Basketball Rankings

[meatwad]

2.) Ask them if the names Ramon Sessions or Kyle Fazekas ring any sort of bell. Those names are as familiar to Joe Akron as Romeo Travis and Jeramiah Wood are to Joe LasVegas.

In fairness, I've never heard of Kyle Fazekas. Nick, on the other hand was a great player.

[Captain Kangaroo]

2.) Ask them if the names Ramon Sessions or Kyle Fazekas ring any sort of bell. Those names are as familiar to Joe Akron as Romeo Travis and Jeramiah Wood are to Joe LasVegas.

In fairness, I've never heard of Kyle Fazekas. Nick, on the other hand was a great player.

I probably should have went with Marcelus Kemp. Cooler 1st name anyhow...

[Dave in Green]

Thanks for the reality check on attendance, CK.

[Quickzips]

With all due respect to the Captain, playing #21 Nevada might not be something that excites Joe Akron all that much, but I have to believe that a win over the #21 team in the country would have at least caught his eye a little bit. It may not have at that point, simply because the Beacon was so abysmal in their coverage of the Zips (they are getting better, but still have a ways to go). But I suspect that a win over Nevada would have given us at least a little boost in attendance. Hopefully Rhode Island can keep winning over the next couple weeks, cracks the top 25, goes down to the Zips and then we can test that theory too.

[GP1]

With all due respect to the Captain, playing #21 Nevada might not be something that excites Joe Akron all that much, but I have to believe that a win over the #21 team in the country would have at least caught his eye a little bit. It may not have at that point, simply because the Beacon was so abysmal in their coverage of the Zips (they are getting better, but still have a ways to go). But I suspect that a win over Nevada would have given us at least a little boost in attendance. Hopefully Rhode Island can keep winning over the next couple weeks, cracks the top 25, goes down to the Zips and then we can test that theory too.

You're probably right about catching his eye. However, proving a negative is very difficult and until the Zips put a string of big wins together, the interest level will remain low.When anyone goes to buy a product, they tend to look at the entire product to see if it appeals to them. What are the Zips selling besides the team in blue and gold? Well, the other team is one of them. The game day experience is another. The concessions are another. The MAC is another. One of the problems the Zips have with selling tickets is they are good, but they surround themselves with bad products so people don't buy the whole package. The other teams, as a whole, aren't worth buying. The seats at the JAG, specifically the benches, are the stuff that puts chiropractors' children through college. The food at the JAR is bad. The MAC is bad. How many of you would buy a Hickory Farms gift package with summer sausage, dried cranberries, wheat thins, granola and tofu? Not many...the summer sausage looks great, but the rest just isn't worth the purchase. The Zips basketball team is like the summer sausage. On a cold winter day, the idea of it is appealing until you look in the package and see the cranberries, etc. You could still get 3,300 sausage loving fans to buy the box for the sausage alone (at a discount), you just probably aren't going to pick up the Joe Akron crowd interested in sauage, cheese, honey mustard and crackers.The ABJ argument. If the Zips were getting 3,300 fans per game a few years ago with little ABJ coverage and they are still averaging the same amount today with more ABJ coverage, how important is the ABJ? Everything about the Zips is better than it was a few years ago including the ABJ coverage AND Plain Dealer coverage. It kind of makes someone with an open mind think that maybe the theory that ABJ covering the Zips more would expand attendance was wrong. I used to believe it, but this makes me think I may have been wrong.

[g-mann17]

With all due respect to the Captain, playing #21 Nevada might not be something that excites Joe Akron all that much, but I have to believe that a win over the #21 team in the country would have at least caught his eye a little bit. It may not have at that point, simply because the Beacon was so abysmal in their coverage of the Zips (they are getting better, but still have a ways to go). But I suspect that a win over Nevada would have given us at least a little boost in attendance. Hopefully Rhode Island can keep winning over the next couple weeks, cracks the top 25, goes down to the Zips and then we can test that theory too.

You're probably right about catching his eye. However, proving a negative is very difficult and until the Zips put a string of big wins together, the interest level will remain low.When anyone goes to buy a product, they tend to look at the entire product to see if it appeals to them. What are the Zips selling besides the team in blue and gold? Well, the other team is one of them. The game day experience is another. The concessions are another. The MAC is another. One of the problems the Zips have with selling tickets is they are good, but they surround themselves with bad products so people don't buy the whole package. The other teams, as a whole, aren't worth buying. The seats at the JAG, specifically the benches, are the stuff that puts chiropractors' children through college. The food at the JAR is bad. The MAC is bad. How many of you would buy a Hickory Farms gift package with summer sausage, dried cranberries, wheat thins, granola and tofu? Not many...the summer sausage looks great, but the rest just isn't worth the purchase. The Zips basketball team is like the summer sausage. On a cold winter day, the idea of it is appealing until you look in the package and see the cranberries, etc. You could still get 3,300 sausage loving fans to buy the box for the sausage alone (at a discount), you just probably aren't going to pick up the Joe Akron crowd interested in sauage, cheese, honey mustard and crackers.The ABJ argument. If the Zips were getting 3,300 fans per game a few years ago with little ABJ coverage and they are still averaging the same amount today with more ABJ coverage, how important is the ABJ? Everything about the Zips is better than it was a few years ago including the ABJ coverage AND Plain Dealer coverage. It kind of makes someone with an open mind think that maybe the theory that ABJ covering the Zips more would expand attendance was wrong. I used to believe it, but this makes me think I may have been wrong.

So then what can be upgraded. Part of the "good team" is the "bad MAC". So schedule wise it has to be an OOC upgrade.I think everyone here recognizes that the JAR was a poorly executed mistake. Bad planning and slow government cost us first class facilities. So that is an upgrade opportunity but at what cost?Game day experience. That is directly tied to facilities. You don't tailgate for basketball so how do you improve it? Make it feel like you are going to watch big time basketball instead of walking into a gym. Improve access to seating, restrooms and concessions. Make it easy for people to find their way around. I went to school here, I've had classes in the building, been to countless games. I still have problems figuring out how to get from the Northside to the Southside of the Arena.So OOC schedule and better facilities?

[ZachTheZip]

I think a nicer overall gameday experience is more important than the quality of the opponent. Better seats and sightlines. Having the concession stand not look like a utility closet, and getting real cash registers instead of a pocket calculator. People would enjoy watching a good old-fashioned beatdown much more if their backs weren't killing them and they had access to decent carnival food (Blue and gold cotton candy at all events. Make it happen.) that they didn't have to go up and down the stairs to get. The JAR's biggest flaw is something we can't correct: having to go up the stairs to get to your seat, even if you sit in the lower section. but the rest can be improved upon.

[zip37]

Some of you people think that programs are pounding at the door to play us in any venue, not so: that went out with the hipsher era. My guess is that the power teams will not come to our place. KD has stated he went the LOU-Cal- and others and the net result was the same and he's not going back to that.Until the MAC gets stronger we [or any other MAC team] can only wish for an at-large bid.

[Captain Kangaroo]

So OOC schedule and better facilities?

You can see w/InfoCision, that better facilities make a world of difference to Joe Akron. I saw friends at multiple football games this season whom I NEVER could get to come to the Rubber Bowl. Upgrading the OOC schedule is one thing, but as I and QZ stated...at some point you need to begin winning those marquee games. This is KD's 6th season. He's taken us from the Hipsher years, to 20-wins, to 20-wins and some NIT appearances, to 20-wins + a MAC Championship + an NCAA appearance...to <insert 2010 result here>.The team's progress has been excellent...but...we have whiffed on every opportunity to get on a roll and catch Joe Akron's eye. Against BCS, Top 20-level teams we've lost every time. By double-digits. We never prove to Joe Akron that we can come close to competing against such programs. And that is a hallmark of the "upper-mid major." I think CSU beat 3 ranked teams last season? We've beaten none in the history of our program. Against marquee Bracketbuster opponents, we've lost every time. If you really want attendance to increase, you need to do something special. Not only do you not lay an egg on opening day vs. Austin Peay to follow up your NCAA berth, you go down to Florida and win that tournement. You beat NC State. You finish December with a 12-1 record. That's when people start talking Zips around the water cooler. and making plans to check the team out.Akron Basketball Guy will always attend games and appreciate the work of the Team. But that is proven to account for 3,300 fans. If UA wants to fill up the remaining 40% of the seats, they need to get on a real, attention-grabbing roll. And, quit whining about the Nevada attendance and using it as a crutch.K.e.n.t. had a great 10-year run. The went from a .500 program to an Elite 8 program. Over that time their attendance went from 2.5k per game, to 5.5k sell-outs...from 75% empty student sections to SRO student sections at both ends of the court.K.e.n.t. did it. Look no further. Become a "high mid-major" and it will happen at UA too. Keep taking a step forward and a step back, and it won't.And for the love of God, quit the stupid feud between UA and CSU. Get them back on the schedule. This is my challenge to you, Tom Winstrcill. If you want a sell-out at the JAR, find a way to get the CSU/UA series restarted.

[Dave in Green]

..... K.e.n.t. had a great 10-year run. The went from a .500 program to an Elite 8 program. Over that time their attendance went from 2.5k per game, to 5.5k sell-outs...from 75% empty student sections to SRO student sections at both ends of the court.K.e.n.t. did it. Look no further. Become a "high mid-major" and it will happen at UA too. Keep taking a step forward and a step back, and it won't. .....

Bingo. As much as I don't like that other nearby school, it was great to know that a MAC school was fully capable of beating some of the big boys on a regular basis.KD has taken the Zips part way up the ladder. A few more rungs up and the Zips could duplicate our neighbor's past success.Zeke doesn't need the weight of the whole Zips program on his shoulders. But the plain fact is that if the Zips can't climb up a few more rungs during his four years at UA, everyone is going to be sorely disappointed.

[skip-zip]

Ok....now we're getting somewhere....I think the last couple of comments bring me back to two things...1) As several people point out from time to time, we can't win the games that we do not schedule. So, for God's sake, schedule a few more games that give us a chance to get noticed.2) As I've believed all along....Joe Akron will wake up when we show that we can do something of NATIONAL significance. Beating low-level teams, no matter how lopsided the score, isn't going to prove anything to those people.

[Zip Watcher]

I think CSU beat 3 ranked teams last season? We've beaten none in the history of our program.

I'm pretty sure we've beaten ranked opponents on a couple of occasions .. all conference foes .. but ranked none the less. Wasn't Toledo Undefeated and ranked in one of the polls back in 98 or so when they came to the JAR and lost?

[Let'sGoZips94]

2) As I've believed all along....Joe Akron will wake up when we show that we can do something of NATIONAL significance. Beating low-level teams, no matter how lopsided the score, isn't going to prove anything to those people.

+1Look at our soccer program. EVERYONE knows about it. Kids at my school are talking about it and my school is very pro OSUcks. If we want to be the Gonzaga of the East, then we have to schedule like Gonzaga. Once you get that done, you have to win, like Gonzaga.

[RootforRoo44]

I think CSU beat 3 ranked teams last season? We've beaten none in the history of our program.

I'm pretty sure we've beaten ranked opponents on a couple of occasions .. all conference foes .. but ranked none the less. Wasn't Toledo Undefeated and ranked in one of the polls back in 98 or so when they came to the JAR and lost?

I'd like to know if this is true because i dont remember it. I know that on TV last year it was mentioned how we never have beaten a ranked opponent in basketball. I know it's happened in football a few times but basketball?

[Dave in Green]

I see in the current RPI that William & Mary, which lost to Harvard, is currently rated #7 in the country, while Michigan State is currently ranked #59.So please excuse me if I don't pay much attention to UA's current RPI rating, or the RPI system in general.