Why is there no "Buzz" regarding Zips Hoops?

[Captain Kangaroo]

You may add your own reasons if you'd like.

[JP Morgan]

All of the above pretty much sum it up for me (with the exception of the Juice and ZW thing?). I have wondered why my apathy towards the Mens B-ball program has set in. Frankly, much of it has to do with family committments. But some of it goes back to a few different things.

1. The schedule sucks. The only game I'm really looking forward to is the Can't games. Usually a Big Name team will get my B-ball juices flowing again.

2. I have no expectations for this season. It's sorta a wait and see type thing. If they win great....if they lose...oh well.

3. Not being able to attend games. Unless you see these guys play, all they are are names. I have no "favorite player" as in years past. Plus I have no one to rip either? It's a new year with a new coach, he gets a pass in my book.

4. Its also the Football thing......I never thought I'd be a bigger football fan than basketball, but it's happened. I love Zips Football and can't wait for it to start back up!

That's it for me!

[Captain Kangaroo]

1. The schedule sucks. The only game I'm really looking forward to is the Can't games. Usually a Big Name team will get my B-ball juices flowing again.

I've posted a few times on this board that our schedule sucks, and the general consensus has been "Let's get the W's versus lesser teams rather than risk a loss versus a "name" opponent.

Look at Bucknell last week, knocking off #10 Pitt. What an unbelievable shot in the arm for their fans and program. Look at Marshall 2 nights ago beating Top 25 West Virginia. All of the sudden 3-10 Marshall is abuzz with optimism.

I hear all the talk that Dambrot wants the Zips to compete on a national level. I give him the "pass' for this season's schedule too. But next season I want to see something besides Sister's of the Poor in November and December.

I heard the Fresno State football coach say, before the UVA Humanitarian Bowl game last month: "We will play any team, any time, anywhere." FSU then went out and beat UVA.

I would like it if our coaches said that....and then backed it up.

[Zip Watcher]

Combinations of many things .. the late nights probably a big thing. The biggest is probably finishing the year end numbers @ work & adapting to the changes at home.

I'll be back in frequency soon. More posting today I think.

As for the schedule, I don't have a real problem with things this year. I think perhaps that people aren't posting because there's far less to bitch about this year than last season .. we're all stunned into realizing that many of the things that bugged the crap out of us in past years have disappeared for one reason or another.

Team play is better

Defense is better

No academic casualties mid-year

It'll pick up I'm sure .. when we win tonight .. it will help.

[zipsbandman]

A. This is the same underachieving team that we are all used to.

B. Horrible scheduling.

C. We lost our best player for the season.

D. The team is incapable of winning on the road.

E. Another year and another year that the Zips won't make it past the first round of the tourney.

F. When is it football season??? (I sound like a Can't fan during football season now )

[Captain Kangaroo]

Combinations of many things .. the late nights probably a big thing. The biggest is probably finishing the year end numbers @ work & adapting to the changes at home.

I'll be back in frequency soon. More posting today I think.

As for the schedule, I don't have a real problem with things this year. I think perhaps that people aren't posting because there's far less to bitch about this year than last season .. we're all stunned into realizing that many of the things that bugged the crap out of us in past years have disappeared for one reason or another.

Team play is better

Defense is better

No academic casualties mid-year

It'll pick up I'm sure .. when we win tonight .. it will help.

I think that's a valid point. The team is playing as it should, given the schedule and talent. I can't complain about much that I've witnessed on the sidelines or the floor. We just need to continue improving, growing and recruiting better. That doesn't happen in a year. Unfortunately, after the last 16 years of virtually "nothing," it is tough to endure another season without realistic championship aspirations.

[Z-Pouch]

This team is hardly more of the same from the Hip/Craw eras. Seems to me, that the lack of a bonafid "star" has kept the buzz to a minimum -- Noone knows what to think about this team, it's difficult when every night a different player steps up and then dissappears the next few games. Star by commitee (ala Can't State) will eventually make a very good BB team but it doesn't create the instant excitement of seeing someone dunk and go for 40. And I'm not sure if we have a real identity yet but it sure seems to be a big improvement over past years. Maybe our identity is something we haven't seen or forgot - What is this concept of team ball ?? taking it to the other team ?? playing multiple players/combinations ??? aggressive defense ?? rebounding ?? allowing players to play thru their mistakes ?? shooting that wide open 3 rather then making another meaningless pass ?? Difficult to relate after recent years but I like it. I think I actually heard someone complaining at a recent game asking " Why he took that wide open three ? or Yelling "slow it down......" " It could take all of us a little time.

Tonights game is huge. Are we that good at home ? From all the cupcakes so far, it's hard to tell but Buffalo will offer the first test. Will Buffalo still present problems as they always did to Hip's teams no matter the records ? KD's squad and stlye seems to lineup better against this improved Buffalo team. Are we a good 1-3 MAC team ? If you listened to last weeks away games, you know 1) the games were much closer then the final score, 2) the MAC's elite (per preseason), are not that unbeatable 3) Akron plays hard and 4) we have the potential to get a home 1st round game with improvement even less one very big important piece ??.

The attendence and some excitement will come with some big wins and people getting to know the different style.

[zipper]

Hear, hear, Z-Pouch. I voted for Wood's injury, because I honestly think that had we not lost him we would have won at LEAST one of the last two away games. Now the team has to learn to play without him, adapt, and learn how to ompensate for his loss. With him, I think we were contenders for the East.

This team plays big defensively and are extremely fun to watch. I concur about there not being one star, and I think that's exactly the way Dambrot likes it. When he coached at St.V, you couldn't ignore LeBron, but the rest of that team obviously wasn't chopped liver, either. And all of those kids, (including LeBron, the anti-Tarver, who knew how to pass), played as one unit.

Had we not just suffered two road losses, I think we would, in fact, be seeing the very beginnings of "buzz." If we see a four or five game win streak, people will start to get excited, not only about this year but next and the year after, as well. And I do think that football being on the upswing does provide a diversionary focus, but how many of us would have felt this way at the beginning of this last football season? The conference season is young right now.

[Z-P]

You guys have all spoken my mind with the exception of one thing.........

Here's the dealio.............last season I was super geeked to see our "All MAC" back court return and dominate. Know what I mean? I was just sure Johnny would blow up and Tarver would be.............well.............Tarver.

What happened? Johnny blew up alright, he disappeared. Tarver's "ways" sucked and the program proceeded to put me to sleep. No "year to year" interest.

To keep fans coming back, you have got to have players who can "roll" year after year. I thought Dru would do that and he's broken my heart again. On the FB side, we knew Matt Cherry would be better and better year after year and he was. Ditto for Superman. That keeps fans coming back and enthused. Schifino and Lavel got better and better (except for Jakes Sr injury).............Butchie got better and better.........that's what's lacking in the UA BB Program right now..............at least IMHO.

Sad to say, and I'm embarrassed to admit this (but we're among friends).........I'm not even sure if I want to make the effort to go tonite...........and I'm the kind of sports fan who should never be in that frame of mind over his Uni.

To me, the roots (short as they may be) and continuity of top echelon sports lies with the continued high level of support and boosting by The Boss and UAM.

Yaaaaaaaaaawn....................

[zipper]

Sad to say, and I'm embarrassed to admit this (but we're among friends).........I'm not even sure if I want to make the effort to go tonite...........and I'm the kind of sports fan who should never be in that frame of mind over his Uni.

Well I can't go THAT far. I am completely unsure about the rest of this year, but I have very high hopes for the future of this program, and for once I don't think those hopes are misplaced.

Win or lose, this team is so much more fun to watch that I won't miss a home game if I can help it. I WILL be entertained tonight, and that is something that this year I know I can count on. This year ALL of our guys play hard for the whole 40 minutes (with very, very few lapses) - and because of that I want to support them. Anytime my team plays like they do they get my butt in the seat. They have heart and they deserve fans.