Hilltopper

So what do you think is the reason they can't hit the shots? They made them last year.

The team still hasn't found its identity yet. Everyone is still not sure when to shoot and when to pass. We pass up wide open shots and take contested ones with nobody in position to get a rebound. Still comes back to the lack of good point guard play. Only 10 assists last night.

I don't agree with Elton often, but this time I think he is right on target. 9 games in 18 days plus all the travel has taken its toll on the Zips. Players struggling for Akron and Cleveland State .

Zips are out of gas! Marshall almost makes the 3/4 court shot to win. What an ugly win, but I'll take it.

How about Bettencourt. He hits a three and two free throws!

I've decided to just stay home tonight and watch the game on the webcast. The roads are horrible and not likely to get better anytime soon.

What happened last March was partly due to the other teams not having any idea of what we were going to do without AA in the lineup. Once there was some tape to be studied and game planned we saw the results against VCU. Another factor was the confidence level that winning 19 games in a row gave the team. KD has done a pretty good job of making sure he has a backup plan in case of injury or other problems, but unfortunately the backup point guard position was a mistake on the staffs part. Even as early as the middle of last season the staff started looking for other options for this year when it became apparent the Melo was not ready which is how we ended up with Evans. The fact that this years team is struggling because we are really missing AA is not an excuse, it's a fact. I agree that things can improve.

Maybe SC is better than we thought?

Bingo!

Considering it's New Years Eve, I wouldn't find that too surprising no mater what.

The only reason I didn't vote for Zeke is because even he admitted that his heart wasn't in it all the time. Linhart played his guts out and was mentally tougher than Zeke. If Zeke had Linhart's drive and attitude he would be playing in the NBA. I still love Zeke though.

I voted for Nate Linhart. He had a combination of skills that made him unique. Good all around talent and a great leader.

No argument. It goes both ways though.

Not surprising. I doubt that he is as concerned about what some members of ZN.o say about him, as much as what they say about his team mates and members of the coaching staff. I know some would say he needs to get a thicker skin or something of the sort but he is only human. But hey what do I know. I've already admitted that I see the world through blue and gold colored glasses. Win, lose or draw I will back the team. YMMV

All I can say is wow! Prayers to the Bowden family and to the Zips football family.

He's a good AAU coach. He excels at STVM because he can recruit when most of the competition can't. He has the LBJ connection that comes with being at STVM. The only way he would be able to win at UA would be if the LBJ connection followed him. LBJ is loyal to STVM, not UA.

Terrible news. We will be praying for his family. Here's a link to the local story. Former UNA assistant coach Alan Arrington dies in crash

Jake Kretzer is the second best defender on the team after Q. He has been assigned to cover the other teams best forward in almost every game. He pretty much shutdown Juan Howard in the second half on Wednesday. Same thing against Cleveland State. http://www.gozips.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/...2.xml?view=box1

I would expect that Kwan will see time on the court when he proves to the coaching staff that he knows where to be on defense and when he knows the plays on offense. Based on what I'v seen in games and practice, he's not quite there yet. Yes he is 6'10" and has lots of potential, but you still have to perform when its crunch time. He did get quite a bit of PT against Bethune-Cookman and I would say the the results were mixed. I would say that offensively he has looked OK. But he still needs to work on his defense. Another way to look at it he has played 20 minutes more than Jackson or Gladden, so that must mean something, Right?

Q is now an official graduate of the University of Akron. All his hard work last season to stay eligible was worth it. Congrats Q!

Looked like he was taking notes too. Based on the last few weeks, maybe he should have stuck with basketball. Football hasn't been working out to good for him.

Probably on my parents couch listening to the radio broadcast with my father. That game was at Detroit so I wasn't there.

Akron Zips Preview

Bortles reminds of a certain guy from a midmajor who has done pretty well in the NFL. Big Ben