Akron basketball: Ohio postponement benefits Zips?

There’s little doubt given what has happened on school campuses over the years that officials made the correct decision by postponing the Ohio-Eastern Michigan hoops game set for Wednesday night until Feb. 20.

With reports of a gunman on the loose near the campus it was the responsible thing to do.  College hoops isn’t that important – lives are.

But will this have any impact on Saturday’s game between the Zips and Bobcats?

There’s little doubt there will be.

Some might argue that it’s to the Bobcats advantage after absorbing every blow the Kent State Golden Flashes threw at them last Saturday night in a 69-68 win.  It could give them time some may view as necessary to recover from a game that’s was likely physically and mentally exhausting.   Some might call that an unfair advantage heading into a nationally televised game.

I prefer to think otherwise.

With the outright lead in the MAC East likely to be on the line, were I Jim Christian and his team I would want to be playing tonight for a couple of reasons.

You don’t play a game like that and sit for a week and expect to come back sharp.  Rested? Perhaps.  Sharp?  Not likely.  That’s a week without adrenaline.  A week of looking at the guy who guards you in practice.  A week without an opportunity to build momentum.

Although Eastern Michigan currently sits in second place in the MAC West, they’d just be the fourth best team in the East based on their 10-10 record, meaning the game had the chance of being a nice tune-up for the Bobcats.

The Zips will have had the benefit of playing another game to ensure that everything is clicking.  There’s little doubt that’s preferable to walking into the biggest game of the conference schedule thus far ice cold.  Here’s betting Ohio players feel the same.

Everyone concerned finds out Saturday evening.