UAZip0510

Agreed...glad this d-bag didn't go to UA.

I don't think anyone - me included - was cheering for them to lose...simply pointing out that a 6 seed might provide Akron the best road to the MAC Final.

Tonight's tweets... JoshCribbs16 - Can't vs Akron game tonight! who will win? Hmmm?????? no question Can't State Golden flushes!! JoshCribbs16 - Someone will have to clean up the roo kill after Can't State runs over akron!!!! Lol JoshCribbs16 - Don't worry the fear of the roo will be gone in a" flush"!!Ask Charlie frye what we did 2 his boys at the rubber bowl yrs back lol JoshCribbs16 - Somebody should make that sign for the game lol JoshCribbs16 - Where is this pic at??? Hmmmm Can't State baby!!! flushes all day lol... Ok let me tune back into the game (Picture of the Wagon Wheel was attached) JoshCribbs16 - They came thru cause I was bragging hard... I love how he talks smack about his time at Can't State against Akron, considering he got beat 3 out of his 4 years lol...why do people like this d-bag so much?

Good one. All i was trying to illustrate was that if Akron lost Friday, their side of the bracket could potentially be filled with better matchups, that's all. No need to be an asshole, we're all on the same side here.

Both MAC centers. Both 7-foot. Both in the same relative era (not comparing anyone to Wayne Embry or Nate Thurmond). I think the comparison is valid, at least to people who know basketball. Check out John Edwards' stats. Another valid comparison. Another recent MAC 7-foot center who played in the NBA. Zeke's stats are better. Beyond that stated above, my original post highlights Kaman's production growth from year #2 to year #3. It was clearly not a comparison of their respective Sophomore seasons. Check back with me next season at this time, and I'll show you that Zeke's ppg and rpg will have doubled from his Sophomore season. And you will have learned. Because I don't think Zeke and Kaman compare I don't know basketball? Chris Kaman - 7'0", 255 lbs John Edwards - 7'0", 270 lbs Zeke Marshall - 7'0", 218 lbs The height is the same, but Zeke's 37 lbs lighter than Kaman was, and 52 lbs lighter than Edwards was, which means he has a completely different body frame than both. That's a big deal when you're talking about big men. It also means that Kaman and Edwards had easier times gaining position down low, boxing out opposing big men, and using their size in general on both offense and defense. Zeke has trouble getting position down low on offense, and gets pushed around by smaller (but bigger) posts all the time. If Zeke comes back as a junior and weighs 240-250, I'll agree with the comparison. Until then, the comparison isn't a good one aside from a few similar statistics. I'm not saying Zeke can't/won't get better. The potential is definitely there. I'm just saying that it's just as likely that he turns into a nice, but not great college player. He'll surely get a shot at the NBA because of his height alone. I just don't think he sticks like Chris Kaman has. I'm remembering why I don't post here much. Instead of Zips fans agreeing to disagree, we have to puff our chests out and insult each other. "And you will have learned"...lol...alright chief.

Let's not sugarcoat it...Zeke only grabbing 2 rebounds in 23 minutes just isn't enough from him...he didn't play well at all. In fact, I'd say zero Zips players played well tonight. It was definitely a team loss. With that said, it's time to move on...Can't's up Friday!

It's pretty clear that everyone is frustrated right now. I think (I hope) this thread was started tongue in cheek, but it turned into Zeke bashing, then McNess and Cvetonovic bashing, then a ZN member taking his ball and going home. Let's not forget that this team has won 7 of their last 8 games and has a great shot at winning the MAC Tournament, as they have had the last 4-5 years. Last year's regular season ended with an embarrassing loss at home on national TV to Can't - the Zips ended up being one or two plays from winning the tournament and returning to March Madness. To Zeke's Mom - while I disagree with bashing McNees and Cvetinovic, I can certainly understand your frustration with logging on and seeing a Zips fan talking about trading Zeke. I'm sure Zeke is under an incredible amount of pressure and that he is trying his best to do well on the court. With that said, when you play collegiate and later, professional basketball, you''re open to criticism, and Zeke's no different. At the same time, I appreciate and applaud you standing up for your son. There is nothing more important to a young man going through a difficult, pressure-filled time than a parent that's behind him. Kudos to you for being that strong, supportive parent. I'm not sure what Zeke will do or where he will go, but he represents the University of Akron as well as any athlete we've had since I've been following UA sports. Many athletes NEED sports as a ticket to success...Zeke doesn't. If Zeke was 6'0" and never played basketball, he would still become a very successful person because of his intelligence, personality, and wonderful support system. Personally, I think that is cool as hell. Let's move on starting right now Zips Nation...Can't's on Friday, the MAC Tourney's next week, and I think we've got a team that has a great chance of going dancing. LETS GO ZIPS!

Oh no! Don't go! Just kidding...see ya.

I'm not saying I hope we lose...but it really might be the best thing for Akron heading into the tourney. Here's why: 1) A #6 seed will most likely play my expected #3 seed Miami...I like that matchup for us. 2) A #6 seed will also be on the same side of the bracket as #2 seed Ball State or Western Michigan...I like both matchups for us. 3) The two toughest matchups for us - Can't State and Ohio - would likely be on the other side of the bracket as the #1 seed and #4 or #5 seed respectively. 4) Should they lose to Can't State Friday, a win against a lower seed might be good to get their confidence rolling. Nobody remembers MAC Regular Season Champions...everyone remembers the final team standing in Cleveland.

Kaman - 11.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.6 BPG, .614 FG% Marshall - 8.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.2 BPG, .526 FG% Zeke has more blocks per game, but Kaman was better in everything else...and Kaman had 20 lbs on him, which is extremely important to consider.

We're about to find out a lot about this team. They just got beat by OU in every facet of the game, and now have an incredibly difficult road matchup at Can't left, one that will surely have a hostile atmosphere and slanted officiating...let's see how they respond.

Comparing Zeke Marshall to Chris Kaman is just silly. Kaman's sophomore numbers were much better offensively and he actually rebounded like a center...he also had at least 20 lbs on Zeke. Listen guys, Zeke's a great representative for UA. He's got a great head on his shoulders, and seems to care about more than just basketball, which is refreshing to see. On the court though, I'm just not sure he has "it". He doesn't play with passion or fire, even defensively. When the coaches challenge him, he drops his shoulders and tilts his head back in frustration. Half the time, it doesn't seem like he wants to be out there. He has a chance to be a very good defensive player around the rim next year and the following year, and will represent the team wonderfully, but I think that's about all we should expect. He's not going to the NBA (does he even want to?) and he's not going to dominate the MAC. The sooner we accept that, the better you'll feel about him.

Some think he'll retire, but he should still get plenty of offers from contending teams.

Being real here for one second, I reflect back to how well the KD-coached Zips offense worked when run through Jeremiah Wood in the post. OK, now I'm back to my usual unreal self ..... TRUE center. Wood was essentially Brett McKnight with a little more post skill and a lot more heart. I don't think their games are similar at all...

I'm going to sound like a complete prick here, but I'm going to offer up the honest truth about the Rowdies. When the AK-Rowdies started, it was a club...it was just a name for students in that section, and it worked. The number of students sitting down low grew, they were all into the game, and things were great. Then they started doing too much...let me explain. It was around that time that students were required to go to meetings. These meetings were held in a JAR classroom, where you were forced to practice corny chants (more on this later) in exchange for a lower bowl ticket. At games, students without the official "AK-Rowdies" shirt weren't allowed down low, even when many seats were open. A huge mistake had been made - exclusivity was placed on something that wasn't in that high of demand - the lower seats. Most students chose to simply sit in the GA. Many, like myself, moved from down low to up top when friends weren't allowed down low because they didn't come to the all-important meetings. The mandatory meetings were eventually killed, but it was too late...they had insulted a large number of Akron students, many of whom realized that sitting in the GA wasn't so bad. Those students never came back. Following this, a select few people took control of the cheering in the student section. There's big headband guy. The WWF belt guys. Gold blazer-wearing guy. Skinny and small body-painting guy. Last but not least, fat speedo guy. Here's where I'm going to sound like a prick...and I know this is mean...but have you ever looked at those guys? Have you ever seen the way they act? Is that really a group you would want to be a part of? Do you know how many texts I get from people at other schools making fun of what they term the "AK-Nerdies"? I know...it's superficial...it's judgmental...and it's downright mean...but it's true. The AK-Rowdies mainstays are a motley crew of misfits. And if you don't do exactly what they do - like one of their corny (and most of the time stolen) chants - they start yelling at you for not being a good fan. There's a lot of people that realize this and feel this way...everyone just feels bad saying it. Heck, I will fully admit that I wouldn't say it without the anonymity this forum provides. But it's the truth, and it's why - in the near future anyway - you're going to continue to see half-full student sections for all non-Can't games.

They just need to stop with the entitlement crap. Why do you have to be an "official" Rowdy to sit down low? If you have a Zip ID, you should be allowed down low.

Any guesses on the depth chart next year without Nik?

I drove over to the team shop today, only to find that it closes at 3 PM on Friday, 4 PM other days, which is awesome for those that work until 5. What's the point of even having it open?

Five things amaze me: 1) LeBron successfully built a "rivalry" between Akron and Cleveland in many people's minds. I've live in or around Akron for 11 years, and I had never heard of the rivalry before he mentioned it. Why? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EXIST. But if people outside the US think Akron hates Cleveland and vice versa, it doesn't make him look so bad. It's a ploy, and some of you are so blind to it that it's working. 2) Some people in Akron still think LeBron gives a shit about you or the city. LeBron cares about himself, his mother, and his best friends. That's it. It's nice that he donates bikes to kids, and that he donated the computers, but these are simple PR moves. 3) Some people buy that he wants to make Akron known to the world. You know how you do that? You stay in NE Ohio, you keep bringing superstars to NE Ohio, and you let the world know that NE Ohio is good enough to have the best the world can offer. You don't go on TV and embarrass NE Ohio, while validating the perception we try to fight so hard against. 4) Some people think he's helped our program. How? I've seen him at the biggest Ohio State games, on the sidelines, in OSU gear, showing support. How many big Akron games did he show up to in Akron gear? Has he ever even wore anything UA? How many games did he come to once Romeo and Dru graduated? What recruit has come because of LeBron's influence? Think he's had an impact? Prove it, with evidence. 5) Some people still think this guy is great. Ladies and gents, this is one of the most egotistical, narcissistic professional athletes of all time. He doesn't care about fans...he doesn't care about the city...he doesn't care about the game itself. He cares about himself, his mom, his friends, money, and attention. That's it. He's a coward that creates fake injuries while insulting the intelligence of fans paying good money to go see him play, claiming he is afraid of needles and ignoring the 80 tattoos he has. He's a phony that got exposed last summer...some people are just a little slower than others in figuring that out.

Sure, but I'm looking bigger picture, not just tonight.

And one game doesn't make a season...they're shooting 43% from the field on the season (31% tonight), 35% from three (24% tonight). They had a horrid shooting night, but it's not like that's the norm. Even if they won tonight, it's still obvious that they need to fix a lot before Cleveland. This thread is my attempt to discuss that.

I think it's becoming clear that the Zips will not only fail to reach 20 wins this year, but that they'll also be missing out on a MAC Tournament bye. However, the season is not over. On this date last year, Ohio U was 11-10 overall, 2-5 in the conference. They made some changes, improved over the next 10 games, won the MAC Tournament, and beat Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament. I'm not saying we'll do the same, but you can't call it a year just yet, especially in this conference. With that said, here's a few things I think need to happen to turn this thing around. Feel free to add your thoughts. 1) Run the offense through Zeke Marshall. I know, I know. Sometimes Zeke plays like a future pro, other times he plays like a taller Quade Milum. He's only a sophomore. He's got to develop more...he's not a finished product. I know. But still, Dambrot was right when he kept stressing the same thing over and over in the preseason - this team will be as good as Zeke is. When he plays at his best, they beat good teams like Can't State. When he struggles, they are forced to count of the team's other scorers, who are all inconsistent. It's time to run the offense through Zeke, for better or for worse. 2) Settle on a Starting Lineup. Players do well with a consistent rotation...it's February, it's time to settle on one. And please don't let it include Bardo. I'd go McNees/McClanahan/McKnight/Cvetinovic/Marshall, but that's just me. 3) Play Josh Egner and Dakotah Euton. Both are freshmen, and will make freshmen mistakes. But both can score, especially Egner. Egner also has the potential to be a great defender. Scoring and defense, something this team is sorely lacking. What else do you guys think? Regardless, don't give up...we are Zips fans through thick and thin...LETS GO ZIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it over?

Damn

How are they all of the sudden down 4? What happened?