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RootForRoo....we indeed saw an old Jimmy C. stat line in that game last night. Does this mean those good couple of games were a mirage? I sure hope not. He could be the pleasant surprise that helps this team overachieve this year.

trimmy 10....I'm one of those old timers who went to school at Akron University....and I STILL get mad today when people do not call it The University of Akron. It's been long enough. I wish everyone could get it right now.

Ok...think about this for a minute....because it applies to both the Hoke and Gill situations....If any of us were the head of a major athletic program, wouldn't you consider it a risk to take a mid-major coach after only a short run of success? Gill's name was thrown around last year as the next Nebraska coach...after what amounted to Buffalo's first "decent" season in years. It never happened. And it's not as if Hoke got offered the world's best college job, after taking the Cardinals to a level that I have not seen a MAC team reach in years. And what about JD after he won the overall MAC title? Something Hoke never accomplished.I think for the most part, major programs would like to hire coaches with sustained success. And I don't think either Hoke or Gill were quite to that point yet, if either of them desired to get offered a marquee job. They are both MAC coaches who had good years, and got their teams into bowl games. I don't think that should automatically grant them a ticket to a top-level coaching position.

Guys...I don't know how to feel about this one. This was not the same VCU team we faced last year. They are basically a one-man show with a couple of role players, and they still nearly had us put away at halftime. Valiant effort to make a little run in the last few minutes to make the game entertaining to listen to near the end. We took nearly half of our shots from 3-point range, which still concerns me. Luckily we were making enough of them after halftime to give us a chance at a comeback. VCU on the other hand took about 1/3 of their shots from 3-point range, and got a lot of baskets from close range. And once again, I see one of those ugly Bardo stat lines....14 minutes, 4 fouls, 0 points, and 1 rebound. It looks like we have a couple of "practice games" (that's what they will be) coming up, and then a road test at Rhode Island before we start conference play. Lets hope for the best.

Roo 72...I wouldn't dispute the fact that he could help our defense again, I'm merely thinking about the idea of switching him back and forth in consecutive seasons....especially after he's now established himself as one of the leagues top receivers. zippysgotagun...I was wondering the same thing last year. Could Andre have switched back to defense at times to help us? Seems to me like he could possibly play a Deon Sanders role on this team. But, someone could also make an argument that the safeties were not where our problems were last year. I think the bulk of our problems lie in our inability to make tackles for short gains in the interior part of our defense.

Racer...in case you were unaware, Andre was an All-MAC selection at wide receiver this year. Would you really think it's likely that he'd move again? This was a brilliant move by JD to identify him as being someone who could help an offense that had struggled in 2007, and needed tons of help at WR. And on top of that, wouldn't you admit that he was the only guy who you could depend upon to consistently hold onto a pass this year?Anyway...unlikely that he'd move again.

I will be happy seeing ONE thing tonight....Before we get into our conference schedule, I want to see this team show that they can generate some offense in the paint against a quality opponent.

Yes, this is funny. Before anyone gets all excited about this, I'm sure JD is the final decision maker as far as what defense we are playing, and which 11 players are on the field. One thing is for sure...we need to recruit better on the defensive side of the ball.

Zipwatcher...this is great stuff. Bringing our youngsters into the experience early might just be our best chance of turning our kids in this area into Zips fans before they get to school around kids wearing Suckeyes gear, and saying "Oh...Akron has a basketball team"? And I know this problem first-hand. I have a few nephews who range in age from 8-14, they all live in this area, and they all pay attention to nothing else but what is happening in Cowlumbus. And their parents are all Akron grads!!!!! So, Kudos to you!! They all look at me like I'm stupid when I offer to take them to an Akron basketball game...like...."you go to Akron basketball games?...why?" As if....we are some "little college team" or something. But, that's what they think. This is why I harp so much on the "lets do anything to gain any kind of national exposure" argument. Here's a few more thoughts...I've known Joe Dunn for years. He's a great guy, and has plenty of old stories to share with you, going all the way back to my student days in the early 80s, if you ever have a chance to sit down and talk to him. If you didn't know this, he was in charge of marketing and promotions for many, many years before he retired. Ok....someone, or you, must give me the official word on this......For nearly 30 years, I've always thought that cheer was "eat em up, eat em up, go zips go". Have I been wrong all this time?

uakronkid...that was my thought exactly. I don't think we have another scholarship to offer next year either. We're only losing Nate.

Without doing my own reasearch....does anyone know how this VCU team looks compared to the team that beat us here last year? I know they still have their stud Maynor....but how are they as a team compared to last year?

GP1....I will truthfully tell you that the people I attended games with back then clearly saw him as an impact defensive player. So, I don't think he totally came out of nowhere. But, I certainly didn't peg him as ever being an every-down linebacker in the NFL. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Isn't he starting right now because of an injury? Isn't his real role as Pierce's backup at middle LB? If so, he's certainly made the most of his opportunity to play. The Browns are what they are.....bad personell decision, after bad personell decision, after bad personell decision.

Big Zip...I just got an update on this kid today from a contact of mine in Lake County....From what I am told, Toledo, Can't, Northern Ill., and Miami have all made offers to him, and he is deciding next week. Have you heard anything further about our interest...if there is any?

g-mann....what you are saying makes sense. I don't know why nobody is trying to make this happen.

A couple of comments...g-mann.....to the best of my understanding, a local news station isn't suceeding here because of advertising revenue. It makes sense. With news stations in both Cleveland and Akron, potential advertisers will understandably jump on the Cleveland station, and Akron would get the leftovers. I'm pretty sure that's what it all boils down to, and it's a shame. We desperately need local public tv news. Captain, I think you capture most of the main reasons why out-of-town recruits choose Akron (facilities, coaches, etc.). But, don't discount the impact of having games on tv regionally and nationally. They can see us play while still in high school, increasing our exposure among potential recruits, and their hometown people can see them play once they get here. One such game that had a particular impact this year was the Can't game. That was on ESPN regional, and I was getting calls from friends several states away who were watching our game that day. We need as many of those kinds of opportunities as we can get. As far as good, local newspaper coverage is concerned....I think that has much more of an impact on fan interest than it does on local recruits. If you're a local high school football player, you have a pretty good picture of what Akron has to offer. But if you are a fan, who may have some interest in attending a game for the first time, the excitement generated through great newpaper coverage can make all the difference in the world.

I don't get the idea some people have that CSU is no threat to us. Of course they are!!!!Sure, their fans won't drive down here to go to games.....but a strong CSU basketball program means competition for media attention and recruits.

WOW...some great stuff here. I must say, I've very pleased to see the passion for UA basketball. I share it with all of you.Let me share of a few of my opinions.....First, the Huggins route is not something that KD might not follow someday himself. I was a student when Bob proclaimed that his goal was to make Akron a top notch program. But, Bobby worked at a pretty low salary here, and then ended up being offerred TONS more to go to UC. If anyone discounts the possibility that KD might not bail for that kind of elevation in salary, they'd be naive. It can happen, regardless of what I PERSONALLY know about his commitment to Akron. I just want all of us to understand that the JC transfer route can work. None of us can dispute that it's worked for Can't, and as much as we've hoped it would all fall apart for them. They've been what we've hoped to be, as much as I hate those guys.Let me tell you. I went the JC route myself. I never got a chance to go to a 4-year school afterwards, but some people did. They were not criminals, or grade defiicient either. They simply were just guys who needed to refine their talents before the D-1 schools would make an offer that they didn't make to them after their senior year of high school. They were late bloomers. It's as simple as that.

Oh please, keep it coming. This is getting better by the minute.

Hey Zipwatcher....we tend to not agree on some things, but I think your breakdown is pretty accurate here. Actually, Greensboro should be an easy win. Can we steal one at VCU or Rhode Island? Another plus. Yes, a wobbly MAC this year. But my concern is that we still face a conference schedule where most of the teams will be better than most of the teams we have beaten so far, and will be better preprared to play us. Not to bring up a bad era of Akron basketball, but I remember several of the Crawford years where we "looked" good with very young teams in non-conference play, and then floundered when we started facing the better, more experienced, and better prepared teams in our own conference. Regardless of how we feel about our possibilities right now, our own league will be focused on burying us early, considering our success over the last several years. That's the hurdle this team still needs to overcome. Can we get through our first 5 or so conference games, be in good shape, and have the confidence to make a run? Even with everyone gunning for us this year? Let's hope for the best. But again, regardless of what happens this year....I still want everyone to stay on board....and see where this program is headed. I really believe that 2010-2012 period is going to possibly be the years where we can make a run that's something comparable to the Can't State success of the earlier part of this decade.

My thoughts exactly.

GP1...I can't agree more. And really have nothing more to add. Accurate post.

Z.I.P....very good point. Could Cowlumbus State auction a JD book on their website??I'm really laughing about this one. And I see it can't even get a minimum bid. And like a friend of mine just said....can't you just go to one of his book signings, buy the book at face value, and get him to even PERSONALIZE your signing?.....if that's the book you really want? Why would an Akron football fan have any interest in this????I'm just sitting here shaking my head. I'm speechless.

Zips win....I have to admit....I'm surprised at any game where McNees would get more minutes than Roberts. I'm not seeing an equal skill set there. I think Roberts should clearly have the most minutes as the 2-guard. Zips win again...In my opinion, I think Nate's problem is that he's feeling the pressure to contribute more in the "points" category....which is something that he hasn't had to do in his previous 3 years here. I hope he adjusts accordingly, and figures a way to balance that new leadership role with his old style of play. Quickzip...please note that our other freshman point guard DOES have a 3:1 assist/turnover ratio. And you are correct that 3:1 is a very good number. A 2:1 ratio is probably a little bit more the "average", if that's what you are looking for as far as statistical data is concerned.Some of us are just pointing out something that appears to be a weakness in his game right now. A 1:3 assist/turnover ratio is really bad. And someone pointed out that it's been improving game-by-game this season, which is not correct. He had his highest turnover number in game 8 against Dayton. Come on folks....regardless of his potential.....is it a travesty for people to point out the things that need improvement? I was a student way back when Eric McLaughlin was our freshman point guard. He had a TREMENDOUS freshman season. Took us all the way to the NCAA Tournament. And I am sure his game needed improvement too.

I agree.....22 is probably about the right number for a chance at an NIT bid, if recent history means anything. We got in at 22 wins 3 seasons ago, and got in with 23 wins last year. However, how can we forget that 26 wins didn't get us in back in 2007.

If only I was the type who buys into the.....If A beats B, and B beats C, and C beats D.....then we are better than ??