Valpo Zip

I voted for Nate Linhart. As far as I remember he was the only player who gave the program a total of 4 years without any distraction. He was productive since his freshman year. He was a leader by doing and a stat sheet stuffer in every way. Never had grade or off the court issue of any sorts. Best Zips memory ever: the 2009 team that was supposed to be a rebuilding team after the graduation of Wood, Dials, Middleton, and Milum... I remember a young struggling backcourt of Mcneese and Mclannahan and a front court of Bardo and the McKnight brothers, led by only one senior (Linhart) managed to win the first ever mac tournament. As the rowdies always nicknamed him: M V P

KD is not on a hot seat and he shouldn't be. He has a 10 year contract and I think (not sure there) that he is the highest paid MAC bball coach. KD is Akron's man, not because he is a great coach but because of all the other things he brings to the table. He is an alum, he has people's skills, he brings in quality people and most importantly: He has a certain "Quality" that helps him bring in quality recruits. If you bring another coach, we may (or may not) get a great x & o coach with amazing in game adjustments and no more free throw issues. The only problem is that he will be teaching kids that no other D1 program wanted. Pick your poison. The solution, if you ask me: KD is the face of this program. He is the head coach and the boss and the defensive coordinator but he brings in and offensive mind to teach the team play sets. Another assistant coach for big guys, and for God's sake do something about free throws. Who said that every assistant he has must be one of his own players? where did that mentality come from? What was wrong with Shaka Smart? Jeff Boals, Lamont Paris?

The most disheartening thing in this game is that we had the better talent. I would take tree, Quincy, and Reggie, and Pat over any player on the terrible SC roster. Yet they had the better discipline and the better mental preparation and half time adjustments. And how about we do something about free throw shooting next time in practice, this team practices, right?

Is Kretzer healthy? he didn't look like himself this whole season. If he's not feeling well, I think we're deep enough to sit him down.

I'd rather play SC multiple times in one week on the road than play bethune cookman, or any other 300+ RPI team at home. The MAC currently has 4 top 100 RPI teams. Could this be the year we get 2 teams in the tourney?

While I appreciate Q, Nyle, Reggie and all our 3 point shooters, this game was won in the paint. Midmajors usually use the little brother approach of shooting as many 3s as possible (even when contested) to make up for the lack of size, speed, and athleticism when they play power conference opponents. Not those Zips. I think with Tree and (travel free) Pat, this team can play anyone in the country and take it to them in the paint. Tree is not a surprise anymore, we all know his potential. If he develops a consistent mid range jumper he may be in the NBA in 2 years. Did Pat have his coming out game? the footwork inside was great, the soft hands and MOST IMPORTANTLY the defense. Finally, I know many of you will not think it was a big deal, but I loved the play when Reggie went after a rebound and put the ball back in the basket. I always felt that he is too good to just stand around the arc and wait for a shot opportunity. I am glad to see him hit the paint and be physical. He has all the tools. Very short turn around time. Harney & Big Dog were well rested today. They should contribute big time tomorrow. Not that the others shouldn't. Good night to be a zip...let's make them 2 tomorrow!

There is a huge difference. RI was part of a failing regime and was fired for the lack of productivity. Martin is with a ND team that took them to the national championship last year.

That is absolutely unacceptable

I do not have time to do a comprehensive research to compare the the amounts of research dollars, research publications, and patents before Proenza and after him. This is just a little something I found by a quick google search: http://www.uakron.edu/dotAsset/52700.gif If you want to believe what the NSA recruiter told you, I am not going to burst your bubble. If you want to ignore the numbers and facts and believe the hearsay and rumors, who am I to stop you?

I have 3 questions for you DIG, or anyone who watches practice: Who is our big guys coach? Do they practice post moves and footwork? who leads that? Does the team practice free throws? When someone travels during practice, does KD blow the whistle and call it a travel?

When did you become the spokesperson for everyone? Why don't you do everyone a favor and take your fandom somewhere else?

Dave in Green: Beating Miss. St. was a great start of the season, it turned the heads of some people who never cared about the Zips. I personally know 4 people who live in Akron and don't usually bother to drive 10 minutes to the JAR. They got so excited they bought some Zips gear, booked hotel rooms in Valparaiso, IN, and went on a trip to see the zips the following week. You know what happened? Lost to Valparaiso, then lost to Duquesne, then I don't remember what else but before you know, we were 3-5. Then everyone was like: all right, we will see you in March.

I am glad to see someone willing to argument reasonably without being rude and kicking people out of zips fanhood. Thank you UAzip0510, I apreciate posters like you. I understand your points but, with all respect, I feel that you are seeing things from a Zips homer perspective and that you are satisfied with collecting moral victories (which is fine). I, on the other side), am looking at it from the perspective of an average Joe national basketball fan (my neighbors and coworkers, etc...) When we discuss whether the program has stagnated or is it still peaking, I suggested a 5 level scale below and noted that has moved the program from level 5 to 3 in the first 3 years and we've been stuck at 3 for the last 7. Am I wrong? Now that you are suggesting other measurement criteria, which again, to me feel more like moral victories than real success, I will still debate you on them: - Were ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in school history As nice as that was to us (hardcore fans), unfortunately, what matters to the general public is where you stand at the finish line. 80% of the national bball fans only watched one zips game last year and that was the one we lost by 40? - Posted their best conference record since joining the MAC in 1992 That's great. But we had a similar record in the 26-7 season of 2007. We all know that this doesn't mean much to the national audience and the NCAA committee. - Graduated their best NBA prospect in 25 years. (Yes, I know, he didn't make it...but when was the last time we had a player that close?) That's a BIG moral victory if you ask me. Romeo Travis played on an NBA practice squad and Nate Linhart had a NBADL contract. Zeke didn't do either (nothing against Zeke here). But I don't think that this indicates that the program is now better than where it was few years ago. - Have another NBA prospect in POY-candidate Demetrius Treadwell Again we had Romeo Travis few years ago, etc... - Are favorites in the MAC despite losing Marshall, Walsh, Gilliam, and Abreu - four of their five starters before Abreu's arrest We've been MAC favorites before, that doesn't mean much. When your season rests on only 3 games at the Q, anything can happen. We learned that in 2006. - Have the chance to break Miami's record of consecutive championship game appearances if they reach their 6th in a row Who really cares? would you not trade that to getting an at-large bid and a decent seed? how about a tourney win? - Have four players in Aaron Jackson, Kwan Cheatham, BJ Gladden, and "Big Dog" Johnson who would easily crack many MAC team's rotations. Three of the four will likely redshirt I never questioned the quality of our recruits. I think that we have great players every year. I think that we had better talent than MTSU and ST. Mary and Coastal last year, and Oral Roberts the year before, etc... That's what makes things more frustrating.

No one said that the program took a step back. I said it has saturated and reached its peak. Others said that the growth has stagnated. Is there anything wrong with that? Can you say that the program has made progress in the last 5-6 years? Why do people have a problem with fans expecting more from the team? aren't we supposed to think bigger? And finally, let me point out that fans who watch games and come to this board to discuss them are the hardcore zips fans. How are you helping by asking the hardcore fans to go root for Kentucky?

Good and bad are relative. What's good for you may be bad for others. What would it take for you to call the season a success? 1 - Being ranked at the end of the season 2 - Have a couple of signature wins to be in a position for a good seed and an at large bid if needed 3 - Having a 20 win season and make the tourney as a 14 seed and get smoked 4 - Having a 20 win season and play in the NIT/CBI etc... 5 - As long as we have a winning season because that's better than what we had with Hipsher We've been fluctuating between points 3 and 4 for the last 7 years. When we keep hearing about thinking big, Gonzaga of the east, making the next step, you would hope that we will eventually make it to level 2. It only takes 5 games at the beginning of each season to blow that away and make us realize that we will end up at either 3 or 4.

This program has saturated and reached its peak! We have been gradually bringing in better and better recruits to only end up with the same final result. We are a consistent contender in the MAC with a 40-50% chance to win the conference every year... but that's about it! On one side of the coin, consistently competing for your conference title is great! A lot of people would give a leg to be in our shoes. On the other side, we should stop thinking big and (they) should quit whining about why are fans not backing the zips. If the coaches and players consider the regular season to be a practice and they only give a damn about games in March, people will start watching in March.

Great offensive moves from PF... and he travels as I'm typing that

I am totally with you. I don't see any benefit in getting out of position to block a shot. What is so good about a block shot where the ball goes back to the other team to take another shot? I would rather have the player stay in position, bother the attacking player enough to change his shot and get the rebound. Unfortunately, the first one gets you a "Block" in the box score while the other one doesn't.

I agree. I am expecting a great recruiting class this year.

I love three things about this thread: 1 - CK's statement that we should go "beyond our annual run through the MAC, then one-n-done in a tourney." while 10 years ago, making the tourney was a pipe dream. 2 - We graduated 4 seniors last year and we're still too deep and we're talking about redshirting 3 talented players 3 - Only 1 senior graduates at the end of this year. I think that these 3 reasons explain why I can't wait to watch this team play.

All right... I apologize to those I offended by my glorified high school statement. I do however stick to the point that Dr. Proenza has drastically increased the academic prestige of the university. Before 2000, most people went to class and left immediately after class. Now, most people live on or immediately off campus. Before 2000, you drove between the buildings, now we have a campus. Before 2000, most professors taught classes and went home. Now, professors attract more funds, perform research, publish findings, and register more patents. Again, I didn't mean to insult any body's education. I am sorry if you were offended by my comments. I am not going to discuss Tressel's candidacy anymore, I hope he really is not interested in the job. Go Zips! beat Can't.

Well, seeing how elaborate and solid your argument is, I'm sold that Tressel will be a great president. <-- [sarcasm] I think that he is well suited for the job of AD if one comes open soon.

First of all, Dr. Proenza took a glorified high school and turned it into a University. A place where highly qualified researchers work, and qualified students earn degrees and make a good future for themselves. Compare the campus today to that in year 2000. Compare the enrollment (yes even with the recent dip), compare the amount of attracted research dollars and the number of publications out of the university. I understand that the state is upset with him because he is unable to educate the lazy kids that THEY FORCE HIM TO ADMIT although they are not college material. Proenza built up the academic prestige of the university and if his crime is dreaming too big or aiming too high, then to Dr. Proenza. Second, what is it that makes people feel that Tressel as a president will bring a lot of donations? Really? Do you know an alum who does not want to donate now but if Tressel is president, they will? or is a non alum going to fall in love with the university and start donating when Tressel becomes the president? I just don't get it! Third, think about the academic side of things. Try tell a professor in Polymer Science who is top 10 researcher in the world in his field that his promotion and tenure documents will be evaluated by a non Ph. D. who doesn't know what scholarly research even is. But hey, he can coach a football team!

I originally dismissed the thought of Tressel becoming president as it seemed like a silly rumor. Now, with the repeated mentions, you guys are really starting to scare me. Is that really a consideration? If true, this will be the killer for the academic prestige that Proenza has worked so hard to establish for the last decade.

Never. They will just be 5th year seniors next year.