Things didn’t go so well the last time a MAC side squared off with the 6th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers, as they thrashed Miami 82-53 this past Monday. Tonight it’s Akron’s turn to take on the Panthers, as the 2-0 Zips visit (of course!) Pitt. Unfortunately, things figure to be about the same for the Zips tonight as they were for the Redhawks Monday night.
After losing almost all it’s scoring, rebounding, and leadership from last season’s NIT side, Keith Dambrot has found a surprise gem in walk-on guard Darryl Roberts, but the Zips, with a roster that features nine frosh, are still in rebuilding mode, and that just doesn’t bode well tonight. Akron’s getting 20.5 points and I’d be surprised if the Panthers don’t cover.
Northern Illinois (2-1), the other MAC squad in action tonight, should have a much easier time of it, as they visit “The Volunteer State” to take on the winless Tennessee State Tigers (0-2). Despite being picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the Ohio Valley this season, the Tigers don’t inspire much confidence thanks mostly to a season-opening 93-85 loss to NAIA side Cumberland. This could very well end up being a battle of attrition since the always-reliable Ken Pomeroy ranks the Huskies as one of the worst offensive squads thus far this season while the Tigers are porous on D and ineffective on offense. Betus.Com has the Huskies getting 5 points. So long as a Ricardo Patton gets a good effort from his youthful backcourt tandem of soph Jake Anderson and frosh Mike DiNunno, the Huskies should not only cover, but they should also leave Tennessee with the dubbya.
The MAC site has a quick summary on tonight’s games, as well as other MAC news from the past couple days.
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