GJGood

Love as much bowl exposure as possible for the MAC but would like to see greater diversity in potential opponents. I would hate to see too many of the MAC bowls be against only one or two conferences. Plus, if the MAC no longer gets a shot at the Big Ten in a bowl, there needs to be a bowl created that would match the MAC Champ against a good, if not great, team from a current BCS conference. Personally I'd love a MAC vs. Pac-12 bowl for more exposure out west but I know that is probably a pipe dream.

I don't think we will see OSU scheduling Akron until a certain sweater vest wearing administrator no longer wears the blue and gold. The Buckeyes don't want that storyline surfacing.

I'd love it if it happened but I'd be afraid if Louisville was open to deal like this that they would want it to be against Cleveland State as much as they would want it to be against the Zips. The Horizon league has made more national waves recently, even if its membership has changed in the last year or so.

I know a lot of people feel the way it is stated above. I just disagree. I feel that an actual divide between the so-called 'big schools' and the mid-majors would relegate MAC schools to what the FCS is now. I want Akron and really all the rest of the non-BCS conferences to stick around at the top level of college athletics including college football. While the Akrons of the world may never be up there with the Ohio States and Oklahomas of the world, I honestly believe that there are ways to level the playing field a little more in FBS college football. To me a big step in doing this would be for college football to have a championship playoff that included the champions of every conference and only a very limited number of other participants. this would be similar to what the NFL currently does. The key to me is equal access. If recruits know they can make the championship playoff at a MAC school just like they can at a Big XII school then it can only help things like recruiting and national attention. I think a system like that would go a long way toward leveling the playing field significantly. The problem is that it would likely take a number of years for this 'leveling' to really take effect and in the meantime the $$$ revenues from TV and such may take a hit. That is why they won't ever do it. Still, I have seen progress. NIU was in the Orange Bowl last year. Non-BCS schools have won some of the most prestigious bowl games. MAC games are on national TV more than ever, even if they are mostly on weeknights. These things never happened a generation ago. I'd hate to see there be an official divide now like some suggest. Maybe I am in the minority but I'd rather see where things are another generation from now if the recent trends continue.

When will the Zips make their return trip to North Dakota State? Will it be this upcoming season or the following one?

Actually, wouldn't it depend upon who they were on the schedule in place of? Obviously dropping a Pine Bluff or NC Central in favor of Duquesne would be at least a minor boost to the RPI but putting them on in place of somebody like Detroit would likely have the opposite effect.

If the Zips had the scholly room and were pursuing a transfer I'd want them to go after Darion Clark, a forward that spent his freshman year this past season starting 18 games for the Charlotte 49ers of the A-10.

I think the biggest thing working against him is simply that he comes from a school and a program that isn't traditionally powerful at all. He does, however, perform quite well against schools that are much better known. It really says something that he was able to lead his school's league in assists with schools like Northland, Brookhaven, and Columbus East in there, then throw in that he averaged 20 points, there must be some very developable talent.

Apparently not.

I agree. My point, though, was that the MAC was in position to actually be as big or bigger than leagues like the Big Ten and other regional conferences. I know the MAC has disadvantages nationally, but why not be the premier baseball conference in this region? The records for MAC schools this time of year reflect the tough schedules that MAc schools generally play early in the season and having to do so almost entirely on the road or at distant neutral sites.

WMU is in the CBI semifinals tonight. How much does a run like this help them for next season? They travel to George Mason tonight and the winner plays the victor of Santa Clara at Wright State. What do you think of WMU's chances?

I actually think the Zips only need to add one, or maybe two, bigger or somewhat highly rated programs to the schedule. The key is that you must win some of those games. To me equally as big of a deal is who we play at the other end of the schedule. How much would it have helped the Zips at-large profile if they would have played schools like Vermont, Evansville, and Montana instead of Coppin State, Texas Southern, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff? Assuming wins in these games the RPI, BPI, and other rankings would have been significantly enhanced, wouldn't they? It may not have done a lot in the "marquee" win category but would certainly help overall. Not having the BracketBusters game any more could hurt but only if the Zips can't replace it with a quality opponent on the schedule also.

I know baseball is not a major sport in midwestern and northeast college sports historically and that Akron, in particular, hasn't had a lot of recent success but I'd like to see more support for the baseball Zips. I really don't understand why the MAC in general does not have more fan support for their baseball teams. This is one sport where the MAC can truly compete with other conferences in the region including the Big Ten and whatever the Big East is now. The Zips' archrival proved what could be possible last year. Increased attendance at games and more interest will likely also bring about better recruiting and hence better teams. I wish I lived closer so I could go to more games. I do attend every year when Akron plays OSU down here in Columbus and I try to attend a game or two on weekends when I can. I just hope that the Zips can generate at least more local interest and improve their popularity in the Akron area.

Looking ahead to next season.... do we know anything yet about an early season tournament? What, if anything, do we know about the schedule overall?

I am happy but not completely satisfied if we get into the tournament and lose a hard fought and highly competitive game to a highly ranked team. I am not happy about being one and done while suffering a 46 point smackdown on national TV. I'd rather win a couple in the NIT than have a first game 40+ point loss like we watched last night.

I think next year's Zips will be better offensively but not so sure about defensively because they can't funnel everything toward the 7'5" wingspan anymore.

Yeah, that was what I thought too. I certainly don't think Betancourt dribbles the ball too high at all. Carmelo is not much of a scoring threat right now and I don't know how much he ever will be but that won't be his primary job anyway. That being said I do believe his season high in points was in double digits. Didn't he have 10 in a game back in November or December? I think he'd be capable of throwing in seven to twelve points every now and then, especially if he can draw fouls and hit free throws.

I know there are not any scholarships to go around but I have read a couple of times that there is an Akron interest. Anybody know about this? He is certainly one of the best high school point guards I have seen and I can't believe he isn't being recruited more heavily. I believe he averaged just about 20 points per game in high school and led all of Central Ohio in assists per game. This while playing in the same league as state powers Northland and Brookhaven that have produced numerous notable D-1 college players. http://clevelandstatehoops.proboards.com/i...&thread=511 Just wondering if anybody has heard anything about this kid.

I don't think we should go anywhere just yet. I see MAC basketball starting to improve as the West is starting to put a little more into their programs again. The time to move would be after the MAC improves in basketball and after the Zips football program sees more success. At that time I'd say we could move "up" to a conference in all sports. Right now I'd stand pat.

Maybe I am not seeing it the same as most but in the games since the incident I don't necessarily think Carmelo Betancourt has played that badly. Yes, there have been some turnovers and miscommunication but not nearly as bad as I feared. Remember he is just really starting to get any extended playing time right now, and while he may not be doing as many obvious good things right now as his predecessor he also doesn't seem to be as turnover happy, seems quicker, and looks like a better defender. He doesn't appear to be much of a scorer but I think he has the potential to be one heck of a floor general for the Zips as he continues to improve.

I have found most VCU fans to be quite gracious and kind. As an Akron alum and fan I thank you. While glad that VCU and their fans may not think too badly of us my concern is for how many people nationally that will be the only time they see our program. Even though it is totally unfair I will get to hear nothing but how bad Akron or the MAC are from any casual basketball fan. I saw this as the time we would impress, even with a loss. Even the broadcast never mentioned the one point overtime loss a year ago. That at least might have helped paint the picture that this was the abberration that it was.

We absolutely MUST stay out of foul trouble and take care of the ball. Do this we should be every bit as good as VCU in the half court game and better on the boards.

The Zips could not have played in the First Four in Dayton unless we were one of the bottom 4 conference champs (i.e. a 16 seed) or one of the last 4 at-large teams (we were not at-large)

I actually didn't put them in just because I thought the NCAA would take into consideration that Shaka was one of our supporters between the Abreu thing and Cleveland and the publicity that got. I thought for that reason they would treat it almost as if VCU was a team we had already played this season. Obviously I was wrong.

I agree totally. I would like to avoid SLU.