GoZips

Why is every Summer punctuated with the same old rhetoric about the men's basketball schedule? The power conference teams are not likely to play the Zips home or away. Just getting a game with them is tough. Especially when you look at the past two years. Akron beats a respected Mississippi State team in Starkville by ten. The Zips take a top twenty-five caliber Oklahoma State into over time without Tree or Harney. Coaches are not stupid. They like their job. Lesson: do not play Akron if you like your job. Sounds like a DISH TV advertisement. Currently Akron Athletics is monitoring the new All America Conference (the non-Catholic schools of the old Big East). A decision to seek admission is being considered. Be patient. That conference could go bust. If it stabilizes and looks opportune the Zips will make the move. Conference USA* is out. As is any conference without D-1 football. Most will be pleased with the coming season's OOC basketball schedule. Trips to the Diamond Head Classic in Hawai'i and South Carolina high light the schedule. For you furballs plan on the trip to lovely Fargo, North, by gawd, Dakota. Hey, wasn't he a Zip once? * -- I realize C-USA has D-1 football. For a number of reasons, the University just is not interested in C-USA. Of course, soon as I post this they will announce that Akron is joining C-USA.

Question: Why are you dwelling in the past? The objective is progress and much better teams. Men and women's basketball have done it. Terry Bowden is an accomplished man. Please do not project on to him and his staff your shortcomings. Big Dog is coming.

Great hire. Way to go, Matt.

D.I.G. had little to worry about. I, on the other hand, had more than a seventh of a ton to worry about. For I was sitting at the scorer's table. And, it was Matt Futch's cell phone that ended up in the trash basket. As for Big Dog, you will continue to hear about him as that is his nick name. Every one calls him Big Dog, even the coaches. We like promoting interest in our Zips, don't you?

Does it matter? It is not where you start, rather, where you finish that matters. Big Dog is in the house.

Cant do it State checks in as College Sports Madness #115 team. Third best in the MAC. Which means, according to them, the power in the MAC now lays in the West. We'll see. Are You Kidding Me?

The Zips replace Zeke Marshall with Pat Forsythe who is much more offensive minded than Zeke was. Be more concerned with the loss of Zeke's ability to defend the rim and cover the point guard's assignment. Hopefully, with Evans, this wont be necessary this year. Big Dog loves playing the blocks. He is a scoring machine in close. Quincy and Reggie will easily out produce an over worked Brian Walsh. Nyles Evans is far more offense minded than Abreu ever was. Nyles is quick, crafty, goes to the hole kind of point guard. Have some faith in your coaching staff. These men took a mediocre Zips team to the top of the MAC and have kept them on top. Tremendous battle shaping up for playing time among the freshmen. Enjoy it. In my opinion the College Sports Madness badly undervalued the Zips. At least the monkey is on someonelse's back.

They already did. You know that. Raising awareness, interest and sufficient funds is not like pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Just give coach Tressel the time needed. He will produce the desired results.

Akron reloaded their guard positions, too. The shooting guard consists of Quincy Diggs and Reggie McAdams. A fifth year senior and an experienced, capable sophomore. The two's have size, quicks, athleticism, shooting range and able to go to the rack. A tad bit of point in either one, to boot. The point is much deeper with Nyles Evans and Carmelo Betancourt. Both are capable ball handlers. Evans is showing excellent shooting and ability to drive to the basket. Melo still has his defensive skills. He needs to get more offensive. I believe he will deliver. The post position, the other area of concern appears to be in good hands. Both Pat and Big Dog are owning the middle. Power forward is again a position of strength what with Tree providing the broad shoulders and Jake his understudy. Jake gives the three ball range sometimes needed from that position. Tree will again scoop the glass, IF he can beat Pat to the ball. Small forward belongs to Nick Harney. Either Lil Dog or Action Jackson should provide depth. Guessing two or, at the outside, three of the Freshmen red shirt. Injuries and grades may determine who plays. DeJi Ibitayo has 'amped' his game considerably. His skill set has dramatically improved. Conditioning is holding him back. Don't mean to exclude Kwan Cheatam. Kwan has an excellent offensive game and shoots with precision. He is one tall small forward or third guard. Kwan is still only seventeen. He is going to be a great player in due time. By the time of the Diamond Head Classic the Zips will have a set rotation of talent.

Note how St. Mary's and South Carolina face each other in the first round. That cuts in half any likelihood of facing one of these two teams. I am a bit surprised that the Zips open with Oregon State as the working board in the offices has had Iowa State as the opponent for the first round. Things change. Only the paper work for the Cleveland State game is holding up the release of the OOC schedule. Since the coaches are out of town until Monday, July 22, do not expect any announcement about the schedule until at least then.

No. At least I do not think so. Lil Dog has some similar characteristics to Big Dog. Like size, toughness and a darn good player. (Not that small, little, puny point guards don't.)

Big Dog has a partner, Lil Dog.

Well said. Kudos to Coach Kest.

Last season the NCAA changed their off season practice rules to allow up to nine weeks of coached training. Each week the coaches can work with each player for a total of two hours per week. Additionally time can be allotted to weight training and conditioning. Most coaching staffs, including Akron, break the training into three 40 minute sessions where the player(s) are pressed hard. These sessions are almost entirely one-on-one skill sets. Example: catch and shoot or defensive stance, or dribbling , etc,. The intended results are expected to be better physical conditioning, better player skills, team cohesion, etc,. When watching practice you quickly realize that almost no incoming freshman was ever taught a lick about playing defense. There are specific times set where the team can practice by playing what amounts to pick up games in so called open gym session. Coaches are not allowed to watch players during open gym. In theory no player evaluation can take place. In practice a coach can learn a lot about a player in the 40 minute sessions. Progress or lack of it is generally obvious even to a casual observer. I hope this explanation helps. Fans can attend the Saturday and Sunday ProAm league games held weekly at Walsh University. Walsh is located on Maple St. in North Canton. Upon entering the parking lot the gym is in the first building on your right. Ignore the "Gym Closed" sign in the door window. Proceed in a lefterly (did I honestly say that?) direction until you hear the squeaks of gym shoes. Summer League Web Site

Recently learned that Coach Kest is also an excellent golfer.

Not that I am aware of. The walk-ons are not allowed to practice until the Fall session is in school. Only scholarship players are practicing. Summer practices are a bit different. It is one-on-one coaching doing drills, shooting, running. Pretty boring to just sit and watch. Open gyms which are usually held evenings are where the kids get to play. Coaches are not allowed to even watch open gym. But, since there are only thirteen scholarship players your best chance of seeing the Zips is at Walsh University on Saturday or Sunday starting at 9 AM. Check the web site given below. Some games are video taped and you can watch them on your PC. Summer League Schedule

Pat had been out of town with his family for several days. He is back. He actually made the effort to lift and keep in shape while gone. He did better than expected at today's practice. He seemed in good spirits.

It is a good thing you did not go to Walsh this past weekend (July 6-7) as most of the Zips were home for the holidays. One Zip who did play was Nick Harney who had some good stats in a losing cause. His team, like the others were mostly short handed due to the holiday. Should be better action with more Zips next week end (July 13-14).

The Zips come in at #128 and fourth in the conference. The analysis is spot on. This is excellent locker room wall material. We get no respect. Wonder who the three MAC teams they rate above Akron. My guess is Ohio and two teams from the West. Toledo and Eastern come to mind thanks to their aggressive JUCO and transfer recruiting.

Nyles likes his tats. He is sporting a recent tat on his left arm. I'm NOT a tat person. However, looks good on Evans.

Today was my first look at Nyles Evans. He is a dandy. Watched a 40 minute session of open gym, Zips against Zips. Nyles handles the ball well with either hand. He "sees" the floor. He drives to the basket through traffic, and scores. Evans has an excellent outside shot that for today, at least, was dropping. He fits right in. Seamless. Excellent get. Takes pressure off 'Melo.

Actually, they potentially could face one team twice. As previously reported, both South Carolina and Saint Mary's will be in the other bracket. As for underdog ... no one cares; but remember this: Big Dog is coming.

Big Dog is coming.

College Sports Madness has begun their annual count down of their picks for the top 144 college teams. The Top 144 Teams for 2013-14 There are a few major surprises. The Zips should place around number one hundred. A fun watch.

Big Dog is coming.