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From Training Camp: https://twitter.com/jennbrady_/status/460860500713017344

Congrats to Coach Kest on being named the 2013-2014 Columbus Dispatch Women's Ohio College Basketball Coach of the Year http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2014/04/27/akron-turns-into-winner-under-kest.html Tweet from Coach Jackson: https://twitter.com/CoachJackson21/status/460831393644171264

I never said the AD should throw money around towards the women's basketball program. I'm talking about the things the fans don't see that the AD has to take care of with Coach Kest. For example, talking to Coach Kest directly when asked by Coach Kest, instead of sending an assistant AD to talk to her. Which that example I just mentioned is one of the reasons a certain coach decided to leave Akron. My statement was more about doing the things he didn't do for the coach that left so another coach doesn't leave.

Good. From what I heard, she was offered the job. She turned it down. She's from Northeast Ohio(went to Mayfield HS)and coached at schools in the Northeast Ohio/Northwest Pennsylvania area. She may be at Akron for the long run. But the AD needs to do what he can to keep her here. Especially when the recruiting classes are arguably her best EVERY year. The intriguing part about this graduation class of Cassell, Young, Luburgh, Guyton, and Tecca. When they came to Akron(Tecca with Ruper actually), people thought it was a good class, but just solid. No one thought they would be this good. But they got better while they were at Akron. This incoming recruiting class, if they get better while they're at Akron, look out.

A very reliable person told me this may not be a done deal. The person in that blog may only be connecting the dots to past hires(Pfau as the women's soccer coach from Akron to Houston, Mack, etc).

I've been saying this for a little over 14 months now. Once this team made it to the NCAA tournament, I expected her to leave. If I was the AD, I would be having discussions with Kest, Jackson, and Box right now. I would try everything I can to keep either Jackson or Box here as the head coach. Possibly bring Jakubick as an assistant. I don't think this team will miss that much with either Jackson or Box here. The team went to another level when Ruffing left and Box came in. Jackson is the heart and soul of the recruiting process at Akron. Not Kest. It eventually was going to happen, but we'll see. If Kest doesn't leave for another two years, I would throw Ayla Guzzardo's name into the hat. I just feel she needs another year or two before fully taking over a program.

From GoZips.com http://www.gozips.com/sports/wbkb/2013-14/releases/201404164fnd0g "AKRON, Ohio - " University of Akron senior forward Rachel Tecca has signed a free agent contract with the Washington Mystics, one of 12 franchises in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). By signing the contract, Tecca has accepted an invitation to participate in the team's preseason camp in Washington, D.C., where she will play to earn a spot on the team's final roster. The Mystics' camp will begin on April 28, with a total of 15 players eligible to be in camp at any one time. The team's final roster will be made up of 12 players. Tecca is the first women's basketball player from the University of Akron to compete in a WNBA training camp. "I am extremely grateful and humbled to have been given the opportunity to play at the next level," Tecca said. "To be able to play against the top competition in the country is an honor and a dream come true. I am looking forward to getting to camp and making an impact." Tecca will travel to Washington, D.C. on April 26 in preparation for the first workout of training camp scheduled for the 28th. The WNBA preseason games start Friday, May 2. Final roster decisions will be made prior to the start of the regular season on Friday, May 16. "I am very proud of Rachel for this impressive accomplishment," said Akron head coach Jodi Kest. "It has been my privilege to coach her for the last five years and watch her grow and develop as a player. She will do a fantastic job representing Akron at the professional level." The Mystics open the 2014 season at home on Friday, May 16 against the reigning WNBA Champion Minnesota Lynx. Tip-off at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Washington is led by Mike Thibault in his 11th season as a WNBA head coach."

The WNBA's Washington Mystics offered her a free agent contract. Congrats Rachel, and good luck!!!!!!! https://twitter.com/bonezy32/status/456410758579257344

2200 enrollment, no athletic scholarships, and all their other sports are Division III. Congrats to those kids.

This is Kest's best recruiting class since she's been at Akron. There's at least three 1,000 point scorers in this class. Not sure if Hung scored 1,000 or not. If she did, then Akron has four of their five recruits coming in scoring at least 1,000 points in their high school career.

Just noticed that not only is the Zips Baseball team off to a great conference start, so is the Zips softball team. They had their MAC opening friday doubleheader against CMU cancelled, but beat Eastern Michigan twice over yesterday and today by 2-1 scores. Akron actually has the best overall record in the MAC, and is tied for 2nd in the MAC East at 2-0 with Miami(OH), with Ohio leading the MAC East at 3-0. They only have one senior, so hopefully they can just make it to the MAC tournament and get some experience in it. They always seem to finish 9th in the MAC and miss it. Which is a shame, since the MAC Tournament is played in their backyard at Firestone Stadium, home of the NPF Akron Racers.

Good win today for the Zips over Toledo, 3-2. Game 2 should be underway. 4-0 in MAC is a very good start.

The game was decided in the first few minutes. Once they got down 20-2, it was going to be hard to come back against a team on their floor. I don't think it was too much of a problem with our size. We actually had some in Cari Guyton. I was expecting Jodi to use her a bit against Purdue. I was surprised she didn't use her. Even just for a few minutes to bruise up those players and then bring Tecca in and have her go to work from the elbows. It was just an ugly first few minutes, and an ugly second half. Tecca gets hurt for a bit, Luburgh was something like 3-25 from the field, and the bench didn't score like they needed to do in this game. Plus being outrebounded the way they did isn't going to win you any NCAAW games. Hardly any MAC games. It's a hard end to the season to swallow for the seniors, but any success from this point on, this class will be remembered for being THE class to turn it around. It all started with Kara Murphy, but this class finished the rebuild. I thought the officials did well for the most part, but more frustrated on NCAA for the "road" game. When we got down 20-2, and the fact that over 90% of fans there were probably Purdue fans, of course every 50-50 call (or non-call) or decision would favor Purdue. I expect a little drop off next season, but not much of one. Next year's incoming freshman class is the best class I've ever seen come to Akron for women's basketball. Would not surprise me if a couple freshmen are in the rotation by the beginning of the season, and one is starting by MAC season opener. I'll start a thread in mid-to late summer about the 2014-2015 season and what the roster looks like, but for now, I'm reflecting on how great and historic this season was for the Lady Zips.

#GameDay ...Good luck ladies!!!! Let's get that first NCAAW tourney win to go with our first MAC Championship!

That's what happens when a team plays hard for their teammates compared to a team that doesn't...

UA Women's Basketball: Driven to Succeed

Found this on the MAC youtube page just now. Lady Zips portion ends around 0:50 mark

Agreed. Here's some more info on tomorrow's game. Swish Appeal had a blog post from Luburgh and Tecca. Here they are: Tecca: http://www.swishappeal.com/2014/3/21/5528122/ncaa-womens-tournament-akron-rachel-tecca-blog Luburgh: http://www.swishappeal.com/2014/3/17/5517122/mac-womens-basketball-tournament-2014-championship-akron-blog Purdue's preview of Akron:

President Obama picked the Lady Zips over Purdue in his bracket. He has Oklahoma State defeating Akron in the 2nd round.

"Kacie Cassell's spark provides Zips with energy" http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/women-s-ncaa-tournament-kacie-cassell-s-spark-provides-zips-with-energy-1.474877

"Akron assistant coach living the dream" http://m.standardspeaker.com/sports/akron-s-jackson-living-the-dream-1.1653873

Purdue will be without one of their best players saturday. Didn't realize this injury until I heard it today. Senior KK Houser tore her ACL on February 24th. Hate to see this, especially to a redshirt senior. Was hoping to get Purdue at full strength. Playing at their place will still be tough, and they still have some good players. Just a better chance of an upset I guess. Here is Purdue's stats: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pur/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/stats/season_stats.pdf

There's still room on the bus to West Lafayette Saturday if you're still looking to find a way to go. Bus is $32 and the ticket at the game will be $18. Bus will leave 5:30am. You can pay at the bus. Just call the ticket office today or tomorrow to see if there's still room or not. Last time I heard, there were still a good amount of seats left.

Just to warn anyone not going to the game that plans on watching it on ESPN2, you may need to find someway to stream the game depending on where you live. ESPN2 has three NCAAW tourney games on at 1:30pm saturday, which means it'll be "wrap-around" coverage most likely. It would have been four, but they gave Notre Dame-Robert Morris an ESPN slot during that time.