johnnyzip84

K.E.N.T. continues strong NIT run, defeating Fairfield 72-68.

Good points, Dr. Z. No doubt Zeke's block on Hansbrough was the ultimate Zip highlight Regarding Zeke not getting more experience as a main cog in the offense, there are two reasons why I think that didn't occur to the extent we may have wanted. First, there were many games when foul trouble severely limited his court time. Some of this was due to poor/inconsistent MAC officiating and some was due to Zeke learning (the hard way) not to waist any fouls in questionable situations. Regardless, it's hard to develop any consistency and confidence in the low post when your playing time comes in short stretches. Second, when the Zips ran into their rough stretch in the middle of the year KD had a difficult decision to make. He chose to make Nik and Brett McKnight the primary interior options and the Zip offense improved. If he would have had a little more patience with Zeke as the offensive "go to" guy, would the the ship have been righted? Would the Zips have won the MAC tourney? That's hard to say. Going forward, I don't think there is any doubt that the plan for next year will be the same plan for this year. KD has stated over and over again that his job is to fully develop Zeke, and a large part of that is running the offense through him. Zeke showed tremendous growth in the intangibles at the end of this season. He has learned when to be aggressive and when to show restraint. His positioning improved. Most of all, he is learning to "let go" of the results of a previous play. These changes have mostly manifested themselves on the defensive end, where he's turned himself from a very good defender to a GREAT defender. I believe these improved intangibles will also impact Zeke's (and the Zips') offense in the coming years. This is going to be FUN to watch

I'm in for two

I'm sure glad for Vince's sake, we don't run the 3-3-5 anymore On the other hand, it would greatly reduce his time looking at film

I haven't heard anything yet, either. I would normally take that as a bad sign (of my chances to get tickets), but who knows. Certainly, if I don't here by the end of the day I figure I am out of luck.

Those smiles on CK JR's face pretty much summed up the event for me Kudos to all who organized this event!!!

This is what it's all about IMHO. There's not doubt the rewards are much sweeter when the going has been difficult. I'm am so happy that Zeke and the team fought through the tough times and emerged victorious. That was the most enjoyable basketball game I have ever witnessed. Go Zips!!!

Bring it !! And hope for a huge crowd. If you recall, 3 years ago the noise in that place was still disappointingly low for the Can't-Akron game because that place is so huge and cavern-like when the top level is empty. If tonight's game is more tightly contested, the noise level should be louder.

Update: Evan Bush signs with Montreal Impact for 2011. Nice going, Evan! Hope you stick with the Impact when they enter MLS next year. Montreal will be an excellent franchise.

Hope we land Zaramo just for the name!

Patton out at NIU

I'm very hopeful, but you have to believe Charlie will do his best to have his team better prepared for the match-up zone.

The Beacon's Jason Lloyd isn't buying it. There's no way this story ends here. I'd say it's quite likely that Tressel has coached his last game in Columbus.

How "final" is Final? Why bother playing the MAC tourney?

The following was posted on Facebook by Akron Zips: Sounds like a good (albeit last minute) idea to me I have an obligation I simply can't get out of tomorrow night, but I really hope to see many of you Thursday. I just hope the team isn't looking ahead. As KD mentioned on the radio show, we're basically a McNees semi-miracle shot from being 0-3 against these guys in recent games.

ESPN Scoreboard With Ball St cruising, I believe this means a #6 seed Zips will host Eastern on Monday (EMU and NIU will finish with same record, but NIU will get #10 seed based on beating EMU twice. Correct? Edit: Sorry, this looks like it's been thoroughly discussed in the Scenario thread.

Wow. I started to respond on there but I could feel my blood pressure inching up slowly and steadily. He's not worth our time.

Oddsmakers (Zips getting 3.5) are giving us more of a chance than our fans. It's a difficult prediction for me. Regardless of the OU fiasco, the Zips are clearly a better team now than at the beginning of conference play. Of course Guyton didn't play for K.E.N.T. in the 1st match-up. Maybe those factors negate each other, and the home court is worth 3 points? While I'd like nothing greater than to see a win, I'm mostly concerned that the Zips get back to doing what they've mostly done down the stretch: defend the 3-ball and let Nik and Brett McK work it down low. Go Zips!!!!

No reason to argue, but you must be taking the wrong route through Marietta. I've timed both routes (50 vs. Marietta/Lower Salem) because I make the trip so often. The way through Marietta is 12 minutes faster, almost to the second. Sure there is.....nothing like a green-n-white fight!

Awesome! How old is the little guy?

I don't mind the schedule at all. Sure, having the K.E.N.T. game late in the year could make for a smaller crowd. And normally I am as concerned as anyone with attendance. But right now, attendance is secondary. I believe it will become apparent this season whether this staff has a chance to turn things around or not. If they eventually do, the attendance will slowly come around. If they don't, someone else will soon get a chance at the helm. Besides, having the last two mid-to-late November games on the road will partially compensate. Like MDZip pointed out, all home games are on Saturday. Tailgating should be terrific. Temple for the home opener isn't bad either. They're sure to have plenty of questions in year one without the Golden Boy (and I DON'T mean Steve McNees ). There are also plenty of convenient road trip opportunities. I would have rather had the trip to Kalamazoo (and Bell's Brewpub) earlier, but I think I'll manage to make that work after Turkeyday. All in all, I have no major complaints.

In a related, important story - There is no indication that Alex Abreu has any thoughts of transferring. If there is any other breaking regarding players not doing anything, please keep us all posted.

Tell me about it. Giving up 17 points in the final 7 minutes to lose. We couldn't even string together a couple of first downs when it counted. I have one worse though because I had to live it. When I was on the team we lost to a I-AA DE State 52-27. Probably the worst day in the D-1A era (th Gardner Web loss last year is probably third). They had three pick 6s and a blocked punt in the endzone dor a TD. That day will always be remembered by Zips historians as Black Saturday. That game (Delaware State) was possibly the most surreal of all the games I've seen at the Rubber Bowl. From a fan's perspective, it looked like the Zips truly believed that all they had to do to win that day was to show up. Getting smoked by a team from the lower than lowly MEAC......had to have been Gerry's low point at UA.

Despite the recent turnaround of the team's fortunes, I'm sure you've had your share of personal frustration on the court lately. Don't get me wrong. I sense that you are a team guy all the way, and you surely share in the satisfaction that success on the court brings. But it's not too hard to imagine that you'd like to be contributing more. I simply ask you to hang in there and continue to work hard in class and in practice. Even though the Zips have altered their schemes somewhat recently, I believe that there are going to be opportunities from here on out where your unique skills can provide the difference between winning and losing. You've probably heard it a thousand times, but try not to dwell on the referees calls and just play your game. Regardless of what happens on offense, you can ALWAYS be a game-changing presence in the middle as long as you keep yourself on the floor. Even without the demands of athletics, life can be a challenge for any of us during the college years. I don't lose sight of that. But I also believe that when we are put in difficult situations, these are the times when we can experience the most growth. Maybe that sounds trite and cliché, but it's true. Looking forward to seeing/hearing you take it to the Bobcats, F.L.A.S.H.E.S, and the rest of the MAC in the coming weeks. GO ZEKE and GO ZIPS!!!!