Dr Z

I'd bet most people who call themselves college basketball fans can't keep their attention on one of these game for more than 10 minutes. They really don't like them and the network has to switch to games to try to keep fans watching. They are a waste of time. I wonder what the advertising dollar is for today's games? What viewing share will today draw? Think dollars and you will realize why there is more, rather than less. How many networks are involved now? Who is sponsoring?

If you like the tournament at 32, don't watch on Thursday and Friday. Problem solved. Most college basketball fans LOVE these two days.

Literally speaking, Notre Dame will present a big challenge for the University of Akron in their NCAA Tournament matchup Friday afternoon in Chicago. The second-seeded Irish (26-6) start four players who stand 6-foot-8 and the fifth starter is 6-3, giving them a decided height advantage at three spots and a standoff at a fourth. Only at center, with 7-foot Zeke Marshall, does 15th-seeded UA have an edge in height. Notre Dame, behind 6-3 guard Ben Hansbrough and 6-8 forwards Tim Abromaitis and Carleton Scott, used that size to its advantage to average 76 points per game, which ranks it No. 33 in the nation in scoring offense. ''They have size, and they are really good offensively. They can shoot from four spots,'' said UA coach Keith Dambrot, whose team plays the Irish at 1:40 p.m. Friday at the United Center in Chicago. ''The biggest problem we are going to have will be contesting their shots because they are so big, especially the wings. ''We could be in good position defensively, but they can shoot it right over us.'' That size also will be a factor on the boards, where the Irish are a plus-5.1 rebounds in 32 games, while the Zips are at minus-2.8. The Zips (23-12) had an obvious deficiency in that area last week in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. But they were able to use their shooting ability and defensive presence to win four games in five days to reach the NCAA Tournament. ''They are a good rebounding team not because they are big inside, but because they are so big overall,'' Dambrot said. ''We are going to have to rebound better.'' Senior guard Darryl Roberts said the Zips will have to do everything right to neutralize the Notre Dame size advantage. Click Here to Continue Reading Irish Enter w Chip on Their Shoulder -- Chicago Tribune

...an Akron grad is superior to a Can't grad any day of the week. I think we can ALL agree on that. I don't think that is even a debate. The point is we know Ken+ sucks, not everybody does, this commercial is done in a fashion that makes Ken+ look respectable. I thought it was well done. A good example of marketing a shitty product. I would like to see our sports marketing department come up with something better for football this season.

Devo is a very small portion of Mark's resume. He has become a very good composer in Hollywood. Check out his accomplished list of works. PS GP1, the Mothersbaugh's are from Akron.

I saw this tonight on tv, I thought it was done very well.

This works on the iPod Touch also, I loaded it last night. Looks pretty awesome. I'll test it with tonight's games. Tested last night,works fine. Totally free.

Can someone get LBJ a back scratcher?

Zeke Marshall was already at mid-court at Quicken Loans Arena to receive the trinkets that went along with the University of Akron's Mid-American Conference Tournament championship Saturday night. But when he heard the announcer call his name as the most valuable player, the 7-foot center staggered in his tracks. An unassuming sophomore from McKeesport, Pa., Marshall scored only 32 points in the Zips' four games. He downplayed his MAC Tournament single-game record of nine blocked shots in the final and his domination of Can't State's Justin Greene, the league's player of the year. So as Marshall cradled the wood and glass MVP trophy, it was clear it meant more to him than it might have to some other young men. It served as a reminder of his game-changing potential, a validation of two years of hard work and a confirmation of his decision to take a chance on a school like Akron where he would be given time to flourish. ''I can't even begin to describe how I did this,'' Marshall said. ''I was in foul trouble. My whole thing was winning this tournament. I just thank God for this. I thank God for what happened.'' For Akron (23-12) to have any chance on Friday in an NCAA Southwest Regional game against second-seeded Notre Dame (26-6) at the United Center in Chicago, it needs to happen again. Before the season began, Akron coach Keith Dambrot said, ''We are going to be as good as the big boy is,'' and he's been uttering something along those lines ever since. Dambrot knows that for Akron to take the next step as a basketball program, he has to land players like Marshall, ranked 43rd in the nation in his recruiting class. Winning 20 games for the sixth consecutive season and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years is one thing. Acquiring the talent to win in the Big Dance is another. Continue Reading Here Zeke Swats Flash Fans Hopes Away

Take 5 minutes and read through these. You will be an expert in no time.

Ken+ can't be the NIT champion without winning the first round.

I like using this site for researching such a conundrum.

Great site, I am bookmarking this one. Plus as a bonus I learned from that site that Matthew Barnaby is dating Michelle Beadle. Go Pens!

Twice. I was rooting for Ken+ to win last night, but I have to admit, I wouldn't have shed a tear if they lost.

ZTV will be unable to film since CBS and TBS own the rights to film the game and press conference's.. Interesting. I'll have to keep an eye out to see if any other school breaks the rules and gets some footage of a press conference.

CBS Presents Who Has The EDGE Frontcourt: ND has Moderate edge -- Akron has the size to match Notre Dame, with seven-footer Zeke Marshall blocking shots at the defensive end, and forwards Nikola Cvetinovic and Brett McKnight providing double-figure scoring. It will be interesting to see if Nash can draw Marshall out of the paint, opening up driving lanes for the guards. Backcourt: ND has Significant edge -- Hansbrough was the Big East Player of the Year, carrying the Fighting Irish to a No. 2 seed. Abromaitis took a back seat to Hansbrough this season, but he is unstoppable when he gets hot from deep. Akron has two capable playmakers in Steve McNees and Alex Abreu, while Brett McClanahan is the team's best perimeter scorer. Coaching: ND has Significant edge -- There is a severe disparity in NCAA tournament experience on the sidelines. Notre Dame's Mike Brey has reached the Big Dance four of the last five seasons, and has appeared in nine NCAA tournaments overall. Interestingly, the Fighting Irish have won only one NCAA game since 2003. Intangibles: ND has Moderate edge -- With the game being played at the United Center, Notre Dame will have a heavy home-crowd advantage against Akron. Ultimate Edge: ND has Significant edge -- The key battles in this game will take place in the frontcourt. Tyrone Nash is too versatile for Zeke Marshall, but Marshall could be a factor inside on the offensive end. Nash's ability to drag Marshall to the perimeter will be imperative. Meanwhile, Carleton Scott is too quick for either of the Akron forwards, and his inside-outside ability will be a major factor. On the perimeter, Akron defends the 3-point line effectively, but the Zips have not faced a team who can blitz a man-to-man defense like Notre Dame can. They will need to guard Ben Hansbrough and Tim Abromaitis closely. The Fighting Irish have too much inside and outside, and will also have the crowd on their side.

From ESPN. Short ad before.

Okruch to coach defensive tackles, Cosgrove to coach defensive ends!?!? Per Tom Gafney.

I'll start with one from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette WPIAL Standouts Help Akron "Everything happens for a reason," McNees said. "Initially, I wanted to be as close to home as I could be and play in Pittsburgh. I would've enjoyed that. But I've had unbelievable success at Akron and really enjoyed things. I'm happy it turned out this way." "Quite honestly, I think I could be a lot better," Marshall said. "I'm still a work in progress. That's how I look at it. It can be a slow process. I have to get better offensively and clean up more things on the defensive end. I just have to get more polished." Marshall has two more seasons of eligibility, and the Zips will have another WPIAL player next year. Former Moon standout guard Brian Walsh is sitting out this season after transferring from Xavier.

This works on the iPod Touch also, I loaded it last night. Looks pretty awesome. I'll test it with tonight's games.

Elton in the Youngstown Vindicator. Zips May Surprise ND What makes Notre Dame different is it is a throwback team with a lot of cutting, screening and passing. “They run a lot of motion offense,” Dambrot said. “You want to know something? We haven’t seen a motion team all year, which is strange. They may be the most skilled team in the country. They’re an eyelash from being a No. 1 seed. But we can get ready for it. We’ve got enough days.”

My fav

Will Ztv?

You want to impress us, do something about our football team on September 3rd.