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Lady Zips up 23-7 with 11:20 left in the first quarter.

Toledo calls second time out. Akron up 19-5 before U12 media timeout.

Lady Zips next game is Thursday at Toledo. Should be a good one.

The difference is that most people don't know how difficult the women's schedule really is, especially in the MAC. Crystal Bradford was National Player of the Week(1/22), and Rachel Tecca is this week's National Player of the Week. Back to back weeks with a MAC player as National Player of the Week. I have been busy with this winter. Normally, my schedule picks up in the winter, but this winter has been overwhelming with work(if that gives you an idea what i'm talking about). Here's my take on the women's team: 1) They got off to a slow start in MAC play. Teams go through slumps, but the amount of games(or sometimes minutes in a game) that the slump happens for is how you figure out how good of a team you really are with adversity. They're starting to find themselves again, and there's only 2-3 more games that I see them having trouble with in the regular season. I still think a top 4 seed in the tourney again. 2) My biggest concern with the women's team last season was the lack of bench. Whether the players weren't ready for that level, or Kest just didn't want to experiment lineups with something that was working. This season, Kest has expanded the bench use, and they're using 8-10 players in any game. Sometimes even more than that. 3) The freshmen here are very good. Plybon started right away, so that one is a given. However, in a blow out(like CMU or EMU), they get to see the floor. I like what I see out of the freshmen when they get a chance. Especially Scipio and Ricketts. 4) Megan Barilla has stepped up this season as a great backup point guard to Cassell. She isn't putting up the numbers like she did last season, but part of that is because she isn't in the game as much thanks to Barilla's progress. Gibson has helped sooth the King injury, and has done a great job coming off the bench and being productive. Anita Brown is doing a great job of being the first off the bench, and can plug into Plybon's or Luburgh's spot depending on the game matchup. 5) The incoming freshmen are going to be a force as soon as they get here. I expect at least two of those incoming freshmen to get quality minutes next season. The transfer from NC State, Theranny Dunnigan, is going to be Tecca's replacement next season. I think many will be surprised how good she will be for the Lady Zips when she finally gets to see the floor in an actual game. 6) This coaching staff is one of the best in the MAC. In my opinion, any of the coaches can be plugged in as the head coach if Kest leaves, and not have any major bumps along the way. To be honest, I don't expect a couple of them to be there by the end of next season. Coach Boxx and Coach Jackson are well ready to be head coaches in my opinion. 7) This conference for women's basketball is all about matchups. Central Michigan has a hard time with the MAC West and Bowling Green. Ball State has a problem with us. They own CMU though. Toledo is a force in the MAC west, but then have a hiccup against Ohio. Akron blows out EMU, but EMU holds CMU to 60 some points. Every team has a matchup that they own, and a matchup they can't seem to get through. It all matters on the seeding on who goes to NCAA this season in my opinion. I'm excited for the stretch run here, and see what happens. And it starts tonight with the men's team at home vs Ball State. #4PetesSake #3Peat4Pete

And you wonder why I'm so hard on the men's team. I work with players practically every day, and I keep telling myself "How can I keep watching this, when I can show my players a game film from this team lately and label it 'What went wrong' and see if my players can figure it out. I watched the Lady Zips MAC opener, and they made some uncharacteristic mistakes, but they still overcame them and played a solid game at times, and beat a very good Ball State team. The fact that the women's team had their "3 stars" not play so well, and still score 87 points is a testament to the build of that program. And for anyone wanting a trip to the JAR, the rematch of the 2013 women's basketball MAC Championship game is tonight at the JAR against Central Michigan. The game will also be on the Time Warner Channel, ESPN3, etc.

I know this feeling far too well, and it hurts even more when it's someone close to you. Didn't know Tank, but can just tell from the games and the practices that we were allowed to watch, that his passion for the game and players was incredible. Very tough time of year for this news. My thoughts and prayers out to his immediate family and friends, and then the Akron family consisting of coaching staff, players, and others as well.

I had the chance to go to a coaching clinic at Cuyahoga Heights a year ago, and it was a great experience. I had the chance to soak in lectures from Bob Knight, Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart, Matt Painter, Steve Prohm, Greg Kampe, Archie Miller, Ganon Baker, Tara Vanderveer, and Fred Hoiberg(Iowa State's head coach). Each had their own "agenda" on what they were going to use in their segment of the coaches' clinic. Hoiberg was showing a lot of their offensive sets and transition sets(yes, transition sets). I really wish I could find those sheets, and get them to Hawaii as soon as possible Hoiberg likes to have a tall, big, athletic player bringing the ball up for mismatched opportunities. I do remember that. Should be an interesting game. Will have to play better, but at least we finally got that win. Felt we let one get away against OK State, but finally a marquee win over the Beavers. Can't wait for today's matchup against the Cyclones. Probably the best team we will see all season(unless we make it to the NCAA tournament, then possibly a better opponent(MAYBE)).

I had the chance to go to a coaching clinic at Cuyahoga Heights a year ago, and it was a great experience. I had the chance to soak in lectures from Bob Knight, Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart, Matt Painter, Steve Prohm, Greg Kampe, Archie Miller, Ganon Baker, Tara Vanderveer, and Fred Hoiberg. Each had their own "agenda" on what they were going to use in their segment of the coaches' clinic. Hoiberg was showing a lot of their offensive sets and transition sets(yes, transition sets). I really wish I could find those sheets, and get them to Hawaii as soon as possible . Hoiberg likes to have a tall, big, athletic player bringing the ball up for mismatched opportunities. I do remember that. Should be an interesting game. Will have to play better, but at least we finally got that win. Felt we let one get away against OK State, but finally a marquee win over the Beavers. Can't wait for tomorrow's matchups.

I have a lot of respect for the way Carmelo played in the MAC tourney last season. He played at a different level compared to the regular season finale. Hard to change your role on a team at it's most important time of the season. Not his fault that AA messed up and he had to take over the position. Part of that was on AA, and part of it was on KD. Betancourt deserves more credit for the conference tournament run than what he's getting right now. Does he deserve some blame for the way he's played this season? Absolutely. But let's keep it to this season. Last season was last season(I just brought it up because others were bringing it up).

I put it in the random references...didn't see that topic until after I posted the reference here. IF there's any way for moderator to delete this thread, I would appreciate it. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Another thing to consider is that the teams they've blown out are programs that are defensive-minded. The teams they've lost to are high tempo teams like them. It'll take time, and remember women's has to go through all the same changes the men's game is going through. So that could be another reason why their defense isn't as good as the past couple seasons. Change to defensive minded? No way. Too late to do that, and also, up tempo teams are blowing out defensive minded teams. The up tempo teams are only losing to up tempo teams. Women's basketball in the MAC is turning into high scoring games like football did a few years ago, because the top teams like Ball State, Central Michigan, and Bowling Green, want to play more up-tempo.

This is my busiest time of year around work, and also with my "secondary" job as well. So I don't get much time to come on here like in the Fall, so I've been kind of waiting to have a day off to do this here. So, with that being said, I like the way the Lady Zips play, and it'll show dividends in conference play. However, they do play a tough schedule. Tougher schedule than the men's team IMO. They've already played 4 teams that were either in the NCAA tournament last year and/or projected to win their conference this season. Their problem is getting back into a rhythm after halftime. They've been quite unstoppable in the first half, but then come out slow in the 2nd half, and by the time they're up running and gunning again, they're in too big of a hole to get back. DIG, you're not meaning any disrespect, but it's natural and just subconsciously in your posts. Everyone does it. I was at the MAC semifinal men's soccer game and just giving a ZN.o poster an update on the Lady Zips against Dayton(up at halftime). And he said "I'm surprised you're not there. You're their biggest fan." I didn't really say anything back, but what I was thinking in my head was "Nope, not their biggest fan. Just giving them 'the time of day' that they deserve. " That's my whole point of posting about women's athletics. When soccer was on the rise, I gave them their props. But now, they don't deserve it. Losing to Can't every year under this coach so far is unacceptable. The events that happened with that program this season, were beyond puzzling. The women's basketball team deserves the credit though, because they are playing tough competition and actually being competitive with those opponents. It'll make the program better, and Kest is working out the depth of this program before MAC play starts up for the big run.

Since the season is over now, not sure if this topic is worth being in this page or the recruiting page. If the moderators feel that this should be in the recruiting page, please move it there then. Just wanted to know what rest of ZN.o feels about what I've been seeing just recently. I went onto the ESPN recruiting page, and went to see if there was anything entertaining on the Akron recruiting trail . I saw 2014 and thought it wasn't great, but better than the past few seasons. Then I looked at the 2015 offers. WOW Say Hello, to Josh Rosen, the 2015 #1 QB Prospect . The reason for starting this topic was this question I have about Akron Zips recruiting: How hard is Terry really going after these recruits? And if so, is he wasting his time on these recruits, when he could be spending that time on getting the MAC-above MAC recruits? Or should he at least offer these recruits to see if any of them are interested? Just wonder what ZN.o thinks about how Bowden and the staff is recruiting incoming talent. This is not a bash on Bowden and the staff. In my opinion, they should be going after at least a few of these recruits. You get one or two of these type of recruits, and you're the class of the MAC. This is just showing where Terry wants this program to be, and I believe that that in itself, will help recruiting.

It helps when they play on a field like that. I've played on a field like that, and they might as well of played it in the parking lot. Wouldn't made much of a difference. That's how rough it is. Marquette knows that field, and how it is during this time of year, while Akron doesn't normally play on that type of field. That's the type of home field advantage that is hard to surpass. Was hoping we could just make it to the 2OT as that right half of the field got majority of the possession in the 1st and 2nd half, along with the 1st overtime.

Yeah, I agree on the officials. Bad choice of words. I'm just frustrated with officials in general. I just think at times, there's too many mistakes in a game. I'm a former soccer official myself(actually getting back into it next year again), and I just don't understand how that many mistakes can be made. I tried seeing the side official and that's probably why I didn't see him. However, I just don't understand how the sport of soccer hasn't gone to cameras on the endline(off the field) zoomed in on the opposite side of the sideline official. There's been goals that shouldn't of been allowed, and saves that should of been goals, that we can see clearly later on. Not saying to stop the match to "challenge" the call, because that changes the sport. My take would be for the coach to tell the officials to check it at halftime if they felt that it was a goal. And that's the only thing I would let coaches challenge. Whether or not a goal or save was not a goal or a save. If coach challenges twice, and is wrong twice, he gets warned. If he challenges a third time and is wrong, the coach is gone. It should keep the flow to the game. Only downside to my proposal is if something happens in the 2nd half, and if teams tied, it changes the outcome of how a team would potentially play in the 2nd half. Just trying to dust some cobwebs up there and get the mind awake this morning.

So that shot in the first half that everyone thought was a goal? Yeah, pic proves it should of been goal #3 I hate these officials

If Akron defeats Marquette, and St. John's defeats Virginia, would we be hosting the Sweet 16 match?

Another road team wins on PKs in George Mason 4-2...

Just watched the PKs of the Providence-Penn match, and the Providence GK saved 3 of 4 pks to win 3-1...He also pulled a Diego Restrepo if anyone knows what i mean...Penn students behind the goal were going crazy...thank goodness there was a net across the back of the goal area in front of the students, or there would of been a player-fans brawl...never seen Ivy League kids that mad before

Another intriguing storyline about the seedings and matchups. Nine schools from the DC/MD/VA are in the field. The College Cup is in Philadelphia. NCAA perception of $$$$ first lives on. Not hard to put two and two together.

The first half, the Lady Zips outplayed Dayton(Zips led 45-41 at half). And other than an 18-4 run early in the 2nd half, Akron had their way with Dayton. The final score was not an indication of that game(went back and watched it). I post a lot about the Lady Zips for a few reasons. 1) Where this program is right now compared to when Kest took this program over? Many students I know think that reason alone is why Kest is a better coach than KD. 2) Just like the men's team, the recruiting classes keep getting better and better for the women's team. They now have a 5'11 point guard recruit coming in. Not many women's teams have a 5'11 point guard. 3) The style of play. Just as a fan watching, it just puts me in pain myself, watching the men's team laboring for points here and there. Then, watching the women's team, and if you turn your head for a minute, you might of missed 3-4 buckets by the Lady Zips. As a fan, I prefer watching the women's. As a coach, each style(or some call it "system") has it's advantages and disadvantages. 4) The only way a team is beating this Lady Zips team is if you play up-tempo like them, and get them to turn the ball over and get easy transition points. Lady Zips beat two teams by an average of 108-70 (that are supposed to win or be top 3 in their respective conferences), that base their program on defense(I can even post the links to prove it). I understand there's people on this board and people not on this board that don't care about women's basketball. That's fine. I'm a basketball junkie. I'll walk down a street and see kids playing 3 v 3 , 4 v 4, or 5 v 5(whatever it may be that day), and stop to watch it for a bit. Basketball is just basketball. To me, it doesn't matter who is playing it, but HOW you play it. I just wonder what this board would be like if the men's team was averaging 98.0 PPG through 3 games(that included a top 25 team).

Louisiana-Lafayette wasn't too far off either...played toe-to-toe with Ball State and Northern Illinois as well. If everything would of went our way late in those games, we may be 8-3 right now(At least 6-5).

Five High school seniors have signed NLI today for Akron women's basketball program for class of 2014. Two from Northeast Ohio(1 from Cleveland and one from Austintown), two from Michigan, and one from Missouri. 2014 Lady Zips recruiting class

Before it gets deleted for this season's stats, here's the stats from last season. . Lady Zips starting this season like last season never ended. I'm sure Kacie Cassell will improve on this stat as well this season. As for their opponent friday, here's Dayton HC Jim Jabir talking about his Flyers' team(and about 30 seconds of Akron) :