MDZip

Even though Betancourt didn't shoot much, he had 6 assists, 2 steals and no turnovers in 15 minutes (plus three rebounds), that's what you like to see from a point guard. Unfortunately, team free throws (which shouldn't be affected by opponent level) was abysmal at 41%. Hope that improves in a hurry.

From what I heard on the pregame the game was scheduled because other original opponents weren't able to keep their original schedule so there was a big gap between Nov. 16th and Dec. 7th so Malone was scheduled to be able to play a game in that gap, but since it is a D-II team it was set up as an exhibition.

Did you do them?

My sister is a Can't grad and its a big birthday for her so I'm heading back and bringing the whole family.

Zips have turned the corner, at home, Wagon Wheel game in front of a pretty big crowd. Zips 31-17.

So the ladies pretty much equal the men's pre-season prediction with a 1st place MAC East finish (who would have thought the Zips would eventually be the team to eliminate the Bowling Green stranglehold on the East? Kudos to Coach Kest and the team) and two first teamers. Makes the loss of Sina King even more painful, kind of like losing Quincy Diggs from the men's team last year. Still a good team, but had the potential to be a very, very good team. Having lost a senior season to injury once myself, really feel badly for Sina King.

Up to number 10 and still only one Zip (which I think means Jake Kretzer will not make it, but I think he is in the top 25 players in the conference) so I think Quincy checks in between 8-6 and happily he got East 1st team preseason all-MAC, oh had we had him and Abreu all season last year - but I digress (sigh) and Tree (also 1st team) no lower than 3 and probably 2. Hustle Belt aslo ranked the top 25 non-conference games and the Zips had four of them. South Carolina, St. Mary's, Oregon St and Middle Tennessee. Every one of those is winnable.

If you're right (and I hope you are) I will happily take the tougher schedule in a year when we're not as good and take a little easier schedule in a year where we should be better.

Another scheduling quirk that could help turn around a program like Akron is happening in Buffalo right now - they are leading the East and probably gaining confidence despite the fact they have played absolutely no one of consequence in the MAC. They are 4-0 in conference and have played the murderers row of EMU, WMU, UMass and Can't State who are a combined 3-15 and the only game that group has won that was not against each other was Miami. My point is schedule matters a lot, I believe that the Zips could be in the exact same spot given that schedule. We better not get NIU, Ball St and Toledo again next year (and either kick UMass out or get another football only school, this unbalanced thing sucks, the East champion should be the best team in the East not just the one who drew the most favorable West teams) but I believe Buffalo is in for a hard fall soon. I know complaining about the schedule isn't viewed well in some circles but the Zips could have used a break this year. Zips to beat Can't State and UMass and end the season with 4 well deserved wins. I hope next year treats us a little better.

Evans had a really good game today. Kudos to him.

And Goodman made a terrific block on that TD run. I want to see more Tyrell Goodman and less Jerrod Dillard.

65 yards against Ball State.

Stein has to have the NCAA record for uprights hit in a season. The Zips aren't beating Ball St by kicking (and especially missing) field goals, right after the defense gives you gift field position. Go for it on fourth, what do you have to lose?

It never occurred to me that FAU had left the MAC in soccer until I saw these standings (but it makes sense since they moved to C-USA). Don't miss them they weren't a good fit, but I'll bet the every other year trip there late in the season was a welcome break for the players.

A little trivia on the MACC game to get the season off and running. 1. The MACC started in 1980. Who has won it the most times? 2. Who has the best winning percentage overall in the tournament? 3. Four teams have appeared 32 times in the tournament. Which of this group is not among them? Ball State; Ohio; Can't State; Miami; Eastern Michigan 4. Who has the most losses in the Championship game? 5. Who has the most appearances ever without winning the championship? Answers below: 1. Ball State with 7 2. The Zips! with a .606 percentage (20-13).Think where that percentage was 7 years ago. 3. The Flushes have only appeared 31 times. 4. Miami with 7, Can't State right behind them with 6 5. BGSU, 31 appearances, no titles.

A Zips victory would be a huge surprise here. Ball St 28 -14. Can't even hope for them to be looking ahead to the NIU game, that's two weeks later.

Guess there is still some pretty good respect for the Zips out there. Ranked #10 in the first College Insider Mid-major poll. Toledo is 23rd and the only other MAC school ranked. Ohio and Can't got some ORV's. A little surprised to see St. Mary's ranked below the Zips, should be a damn good game. Let's get this started!

Sorry to disappoint you man, they don't have one - and before you ask, no swiming or diving team either.

Here you go ZM. No need to worry about misplacing your NIU schedule again. Glad to help but I won't be able to do anything for you if you misplace your computer. To save you time both the EMU and WMU games are home games and I'll bet no team in the top 25 other than NIU has played 5 of their first seven games on the road. The Zips are the only non FCS team that NIU has played at home (I tied it back to the Zips so that you wouldn't think you had accidentally stumbled onto the NIU board that just happened to be using Zips colors).

There are three teams in the top 25 right now that the Zips played this year (UCF, Michigan and NIU) and they had a legitimate chance to beat two of them. Since the Zips can't win the MAC this year barring a minor miracle I am rooting for NIU to run the table and some BCS leagues to falter to get NIU back to a BCS game (and maybe get to see Kirk Herbstreits head explode in the process). That would put some money in Akron's coffers and raise the MAC profile a bit again (and no, I'm not worried about a possible recruiting advantage, the Zips are still a long way from there). They still have Umass, EMU and WMU (should all be easy wins for them) and Toledo on the road and Ball State at home. They have a good chance to run the table and be favored against any East team in the MACC.

And if you remove Miami, that goes to 37-10 which is a nearly 80% winning percentage. That's a tough start for any program. Definite improvement and it finally has started to show up in the W column.

Really amazing thing is that Kern is a good tackler, I think he is in the top five in the MAC in tackles per game, so Hundley didn't just run over a nobody.

Yep this game is already over.

Well looky there - a big play from the special teams to start the Miami game - leading to an early Zips touchdown.

I actually feel a little bit bad for the Sweaters. Since there isn't much discussion on the game I popped into their discussion on a new head coach. Depressingly similar to ours a couple of years ago a mix of retreads, unknowns and hoping an alumnus comes back and takes the job. Sound familiar? I am still grateful Terry Bowden ended up with the Zips.