Blue & Gold

By the way, Friday night I asked an usher what the Q's lower bowl capacity was (they had the upper, nose bleed seats curtained off). He said the capacity was right around 12,000. So if you've been wondering what a 12,000-seat hockey arena, configured for basketball, would look like, that was the Q for the MAC Tourney. (Btw, he said there were approximately 8,000 nose bleed seats that when open, brings the Q's capacity to right around 20,000.) I was sitting in an upper corner seat and my view was honestly pretty good. I'm still torn on the benefits/drawbacks of a hockey arena vs. basketball arena. It truly is an epic decision.

Will the preseason tournament teams factor into the Zips' RPI?

I agree. Cooper makes Groce look very good. OU sans Cooper finishes 5th in the MAC East. The Magnificent Mr. Cooper was just simply unstoppable in the MACC. What are ya gonna do? Oh, well. OU's gonna be tough next year too - Cooper's senior year, but KD's really built UA into the MAC's top program.

Zips to Face Challenges Versus Wildcats Courtesy of George Thomas & the ABJ.

Thanks for the updates, Hilltopper.

Good grief, I had a complete brain fart. I have no idea what I was thinking. Thanks.

+1. Toledo's on the rise. Big time.

Why did the announcers keep saying the NIT had a field of 32? There are 4 regions with 7 teams per, right? 4x7=28? And what a nice field of teams! We have the chance of being on an ESPN network channel a number of times. I'm down with that. The potential trip to Washington would be a tough on on the fellas.

OU's set up nicely. They're a 13-seed and have a beatable #4 Michigan team in the first round, and either Temple, South Florida or Cal in the second round (USF & Cal are a play-in game). Ohio can beat any of these teams. They may just make a Sweet 16 run this year. I'm jealous.

Any additional updates on how McAdams is faring in the state playoffs? We're probably going to need him to contribute as a true freshman next season to beat OU (who returns everyone).

Haven't heard anything. After the defeat in the MACC tonight, I was cruising over here looking for a little pick-me-up.

+1. Greene's the man. He's been a great one.

One of the best articles I've had the pleasure of reading in a very, very long time. Thank you, George. Excellent work.

Wow. This article was excellent; best I've read in a very, very long time. Excellent work, GT. I'm going to start a separate thread with a link to this article, just to make sure all on ZNO see the link.

WMU made a furious but futile run at the end. K.e.nt it is.

I'm watching on STO and the crowd is prettynlame. I'm a bit surprised as I thought there'd be a larger contingent of Can't State fans. Edit: I take that back. The camera must be pointed towards WMU's side of the arena. They just showed a pan shot of the arena & the Flashes have a nice group.

Thanks for registering! I vacation up near Kalamazoo every year in the Muskegon area. Muskegon & Grand Haven are two of my favorite spots on earth! I visit Kalamazoo once in a while & walk around WMU's campus. Beautiful area. I was tossing around the idea of making the Puerto Rico trip, so I'm especially glad you stopped by!

Like the good Doctor, I voted K.e.nt simply because I love beating those guys. We've got K.e.nt's number. Though Justin Green is a potential MAC POTY, he truly struggles big time against Big Zeke.

Nice picture of Kretzer in the second link. It's the second picture down. He's got a strong, muscular build.

There really is more space there than one would think. I know I was surprised. A year or two ago I Google-Earth'ed the sight, along w/ a few footprints of other arenas and found that the location could comfortably hold either Pitt's Peterson Events Center (a 12,500-seat facility) or the U of St. Louis' Chaifetz Arena (10,600). You could even squeeze the Hartford Civic Center (16,294) or the Providence Dunkin' Donuts Center (12,400) into the sight. Edit: I'm referring to the on-campus sight.

I'm pretty sure there is enough space for an arena there. For years now the city has had plans for an arena on that sight, with the Mayflower still standing (hopefully converted into student housing - not to be mean, but the current Mayflower clientele is not the least bit conducive to an entertainment district). I think the kink that must be worked out will be the hockey -vs- basketball arena conflict. The city really wants a hockey arena on that sight. The U, however, seems to definitely favor a basketball arena. If the U is not down for a hockey arena (which I, personally, hope they are not) the city may not sell them the land. (?) Thus the U may have to build on the Spicer/Exchange sight. In the long run that may be best anyhow. Maybe in a few years the city & county can get together and build a hockey arena across from Canal Park. They are able to host ice capades, arena football & soccer, etc.

I placed a call and they don't yet know where we'll be sitting. I'll probably wait on buying tickets for a few days until they have a better idea of where the Zips' section will be. I don't want to pay $150 for tickets only to later discover I'm in the middle of the K.e.nt (or whoever) section.

Any idea what the Akron sections are going to be for Friday's semifinal game?

I voted Zeke. I was going AA, but in the end, just had to go w/ the Big Fella. Watching Zeke has been educational for me. I'm really starting to be able to see how he gets into everyone's heads on the floor and even if he doesn't block a shot, he really does, like Momma Zeke has witnessed for years, change the entire complexion & strategy of the game. I don't know how many times this year that I've watched one of our guards get beat off the dribble on the perimeter, only to watch the penetrating guard, hesitate, pull the ball back out, throw up a pathetic attempt at a shot, or simply pee down his leg when he sees Zeke rotating down.

Congrats, Zips!