akzipper

So campuses are not allowed to expand? UA once took up only few blocks around Buchtel Hall. How is expanding to the east any different than expanding to the south? I guess unless it is built right next to Buchtel Hall it's not considered part of campus.

So Canal Park is just as far away as the Rubber Bowl? You just said that a 5 minute walk and 15 minute drive are the same thing. If people can't cross a street to watch a game, they're better off staying home. Unless maybe the walk to their living room is too far...

Any location around campus is going to result in the same amount of fans. Yes, even an arena by Canal Park. Might be tough to hear but that location is the same distance from a majority of students as the JAR. People need to stop acting like Canal Park is next to Akron Fulton Airport. Yes, if I had to pick I would like it next to InfoCision. Having all of our athletic facilities centralized in one location would be great. An awesome view of Infocision and brand new arena sitting side by side would be impressive. But it's not up to us. Either way fans are going to show up to watch the team. Whatever gets the arena built fastest and with the most money is the best option. It needs to get done, and fast. If they wait too long KD will have no choice but to move on and basketball will fall back into mediocrity.

Well KD has coached 4 schools so far, 5 if you include St.V's. He's only a few years older than Alford and also signed a 10-year extension. Anything can happen. Nobody thought Porter would leave...

Well I'll just say anything could happen. Steve Alford just got hired at UCLA. He recently signed a similar 10-year extension and very little success in his 3 NCAA tournament appearances. Sound familiar? KD is on record saying he'll stay as long as UA is committed to putting money into the program. Are they? We are the best team in the MAC and don't even have a decent building to play in. As a fan it is beyond frustrating, and I can't even imagine how KD feels.

Seems like it was about the past season, not really the future.

No reason to fill a section with seats, when students should be standing anyway. Bleachers are fine.

I feel like a lot of time these types of transfers get overrated. I hear a name like Florida State, Michigan State, Ole Miss, etc and think we're getting the next Cam Newton. Even in basketball with Forsythe I expected more, just because of the WVU connection. Unfortunately 9 times out of 10 they really don't make an impact. Luke Getsy is the only one I can think of that really had success.

Success in the tournament is based on who you draw. Like most have said VCU was probably the worst team to face. I felt that any top mid-major would be tough (VCU, Butler, St Louis, etc) because they are used to playing teams like Akron all year, while big schools are more prone to being upset. I felt that this year's team was the best one we've ever sent to the tournament. I'd say they would have had a good chance to beat the Gonzaga or ND teams faced in the past. OhioU has been very lucky with who they drew. Georgetown, USF, and Michigan are all beatable teams. If we make the tournament enough, eventually we will get favorable matchups that allow us to advance. Let's just hope the "every other year" trend doesn't continue. We need to consistently make the postseason and consistently get better recruits.

Seems like Gonzaga always gets knocked out early in the tournament. Maybe only one Elite 8 run that I can remember?

My only question is, does Energy Solutions Arena even hold hockey games anymore? I see that an arena football team plays there, but that's all. I know the current hockey teams in the area play in another arena outside of Salt Lake City, the Maverick Center. Seems like during non-basketball events the first few rows would end up being elevated from the floor.

Fun Call me greedy, but I wish we could have won more for Zeke. But as far as individual accomplishments I think he exceeded my expectations and think he deserves a banner in the JAR. The program has been better since his arrival but I don't think we'll ever see another Top100 recruit. Keeping my fingers crossed, although very unlikely, that he ends up in the Wine & Gold at the next level. He will be playing somewhere just hopefully not for the Heat, Pistons, or Clippers!

My dream scenario would be for Cleveland to get an NHL team, but there's zero chance of that ever happening.

I have to feel that if the arena is only funded by UA that it's guaranteed to be basketball-specific. But honestly at this point I just want it to get done. Whatever scenario is quickest and allows us to spend the most money. I've been in basketball arenas with awful layouts and hockey arenas with great layouts. Just depends on how it is built and how it is able to adapt to different sports. Since hockey is still a club sport, they really won't impact planning. If UA decides to make it an official sport they can build them an ice arena down the road. Most schools have separate arenas for hockey and basketball anyway (Notre Dame, Miami, BG, WMU, Penn State, etc). Most only need to accommodate a few thousand and can be built fairly cheap.

I think lingerie football can fall under this category too!

And running up the score is okay? Some things in sports just shouldn't be done. At the end of the day things in sports come full circle and VCU got what they deserved.

I will say that we can't lose anyone. Playing without AA or Diggs isn't a big deal, but losing Tree or Harney would end our chances for next season. Anyone think any big schools will make a run at KD this offseason? haha Duquesne again? They didn't give up after three tries, maybe they have another three in them. Maybe the one positive of a first round loss is that bigger schools won't be interested. But that's what happened to Porter and he still left.

But OhioU beat Michigan last season. Obviously that means they would have beaten VCU easily.

Shaka Smart is learning about sports karma right now. Us Akron fans should be enjoying every second of this game.

Our success will be based on how well the defense does. We really don't seem to be much improved on defense so I'm not expecting many wins. I think our offense definitely played well enough last season to put us in position to win. But they basically had to score on every possession just to keep up.

So VCU isn't shooting 100% from the field this game? and they are losing. Shocking!

Just don't pull a move like Toledo and schedule a "home" game in Cleveland against OSU. It's tough to think of an ideal opponent. I'd just say we have to avoid teams like Duke and UNC. Those types of schools seem to have a national following and would make the crowds much more neutral.

Georgetown has always been prone to upsets since JT3 took over. Aside from their Final Four run, they've had very little success in the tournament.

Carmelo is only a freshman remember and under the circumstances I think he did a great job at the end of the season. He's quick and the offense will come, just give it time. At the end of the day we just need him to manage the game. If he can get the ball to our scorers we will win. I haven't read up much on the incoming freshman, but is there one that sticks out? Someone that could really impact the team next season.

Was just reading that today. The "academic main street" seems kind of pointless visually. From the photos it looked like minor renovations to already existing old buildings. Along with the addition of more trees. One thing that struck my interest was the mention of a "people mover." Could just be a shuttle/bus, but when I hear people mover I think tram or something more fixed. But in regards to the arena, I think it's a good sign they mentioned replacing the JAR not renovating. I hope this season has shown that replacing it is the only option.