MDZip

And that team didn't even the make the NIT, which was the real shame that year. While I certainly hope the Zips can get their RPI in the range for consideration, all I have to say is Missouri State - 21, which was what their RPI was when they were not selected to the tournament in 2006. I think it was a lack of high profile wins that did them in. Anyway, an RPI in the 20's is still no guarantee.

Pretty amazing to see the Zips ahead of BGSU (of course they did beat them). This is the opposite of the mens since most of the strength is in the West (as the only losses the East leader has is to the West). But Akron does bring back a great core next year too, since Carly Young is ready to fill in for Taylor Ruper. Next year looks bright for this team too.

We're not the only one. Ohio only up on BGSU by one at the half.

Agreed. Lots of time (and talent) left in this one.

Not worried yet, but what an awful start. Still better then being down 20 to Buffalo at home. Zips will come back. C'mon Alex time to take over.

They are interviewing Ben Roethlisberger now. Saw someone on Miami's board with a comment about him "Anakin Skywalker is to Darth Vader as Miami Ben is to Steeler Ben - once he put on that black helmet he turned to the darkside".

Are the Zips contractually obligated to trail in every game? And oh yeah, man Ibitayo can leap.

Brian playing pretty well, Nick really struggling. 9-6 with 12 minutes gone. The ghost of Charlie Coles lives on.

What a sloppy, sloppy game so far.

We need to get lives.

A little more love for Zeke from Jay Bilas. Bilas, Digger Phelps and Jalen Rose were picking their fantasy teams on College Gameday just now and while Jay took Cody Zeller as his center he also mentioned Zeke as one he would have considered. Send him another shirt! C'mon Zeke have a huge day and pay Jay back.

Now that NDSU stubbed their toe, it really is a shame we couldn't have gone on the road to test ourselves against Indiana State - they have some huge wins, Mississippi, Miami (FL), Creigton, Witchia St. If they don't stumble badly, I think they're in and it would have been a good win for us. They aren't unbeatable either, so it would have been a fair test. Not that NDSU is a horrible matchup, but a win against them (and a fine rest of the season) wouldn't have gotten the Zips an at-large. A win against Indiana State (or Belmont) might have. Hey, lets go ask if Ohio might be willing to switch with us for the good of the league.

They are slowly starting to get this going. MAC 1-0 in the head coaches bracket (Steve Hawkins), Ted Kowalckyk and Rob Senderoff have yet to go. And as usual for mid-majors they have the assistant coach bracket set up for MAC failure. Toldeo vs Can't in the first round and a potential Charles Thomas vs. David Kool (WMU) matchup in the sweet sixteen. None of them have gone yet, but wasn't Kool about a 90% free throw shooter at WMU? He could certainly win the whole thing. C'mon Charles, be the one to knock him off.

Good article. It'd be nice if they could find a more recent picture than KD with Mike Bardo.

Does anyone know if Tom Wistrcill came from Ohio State right before this job?

This is a really tough portion of the schedule coming up which could easily lead to another three game skid, at co-leader Miami, home to 7-1 Ball State and on the road again to good and perenially tough Bowling Green. These next few games will show where the team really stands. Even if they lose these three they still will have a shot of getting to 20 wins which hasn't happened in well, ever. The team record is 18 two years ago, they should at least be able to tie that. This is a team of mostly juniors so I do look forward to seeing them next year as well. And on a lark, here are the combined standings for the men and womens teams. Akron 15-3 Toledo 14-4 Ball State 9-8 CMU 9-8 BGSU 9-8 WMU 9-8 Miami 9-9 Buffalo 8-9 EMU 7-10 Ohio 7-10 Can't State 4-13 NIU 4-14

Overreact much, coach? Betcha NIU fans would be willing to trade teams. And he ripped his point guard after the loss to OK St. Somewhere, recruits are noticing. This is the time of year where nothing to lose teams are really coming at the frontrunners. It's why I'm nervous for the rest of the Zips schedule, they have to play at a high level for all 40 minutes.

Should be around 12 since it's an away game and Miami appears to be a bit better than CMU (who we had at home). All of the remaining away games (Miami, EMU. Buffalo, and of course OU) have me a little worried. The Zips have not played well on the road this year. I'm thinking we're picking up a loss in at least one of these (and it might not be OU).

But Baylor is also a potential bubble team so having them lose is not a bad thing either. Without Nick and Tree the Zips were in the same position in Puerto Rico.

Women won a gut check game tonight. Down by one to EMU with about 13 seconds to play, EMU had the ball and Zips had no timeouts. Zips stole the ball on an inbound (Carly Young tipped the ball away to Kacie Cassell) and scored, EMU raced down and scored and the Zips brought up back up the court and it was knocked out with 2 seconds to play. Jodi Kest substituted Carly Young (who had 23 points and I am not sure missed a three pointer) back in to inbound the ball and found Rachel Tecca under the basket who converted. Guttty, gutty win. Give the Player of the Game to Carly Young, easily. And with Miami losing, the Zips are tied for first and that sets up Saturday's game as a battle for the East lead.

And their most likely, Florida, just took their first conference loss of the season. Down to 12 (and three each share a conference with another unbeaten). Too bad this wasn't written a week earlier. We could have helped pare down the list.

Fortunately Majok Majok isn't on the list. Which is why the best of the MAC was in quotes. Javon McCrea is now ahead of Zeke.

A little more recognition for the Big Guy. Best post players in college basketball (voters: Eamonn Brennan, Andy Katz, Jason King, Myron Medcalf and Dana O'Neil) 1. Cody Zeller, Indiana -- 46 (4) 2. Mason Plumlee, Duke -- 41 (1) 3. Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga - 40 4. Nerlens Noel, Kentucky -- 32 5. Jeff Withey, Kansas -- 31 6. Anthony Bennett, UNLV -- 19 7. Laurence Bowers, Missouri -- 16 8. Mike Muscala, Bucknell -- 12 9. Patric Young, Florida -- 9 10. Isaiah Austin, Baylor -- 8 Also receiving votes: Jack Cooley, Notre Dame 4; Gorgui Dieng, Louisville 4; Kenny Kadji, Miami 3; Zeke Marshall, Akron 3; Alex Len, Maryland 2; Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota 2.

We need some editors on GoZips.com. This is from one of the last lines about the CMU game. Brian Walsh and Abreu led the Zips with six points each. Zeke Marshall led Akron with three rebounds. Hey maybe change that to "assists" and "blocks" and maybe we'd have something (but even those numbers are wrong for this game). Wouldn't be such a big deal but this is also what is used as a wrap up in other places like the MAC Web site.

Could it have also been that it was his third foul that kept him out the rest of the half? Had that only been his first (and subsequent 2nd) I could see pulling him for a few minutes to calm him down, but perhaps Keith knew we might be needing him down the stretch and that might be a more logical expalnation for sitting the rest of the first half? And the SportCenter Top Ten (#7) for Alex and Nick was pretty cool but couldn't they have as least mentioned a 14 game winning streak?