Balsy

You're right causation, instead of correlation my mistake. But I'm not talking about the "coaching" part, I'm saying it's not even the coaching at all.

That's already a false correlation. There are those that blame teachers for kids that can't spell or add...but more often than not it isn't the teacher at all. To use a cliché, you can lead a horse to water...but you can't make them drink.

Hey guys, look at the bright side...we got the W. And we're two games into what's going to be a 20 game winning streak

I'm absolutely done with shooting these 3's. I used to like 3-pt shooting...but now we can't hit any of them. If you can't hit them, don't shoot them.

He got two invisible fouls in the first two minuets.

Well with Tressel and Bowden here, I doubt you'll get your wish on that. Outside of Auburn, Bowden has built a career around nabbing those talented problem-children and giving them a second chance. *cough* Avis Commack *Cough* CJ Mizell...come to mind as "troubled" kids who got a second chance with Bowden. What you want is a coach who can evaluate whether or not that person could successfully use the second chance, and you need a coach that makes the player work for it. I believe Bowden is that kind of coach.

UCF proves with a 52-42 victory over the Baylor Bears, that they were indeed to the best team on our schedule. This should also give us all hope on what is possible for a team, given the right coach and regardless of the other instate schools. Our goal as a team should be to reach the level of success that the Knights have. I do believe it is possible with Bowden at the helm. Find those diamonds in the rough like Bortles and keep good relations to snag transfers (like Johnson). What do you guys think?

+1

What the heck are you talking about? This is a fan forum...where fans come to talk about their team. Both the good and the Bad. Of course we're going to rip on the team, as well as sing their praises. And we're not "judging" anyone other than that which they can be judged...the play on the arena. Yes we had a coach die at Akron (not basketball), we had one of the coaches nephews die as well (not basketball) and a coach who is fighting cancer (Basketball). That is tough, but it isn't likely a large contributing factor to this team. The reason we are losing games seems to be systemic of something else, and we the fans are discussing that, voicing our concern about it. Did you ever consider that we may be criticizing these early 20's somethings because we believe they aren't living up to the potential that we know they have? Remember that yourself before bashing your fellow fans.

And some of us seriously thought we would take South Carolina 2-0. I'm tired of getting embarrassed.

IMO it's SC's defense. We looked much better against Oregon St. This version of the Zips will be just fine in conference play where the competiton is considerably less. The question I have is: How in the world is South Carolina 4-6? They seem like they are legit better than their record.

First time I see Betancourt off the bench in four games, and he proceeds to turn the ball over. You've got to be kidding me.

+1.

It'll be great to see Lynch's last game as a player in the MAC. He's been tearing us all up for long enough. I'll be watching Pitt, specifically the non-seniors, because we'll be seeing them next year.

100% agree with you. I was completely and utterly embarrassed. On Christmas I asked my extended family if we could watch the Akron basketball game together (because its not usually televised and we all like sports). Out of 10 of us, this was the first Akron basketball game for 7 of them. And I'm embarrassed I even suggested it to my family, because they will not forget watching Akron completely go to sleep and lose a winnable game. Here I was talking up all the good points of Akron basketball to only be made to eat my words. Instead of possibly going into conference play with a 10-3 record and a 4 game winning streak, we're now starring at possibly worse than 9-4, which is what we had last year. I still believe overall this team is better than last year, but we seem to lack leadership. I see a bunch of Lieutenants out there, no generals, or even captains. There will be no Top 25 ranking for us, unless we sweep the MAC. And even that is unlikely.

We look tired, more than anything. Both teams look as if they are just playing the game out. But we should be able to take these guys at their place, with 3 days to rest.

I'd imagine he didn't meet and greet with any of the players of any of the schools...

And then schools like us pick up those that don't work out? Like Pittman?

+1. This is exactly how I feel on the subject. We all want to be playing top opponents (and winning those games)...but to steal a term from the Browns coaching staff..."continued, sustained success"...whereas the Browns don't actually show it...the Zips ARE showing it. There was supposed to be a drop off with the loss of Zeke in our performance, I don't see it. In fact, I dare say we're better than last year overall across the board as a team.

+1 I think a lot of people are hitting the panic button. Dare I say it: this team is better than last year's. We're winning (early) the games we're supposed to win, and losing the games we should be struggling to win. Yes it sucks, but last year we were losing games we were SUPPOSED to be winning. (Coastal, Detroit...). We have a good chance of going into conference play with a better record against better opponents than we had last year...what more could we want? Now, hopefully the Zips won't make me eat my positive words of support.

Actually you're right, sorry I looked at the bracket wrong There is no chance that we would face SMC again, you are correct. Phew at least that clears that up. Sorry, I should have drank my coffee before reading the bracket. I'm not saying push the panic button, I'm saying it looks better to have lost to an undefeated team. The loser of game 6 (Iowa/Akron) will face the loser of game 7 (S. Carolina/Boise St.) in game 11, which is for third place. So to wrap that up for everyone, with our in in round one, we have guaranteed ourselves at least 4th place. Now that the explanation is out of the way...lets go for first!

I can't quite tell if this is good or bad...if we lost against Iowa good chance we're up against SMU...which I'm not a fan of...if we win, well then we don't have to play SMU again but that means SMU's value is dropping... Or we could just not worry about it, as long as the Zips take care of business today! GO ZIPS!

Q needs to step up in the second half, 0 in the first...

+1