UAZip0510

I think Abreu is done as a Zip, but IF he was cleared of charges or they were minimized to a misdemeanor, I could see him returning. I just don't think he gets off that easy.

Interesting note to think of as we celebrate tonight...our two main rivals and biggest competitors in the MAC will be losing some major pieces to graduation: Ohio - Loses DJ Cooper, Walter Offutt, Reggie Keely, Ivo Baltic Can't State - Loses Chris Evans and Randal Holt Obviously we lose some big pieces too - Zeke, Walsh, and Gilliam - but I think we have much more talent coming back than either one. This run might just be getting started...

Locks (6) - Treadwell, Harney, Betancourt, Kretzer, McAdams, Forsythe I'm going to assume Abreu is gone, so that leaves 7 scholarships. Quincy Diggs Deji Ibitayo Blake Justice Nyles Evans BJ Gladden Aaron Jackson Isaiah Johnson Kwan Cheatham I believe Quincy will be back. His off-court issue is settled and in the past and he's had no issues since. He'd also alleviate the loss of Abreu. Deji and Blake are transfer candidates. Deji got some PT, but you have to wonder about his long-term future here. Blake seems more likely given his lack of PT. I cannot imagine pulling a scholarship from the four new guys or Evans. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

I agree you need a legitimate outside threat out there at all times. C-Zeke PF-Treadwell SF-Harney SG-Walsh PG-McAdams OR C-Zeke PF-Treadwell SF-McAdams SG-Walsh PG-Betancourt OR C-Zeke PF-Treadwell SF-Kretzer SG-Walsh PG-Betancourt With how much we work the ball inside, we need more than just Walsh as an outside threat, especially with him at less than 100%. I like the C-Zeke PF-Treadwell SF-Harney SG-Walsh PG-McAdams I'd shorten the bench to Forsythe, Kretzer, Gilliam, Betancourt. I like Deji, but he's not ready for primetime. Between McAdams, Walsh, and Betancourt, we'll have someone who can bring the ball up.

My Picks First Round - Buffalo over Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan over Northern Illinois, Miami over Bowling Green Second Round - Buffalo over Ball State, Eastern Michigan over Miami Quarterfinals - Can't State over Eastern Michigan, Buffalo over Western Michigan Semi-Finals - Akron over Can't State, Ohio over Buffalo (with both games very close) Finals - Ohio over Akron (another close one) It's worth noting that if Akron has Abreu, I am extremely confident they win this tournament. With Abreu, they were simply a better team this year than OU. Without him, I think OU barely edges the Zips out. I hope I'm wrong. Good lord do I hope I'm wrong. And it's not that I don't think we have enough talent...it's the timing. One game and one week of practice to change your entire game plan is a tall order, no matter how much talent you have. Look at UNC last year. Please prove my doubts wrong Zips!

I can relate to your frustration...there's a lot of good and bad here. There's times I love this site and times I can't stand it. At the end of the day though it's free for us and run by them...you have to either accept that or move on.

How am I throwing them under the bus? They were fabulous last night. It would have just been nice to see a "Let's Go Zips" chant in that final minute instead of everyone silently grabbing their coats.

The best thing to do now is tweet the heck out of these guys. They still have the talent to win this thing...but self-doubt has crept into their minds for the first time all season. You could see it pretty clearly yesterday. The best thing to do from now until tip is hit them up on Twitter. It may sound ridiculous, but I'm dead serious...most of them use it often. @ZipsMBB - Official Team Twitter @CoachDambrot - Dambrot @RickMcFadden - McFadden @ziggy_marsh - Zeke @NickHarney - Harney @Tall_ass_tree - Treadwell @B_Walsh2 - Walsh @reggiemcadams21 - McAdams @KR3TZ3R15 - Kretzer @AvAlA9che - Gilliam @patf34 - Forsythe @CarmeloBM - Betancourt @d_ibitayo4 - Ibitayo @bjustice_14 - Justice @lukeavsec - Avsec Tweet at them and show them your support. Hit them up all week with positivity. They all see it. If you don't have a Twitter account, start one for this purpose. We need to be the "6th man" all week, not just Friday/Saturday.

I think the students missed a huge opportunity last night. This is exactly what should have happened in the last 1-2 minutes of the game. It would have sent a clear message to the team that we still believed in them. Instead, everyone grabbed their coats and headed for the exits.

Can't State packed in the paint on Treadwell/Zeke because Walsh was the only threat in the starting unit. Opposing teams will give Carmelo/Deji three pointers all game long. Having Abreu prevented this because they had to respect him as a deep threat. With yesterday's starting unit of Melo/Walsh/Harney/Tree/Zeke, only Walsh is a real threat from outside, and he's not playing at 100%. He was 1-5 from 3 point range last night, 1-8 overall. Both McAdams and Walsh are capable of bringing the ball up and setting up the offense. Both, even if they aren't shooting well, have a solid enough reputation that they'll keep defenses honest.

C-Zeke PF-Tree SF-Harney SG-Walsh PG-McAdams

"@MommaZeke: @reggiemcadams21 Absolutely will Reggie! Get ready for UR new assignment! #FloorGeneral"

Anger. Disappointment. Shock. These are all emotions we're feeling right now. The players and coaches are likely feeling the same. I feel for Zeke, Chauncey, Brian, and the coaching staff. It's time to accept a few things... 1) Alex Abreu is gone this year, and likely for good. I'm not going to debate the kid as a person because I don't know him. Losing him on the court will impact the Zips basketball team in a major way. 2) We are no longer the favorites to win the MAC Championship. Ohio, who was a serious threat anyhow, will now be seen as the favorite. A potential matchup with Can't State in the semi-final will be difficult as well. 3) The chances of making an NCAA Tournament run, if they do win the MAC, have decreased dramatically. 4) Our rivals, who have spent all season listening to how good Akron is, will jump on the opportunity to kick us while we're down. We'll hear "Crackron" jokes, "Think Higher", etc etc etc. As a Zip of 13 years now, I'm asking you, Zips Nation, to rise up above all of this. Be disappointed, angry, shocked - however you cope with this news - and then move on tomorrow. The Akron Zips basketball program is bigger than one player. The national/local media and our own players will be waiting to see how we respond. Rise up. Let's not take the bait from Can't State and Ohio fans, who will surely pour it on (they are already). Let them make their jokes. Ignore it. Support your team and coaches. Let's believe that, for once, the breaks will go our way in Cleveland. Let's get the JAR rocking tomorrow. Let's support the team that remains. Let's cheer like crazy for Zeke Marshall, Brian Walsh, and Chauncey Gilliam, who have all represented our program well. Let's get behind Carmelo Betancourt. I've heard for a long time that he's better than people give him credit for...let's support him in what is a huge opportunity for him. Let's remember that the main problem we give Can't State is in the front court. Abreu scored 7 points on a dismal 2 for 10 shooting night against Can't AT Can't and the Zips still won because Treadwell and Zeke controlled the boards (27 combined between the two, 45-34 overall advantage). Let's remember that the same pair of players gives Ohio plenty of trouble as well. Does that mean we'll beat either team? Absolutely not...but there's still plenty of talent on this team...there's still a chance. This is Akron...this is Zips Nation...we've survived heartbreak multiple times and we're still here. I'm proud to be a Zip, through thick and thin, and damn proud to be a part of Zips Nation. Tomorrow we move on. Tomorrow we come together and support this team against Can't State, and we do the same next weekend in Cleveland. Tomorrow we have no choice but to move forward as fans, as a team, as a program. Rise up, Zips Nation...Rise up.

I feel sick for the seniors and the coaches.

Even if he's innocent he's done this year

Why not have Walsh run the point?

"Think Bigger" I'm proud of our team winning the regular season title, but we'll only remember what happens in Cleveland years from now.

Right now Can't State, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, and Central Michigan would be on the Zips side of the bracket. Western Michigan, Buffalo, Ball State, Northern Illinois, and Miami would fall on Ohio's side. I prefer the group we have. Ball State lost big to OU, but they've been playing better lately, winning 6 out of the last 7. Buffalo has the ability to upset anybody. Even Western Michigan could surprise - they only lost by 2 to Ohio earlier in the season and were able to defeat both Can't State and Buffalo. On the flip side, Akron beat EMU by 8, BG by 13, and CMU by 12. Only Can't State poses a real threat. I'd rather have WMU instead of Can't State in the Semis, but I'd definitely prefer Buffalo to stay on the other side.

As of right now, I believe UB would be on Ohio's side. I'd rather face Can't State than UB in the Semis.

OU has to be thrilled to have Can't on the other side of the bracket. They beat them both times, but both matchups could have easily been losses as well. Western Michigan would be the likely matchup for OU in the semis. Western almost beat OU at home in their previous matchup. I expect Akron vs OU in the final, but both still have to take care of business.

No, just pointing out that Reggie's teammate DJ has this on the Internet while Reggie is making fun of Walsh's appearance.

Yeah Reggie, keep talking about Brian Walsh's hair color though...

Bingo. I've also never seen the blog claim to have the high-end journalistic credibility.

It was terrible last night, but they're 4th in the MAC in team FT%...

The Zips will certainly miss Zeke Marshall next season. He is one of the greatest defensive big men in conference history. The good news is the Zips have another young, up-and-coming center waiting to step in. Which leads me to this question: How good can Pat Forsythe be? First, let's look at Forsythe's statistics so far this season: 12.9 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.0 BPG, .518 FG% Now let's look at Zeke's first season at UA: 16.8 MPG, 5.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 BPG, .471 FG% Pretty comparable numbers overall. Zeke had lofty expectations placed on his shoulders that Forsythe doesn't have, but Forsythe will take on these expectations in 2013-2014. From what I've seen, I think Forsythe will end up a far more polished player on offense. However, while I do see him becoming a very good defender, I don't think he has the ability to dominate a game defensively that Zeke has. While Forsythe's career will naturally get compared to Zeke's in the long-run, they are two very different players. Thoughts on Forsythe, his potential, and what kind of impact he can make next year and beyond?