Captain Kangaroo

Scanning through the entire thread, I can't find a single post that speaks anything but glowingly about Keith Dambrot. Some local colllege hoops fans are also impressed with the job Gary Waters is doing. Apparently dems fightin' words in Summit County. To me, it's being a local college hoops fan and talking sports. There's absolutely ZERO anti-UA Coach sentiment involved in appreciating the work of another local mid-major coach who's obviously pretty skilled.In a way it reminds me of that old Far Side comic where a guy yells at his dog. Regardless of what the guy really says, the dog only hears one thing.

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Compare K.e.n.t.'s facilities out in Portage county to Akron's. Tell me where K.e.n.t. has ANY advantage.I love KD. Sign him up for a 10-year extension and I'll throw a party. But please don't tell me Gary Waters isn't a solid coach. The guy has proven it. That's the truth. No hyperbole.

Can someone come up with something relevant to dispute GP1's statement: How can anyone ridicule someone's contention that Waters is the best coach in NE Ohio? He built the foundation for K.e.n.t.'s 10+ year roughshod romp through the MAC. There, he won multiple NIT games and not only took K.e.n.t. to the NCAA tourney...he won a game. His recruits made it to the Elite 8 under Heath the following season.Now he's at CSU. In year #2 of his tenure he took CSU to the the NIT!? The same CSU who hadn't sniffed the post season since Huggins was coaching the Zips and I was 20 years old! Now in year #3 he's beaten Top 15 Syracuse and mopped the floor with the MAC's basketball "flagship."JD is irrelevant to the conversation. Hipsher is irrelevant to the conversation.The argument can be made, and easily supported, that Waters is the premiere coach in NE Ohio. And that, while the Zips have had an impressive 5+ year run under KD, we have blown every opportunity for a legitimate head-turning win that captures the imagination and attention of NE Ohio hoops fans. The MAC is there for the taking in 2008-9. The Zips have as much talent as anyone. It would be fun to be making confetti in March instead of making excuses. And waiting to see our NCAA tourney seed, instead of waiting for Zeke.At some point the Zips need to break through. Why not this season?

I'm with you. Where did K.e.n.t. finsh in the MAC this season? And the last season? And the one before that...and the one before that...Fretting about losing a recruit to K.e.n.t. is like saying "Gee, that lucky guy begging for coins has leprosy and I don't. Why why oh why can't I get leprosy??!!"

I hear that, before he committed to the Zips, HE WENT TO JARED!

Had this half written before the other post ..Miami led UCLA @ Pauly Pavilion in the last 2 minutes, maybe even in the last minute. They were closer to beating UCLA than UB was to beating UConn .. and it was on the road.Redhawks are heavy favorites to win the East, IMHO.I have a dream...that one day MAC schools will be judged not by the closeness of their losses, but by their margins of victory...I have a dream...

Originally from Iowa

Welcome to the board, BTW!

I gave Buffalo the edge over Miami due to their near upset of #2 UConn. Miami hasn't given any big boy a run like that thus far...which is rare, because they usually pull off at least one noteworthy upset every basketball season.

The same was said about the MAC East vs. the West in football. And in the end, Buffalo won it the championship.It is still early. I can see a team like WMU picking up the pace as the season goes on. Overall, a very weak start to the season for the MAC. NO ONE is turning any heads.

No MAC school is setting the world on fire thus far in 2008-9. Here's my scientific lunchtime analysis --MAC Basketball Power Rankings#1Buffalo – Reggie Weatherspoon is back. The Bulls are sitting at 5-3, but playing well. Pounded UNC Asehville by 19 points a few nights ago. They have a win over Temple, and a 4-point loss to #2 UConn to their credit. They did lose at home to Zips victim Niagara 65-61.#2K.e.n.t. – Presently 5-5. Playing a brutal schedule, and getting beat like a drum. The win vs. Saint Louis was nice. After that, losses to Illinois, Texas A&M, Kansas, Saint Mary’s and WCU(?!). K.e.n.t. will be ready to play during tourney time, but they are shaky right now. Tyree Evans is now eligible, and making an impact. #3 (tie)Miami – Sitting at 6-4. Played UCLA and Xavier relatively tight…but lost. Got absolutely smoked by Pitt and WVA. Miami looks to be their same-old-same-old “18-12” (record at year’s end) crew.#3 (tie)Akron – Sitting at 6-4, but two of the wins are against lower-Division competition. Against “marquee” competition, the Zips have only a road win vs. Niagara to impress anyone. Losses include Pitt (by 20), EKY (on a neutral floor) and VCU (by 4). The analysis sounds grim, but the Zips aren't in too bad a shape when compared to the remainder of the conference.#5BG – 5-5. Played Minnesota and Ohio State very well in two single-digit losses. Road losses to Central Arkansas and Savannah State. They have the inside beef to give the Zips problems. #6Ohio – 6-6. On a 3-game losing streak, and have lost 6 of their last 8. Not exactly enfuego in Athens. Nice wins vs. Tulsa and William and Mary. Got smoked by Louisville and Xavier. #7Ball State – Leading the MAC West at 5-5. Too bad Nate Davis can’t play hoops like his brother Jose’, because Coach Taylor could use him. Beatdowns at the hands of Evansville (10 pts), Purdue (29 pts) and EKY (14 pts) preceeded a 3-point win vs. mighty Presbyterian. Peyton Stovall’s appeal for a 9th year of eligibility was apparently denied.#8NIU – 5-7. Five of the seven losses have been by double digits. Two of their wins are vs. D-III schools. Overall, a very “cup cake” schedule to be sitting at 5-7. No marquee opponents.. #9CMU – 4-7. A win vs. Princeton…that’s about it. Marquee game resulted in a 14 point loss to Marquette. #10WMU – 4-8. Hardly “Kool Runnings” for the Broncos. Lost by 4 to TCU, 11 to SIU, 17 to VCU, by 8 to IUPUI and 11 to UNLV. They should avoid scheduling “initial-based” schools in the future.#11Toledo – A nice 1-point home win vs. UMass, and a bunch of beatdowns. New Coach Gene Cross has his work cut out.#12EMU – 2-8. Marquee games have resulted in Marquee beatdowns. Lost by 31 to Michigan, 12 to Saint Johns, 29 to Purdue. They do have a 1-point loss to Georgia to crow about. Their only D-1 win is vs. Wayne State.

HS Rating by Local Scribe

He appears to be in good company. All kids on the list are D1 Commits (or will soon be).

If the MAC can adopt a salary structure that prevents us from losing our premiere coaches to San Diego State, I'd be happy. I could see Turner Gill leaving Buffalo for a pay increase at Youngstown State.

The coaching staff says fans will LOVE this kid. He's apparently very engaging.

Wonder if he wore his old burgundy AZ State Rose Bowl jacket around campus this past fall? 20 years ago, you never saw the kid (20 years ago he was a kid) without it.

He's a diamond in the rough..... I disagree. I think, with 2 years of JUCO experience, you'll find Diamond to be a very polished player.

The Zips team shop at the JAR has piles of them.

It is so predictably hilarious that any time OSU gets a mention on the board, insecure "OSU Fan" MUST puff up his chest and support his school. It's like tossing a dough ball to a carp.Jealousy is the most laughable excuse "OSU Fan" has in his weak line of retorts. If anyone wants to be a Buckeye fan, the only thing stopping them is $15.00 to go to Wal Mart and buy a red T shirt (summer attire) and red sweatshirt (winter attire). BAM...your on the bandwagon 24/7!UA Soccer 2 winsOSU Soccer 0 winsOHHH...is that yet another doughball being tossed?

Zips recruits a plenty in The Crab Bowl!Note - I hear the event is BYOB (Bring Your Old Bay).Everything you wanted to know about The Crab Bowl.

Fleming no longer a candidate @ Yale

I gave up a few years ago. I could care less if people call it "Akron U." Hell...Dambrot does it every so often in post game interviews. Life is too short to get all riled up over "Akron U" vs. "The University of Akron." Your precious time on this earth should be spent hating K.e.n.t. State, and occasionally, Ohio State. And the 3-3-5.

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