UAZipster0305

What I found interesting is that every MAC school was labeled as: "Not a viable candidate [to move to another conference] at this time." ...except UB: "Not a viable candidate at this time. If there is continued growth of the athletic programs, the school could one day be a Big East candidate after decades of success." UB has terrible facilities. Their only advantage is academics because they have a huge research budget. Our profile currently favors athletics with an expanding research profile. So I ask, over the course of a couple decades, what is easier to grow: athletics or research? My answer: research because athletics relies more on tradition and alumni interest. UB has no more potential to change conferences than we do. I actually think UA and UT are the only MAC schools with a shot at upgrading conferences.

The only positive I would pull from such a situation is the paycheck we get from the MAC distribution.

If we had won an NIT game or were in the midst of a deep NIT run, I might agree. As it is, OU is straight up the better team, and we are sitting at home envious of another program, again.

Spotted. Along with DiG's "Unfinished" theme, we "Spotted" the opposing team large leads in many games by starting very slow and played undisciplined and disorganized. Against lesser competition, we were able to overcome the deficit. Against teams at our level or better, we lost. DiG mentions we need to finish stronger. I disagree, we finished plenty strong! We even played the last 25+ minutes strong in many games (e.g. NW) just to make them competitive, but when the other team is "spotted" a large lead (10-20 points), a play or two that were not made at the end of the game cannot be attributed as the reason for the loss. Those games were lost due to a span of play in the first half that is inconsistent with even being competitive in the MAC West. "Spotted" also refers to the corresponding inconsistency of play. I will chalk this up to being a young team if the issues are corrected for next season. Fun thread topic, GP1. Good form!

Impressive second half thus far!

Finishing the half on a 7-0 run was huge. We're still in this one.

We're getting waxed on national teevee (again), and you think it's a good thing? Our defense is terrible!

Thanks. I did. I assumed your reference was to UA. Interesting nonetheless.

Can you please be specific, CK? I am unfamiliar with this situation.

This has been KD's mantra since taking over the program. Things have changed a bit this year, but I am yet to hear him speak about the OOC as an opportunity to build an at-large resume. Instead, I get the feeling that the OOC is the preseason to the MAC schedule. I want to hear him talking about doing well in the OOC for the sake of March in November. Yes, he and the Athletic Department were mentioning an at-large bid prior to the ORU game, but we were more in that position because it happened rather than it being a goal. To the contrary, prior to the ORU game, he also publicly said something to the effect that we would play more important games during the remainder of the season. I mean, come on! If you are playing for an at-large bid, the very next game is always the most important game of the season! Would Coach Porter say something like that?! Again, see Rule #76! I love KD and what he has accomplished here. He has few major flaws, but this is definitely one of them. To take the program to the next level, he has to stop playing MACC roulette. Period. I said in another thread prior to the MACC that there would be seasons where we are the best team, but would not win the MACC and automatic bid due to bad luck. And here we are, the best team in the MAC going to the NIT courtesy of a low percentage, off-balance, deep DJ Cooper three pointer late in the game. Before the shot went up and as it was on it's way to the hoop, you could almost hear Coach Croce saying NO!!!...until it went in. No soup for U(A).

WVU beat us head-to-head. End of story. Hence, I am willing to concede anything overall record and RPI say in this case regarding who is the better team.

I disagree. I would rather have OU as another 26 win team next year and have our guys redeem the losses of 2010 and 2012 by knocking off the Bobcats in another MACC. I want to beat them at their best. And if they are as strong next year as last year and this year, there is a real chance that both teams dance, which bodes well for the MAC and especially the Zips.

Thought I would start a new thread to keep the others and this one on topic. So some of my thoughts on the MACC game... 1) I am actually happy we weren't given the lead on the AA free throw with ~3 seconds left due to one of the OU players contacting the rim. Though we deserve some kind of payback from the 2007 Doug Penno shot, this was not the way to get it. The referees allowed the players to decide the game. That is exactly how I want it to be regardless of whether we win or lose. It would have been embarrassing for the MAC and for us to back into a MACC win. 2) We shot a scorching 9-12 from three point land. If it were an average or below average shooting night for us, this game would have been ugly. 3) I cringed seeing our big post players 20+ feet from the hoop defending against OU's guards. I understand the strategy to stymie their three point shooting; however, I wish one of our taller, athletic defenders such as Diggs or a more foul-disciplined Harney could have done the job and not abandoned underneath where we were then vulnerable to cuts to the basket and rebounds. If I'm on the OU coaching staff and being the smaller team, I consider getting the UA big men away from the rim a key to success and a minor victory in itself. 4) The referees let the players play. The pace was fast and aggressive. Very entertaining to watch! Because of this, I believe either us or OU playing with that intensity could beat any team in the country in a single game. The style and level of play bodes well for the MAC in the NCAA Tourney and in the future. 5) Last night is the perfect example of why we need to get past the idea that the MAC Tourney is all that matters for the season. With a well-played final like that where we lose by one point, we would have been right in the thick of the at-large talk had we finished off VCU, CSU, and Valpo/Duquesne. The major conference programs have the luxury of using the OOC as a preseason...we do not though this has essentially been the approach since KD took over. At that time, we didn't have the talent or the schedule to be considered for an at-large even with 26 wins. That has all changed now. We are a perennial 20+ win program and contender for the MACC with a strong schedule and a deep roster. The next step has to be seriously contending for an at-large bid, and that means we play to our full potential beginning in November. 6) As was said by others in a different thread, we love Zeke! He's a great student-athlete, defensive player, free throw shooter, and ambassador to the University. However, he struggles to adjust offensively against a fast, aggressive, and physical defense. This has always been true and was reinforced last night. Without this component to his game, I can't imagine him playing in the NBA. (Can anyone actually see him up against Dwight Howard?) If he decides he wants to play professionally, he will at some level, but his body language on the court tells me he'd rather be just Zeke Marshall than Zeke Marshall the All-American basketball player. If that's what he wants, I'm fully supportive, but I think most fans have come to expect the latter and it likely won't happen. As a team, we are talented enough to succeed (even in the NCAA Tourney) without Zeke being an All-American. I hope (and believe) KD will develop next year's team strategy accordingly. 7) Cooper's off-balance three was the play that stands out as putting OU over the top. A low percentage shot with good defense (lucky we weren't called for a foul), and he nails it. You can't plan for that or defend it any better. 8)) We can beat any team in the NIT and could win it all if we put together a series of games where we play to our potential. Next season's MACC and NCAA Tourney runs start with our first NIT game. I want to see the team come out with that kind of intensity and attitude. "Rule #76: No excuses, play like a champion!" - Vince Vaughn, Wedding Crashers

Props when and where due. Kudos to KD and the team.

+1. I will be the first to say I am happy to be wrong as a doubter. It always feels good to beat Can't and especially to become in their house!

Impressive second half thus far. No doubt Zeke has changed this game defensively.

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.