GoZips

It just might be food for thought that our coach thinks so highly of Steve's floor leadership (sic) abilities that he scrambled to bring on board a tested, ready to lead and play point guard. Steve worship wont cut it with me. Steve is a good shooting guard and a weak point guard. Play Steve where he shows his best.

The less McNees is playing the point, the better this team will be. All of Steve's time should come in the shooting guard spot. And, Steve should get the bulk of the minutes. I like Darryl Roberts a lot. However, Darryl has never shown that he can sit McNees down. The freshmen and new comers can vie for the power forward and wing. Its time for Brett to play his butt off or sit. Got that, big guy? Play hard; play defense; knock down the shots; make the free throw line your sacred ground. The only alternative is to sit. Looking for Zeke to be the MAC Player of the Year. He can do it with ease.

Say, Meister, what flavor is that kool-aid? Sour grape?

Something smells about this entire LeBum episode. If LeBum and Miami-Wade have been planning since they played on the Olympic team together, how can we be sure that LeBum didn't "throw" and possibly even bet on the playoffs? Remember the oddly sore right elbow? Twice the Cavs lost to the Celtics when they should have steam rollered them. Did LeBum really, really want to win the NBA Championship as a member of the Cavaliers? Just speculation. Food for thought. nothing more. What a chump.

They are stupid so I'm surprised they didn't have something like this. How much ass kissing is enough? Half the expected crowd showed up to LBJpprecitation Day. Why waste the time and effort on a guy who didn't attend UofA and his only connection to UofA is the coach he played for his freshman and soph years of high school? What would be in it for UofA? On my way home from the gym this morning, a couple of DJs on Charlotte radio were blasting how obnoxious this whole thing has become. It was really funny too because they were discussing how in addition to declaring his team, LBJ is going to explain the origins of the universe during his ESPN special tonight. This whole thing is completely out of control and sickening. I will be glad when 10:00 PM hits tonight so I can turn the TV on without having to listen to it. Good luck LBJ. Stay in Cleveland. You won't find a fan base as willing to kiss your ass as this one. +1

I'll help him pack. Naw, he's not worth the sweat off my 'nads. Narcissist

You forgot Ron Paul. Ron or Rand Paul? Did I not write RON Paul? Actually, his son seems to have his own head screwed on a good bit straighter than his wack job Dad.

You forgot Ron Paul.

Well, I don't really know about or care about some mystical lost civilization in the Amazon. I grew up with the book the The Lost Continent of Mu. Scary read for a ten year old. As for reading a book recommended by a New York Times critic does not impress me in the least. How about reading a book that was the NYT's number one best seller in 2009 and was NEVER reviewed by the NYT? Sorry, but, The Lost City of Z does not send thrills up my leg. What book was the 2009 NYT best seller and NEVER given a book review by the (sic) lofty NYT? It is Conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin's Liberty and Tyranny. NYT never reviewed this best seller, but a number of critics did on both the "left" and the "right". The reviews were, frankly, quite predictable. Reviews can not refute the truth of Levin's remarks. Liberty and Tyranny is a must read for any one under the age of seventy. Unfortunately, Liberals lack the gonads to face the hard, cold truth Levin presents. Oh, and to be fair (some thing forever lacking in a Liberal) here is a Liberal review .... From Publishers Weekly Conservative talk show host Levin launches a somewhat rambling indictment of liberalism in this book that pillories liberals for undermining the Constitution and individual freedoms. In a series of screeds, the author rails against the expected bogeymen (big government, big spending, environmentalism) and argues that conservative values are the surest prophylactic against what he regards as an increasingly tyrannical American government. Adam Grupper proves to be the ideal reader for the material; his calm and measured tone remains steady even as Levin's critiques reach their shrillest pitch. His unruffled delivery grounds the occasional bursts of hysteria, and his matter-of-fact newscaster's delivery buttresses Levin's argument. Listeners on any end of the spectrum will appreciate the efficiency of Grupper's reading.

I am most favorably impressed. Six-five is a fine platform to build on. And, we aced the hated Blundering _erd.

My great aunt would have a good saying every time I said "I hope" when referring to sports. I think it would probably apply here. I'll bite... what did your great aunt say? Me sainted Granny use to say .... "shite in one hand and wish in the other. Then see which one fills up first."

Here is the correct link to Micheal Nanchoff and the Plain Dealer

Care to bet that there is more to this than meets the eye? Suspended from school for being charged with a misdemeanor? Really? Suspended from the team is completely appropriate. Punishment to follow if convicted. But, suspended from school? Just how is Mr. Carter suppose to complete his Spring term and thus be eligible to even play football in the Fall? Something is a miss here. There is more to this than what we read. Stay tuned.

For the past few months (since the end of basketball season) I just do not feel a connection with the university sports programs. A lot of grumbling, player defections and dismissals, poor coaching decisions, etc. etc. Football: The university tried the infamous "let's see what this under qualified man can do" only to be sadly disappointed. So, what do they do? Let's try this mistake again. Its not fair to dismiss Ron Ianello without giving him an opportunity. Really? Ianello is likely to fail. He has already created turmoil in his program and he has not even coached a single game. Just an overall bad feeling about the state of affairs with in the football program. Soccer: While pleased with last year's performance; how can you not be; there is something just not right. Player defections with excuses. The university dragging its foot; so to speak; over upgrading the facilities which the program earned. Feeling of tension is what I get. Basketball: What idiot tosses out a slimy rumor of a major player defection in the midst of turmoil within the men's basketball program? Darn good thing I'm not a moderator. Or, bingo ... banned. That was the worst "joke" ever on this board. Coach has his hands full righting a badly tilted ship. It is not often that a team produces a 24-11 season and leaves its fans with a sour taste. Athletic Director: No leadership. No vision. No plan. Hire your cronies. Grade "F". blah

A really nice report, Dave. Thanks.

An excellent answer. What's more, all of these fine university presidents are doing a better job in their respective office than is mr. obama.

Clearly you and I have a different idea of what a pure point guard is. I look at a pure point guard as a guy who can set up the offense and make the players around him better by using his dribble effectively, making good passes and getting his teamates better shots. That isn't Steve McNees. Maybe I'm wrong in calling Steve limited (I don't think I am, but for the sake of argument...) but he has strengths and weaknesses just like anyone else. His biggest strength is his quick release and his ability to light a team up from downtown. You can turn that into an even bigger strength if you play him next to what I call a pure point guard who can get him more wide open looks. Thats where Abreu comes in. Alex Abreu was brought in here to help mask Steve's weaknesses (setting up the offense and getting quality shots for others) and to accentuate his strengths (knocking down shots). Actually, Alex Abreu is a true and proven point guard, which Steve is not. Steve is as a previous poster claimed, a rather accomplished combo guard. Steve's strengths rest with operating primarily as a shooting guard. This is where Steve is most effective. Alex is not coming to mask Steve's so called weaknesses, but to accentuate Steve's strongest skills. Only a family member or some one devoid of any basketball knowledge would boast about Steve being a really good point guard. It just is not the case. Steve is a really good shooting guard who has been forced to play out of position for the past three years. He deserves a lot of credit for doing a darn fine job in a role he was not recruited to Akron for. If Alex can manage the point; look for Steve to have a "break out" year ala Jimmy Conyers.

Mr. Football's & Mr. Basketball's with his attitude always seem to drop off the face of the earth. I predict he finishes his "career" at Tiffin. Howard could never make grades at Tiffin. Howard just toileted himself. Good ridance.

Personally, I have nothing against Coach I. I wish him all the luck in the world. However, he will fail just as Brookhart did .. for the very same reason(s). Coach I has zero head coaching experience at any level. This is a killer. Even Lee Owens had high school head coaching experience. Brookhart, nada. Ianello, nada. Coach I's best chance is to surround himself with the best assistant coaches he can find. Not his buddies, his pals, or the friends of influential people. Go get real, qualified assistant coaches. Even then, silly blunders like refusing to utilize a pass rush (Owens), goofy defenses (Brookhart), keeping bad apples (Owens & Brookhart) will kill your chances. Straight up and down, smash mouth football with talented athletes will get the job down, not trick plays and guess and by golly. Do not wish for luck ... make luck with solid play. And for heaven's sake .. the doghouse should never be longer than thirty seconds. More talent, and Akron never has quite enough talent, goes wasting rotting in some coach's head for trivial matters.

Let's be completely honest here. If this young man had just committed to tOSU no one, and I mean no one, would be faulting his pedigree. The UA coaching staff and a number of other staffs would not be recruiting this young man if he did not have more going for him than shooting a ball through a hoop. Being a guard requires more dimensions than shooting. Ball handling, quicks, smarts, stamina, defensive skills, understanding the game, to name some attributes required. This youngster seems to have the qualities UA seeks for a shooting guard. I think he will be up to the challenge.

I'll leave the bulk of what went on to others. Just thought I would start the thread. One, heard tonight that Akron is playing at Minnesota December 15th. Thanks, Uncle Tom. Two, you have got to see Zeke Marshall. His maturation process has kicked in. He is huge. Zeke is now seven-one and put on at least twenty pounds. Zeke has been living in the weight room according to his mother (she and hubby sat at our table). Zeke was poised and outgoing, not the shy wallflower he was last Fall. Frankly, Zeke was very favorably impressive. Three, look for Steve McNees to play the "two guard" as a secondary point guard. Alex Abreu will slide into the starting point role from the get go. A lot of NBA teams and some college teams are running with two point guards. Look for the Zips to join that club this Fall. The rest is up to the rest of you folks who attended.

sez on his Facebook bio that he hates "F....ing mosquitos". He'll just love Jacksonville located on the swampy St. John's River. I spent some time at NAS Jacksonville (on the river) while serving in the US Navy.

Not sure if Akron would be allowed to do this. I asked this question some months ago and was told that it is not allowed. Lest, many, many schools padded their roster in this manner.

Dave, I agree with you. Rasor is some where out in left field. Abreu was recruited specifically to play point guard. He already has a year of prep school which is roughly equivalent to being a JUCO transfer with one year of junior college. To speculate that the coaches like having McNees at the point is pure personal feeling and not fact. Steve is a great competitor. He leaves it all out on the floor. The point is not his strong suit. Having a player stand at the top of the key and dribble for 20-25 seconds is not good basketball. None of the guards, other than Steve, manned up and took control of the point. That is why two of them are no longer here. Abreu, from what I have been told, is a true point guard, and plays the position well. Steve can be far more productive as a shooting guard. Now, where does that leave Darryl Roberts? I don't know. My speculation would be that Darryl backs up Steve at the two hole. I was told, by a coach, that Diggs will play the small forward. He can be dropped into the two hole in some configurations. Supposedly, Diggs is a pretty good player. Green is never going to be shoved into the post. At six-six he would get eaten alive. That said, could he be part of a three forward configuration? That is a possibility. Such a rotation would not have Green posting up. This is a major overhaul of the team. Oddly, a 24-11 season was not a good season. Frankly, it sucked and was way below expectations and abilities. Something had to give. One has to wonder if the chemistry of the team ever jelled. I think not. At first I was shocked by the huge changes. As I ponder them I see how much benifit this can produce. I expect next season to be a better year than this past rather disappointing year.

It's certainly not the Amish. Says you. English! Well put, Paradise Z.I.P. Probbably most readers on ZN do not know that the term "English" is what the Amish call the rest of us. As for the Amish, this Catholic boy is thinking declaring himself Amish to get out of the insane Obamacare non-heathcare system.