Akron's Enrique Freeman and Xavier Castenada is the best inside-outside duo in the MAC. Just don't think Groce has enough other weapons to help them out. They're going to miss Ali Ali Ali.
Posted this in early November and believe we saw evidence of it last night. Freeman and Castenada combine for 55 of Zips' 81 points while Ali Ali Ali starts for a Butler team that knocked off #13 X.
What a difference a year makes. Akron handled Ohio last season on Friday night in the Convo with Freeman, Castenada and Ali against an Ohio team with BVP, Sears and Carter (but no DW or Hunter).
Of course Castaneda is much improved and consistently excellent compared to last season, but in addition to Ali Ali gone, the Zips also miss Dawson and Bandaogo. The #3-8 are improving but not up to the quality of what Zips lost from 2022.
Akron can be beaten every game if Freeman gets limited minutes due to foul trouble OR as shown last evening if the opponent has two bigs that can rotate in and out and make Freeman stay on the court for more than 25-28 minutes a game. Freeman simply has no substitute. He can go to his left but going to the right is money in the bank for him. I would slightly over play him forcing him left and I'd lay money that his field goal percentage would go down. It might be a gamble but sending him to the line instead of an easy basket may pay off like it did last night as well.