Z.I.P.

Our RPI took another blow today, when Arkansas let Stanford outscore them 21-1 to end their game. Razorbacks led by 20 in first half. What an epic fail!

I'm sure Bowden is glad there was no Gatorade bath today!

We were a very tired basketball team. Had no legs. Still, no excuse for letting a team like that manhandle us in that way

This is the type of game that makes me hate basketball.

As many probably recall, I was at the Iowa State game at the Diamond Head Classic two seasons ago ('long with my homeboy, Barack!). I honestly don't think that ISU team was quite as good as the Nova squad we faced on Sunday -- not just in terms of the starting five, but the depth of the Wildcats was/is final-four material -- ISU was perhaps top-ten quality, but I think Villanova should already be somewhere around #5-8, IMHO (why are we using that??) The Cyclones had George Niang, the only remaining member still in college was probably two yrs ago already the best of the crew. He will have a good shot at the NBA. I don't think anyone else from that team is in the league. Melvin Ejim and Abdel Nader were strong wing players, but the guards were certainly not equal to Nova's -- DeAndre Kane was the only dangerous guard on their roster I think. On the other hand, VU puts Daniel Ochefu a 6-11 who can play facing or back-to-the-basket in the post -- I expect him to have an NBA career that lasst a while. And their guards -- Booth, Hart, Arcidiacono and Brunson I would put up against any team in the nation's. In fact, if there is a better freshman guard anywhere than Brunson, I can't wait to see him! I would give this year's Villanova squad a double-digit spread over the 2013 Iowa State team (which beat Akron by 22). The fact that we were able to stay as close as we did against the Cats is evidence that the Zips team has improved markedly in two years!

Question from afar: What has happened to Mykel Traylor-Bennett? Is he still on the team? Was a top WR as a sophomore, but missing in action this season.

As I was watching this game, it struck me! Villanova is more than an ordinary "good" team. They're definitely top-10 material, and possibly final-four. So, I asked myself, ("Self...) is this the best team Akron has EVER played?" Trying to recall other games vs great opponents. I think Nova is better than the VCU team that wreaked havoc on us. I recall we played UNC in Chapel Hill a few years ago, but I think that was a "down" Tarheel team IIRC. I honestly think that at least three of VU's guards will be NBA players within a couple of years. We can be QUITE proud of how we played this opponent, and it should serve a huge learning experience in growing the team to earn an NCAA berth in '16.

"Kwan Cheatam, the most NBA-ready body on their team." Absolutely the fact! When will this board understand that reality? Kwan ain't no '4', so stop expecting him to play like one!

Just curious: This game -- like the previous game with UMass, is live Saturday on CBSSN. How does that jibe with the supposed "exclusive TV deal" between the MAC and ESPN. I thought the UMass game was allowed because UMass is a "football-only" member. Now, I wonder... Anyone know? I just hope we get more of these -- CBS sure beats the heck out of the ESPN3 announcing and video team.

Dear Caleb, please do not give Akron fans any of that "Yeagley is the John Wooden of soccer coaches" stuff! We, who sat and watched his Whose-her teams will never forget the arrogance of that man. We know, "Yeags", the man who taught Bobby Knight how to be bad!

Hey, Santa Barbara Mark, You going to be at Harder Stadium for the Gauchos and Gamecocks? If so, we'd love a game report! And pick me up some Kaena granache in Los Olivos??

Haven't heard anyone mention that the team will be getting a perfectly timed dose of national basketball exposure, as Sunday's game vs Villanova will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1, starting I believe at 4:3O in the 3O3 -- 11:3Oam here in the 8O8. A weekend of Akron sports is what America has to look forward to! Too bad no TV soccer coverage.

Does the video not work? Apparently! Aaarrrggghh.

Their press was relatively easy to break. But after we threw the rock over their two man wall, I would have liked to see the ball handler push it more and attack the shooting area -- we could have gotten more transition points, and made this a blow-out!

Most improved player, after three games. Best shape of his career. He out SEC'd the boys from WalMart tonight.

Hey, the trailing official just called a foul on the usher in Section 12. From the locker room.

I see on WatchESPN (waiting for Akron vs Ark) that Cincinnati has 20-16 lead on BeeGee, at the Stroh Center. AND, there appear to be plenty of empty seats in that bandbox!

So, has anybody heard anything else about Josh Williams' status??

Was Josh injured vs Hiram too?? Talk about a frustrating outcome! smh

Well, it appears that poutine is a specialty dish, available throughout the Hawaiian Islands! Who woulda thunkit? Not sure why -- our past Governor, Neil Abercrombie was a native Buffalonian and there ARE a lot of Cannucker snowbirds around Kuhio Avenue, so that may explain the abundance of poutine-serving eateries on O'ahu. So, alas, the Zip in Paradise and whatever other members of the Aloha Section Alumni crew he can scrounge up will try and find a table or bar seat at Real, a Gastropub in Baja Waikiki for the 10:30 kickoff on CBS Sports Net. http://www.yelp.com.au/search?find_desc=poutine&find_loc=Honolulu,+HI Edit, fail on REAL. They don't open the kitchen till 2 O'clock. ;(

Thanks Wadszip, that's a VERY interesting story on McCollum (whom I have to admit, I was not aware of being from Canton). Similar indeed to Damian Lillard, who came from Oakland, and stated his disappointment at being dissed by his school-of-choice, Cal-Berkeley. I love Lillard, and now will be following McCollum. Blazers are my #2 NBA team now, having spent some time in PDX.

I'm particularly interested in hearing how he plans to "engage the community", that he believes is anxious to be engaged. Well...Here's your opportunity! Let's find out if he used that "Marquette Marketing" to get us a Top-4 soccer seed. Ha!

An earlier thread said that the AK Rowdies were the reason that Akron was underrated by the committee in the past. So, I guess now the committee <3 AK-ROWDIES!!! I've never seen this story mentioned on here, so this is as good a time as any. At the College Cup semi-finals in Santa Barbara (vs Michigan), a gentleman came over from on the field to tell the Rowdies they had to "tone it down" in their chants. I only discovered on the flight home after we were that that guy was the Chairman of the NCAA Men's D1 Soccer Committee. I believe he was HC of St John's or nearby East Coast school. True story.

Anyone think that WMU would have gotten in if they had beaten Buffalo in the Semis (then lost in final)? I'd say, still little <50/50.

I think someone's screwed up, because ESPN has the same score as the screen board!