RowdyZip

Hmmm, I can't seem to find any standings archives going back further than 5 years for the MAC. Does anyone know if it exists? One would think the conference website would provide it...

I think the only way the MAC gets an at-large is if one of the top teams (wmu/east team) goes undefeated in league play and loses in the tourney championship. Whens the last time that happened?

Fantastic! Hope it has a reasonably prominent spot on the sports page.I posted at 5:40, the story was posted on Ohio.com at 5:56. Quick writing, Tom! :wave:

Because it is very easy to force Malone, St. Francis, and Mount union to commit TOs, much harder when you play Providence, VCU, and OK StateNot sure when we played Mount Union but if you looked at the NC State game (quality opponent) the Zips did force 25 TOs, despite losing by 20. Shoot an average percentage for that game (The Zips shot .309) and the Zips come away with the win. This Zips team has been dominant on the boards lately, and that'll be a key. Should be a fun time tomorrow night...I just wish the students were ALL in town.Oh. And let me ad it sure would be nice to see a story in the Beacon touting this as a big game in TOMORROW'S paper to make more folks aware. (Hint Hint Tom/Beacon)

Well I know the URI fans are reading this thread, but where are the opinions? Beware looking past a talented team in Northeast Ohio, despite our weak schedule. You may have it a little easier without a full compliment of students in attendance, but the JAR can be plenty intimidating IF we have a decent sized crowd.

Well, it's a final in Connecticut, Rhode Island 63, Oklahoma State 59. Tuesday night will be URI (11-1) @ Akron (10-3). It'll be a tough matchup, but let's hope the Zips can pull this one out. URI should be on the verge of the top 25 in Monday's poll, like 30-34th, and possibly overlooking the Zips on the way to a matchup with Temple. Really looking forward to this one, as it sure would be nice to head into conference play in a week with an 11-3 record.

http://www.justin.tv/cbb2k8Found it. Here you go for anyone interested...Check that, the game was removed from that stream. Anyways, from what I saw this is a very winnable game for the Zips. I think the line will be somewhere around even to Zips -1. I'll go with a prediction of Akron 81, URI 75.

Okay, I'm ready to go out on a limb, and predict Li'l Rhodey leaves Akron with a 10-3 record, and on the ropes.Can anyone find a link for the stream of OSU/URI?

We're watching this team mature. It's happening before the MAC season, which is great. Can you imagine what happens as they develop Zeke as a weapon? Good things, my friends. Good things are ahead! BEAT URI!!

Vegas has us as a 1 to 2 point favorite in Laramie. I sure hope our guys don't take the Cowboys lightly. This looks more and more like a trap game before URI next week...

My favorite thing about that piece of trash article is one, he hyperlinks ZN and two, the K-ent fans that get their panties in a bunch about Akron being implied as the flagship team of the MAC. How many tournament games have you won, Zips? None. How many have you won outside of 2001, Can't? Oh...None. I love how they still consider themselves an elite program because of a great run a decade ago. Has Can't done more than Akron in the last decade? Absolutely. But if you ask 100 impartial folks in NE Ohio with college basketball knowledge which program is in better shape right NOW...90 of them say "Akron." B) B)

Jimmy had a postgame quote a couple weeks back saying how he realized that "this is it" and this is his last chance. Perhaps it took that for him to stop being so tentative and gain the confidence he needs. He's always had the skills...he was just too nervous to use them in a game situation. From what I've heard, the guy has been unstoppable in practice since he got here, but until now hasn't shown it on the court. Glad to see it, Jimmy. You're fun to watch.

WYOMING MESSAGE BOARDSTook a quick glance over to the message boards over there, and the only current thread referencing the game is someone's opinion that the now 6-6 Cowboys will end conference play at 8-6. Interestingly, he says a "convincing" win over Akron would change his pessimistic outlook on the season. This is a tough game simply because of the travel, altitude (7,165 FT [1.35mi] vs 1,000 FT), and time change, 9:00 EST tip. The Cowboy record includes wins over decent teams in Boise State (8-4), Northern Colorado (10-3) and also bad losses to Hampton (2-10) and Monmouth (4-9). Tough team to figure out, averaging 76.8 ppg but giving up 74.1. They do boast a 6-3 home record.Hopefully they're on from the start to pick up win number 10.

Zips 84Valpo 70

Nevada: 3,302Dayon: 4,059and the Dayton game was about 65-35 split in favor of Zips fans. Dayton travels well in-state.

Bottom line for the apathetic city of Akron, Ohio is that it's going to take a monster run and an appearance in the top 25 to see a SIGNIFICANT boost in attendance. A lot of people in this city honestly don't realize/don't care that the Zips play division I sports, the same as all the other big schools. They treat UA like a minor league. People here are desperate for a winner. Not just an 8-3 with 8 wins over nobody team, but a 16-1 nationally recognized, nationally RANKED team. It's a lot more difficult for a school like Akron to get there in Basketball, but Coach D is the man to get us there. He cares and is determined to get us there. The man is intelligent. He has a plan. He wants to build something big at his alma mater. I think we see it happen in the next 5 years, our first top 25 ranking that is. This year it'd probably take another 10 straight wins and an 18-3 record to sniff that spot. Could it happen? Sure...but I'm not holding my breath.

Zips DOMINATED the boards. I'd rather see them shoot 55%, but still a nice sign.

Wow, up by nine after a hideous half. Around 35% from the line and somewhere north of a dozen turnovers in 20 minutes will cause some issues in the MAC season. Still on pace for a double digit win.

Wow, for as every bit of polished we looked the last couple games, we look as crappy now. The 2-3 zone is giving us fits.

So what makes you want the kid? Not that I can put much stock in "stars" but he's rated as "1" on the two major recruiting sites, lists interest in a lot of major programs but has no offers from any at all. Have you seen him personally?

RowdyZ's lunch hour prediction says...Zips by 17, 79-62. Sorry, no double wings

Greensboro's been a decent team in the not so distant past, right? And I agree with the Malone game following a week hiatus due to finals. Like it's been mentioned, the other mid majors are mid-to-upper level mid-majors. St. Francis is the only team that "sucks." It does happen that Greensboro, UIC, and Valpo are having bad years. Makes the sched look worse than it is.On a side note, did anyone else notice Sunday in the JAR that someone on staff was on the ball when programming the abbreviation for the visitor on the center court scoreboard? St. Francis probably should be abbreviated "STFU," but was smartly listed as "SFU." :D

I brought this idea up a couple years ago. It's great about all the corporate partners who buy those lower bowl reserved seats. It contributes a LOT to the Z-fund. Problem is, most of the time they go unused. I for one (and I'm a GA season ticket holder myself) would LOVE to sit down there for a game or two. Tom, make this happen. Could it be run through gozips.com? Is there a legality issue? I wouldn't think, as long as they're changing hands for face value or lower.

Zips by 22...I'll go 76-54.

I think he means UNCG, not UNCC.....Yes, my mistake. Typed it quickly. Btw, let me add that tonight was one of the lamest turnouts by fans i've seen at the JAR.I understand students being on break but man, no one wants to come out to watch an NCAA tournament team?!Agreed. But this is a step in the right direction. UNCG is moderately recognizable and the Zips won handily. Lets hope URI wins their next 3 and is top 25 when they roll into town. That could be an eye opener, especially if we play like we did tonight.