GoZips

When I listed Harney as a back court player notice that I also included Brett McClanahan. I suppose you could consider the small forward (Harney's position) as either part of the front court or part of the back court. I just wanted to distinguish that the power forward and center positions are front court. Flip a coin to determine if the small forward or often the third guard is fore court or back court. You can call me Ray. Or, you can call me Jay. But you don't have to be calling me late for dinner.

Steve is finishing up his Master's. That probably makes it tough to offer him a Grad Assistant position. Not clear on this. GA's can only be GA's for two years. Thus, Willie McGee is probably seeking a coaching job. That opens a GA spot, but, can Steve be a GA already possessing a Masters? From what Steve told a group of us he is currently looking at the high school ranks as a possible starter job. Where ever he lands he will succeed and do well. I thought that I was the only one who thought his shot block at the end of the Cant game was his signature statement. Turns out that several folks thought the same. Even KD spoke about how high Steve skyed on that block. It had to be a foot more than his listed thirty-one inch vertical. I spent several minutes with a number of players and former players. Jeremiah Wood misses us, and solemnly promises to finish his degree. Cedric Middleton was as dapper as ever and teaching youngsters basketball. Perhaps someone can find him a bonafide job that can support him. D-Robb was delightful to chat with. His future plans are not developed. Like the others he looks for great success for the Zips. Spoke with Nick Harney. He was the tall kid in a Zips basketball tee shirt busing tables. Nick is one impressive young man. He is more man than boy. Look for him to have an immediate impact next season. He is well spoken and strongly goal oriented. Did not see Treadwell; though I was told that he is doing just as well as Harney. Two stud players that will help take the Zips deep into the NCAA tourney. Talked with Chauncey Gilliam and his parents. Chauncey is ready to play. His mother is as rabid a fan as I am. I am looking forward to having her in our section. Brian Walsh was surprisingly shorter than I expected. Michael Green on the other hand is huge. Alex is all smiles and just happy to be here. I think he knows the point is his. Lastly I spoke with Quincy Diggs. Like Harney Q is immediately likeable, goal oriented and not overly serious about himself. He joked about his temper and the need to harness all that energy. Q set a long list of goals for himself. You can find it on the dry erase board in coach Weigand's office. Q knows that developing as an outstanding defensive player is key to earning his minutes. He also likes the idea of being that sixth man we so badly need. He sees that it gives him the opportunity to play multiple positions which is something he enjoys. I was asked to name the greatest sixth man of all time by a Zips coach. The answer is John Havlicek. Surprisingly, Quincy knows who Havlicek is. Knocked my socks off. The rotation has to be awesome. Front court key players: Zeke, Nik, Josh and Demetrius. Back court in no particular order: Diggs, McClanahan, Abreu, Walsh, Gilliam, Harney. It is going to be a fun year. Oh, and if Bardo does not marry Candy ... he's nuts.

From an "admin" -- You blatently, incorrectly accused IST of calling you a racist. That was totally out of line. I deleted it. We don't take that crap here lightly. Withhold whatever Zips info you want. I could care less. Go away forever. ZipsNation will roll on. If you enjoy this board, be grateful I didn't delete your entire post, instead of 2 sentences. It was easily justifiable to do so. If you get something deleted on ZipsNation, don't puff your chest full of hubris. Don't pose an incredulous look and play the victim. Look in the mirror for the reason why. CK Cap'n, when a poster calls some one a "hater" that is a backhanded reference to being a racist.

Its too bad that the board admin(s) chose to edit my second point regarding the poster who claims to (sic) speak the truth. Then allows GP1 and others to vilify my integrity with cheap shots. Oh well. I suppose I should withhold valuable basketball updates as pay back. After all, I am one person who actually can be invited into KD's office. I was there today. I have good news to report. First off, the schedule is coming together. The Zips hope to play two high majors. No deal is signed as of this date. Also being worked on is a fresh home-n-home with Rhode Island. Games with VCU (Dec. 29th), Valpo and Duquense are booked. The Zips open on the road at Cleveland State. The coaching staff is high on Quincy Diggs (as am I). Q has set a number of high goals for the coming season. Excellent goals to be sure. The one I like best is to be the "MAC Defensive Player of the Year". This is quite a goal for a young man short on defensive skills. However, Q is working with the coaches to reach that goal. I can report that he has put on ten pound of muscle. He is first in, last out in the gym. We discussed Q at length. Unfortunately for many of you, my assessment is a lot closer to the coaching staff's than yours are. I saved the best news for last. And a couple of posters know that what I am about to reveal they learned from me during the NCAA tourney. Nikola Cvetinovic is coming back for his senior season. For those who doubt me, ask at Friday's Awards Banquet. As Nik is already back on campus.

Serious? Absolutely. Apparently you can not read well. First off; I never mentioned that Quincy is selfish. YOU injected that. My reference is that he does not read the floor well at this point in his career. This has to improve. As for being called a "hater" I suggest two things. One write me an apology as you are completely out of line. As for coming off the bench; being the sixth man is a valuable position. It means that this player will get equal floor time as the starting five (usually about twenty-five minutes). It also means this player is probably the third or fourth best player on the team. It also implies that he/she will often be called upon to play several different positions when on the floor. In Quincy's case; he can ablely play the small forward, shooting guard and even the point guard positions. Quincy has demontrated this past season that he can play all three of these roles. And you call me a "hater"? Quincy still has a ton of improvement to go. As I stated previously, he has a barrel of talent. He just needs to continue to develop his skills and expand his worth to the team. Like you, young lady, he has to keep his emotions in check. Running amuck on the court will only lead to a seat deep on the bench. Akron fans who have been watching the Zips a lot longer than you as well aware of how far down the bench Nikola played himself when he was a freshman and sophomore. Blow ups, fights, technical fouls damage the team. Akron has a history of riding Cant State players for the Flushers cheap shot plays. We do not want Quincy to be a target of Cant taunts. We desire that Q play to the level he is capable of. Which, by the way, is several levels better than he has shown thus far. Zips fans, me included, want Quincy to leave Akron with a great legacy and tons of wonderful memories.

Not nearly the fun you imagine. Amherst, Mass is 90 miles from anywhere. It is about the same drive as visiting Athens, OH from Akron. Well, the Fall leaf colors are much more vivid than we see in Ohio. I am a regular visitor to Providence, RI (PVD). I made the jaunt over to Amherst for the Zips NIT game against UMASS. Long boring, corkscrew drive from Providence. Still, UMASS is a huge jump higher than YSU.

Sounds for all the world like, "we have all the confidence in the world that LeSkunk is a Cavalier."

Men's Soccer National Champions it just does not get any sweeter than that. The coming Fall should once again be kind to the Zips as Caleb works his magic. Probably MAC champs and a trip to the Sweet 16. Be a pretty good follow on year when you have to replace seven starters from a National champion team. With the incredible back line devastated look for many more shots on goal and David Meves showing his true abilities (not pretty). IMO the Zips would be far better served with Anthony Ponikvar between the pipes. But, I'm just a dumb arsed fan. Football millions spent with bad results, soon to be on display again. I am quite optimistic. I'll go out on a limb and predict a giddy 5-7 campaign. A season of frustrated promise. Dropped balls and missed tackles; still light years better than 2010. Women's Basketball Robbed of an outstanding season by a defector. A bum if you will. The ladies did themselves proud. By late season they were maturing into a decent team. They put a scare in the soon to be WNIT champions in the MAC tourney. 2011 looms. By all indications the Murphyless Ladies will still put on a grand show and nearly capture the MAC crown. Coach Kest has them believing. Cut down the senseless, mindless turnovers and the Ladies actually could go dancing. Its right there for the taking. Men's Basketball Akron's crown jewel. Yes, even more than the great soccer team. 2010-11 squad proved their medal. They came together and produced. A trip to the dance being the reward to further sweeten the joyous taste of tripping the Flushes twice. Especially the MAC championship game. They sent Cant packing with their tails between their legs and put a ton of egg on all the voters who made Geno "I'm headed out of town" Plymouth their choice for Choke, er, coach of the Year. If you still don't believe in the Zips, consider this; Cant won two road games in the NIT against two higher seeded opponents. Losing to Akron cost the Flushers the seed they really deserved which should have been first or second, not seventh. A job well done by the Staters. The future is looking bright. The Zips are under the radar what with all eyes on Cant and their four, I can't believe we lost to Akron twice, starters. The men need to work hard over the Spring and Summer in the weight room and on the practice court. Harney and Treadwell need to be everything they are taunted to be. Zeke needs another twenty-five pounds and a tougher demeanor. Charles Thomas, that's your assignment. Take Zeke to the next level. Well, three or four levels higher. You all are slobbering all over yourselves about Quincy Diggs. I say, posh. Diggs MUST get his head out of his arse and put on straight or he will be little more than a pain. Some one has to make Q-man realize that he is a barrel of untapped talent. Right now he is running on a thimble full of talent. Diggs is way out of control. He has the capability of being a GREAT player. First, however, his ego needs an attitude adjustment. Q-man, you are on a team. It is not a one man show. You get better by making your team mates better. Do what the coaches tell you to do. They will make you better. More better than you dream of. Learn to dribble. Read the floor. Take command and communicate on those dribble drives. Find a partner; a go to outlet then take it to the hoop. You know what I mean. My wish is for Quincy to become the best sixth man in the conference. Yeah, his ego and a lot of fans want him to be a starter. I want him to be the best ball player he is capable of. Having that much talent coming in off the bench could give the Zips an explosive firepower they have not seen since Jamie Bosley or Marcel Boyce. note: some twit will point out that they were both starters, mark my words. The true key to making 2011-12 a season to cherish lies with the Serb. If he stays the Zips will be a top twenty-five program by tournament time and getting the recognition. They are oh so close. Trust me. Just recently my heart stopped palpitating from seeing Coach Dambrot's mug in a four by four photo on the home page of the Dayton Flyer's fan blog. Gives me a boost to know that their selection committee is even dumber than ours. Yes, you, Wistrcill. I give you credit. You are actually learning your job and getting better at it. If your side kick brings home a 2-10 or even a 3-9 season you have to kick him to the curb.

Well said and chuck full of truth. Kind of reminds me of how so many (including supposed Zips fans) dumped on Charley Frye. Charley was the reason the Browns sucked. If only they get rid of Charley how the Browns will blososm. Why, Quinny Bradey is the answer. He is the most wonderful quarterback ever. Really? Charley Frye is still playing in the NFL and Quinn? Well, check the used car lot at the corner of Madison and Exchange in downtown Denver and meet their new lot boy. You fools.

Having avoided watching the sorry arsed Zips most of last season I missed this play. I did, however, witness the incredibly stupid fourth down punt from the end zone where the line lined up in that high school offset shift. The defenders (Ohio U I think) ran straight to the exposed punter; blocked the punt for a touchdown. A kid under pressure makes mistakes, hell, look at Roethlisberger. He is a grown man and is stupid as they come. I suppose the coaching staff that you all love gets a pass on the incredible punt play.

Ricky had a great freshman season. His development after that season never continued to progress. High majors were on him early. Akron was on him early. As he failed to live up to expectations his "stock" continued to drop. Low majors like YSU are his best bet or better for him a division two program. Ricky could be a diamond in the rough. No mid to high major program seems willing to take the chance. Example, Akron has signed a pair of guards that are far above Ricky's demonstrated abilities. At least YSU is close enough that he can get home on weekends for his mother to wash his clothes.

Went to the Dayton boards to see what they are after for a new basketball coach. This is no joke. Dayton Targets Dambrot

No, no, no, Cap'n, you have it all wrong ... !!!! Tressel's a LYINGweasel.

Geno had to have a solid reason for sneaking out of Dodge, er, Cant.

I for one, will never, ever forget that epic game vs. Iona. Me, neither. Darn near gave me a heart attack.

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships? As the old Meatloaf tune goes ... "two out of three ain't bad". The Achilles heel for Akron and many other teams is not making few mistakes . It is even more fundamental. It is called "rebound the damned ball".

Best wishes to Coach Ford on his career move. I hope that he remembers his time as a MAC coach and breaks down the anti-MAC barrier so common in the MVC by scheduling Akron, Cant, Ohio and Miami. Cant will not have any difficulty finding a good coach. Just praying that Jeff Boals does not back stab the Zips.

All hail Gino Ford -- the new King of Peoria. It snows in Peoria in August.

I'm not sure he has many other options other than loyalty. He could probably pick up a gig like Bradley or something like that, but there is no difference between Bradley and Akron. He wouldn't be taken as seriously at a school like Bradly as he is at Akron for a lot of reasons. KD has is great at Akron and isn't going anywhere. His team wins. Even when they don't win, not many people are paying attention. There are a number of people who, for whatever reason, are fascinated by him coaching LBJ in high school. The CMU issue wouldn't be ignored at another school. He makes a ton of money for a MAC coach, especially an Akron coach. If KD left Akron, he would be subject to the meat grinder that is college coaching. He isn't going to do that. Being King at Akron is a lot better than risking becoming a joker at another school. Some of you can yell at me now claiming I pick on KD. I'm not. I think my analysis is fair and is the kind of thing that would be written in the media if Akron had a decent media with decent writer instead of the Terry Pluto knock offs. GP1, I have long thought that you are a putz. Thank you for putting it in writing.

Nice ... !!!!

I said YOUR back yard not mine. You sir, however, hint at a much better solution. An alternative way to solve the problem is for all Members of Zip Nation to withdraw all their funds from depository no lets make that all financial institutions and send it to the Zipmeister who will then bury some of the money in his back yard. The remainder may be used to entertain fast women (because the Zipmeister has always been a track fan). Zipmeister, are you saying that you race horsey faced women? Only the fast ones; I'm sure.

Coach Knight is quite favorably inclined toward the University of Akron. Coach was paid a fee to assist in finding a new head coach when Coleman Crawford was dismissed. He recommended Dan Hipsher an up and coming coach at the time. During Coach Hipsher's tenure Coach Knight was dismissed from Indiana University. In the subsequent aftermath a job was needed for Coach Knight's son Pat. Pat Knight was hired as an assistant under Coach Hipsher. Coach Dambrot was part of that staff. The connection is strong. Coach Knight is also a close friend of Bob Huggins. Not surprised in the least. More, I would say, pleased that Coach Knight blessed the Zips with this presentation. Thank you, coach.

"A graduate of Michigan State, Montgomery received his degree in food industry management." That fully qualifies him as a basketball head coach. Here is to his continued success except against the Zips. May the Zips be the bane of his existence.

Actually it is not that easy. I wrote about this previously. I will reiterate what I wrote. There are two major factors involved. One is the pituitary gland the other is the testicles. The pituitary controls growth. In Zeke's case his veritcal growth. Doctors can predict a person's potential height by measuring the gap between their petalla and the bone. In an adult this gap is tiny. In a young person it can be fairly wide. As the person grows this gap shrinks. The gap is useful because it can predict the height the person will obtain. In Zeke's case that height was determined to be seven-three. That is one large human being. Zeke recently (during the basketball season just past) passed through seven-one. Zeke still has some growing to do. Independent to the actions caused by the pituitary gland is another hormone ... testosterone. Testosterone controls the growth of a child into a man. While complicated and beyond the scope of this discussion we know that testosterone is what makes a boy "fill out" and become a man. A man possesses a torso that roughly resembles an inverted triangle and is packed with muscle. LeBron had his testosterone kick in when he was a mid-teen giving him a manly physic by the time he was a junior in high school. This has not happened thus far to Zeke. It will. When it does; Zeke will pack on plenty of muscle as he is on a strenuous weight lifting schedule as part of his basketball. All I can say is be patient. Its coming. I am an old man. I have weight lifted off and on all my life. I resumed weight lifting back in January and already my upper arms are thicker and more muscled than Zeke. Not bragging. Merely pointing out the difference between a man and a young man still growing "up" (in more ways than one). Be patient.

Like Cap'n said. The Zips have no grey shirts (at least none in basketball). Two thoughts come to my mind. First is does Dakota have the will to do the required work? Second, no matter how much work he does he can not vastly improve his foot speed. D-I ball may be just to fast for Dakota. All the best to him.