UAZip0510

Hipsher - 2001-2002 - 10-21, Lost in QuarterfinalHipsher - 2002-2003 - 14-14, Lost in 1st RoundHipsher - 2003-2004 - 13-15, Lost in 1st RoundDambrot - 2004-2005 - 19-10, Lost in QuarterfinalDambrot - 2005-2006 - 23-10, Lost in Semifinal, Lost in 2nd Round of NITDambrot - 2006-2007 - 26-7, Lost in FinalDambrot - 2007-2008 - 24-11, Lost in Final, Lost in 2nd Round of NITDambrot - 2008-2009 - 23-12, Won Final, Lost in 1st Round of NCAA TournamentDambrot - 2009-2010 - 24-10, Lost in Final, Postseason = ?In six seasons, he has this to show:- Record of 139-60 (.698%)- 4 MAC Championship games- 2 NIT appearances- 1 MAC Championship- 1 NCAA Tournament BerthAnd he's done all of this with some very good players, but definitely no superstar talent. Feel free to bash Dambrot or call him a choker, but you'll just look silly IMO. He's turned this program around and will take it to another, nationally recognized level.

Any guesses on next year's depth chart?

Except that they directly impact the outcomes of games, like tonight.MAC officiating is beyond terrible. It isn't fixed, it's just THAT bad. And it's got to get better if this conference is ever going to be taken seriously.

Bullshit...if they were the best, they'd be playing tonight. Them being a bad matchup for Akron doesn't make them the best team in the conference (EMU was a bad matchup for UA too, doesn't mean they're the best either.)

Screw "luckiest"...every team needs some luck to help them advance, OU included. But our guys have played their asses off and have come up with clutch play and big shots to advance...it hasn't been luck.

It was a good movie overall, but there was a lot I didn't like as well. 1) Too much Dru Sr. He certainly should get some credit for helping the boys with fundamentals early on, and for finding a way to move them around the country as an AAU team, but his role in the boys' success is greatly overdone. He was given a gift in getting the team for their junior and senior year. All he had to do was keep them level-headed, and he couldn't even do that. And I don't buy him being a victim of some sort for being thrown into the fire...a guy who admittedly didn't (and still doesn't IMO) know much about basketball was given the #1 high school player and the #1 high school player in the nation. What more could you ask for?2) Not enough credit for KD. He was the one that developed Lebron and took him to the next level. He was the one who took a chance on Dru and developed him. He was the one who kept the kids modest when everyone was telling them they were the greatest things since sliced bread. Heck, if you watched games that Dambrot attended after he left, most times Lebron looked to the crowd at him, not Dru Sr., when things went wrong. KD developed the greatest basketball player in the world, and deserves his due for doing so.3) The negative portrayal of KD. If you didn't know any better, you'd think from the movie that Dambrot was a loud-mouthed, opportunistic prick. The last we hear of him is the players talking about not wanting to every talk to him again. What they don't include is KD grabbing Romeo and Dru (when nobody else wanted them) and molding them into high-quality D1 athletes at UA, or the great relationship Lebron still has today with KD based on their time together. Aside from those things, I thought it was excellent...definitely an interesting look at their 4 years in Akron.

They lost at Miami and Buffalo and at home to BG. They also had close calls at home against BG and on the road against Central Michigan, and barely escaped a loss against Western Michigan at home. A win is a win, and they are certainly the favorite to win it all, but please, let's quit acting like this team is so damn unbeatable.

I guess I just don't feel that Can't is really leaps and bounds better, unless you feel like yesterday was a normal showing from the Zips. Improve the 3 point shooting a bit (the looks were there), have a few things bounce your way (nothing did either game) and a lot can change. If I had to bet on a rematch, i'd predict a Can't win, but I don't think it's as clear cut as you guys are making it out to be. I'm hoping we don't see them in the final (definitely match up better with others) but the Zips can beat Can't State. I like your positive thinking but do no not buy into that " beating a team 3 times is tough theory" That is one of those unfounded myths that somehow remains in the world of sports. I think that some coaches say that to keep their teams focused but it's just not true. Take a look at the last two years in the K e n t / Akron series.Love the optimistic thinking, but I agree with Hip Zip. If a team is CLEARLY better than you, then that theory goes out the door. But if a team is close to your level, then yes, it is hard to beat a team 3 times in a row.

24 hours ago our team got pounded by our arch rival, at home, on national TV, for the 2nd time this season. that was yesterday. Today, we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.1) The Zips are 5-1 against their potential opponents for the quarter and semi finals, and most view the one loss as a fluke game. They are in excellent position in the bracket.2) None of those potential opponents are close to Cleveland, which means the Zips will have the majority of the crowd behind them. 3) Can't State's potential opponents include Miami, OU, and Buffalo. They split with MU and UB and OU played them tough both times. They are the favorite (and should be) but they won't have an easy road to the final.4) It's very difficult to beat the same team 3 times in one season, especially a rival. It would be a mistake to assume Can't will easily win in a rematch. 5) Akron finished last year 4-3 and needed an overtime buzzer beater to get out of the first round. The rest is history. It's times like these that the best fans step up and get behind their teams. We always say we are great fans...now's the time to prove it. LET'S GO ZIPS!

"Quietly closing in on a 25-win season""This is the MAC’s best team, no question"So apparently they are the MAC's best team and it's not even arguable (even though they lost to Miami, Buffalo destroyed them on the road, BG took them out at Can't, and they haven't played at Akron yet). And I guess that makes them the best team in the MAC, even though Akron has the same conference record and is the defending champion.Think before you write fellas...

Solid prediction...

Syracuse - http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4620949UCLA - http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=293200026 , http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=293330299North Carolina has a few questionable losses..I could go on and on. The top programs in the nation DO lose to mediocre competition, and they DO schedule less than stellar competition (yes, even D-2 and D-3 teams)My point? It's one freaking loss...if you jump off the wagon now, PLEASE don't get back on in Cleveland.

Can't State is a rivalry game which holds a big home court advantage...did that loss really shock you? APB was a win, so was Toledo...maybe they weren't pretty, but are we really complaining about wins???? Come on, we're better than that.I think his point is that we've had bad games and it's getting old. We want to move on to bigger and better things, but we're sucking at the average right now.I'm not saying it's not frustrating. But the top programs in the country have fans that are there every game, no matter how the team is playing. You guys all talk on and on about becoming a top program in the nation, then hold up you're end of the bargain, don't start jumping ship after ONE bad loss.

Can't State is a rivalry game which holds a big home court advantage...did that loss really shock you? APB was a win, so was Toledo...maybe they weren't pretty, but are we really complaining about wins???? Come on, we're better than that.

Look, I'm pissed too...no excuse whatsoever for Akron losing tonight at home to EMU. And f you are all going to give up because Akron played one crappy game against an average team, then go for it...it's your right. But if we're going to have threads like this when they play a bad game, let's stop claiming to be the best fans in the MAC. A top-of-the-line fan base sticks with their team through good and bad, not just when we're celebrating in Cleveland.

Obama high, i'm guessing everyone gets the same grades regardless of effort and your lunches are paid for as well.Because people who are lower income people are all that way because of lack of effort. God, I really can't stand when I read crap like this.

Settle down folks...we beat Can't and Buffalo, which we should be able to, at home and we'll be fine.

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...TCLID=204860742

He is entitled to his opinion, is he not? I like GP, and think he brings a lot to the forum, even if I don't agree with him 100% of the time.

1.) If you need KD to tell you the Zips won't get an at-large after losing a home game to Austin Peay, you need help. KD gets the "Captain Obvious Award" for that observation.KD said the same thing after his loss to Dayton last year. And many other losses before that one. This much is absolutely clear - The Zips will never merit consideration for an NCAA at-large if they lose games like Arkansas-Little Rock, Illinois Chicago, Winthrop, Dayton, Austin Peay, Valpariso and on and on and on...Quit losing games these "measuring stick games" and using the BS excuse that "we weren't going to get an at-large anyways...". Win the games. Then prove to me that the NCAA overlooks the Zips. If we keep losing such games, it should be no shocker that we don't get any at-large consideration.2.) Dambrot constantly grouses about the weak basketball attendance. Lose at home to Austin Peay, in the fashion we lost, and those sell-out crowds will continue to be a pipe dream. Joe Akron doesn't get too revved up about teams that can't beat Austin Peay at home. A big-time buzz-kill to begin the season.3.) "Akron sneaking back into the Top 25?" Top 25 WHAT?Big fat egg laid this afternoon by the Zips men's basketball team. It is as simple as that.Pull out whatever coping mechanism you want...the kids learned something...we just miss that awesome Nate Linhart...Jimmy Conyers is going to bust-out any day now...the football team <insert stadium comment>...it is a long season...the Zips will grow and improve...it was only one game...yadda yadda yadda.The Zips laid a big fat egg this afternoon and saying anything else is slathering a lot of lipstick on a pig of a game.1) I didn't need KD to tell me anything...I'm just glad to see him being realistic. I don't need any kind of "help", but thanks for caring.2) I actually said the "back end" of the Top 25, not "back into" the Top 25. You can laugh if you want, but many had Akron listed as one of the top mid-majors in the entire country prior to the season. It seemed as if the program was finally getting some National respect. Before today, I felt like, had the Zips started the season on fire, they could sneak into the last few teams in the Top 25 at some point. I didn't say it was likely, or that I thought that it was going to happen...I just stated that any remote possibility of it was now gone. What's wrong with that? 3) As for today's game, I think the team can certainly take something from it. They blew it today. They know it, we know it...everyone knows it. Winners move on to the next game and learn from the experience. It will be interesting to see how this team responds in their next game. I'm staying positive, because I believe big things are going to come from this team this year. If you want to dwell on it and act like the season's gone now that we lost the opener to Austin Peay, that's fine. There were many that did the same when last year's team barely made it past Walsh in an exhibition game. We know what that team ended up doing...

I don't think Roberts showing or not showing emotion on the court affects his value to the team one bit. Sometimes you need a guy out there who has a more "even keel" type of personality, a steadying influence to avoid guys getting too high or low.

1) The message has been sent loud and clear to everyone, from players to coaches to administrators: Last year is last year. It was a great ride, it's something we'll never forget, but it has very little to do with the 2009-2010 basketball season. This game was won by Akron and they let it slip from their hands. Hopefully the lesson has been learned, and they'll go for the kill the next time around. I'd rather it be this game than an important one in MAC play, or even worse, in March. 2) This whole Tim Carroll starting thing is hopefully over with. I get that KD wants Zeke to "earn" the starting spot, but he's too much of a weapon defensively not to start. Hitchens/Roberts/McKnight/McKnight/Marshall are your best 5 - start them. Nik plays the "Varejao" role - energy off the bench as the 6th man. And the rest of the rotation shakes out based on performance. 3) KD was right in his postgame - the Zips weren't going to get an at-large bid anyways. This loss hurts some of the excitement going in, but all it really prevents is Akron having any remote possibility of sneaking in to the back end of the Top 25 until late in the season. Hopefully it was a lesson learned, and the "new" season starts with a big win in the next game.

A few thoughts...*-The new stadium effect has effectively worn off. I don't think there's much of a buzz at all. Goes to show you, it's the product on the field that matters most. *-There's been pretty good attendance so far, but how many will come out in mid and late November for the Temple and Eastern Michigan games, especially if the team continues losing? *-Whether or not people will admit it, it's hard to charge $20 for a general admission ticket to watch this team. Their only win came against a cupcake opponent, and they haven't been overly exciting to watch. Sure, the diehards will still go. What everyone misses on is that those people always come - they came to the Rubber Bowl, they're coming now. The "average Zip fan" or "average football fan" in the area is not going to drop $20 to see this team, especially with other options nearby (other MAC schools, other Ohio schools, OSU, high school football, etc.). The Athletic Department has two choices: 1) Keep tickets the same price, (most likely) draw sparse crowds in 2/3 of the remaining games, and struggle to sell tickets for 2010, or 2) Cut prices a bit to try to put some butts in seats. $10 general admission tickets would be more realistic, or there could always be "specials", like the Cleveland Indians threw out this year to try to offset the low quality of their on-field product. *-Think about a family of four. - Four $20 general admission tickets = $80 - Parking = $5 - Four hot dogs = $12 - Four soft drinks = $12Over $100 to go see the 1-4 Zips play...and that's without souvenirs or programs or anything. Does anyone really expect the average fan to drop this much to see our team?

Only ~12,000 at homecoming. Sad. And one of my dear friends is queen.$15 or $20 is a lot to pay for a general admission ticket...my fiance would probably be there if tickets were a bit cheaper, but $40 dropped on tickets alone is tough for every game with the current economy. Might be time to drop ticket prices the rest of the way, especially given the on-field product...

I know numerous people have posted random thoughts from Saturday, but hey, why not? Here are mine after reflecting on Saturday's events:- I'm pretty sure the basketball team was in attendance for the game. Am I the only one that thinks it would've been cool to bring them out at some point and recognizing them, getting them a much-deserved standing ovation? - Time to stop with the whole "we are competing with Ohio State" thing for now...the argument kind of loses credibility when Indiana pretty much dominates us on our home turf. - Why is the Team Shop not open? I can only imagine how much $$$ UA is missing out on by not having it open...- The food service was much, much quicker today...looks like UA was better prepared for the crowds this time around. - We should've known it'd be a long day when that sniper took out Zippy. - One reason for lack of attendance - ticket prices. $20 for general admission? In this economy? Prices are the reason why my fiance and I will probably only attend one more home game this season. I know it's the first season at the new stadium, but $10 seems a bit more reasonable for a GA seat. - I'm starting to think Brookhart's days are numbered...and that he might have already been replaced if it wasn't for a Getsy-to-Hixon Hail-Mary a couple of years ago. - Cool to see Lebron at the game...his support of Akron will help us a lot going forward. Too bad he couldn't have suited up!- Pretty disappointed in the energy from the fans. It seems like the student sections were the only ones awake for most of the game. - Officiating was pretty poor...not that it would've changed the outcome, but it may have made things a bit closer. - Love the "Zips Fest"...you can feel the "college football atmosphere" before you even walk in the stadium. - Next week isn't a must-win, but it would be big to get some momentum back that was lost on Saturday. Here's hoping for a big win to kick off UA's MAC season.