2020–21 Akron Zips men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Akron Zips men's basketball team represented the University of Akron during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Zips, led by fourth-year head coach John Groce, played their home games at the James A. Rhodes Arena in Akron, Ohio as members of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Zips finished the season 15–8, 12–6 in MAC play to finish in a tie for third place. They defeated Bowling Green in the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament before losing to Buffalo in the semifinals.

2020–21 Akron Zips men's basketball
ConferenceMid-American Conference
DivisionEast Division
2020–21 record15–8 (12–6 MAC)
Head coach
Associate head coachDustin Ford (4th season)
Assistant coaches
  • Rob Fulford (4th season)
  • Robby Pridgen (4th season)
Home arenaJames A. Rhodes Arena
2020–21 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Toledo15–4 .78921–9  .700
Buffalo12–5 .70616–9  .640
Akron12–6 .66715–8  .652
Kent State12–6 .66715–8  .652
Ohio †9–5 .64317–8  .680
Bowling Green10–8 .55614–12  .538
Miami (OH)9–8 .52912–11  .522
Ball State8–9 .47110–13  .435
Western Michigan4–12 .2505–16  .238
Eastern Michigan3–11 .2146–12  .333
Central Michigan3–13 .1887–16  .304
Northern Illinois2–12 .1433–16  .158
† 2021 MAC Tournament winner

Previous season

The Zips finished the 2019–20 season 24–7, 14–4 in MAC play to win the East Division. They were to play Ohio in the conference tournament before the season ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Tyler Cheese4G6'5"195SeniorAlbany, GAGraduated
Deng Riak10C6'10"225SeniorMelbourne, AustraliaGraduated
Channel Banks11G6'4"186SeniorLas Vegas, NVGraduated
Marquelle McIntyre12G5'10"175SeniorGreensboro, NCWalk-on; graduated
Xeyrius Williams20F6'9"205SeniorHuber Heights, OHGraduated
Jaden Sayles23F6'9"235JuniorCincinnati, OHTransferred to Stony Brook

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Jermaine Marshall4F6'6"220SophomoreBirmingham, ALTransferred from Florida SouthWestern State. Will have one year of remaining eligibility.
Michael Wynn13F6'6"210JuniorAlbany, NYTransferred from Wake Forest. Under NCAA transfer rules, Wynn will have to sit out for the 2020–21 season. Will have two years of remaining eligibility.
Taylor Currie33F6'8"225SophomoreClarkston, MITransferred from Wisconsin. Will have three years of remaining eligibility.

2020 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Garvin Clarke
#38 CG		 Euclid, OH Euclid 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Oct 15, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

    2021 recruiting class
    US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
    Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
    Nate Johnson
    #55 SG    		 Middletown, OH Lakota East 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Nov 9, 2020 
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
    Sekou Sada Kalle
    PF    		 Louisville, KY Aspire Basketball Academy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Nov 8, 2020 
    Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
    Overall recruiting rankings:
    • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
    • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

    Sources:

      Roster
      2020–21 Akron Zips men's basketball team
      PlayersCoaches
      Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
      G 0 Tre Edwards 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)188 lb (85 kg) RS FrHamilton Heights Christian Academy/Link Year Prep Hamilton, ON
      G 1 Loren Cristian Jackson 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)160 lb (73 kg) RS SrVictory Rock Prep
      Long Beach State      		 Chicago, IL
      G 2 Greg Tribble Jr. 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)192 lb (87 kg) SoHuntington Prep Cincinnati, OH
      F 3 Maishe Dailey 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)195 lb (88 kg) RS SrBeachwood
      Iowa      		 Beachwood, OH
      F 4 Jermaine Marshall 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg) SoHueytown
      Florida SouthWestern State      		 Birmingham, AL
      F 5 Camron Reece 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)228 lb (103 kg) SrOakland Tech
      Sheridan College      		 Oakland, CA
      G 11 Garvin Clarke 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg) FrEuclid Euclid, OH
      G 12 Bryan Trimble Jr. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)216 lb (98 kg) RS JrSunrise Christian Academy
      St. John’s      		 Beachwood, OH
      F 13 Michael Wynn 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg) JrLiberty Heights
      Iowa      		 Albany, NY
      G 14 Scott Walter (W) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)170 lb (77 kg) RS SoSt. Vincent-St. Mary Akron, OH
      C 21 Aziz Bandaogo 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)225 lb (102 kg) FrNBA Academy Africa Louisville, KY
      F 22 Mikal Dawson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) SoHuntington Huntington, WV
      F 24 Ali Ali 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)206 lb (93 kg) SoEast Noble High School Kendallville, IN
      F 25 Enrique Freeman 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)205 lb (93 kg) RS FrSt. Martin De Porres High School Cleveland, OH
      G 25 LePear Toles 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)195 lb (88 kg) RS JrCanton McKinley
      State Fair CC      		 Canton, OH
      F 33 Taylor Currie 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) RS SoClarkston
      Wisconsin      		 Clarkston, MI
      Head coach
      Assistant coach(es)
      Legend
      • (C) Team captain
      • (S) Suspended
      • (I) Ineligible
      • (W) Walk-on

      Roster

      Schedule and results

      Akron had to cancel its games against Middle Tennessee and Miami (OH) due to COVID-19. They have postponed games against Eastern Michigan and Ohio.

      Date
      time, TV      		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
      city, state
      Non-conference regular season
      November 25, 2020*
      		 Middle Tennessee Canceled James A. Rhodes Arena 
      Akron, OH
      December 5, 2020*
      		 Marshall Canceled James A. Rhodes Arena 
      Akron, OH
      December 12, 2020
      2:00 pm      		 Cedarville W 97–49  1–0
      		  19 – Jackson  8 – Reece  9 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      December 15, 2020
      1:00 pm, ESPN3      		 vs. St. Bonaventure L 74–81  1–1
      		  22 – Jackson  9 – Marshall  7 – Jackson  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (150)
      Cleveland, OH
      December 19, 2020
      2:00 pm      		 Malone W 93–83  2–1
      		  34 – Jackson  21 – Freeman  10 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      MAC regular season
      December 22, 2020
      2:00 pm, ESPN+      		 Ohio W 90–70  3–1
      (1–0)      		  22 – Trimble Jr.  8 – Tied  8 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      January 1, 2021
      7:00 pm      		 Kent State W 66–62  4–1
      (2–0)      		  31 – Jackson  9 – Freeman  6 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (25)
      Akron, OH
      January 5, 2021
      		 at Eastern Michigan Postponed Convocation Center 
      Ypsilanti, MI
      January 9, 2021
      12:00 pm, ESPN+      		 at Eastern Michigan L 59–71  4–2
      (2–1)      		  10 – Tied  5 – Wynn  3 – Ali  Convocation Center (0)
      Ypsilanti, MI
      January 12, 2021
      3:00 pm, ESPN+      		 at Northern Illinois L 65–67  4–3
      (2–2)      		  15 – Ali  11 – Freeman  7 – Jackson  Convocation Center (0)
      DeKalb, IL
      January 16, 2021
      2:00 pm, ESPN+      		 Toledo W 95–94 OT 5–3
      (3–2)      		  34 – Jackson  6 – Ali  7 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      January 19, 2021
      7:00 pm, ESPN+      		 at Bowling Green W 69–57  6–3
      (4–2)      		  18 – Trimble Jr.  14 – Freeman  6 – Jackson  Stroh Center (0)
      Bowling Green, OH
      January 21, 2021
      6:00 pm, ESPN+      		 Central Michigan W 81–67  7–3
      (5–2)      		  25 – Trimble Jr.  12 – Freeman  10 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      January 23, 2021
      5:00 pm, ESPN+      		 at Western Michigan W 79–68  8–3
      (6–2)      		  32 – Jackson  10 – Freeman  6 – Jackson  University Arena (0)
      Kalamazoo, MI
      January 26, 2021
      7:30 pm, ESPN3      		 Eastern Michigan W 86–65  9–3
      (7–2)      		  14 – Dailey  10 – Reece  5 – Ali  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      January 30, 2021
      2:00 pm, ESPN3      		 Ball State W 74–42  10–3
      (8–2)      		  16 – Jackson  8 – Freeman  6 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      February 2, 2021
      7:00 pm, ESPN+      		 at Toledo L 76–91  10–4
      (8–3)      		  32 – Jackson  11 – Freeman  4 – Jackson  Savage Arena (0)
      Toledo, OH
      February 5, 2021
      7:00 pm, ESPNU      		 Kent State W 72–61  11–4
      (9–3)      		  26 – Trimble Jr.  11 – Freeman  8 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      February 9, 2021
      		 at Ohio Postponed Convocation Center 
      Athens, OH
      February 12, 2021
      7:00 pm, ESPNU      		 at Miami (OH) W 83–76  12–4
      (10–3)      		  25 – Jackson  7 – Freeman  8 – Dailey  Millett Hall (0)
      Oxford, OH
      February 16, 2021
      2:00 pm, ESPN3      		 Northern Illinois W 81–76  13–4
      (11–3)      		  22 – Trimble Jr.  8 – Freeman  7 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      February 19, 2021
      1:00 pm, ESPN3      		 at Ball State W 88–79  14–4
      (12–3)      		   –     –     –    Worthen Arena (0)
      Muncie, IN
      February 27, 2021
      2:00 pm, ESPN3      		 Bowling Green L 71–83  14–6
      (12–5)      		  29 – Jackson  9 – Freeman  4 – Jackson  James A. Rhodes Arena (0)
      Akron, OH
      March 2, 2021
      2:00 pm, ESPN3      		 at Buffalo L 78–80  14–7
      (12–6)      		  27 – Jackson  12 – Freeman  4 – Jackson  Alumni Arena (0)
      Amherst, NY
      March 5, 2021
      		 Miami (OH) Canceled James A. Rhodes Arena 
      Akron, OH
      MAC Tournament
      March 11, 2021
      7:00 pm, ESPN+      		 (3) vs. (6) Bowling Green
      Quarterfinals      		 W 74–67  15–7
      		  31 – Jackson  9 – Freeman  4 – Jackson  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (0)
      Cleveland, OH
      March 12, 2021
      7:30 pm, CBSSN      		 (3) vs. (2) Buffalo
      Semifinals      		 L 74–81 OT 15–8
      		  27 – Jackson  14 – Freeman  5 – Jackson  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (0)
      Cleveland, OH
      *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
      All times are in Eastern Time.

      Source[1]

      Rankings
      See also: 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
      Ranking movements
      Week
      PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
      APNot released
      Coaches

      *AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings

      References
      1. "2020–21 Akron Zips Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
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