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The Akron Zips (24-5, 14-1 Mid-American) fell on hard times, Thursday. While pursuing an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, Akron lost to Buffalo but were greeted by even worse news.
Starting point guard Alex Abreu was arrested on drug charges and has been suspended indefinitely by the team. Phil Trexler of the Akron Beacon Journal reports that narcotics agents with the Akron Police Department arrested Abreu with a “large amount of marijuana during a controlled buy.”
Abreu was previously suspended for one game in November of the 2011-12 season for violating the team’s drug policy.
It can be presumed that Akron wouldn’t even be in the position to fight for an NCAA Tournament spot without the production of Abreu, who averages 10.3 points and 6.0 assists each game for the Zips. Abreu is also 40 percent from behind the three-point line.
Middle Tennessee stands as the Zips’ only top-50 win, and the loss to Buffalo, along with Abreu’s suspension, may have ended their tournament hopes.
In 2011, Akron head coach Keith Dambrot admitted losing Abreu for just a single game then would hurt his team, and with Abreu most likely being dismissed from the team in the coming days, the Zips will have to find an alternative source on the offensive end.
“It’s a difficult situation for everybody. That’s all I can say,” said Dambrot following Abreu’s first suspension.
Not only has Abreu doomed his basketball career, but his selfish decisions may have destroyed the dreams of his teammates as well. Freshman Carmelo Betancourt and Deji Ibitayo will see significant minute increases with the loss of Abreu. Betancourt typically only sees 10 minutes of floor time each game.
John Engel is a college basketball writer for Rant Sports, covering the PAC-12 and Mountain West conferences. John works for ESPNLA 710 AM radio in addition to Rant Sports. Follow: @engelsportsguy.
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