Under the Radar Game of the Day: Akron at Youngstown State

Akron at Youngstown State, 7:30 PM Eastern, espn3

Youngstown, Ohio is the location tonight for the Northeast Ohio Doubleheader Benefiting Coaches vs Cancer, with Kent State and Cleveland State meeting in the early game (5:00 PM, espn3) and Akron and Youngstown State meeting in the nightcap.  Akron enters tonight’s game as one of the top contenders in the MAC, along with Ohio U and Eastern Michigan.  The Zips were one of the nation’s best teams from beyond the three-point arc last season.  Further, big man Isaiah Johnson could be in store for a huge season and will make the team very difficult to beat.  We expect the Zips and Ohio to battle for the MAC East Division crown all season.

However, the Zips will also want to put together a solid non-conference resume and a win in Youngstown tonight could go a long way towards doing just that.  The Penguins have never made the NCAA Tournament, but are a legitimate dark horse pick in the Horizon league this season.  Cameron Morse averaged over 20 points per game last season from the backcourt, and the combination of Matt Donlan and 7 foot tall center Jordan Kaufman up front will make this team, with a roster full of juniors and seniors, a lot tougher to beat than most people expect.  A win tonight over what could be a very good Akron team will help the Penguins establish the confidence they need as they head into the season.