[UAZip0510]

Just to reset this thread a bit, I'd expect Akron will go with a solid nine for the most part.

5-Marshall
4-Treadwell
3-Gilliam
2-Walsh
1-Abreu

6-Diggs
7-Harney
8-Egner
9-Betancourt

With the addition of Betancourt, it really makes me wonder if Blake Justice and/or Deji Ibitayo consider transferring elsewhere. If Betancourt is as good as advertised, neither would have the opportunity to play much until their senior year.

[Blue & Gold]

With the addition of Betancourt, it really makes me wonder if Blake Justice and/or Deji Ibitayo consider transferring elsewhere. If Betancourt is as good as advertised, neither would have the opportunity to play much until their senior year.

Especially with the way KD's been composing the roster. We don't really run a "shooting guard." Instead, we have a PG and two Wings - both of which are expected to swing & go down low. I think Deji could do that. Blake Justice... I don't know.

To make matters worse (on Deji & Justice) we're bringing in the two top rated wings in the state this year in 1) Reggie McAdams and 2) Jake Kretzer. Linky. (Scroll down to "Small Forwards.")

Both can handle the rock (McAdams often handled the point for Elida), shoot from well behind the arc, and go down low with their height (Kretzer @ 6'7" and McAdams @ 6'6"). I don't forsee much PT for either Deji or Blake.

[UAZip0510]

Especially with the way KD's been composing the roster. We don't really run a "shooting guard." Instead, we have a PG and two Wings - both of which are expected to swing & go down low. I think Deji could do that. Blake Justice... I don't know.

To make matters worse (on Deji & Justice) we're bringing in the two top rated wings in the state this year in 1) Reggie McAdams and 2) Jake Kretzer. Linky. (Scroll down to "Small Forwards.")

Both can handle the rock (McAdams often handled the point for Elida), shoot from well behind the arc, and go down low with their height (Kretzer @ 6'7" and McAdams @ 6'6"). I don't forsee much PT for either Deji or Blake.

Good points all around. I wouldn't be shocked to see one of them leave. Maybe the coaching staff could find a JUCO/transfer big man if that did happen.

[wadszip]

Especially with the way KD's been composing the roster. We don't really run a "shooting guard." Instead, we have a PG and two Wings - both of which are expected to swing & go down low. I think Deji could do that. Blake Justice... I don't know.

To make matters worse (on Deji & Justice) we're bringing in the two top rated wings in the state this year in 1) Reggie McAdams and 2) Jake Kretzer. Linky. (Scroll down to "Small Forwards.")

Both can handle the rock (McAdams often handled the point for Elida), shoot from well behind the arc, and go down low with their height (Kretzer @ 6'7" and McAdams @ 6'6"). I don't forsee much PT for either Deji or Blake.

Great points. KD is definitely constructing this team as having a true PG (Abreu, maybe Betancourt) and then a bunch of 2-3 guys (which are mostly interchangable in not only the MAC, but unless you are a high, high major, in college basketball in general). It's going to be interesting to see how things work out for both Deji and Blake. Right now, both are in a log jam (though from the limited amount I've seen, Deji is more equipped of handling that). Though, just from what I know, Kretzer and McAdams, both are going to have a say in who gets minutes next year.

Kretzer nearly single-handily led his team to the D2 regional finals this year while averaging close to 27 per game. That's actually an asterik to what he did on the AAU level, where he was a contributing player on the All-Ohio Red AAU teams that won a national title this past year and finished runner-up the year before. Those All-Ohio Red teams were loaded with high-major talent.

McAdams didn't play at the same AAU level as Kretzer, but has led his H.S. team to the regional finals (has a shot at the state tourney today). Plus, he's is almost universally rated as the higher of the two prospects. He turned down some BCS-level offers in football to play hoops. If basketball doesn't work out for him, hopefully Terry Bowden can convince him to playing QB.

Anyway, the Zips are in great position next year (even more so if Egner steps up, or Harney can develop more into a stretch 4).

Overall, Ohio looks good on paper due to bringing everybody back, but if the guys Akron has (or will have) develop like they should, the Zips will be right in the mix again. Personally, I think next year is when the MAC breaks the streak of only getting one team in the dance. Both Ohio and Akron are going to be a load to handle.

The best thing right now is to root for Ohio to make a long run. As much as I hate to say it, the Bobcats are representing the MAC. The better they do, the better the league (especially the East) looks. The good thing is, at least the Zips have a chance to prove they are the better program on the court, at least two times. ... Can't say the same thing if it was say Detroit (or pick your Horizon or any other mid-major team making a run).

[Blue & Gold]

Good points all around. I wouldn't be shocked to see one of them leave. Maybe the coaching staff could find a JUCO/transfer big man if that did happen.

Amen. Our lack of a big to replace Nic this year, and Zeke next year, has me worried about our near future. I'm thrilled with this year's class. We've got two Big East caliber players coming in with McAdams and Mello, and Kretzer is also one of the best Ohio has to offer. But we're gonna need some additional beef down low next year, let alone after Big Zeke graduates.

I was really hoping to have a big man in this year's class to give him a redahirt year before trying to fill Zeke's giant shoes.

[Blue & Gold]

.
The best thing right now is to root for Ohio to make a long run. As much as I hate to say it, the Bobcats are representing the MAC. The better they do, the better the league (especially the East) looks. The good thing is, at least the Zips have a chance to prove they are the better program on the court, at least two times. ... Can't say the same thing if it was say Detroit (or pick your Horizon or any other mid-major team making a run).

Absolutely. I'm glad that Ohio has everyone coming back next year. I don't want them to have any excuses when we beat them.

[UAZip0510]

Amen. Our lack of a big to replace Nic this year, and Zeke next year, has me worried about our near future. I'm thrilled with this year's class. We've got two Big East caliber players coming in with McAdams and Mello, and Kretzer is also one of the best Ohio has to offer. But we're gonna need some additional beef down low next year, let alone after Big Zeke graduates.

I was really hoping to have a big man in this year's class to give him a redahirt year before trying to fill Zeke's giant shoes.

I agree, this is my biggest concern moving forward. We don't even necessarily need a star big man, just someone with some extra size down low.

[Quickzips]

The number one thing the Zips need to do for next year is finally develop a true go to scorer. Watching Lehigh take down Duke last night I was salivating about how good this team could be if we just had that one guy like CJ McCallum who we can count on for 15-20 per night, night in and night out. It would be particularly nice to find a guy like that who can close games out.

I don't think Abreu is that kind of guy. Although he can score the ball, the Zips are much better off with him in the role of distributor.

Walsh is a nice complimentary scorer who could peak out around 12 per night for you in the right situation, but he isn't a guy that you can pencil in as your go to scorer.

Diggs could be that guy, but he needs to start and trust his jumper more if he is going to take on that role. Too many times he will pass up an open jumper to try to take the ball to the hoop against double and triple teams.

Based on his history at UMBC, you would think Gilliam could take on that role, but I don't know as he has the confidence in himself to let it fly the way you need him too.

Harney and Treadwell might be those kinds of guys at some point in the future, but they are still too young, too raw and (particularly with Harney) too inconsistent.

Zeke, well, I won't flog that equine any more than it already has been.

I'm actually very curious about guys like Justice, McAdams and Kretzer. All of them come into the program with reputations as great scorers. Probably too young to rely on them as a go to guy, but I will be more than a little disappointed if we can't develop at least one of these guys into a 15 point per night kind of guy.

All I know is that at the end of the championship game, you knew darn well who OU was giving the ball too. They were going to win or lose that game as Cooper went. I had no clue who I wanted to see the Zips run the offense through, and it didn't seem as if anyone was fully ready to step up to the plate and take responsibility for the outcome of the game. I would have much preferred to have been in OU's position, despite my utter disdain for everything D.J. Cooper related.

[ZachTheZip]

The closest player we have to a "go to scorer" is Blake Justice.

[UAZip0510]

I think Abreu could be that guy. I posted this in another thread, but will re-post here:

Abreu's 2011-2012 Averages (Rounded): 30 Minutes, 6 FG Attempts, 10 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 2 steals; .457 FG%, .430 3PT%, 82 FT%

Cooper's 2011-2012 Averages (Rounded): 32 minutes, 12 FG attempts, 15 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 turnovers, 2 steals; .356 FG%, .316 3PT%, 74 FT%


I'd like to see Abreu become more assertive as our team leader and "go to" guy next season.

[UAZip0510]

I'm going to bump this because I think Ohio's run brings forth many thoughts:

1) Maybe instead of thinking the Zips underperformed, what they accomplished this year was actually underrated. The Bobcats are a Sweet Sixteen team, and we split the regular season with them and lost by one point in a game that could have gone either way. We're clearly pretty even with them, and they are going to the Sweet Sixteen.

2) Reaching the Sweet Sixteen almost assures that John Groce is gone. While the Bobcats will bring everyone back, they will have to adjust to a new head coach. It may also impact Kadeem Green transferring, as well as verbally committed recruits.

3) This puts the target squarely on Ohio's back next year in the MAC. Personally, I feel like the Zips perform better in the "underdog" role.

4) "If Walsh's jumper went in, could this have been us?" Hopefully that thought makes Dambrot, his players, and his coaching staff hungrier than they've ever been before to get a 2nd chance and finish the job this time. This team has just as much, if not more talent than OU. The 2012-2013 NCAA Tournament representative might be decided by who works the hardest this offseason.

[Ada Zip]

4) "If Walsh's jumper went in, could this have been us?" Hopefully that thought makes Dambrot, his players, and his coaching staff hungrier than they've ever been before to get a 2nd chance and finish the job this time. This team has just as much, if not more talent than OU. The 2012-2013 NCAA Tournament representative might be decided by who works the hardest this offseason.

Could have been us? you're waaaay off my friend. Remember that we couldn't beat a 4 seed in the NIT? you expect us to beat a 4 seed in the NCAA?
I agree with your argument. We do have, not as much, but more talent than OU but we poop in our pants in big games. We just play scared in the big stage.

What's even more troubling is that we seem to be satisfied and happy where we are. Coach, players, administration, and even fans. Instead of pointing at the issue and fixing it, we are busy finding excuses:

"We are great, but...

1 - Waaaa our fans don't fill up the JAR
2 - Waaaa no major team will come play us at the JAR
3 - Waaaa why are we not considered in at large conversations
4 - Waaaa we are the 16th youngest team in the nation

OU did the job without any seniors on their team. Some people get the job done, some others enjoy coming up with excuses.

[Dave in Green]

As GoZips told us before the season began, the Zips had a goal of getting to the sweet 16. The 1-point loss to OU at the Q killed that. Having OU make it to the sweet 16 is verification of how close the Zips came to their goal.

The Zips need to develop the attitude that today's New York Times article described D.J. Cooper developed in high school. They need to get a chip on their shoulder.

I'll copy a part of the NYT article to make a point about the kind of attitude the Zips need to develop to take the next step:

One of Cooper's high school rivals in Chicago, James Pointer of Leo High School, made a comment in the local paper about "checking him off my list" after beating Cooper's team. The comment so irked Cooper that he kept the article in his sock when he played Leo again.

"We beat them pretty good the next two times that we played them," Cooper said with a smile, knowing that the final victory ruined Pointer's senior night.

So, yeah, basketball is just a game, and you shouldn't take it too seriously, and blah, blah, blah. But if you want to beat players like Cooper and coaches like Groce and teams like OU and get to the sweet 16, you'd better take it at least as seriously as Cooper does and be a little chippy and a little nuts.

[skip-zip]

Could have been us? you're waaaay off my friend. Remember that we couldn't beat a 4 seed in the NIT? you expect us to beat a 4 seed in the NCAA?

Thanks. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Some of what I am reading reminds me of the old matrix whereby every team in the country can make a claim that they won the national championship because they beat a team who beat a team who beat a team that won it all.

We lost the MAC title game, and then exited the NIT without winning a game. That was how we finished our year, and that's how we will be judged. On to next year.

[UAZip0510]

Could have been us? you're waaaay off my friend. Remember that we couldn't beat a 4 seed in the NIT? you expect us to beat a 4 seed in the NCAA?
I agree with your argument. We do have, not as much, but more talent than OU but we poop in our pants in big games. We just play scared in the big stage.

What's even more troubling is that we seem to be satisfied and happy where we are. Coach, players, administration, and even fans. Instead of pointing at the issue and fixing it, we are busy finding excuses:

"We are great, but...

1 - Waaaa our fans don't fill up the JAR
2 - Waaaa no major team will come play us at the JAR
3 - Waaaa why are we not considered in at large conversations
4 - Waaaa we are the 16th youngest team in the nation

OU did the job without any seniors on their team. Some people get the job done, some others enjoy coming up with excuses.

Considering we lost a one point game and Walsh had a great look that would have given us the lead with little time left on the clock, yes, it could have been us.

You simply can't compare a team one week removed from a gigantic letdown playing in a meaningless tournament to the emotional high that comes with playing in an NCAA Tournament game. There's no guarantees on anything, but I feel like we could have beat both Michigan and USF. Unfortunately, we'll never know.

Scrolling through this board, I don't think anyone is satisfied - players, coaches, or fans. There's a big difference between being optimistic for next season and being satisfied. To me, this season was a failure. Many will argue that, but anything less than the NCAA Tournament is failure to me. There were some great accomplishments, but they didn't reach their end goal. With that being said, I'm not going to sit here and say our team sucks, our program sucks, our coaches suck, OU is unbeatable, etc etc etc.

I am not satisfied until we do what OU has done. I am optimistic that we will do what OU has done next year.