Leaderboard

Or we could strive to become Wichita State. I don't see a problem with that being a goal, or it being unrealistic. (As I've readily admitted) I grew up a Cleveland State fan (didn't start rooting for Akron until I became a UA student in 2002). Anyway, I remember a game in the late 90s where Wichita State came to the Convocation Center. That Wichita State was nothing like the Wichita State team you see now. It was a team that people from Northeast Ohio would expect a team from BF Kansas to look like. I remember they had a big 6-10, floppy bowl-cut haired stiff who had legs that looked like tree trunks lumbering up and down the court. Cleveland State (which was very mediocre that year, but it was Rollie Massimino's first year which created some buzz locally) beat them. Fast forward 15-20 years, and now Wichita State is taking a guy like Anton Grady (who is a Cleveland kid) who was statistically one of the best players in CSU history, as a grad transfer to be a mid-tier starter at a mid-major power. Akron, actually has been under a similar rise as Wichita State, IMO, for the past 10 or so years. Just that Wichita was able to make that leap within the last 5 or so years (and it did help that the MVC was much better than the MAC when WSU made the move) to high-mid-major status. Say what you want, and while it's still not like the MVC of 5-6 years ago, the MAC is improving. It's time for Akron to step up and make a WSU type move. The 21-win streak obviously isn't as cracked up as KD and company want to make it out to be. Part of making that move is winning three in Cleveland (then another, or two, in the tourney). Another part of that is beating teams outside of MAC play that could still put you in the NCAA tournament if you "win 21" but only win two in Cleveland. And, even if you schedule more marquee teams and lose them all, you still have the three in Cleveland (see Buffalo, which actually was beaten even worse in almost all of their top-tier games than Villanova beat Akron). To be fair, though, the Arkansas game should've been a second marquee game for Akron. It just so happened that Arkansas lost two players early to the NBA and then had two more starters booted over the summer. I actually didn't mind Akron's schedule from last year. It was solid if not spectacular. My thing would be if you are willing to give up two home dates, let's not do it to play Iona and Santa Barbara in Las Vegas (even if they are solid teams). Play a true road game against a marquee school, and then try to get a marquee game in NEO (at the Q). Tough, yeah. Impossible, I don't believe so. I'm not talking going all Charlie Coles and playing your first 10 games on the road against high-caliber teams (like, seemingly, some of those Miami teams). But 3-4 of those games can only help (again, see Buffalo). And, if possible, try to get one of them at the Q. Akron is name enough, and NEO is churning out enough talent, where a marquee team could agree to it if properly pitched. And yes, Akron is now the most high-profile of the four NEO D1 teams. And if you doubt the amount of talent coming out of this area. Just take a look at 247sports' rankings for 2016. Ohio: http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/CompositeRecruitRankings?State=OH You'll notice 8 of the top 13 and 10 of the 19 listed were from either Cleveland or Akron (all 10 recruited by high majors). How does that stack up with the entire states of: Illinois: http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/CompositeRecruitRankings?State=IL That's 10 total kids (not just Chicago, but the entire state of Illinois, and that list is essentially nothing but mid-majors). How about the mecca of basketball ... New York: http://247sports.com/Season/2016-Basketball/RecruitRankings?InstitutionGroup=highschool&State=NY That's 14 total kids (from the entire state, and most are also mainly mid-majors). Yeah, it's one year, but Cleveland/Akron has as many high majors as NYC and Chicago combined. Think about that. And the NEO talent isn't going away. There are a handful of 2017 high majors from the region. Beyond that, there is a boatload of talent coming up. I'll call it the LeBron James effect on HS basketball in NEO. These are kids who know nothing but LeBron (mainly with the Cleveland Cavaliers). He has turned this area into a national hotbed. Akron is the closest thing to being a "marquee" local program, and Akron has the backing of LeBron. How do you turn these kids into Akron recruits? IMO, the best way is to go out and play (and hopefully beat) other high-profile teams. True, the best of the best will still go to Villanova, Syracuse, Michigan State, Michigan, Louisville and (I hate to say it Ohio State). But you could conceivably get the next-tier ... Willie Jackson (remember him, Missouri), Frankie Hughes (who also looks like he will be at Missouri since Louisville had to drop him ... he had an Akron offer). Or even more likely, not losing Akron's own Henry Baddley (I'm guessing Akron offer?) to Butler. ... Or Maishe Dailey (another Akron offer to Rutgers).

Spring game roster/teams released. http://www.gozips.com/sports/fball/2016-17/files/2016_Spring_Game_Rosters.pdf

I think that's why the offense is speeding up this season. Make a play happen before the defense can get to the QB. Also helps when you have legit deep threats to spread the D out.

It also didn't give Lane his due credit on offense. For the first time in a long time, I'm good with the WR core. I'm also ok with Woody. Especially if he keeps progressing. The other items are legitimate concerns. I'm excited to see this version of the 2016 Zips offense.

That would be awesome. Would love to see JB and Shazier fly around for a few years together after Timmons hangs 'em up