BG Game Saturday - A "Must Win?"

[Captain Kangaroo]

We can't lay another egg at home. We can't drop another MAC East game.

For the first time in a while, KD avoided the post game press conference. I hope he was giving the same speech that Caleb gave to the Socceroos after their Cleveland State loss. And I hope some team member is showing some leadership, like Nagbe did, and holding a players-only meeting to tell everyone to get their act together.

[skip-zip]

I look at it this way. If we lose, the best we can do is go 3-2 against the MAC East at HOME. Can you do that and still win the East? I don't know, but it at least requires pulling off some big road upsets along the way. It likely means that we'll at least have to win at OU, and probably at Ken+ too, which has always been tough for us.

If someone would have told me that we'd beat Ken+ to start the season, but have ourselves in a hole 2 weeks later, I could not have imagined such a scenario.

[mivid12]

I look at it this way. If we lose, the best we can do is go 3-2 against the MAC East at HOME. Can you do that and still win the East? I don't know, but it at least requires pulling off some big road upsets along the way. It likely means that we'll at least have to win at OU, and probably at Ken+ too, which has always been tough for us.

If someone would have told me that we'd beat Ken+ to start the season, but have ourselves in a hole 2 weeks later, I could not have imagined such a scenario.

who cares about winning the east? what will that get the zips, a first rd bye in the mac tourney?

i'd rather win the mac tourney, than worry about winning the east division...this team is miles from either

[Captain Kangaroo]

I look at it this way. If we lose, the best we can do is go 3-2 against the MAC East at HOME. Can you do that and still win the East? I don't know, but it at least requires pulling off some big road upsets along the way. It likely means that we'll at least have to win at OU, and probably at Ken+ too, which has always been tough for us.

If someone would have told me that we'd beat Ken+ to start the season, but have ourselves in a hole 2 weeks later, I could not have imagined such a scenario.

who cares about winning the east? what will that get the zips, a first rd bye in the mac tourney?

i'd rather win the mac tourney, than worry about winning the east division...this team is miles from either

Don't tell anyone...but the way we are playing, talk of a Championship is pretty silly. We're playing like a 1st round exit team right now, and Humpty is not here to save our bacon at the buzzer.

And - Coach K cares about winning the East. I do too.

It is really bizarre logic to say "Who cares about the regular season...the only thing that matters is the 4 days in Cleveland in March."

I want to win every game. It sucks to watch your team perform poorly in January. Especially at home. And the more you lose...the fewer fans show up...and the worse your home court advantage erodes.

The ship needs to right itself Saturday. BG isn't Duke. A quality Akron Effort (see below) wins the game and everyone is happy again.

[Quickzips]

We can't lay another egg at home. We can't drop another MAC East game.

For the first time in a while, KD avoided the post game press conference. I hope he was giving the same speech that Caleb gave to the Socceroos after their Cleveland State loss. And I hope some team member is showing some leadership, like Nagbe did, and holding a players-only meeting to tell everyone to get their act together.

To me this could present a big problem for this team. There isn't a strong leadership personality on this unit from what I've been able to see. McNees is struggling so bad with his game right now that I don't think his voice would perk up many ears even if he did try to be that guy. Roberts has always been an in-the-background kind of roleplayer. McKnight will certainly have a hard time taking on that role after missing 1/3 of the season due to suspension. Bardo isn't that kind of guy. The closest thing we have to that guy right now might be Cvetinovic, but to be honest, he needs a good calling out as much as if not more so than anyone on the team right now. Zeke is too mellow and reserved to take on that role. McClanahan has never given me that team leader impression. I doubt you are going to see it come from either of the newcomers that are in the rotation. If I could have only one thing back from the Romeo, Dru, Dials, Middleton, Wood, Linhart years it would be the great leadrship that those guys provided. Whether it was Romeo throwing the coaches out of the locker-room at halftime during a tournament game for a players only meeting, Dru's steady hand or the hardnosed, lead-by-example attitudes that guys like Dials and Nate brought, I would love to see that for this team.

[zip37]

IMHO, it's as Ivory Joe Hunter sang: 'It's too late.'

[MDZip]

Not saying its equivalent but a lot of folks had Can't buried with a 1-2 start last season. It's certainly not over by a long shot but this team better wake up soon. Beating the East co-leader would certainly be a step in the right direction.

[Captain Kangaroo]

IMHO, it's as Ivory Joe Hunter sang: 'It's too late.'

I thought it was Carol King?

[The Hip Zip]

Must win ?

John Groce and the Kitties would beg to differ. IF we were in a two bid league, I would highly agree. You are right on about the players only meeting. Someone needs to grab the bull by the balls and assume leadership of this bunch. I think that B McKnight or Serb would be good choices.

This conference is more wide open than ever, the team that is playing the best basketball going into March will take the cheese. That group even includes the likes of BG, Buffalo, Miami and Ball St. Depressing, but true. The Bulls looked like a top 20 team last night, Western Mich was never in the game at Toledo, etc,etc. Anybody can beat anybody in this conference on any given night, I know that is a common cliche but more than ever, it is true.

Good point as well on beating Can't State in the opener. I am sure that most of us were on the same page.

BTW : I know that there was some concern here about Phil McKnight's health. I sat by Phil at the OU game and he never looked or sounded better. Lets hope that he's on the mend for good.

[Valpo Zip]

I seriously cannot believe what i am reading! Who cares what the conference does or if they all suck or win or go to heck! We're 1-3 in the conference and playing at home and you don't think the game is a must win?!!!!!

I remember the days (not too long ago) when loosing at home was not even an option. let alone being 1-3.

This is seriously depressing

[RootforRoo44]

I seriously cannot believe what i am reading! Who cares what the conference does or if they all suck or win or go to heck! We're 1-3 in the conference and playing at home and you don't think the game is a must win?!!!!!

I remember the days (not too long ago) when loosing at home was not even an option. let alone being 1-3.

This is seriously depressing

Seriously, we've already lost twice at home. That's unacceptable.

Losing again is grounds for "someone" having a hotter seat than normal.

[ZachTheZip]

Just bench Steve McNeese.

[breezy123]

just throwing this out there... does anyone think KD's job could be in jeopardy in the future?

[RootforRoo44]

just throwing this out there... does anyone think KD's job could be in jeopardy in the future?

If he loses more than 5 games total at home and/or doesn't win 15 games. That kind of collapse is unacceptable.

We'd definitely also have to have someone big time lined up as a possible replacement. Which may be hard to do. Someone should get Bobby Knight on board. Not like he's from around here or anything .

[RACER]

akron fans are amazing.we kept a coach who won one game.kd needs to go.bring in the hip to save the zip season.

[RootforRoo44]

akron fans are amazing.we kept a coach who won one game.kd needs to go.bring in the hip to save the zip season.

And 95% of Akron fans have called for Ianello to be fired, or at least called for him to never be hired in the first place.

I'm not saying fire Dambrot BUT let's look at the facts:

Pros:

• Winning record every year since he took over.
  
• Multiple 20 win seasons in a row.
  
• three post-season appearances (the CBI doesn't count)
  
• A win over an ACC school (FSU in the NIT in 2008)
  
• One possible NBA player (Linhart) that he recruited.
  
• One MAC championship
  

Cons:

• ZERO wins against top 25 opponents. In fact, his teams have choked in most big games.
  
• Speaking of choking: four MAC championship appearances, three losses (one embarrassingly).
  
• Inability to beat Can't consistently. Only one really good year against them (2006-2007 i believe).
  
• No idea how to use a true center correctly.
  

Maybe we can look at KD as a Ken Lolla of the basketball program. He has done well establishing a winning tradition of sorts but does he really have what it takes to take us to the next level? His team's just don't have that certain something that makes great teams great.

[Captain Kangaroo]

akron fans are amazing.we kept a coach who won one game.kd needs to go.bring in the hip to save the zip season.

And 95% of Akron fans have called for Ianello to be fired, or at least called for him to never be hired in the first place.

I'm not saying fire Dambrot BUT let's look at the facts:

Pros:

• Winning record every year since he took over.
  
• Multiple 20 win seasons in a row.
  
• three post-season appearances (the CBI doesn't count)
  
• A win over an ACC school (FSU in the NIT in 2008)
  
• One possible NBA player (Linhart) that he recruited.
  
• One MAC championship
  

Cons:

• ZERO wins against top 25 opponents. In fact, his teams have choked in most big games.
  
• Speaking of choking: four MAC championship appearances, three losses (one embarrassingly).
  
• Inability to beat Can't consistently. Only one really good year against them (2006-2007 i believe).
  
• No idea how to use a true center correctly.
  

Maybe we can look at KD as a Ken Lolla of the basketball program. He has done well establishing a winning tradition of sorts but does he really have what it takes to take us to the next level? His team's just don't have that certain something that makes great teams great.

...and just when you were off ZipWatcher's QOTZ list...

[RootforRoo44]

...and just when you were off ZipWatcher's QOTZ list...

but i'm not quitting. I'm so gun ho for this team that I should be on the #1 fan list. I just don't see why Dambrot gets a free pass when he refuses to make blatantly obvious adjustments and his teams continually under perform.

[Blue & Gold]

just throwing this out there... does anyone think KD's job could be in jeopardy in the future?

"In the future," is an awfully vague time table. I'm assuming you mean at the end of this season? If that was your intent, then the answer to that question would be absolutely not. We're probably due for a down year. It's been quite a while.

Before the season began I admitted that I was already more excited about next year than this one. I do wish Diggs received more PT and I am very excited about Abreu. But other than those two, we are still the same, under-athletic team that we were all disappointed in last season. Next year we see the full fruits of KD's change in recruiting philosophy with the infusion of Chauncey Gilliam & Brian Walsh as well as the additions of (cross your fingers) Demetrius Treadwell & Nick Harney. Additionally, Josh Egner won't be playing like a true freshman next season & we're getting who recruiters call the most athletic player in the state of Illinois in Deji Ibitayo. Finally, the Big Man will be entering his junior year... we're gonna be fine. This year, however, might be a little rough - which, due to KD, we've grown completely unaccustomed to.

[Zip_ME87]

We can't lay another egg at home. We can't drop another MAC East game.

For the first time in a while, KD avoided the post game press conference. I hope he was giving the same speech that Caleb gave to the Socceroos after their Cleveland State loss. And I hope some team member is showing some leadership, like Nagbe did, and holding a players-only meeting to tell everyone to get their act together.

Actually, it was Kofi Sarkodie. However, that doesn't really matter. I get and agree with your point, but in the case of Zips Men's Basketball, I think most of the blame falls on the Head Coach. Yes, the players have to perform, but I don't understand KD's lineups, such as Bardo and Zeke on the floor at the same time. I've also never liked the overused (in my opinion) substitutions. Can't he figure out who the 5 starters are and leave them on the floor when they're "hot" rather than pulling them in and out? Why is Cvetinovic allowed to "go crazy" at times and make stupid decisions, yet remain on the floor? Why isn't Egner getting minutes?

[Dr Z]

Why isn't Egner getting minutes?

Makes you wonder what goes on in practice? I'm sorry to quote a Steeler's coach so much, but it's what I know. I'm paraphrasing coach Tomlin in a press conference from a few weeks ago. "if you saw Polamalu practice at the beginning of the week, you wouldn't even think he is going to start for you that week, he is bad at practice, but when it comes game time, he knows how to turn it up to another level most players don't reach" Point being, we need the players on the floor that are gamers, not practice superstars.

[Zip Watcher]

Why isn't Egner getting minutes?

Makes you wonder what goes on in practice? I'm sorry to quote a Steeler's coach so much, but it's what I know. I'm paraphrasing coach Tomlin in a press conference from a few weeks ago. "if you saw Polamalu practice at the beginning of the week, you wouldn't even think he is going to start for you that week, he is bad at practice, but when it comes game time, he knows how to turn it up to another level most players don't reach" Point being, we need the players on the floor that are gamers, not practice superstars.

Has everyone forgotten his last two performances? He was really out of his element the last time he saw the floor at the JAR. He quite simply might not be ready.

[ZachTheZip]

Why isn't Egner getting minutes?

Makes you wonder what goes on in practice? I'm sorry to quote a Steeler's coach so much, but it's what I know. I'm paraphrasing coach Tomlin in a press conference from a few weeks ago. "if you saw Polamalu practice at the beginning of the week, you wouldn't even think he is going to start for you that week, he is bad at practice, but when it comes game time, he knows how to turn it up to another level most players don't reach" Point being, we need the players on the floor that are gamers, not practice superstars.

Has everyone forgotten his last two performances? He was really out of his element the last time he saw the floor at the JAR. He quite simply might not be ready.

If he never sees the floor, he'll never have a chance to improve.

Could he really do that much worse than some of the players getting minutes now?

[Quickzips]

Why isn't Egner getting minutes?

Makes you wonder what goes on in practice? I'm sorry to quote a Steeler's coach so much, but it's what I know. I'm paraphrasing coach Tomlin in a press conference from a few weeks ago. "if you saw Polamalu practice at the beginning of the week, you wouldn't even think he is going to start for you that week, he is bad at practice, but when it comes game time, he knows how to turn it up to another level most players don't reach" Point being, we need the players on the floor that are gamers, not practice superstars.

Has everyone forgotten his last two performances? He was really out of his element the last time he saw the floor at the JAR. He quite simply might not be ready.

Agreed, Egner hasn't looked good at all this year in the minutes he's been on the floor. Everyone seems to be in awe of his athletic ability, but nobody seems to want to acknowledge that in the minutes he has seen he's been running around on the floor like a chicken with his head cut off. This is a situation of a kid who REALLY needed a year to sit and learn but was forced into action due to other circumstances (the McKnight suspension) when he clearly isn't ready.

[Dr Z]

For clarification, my comments were not based on Egner specifically, just in general.