that will be aiming to finish stronger this season. 

Where will the Zips finish?  Not to take the easy way out, but it’s impossible to predict with confidence given so many new faces.  Whether or not Eric Hester sees the floor will play a major impact as well.  With that said, you came here for a preview and a prediction, so here goes: The Zips have an up-and-down year once again as they attempt to gel, winning a few big games (at least one vs a ranked opponent) and losing a few they shouldn’t.  By March, they’ll put it together and make a serious run at the MAC Tournament Championship.  It all depends on how the bracket shakes out, but we’ll say the Zips make it to either the MAC Semifinals or Finals, losing a close matchup to Buffalo, but making it known to everyone that Akron basketball is back and will be a force to be reckoned with once again. 

A look at the current Akron Zips Scholarship Chart: