Captain Kangaroo

It is my opinion that this is the only thing that matters. I want to win games. I want the best players on the court that give us the best chance to win. I don't care who practiced well and who didn't. I want the guy that gives our team the best chance to win on the court during the games, because that's what fans come to see, the game. If you don't, then your attendance may suffer. Our Little League coach used to call us "The Practice All Stars." We stunk in games, but man were we awesome in practice.

Shocker.

CSU is more a rival than Ohio State. At least they beat us.

I agree. I hate that our coach is recruiting good players. He should be spending his time on lesser-talented, low-hanging fruit...we'd have a ton of commitments by now.

So we're now sans Diego?

First up: Brett McKnight was far more than a "one dimensional" player. Brett got tagged with being a sub-par defensive player in his sophomore season. Brett stood like a deer in headlights when a UMASS guard drove past him for the game winning basket. Brett has never been able to shake that unfair label. McKnight was a great shooter; a clutch shooter (better than any other Zip during his time at Akron); he also was a decent rebounder. So, one dimension just does not fit Brett. I can't imagine how many all MAC Defensive teams there would need to be before Brett McKnight appeared on one? Maybe "38th Team Honorable Special Mention All MAC Defense?" I'm forever grateful for the two free throws he stroked at The Q in March, and refuse to hate on the kid. He was a solid Zips player. Great kid. But his defense consisted of leaning on the opponent with his forearm. He was essentially one-dimensional ("one-dimensional" meaning a Top-20 threat on the offensive side of the ball, and a Bottom-20% player on the defensive side of the ball). No disrespect to your opinion, or anyone else's.

CK never is negligent in offering an informed, thought-provoking opinion. You know better. Click here for the definitive opinion on Diggs. Should your left mouse button be inoperative, I will offer the following highlight: You're welcome.

Bold prediction.

Other than giving Ianello credit for D'Orazio, I can't find much fault in the column. It's probably the most accurate independent overview of the Zips that I've ever read.

I remember when Larry Shyatt was an assistant at Akron. http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/men/bi...mp;staff=shyatt Another quality Akron area recruit that goes to Wyoming....man, that is a terrible loss... Shayatt is a funny dude...he was at Wyoming for a single season, then bolted for Clemson. People in Wyoming were pissed. Now they take him back...and a lot of people are even more pissed. I predict Nance Jr. will go to Wyoming, hate it, and transfer back to either CSU, OU or Akron (my crystal ball is on the fritz and I can't see the exact final destination yet). Slight chance he will also renege on his commitment. No chance he plays 4 years in Wyoming. Column on the topic

My notes regarding the banquet are - If you've ever noticed, there is a youth with Downs Syndrome that sits at center court for all the men's hoops games. He had an award dedicated to him last season for "Zips Fan Who's Overcome the Greatest Odds." This year's recipient was Coach Weigand's young son Trevor, who has been battling cancer. Trevor accepted his award and gave a speech at the podium that got a huge ovation. Everyone was a bit choked-up. It was awesome to see him doing well. Regarding Harney and Treadwell -- At the risk of being a buzz-kill, there remains a huge "unknown factor" to these guys. Each only played one season of high school basketball. And each was not allowed to meet with, or practice with the team this season. They enter the program this summer as almost complete unknowns, even to the coaching staff. They seem to be great kids, and grades are fine, but it is anyone's guess when they will be ready to log meaningful minutes on the court. KD really tries to drive home how difficult it is to achieve what the Zips have done over the past several seasons. During his speech he reeled off the other 19 teams D1 teams that have won 20+ games for 6 consecutive seasons. He then listed teams like Toledo and BG, who haven't been to an NCAA tourney since 1980 and 1968 respectively. He then specified the two teams aside from the Zips to be in their conference championship game for 5 consecutive seasons -- Gonzaga and Butler. He mentioned numerous times "You don't understand how difficult it is to achieve what we've done." I think Wistercil needs to give him a hug. And we all appreciate having a meaningful March every year! Despite the roughly 400-person crowd, KD took the time to speak with me for several minutes. He also listened attentively as my long-winded son told him a few stories involving his 4th grade gym teacher, who was a high school classmate of KD's. Thanks, Coach. The classroom that housed my Industrial Circuits classroom is being wiped out along with a couple other classrooms underneath the North bleachers to make way for a what sounds like a "player's lounge." Seems to be the college equivalent of a Continental Airlines President's Club, but without the beer. It is something that most other schools have, and will be a nice recruiting tool. No other JAR renovations were discussed. I loved all the senior's speeches. KD talks about "character" all the time. You can see why these Zips won more games than any other group, despite getting virtually no All-MAC accolades what-so-ever. They always played hard, they were always poised, and that made them winners. Other team's players and coaches always seem to garner the post-season awards, but the Zips play for the championship. I spoke to Brett McKnight's pop for a minute or two. He's a good guy. He's battling back well from his health issues, and looking very robust. He said he'd still return to the JAR for some of the big games next season, including K.e.n.t. Jeremiah Wood probably wishes he didn't attend the event....he got called-out several times during various speeches for not yet having his degree. It was all in jest...but KD takes pride in his graduation rates. And Wood promised to deliver a degree soon. I will be in Arizona when the Zips play VCU. Grrr... Hope it is on ESPN. I had two Roo Brew's at the event... my first and my last. The infected, medicinal liquid reeked of Band Aid, a dead-giveaway to poor sanitation during the fermentation. I had a similar beer in Annapolis once, after the Zips beat Navy. That's the only two times I've had commercially-brewed, infected beers. I can't believe that beer was allowed to exit the brewery doors. Overall, the food was fine. Much better than a few years ago. Steve French's wit rules. He was born to be an emcee. Thanks for a great season, guys. Hope to see a few of you seniors at BW-3's before games next year...I owe you some beers!

Son of a gun...and my sources were telling me the big minutes in 2011-12 were going to Peterson, Oldham, Green and Ibitayo? Who knew?

I think most older Browns fans think "the fumble" was a hilarious play. And they probably still yuk it up when they talk about "the drive." Funny, funny stuff. Likewise, what Zips fan can't find the hilarious side to losing to K.e.n.t.? Me.

Euton was a sloth...on the rare occasion he got off the bench during garbage-time, the kid moved like he was an 80-year old who'd moved piano's his entire life. Maybe he was injured...who knows. I believe his departure evens-out our scholarship situation? It will be interesting tonight to learn if there are any other newcomers-of-note (as hinted by Frenchy at season's end).

No it isn't. Not even close. If you are a "hater," you simply hate someone. If you disparage someone, you are "hating on them." It has absolutely nothing to do with race. I have "hated" on Bryan Hipsher in the past. It wasn't because he was white.

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

Any chance we can re-activate that old InfoCision web cam and watch the scoreboard sway 24/7?

It seemed like the scoreboard segment responsible for displaying the Zips offensive point total was broken for the entire 2010 season?

Fair response. But there was no inference that an undefeated record is required to pack the house. The Zips have had a very good run in hoops the past 5 years. But no one can deny the fact that it hasn't been "magical" to Joe Akron. Magical to the Zips diehards, and the ZN.O faithful, but not to the average Joe. This season we were 9-7 in the MAC regular season. Losing 7 games in the MAC regular season isn't magical. It doesn't get any bandwagon rolling. And it doesn't get a student out of his dorm room, away from his X-Box, off Facebook, and removing his red Ohio State Foam Finger to stroll across the campus in late-January and watch the Zips play Eastern Michigan. The Zips have had nice regular seasons, followed by excellent tourney runs. They haven't had a GREAT regular season, followed by a GREAT post-season. *Note* :Before Basketball Guy blows his top, I will make it clear, again, that everyone on this board has been thrilled with our tourney performance. But Joe Akron isn't wowed by MAC Championships. At least not sufficiently so to make the JAR SRO vs Milliken the following season. As an old-timer, I can tell you K.e.n.t. State drew flies before Gary Waters. The Zips had more fans at the Ke.n.t. gym during the Bosley/Ball era. Hell, I sat in the K.e.n.t. student section, right next to the floor, because there were no K.e.n.t. students at the games. K.e.n.t. had their magic run with Gates and Co., and it still pays dividends today. 12 years later? And to your final point, if Zips Football went 7-5 for 4-of-5 consecutive years, and played in 4 lower-tier bowls, and beat no major BCS competition, we'd average 15k. No more. Only a 9-3...10-2..."90's Marshall-type Years" would get the locals to show up in droves. It is absolutely no different than Zips basketball.

Ask the basketball team, its not that simple. I disagree. The basketball team fills a crappy arena to roughly 60-65% capacity by "winning." "Winning" being defined by a 64% winning percentage, where the team was 12-10 through 2/3 of the reason. If the football team won 7 games in a given season (58% winning percentage) @ InfoCision, it is pretty much a given that attendance would be around 15k. Virtually identical to the basketball team. No one should be able to point to the basketball team and say "LOOK...WE WON TONS OF GAMES AND ONLY DREW TO 60% CAPACITY...AKRON FANS WILL NEVER SHOW UP!!" That's plain stupid. The basketball team fills the arena to the appropriate level for it's performance, and facility. That's plain simple. You want to increase attendance? With something that's within the Program's control? Build off 2010-11. Don't take a step back, record-wise. Beat marquee opponents. Win an NCAA tourney game. Market Zeke. Long-term, and outside the Program's immediate control: Improve the facility.

I wonder if David will major in Computer Programmeing?

I think their best chance at a draft will be in Lot 9 this fall.

IMO - Diggs it the guy I'm most looking forward to seeing next October. His progression from Day #1 through the season's final game, and Dambrot's incrementally progressive Q-factor confidence was a great story to watch unfold. People forget Diggs was a happy camper at New Orleans until their program dropped to D-III. The kid goes from eating gumbo & muffaletta ... playing hoops and tossing beads...to Akron Ohio, Skyway and some guy named Dambrot whom he's essentially never heard of tearing him a new a-hole in practice every day. And don't forget Q's from Kansas. Kansas-to-New Orleans-to-Akron within one school year is pretty tough on a 19-year old. Still, as time progressed he worked hard and became a key contributor @ year's end. He's Quade (another "Q"), but with skills. Raw skills, but real, high-level skills none-the-less. He needs to work on his man defense. But his gambling style and long length made him an an excellent zone defender last season. He's the best ball-hawk we've seen since Jimmal Ball. If he gets his "man" footwork down, he'll be the #1 lock-down defender in the MAC. And, he'll give our upcoming BCS-level opponents fits too. These guys will know all about Zeke... Q is going to be a shock. His 3-point shot is sweet. He has great rotation. And he seems to pick his spots well too...he doesn't hoist the ball recklessly. He is our best one-on-one baller. I agree he needs to improve his handling skills, but towards the end of year #1 with the Zips, he got to the hole against just about anyone, at any time. The kid's got an on-court, nasty demeanor. He will get his share of technicals before his career is over. But the Zips need a bad-ass. If Q can keep his temper on the edge, without going over it, I'll be ecstatic. Is Q a 6th Man? I don't think so. B McKnight accepted that role because he was such a one-dimensional player. Q has the potential to do it all. You want him on the court from the opening tip. I like McClanahan in the #6 spot in 2011-12. Rebounding? He needs to work on it a bit. His athleticism will allow him to out-leap a lot of guys. But his gambling defensive nature doesn't put him in the best rebounding position some times. With improved defensive footwork will come better rebounding position. The nearest old-school Zips with Q's skill set was Marcel Boyce. And Boyce was at his best soaring over the likes of Michigan's Roy Tarpley and Pitt's Charles Smith. I think Q can can be that type of guy. Q's whirlwind tour is now over. He knows his teammates. He knows his coaches. He can finally settle down in Akron, unpack his bags and focus on school and hoops. I think his best attribute is he's a great competitor. Guys like that work hard. Big things await him this upcoming season. And remember - I'm the guy that told everyone McClanahan was going to bust out in 2010-11.

Hey...we have Ron Powlus on-campus. We should ask him about the accuracy of Beano's prognostications? Tom Gaffney, make the call!