Dr Z

AKRON-Can't RIVALRYFour things I think about . . .Thursday, January 18, 20071. Pregame thought. Seems the winner of the first game in this two-game season series gets a huge advantage on the road to a possible MAC title. The winner not only gets a game up on the other, but puts any MAC title hopes for the loser on the razor's edge. Last season, Can't won the first matchup. When Akron was upset on the road at Buffalo, Akron's loss secured Can't's title before the tipoff of the second game, which was played only for pride.2. Can't struggles when 6-7 Haminn Quaintance struggles. Quaintance, the MAC East Player of the Week coming off two double double games against Buffalo and Ohio, played just 15 minutes while saddled with four fouls. He scored four points and had no rebounds.3. Akron coach Keith Dambrot has shortened his bench in recent games as only seven players are playing 10 minutes or more a game. It's a plus, particularly for a player like Cedric Middleton, who delivered a career-high 25 points in 34 minutes.4. Great to see the 10th largest crowd (5,657) in Rhodes Arena. The Zips don't know whether equally big games against Ohio (Feb. 13) and the Bracket Buster game (Feb. 17) will lure just as many.- Elton Alexander

You might want to try sending your concerns to Hunter Yurachek.I would like to think that Mack is too busy to address such concerns, but I believe this is Hunter's job.

Feel free to add more articles to the thread (there are 5 articles in this one post, page down)...Travis leads Zips' victoryVeterans step up to hold off Golden flushesThursday, January 18, 2007Elton AlexanderPlain Dealer ReporterExperience proved to be the difference for the Akron Zips as they slowly turned a tight game into a misleading 78-68 victory over rival Can't State Wednesday night in Rhodes Arena that kept them at the top of the Mid-American Conference East Division.Inside play from the 6-7, 220-pound Romeo Travis (16 points, 8 rebounds) had Can't's post players in foul trouble early, even as the Golden flushes had a strong opening shooting half to take a 34-32 halftime lead. Still, Travis' play allowed Akron junior guard Cedric Middleton to come off the bench and deliver a career-high 25 points, including 6-of-9 3-point shooting."I didn't think I was going to miss," Middleton said. "When I did miss, I was shocked myself." All of this bode well for the Zips (12-4, 3-1), because for 32 minutes, Can't (9-8, 2-2) was holding its own. Can't senior guard Armon Gates can run hot and cold shooting from the perimeter. He was hot against the Zips, scoring a career-high 21 including 5 of 11 3-pointers."When Gates gets it going like that, you've got issues," Akron coach Keith Dambrot said.That's exactly what the Zips had. Through the first 32 minutes the score was tied eight times and changed hands 10 times. No team led by more than seven points. Even as Akron was parading to the free-throw line (23-of-34), Can't was holding serve behind 6-4 sophomore Julian Sullinger inside (15-points) and 6-7 Mike Scott (10 points, nine rebounds) on the glass.When it's tight like that, little things start to mean a lot and all the little things favored the Zips, particularly experience. As the minutes ticked down and the pressure built, Travis, Middleton and Dru Joyce, all veterans in this rivalry, stayed the course while the few vets Can't had wavered."They stayed solid and we didn't," Can't State coach Jim Christian said.With Can't ahead by one, Middleton drove hard for a layup and free throw for a 61-59 Akron lead.Moments later, Can't's Sullinger was whistled for an offensive foul on a post-up inside. Akron's Joyce countered with a driving layup, forcing Christian to call a timeout. Can't guard Jordan Mincy then drove hard into the lane and came to a jump-stop as two flushes sealed hard in the paint. But Mincy slipped as he passed and was called for traveling.On Akron's next possession, Can't's defense held strong and forced a bad Akron shot. But Sullinger was called for a foul on the rebound, and Akron's Nate Linhart converted both free throws for a 65-59 edge. Joyce then rallied his team to tighten the screws."We had the lead," Joyce said. "Let's tighten it up and keep pushing it out and see how these guys respond."While Akron was turning it up, Can't's seniors Omni Smith and Gates were culprits of trying to do too much either with suddenly wild 3-pointers (Gates) or ill-advised forays to the hoop (Smith). With 5:01 to play Can't called another timeout. But Akron led, 70-61, and Can't never challenged again. ----------------------------------------------------------Zips, flushes put on great showBy Terry PlutoIt's too bad these two teams don't play more than twice a year.Then again, both coaches would probably end up in the cardiac ward, if they did.This much is certain, don't miss the next time Can't State and Akron play. Just mark it down right now -- March 4 at Can't State.Just ask the sellout crowd of 5,657 at Rhodes Arena on Wednesday night, where Akron beat Can't State 78-68.But this game was closer than the final score, with Can't State leading 34-32 at halftime, the Golden flushes still ahead by a point with eight minutes left.Akron coach Keith Dambrot was very, very worried about Can't State.``I looked at their roster and they probably have four players who are more athletic than anyone we have,'' he said.That might be a bit of a stretch, because Dambrot is like most coaches. He could play a team of seven ants and three grasshoppers, and he'd say: ``Those ants are small, but they will run right under your legs. And the grasshoppers, we have no one who can jump with a grasshopper. You ought to see the end of the bench, they have two bumblebees red-shirting.''Fact is, Can't State's team is younger and less experienced than Akron's. Coach Jim Christian is coming off a 25-9 record and an NCAA Tournament bid, but he's lost his top three scorers.But Can't State should be a very good team by the end of the season -- say, March, when the two teams meet again and when the Mid-American Conference Tournament begins. Christian correctly talked about how Akron won the game at the end, because the Zips have a group of players who know how to win games like these, especially at home.Since Dambrot became coach, the Zips are 33-2 at home.One of those losses was to Can't State in 2005, and you can be sure Dambrot and his players are very of aware of that.Year of the ZipsBut this should be Akron's year.The seasoned group of Dru Joyce III, Romeo Travis and Jeremiah Wood made sure the Zips took control of the game at the end. Add in Cedrick Middleton having the game of his life, scoring 25 points.``Now Cedrick is one of our guys who can play with almost anyone athletically,'' Dambrot said.The 6-foot, 185-pounder with jets for feet and pogo sticks for legs put a white headband around his afro, and you were looking for Superman's cape flying behind him.He made 1-2-3-4-5-6 shots from 3-point range.He swished 'em from the corner, from the wing, from the Arby's way down on West Market. He couldn't spread his arms wide enough to show how big the rim looked.But Christian said Middleton really hurt Can't State with his drives to the basket at critical moments. That's when his speed and surprising strength kicked into high gear, as he transformed only 13 shots into those 25 points.Can't State also could not have been thrilled with the free-throw differential, 34-6 in Akron's favor.On this night, Akron clearly was the superior team.And Middleton had plenty of help.Travis played with energy and grit under the boards, scoring 16 points and snatching a team-high eight rebounds. Joyce finished with 18 points, 14 in the second half. A key to this game was the Zips having strong point-guard play, which helped them withstand Can't State's determined charge for most of the night.Six of the Zips' top seven players are juniors and seniors, and it showed.Nothing held backThis game had everything you'd want in a college game. These kids playing so hard, with so much sweat, so much joy, so much of what it means to be young, in college and in a very big game.And guess what?For those used to a steady diet of the NBA, you might have been shocked to watch both teams actually run... plays! As in possessions where all five players touch the ball, picks are set, everyone moves and the ball doesn't stay on one side of the court.It was a great game for pure basketball fans, as the trash talk and other self-absorbed chest-thumping antics were minimal.To the MAC, this is Duke/North Carolina or Ohio State/Michigan. It's a game that means so much, because they play against each other in the summer, a game that brings out the fans and gives the players their own unique taste of big-time basketball, MAC-style.``It was electric,'' Joyce said. ``It's the atmosphere you want to play in. People screaming at the top of their lungs. A packed house, even the Can't fans were great.''And everyone here should be ready to see these teams play again. The show should even be better.----------------------------------------------------------Zips' experience seals winVeteran team pulls away from Can't State in final 8 ½ minutesBy Tom GaffneyBeacon Journal sportswriterEnergy did it -- collectively by the defense, and individually by Cedrick Middleton.That combination was crucial as the University of Akron pulled steadily away from Can't State in the late stages to record a 78-68 victory Wednesday night before a hearty crowd of 5,657 at Rhodes Arena.The Zips (12-4, 3-1) took control with a tenacious man-to-man defense that forced the flushes (9-8, 2-2) into mistakes and bad shots over the final 8 ½ minutes.UA outscored the flushes 20-9 in that span to win going away and move into first place in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.``We had the intensity the whole game, but everybody came together at the right time,'' said senior forward Romeo Travis, who had 16 points and eight rebounds. ``It came down to the last eight minutes. That may be the best eight minutes we have played all season. The intensity picked up.''Can't State, the defending MAC champion, led 59-58 on pair of free throws by Mike Scott with 8:37 left.That unofficially began a change in the game's fortunes as the UA defense changed gears and the offense began finding open shots. Middleton, who finished with a game- and career-high 25 points, fueled the burst with a 3-point play on a layup and foul shot and then a 3-pointer in transition that gave the Zips a 70-61 lead with 5:08 left.The flushes could manage only two baskets from the 10:34 mark to the 49-second mark, watching the Zips' lead steadily grow and allowing the crowd -- the 10th largest in Rhodes Arena history -- to assert itself.``From the eight-minute mark, they stayed solid, and we didn't,'' Can't State coach Jim Christian said. ``That was disappointing for us. We didn't do the things that got us there.``I don't think it was the environment. We just made poor decisions.''The flushes, who got 21 points from Armon Gates, 15 from Julian Sullinger and 10 from Mike Scott, lost four outstanding seniors from their 2006 MAC championship team. Meanwhile, the Zips have a large roster of returnees and were picked as the MAC favorite in the preseason media poll.That experience factor was crucial to the outcome, according to Zips coach Keith Dambrot.``It was a typical Can't State-versus-Akron game. The only difference this time was that we had the older players,'' Dambrot said. ``We have been on the short end of the experience stick with them in the past. We reacted a little bit better at crunch time.''Middleton shinesThe night's individual standout was Middleton, a junior reserve from Chicago. His 25 points came on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, including 6-of-9 from behind the 3-point arc, and 3-of-3 from the foul line.``I have been working on my shot all year,'' Middleton said. ``I have to give thanks to the post guys like Romeo and Jeremiah (Wood) who drew the defense to them, and that left me open to take my shot. The basket was just wide open every time I took one. I didn't think I was going to miss.''Christian said Middleton seemed to be everywhere, and the Can't State defense was not able to stop him.For today anyway, it's the first-place University of Akron Zips.``It came down to we wanted to take control of the MAC with a win,'' said senior guard Dru Joyce, who had 18 points and five assists. ``We no longer want to be riding shotgun to Can't or OU (Ohio University). We want to be in the driver's seat.''The Zips are in action again Sunday afternoon at home against Buffalo. The flushes play Bowling Green at home on Saturday night.----------------------------------------------------------Boxscore from GoZips----------------------------------------------------------Small ESPN page----------------------------------------------------------

This is EXACTLY how you sell tickets and get attendance, and that's what is all about in the end.Don't forget Mack has people below him that are supossed to be working on this.

I believe there is no tv for this game, but to be sure, check your local Akron paper, they are usually on top of game times, and what station the game is on and all of that

Go to the game, you will get a ticket if it is sold out or not. My guess is no sell out as of yet.

An unreliable source told me not to be surprised if you see a two QB offense next year. :blink: Anybody else hear of this possibility?

Well done.

Watchoo talkin' bout coach?Faneca's little kid brother?Every time a dude wears a headband, I can't help think of...

Ranked #8 hereRanked #7 hereRanked #4 here

This is the game Luke played in. I have the game tivo'ed but have not watched all of it yet. Good luck finding a box for the game :unsure:I did notice NIU Can't State and PITT stickers on his helmet.If he is the one that gets to pick those logos, it tells me two things.1. There are no hard feelings about Pitt. 2. He is a bigger MAC fan than me, I'm not sure I could put a flush sticker on anything other than my

Rival page (cleek here)Scout page (cleek here)

For me, the difference between the two boils down to this.The more I watch Nate, the more I like him, the more I watched Tarver the less I liked him. Hopefully that statement will still be true in a few years.

Both HAVE made postseason play.I guess technically you are correct, but IMHO, NIT is like kissing your sister, it's a step, but not the dance. Win the MAC and get a real bid. Then you will see the fans like we did in the Zips bowl game.

What coach has won the MAC? What coach has not?What coach has made it to post season play? What coach has not?What coach has won against a big time school? What coach has not?You can like and or dislike a coach for many different reasons, but what it boils down to is results.PS I hope the above statements change come March 07.

It never ceases to amaze me how many threads with good information get hijacked on this board.

Read the article. That is not my list. The article is from 2005.Point being, it is not easy picking the next "Urban Myer"I guess I assumed people would read the article and notice the date, my bad.

Who is the next Urban Myer?1. Dan Hawkins – Boise State2. Pat Hill – Fresno State3. Mike Price – UTEP4. Paul Johnson – Navy5. Joe Glenn – Wyoming6. Tom Amstutz – Toledo7. Jim Grobe – Wake Forest8. Gregg Brandon – Bowling Green9. Darryl Dickey – North Texas10. Gary Patterson – TCUDid anybody see Columbus St band on the Monday halftime show?

Nice article on the former head coach of a MAC team.

Congratulations to Urban. Well deserved.

Game?

Nate could use the guy that has the longest TD run in SB history as his motivation.He didn't start in college either. Good luck to you Nate.

Fire JD. Hire Cowher. He was rumored to go to NC State and we beat them!?!We could get his girls to transfer to the womens basketball team. He won't miss a game.Think of Bill's recruiting potential. Then I bet we could fill the rubber bowl.

Pink suit reference (click here)

ESPN player profile (click here)Rivals 4 Star in 2004 (click here)Impresses Coker in spring (click here)Must be some truth according to Pittsburgh Sports Insider (click here)