GoZips

If you want data on last Saturday's closed scrimmage see: Scrimmage

Eric wears a size SEVENTEEN shoe, He has 2 or 3 more inches to grow, Very nice young man. Met him at Sunday practice. We are collecting a lot of Texas' best talent.

Akron is wearing dark blue. Taivan is number ELEVEN. Josh Williams is number ONE

Tuesday, Oct. 4, was Walk-on Try Out Day. Nine young men gave it a go. Two or three will be offered a manager's position. None of them is the next Micheal Jordan. Made for a long day for the staff as the Try Out was followed by the second three hour practice in two days. Thankful for a day off Wednesday. The team composition changes a good bit. Most notably will be on the wing. Several players are vying for that starting role. I think I have a good idea who will get the nod. Best candidate is Danny Utomi; however. Dan maybe called on to back up Kwan Cheatham at the power forward. "BIG MIKE" Hughes is Isaiah Johnson's understudy at Center. Big Mike is one sweet player. You are going to rave about his performance. Our three experienced guards get more depth with the addition of Craig Eubanks, Jimond Ivey and true Freshman Taivan Dunn-Martin. While the sports rags are tabbing the Zips to repeat as East Champs none of them call out Zips for their all conference teams. Mind you, eight or nine Zips will be second team selection. Akron is that well balanced.

Zips won 2-1

Today was the first day of the remainder of Summer Individuals. Most every one is healthy. And, out of shape as a three minute run showed. Coach is in high spirits. He was yelling at everyone including the old, out of shape clock operator.

Kapernick is a narcissistic excuse of a man. Other than commit a selfish, self aggrandizing display what has he done for the minority community? LeBron James on occasion speaks out against issues that offend him. He is entitled to. LeBron pours his heart into his community. LeBron EARNED the love and respect he is given. What has Kapernick contributed? I have a suggestion for Mister Kapernick. Give several million of your hardly earned dollars to the community center of Harris County, Mississippi. The center that lost its two angels of mercy, white nuns murdered by a black man. That they would be the first forgive and aid. Pour your spirit into that poorest of poor community to aid and assist the thousands of mostly black souls who were robbed of their health lifeline. Do something positive you cretin.

Live Stats reporting the Zips win 1-0

I have not seen a game summary either. From observation I would say the game plan was developing perimeter shooting. The Knights had a thin bench and were badly over matched. Note, to, that the game was played with a 24 second shot clock. The Zips used a 24 second shot clock in most of their ten practices. Daniel Utomi is the likely the starting small forward. Danny is an excellent outside shooter who possess the body of a power forward and can play the four spot. The Zips have a lot of depth and need to find minutes for an entire gaggle of three/four position players. Emmanuel Olojakpoke has been an outstanding rim protector and put back artist throughout the practice period. Kwan Cheatham missed some practice time due to his brother's wedding. KC showed no ill effects in the game. Mercifully Akron did little pounding the ball inside where Big Dog and Big Mike would have make mince meat of the Knights. I wonder if CTG was depleted to the point that they could not give a tough game. Should be more competitive Monday as the opponent has much more size.

I hope you are referring to the Zips new number twenty-one. Big Mike Hughes will wear that number. Emmanuel Olojakpoke wears number twenty two. Big Dog still has number twenty-three. A number change of note: Aaron Jackson now wears number ten. Tavian Dunn-Martin has claimed number eleven.. Look for impressive outings from Mike Hughes and Emmanuel Olojakpoke as both have looked good in practice; as has Daniel Utomi.

The 2016-17 schedule due out soon. Word is that is it is complete and ready for publication. Only one MEAC/SWAC team on Akron's home schedule. Coppin State comes to the JAR. Two excellent mid-majors are new to the home schedule; American University and Georgia Southern. . Purportedly two mid-majors come as part of the Savanna Tournament. However, I did read that Georgia Southern is one of those two schools. The team is in its ten practice schedule for the Bahamas trip. A lot of playing time will go to the red shirt Freshmen and the two Freshmen newbies. I believe that you are going to love "Big Mike" Hughes. At six-nine and ample girth he tends to dominate the low post. Big Mike is a player. Just one player, Aaron Jackson, is still recovering from off season surgery. Aaron is nearly finished with his rehab. Just as George gushed over Josh Williams growth spurt up to a solid six-two so too did Danny Utomi add at least two inches as Danny is now slightly taller and bulkier than Aaron Jackson. Josh and Danny are expected to provide the fire power to replace Reggie and Jake. Most of the players are spending extra time in the gym and the weight room. They look good. <Insert disclaimer here> and, Go Zips

KiKi (Hawai'ian; pronounced key-key) means small child or young person. U of A Summer basketball camps are in full swing. They are kind of fun to watch. The talent is often better than expected. The camp schedules are well thought out. They give the young ones tastes of competing; team work; fundamental skills. Mainly student managers running it. They themselves enjoy working with the young ones. It is a teaching/learning experience for them as well.. The sessions end with spirited short games, full court, that try to utilize what the KiKi have just learned,

Two weeks into Summer training and thus far everyone is healthy. Aaron "Ace" Jackson will still be in rehab until August. Overall the kids are in better physical condition than at this time last year. Mike Hughes AND Tavian Dunn-Martin both shoot the lights out. All our guards look fit and "got it". The Zips have great depth at all positions. Real dog fight developing at the wing position. Five qualified people for two places on the depth chart. Big Dog has lost weight and is getting closer to a great playing weight. Big Mike has his back. Emmanuel Olojakpoke known as "E" learning the power forward position. "E" can jump thru the rafters. IMO... this year the early training is far more intense and focused than in previous years. I hear good words from the players about the necomers including our preferred walk-on Tyler Dalton. No update on Isaiah Williams or Jordan Davis.

Tavain did his Zips proud. Co-MVP knocking in 26 points and performing a spectacular attack to the basket. Read on: http://www.register-herald.com/sports/high_school_sports/raleigh_county/knapper-dunn-martin-turn-it-on-in-n-s-hoops/article_6ac932e7-271b-5a9c-9547-a36caefe02c7.html

The West Virginia Athletic Directors Association released the rosters for the 2016 North-South Boys Basketball Classic. The annual game is set for Friday, June 17 from the South Charleston Community Center. Our own Tavain Dunn-Martin will play for the South squad.

The Zips are currently at thirteen scholarships. There is one preferred walk-on. So far as I know <insert disclaimer here> Jordan Davis needs to pass two courses before he can apply to the university. I spoke with Isaiah Williams today. He plans to enroll second Summer semester. We want this level headed kid. He gets "it" about schooling. What an athlete. Both Creighton and Gonzaga are signed contracts.

Daniel receive a medical red shirt due to planter's warts. <insert disclaimer here>

Yes. Neither Jordan Davis or Isaiah Williams are academically eligible.

Today, Monday June 13th, was the first practice for the 2016-2017 season. Everyone is healthy or nearly finished rehabing. The guards look strong and quick. Travian Dunn-Martin added to the mix comes with an excellent set of credentials. West Virginia Player of the Year; shoots well; hustles and sporting a soccer style Mohawk. The wings are quick. Craig Eubanks and Daniel Utomi bring size and muscle. The bigs are to say the least BIG. Big Dog and KC you know about. Two more bigs to watch are Aaron "Ace" Jackson and "Big Mike" Hughes. Ace looks to be in playing form and still rehabing nicely. Big Mike is a 7/8 size Big Dog. Big Mike has excellent moves in the paint and seems to absolutely love the game. The Zips are not going to sneak up on anyone this season. Any "rag" writer that fails to pick the Zips to finish first is asleep.

Once every four years a D-1 basketball team may play a few games overseas. This is the year the Zips are eligible. The Zips will play in the Bahamas August 12-20. The hotel of choice is the famous Atlantis you see advertised on TV. Details to follow. <Insert disclaimer here.>

Six-nine Mike Hughes has arrived on campus. Unlike Micheal Oher of The Blind Side fame. Akron's Big Mike likes being called "Big Mike". How do I know? I asked him. You are going to enjoy this young man. Big Mike is personable, friendly and an all round nice young man. Starting Monday next Big Mike and the rest of the players begin their Summer one-on-one drills. Big Mike is almost a carbon copy of Big Dog. A tad shorter and forty pounds lighter, yet one huge human being. There is not any room in the paint when Dog and Mike are on the floor together. They can almost block out the sun. Big Mike looks to be in decent shape. Which is good news. The Zips players have already taken him under their wings. He fits in as a Zip already.

Confirmed. Bess going to St. Louis.

Yes, Creighton is on the schedule. The Zips will play Creighton in Omaha December 17th, a Saturday. Sorry, I am not at liberty to reveal who the home game with a decent mid-major is. Perhaps next week I will get a thumbs up to reveal the opponent. I think the main reason I can not divulge who it is depends on a signed contract rather than an agreement in principle. But, it is solid. My edit: I think I should point out that there are other games scheduled that were not mentioned. First game of the season will be at Youngstown State as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer series. Also, the Zips have a home game with their long time rival Marshall. No names provided for the opponents in the Savannah Classic because who is playing who is still not settled. Insert usual disclaimer here.

Stay tuned.

I was given the opportunity to review this coming season OOC schedule today. Regrettably Louisville is NOT on the Zips schedule. Akron will play at Gonzaga on that date (December 10th). Only one of the all too familiar low major opponents graces the Zips home schedule. A division 3 opponent, two home games against mid-majors as part of the Savannah tournament; and one decent quality mid-major bought game. I think you will like the schedule. The Zips should put an experienced and deep team on the floor and this schedule should work toward preparing Akron for conference play. Insert usual disclaimer here.