BirdZip

In replying to CK's original question, the first thing I asked myself was "What were Butler's results in the years leading up to this one, and how do we compare to that?" Since I'm not an expert, I just went to ESPN and looked at their last several years: Year----------Record------Postseason 2009-10--------33-5----------NCAA Championship Game 2008-09--------26-6----------NCAA First Round 2007-08--------30-4----------NCAA Second Round 2006-07--------29-7----------NCAA Sweet 16 2005-06--------20-12---------NIT Second Round 2004-05--------13-15---------None 2003-04--------16-14---------None 2002-03--------27-6----------NCAA Sweet 16 I believe Brad Stevens came in in 2007-08, so the first thing that comes to mind is that after his first 2 season's, ZNO would have been calling for his firing since he clearly wasn't the coach to take them the next step and they were in fact moving backwards. Beyond that, I'd say we're about where they were in 2005-06, but we're stuck there. The question to me is can we get two more key players (or maybe one more marquis Zeke-type player) and take the next step. Also looks like in 2005-06 is where they started mixing in some bigger names in the OOC schedule. We're a good ways away from where Butler is this season. We're not that far off, though, from where they were when they started their run.

The dorms are almost done, from what I can see the exterior looks finished. They are opening next fall, but apparently UA feels that freshmen and the learning communities deserved the dorms over everyone else. I guess they figured the only way they could get the nerds near the football stadium is to build the dorm next door. Bad planning on the Honors Dorm if thats the case... I just wanted to say that I'm a nerd, and I'm here tonight to stand up for the rights of other nerds. I mean, all our lives we've been laughed at and made to feel inferior...Why? Cause we're smart? Cause we look different? Well, we're not. I'm a nerd, and I'm pretty proud of it. I have news for the beautiful people. There's a lot more of us than there are of you. No-one's gonna really be free until nerd persecution ends.

Any of you number crunchers out there care to just take a look at average scoring (period) for majors vs mid-majors? The effect of moving the three point line may not just be reflected in three-point shooting percentage but may also affect ability to prevent the two, propensity to take the three, etc. I'd be curious to see over the past 5 years or so, just average points scored by majors vs average points scored by mid-majors. Don't compare them to each other but rather to themselves ebfore and after the change.

Bulk discount on 20'9" paint sticks at Home Depot? I think I read where the International 3-pt line is moving too (later this year?), so any attempt to make the distances match would have been short-lived anyway.

Bad post help was a huge issue--I agree. It was most apparent against UW-GB. Guards will get beat on D or see picks they can't bust through. It was double digits how many times that turned into an uncontested layup with the bigs just watching.

And from what I've seen, the best one of them.

They did this the whole tournament, as did Kool. I also saw it by several guards throughout the tourament games. It's not legal (gains a huge advantage) but it is something that the refs obviously allow to happen. Akron therefore needs to adjust to that (and incorporate it into our guards' play as well).

Just noticed Chris McKnight finished with 969 Career Points. Win last night and he had a shot at reaching 1000. With his recent play 2 more games might have been enough.

Curling.

Actually, speaking strictly of the MAC, Dambrot's done more than any other coach over the past 4 years. No-one else has won more than 1 Championship either but Akron's been there all 4 times. The argument is that we could easily have won three but didn't execute.

Chris McKnight Congrats to Chris on a great individual performance amongst teammates that looked like they just didn't care. Steve McNees and Darryl Roberts Not great but a decent effort. Zeke, both Bretts, Nik, and the rest Did you know there was a game last night? If so, you probably should have shown up. No help defense at all--not hard to set a personal record on scoring when you're taking wide open 3's and uncontested lay-ups. And by the way, 2-ft shots should go through that round orange ring. Dambrot I've supported KD and I think for the most part his moves are OK, but this was embarrassing. Green Bay's #10 (don't have the energy to look up his name) was hot so you know what their coach did? He worked the ball to him! Great concept. Let's not do that with Chris McKnight yesterday--let him get his "naturally" and instead keep focusing on his brother who couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Maybe change your defense if it fails to work 27 possessions in a row. Oh, and when #10 gets his 4th foul, you might want to focus on him and either foul him out or take the easy points that he is forced to give you. (P.S. Still want you as the coach, but do it smarter, dang it!) Bottom line is that we should have trounced Green Bay but instead looked like we didn't give a crap. If my tickets were free I would have overpaid. Oh, and one more thing. The concept of a Steve McNees last second 3-point shot re-creation as a contest--great. Execution--not great. Play the video while they're doing it or something.

My prediction is the next expansion is to either 68 or 72 teams. Instead of one "play-in" game there will be 4 or 8 of those games to see who has the right to lose to the 1 and 2 seeds. In the 72 team scenario, that automatically eliminates 8 of the smaller conference teams before the real tournament even starts and opens up 8 more spots for the majors.

Quade Milum? Seriously?

The Zips scored in the range of points KD is comfortable. That's not bad execution of a game plan to me. Defense is another thing. If the Zips score more points last night, they win. Too much has to happen for defense to win a championship. I hope everyone has learned that lesson now. Fascinating analysis.

What worries me is that I saw David Kool doing the same thing in Game 1. He pushed off players before getting the ball and then when driving constantly lowered the shoulder and kept getting either no call or a block call. Call the fouls and Kool's out early and CMU wins the game.

Horrible game last night--no doubt about it. Horrible opinions today--no doubt about it. I'll see your moron and raise you an idiot. Can't has a good team--it's OK to admit it. And KD has done a lot if you look at where the team was when he came and where it is now. You can debate where they're headed but the debate will go nowhere because we don't know now--gotta wait and see.By the way, nobody threw confetti last night so the conference championship is yet to come. The real deal ends Saturday. Pull yourself off the train tracks and get ready for Thursday.

I thought it would be a good time to resurrect this thread. Intended to be a picture dictionary / primer for incoming K-ent students.As an example:Basketball PracticeDriver's Ed

Then where have they been? And where were they in the second half? Their biggest cheer was during team leapfrog.

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought Steve made a very nice pass to Zeke for a dunk that was called off for a "charge" on McNees that, IMHO, wasn't anywhere close to a charge. Nice play without that bad call.

Whatever floats your boat dude.... We have a former football coach at our school who bought himself and his coaches MAC East Championship rings when they didn't even make the MAC Championship.Turns out the New Orleans Saints are not the NFL champions. They only won the tournament. The Indianapolis Colts, who had a better regular season record, are the true NFL champs.

What a surprise?So both Buffalo and BG were weekend away games and no student bus trip to either of them?

Headaviatorrowdy--As president of the AKRowdies do you have the right to post things around campus? If Marketing won't do it, can you spearhead it? Also, do you have Wistrcill's ear in any capacity? Are you allowed to have cowbells down by the court? Watching so much luge and bobsledding lately, it just occurs to me--WE NEED MORE COWBELL.Did I miss Greek night this year? I did miss one or two home games so one of those must have been it? The Greeks always tend to be lame from a fan standpoint, but at least they fill seat (until the second half).One thing that used to get the crowd riled up when we needed it was (I believe his name was) Willie. He'd come out near the end of games and get us fired up with The Final Countdown playing in the background. He also did much better during time outs. Now we get a cheerleader who stumbles through teaching us how to spell Zips.I recall going to a soccer game a few years ago and the stands were at best 1/6 full. Students come out now because of the ranking. Bandwagoneers all of them.

I'm sick of this team crapping down their leg and...What? They won their last 5, including 4 close games? Well then...I'm sick of Steve McNees running the point. He stinks and he's killing us...What? 5 Rebounds, 5 Assists, a steal, 6 points and only 1 TO against Miami? Well, I'm sure he had other turnovers that didn't make the box score, but how about...Our schedule stinks! It doesn't prepare us to play in the MAC! We need a schedule like Miami...What? We're tied for the best record in the MAC, and we beat Miami twice? Damn! There's gotta be something...I got it!We're not winning by enough. These close wins are masking our problems. I don't know what those problems are, but they're obviously there...