ZipsGuy9

do you still have these? please email me if you have these left! thanks

If anyone is interested, I work right across the street from the Peterson Event Center at the Children's Hospital Reasearch Center I have a friend on the team and am a big Zips fan. I will be here everyday, it wouldn't be much trouble to walk across the street and get tickets for anyone (you could pick them up and pay me at game-time). Also, I am a UPMC employee, but others in my lab are Pitt employee -- which I'm assuming means could get discount tickets. If anyone is having trouble finding tickets, or want a cheap deal (not positive they get discount tickets, but pretty sure), just send me an email!Let me know how I can help!Anthony R

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but the zips will wear Nike NOT Lebron's line this year. Ohio State signed a 3 year contract (2 years ago) that states that they would be the only school in the country to wear "Lebron." So, the Zips will just sport Nike for year, then go to Lebron's line (still Nike of course, but with his logo). They are even saying they are going to get custom Zips Lebron shoes they will be custom made and only available to the team.

Got my ticket. Thanks everyone ....

I don't think it's too early to start a new topic about the big game on Sunday ... Here are my thoughts:1) The Zips enter Sunday with much more momentum, playing much better. Did anyone watch Can't on ESPN2? They looked VERY VERY sloppy and unimpressive. Sure, Miami makes you play an "ugly" type of game ... but for a team that was ranked last week, I was very unimpressed. 2) Last game (against Can't) isn't even close if the Zips don't turn the ball over 1,000 times. If we take care of the ball, we win on Sunday. 3) McKnight and Bardo MUST help Wood out down low against Ham-Sandwich. McKnight has been playing very well, getting big rebounds, and last night actually scoring. However, he tends to commit a lot of stupid fouls which could hurt the Zips in a close contest (which Sunday will no doubt be).My prediction: Akron 78 KSWho 74

zipfan34 i sent you a PMthanks

Does anyone have an extra ticket they are willing to sell? I only need ONE. I was going to buy it today, but as you all know IT'S SOLD OUT ALREADY! I'm a Zips faithful, and need to be at the JAR! If anyone has an extra one, please email me:Moderator Edit: Please send him a PM or Email through the board. Deleted his email for spamming protection.Thanks so much!

I agree with what most of you are saying, but I think a lot of people are missing the point.Firstly, when some say Akron should "play-up", it doesn't necessarily mean playing Duke and NC, like Can't. Obviously that doesn't do our program any good. However, what about those second-tier teams? Maybe teams in the Big 10 or even some teams in the Big East? Dayton beat Pitt this year! Considerably! Playing against better teams that aren't going to "blow us out" would really help the Zips. It would obviously give the program a little more exposure, and also would help the team improve. The MAC is a tough conference, year in and year out. The experience against better teams would only help in MAC games. The team expressed a sense of confidence after an "almost win" against ranked Dayton. Imagine the result of tough/close games against better opponents....Also, if the Zips did win the MAC, the experience would surely help in the tournament. Come on guys, we've all seen it. Year after year after year after year, there's a "fluke" team that makes it into the sweet 16, elite 8, etc. Why can't that team be the Zips? The answer is, IT CAN! A program like Akron gets guys that stick around for 4 years and are perfectly able to beat a more athletic, more talented team with experience and fundamental basketball. Lastly, let's all recognize that although we HATE Can't (using the word HATE here), it is a GREAT thing that they are ranked. It's great for all teams in the conference. It gives the MAC exposure and credibility. Oh, and did any of you say it will be even sweeter when we knock them off in the JAR on March 9th? ps.

According to a player on the team, Akron will be sponsored by the LeBron line next season. UA had a contract that with Adidas that expires after this season. I look forward to seeing all the new gear!

This response by skip-zip was in another topic ... and I thought it was worthy of a whole new topic because the slow starts are certainly a problem for the Zips. I have also had some concern over the slow starts, especially against Toledo, when it looked like it wasn't our night and we would drop 3 in a row. Here's my thoughts ...It has become apparent that Middleton isn't nearly as effective as he can be due to injury. Not only has he not started and has only seen limited action in the last few games, he also wasn't nearly as effective as we have seen in the past for quite a few games now. That's fine. KD knows this, and has made changes accordingly. Injuries happen.Here's what I wonder ...I think the Zips might be better off starting McNees at PG and Dials at 2, rather than Dials at PG and Roberts at the 2. Roberts has played very, very well for the Zips, but it seems that Zips go when McNees goes. They pounded Miami when McNees scored 20 and came back from 14 against Toledo with McNees seeing a bulk of the minutes during the comeback and scoring 16. Also, the one game that McNees just didn't have it (Can't) and had 8 turnovers, we lost. The Zips also lost to Portland State in a game that McNees did not play in, because he was "punished" for poor defense in previous games...When McNees is in, he is bringing the ball up the court. Not Roberts, not Dials, not Middleton. It is obvious that McNees is being bred to be the PG next year. So my question is, why is Roberts starting? Sure, McNees is young, but Roberts is YOUNGER and hasn't seen action in a year and a half. He does have a lot of talent, and according to a lot of guys we haven't seen anything yet. But if McNees is going to be the guy, why hold him back? Throw him into the fire. It will only help out in the long run because a PG benefits from experience much more than a 2 guard (Roberts).Sure, when you look at it, Roberts and McNees are getting similar minutes each game ... However, a PG is a leader. It would be a statement to the team that "this is our guy, this is our leader", if McNees would start. Dials is a natural shooting guard anyways, so this move just makes so much more sense to me. Let me know what you all think ...

Roberts was in the starting lineup to ensure that a PG would be on the court at all times. KD did not want McNees and Dials on the court at the same for an extended period of time, fearing that they would both need to come off at the same time. A backcourt of Roberts and Middleton would be troublesome because neither one of them had reps at PG. This is what KD told the Zips players. I also found it strange that B. McKnight started but saw limited minutes. Apparently KD just really likes to bring Milum off the bench...