Akron Basketball: 3 keys to Zips Round of 64 matchup with UCLA Bruins
By Bryan Mauro
![Akron head coach John Groce, center, draws up a play during a time out against Northern Illinois in the second half of their game at University of Akron James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday Feb. 16, 20201. Akron beat Northern Illinois 81 to 76. [Mike Cardew/Beacon Journal]Uahoops 13](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fba08ce3a5d629e36c29424823b5fd7820e725fa486544fe536ea8f95c1df46d5.jpg "Akron head coach John Groce, center, draws up a play during a time out against Northern Illinois in the second half of their game at University of Akron James A. Rhodes Arena on Tuesday Feb. 16, 20201. Akron beat Northern Illinois 81 to 76. [Mike Cardew/Beacon Journal]Uahoops 13")
Make Freeman the focal point
Enrique Freeman may be the best defensive player in the entire tournament. Yes, that is a bold statement but it’s true he provides so much defensively and is never out of position. He is going to be a handful to figure out for the two big men in Cody Riley and Myles Johnson. The MAC defensive player of the year is a tremendous rebounder as well and plays physical without fouling. He is the anchor point of the Akron defense and is going to have to be fantastic again underneath to give Akron a chance.
The big man won the defensive player of the year but he is also a good offensive player who shoots 67% from the floor. He is going to get the ball in the paint and he will likely finish it when he gets the ball. The center needs to have a huge game, he doesn’t need to put up career numbers but he needs to be himself.
When he is himself he is affecting the game in a multitude of ways. He affects offensive sets and is relentless on the defensive end. He rebounds the ball on both ends of the floor, scores easy baskets underneath, passes out of double teams to open three-point shooters, and perhaps most importantly he tends to get opposing big men in foul trouble. He goes to the line a lot and when he is playing the way he has been over the last month and a half Akron is really hard to beat.
Freeman is a secret weapon because he is hard to game plan for. He does so much to affect a game that even when he isn’t scoring his impact is felt. The Zips will need Freeman to score in this game and cannot afford an off night offensively.
Luckily for Akron, he is still always locked in on the defensive end and will always change a game on that end. His match-up with the physical UCLA bigs is going to be something to watch for. He is likely going to frustrate them terribly because he isn’t going to stop coming at them on either end of the floor.