1981 grad

Hall is an athletic kid. I hope that you are right but I do not see him wearing down. We will see tonight. Go Zips!!

The formula is not fair. For basketball MAC tournament, the basketball season ticket holders should be given more priority. We are the ones who supported the team the whole year by showing up. Why should a football season ticket holder who never goes to a b ball game be given priority over a season ticket holder who supports the team the entire year. The formula should give added points for each year a basketball season ticket holder has bought season tickets, especially those who sit in the lower bowl. It is a disgrace for the U to have somebody who supports the team sit, buys lower bowl season tickets, and then sit them in the corner section of the Q so wealthy people who never attend games can get better seats.

This is going to be a tough game that will probably go down to the wire like almost all of our games. Stayed for the Kent-Ohio game and you have to be impressed with how Kent came back in the second half. In the first half they were shooting around 30% and 20% on the three ball. By the end of the game they were shooting around 40%. They are very athletic, quick, and played well down the stretch. I was very impressed with Hall. He played a lot of minutes, played really hard and scored most of his points in the second half. If Kent shoots the ball well, they will be tough. One of the keys to the game is how well we shoot the 3 ball. If we can shoot the 3 ball above 40% there is a great chance we win the tournament. Last night we played very smart basketball and did not force up any 3 balls and only shot 21 3 ball shots. Noah has done a great job of getting good shots and taking short jumpers instead of just shooting the 3. We shot over 50% from the field. I am hoping that Kwan can explode tonight for a great game and stay out of foul trouble. Hopefully, we can start hot like we did yesterday and force Kent to play catch up the entire night. Like to see Big Dog and Kwan leave as winners tonight for all their hard work the past 4 years. Go Zips!!

That is rediculous!! Travel Zoo worked very well and I had front row seats by the Akron Bench for Thursday's game and center court last night on the Akron side. Never would have had those seats going through the U. I could have had the same seats tonight if I had bought them before Akron won. I did best seats immediately after the Akron Ball STate game and got lower level but on the Kent side. A little disappointed but no big deal since went to the Kent game and sat on the Kent side on the chairbacks. They should seat lower bowl season ticket holders in the lower level compreble to our season tickets!!!!

Great game. Antino and Big Dog had big games. Noah once again played a smart game and had some nice takes to the basket. Did not force up any three pointers and drew an offensive foul. I was surprised to see Dunn Martin come in with less than 5 minutes left in the game and Noah got some rest. I wondered if KD wants to make sure that Noah is fresh for the finals. Big Dog played 37 minutes again. He is definitely the go to guy when we needed a basket. This team is doing a great job getting turnovers. Much more aggressive on defense than during the season. There must have been at least 10 offensive fouls called during the game. Not sure if I have seen that called in one game during the season. Looking forward to seeing Big Dog versus Hall tomorrow night. Hall had a great game for Kent and Big Dog is leading the way for Akron. Big matchup and big game. Go Zips!!!

Really looking forward to the game today. I have been so impressed with Noah's play the last few games. He has been taking the ball to the hoop, not forcing up the three point shots, and running the offense. Josh was also impressive yesterday. If we get good guard play we are a difficult team to beat. One of the keys to the game is getting off to a good start. We started slow yesterday missing easy shots. We need to start well and not fall behind again. Run the offense through Big Dog and not take quick threes in transition. Josh hit a great three after a steal but it seems like when we rush a three and miss we lose our balance with our offense. Would love to see KD use his bench. Do not want to see Big Dog play another 37 minutes. Give Poke a chance. He played only 3 minutes yesterday and had 2 blocks. Need Antino to have a better shooting game and drive to the basket. I think he had a poor offensive game because of the zone. Expect him in double figures today. Go Zips!!

I watched some of the game and it was ugly. There was around 60 foul shots for both teams. Neither team shot the ball well and it was drive to the basket and get fouled almost every possession. Four or five players fouled out.

I think one of the keys to winning the MAC tournament are the seniors, Big Dog and Kwan. This is their senior year and they have never made it to the NCAA tournament. This year we have the talent to get there but does this team have the heart. I still remember the big game that Zeke had to get to the NCAA tournament in the win over Kent. I hope that they look at that video to see how much effort and desire it takes to win the tournament. If both these guys have great tournaments, I like our chance of winning it all. During the winning streak they were at the top of their game. I think the supporting case is good enough to win as long as the senior leaders get the job done. Looking forward to Thursday. Go Zips!!

We beat Eastern Michigan 70-63 at the Jar in our only meeting. Big Dog had a big game with 21 points. We had balenced scoring from our starters except for Kwan who had a rough night going 2 for 11. (I believe that is the first game that Kwan struggled all year) Hopefully, we can have a repeat of our intensity that we displayed at Kent. I really like how Noah and Jimond played at Kent and believe that we need him to continue this type of scoring and aggressive play at the Q. KD has indicated that we have not seen Akron play their best game of basketball. Well, now would be the time. Lets start the tournament with a big win. Go Zips!!!

Hey, I just want to thank everyone who made this award possible, my mom, my wife, my sister, my first grade teacher, my second grade teacher, my aunt Clara, my Uncle George, my first basketball coach, my second basketball coach, Joe Lunardi who took me under his wing, *************************************

Noah is the difference in our offense. He is playing like he played as a freshman. He took the ball to the hoop repeatedly and did not hesitate. He got knocked down several times and got right back up. He had a great steal. Utomi also had a solid game. He has a very strong move to the basket and can post up down low. We now have 3 post up players, Kwan, Big Dog and Utomi. KD indicated that he was going to give Utomi more minutes. We played well even when Big Dog struggled against Hall, Kwan was in foul trouble, and Antino did not have his best game. Finally, Jimond played really tough basketball with 12 rebounds. You have to love his athleticism and his moves on the fast break. I would still like to see more Poke. I think it will be tough to play Big Dog 30 minutes a game in Cleveland. Poke is playing well and love seeing him dunk the ball.

At Kent at 9 on ESPN 2. Things to do not look good. We have lost 3 of 4 and the last game at home to the worst team in the league. I cannot remember the last time we won at Kent Kent has been looking good recently after beating us at the Jar. Does anybody know whether Utomi will be playing or how serious his injury?

I just bought my tickets using travel zoo and got 1st row tickets, section 126 for Thursdays game at noon for $45. Thanks for the information.

I remember that VCU game at home. We were down a point with 30 seconds left in the overtime and KD designed a play for our center, Zeke Marshall. Ironic that years later our go to guy is still a center, Big Dog. In that game I believe Zeke made a move to the basket and got fouled and make both foul shots to put us up by one. VCU ran a play and one of their guys was open for a short jumper or layup for a buzzer beater. Even though we lost it was a great game.

Hip Zip makes a great point that should not be lost in our discussion of Akron Basketball. KD recruits quality student-athletes who will be successful in life when they hang up their Nikes and have to succeed in life. I listen to the post game interviews on the way home from the games and watch the Zip live show and these players always leave me with a positive impression. As for the game last night, there is no doubt in my mind that if we had needed this game to clinch the MAC title that we would have won this game. Last year we lost 3 of 4 at the end of the season and still got to the title game. This team will hopefully get it together for the tournament. I am a little superstitious so last year we cut down the nets in Akron and lost in Cleveland. This year we did not cut down the nets in Akron and hopefully we will win in Cleveland. Looking forward to the Kent game. Go Zips

You have to admit that it is weird how all season this team cannot put a team away and it finally cost them a game. Kwan's foul and T was a 4 point play and really turned the momentum around to favor Miami. I did not hear what he said but no reason to get a T. (Cursing at the officials?) I heard that Utomi was out with a sore knee and that is why he did not play the second half. Aron Jackson had a couple nice rebounds and scored at least 4 points. Nobody can fault him for this loss although he threw a terrible pass at the end of the game. Miami did a good job on Big Dog. Miami used all the shot clock and did not take most shots until the shot clock was down to 5. Big Dog is the go to guy when we need points and he has been successful in the past. However, tonight he was stripped of the ball and fouled and only converted 1 of 4 foul shots. If this team is going to win the MAC he needs to make his foul shots down the stretch. Miami's coach is at the end of this contract and they are having a terrible season. I wonder if this win might have saved his job. I have tickets to the Kent game and will hopefully see a better performance than tonight. If we play this poorly we will get blown out. I still think we can win the tournament. Go Zips!

You have to feel bad for the non scholarship players like Noble and Anderson. They have not seen the floor the entire MAC season. With Miami slumping, this would be the game to get them some minutes. I hope it happens.

This season I noticed that KD is not using his bench as much as in previous seasons. Not saying this is good or bad. Just an observation. This year we have 4 starters averaging over 30 minutes in MAC play and Antiono averaging 27.5. Josh is averaging 20 and Utomi 10 with Dunn Martin getting 8, Poke 6, Aron, 6 and Hughs 2. So although we are playing 11, only 7 players are averaging double digits in MAC play. I took a quick look at the stats the past 3 seasons to see if this was unusual for MAC play. In the past 3 years, we have never had 4 players averaging over 30 minutes. In the 2013-2014 season, we had 2 players average over 30 minutes (Q and Tree). Since then only Noah has averaged more than 30 minutes per game. In the 2013-2014 season, we had 11 players averaging double digit minutes in MAC play. In In 2014-2105 we had 10 players averaging double digit minutes. In 2015-2016 we had 8 players averaging double digit minutes with one player averaging 9.4 and another 7.8. There has been a clear trend of less bench play. I remember in years past KD always commenting how he liked to go 10 or 11 deep and that is how Akron played. I also remember people on this board complaining that KD substituted to frequently and did not allow players to get into the flow of the game. (Have not seen that complaint this season). I an not being critical of KD. There are many reasons for the reduced bench play, no blowouts, Hughs injury, Big Dog and Kwan having outstanding senior years, and Dunn Martin, Poke, Utomi and Hughs being frosh. I wonder if KD will use more bench the last 2 games since we have won the MAC or during the tournament when we have to play 3 games in 3 days.

Have teams always cut the nets when they win the conference? I thought it was when the team won the MAC tournament.

I just seen I sign that he's the guy! Let's hope that we keep seeing the same sign game after game.

If Kent beats Ohio U tomorrow I think that clinches the MAC title outright. Kent has been playing well so it may happen.

This was a great team win. Everyone played well. I hope that we will see more of Josh and Noah taking it to the hoop. It opens up the floor and punishes the defender for getting in their grill outside the 3 line. It helps that the refs were calling it close because they got to the foul line on their drives. We definitely need to work on boxing out. The announcer said it best, stick your butt in the other guys midsection to keep him off the boards.

Josh and Noah finally figured out that if guys are guarding them close take it to the hoop. Great drives by Noah and Josh.

Noah driving to the hoop again. I have seen his with the ball driving to the basket more this game than any game this season. We are also getting some calls tonight.

I like how Noah is taking the ball to the hoop. It is not pretty but he draws a foul. That is what this team needs is penetration instead of relying on the 3. Nice start to the 2nd half. Now lets keep it up and not rely on the easy shot.