Zips basketball: UA at Detroit keys to victory

Zeke Marshall

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The Akron Zips sit at 4-3 in the still young season as they prepare to face the Detroit Titans in Calihan Hall in Detroit Saturday.

Some may view it as a must-win game for a myriad of reasons, but coach Keith Dambrot doesn’t see it that way.

“If I say 'no' people say I'm deflecting (but) I don't think so,” Dambrot said after practice Thursday.  “The more you win, the more you win. The more you win the better you feel about yourself. The better you play.  Now all you have to do is manage prosperity.”

Victory over Detroit is preferable, but as he always is, Dambrot is pragmatic.

“If we win, we're in real good shape because after this, we're in really good shape because we have six in a row at home.,” he said. “If we lose and we come out mentally OK, we're in good shape too. I'd like to win one on the road and play a little bit better, but I never try to put games in must-win category.”

The biggest takeaway from a win would be slaying a three-game road skid.  Here are three things the Zips must do to leave Motown singing Dancin’ in the Streets:

• Stop junior point guard Ray McCallum.  Period.  This is the head of the snake. And there’s evidence that suggests that the Zips will be able to do that.  In the prior two games against the Titans, McCallum has scored six and eight points respectively.  Much like UA’s own Alex Abreu, he likes to score the ball and get teammates involved in the game. Abreu didn’t face him in last year’s meeting, but he did the year before.  The Zips point guard said he’s just going to play his game.
• UA needs the big fella.  The big fella would be center Zeke Marshall and he’s needed on both sides of the ball.  The Titans have two on their roster who match Marshall’s height, but they don’t match his skill as neither has started a game. Against Creighton the Zips were able to do something that they should do with more consistency – work the ball inside. Yes, it’s primarily to Marshall, but fans should drool at the prospect of Marshall and Demetrius Treadwell getting easy looks in the paint.  Marshall also needs to bring his defensive game this week.  Last week against Creighton, he virtually disappeared after two early swats.
• Lastly, it can’t be said too many times:  defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defen defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defensese defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense defense.