UAZipster0305

Good start to the second half. Solid defense and a 6-0 run.

I have been negative enough recently, so I will try to keep it positive here. As poorly as we have played, we are only down 9, which is the same amount we were down last time when we played Can't and won.

Can't State still sucks!!!

If I was making a sport-specific point, I'd agree with you. However, my comment was related to general competition and thus, valid as an analogy. KD has been great to this point in getting us 20+ win seasons, MAC Championships, and trips to the NCAA. None of those things are out of reach for this season. However, to take the program to the next level, he needs to stop just planning to win the MACC. Some seasons, luck won't go our way, and we won't win the final or even get to it. We need to think bigger than the MAC. Our OOC is not a preseason, and we can't afford to take games off. If we had wins against Valpo and Duquesne as we should have, going into the ORU game, we definitely would have had the potential to be considered for an NCAA at-large. We were on the cusp as it was. This team doesn't have a killer instinct in large part because KD's desire to win is selective. Not saying he wants to lose certain games, but KD's approach to any regular season OOC match-up is too casual. Again, imagine Caleb Porter having that approach. Instead, Coach Porter says, WE WILL PLAY ANYONE, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, AND PLAY EVERYGAME WITH THE PREPARATION, INTENT, AND EXPECTATION TO WIN. (No, that is not a direct quote, but his attitude.) As a player, that's the kind of competitor I want to play hard for every game! As a fan, that's the kind of coach I want leading my team and not on the opposite sideline! I want the MBB team to have a slay the dragon attitude every game!

Can you imagine Caleb Porter saying something like that? Dambrot's attitude about the ORU game is a big part of what has led to the complacency of this recent slump. It has set the tone for recent games. And don't think this team is like a switch and can be turned back on just because we will have games in the MAC Tournament. Chemistry takes time to develop. I will be surprised if we get past OU, Buffalo, or Can't in Cleveland.

I recall Dambrot saying the ORU contest wasn't the most important game they had remaining. The attitude should be that the next game is the most important game yet!

I couldn't agree more! Dambrot goes out of his way to state that all that matters is the MAC Tournament. Is it any wonder that we under perform in the OOC and the Bracketbuster every year?...Then hit a home run in the MAC Tournament. He hasn't expected us to win in the NCAA Tournament, and we haven't. It was obvious the team didn't care about the CBI a few years ago either. They didn't even show up. 20 win seasons, MAC Championships, and NCAA Tournament appearances are great, but now that these things are established as nearly standard, Dambrot must continue to raise the bar and think bigger than the MAC. That means, every game matters and should be played with the intention of winning! We weren't playing to our potential before the ORU game, but now it looks like we are playing pick-up. No discipline, organization, or team work. I feel the lackadaisical attitude towards the Bracketbuster combined with the tough last three MAC games has made us complacent and lost. IMO, we'll either end up in the NCAA Tournament or the CBI. This team doesn't have the mental edge required to win on the road at Can't right now.

Yep. I am from out-of-town, but was home in AKron for the holidays and attended the VCU game. I believe the attendance was 4300, which was very disappointing considering that the opponent was in the Final Four the previous year and has a head coach who was one of our former assistants. It is apparent to me that it will take a conference change for us to be thought of by Joe Akron as The University of Akron and not Akron U.

I wasn't making an argument about what is right or wrong or what Joe Akron should think. But rather, stating what the reality is for fickle fans.

You nailed it. This team needs to have some sense of urgency against Can't.

This is a chicken and the egg issue. Should the fans show up to support the team and help them play well or should the team play well to encourage the fans to show up? It is obvious what Joe Akron thinks.

If we lose at Can't and UB beats BUGS, we aren't even guaranteed the NIT. Shit just got real.

The team has no leadership and right now, no confidence either. The officiating didn't help, but we made enough unintelligent plays that I am not even about to blame this one on the referees. I was hoping we'd win tonight for the sake of getting the 20th D-1 win of the season as well.

I am running Chrome via Ubuntu 11.10, not OSX or Windows. I don't know if that matters.

I am running Chrome and have only had it pause twice and pick up again without having to be reloaded. I have had problems with Firefox in the past. Could be coincidence though.

I am running Chrome and have only had it pause twice and pick up again without having to be reloaded. I have had problems with Firefox in the past. Could be coincidence though.

Treadwell is a beast on the boards.

http://www.itatennis.com/AwardsAndRankings...nkings_2_28.htm Ranked #57. Pretty impressive! Brown #41, Kentucky #74.

Are you a Browns, Indians, and Cavs fan as well? Loyalty is admirable to a point and then it becomes masochistic. If the Zips looked as bad every game as they did last night, they wouldn't be worthy of dedication from the most loyal of alumni. Fortunately, we've had 7 seasons of relatively constant improvement and may have the most talented team in the history of the program. I'm chalking up last night to immaturity. Let's move forward.

Down 19 at half? Really? I don't know why the only nationally televised game we play well in is the MACC. IMO, this is the source of our lack of national respect.

I meant my correction in a good-natured way. ZtZ, you're one of the most prolific posters on this board and I wouldn't want to do anything to discourage that. The win against Kentucky was huge. From what I can judge, UK is a mid- to top-level tennis program in the SEC. The scheduling has been outstanding...Big Ten (MSU), SEC (UK), Big East (WVU, Cincy, Louisville)...who can ask for anything more? This program is going places. And in an uppity sport like tennis, a win against a nationally-ranked Ivy League opponent is impressive too. I expect Brown to be much more difficult as they are ranked higher and beat us soundly last year. Nonetheless, I think the wins against UK and Dartmouth should be enough to put us in the Top 75. Unless UNM or UNA are exceptionally strong, the only other opponent that should be a struggle to win against this year would be Miami (until the NCAA Tournament, anyhow). Go Zips!

Good thread. One point that wasn't brought up in this article about Zeke: http://www.ohio.com/sports/ua-notebook-cen...-slump-1.266868 is that he wasn't in foul trouble throughout the game and was not constantly frustrated by the refs. He was able to just play his game. Sure, Dambrot's personal attention may have helped, but it wasn't the major factor in Zeke's solid performance against BUGS, IMO. Well done by the officials.

Some well-researched and highly thought out posts by wadszip in this thread. Kudos. As for wrestling, your point about some of the most fertile recruiting grounds in the area is noted. However, Can't having a nationally-ranked program is detrimental. As an analogy, consider academics...what are UA's nationally-ranked programs?...Polymer science/engineering and I/O psychology. Does Can't have those programs?...Nope. UA is competitive nationally because there is not a struggle to be the best in this region of the state. Also, does Can't have men's soccer?...Nope. There's a reason for that too. If UA adds a men's athletics program, it needs to be tennis. Look at what the woman have done / are doing. A men's program could be equally as successful. On-campus facilities are warranted, and a men's program would use the same facilities with no additional capital costs. Also, UA used to have a men's program, but I believe it was eliminated sometime in the late '90's. (Correct me if I'm wrong on that.) Tennis and wrestling are also the same size in terms of roster and coaches. I understand if you're partial to wrestling, but it just won't happen. The likelihood of any programs being added before we are in a more lucrative conference and the football program being in better shape on the field (and subsequently on the balance sheet) are slim to none. Then, there's the Title IX issue. With regard to the conference move, I think it's definitely UA and UT. I also think it's a toss up if only one is taken. UT has the better past, UA has the brighter future potential and larger media market. Either way, it would be a good move both for the adding conference and the institution that moves and a big loss for the MAC.

If GP1 makes a statement in the forest and Mrs. GP1 isn't around to hear it, is he still wrong?

Great post, CK. I agree about the board buzzing in a very positive way all season long. This is the same fan base that withstood 2-22 with iCoach. For some perspective on what negativity is, Frenchy should revisit some of those threads.