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Thanks to NWAkron. My morning has been a little crazy and I am not possessive about starting game threads. I take full responsibility for the two prior losses to Buffalo.

Groce and Company got the Zips to the Q with a bad team and an average team (although French was citing some rankings last night that say the Zips are above average). That's an excellent building block for next year and beyond.

Perfect trap game for Buffalo.

We are such underdogs in this one that we are kind of playing with house money. I would like to see them come out and play loose, fast and together. And let the chips fall where they may.

If Akron wins, @NWAkron will be responsible for creating all new game threads

With Buffalo being ranked, this will be the Zips 5th game against a ranked opponent this year which is probably a record. There are many negatives for the Zips including never beaten a ranked team, we have only 2 players that have played at the Q, we have sucked away from home. But there are many positives. Buffalo has not blown out teams when playing away from their building. The Zips have shown that they can play with anyone and have just blown games in the last 3 minutes, they are coming off their best shooting game of the season, and their defense has been good all season. Daniel Utomi has been driving to the basket and scoring both inside and outside the last 3 games. The problem with this team all season has been making shots, especially behind the 3 point line. If they can shoot about 40% from behind the 3 point line or if Riak goes 2 for 2 behind the 3 point line this game will be very competitive. I have said this many times but LCJ seems to be the key. He needs to play well and shoot the ball well. The ball is in his hands so much, especially at the end of a close game that his play often determines the outcome of the game. I think we could win this game. Go Zips!

If you have only one great game in the season, this was the time for it. And... we are now guaranteed a winning season.

Northern up 44-28 at the half over the kittens.

Key is going to be making sure they don't start the half on a 5 or so point run.

Could have had better shot selection towards the end of the half, but I'll take a 15 point lead at the break.

Being a top 20 defense in the country and not having a single player on the conference all-defense teams is criminal. I hate the MAC.

I think, or at least hope, that people recognize Arth inherited a 4-8 devoid of talent and will give him a free pass for at least this season.

Zips return to the Q at Noon on Thursday to face the #18 Buffalo Bulls. A win by the Zips would blow the tournament wide open and likely give the MAC two bids to March Madness and cause the Convo in Athens to collapse into a sink hole.

Matt Futch update

15th straight year that the Zips have won at least one tournament game. Pretty impressive streak. In contrast prior to that I think they won one tournament game period since joining the MAC.

Yes

Would it really be wise for the Zips to pay $40k per game to participate in some 3rd rate tournament when we can't even afford to repair our track?

You better hope Akron wins on Thursday, or this loss is on you for starting this thread instead of @clarkwgriswold. I don't care how good Buffalo is. There are a lot of factors with this game that lean in favor of the Zips. First game of the Q portion of the tourney It's at noon The Q tends to neutralize offense with its sight lines, even more so when it's empty like it presumably will be on Thursday The negatives... It's Buffalo Beat the Canadians, eh?

I thought OU would win because they have been playing well recently and killed us at home. I am lucky I do not bet these games.

I'm a realist, but if the Zips are to beat a Buffalo they have a better chance at Noon on Thursday then on Saturday night at 6 with a national audience

Zips tied the sweaters just on points off 3pt FG. 17/31 for 51 points.

Add Mrs. Oats to the list.

Akron will face No. 1 Buffalo on Thursday at Noon ET in the MAC Quarterfinals. Now let us all pray

Dunno why Miami of Ohio even showed up to the gym sheesh. Impressive showing Akron

Definitely a trap game.

good thing they aren't good at the free throw line tonight

I'm not normally one to compliment the other team, but despite being down 20+, Miami is still playing with a lot of effort and diving after 50/50 balls. Despite what the score says, they didn't quit.

Let's put together a run over the next 5 minutes that way we can send out the bench and get our rotation players some rest.

You just fell for the trap!

Nelson the O MVP,interesting. He may very well be the starter. Not completely convinced of that with a new sheriff in town. Lets see.

I do hope Buffalo loses somewhere before the final so it might as well be to us. Love to see the MAC get two teams in the tournament.

Thanks CK. This just confirms for me what I expected. New coach/ new depth chart! One's and two's of old will crank it up to stay there; all others will see their chance to move up. I firmly believe that at this level performance is 20% ability/80% attitude. I expect some big surprises out of this group. Much can be accomplished with the proper attitude. We may not win the MAC, but I don't expect a down year. Save some vacation for December.

Over $1 mil to fix? Unacceptable

The commish was on 92.3 The Fan last week, and mentioned based on everything he has heard, Buffalo is a lock. The only question mark is what seed (6-8 is the range he mentioned).

They're a lock imo

4 minutes of video for the first practice! I think I might see Alvin at corner. Spring prospectus also: https://gozips.com/documents/2019/3/8//2019_Spring_Prospectus.pdf?id=13688

Why???? This was posed as a fun exercise right from the start! We're "Fans", dammit! Short for Fanatics. Why can't we be over-the-top? We all know what's ahead of the Zips, so we might as well have a little fun before reality sets in and we have to read all the negative posts once the season begins. Lighten up!

Akron fails miserably in making its games, no matter what the sport, as events that must be attended. The last great marketing effort Akron made was when Red Cochrane created the Acme Zip game decades ago. It became something everyone in Akron had to attend. I realize things are different now and that type of event can't be duplicated, but the creativity that went into it can be applied to our sports program now. I go to games for the quality of play, but I also appreciate when there is entertainment, pacing, unique experiences, exciting atmosphere, etc. Akron just doesn't have it and seems incompetent in doing anything about it.

UCLA soccer is in a bit of trouble with Jorge Salcedo being indicted for conspiracy to commit racketeering.

LaVar Ball isn't going to buy that, rename it Big Baller Athletics Facility, and make it a shrine to himself and his boys? Shocking.

Just hate to see it