Coach Paris moving on to Wisconsin?

[Quickzips]

OK... then who would replace Peters?

Maybe a former player for the Director of Basketball Operations position. I would love to see Cedrick Middleton come back if playing in Europe doesn't work out for him.

Any chance Dials would change his mind about working for the Sweaters?

I know I'll get hammered for this, but it looks like the rats are abandoning the ship, like ASAP. Don't look outside your portals Zips fans, but that thar is an iceberg!

One assistant coach moves on to a better position and a kid who graduated from the program 2 years ago and was never reported as having been offered a position on the staff takes a job with another school and the rats are abandoning the ship? Not sure I buy that. We've lost assistant coaches before (Shaka Smart and Jeff Boals both come to mind). I actually take it as kind of a compliment. Tells me that Dambrot is surrounding himself with good people and theres some recognition out there for the quality of program that we have been running here. Unless you are privy to some information that I'm not, I don't see how this is really an indication of a larger underlying problem.

Not talkin bout one assistant coach Qz. Talkin about wholesale "changes", none of which at dis time appears mo bettah. KD is one of my favorite Akronites, no doubt, but my view from da i-lawns says da nex'two years are make or break time for UA BB. Unless Gamechanger's li'l one becomes a MAC POY type in the off season of one season, I don't see things gettin any better than last year. 4th place is not an unrealistic pick, given the circumstances. What does Dylan Ennis know that you don't?

This may be your opinion, but I'd like to see guys like Euton, Gilliam, Egner, Abreu, Treadwell, etc, actually play together before I'd draw that conclusion.

JohnnyZip, I wish I could share your confidence -- and, I'm hardly giving up on this team, but my analysis is, we've gone from competing with and at least once beating Big East and ACC teams for recruits, to being satisfied over taking "late-bloomers" and "hidden gems" recruited by the Wisconsin-Milwaukees and CSUs of the world. I think Dylan Ennis agrees with me.

Outside of Zeke I can't think of one time where we've went up against Big East and ACC teams for a recruit and had any chance of winning out. A quick review of our history of recruiting on rivals bears that out. In fact, going back to 2004 I can only find a couple of recruits that the Zips even offered who had Big East & ACC offers.

Brian Walsh-SG-2008 had offers from Maryland, West Virginia, Pitt & St. Joe's. Signed with Xavier, ironically recently transfered to Akron.

Mike Shanahan-SG-2008 had offers from Pitt, Duke and West Virginia. Signed with Pitt.

Zeke Marshall-C-2009 had offers from Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Signed with the Zips.

Reality just doesn't line up with your line of thinking. Even the point about Dylan Ennis is invalid. Yes, Ennis decommitted from the Zips. His current list of offers, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Rice, UIC, Creighton, and reportedly UW-Green Bay. Not a Big East or ACC school among them. People need to stop looking at Zeke's committment as some sort of sign that we are ready to consistently steal top talent from the power conferences of the college basketball world and see it for what it is. An outlier situation where all the stars lined up for us to nab a talented big man away from some very good programs.

I think the main difference between my thinking, and that of Quickzips and Daveingreen is that they are readily able to ACCEPT that Akron will never be able to compete with and secure High Major type recruits, and that therefore KD and staff should not waste their time on future Zeke Marshalls and get in line with the mediocrity of the MAC, while I REFUSE to accept that reasoning. I guess I've become infected with Porteritis, while the rest of the ZipsNation has gotten your shots to prevent it from taking effect. I only hope the bug is strong enough that it is immune to KD and Co.'s vaccine. And the smoke around my head? It's a screen against the nurses of mediocrity.

Comparing the soccer team to the basketball team is simply unfair. It is an apples and oranges argument. They are two different animals with entirely different factors coming into play. We are able to recruit against anyone in the country in soccer because we have a long history of success in a number of different areas (tournament appearances, sending players to the pros, etc.) and, let's face it, soccer is still a secondary sport where national biases about what programs are "good" and what programs are "bad" are not as engrained into our culture. None of those things are working in our favor when it comes to basketball. You can think of me as a pessimist or settling for mediocrity all you want. I prefer to think of myself as a realist who understands that there is more than one way to skin a cat (build a championship caliber program). You want an example, go take a look at Butler's recruiting from the last five years and tell me how many guys they have gotten who had offers from Big East and ACC schools.

[Dave in Green]

I think the main difference between my thinking, and that of Quickzips and Daveingreen is that they are readily able to ACCEPT that Akron will never be able to compete with and secure High Major type recruits, and that therefore KD and staff should not waste their time on future Zeke Marshalls and get in line with the mediocrity of the MAC, while I REFUSE to accept that reasoning. I guess I've become infected with Porteritis, while the rest of the ZipsNation has gotten your shots to prevent it from taking effect. I only hope the bug is strong enough that it is immune to KD and Co.'s vaccine. And the smoke around my head? It's a screen against the nurses of mediocrity.

Another sign of intoxication is failure to be able to accurately distinguish what others are saying no matter how clearly their words are stated. Try comparing what you just said with what I actually said, paying close attention to the bolded words:

If you think Akron can regularly out-recruit Big East and ACC teams for top talent, you are deep into some righteous smoke. Doesn't mean the Zips shouldn't try, and occasionally pull off a recruiting upset. But if you're going to go all limp and teary every time the Zips settle for a non-Big East, non-ACC recruit, you are probably going to fail the most basic sobriety test.

Maybe the smoke around your head is contributing to the blurred vision.

[zippyman23]

We compete for high major recruits all the time. You can tell that by just looking at the recruiting forum. Reality is that when we go head-to-head with a Big East school, we really do not stand much of chance. That pretty much goes for all mid-majors outside of a few exceptions.

[Z.I.P.]

We compete for high major recruits all the time. You can tell that by just looking at the recruiting forum. Reality is that when we go head-to-head with a Big East school, we really do not stand much of chance. That pretty much goes for all mid-majors outside of a few exceptions.

Coming back on point as much as I can in this smoke-filled room, here I go: We have now had two coaches and recruiting leaders leave the program in the past year -- both of whom improved the program's recruiting stance -- we were, for the first time, going toe-to-toe for High Majors, on the back of our NCAA appearance in 2009. Over the past year our recruiting position has gone back to where it was BEFORE our tournament appearance. I guess it goes to show, you have to strike while the iron's hot. We didn't.

Now, as far as Quickzips' "apples and oranges" argument goes: We are able to recruit against anyone in the country in soccer because we have a long history of success in a number of different areas , please try to remember back to the age of Coach Ken Lolla. The reason why we were a good, but not great soccer program was because we COULDN'T compete with the top-10 teams for US international youth players. Now we not only compete, but normally win those recruiting wars. We long to be the Gonzaga of the East in BB. But first we have to be the Beast of the MAC. Pardon my skepticism, but I don't hear any roar from the JAR. It's up to Keith to make that jump, and legacy or no legacy, it's time to hold his hand to the fire. The time is now, not in three years -- the soccer team has just one goal -- a national title in 2010. Likewise appropriate goals to demand from the other programs are a competitive football team -- and a MAC champion in basketball. That's putting all our fruit in the same basket, and coming out with Jamba Juice. Do they have that in Green yet, Dave?

[Dave in Green]

..... We have now had two coaches and recruiting leaders leave the program in the past year -- both of whom improved the program's recruiting stance -- we were, for the first time, going toe-to-toe for High Majors, on the back of our NCAA appearance in 2009. .....

Yes, it's a sign of success when other programs go after your assistant coaches. KD runs a good program with good assistants, and they are going to be in demand by other programs. It happens all the time in college sports. The time to worry is when no one thinks your assistants are worth going after.

..... Over the past year our recruiting position has gone back to where it was BEFORE our tournament appearance. I guess it goes to show, you have to strike while the iron's hot. We didn't. .....

That's not a logical conclusion to make. Even the best recruiters don't hit home runs every time at bat. The quality of the most recent Zips recruits will play out on the court. I'm willing to give them all a chance to prove themselves.

It was entirely predictable that Zeke's signing would create unrealistic expectations with some people that all of a sudden all the HS basketball studs across the country would start giving UA equal consideration with the ACC and Big East. I wish I could help you out on this, Z.I.P., but I don't have a magic antidote to counteract unrealistic expectations.

[Quickzips]

We compete for high major recruits all the time. You can tell that by just looking at the recruiting forum. Reality is that when we go head-to-head with a Big East school, we really do not stand much of chance. That pretty much goes for all mid-majors outside of a few exceptions.

Coming back on point as much as I can in this smoke-filled room, here I go: We have now had two coaches and recruiting leaders leave the program in the past year -- both of whom improved the program's recruiting stance -- we were, for the first time, going toe-to-toe for High Majors, on the back of our NCAA appearance in 2009. Over the past year our recruiting position has gone back to where it was BEFORE our tournament appearance. I guess it goes to show, you have to strike while the iron's hot. We didn't.

Now, as far as Quickzips' "apples and oranges" argument goes: We are able to recruit against anyone in the country in soccer because we have a long history of success in a number of different areas , please try to remember back to the age of Coach Ken Lolla. The reason why we were a good, but not great soccer program was because we COULDN'T compete with the top-10 teams for US international youth players. Now we not only compete, but normally win those recruiting wars. We long to be the Gonzaga of the East in BB. But first we have to be the Beast of the MAC. Pardon my skepticism, but I don't hear any roar from the JAR. It's up to Keith to make that jump, and legacy or no legacy, it's time to hold his hand to the fire. The time is now, not in three years -- the soccer team has just one goal -- a national title in 2010. Likewise appropriate goals to demand from the other programs are a competitive football team -- and a MAC champion in basketball. That's putting all our fruit in the same basket, and coming out with Jamba Juice. Do they have that in Green yet, Dave?

Again you are trying to compare soccer with basketball when they are two entirely seperate animals. You've addressed my point about our history of success in soccer while ignoring the myriad of other differences between the two sports that make recruiting for them vastly different.

Your point about going toe to toe with high majors in the recruiting process "on the back of our NCAA appearance in 2009" is not exactly valid. I presume here that you are refering again to recruiting Zeke. Zeke signed his letter of intent in November 2008, a full four months prior to us making our NCAA appearance.

I ask you again to go back and take a good hard look at what the successful mid-major BASKETBALL programs are doing in terms of recruiting. Take a look at Butler, Gonzaga, Xavier, etc., etc., etc. These teams may have better recruiting than the Zips, but in large part they are NOT recruiting at the level of Akron Soccer. Yet they are still regularly making deep runs in the NCAA's because they are recognizing high major talent that is going un-noticed by high major programs and they are going hard after high-major talent that is being noticed by the high majors, but that is giving indications that they are willing to look at a mid-major school (such as Zeke). The blue-print for success in college BASKETBALL is out there, and Keith and Co. are following it reasonably well. Just because it doesn't match up with the blueprint laid down for success in college SOCCER by Caleb Porter doesn't mean it is wrong.

[GP1]

OK... then who would replace Peters?

Maybe a former player for the Director of Basketball Operations position. I would love to see Cedrick Middleton come back if playing in Europe doesn't work out for him.

Any chance Dials would change his mind about working for the Sweaters?

I know I'll get hammered for this, but it looks like the rats are abandoning the ship, like ASAP. Don't look outside your portals Zips fans, but that thar is an iceberg!

One assistant coach moves on to a better position and a kid who graduated from the program 2 years ago and was never reported as having been offered a position on the staff takes a job with another school and the rats are abandoning the ship? Not sure I buy that. We've lost assistant coaches before (Shaka Smart and Jeff Boals both come to mind). I actually take it as kind of a compliment. Tells me that Dambrot is surrounding himself with good people and theres some recognition out there for the quality of program that we have been running here. Unless you are privy to some information that I'm not, I don't see how this is really an indication of a larger underlying problem.

Not talkin bout one assistant coach Qz. Talkin about wholesale "changes", none of which at dis time appears mo bettah. KD is one of my favorite Akronites, no doubt, but my view from da i-lawns says da nex'two years are make or break time for UA BB. Unless Gamechanger's li'l one becomes a MAC POY type in the off season of one season, I don't see things gettin any better than last year. 4th place is not an unrealistic pick, given the circumstances. What does Dylan Ennis know that you don't?

This may be your opinion, but I'd like to see guys like Euton, Gilliam, Egner, Abreu, Treadwell, etc, actually play together before I'd draw that conclusion.

JohnnyZip, I wish I could share your confidence -- and, I'm hardly giving up on this team, but my analysis is, we've gone from competing with and at least once beating Big East and ACC teams for recruits, to being satisfied over taking "late-bloomers" and "hidden gems" recruited by the Wisconsin-Milwaukees and CSUs of the world. I think Dylan Ennis agrees with me.

Outside of Zeke I can't think of one time where we've went up against Big East and ACC teams for a recruit and had any chance of winning out. A quick review of our history of recruiting on rivals bears that out. In fact, going back to 2004 I can only find a couple of recruits that the Zips even offered who had Big East & ACC offers.

Brian Walsh-SG-2008 had offers from Maryland, West Virginia, Pitt & St. Joe's. Signed with Xavier, ironically recently transfered to Akron.

Mike Shanahan-SG-2008 had offers from Pitt, Duke and West Virginia. Signed with Pitt.

Zeke Marshall-C-2009 had offers from Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Signed with the Zips.

Reality just doesn't line up with your line of thinking. Even the point about Dylan Ennis is invalid. Yes, Ennis decommitted from the Zips. His current list of offers, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Rice, UIC, Creighton, and reportedly UW-Green Bay. Not a Big East or ACC school among them. People need to stop looking at Zeke's committment as some sort of sign that we are ready to consistently steal top talent from the power conferences of the college basketball world and see it for what it is. An outlier situation where all the stars lined up for us to nab a talented big man away from some very good programs.

I think the main difference between my thinking, and that of Quickzips and Daveingreen is that they are readily able to ACCEPT that Akron will never be able to compete with and secure High Major type recruits, and that therefore KD and staff should not waste their time on future Zeke Marshalls and get in line with the mediocrity of the MAC, while I REFUSE to accept that reasoning. I guess I've become infected with Porteritis, while the rest of the ZipsNation has gotten your shots to prevent it from taking effect. I only hope the bug is strong enough that it is immune to KD and Co.'s vaccine. And the smoke around my head? It's a screen against the nurses of mediocrity.

UofA can get high mid major talent. They need 2-3 years of winning the MAC in consecutive years. Can't has done it, we can do it.

The soccer team has had little to offer a recruit over the past 20+ years. Winning has been their selling point. Good players want to win.

If the BB team would string together 2-3 years of winning the MAC, we could become a high mid major team because we could draw more Zekelike players. If we keep getting to the MAC championship game and losing more often than not with a trip to the NIT, Zekelike players will be further apart.

I don't believe the BB program can ever become a national power like the Soccer program has. Soccer functions on its own level and we shouldn't make direct comparisons between various programs and the soccer program. The BB program can do better though and I think it is doing well right now. All of our sports teams can do better.