http://csuvikings.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl.../031407aaa.html







9 Horizon League Contests (includes new league member Valparaiso)
Ohio State (Dec. 18 at Quicken Loans Arena)
Cal State Northridge
Central Michigan
ESPNU BracketBuster Saturday (Feb. 23)
at George Mason
at Chicago State
at St. Bonaventure
2 Games TBA

It doesn't suprise me. OSU tries to play other state schools to "help them out". Of course it is always in Colombus unless they don't consider the school a threat, then it is on a neutral (as neutral as you can be in Ohio) court. There will be more OSU fans than Viking fans there, even though it is pretty much a home game for CSU. If we were ever to play OSU, it would be in Colombus, because they are scared to play us at home or on a neutral court, just like all of the "big" schools.

To me, this game presents an absolute no risk scenario for the Sucks. Now if they go up there in 3 years when Waters has the CSU thing turned around .. different story. But for now, they'll go there well before they go to the JAR.

If you're OSU, why would you come to Akron to play?

Honestly...everyone take off the OSU-hating blinders and think logically for a second. They would have nothing to gain and everything to lose by coming to the JAR. It wouldn't help their strength of schedule one bit.

And trust me...I love our team, but I'm pretty sure OSU isn't "afraid" of playing Akron.

You contradict yourself.

If they have nothing to gain and everything to lose, then obviously, they are afraid.

Afraid or smart?

Afraid.

Well if you guys want to think that way, that's cool.

Smart scheduling = fear I guess. Again - why would OSU come here? It doesn't work that way folks. Akron's got to win something before that happens, to make it worth it for big time programs to come in.

But hey, if you guys want to think that the #1 ranked, Final Four-bound Ohio State team that scheduled non-conference road games against UNC and Florida this year is afraid of the Akron Zips...hey, that's your right.

And the team that should've lost to Xavier, who was on par with the Zips this year. OSU was forced to play Xavier on a neutral court, and you saw the results. Yes, OSU is AFRAID to play any decent Ohio team away from home, and for good reason. A loss could begin to chip away at their sports monopoly on the state, God-forbid, and would severely hinder the ignorantly overconfident invinibility mindset of most Suckeye fan morons.

So now we're counting "should've losses"? Who won the game? That's really all that matters.

Again...OSU won't play at Akron because of a very simple reason - THEY GAIN NOTHING. Why schedule a game that does nothing for your team?

As for Akron beating OSU, hey - I'd love to see it happen. I'm not sure who'd guard Greg Oden or Mike Conley Jr., but that's a different story. But do you honestly think one win over OSU would chip away at their "sports monopoly"?

If Akron is to ever be anywhere near the same level as OSU bball, they'll have to:

1) Win consistently
2) Win their conference numerous times
3) Actually make it to the NCAA tournament
4) Once there, make at least a nice run...and not just once.

Hey, I hope it happens...I really do. But anyone who honestly think that OSU is afraid of not being able to beat Akron, or that Akron is anywhere close right now to the level of their program is just letting their OSU-hating blinders get in the way of reasonable thinking.

When Huggins was at Cincy the Sucks categorically refused to ever play Cincy. However, now that Huggie Bear is gone, and Cincy's really struggling right now, well, what do ya know, the Sucks will be glad to play 'em. Screw OSU.

I don't want to see OSU play us in the JAR. I don't want to even play them at the Q. What for ? If we have them at the JAR, more than half the crowd will be theirs in a game that is supposedly a home game for us, NO THANKS.

One last thing, SGM, unfortunately, and due to the way the committee looks at us, i totally agree with you when you say that OSU has nothing to win and everything to loose playing us. But then you come back and imply that there is no way OSU will ever loose to us... so what exactly do they have to loose ? how did you manage to combine both these statements in one post ?

I may be wrong on this one but let me know. Didn't CSU play at Value City Arena this year so wouldn't it almost be like a Home and Home game with CSU except obvisously CSU Convo is too small to fill an O-State Crowd??

I think CSU played at Value City as part of the same exempt tourny that Can't St. played in.

I remember when Huggins was there OSU wanted no part of the Bearcats. The Suckeyes played Toledo at Toledo several years back. The Rockets won and the suckeyes have not played a MAC since.

Who cares about some schools a couple of hours away anyways? Well, beside smg.

Apparently sgm wishes he had gone to Ohio St.

if OSU has "nothing to gain" by playing us at the JAR, surely that means they have even less to gain by playing CSU, even if it is at the "Q".

CSU at The Q is a relatively safe "away" game for OSU and offers a WHOLE lot more $$$ than what we could guarantee if they did play at the JAR. If I were in OSU's shoes, I would NEVER play in a facility as small as the JAR - WAY too many butts, WAY, WAY too few seats = WAY to much lost opportunity ($$$$$$$$$$$$$).

Should we play at Tiffin next year?

I just think OSU coming to the JAR gets them nothing. With - as you said - the way the committee perceives Akron right now, a win over the Zips for the Buckeyes would mean very little for their program. If Akron played a near-perfect game (and they'd need to to defeat this Buckeye team) and somehow defeated OSU, it would be a killer loss.

So if you're the OSU AD, why do it? OSU haters will call it fear....I call it intelligence.

"Who cares about some schools a couple of hours away anyways? Well, beside smg."

Apparently a lot of people...I mean, that's why you all hate OSU, right? Because they get more attention in Akron than Akron gets in Akron...???

"Apparently sgm wishes he had gone to Ohio St."

And why is that? Because I think the #1 team in the nation that's currently in the Final Four would defeat Akron? Or because I am smart enough to see that OSU coming to the JAR would do nothing for their program? What exactly does that have to do with my allegiance to the Akron?

Let's shed some light on a few items.

CSU has OSU at home as part of a multi-year package that sends CSU to Columbus for
three ass kickings.

OSU will easily have far more fans at the Q than will CSU. Home game atmosphere for
the Columbus bunch.

Why OSU wont play Akron? Actually, they would for the same three for one deal and our
game at the Q. Now is that a good deal? Sure. What you smoking?

Akron may have only pulled a 67 RPI, but its a hell of a lot higher than the usual
cupcakes (see CSU) the Buckies usually bring into their arena.

As for losing to the Zips. Excellent chance the Sucks would suffer the same fate in the
lowly JAR that they got at Savage Hall. MAC schools are incredibly difficult to defeat
in their house.

The Sucks would have about one third the fan total in the JAR. About the same as
Cant brings. Only, half that amount would not be rabid fans.

Playing and, ahem, losing to the likes of Florida and North Carolina on the road would
never bring the crash in the Staties lofty RPI that losing to the Zips would inflict.

SGM, here's a tip. If you like the Sucks so much, go be their fan. This is the Zips
Nation. There are plenty of sewers you can find loyal Suck fans in. After all, you
almost never meet a Suck fan who has ever been to school there or sent their
dumb assed kid there. Its all versheechzen.

Folks, be reasonable. This is a Zips fan site, sgm has posted over 600 times on this site because he too is a Zips fan. To accuse him of not being a fan of Akron is truly unfair, and sounds like McCarthyism at its worst. The point sgm makes (IMO) is that OSU has no compelling reason to play at Akron for the moment anyways.

Like it or not, and as rabid Zips fans we don't, OSU is the director, and Akron, BG, OU, etc take directions in the college sports world. Let's face it, if Youngstown State wanted us to play there, JD would make sure that they play in Akron 2, and probably 3 times. When there are competing viewpoints to an issue, sometimes its wise to look to Occam's razor as a guide to separate logic and zealotry.

Again...my statement was this:

I think the #1 team in the nation that's currently in the Final Four would defeat Akron handily.And why shouldn't I? They are clearly the better team and would present a ton of matchup problems for Akron.

I also think that OSU coming to the JAR would do nothing for their program. They wouldn't make much money and wouldn't help their strength of schedule...and if they did lose in the huge upset it could hurt them big time. So an OSU-Akron matchup at the JAR brings ZERO positives for OSU with a chance of major negatives...why exactly would they choose to do that? I would've said the same thing for Florida, North Carolina, Georgetown, UCLA, etc etc etc as well. They would have no reason to come to the JAR at this point and time.

Those were my two statements. Anyone who knows college basketball and looked at things in a non-biased manner would agree with both of those statements.

So answer me this...

What exactly does that have to do with my allegiance to Akron? Did I say I liked OSU more? Did I say I wished OSU would beat Akron? No and no...I simply pointed out realistic observations that people that hate OSU refuse - for whatever reason - to believe.

Please, enlighten me...and maybe use actual points and arguments instead of sophomoric insults and generalizations.

Oh dear God please rack this post.

Thank you mcperp...I'm glad someone finally gets it.

sgm, why in the world would you be a fan of a school that is in the same state as the school you attend and is on the schedule of almost all of our sports?? I can understand people like BuckZip's feelings, as he attended both, but you have never attended Ohio St and never will. Were you a big fan of another high school back in the day when you were in high school (however long ago that was)? It makes no sense, it's pathetic, and it represents everything that is wrong with your average Akron sports fan. SMALL-MINDEDNESS and some sort of awe worship of a school they've never even attended and have no ties to.

As I've stated many times before, I have had many relatives that have gone to OSU. Because of this, I got to go to OSU games and followed OSU football and basketball since I was a little kid.

Growing up, I didn't live near Akron...I had no allegiance to the school (and why would I?). When I was a senior in high school, I applied to and was accepted to Akron, Bowling Green, and Ohio State. I chose Akron, because it was good for my major, because my sister was a Zip and loved it, and because I felt it was a school on the rise.

I have never - for one single day - regretted that decision. I love Akron, I'm an avid follower of our sports teams, and take great pride in being a Zip.

And when OSU is playing a game that's not against Akron - in a separate conference of course - I cheer for OSU.

And because of that I am pathetic and small-minded?

Listen...there are a lot of people like me who grew up in other areas other than here that grew up Buckeyes fans either by family connection or by default. They are by far the top athletic school and by far have the biggest fan base in Ohio. That's not going to change anytime soon - we can either accept that or not.

Akron has their two "big" programs - football and basketball - both on the rise. We have two great coaches, a ton of young talent, and a new stadium on the way for football.

One of the the main things missing is the fan base. Football crowds are lacking, as most games' basketball crowds. We have the die-hards - they're here and will stay here. We need the average fan.

But if we continue to bash people for wearing OSU stuff, or bash people for cheering for OSU, or bash people and tell them to go to another school just because they point out that OSU has no good reason to come to the JAR, that average fan base will never grow. We need to embrace these people - instead of bashing them for liking OSU, why not invite them to a game and get them hooked on our wonderful product?

We have the coaches...we have the players...we'll have the facilities...now we need the fans.

Now...with that in mind...why in the world would we push people AWAY from the program?


Talk about small-mindedness...

sgm405 please just go away! Far, far away! You post on here like you are a Zips fan when you are just another Luckeye homer. Go find a Red and silver board and leave us alone.

Again..because I think the #1 team in the nation would beat Akron, I'm a Buckeye homer? I guess that means anyone who knows anything about college basketball is a Buckeye homer as well lol.

Oh, and when were you elected Governor of the Akron Zips fan base? Or are you just the Internet bad-ass for the day? lol

If there was a "smily" giving a big middle finger I'd be using it right now...so just imagine it for me instead.

I'm not going anywhere buddy...so learn to deal with me.

Wow. Ohio State afraid of Akron? Do you realize what Greg Oden would DO to Romeo? Holy moly. There would be blood on the floor. Mike Conley would run circles around the Zips. I am a Zips fan, but I am also a realist. And I also realize that 60% of the Zips fans who post on this website are blind idiots.

You are a complete asshole. Who mentioned anything about who would win in a game between the two schools? Nobody! We are just sick and tired of your fake posts, like you give a darn about the U of A. Within 5 minutes after the Miami debacle, you were onto Luckeye land. Go away!

Hey Zips win!

I'm still here, just wanted you to know!

Numerous people said OSU was "afraid" to play Akron...to me that means those people think Akron would have a good chance at beating the Buckeyes.

Oh, and when have we met? I'm just curious how you'd know how much I care about UA.

OK. Just so you know, I mentioned that OSU would be afraid to play Akron At the JAR. You have to admit that absolutely no good team in their right mind would come to the JAR willingly because there is a real chance that the Zips would beat them in that building. On a neutral court, OSU probably wins unless Oden fouls out and a few players for the Zips have the best nights of their careers. I was commenting on how OSU will go to Cleveland to play a Cleveland school, but won't come to Akron to play us. They are willing to give CSU a semi-home game because they will win handily. If they played us at the JAR, their chances of winning are thrown into doubt. The reason they will now play at Cinci and Xavier is because Cinci is not that good anymore, and losing to a team from a "Major" conference on the road doesn't look as bad as losing to a MAC team.

Basically my problem is this: If they are willing to play "at" CSU, why won't they come play us at the JAR, or Can't at Can't, or Miami at Miami, ect. The answer is simple: They have a greater chance of losing to us, so they avoid us unless we promise to go to their place and get creamed for multiple years in a row for nothing in return except an attendance boost for one game, like CSU has agreed to.

While I do think OSU would win handily no matter where they played, I do agree it'd be a much tougher game for them in the JAR.

With that said - uakronkid - if you were OSU's AD, would you schedule a game against the Zips at the JAR? And if so, what do you think they'd gain? That's my point...I just don't think OSU could gain much of anything at all.

Wow, what a weird step for zipsnation tonight. This board is usually 99% filled with intelligent discourse, or at the very least, some fun and caustic sarcasm. This is not to chide anyone, but what started out as a benign analysis by sgm has turned into name-calling and some terribly broad derivative generalities.

I mean honestly, all sgm did was offer an opinion based on his perception and research. I'm surprised at the invective directed at a regular contributor and zips fan. If an opinion can't be offered without a ton of baseless attacks as a retort, then this board might need to re-evaluate its mission. Now if you excuse me, I need to get to my night job as time-keeper at the Q. just trying to lighten the air a bit!

If I were OSU's AD, why would I schedule a game at the Q against CSU? If you were to believe that OSU could beat anybody anywhere, wouldn't winning a game at Akron be more beneficial than winning a game against CSU on a neutral court, at least RPI-wise? That's my problem with this whole thing. OSU is more willing to play weaker schools than they are to play Akron. I'm not trying to argue here, but you contradict yourself when you say that OSU could beat anyone, but they choose to play weaker competition because scheduling games against tougher teams that would help their RPI isn't as smart.

I think we are all looking into this wayyy to much, anyways. CSU is giving OSU 3 home games (and wins) just to play them on a neutral court. If we were to agree to such a crappy deal, I would want have everyone involved in making that decision fired.

so far I've heard people call SGM all sorts of names but no one has proven him wrong.
#1 would probably beat Akron. I would love to see Akron take down OSU but lets be real.
oh and SGM
thank you for posting and being real
as for the rest of you
if you are gonna argue with SGM atleast try to not argure like you are from Can't state

uakronkid,

I agree that winning a game at Akron would be bigger than beating CSU on a neutral court. I guess I look at it this way:

OSU beats Akron at the JAR, everyone looks at it as a game they're supposed to win. As much as I love Akron, with the respect we get nationally - nobody is going to look at that as a major road win.

However, if OSU somehow lost to Akron it could really hurt them big time.

So like I said...while I think OSU would beat Akron anywhere, why risk it? They gain nothing and have everything to lose. And you just dont shedule games like that if you're smart...that's all I'm saying.


mcperp and zipseuph,

Thanks...good to know some people are looking at my arguments in a non-biased manner.

I respectfully disagree with the way SGM is acting as someone who is planted on this board to make sure that no one dares to say anything that is "inappropriate" to be said about the all mighty OSU buckeyes. However, i think that questionning his loyalty to the zips is ridiculous and i also think that calling him with some of the names above is totally unacceptable.

I agree with you on that, but the exact same thing can be said regarding CSU, and that is where the problem lies. Why do other state schools (Akron included) have to go to such great lengths just to get another state-funded school to visit them on a neutral or home court? So what if they're #1? If they are going to travel to another school in-state (I think they have some sort of policy to "help those other little needy state schools", as they might put it ), and if they are more than likely going to win, why not go to what is arguably the second best team in the state instead of hurting your SOS even more than you have to by playing a sub-.500 school? I'm not trying to argue against your point, I'm just wondering what is OSU's motivation to choose CSU over teams that would hurt them less, and why it costs so much (3 home games?!) just to get them on a neutral court.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to try and get some sleep.

Thanks for sticking up for me in that aspect. And I promise you I'm not trying to sound like an "OSU plant" or anything...I just A) Don't see what OSU would gain by coming here, and Don't realistically see Akron being able to beat OSU at this time. I wish I was wrong...but it's just being realistic. Maybe down the road we can compete...but right now - who would possibly check Oden and/or Conley? We're on our way...just not there yet.

I see what you're saying. And I really don't know why. Maybe Akron was unwilling to do a 3-for-1 like you talk about? I know he was quoted as saying so in the past.

I think it's important to note that OSU isn't the only one doing this. I don't see other in-state schools such as Cincinnati and Xavier, or any other national powers coming to the JAR. They just don't have much (if anything) to gain by doing so, and everything to lose. Nevada was an exception because they had to come as a part of the Bracketbuster.

The cold, harsh reality of it is that - at least for now - any major non-conference wins will have to come away from the JAR.

I totally agree. Reasonable, intelligent discussions should be the aim of this board. Name calling, invective, and off the wall statements shouldn't have a place in Zips Nation. I an a "blue and gold" Zips fan and have been for over thirty years, but even I can see the reasoning why OSU would not come to the JAR to play the Zips. Oh, and as much I like this team and this coach, I wouldn't give them much chance of beating the Bucks with the team they have this year. In soccer we will kick their butts.

has anyone thought about this as just a money game for the buckeyes. They know they will beat CSU, so why not move it from CSU to the Q where it hold more people, and they will make more money. Id love to see the Buckeyes come an play the zips, but it just wont happen because the money isnt there, and we dont hold 20,000+ like the Q will. Had CSU said we will play you but only at our place, and NOT at the Q...... we probably would never see this game.

first of all, osu has to get past a couple more teams before they can officially be named #1 (including florida). second of all, any team can beat any other team on a given night. that's what makes college basketball so great. the chances might highly favor one team, but the upsets are very possible especially when you consider who has home court advantage and what kind of advantage that would be.

now let's look at some "facts"
osu is not an undefeated team, therefore they are beatable (including losing to florida 86-60 ). and though they are in the final four, it is not like they have been annihilating the teams they have played. XAVIER took them to overtime and tennessee (25) only lost by a point. so under the right conditions the buckeyes CAN lose and i don't think it's fair to say that they would automatically be blowing us out of the water. it would all depend on what kind of teams showed up to play.

1) I say they are #1 in the nation because that was their final regular season rank before the tournament.

2) Ohio State has three losses this year: at UNC, at Wisconsin, at Florida - and they didn't have Oden against UNC. So yes, they can be beat...but they also haven't lost to a team outside the top 5 all year. While I love Akron and believe they're on the rise, they are nowhere near a top 5 team right now.

3) Making the Final Four is an unbelievable achievement for any team. Honestly, I don't care if a team wins by 2 or by 20 - a win is a win, especially in the Tourney. Georgetown had similar close calls, as did both Florida and UCLA.


Could Akron beat OSU? Sure...anyone could beat anyone on any given night. Would I ever bet on Akron to beat OSU? I love the Zips, but I'm not crazy. Who would guard Oden? Who would guard Conley Jr.? And don't forget about Lewis.

The Zips - I believe - are on their way to being at the level of OSU and other top schools. But right now? I'd be thrilled if they stayed within 15 points. I wish it was different, but I'm just being realistic.

Yeah, they're beatable. Lets look at who they lost to: Florida, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Akron could take their 5 best players from the past 50 years and put them on the floor and still wouldn't be able to beat any of those teams.

If you guys think Akron could beat OSU at the JAR, you are out of your minds. What, you think an arena that seats 5,000 and a student section that is smaller than the pep band is going to faze Ohio State, who has played at places like Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, Florida, and North Carolina? You guys act like the JAR is some incredible home-court advantage. Go ahead, cite all those home victories, let me ask you this: Who have they beaten in those home victories? MAC teams? Austin Peay? No teams that have even sniffed the top 25 or an at-large NCAA bid. I've been to quite a few Akron games the last couple years and even with one of their best teams ever, they couldn't fill the JAR except for against Can't State. I was at high school games where the crowd was louder. I can't believe you think that UA would have any kind of advantage at the JAR, let alone the kind that would give them a chance against a team of the quality of Ohio State.

Akron has a better chance of beating OSU at the Jar then at OSU. That said I think 999 times out of 1000 OSU will win. That other 1 time would take career nights from everyone on the Zips plus off games from everyone from OSU.

I think the point most people are making is that it IS possible (as slim as those chances are) for Akron to win at the JAR, whereas at OSU the changes are virtually non-existant, and therefore OSU won't play us here. I think it has just as much to do with money though. I think OSU would play us at the JAR if the JAR held 10,000 or more. otherwise they will want a bigger site such as the Q.

Even to get OSU to play us at the Q would take one of those 2-1 or 3-1 deals. I think a 3-1 deal is ridiculous. I think a 2-1 is okay to get the chance to play OSU.

One other thing Oden won't be with OSU next year so the chances are better next year of us winning then this year anyhow.

A) Oden may come back for a 2nd year...I don't think he will, but I don't think it's a slam dunk that he's leaving either.

They have a heckuva recruiting class coming in...they're be really, really good again next year

C) I agree on the $ being the main issue...and honestly, it's smart on OSU's part to think that way, and on Akron's part not to do a 3 for 1.