GoZips

Coach D said it best at his introductory press conference. When asked what team he would like to see win the MAC tourney at the Gund his rsponse was, "I don't care." If its not the Zips he isn't interested and neither am I. Coach D stated forty minutes of full court basketball. Full court defense and a fast paced run and shoot offense. That is how St.V-St.M plays. St.V-St.M doesn't really run a full court zone press or do much back court trapping. They do put pressure on the ball beginning at the inbounds play. College level players should be more adept at executing traps and running various back court defenses than one can expect from a high school. The exciting thing is KD'c ability to recruit. The unknown Zips of the late 80's were a tough sell for Bob Huggins. If Coach D can get the kind of play from his kids that Huggins got from his limited talent pool the Zips will indeed "play at a level above the MAC". My one hope is that Coach D brings the big men back into play. No one wins at the major-major level without good big men in the front court. While Nick Meyers is never going on to play for pay at any level, he can surely give Akron one solid year so Coach D can find a big man or two for the future.

ZIP Watcher has the press conference pegged. No Tammy, no weepy Elmo to be found. Coah D appears ready to keep all or nearly all the current staff. Look for one GREAT addition ... Dru Joyce currently coaching Akron St.V-St.M (the other LeBron coach) is a great fit in the Zips scheme. Coach Joyce has developed into an outstanding coach now ready for the college ranks. I hope he joins the blue crew. Did anyone pick up on the fact that both Dambrot and Brookheart spoke of playing at a level ABOVE the MAC? There is smoke here. How long until the Zips apply for admission to the one conference that needs them just as the Zips need out of the MAC?

Looks more and more like the Zips national TV appearance on ESPN2 will be against either Marshall or Miami. This from an unidentified source. Some effort appearantly was made to secure a prime time opponent. Look for said potential opponent to play a two for one against the Zips in the near future. A second prime time opponent is also in the mix. More news as it happens.

First off, I like Dan hipsher. I like him a lot. He is grit tough and demanding. But, there are shortcomings as well. A coach dare not get "down" on a kid for long. Coach Hipsher has a tendency to do this. Coach does not give the appearance of being warm to the kids. Is that a fault? I don't know. Coach's record of kids fading as seniors is flat out terrible. As some one pointed out, only Nate Schindlewolf gave a great senior year. I am disappointed that the two big guys, Ryan Myers and Matt Seibert were never utilized enough to develop on the floor confidence. Seibert blistered Can't last Sunday yet was yanked with just three minutes of playing time. Futch sat the entire Drake game when the Zips were badly undermanned. The Drake game is another issue. I first heard of the suspensions ten minutes before game time. Yet, I was able to visualize a one guard four forward offense that would be effective with in five minutes. The coaching staff did not go to this until the start of the second half when they trailed 41-30. And it took Drake an overtime and a lucky for them tip in to win the game. Credit coach Dambrot with the improved recruiting. Credit coach Hipsher for the foresight and courage to bring coach Dambrot back into the college ranks. Like most Zips fans I am trerribilly frustrated of waiting for next year. This was the next year. There can be no valid excuse for being way shy of a twenty win season. That rests on the coach and his staff. If the athletic director decides to make a change in head coaches I hope he has the insight to go no further than coach Dambrot. Coach Dambrot is top shelf as is coach Hipsher.

From the Feb. 21, 2004 Dayton Daily News: Colonel White (10-8, 6-4 Southwest Ohio Public League American Division) took the lead for good in the first quarter. Dunbar (12-8, 6-4) got within 35-30 early in the third quarter. That's when Milum went to work. The 6-foot-7 Akron-bound senior scored 10 points in both the third and fourth quarters on an array of post moves, dunks and free throws. He had a much simpler explanation for the difference from last time. "Revenge," Milum said. "Revenge. That's all it was. We came to play this time. We jumped out on them." The Cougars' defensive plan dared others to score instead of Cook, who was constantly doubled. "He had a couple points, but it wasn't like last time," Milum said of Cook. "He didn't have a lot of touches."

Update on Allan Hanson, 6'0" guard at Wauwatosa HS in Milwaukee. Allan is number two scorer (15.6) on his HS team that is currently 19-1,14-0. Shoots over 80% FT.

Perhaps its time to give the gals a little test .... like find out if any of them can get off their feet. While I haven't seen all the women's games I have watched a few. Not yet have I seen Lady Zip getting up off her feet to go after a rebound. One gal does deserve recognition for playing her heart out game after game. The MVP ... Lindsay Hemmelgarn.