What do you expect from next year's team?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I will settle for the following:

Take us to The Gund! I really can't take another season of missing out on the party.

Win a game at The Gund! This is a quantum leap beyond anything we've seen in 15 years. We win one at The Gund, I'm a happy camper in 2004-5. Note: I reserve the right to get greedy and ask for a second win should we get the 1st

I want to see the team be better at season's end than they were at the beginning. Again, something we haven seen for years.

I want to see players "grow." I want to see Futch be a "banger." I want to see Wood improve his free throw shooting. I want to see Travis hit a 12 foot jumper if left open. I want to see Joyce play "D" like a young Jimmal Ball.

I want to see some picks set for McFadden.

I want to see enthusiasum from the bench!

I want to see floor burns!

I want to see well designed plays after TO's.

I want to see, with 5 seconds left in the game and we're down by 1...POISE! I don't want to see a half court shot with 4.1 seconds left.

I want to see people with "AKRON" shirts on in the stands...not ones that say "TARVER." or any other individual's name.

I want to see a packed JAR once or twice during the year.

I want to truely compete with a BCS-conference school (like the other quality mid-major programs do)

Make my wife want to come to the games! Getting my wife to come to mid-February Zips games, when the team is bad...and losing...and lacking enthusiasum...I've done it for several years. I can't hold on much longer. I need her to start looking forward to games again (this happend for a brief stretch during the Ball/Bosley era, and it was fun).

If I get that, I'm a happy camper.

Oh...and on a non-team related rant:

I want the food menu on the OUTSIDE of the concession areas! Every time I was in line I was behind at least 3 people that waited 8 minutes, only to be told "Ummm, nachos are over there (pointing to the right, where there is another 8 minute nacho line awaiting)." Ok, maybe this is a minor point, but I swear every time I was in the main concession line there were numerous people who assumed there were nachos there...and those people got pissed when they weren't! They also got pissed when they waited 8 minutes in line only to find out that there was no pizza left - Memo: If you run out of pizza (which happend several times too), put a sign up!

And, how about beer at the JAR? Can we set up that Zipsfest tent outside the JAR too?!

Better basketball...better concessions...happier Kangaroo

[JP Morgan]

I really hope we see all of the above. I want to say that it will all come in due time. At one point or another I've thought the same thing about all your points.....even the concession stand stuff. It is the worst system ever!!!!! Why aren't there hot dog and beverage guys walking around the seats selling??????

Floor burns???? The hustle has been gone since 97.

The energy on the bench was NEVER there with Hip.

The only clutch player I have ever seen wear a Zip uniform was Jaimie Bosley. Anytime he had the ball at the end of the game with the game on the line, I knew we had a shot to win. In no other player did I have that confidence.

Good post CK, lets all hope after next year you can come up with a completely new wish list.

JP

[Big Zip]

I would opt to see some different food at the concession stand too. Think about what are stadiums doing all over the countries they are trying different stuff and selling it.

CK be fortunate you've been able to get her to a game -- the last few years she has been one and done. My wife loves basketball -- we had season tickets for St. V two years ago and she was at every game she could make it to.

I think I felt pretty good whenever Nate had the ball at the end of a game too. I remember a few times he hit a three from the top of the key at the end of games.

What would that be like to have kids on the bench really into the game -- the whole game not just spurts.

One more thing I'd like to see........Bryan Hipsher (if he's on the team) in the very last seat on the bench.

[Zip Watcher]

I'd like to see a team earning the jersey they're wearing .. making us proud with hard work in practice, during games .. and in the classroom. I'd love to have a year where we don't have to readjust rotations in December due to grades casualties.

I'd like to see balance between effective half court execution and getting out on the break (more on this later). i don't want to become a Huggins Cincy team that is capable of blowing people out on the fast break, but in slowed down games (like against Miami or BG for instance) be incapable of finding and taking good shots before the shot clock expires.

I'd like them to find the picture of the 86 OVC team that used to hang in the concourse by the concessions and put it back up on the wall where it belongs. People need to be reminded of why the JAR & this team are special to us. I don't know when it dissappeared (was it just moved?) ... but it annoyed me the first time I noticed it was gone .. and every time I walk by the empty spot on the wall, I get more pissed off about it. Someone tell me they just moved it? Or get a memo to the AD to get it out of the damn closet and put it back up. There must be some team photos from the 60's & 70's also. I'd like UA to recall the rich hoops tradition that exists there .. NOT ignore it.

Speaking of traditions & history .. I'd like some respect shown to the Cricket. If he has a degree from UA .. his jersey should be retired. Would make for a nice tie in to the 80's teams. Two Male athlete of the year awards. 3 postseason berths. How many games did he win here? 100? Gotta be close.

On the court I expect the following:

1. Conditioning .. I expect KD to run teams ragged with our depth. 5 man substitutions .. whatever it takes. Teams should be tired after playing the Zips and sore the next day after getting their asses kicked up and down the court.

2. I expect the Zips to be in the top 4 in the conference for FG % defense and turnover margin.

3. I think a 12-6 conference season is a minimum expectation. If the 03-04 team can be in every game but 1 .. the Zips should be able to nearly double up on conference wins next year with some experience & practice. The more I think about it, I don't think we lost any significant court presence to graduation ... er .. attrition this year.

4. I want teams to dread playing the Zips .. especially come tourney time. This means I want them to improve and come together as the season progresses (see Buffalo in 03/04).

5. I want a win at the JAR in the tourney & at least 1 win at the Gund. We need the MAC to get going on the contract extension w/ the folks at the Gund and a healthy Zips crowd might go a long way to helping that.