clarkwgriswold

I sure hope. Groce had to get things up to speed quickly which brought us JUCOs and transfers who tend to be short timers. That should be coming to an end.

If for no other reason than to keep fan interest. This isn't Kentucky where there's turnover every year. Fans need to connect with players over time and that connection is built over seasons. I went up to JImond's dad on senior night congratulated him and told him how much the Zips fans had enjoyed watching his son grow up at UA. You don't get that connection with one and two year players.

No reason anyone shouldn't be able to state their position, I just get fed up with griping without solutions. It has been a while, but I recall that UA was among the larger basketball budgets in the MAC. Unfortunately, the citizens bailed on a new arena. It was going to be in an issue to go to the voters and every poll showed it was going down. With each year, I wonder more if the Georgetown model isn't one to consider. Pick your sport and devote your money to it while you let the others exist but on a lesser level. It has recently blown up on Georgetown as the basketball program has slipped and I am not sure a public university is the right place for it, but it is an interesting approach.

I share your concern with guys leaving, more with some that others obviously. However, KD resigned. Not pushed, not coerced. Went off for greener pastures, following a family tradition to a conference that would give him a better chance to get to the big dance.

Yes, you are a homer but that's OK! Scott Walter is exactly what you say. Unfortunately, the Zips need a starting point guard or a guy who can play 15 minutes and start or play significant minutes when LCJ is hurt or having a rough game.

As I pondered next year's lineup, I often saw him ideally as a 6th man, instant offense kind of guy. Not diminishing his loss by any stretch. He will be missed. Kudos to him for sticking it out when others left and his dedication in hitting the weightroom. Good luck to him.

I had a funny feeling he could be the next one out. It may just be his demeanor, but his heart just didn't seem to be in it this year. I just got this email from the Athletic Department today. This little piece of info should brighten our days-

As a MAC team that finished a game over .500, I suspect there were no offers.

Do you really think that a 17,000 student university belongs in a conference with schools whose largest enrollment is 4,000? None of them even has an athletic facility that seats over 3,000. I get that the MAC is an issue but do we really want the entire athletic program to just throw in the towel?

Not at all. I was naively yet optimistically asking for your solution.

My question was directed more at the critics who never offer a solution to the problem. Of course they are all too often the same people who say the program is worthless yet expect the same worthless program to be of value to a better conference.

OK, so what's the solution?

Just because we don't make it our lives' missions to be the Eeyores of ZipsNation and P!$$ and moan to the point that we're virtually unreadable does not mean we're fine with the status of the MAC.

And just what conference would you propose for the Zips?? You previously stated "Akron doesn’t have the personal to be good in any sport except soccer." What conference would want that?

Amen. Asleep at the switch.

So Buffalo may get to play against Bobby Hurley. I love it.

Geno owes PCCC a bunch of money from bailing for Bradley. I don't know that would prevent him from coaching in Ohio, but it would sure make his wages more easily garnished.

If old George doesn't say something at least once a week that leaves me scratching my head I start thinking he may have a ghost writer.

Cheese is already the backup point and should remain so absent a dedicated point coming in. From what little I have seen of Dawson, he doesn't appear to be a point. I think when everyone is healthy Sayles is higher on the depth chart than E-man. I love E-man's attitude and effort but his game has gone backwards.

Keep up the good work on those recruits B & G.

To enable us to have a discussion about what we expect for next season separate from the conversation dissecting the season that just ended, I have opened this thread. I don't see a lot of changes in the starting lineup next season. I think Utomi slides over for Ivey at the three and Williams comes in at power forward, leaving the Zips with LCJ, Cheese, Utomi, Williams and Riak in the starting 5. I wish we had another PG we could start and use LCJ in a change of pace role as I think he could really excel there, but I don't see another solid PG on next year's roster. Of the incoming kids, I see Reece having the biggest impact. Cheese should develop into a top 10 or 15 MAC player. Hopefully Banks re-discovers his shot. Sayles being healthy would be a big help in the post. Roscoe should develop into a nice piece off of the bench. E-man looks to slide even farther down in the rotation with a healthy Sayles and Williams coming in. If E-man is the 10th man, that's not too bad. Toles remains a mystery. Hopefully the depth helps them finish games with more energy.

I take full responsibility for the 13 and 6 point losses (at least I kept them in the game!).

You're going to do lasting damage if you keep banging your noggin on that brick wall.

zippy5, you need to have the talk with our friend kreed.

It will all be fine once Groce finds one of those good 6'11" D1 centers standing on every street corner in NEO.