wadszip

I disagree that everything's just fine even with one loss, only because it's hard to believe the mediocre play won't catch up to them. Are they the most talented team in the league? Yes. Are they in first place? Yes. But, despite them being the most talented team in the league, and most nights they can just turn it on when they need and get by, how long will that get them by? Especially on the road against Ohio or Can't, or more importantly in Cleveland? True they are now 7-1 in the league, but they've yet to play what I'd consider a complete game in MAC play. I know, a win is a win, and this isn't specific to you, but anybody thinking they are in great shape because they are 7-1 only flies if you haven't been watching the games. Again, this was not a good win. True a 14-point win appears good, but Toledo was able to break down the perimeter defense at will. And I'll disagree if KD really blamed Zeke for not being as good as he normally is around the rim defensively. It's hard, even for a 7-footer, to be every where at once. Pearson (despite some Michael Jordan calls ... though he got called for a bad tech) and Brown abused the Zips on the perimeter, forcing Zeke and the other bigs to cover for those mistakes. Offensively, I thought they played pretty well. Took a little too many quick threes, but that was my only complaint. The turnovers were too high, but it seemed like the careless mistakes were cut down. At the same time, they did a great job on the offensive glass. I'm not in panic mode by any means, but this team still has a lot of improvement to make before it can think of winning the MAC tourney, let alone a tournament game. Let's face it, we're eight games into league play (halfway point) and this team, despite the 7-1 record, has not played a very good game for more than a half.

Wow, I don't know where to begin. Well, I guess here. Jim Tressel is a University of Akron alum, just like me, and I'll guess you. And whether you like it or not, he is THE biggest college name in Ohio, regardless the title. And what's not to like about the biggest name in Ohio "Whoring" for money for his alma mater? Go ahead, send your money to Can't, god knows they need it after the basketball court fiasco. I'm sure Jim Tressel won't have any trouble finding your replacement.

Don't forget Amato. Anyway, that's easily three of the four most recognizable "coaches" in the MAC at the University of Akron. Solich is the only other one in the discussion.

Ok, that's what I figured. However, it doesn't rule out an athletic position once the show clause has expired. Tressel would be 63 at the time, probably too old for another head coaching job, but still young enough to take over the athletic department ... ala Barry Alvarez ... into retirement. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I'm dreaming of a plan that sees Tressel take over as AD in five years, and running the department for another five, then giving way to Terry Bowden once he's done coaching. TB can have the position for another five or so years until he retires and gives way to Keith Dambrot. That would set the university up for the next 15-20 years to have great leadership at the top. ... and all guys who love the University of Akron and see the potential the school has in athletics.

So are you hearing it will be an athletic position? If so, how does that work with Tressel's show cause?

I don't know how the show-cause the NCAA slapped on Tressel affects a position outside of coaching. But I imagine it follows him even if it's a non-coaching position within the athletic department. However, I don't see how the university can't hire him in a position outside of athletics, then once his show cause expires in five years, he could joint the athletic department. Reading between the lines, this could be a way to set him up to be the AD down the road. Edit: meant to quote AdaZip

Or maybe they would have a CLE tag, since Hopkins is the official airport of the University of Akron.

While it's true that it is only a make-or-break at-large game for a couple of teams, I've always viewed it more as another way for the casual fan to get to see the top mid-majors they normally don't get to see, which gives them a chance to identify their "BracketBuster" Hence the name.

The Zips are actually 3-4 in bracket buster games under KD, with wins over Niagara, Austin Peay and Creighton, and losses to Valpo, VCU (2) and Nevada. Also, under KD the Zips are 2-0 against Oral Roberts. The win last year, and the Zips went to ORU in 2006 and beat them by 2. Overall, not a bad matchup for Akron. For this year alone, ORU is the best team the Zips could've realistically hoped for. Personally, I still wish we could've drew Iona for the return trip, especially since Tim Cluess reupped through 2017 there. He will be Iona's version of Keith Dambrot, and will have them winning 20 games and in the hunt for the NCAA tournament every year.

I was actually going to post this in the general 2012 recruiting thread, but since Smith is from Western Hills, any reason why the the Zips (or any other Division I teams) have not offered his teammate Dion Dawson? His video is 5 minutes of human wrecking ball in action: http://www.scoutingohio.com/index.php/view...e&user=7689 Seems like a future big time defensive line prospect, and Smith looks like he is going to be a great WR for the Zips. I'd like to see both them in blue and gold next year.

At least be honest and say you were waiting to see if Akron lost so you'd have a reason to rank Ohio No. 1.

Zeke looked like an NBA player tonight. Still, with this year's draft as loaded as it is, he should be back next year. But even if he leaves this year (which I don't imagine he will), somebody will take him in the second round. I don't see him going undrafted just based on how he can affect the game defensively. After all, Ryan Hollins is still hanging around, and outside of showing up for a couple of games a year (usually against either the Heat and Knicks), he hasn't done anything other than being 7-foot. I do agree, though, that with one more year and more offensive improvement, Zeke could be a potential lottery pick. And unlike any other position, the NBA isn't going to knock a 4-year, 7-footer. Those guys always take longer to develop. At 22 or 23 and a first round pick, Zeke would be assured to have his rookie option picked up, which means at least a five or six year NBA career. And if he continues to have the desire to play and get better, and with centers generally aging well in the NBA, he could easily carve out a 10-plus-year career even if he stays next year. Regardless, he's in a good spot. He's going to get his degree, and will play in the NBA (or pick up an NBA check) whenever he decides comes out. Worst case for him (and probably the most likely) if he leaves this year, is he is a second round pick, makes a club and then is placed in the D-League. If that's the case, he will have to weigh whether or not playing in Canton (albeit getting paid) in front of 500 people is better than playing in front of (hopefully) 5,000 rowdies next year on a more experienced, tournament-level Akron team.

It's going to be one of those three schools, for sure. Of those, if we are looking for a win this year, Oral Roberts is the best bet, despite the gaudy record. But I'd rather get Iona or Davidson. Even with a win, the Zips still will have to win the MAC tourney to get a bid, so this year isn't make or break. I'm looking at what team will be the best opponent on the return trip. While Oral Roberts is having a great year, it's a program that seems to be up and down. This is an up year, but if past recent history shows, they could easily be a team with 10-15 losses next year (or whenever they come to town). Davidson, on the other hand, is about as rock solid as you will find at the mid-major level. They've been to the NCAA tournament three times in the past six years (with an elite 8 run, an a pair of close losses to Ohio State and Maryland) and made two other trips to the NIT (winning at least one game both times). Granted, they will probably never get back to the level they were at with Stephen Curry, but it's still a program that you know will play a solid non-con schedule (Duke almost annually) and will be in the hunt for a tourney berth. Iona's intriguing because they could be really good in the future, or fall back to more like they had been 2-3 years ago (they'll probably never be as bad as they were in 2006 or 2007 when they started 0-22 and finished 2-28 or 29.). Tim Cluess has done an amazing job there in just his second year. However, it may be too good of a job, as I can see him being a hot coaching candidate at a bigger school, and considering he is 52, he doesn't have time to pick .... ala Shaka Smart. If Cluess stays, no doubt, Iona will continue to be a great mid-major program. But if he leaves, who knows. Taking all that into consideration, and hoping that this year's bracket buster opponent means more when they come back (when will that be? Don't we owe Creighton a game next year? Does that push this year's team back a year, or do we just play both next year?), I'd rather see Davidson or Iona, with Davidson being the safe pick, and Iona being the potential boom-or-bust type team.

Even more strange is that the fourth guy to score (Mbiagoto) didn't get in the book until about 12 minutes left in the game when he hit a three. What's more disconcerning is that even with that being the case, I believe that three brought CMU to within 10 points. No way should three players be able to, for the most part, hang with a good team with the depth Akron has. I'm with akzipper. A win is a win, but this was a bad one. It was nice to see the team finally get out to a fast start, but sloppy play and the inability to hit free throws allowed a bad CMU team to claw back into it. A team that is going to make noise in the tournament wins tonight by 30. Throw in the fact that they have yet to play a complete game in MAC play, and there are real reasons to be concerned, even at 6-1 in the league. However, they are still somehow 6-1 in league play (and everybody here would've taken that in a heartbeart), so at least they are finding ways to win. I'm going to give them until the end of the Western portion of the schedule before I really start to worry. Hopefully, they can do what Can't just did to Northern and Toledo and then put together solid games against WMU and EMU. If they do that, I'm sure everybody will be a lot more confident in this team heading down the stretch. If not, and even if they only drop the Western game, I won't have a whole lot of confidence at Can't or Ohio, and even at home against Buffalo. 6-1 is great, but it can easily end up being 11-5 or 10-6 if there isn't improvement. Right now, they have simply either out-talented teams (Miami, BG, Ball State, CMU) or played well enough in spurts to win at home (Ohio, Can't). Unless they catch some luck, they are going to have to put together complete games to win in Cleveland. The talent is there, now is the time for it to translate onto the court, something I haven't seen since the Mississippi State game (didn't see the Marshall game). Overall, this is easily the most talented Akron team I've seen, and it's not even close. But the careless way they play for long spurts makes me think that most of the less talented KD teams of the last five years, would beat this team like a drum if MAC tourney play started right now. The good thing is, I'm sure KD hasn't been happy, and if he can get this group to gel, another MAC title and a Sweet 16 run is definitely possible. No doubt in my mind.

Yep. I remember when I started, Carroll and Union Streets went straight through campus. Then they were shut down, for the most part. Then the new student union was built (my senior year, IIR). Then the new indoor practice field/rec center opened a month after I graduated. I remember house-partying on Nash (current day 50-yard-line of the Info) and hooking up with chicks in the dorms that are in that same area (don't remember the names of them ... or the chicks). Good times at the "old" UA of 10 years ago, and I imagine it's even better now.

Good offer by Terry Bowden and company. I'm glad they are keeping their word on bringing in talented local kids. Getting kids like Pratt, Mills and Osborne is a great start. Can't wait to see what will happen in 2013 when this staff has a full year to recruit.

McClinton is a legit Division I caliber recruit, but his teammate Cody Callaway is going to be big-time. He was a sophomore QB this past year. Here are his freshman year highlights: http://www.scoutingohio.com/index.php/view...e&user=7169 Sorry, nothing to add on Arlington, but building a relationship with the Midview coaching staff probably won't hurt the Zips when it comes to Callaway, though I've heard he will be very sought after. BTW, for MAC relative old-timers like me, Midview is the high school alma mater of former Bowling Green forward Anthony Stacey, who was a MAC player of the year in basketball in the late 90s/early 2000s. Stacey, btw, is the current Medina head basketball coach.

Originally from Cleveland, but graduated from UA in 2003 (Mass Media Communication). I moved out of state a month after graduating, but have found myself coming back "home" to Akron (Wadsworth) in 2009. Converted my wife to a Zip as well. She's going to start classes at UA-Wayne later this year and hopefully transfers to main campus down the road. We're soon to be football season ticket holders since 2012, and trying to get some friends to join (thanks Terry Bowden). Would be basketball season ticket holders if not for too many conflicts in work schedules.

I don't disagree about the blocking, but coming up flat? Come one, he put up 160 on GlenOak in an upset nobody saw coming. Put up 250 or so on Hudson the next week. Whitmer slowed him down in the regional championship game, but Whitmer slowed a lot of good players down. Wadsworth's only other loss was to Tallmadge and Snowball put up 280 on them in that game. BTW, Tallmadge had a couple of linemen who looked to be college-level players and a big TE who was good. The QB, who is a junior, is also very good. Hopefully, TB gives that program a close look, but I digress. AKSportsfan, Snowball is way bigger than what you posted. He's easily close to 6-feet and probably 210 or so pounds. I live in Wadsworth, but I'm not from here, so I'm not a Grizzlies homer. Still, I've seen him play a half dozen times this past year and he has impressed me every time. He was flat-out the best player on the field against Copley (and their star RB Argeros Turner, who is being recruited by big-time schools). There is no doubt he can play in the MAC. He reminds me a lot of Bobby Hendry (sorry for the obligitory white RB comparison, but it fits). The thing holding him back, from what I have heard is the injury concerns. On top of some knee issues, he also still had pins in his shoulder he was playing with this past season. If not for that, there is no doubt, he would be more heavily recruited. But even those injury concerns have to be less of a worry than before the season. He carried the ball about 35 to 40 times a every time out and didn't miss a game (13). I really don't understand why Akron isn't offering, especially in the current conditions. He's a high-risk, high-reward offer. If he stays healthy, no doubt he can be productive even in a spread-style offense. Plus, if it's any incentive, the sophomore running back at Wadsworth, Martice Jackson, also looks to be a future D1 player (Maverick Carter's nephew). He may have been the fourth best RB in the Suburban League last year behind Snowball, Turner and the kid from Tallmadge. He just didn't get a lot of chances to play outside of blowouts. But getting Snowball could be a way of getting an inside track on landing him down the road.

It's hard to complain about good pub, but if this guy thinks Nik is MAC MVP, somebody should teach him how to pronounce his name right. He butchered it.

It still hurts to be getting less respect than schools like Belmont and Harvard...and of course, Ken+. But if it's true that we haven't appeared on this poll in two years, I guess that's some indication that some people feel as if we might be better than we've been the last 2 seasons.Akron plays 4 teams on that list. I am very happy with the 2011 schedule.Not only do they play four teams on that list (five games), but when you add in solid major conference opponents in Mississippi State and West Virginia, along with eight other games with "teams receiving votes" in the Mid Major poll, a trip to Marshall (a tourney caliber team that would easily crack the top 10 in the Mid Major poll, if eligible) and a bracket buster game (potentially against a team that could be ranked in the top 10 of the Mid Major poll), this is shaping up to be a real nice schedule, and one that realistically could put the Zips in at-large contention, so long as they win a majority of those games.That's 18 of 30 games against teams that are, in what ever form, expected to be competitive. If you throw in Buffalo, which I'm kind of surprised didn't receive any votes in the MM top 25, that's 2/3 of the schedule against teams with healthy pulses.

Anyway it's at Wadsworth? Or Barberton? If so, I'd like to check it out.

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demli...te-company.htmlThanks for the link. I've been critical of the "A" word, or lack there of, in this program. Euton won't help that, but having a 6-8 kid who can shoot the ball is never a bad thing. The more I read about him and think about it, I envision him being our "stretch 4". His length and ability to play on the perimeter should open things up down low for a much developed Zeke.Not to take this too far away from Euton, but since it's a point of contention within at least the ZN fans, I can see a situation in 2012-13 where recruiting an athletic, JUCO shooting guard can do this program wonders.That year, as we are currently looking at, will include:PG - Ennis (soph.), Sullivan (if he sticks around)SG - ???SF - Egner/Green (both Jrs.)PF - Euton (Jr.)C - Zeke (Sr.)I know there will be a lot of additions to the roster from now to then, but recruiting an athletic 2 guard, who can create his own shot could do wonders. Even if that means a JUCO. Even if you take one in the 2011 class, he would be a senior in the year I'm looking at (whith one year under his belt in the program). With the potential of those 6 players I already mentioned, somebody like that could put the team over the hump. Especially considering you would have a developed 7-footer; a 4 (Euton) who can stretch the defense; an athletic 3 in Egner who should be more developed (if nothing else, he can make up for the rebounding lost by having Euton on the perimeter). Plus, it sounds like if Egner's game doesn't come around, Green has the ability to be a scorer. So they should compliment each other; and a PG in Ennis (who obviously the staff is high on considering he is the first 11 commit). Sullivan is an enigma.I'm interested in seeing how KD builds around Zeke and these 2010 recruits. You would think they would be one piece away from being what we all want this program to be ... not only a MAC contender, but a team that can make some noise in the NCAA tournament.

I think you are joking, but if not, there is a huge disparity between an athletic men's team vs. an average athletic men's team compared to an athletic women's team vs. average women's teams. Anyway, great win and lets hope the men's team will follow through with a similiar effort tommorow (since it's after midnight) I should say later today.Regardless, point is proven. Athleticism does not win basketball games on its own. The negativity regarding Can't being "more athletic" on this board is ridiculous. Can't won because they wanted it more and executed better...period. The Zips can beat them if they play their game and play with some more heart.Your point is far from proven, especially when you talk about "heart" and "wanting it more" being the difference.How do you know that Can't wanted the game more? How do you know they have more heart? It's impossible to judge that. Plus, I will argue that Akron played with heart. Once Can't got up 20, Akron didn't give up. They started to execute on the offensive end and got it back within 10 points with still 5 or so minutes to play. Problem is, Can't continued to execute and seemingly had an answer for every Akron basket after that spurt. How was Can't sucessful? They had guards who could create their own shot or penetrate and open up their bigs (Green, Simpson who aren't athletic specimens) for good looks. Can't isn't the second coming, but don't be naive to say that them "wanting it more" and playing "with more heart" was the reason they won BOTH games by double digits.

Looks like Egner bounced back from what I would imagine had to be his worst game of the season against Massillon earlier tonight in a District Semi against Lake. Jackson won, though from reading the article, it wasn't easy. Lake actually held a double digit lead at half.From the Massillon IndependentEgner, the Bears’ 6-foot-6 University of Akron recruit, was huge all night, as he scored 12 points and controlled the lane with 14 rebounds and four steals. Shull finished with 12 points. "We just had to play in the second half," Egner said. "I don't know what it was but we were tight in the first half. We weren’t playing the way that had gotten us to 19 wins this season. We just had to relax and play."----Off topic, but does anybody know why Lake HS is called Lake HS when there is no lake anywhere near it? It seems to me that Uniontown Retention Pond High School is more appropriate.