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[GoZips]

My opinion sounds just like the rest of you. I think the Zips defeated a solid team tonight.

Their overwhelming rebounding advantage was offset by their turnover hemorrhage.

Sad that the Jays fans are trash talking their team when Creighton put up a darn good effort.

Like everyone else, the refs were gawd awful. They seemed to have an anti-Akron, anti-Zeke bias.

Akron wins despite the sorry officiating.

Go Zips. And thanks to all 900 of you who showed up tonight.

[akronzips71]

The Zips are #23 IN THE NATION in 3 points shots made per game.

Play to your strengths, exploit the other teams weakness.

[Quickzips]

Most impressive stat of the night for me is the fact that the Zips took only 9 shots from 3. I know many on here have questioned whether or not we can continue winning games if the 3's aren't falling they way they did against BG. Well tonight you got your answer. The Zips beat a quality opponent tonight while taking only 15% of their field goal attempts from 3 point range. I doubt we will see a lot of nights like this down the stretch. KD loves guys who can shoot from long distance, and our guys are usually happy to oblige. But this one needs to be filed in the back of the memory bank. If we get up to the Q and we get a night where the 3 ball isn't falling early, we don't have to just continue firing away. If we have the horses to put up enough points from inside the three point arch to beat a quality opponent like Creighton, we can do it against anyone in the MAC.

[Valpo Zip]

Most impressive stat of the night for me is the fact that the Zips took only 9 shots from 3. I know many on here have questioned whether or not we can continue winning games if the 3's aren't falling they way they did against BG. Well tonight you got your answer. The Zips beat a quality opponent tonight while taking only 15% of their field goal attempts from 3 point range. I doubt we will see a lot of nights like this down the stretch. KD loves guys who can shoot from long distance, and our guys are usually happy to oblige. But this one needs to be filed in the back of the memory bank. If we get up to the Q and we get a night where the 3 ball isn't falling early, we don't have to just continue firing away. If we have the horses to put up enough points from inside the three point arch to beat a quality opponent like Creighton, we can do it against anyone in the MAC.

+1. This was a great overall game. It is extremely refreshing to see the Zips be where they were expected to be.

[originalrowdy]

Most impressive stat of the night for me is the fact that the Zips took only 9 shots from 3. I know many on here have questioned whether or not we can continue winning games if the 3's aren't falling they way they did against BG. Well tonight you got your answer. The Zips beat a quality opponent tonight while taking only 15% of their field goal attempts from 3 point range. I doubt we will see a lot of nights like this down the stretch. KD loves guys who can shoot from long distance, and our guys are usually happy to oblige. But this one needs to be filed in the back of the memory bank. If we get up to the Q and we get a night where the 3 ball isn't falling early, we don't have to just continue firing away. If we have the horses to put up enough points from inside the three point arch to beat a quality opponent like Creighton, we can do it against anyone in the MAC.

+1. This was a great overall game. It is extremely refreshing to see the Zips be where they were expected to be.

Agreed! I was thinking "Greaaaat, just another disappointment following some hype going in". Especially after EMU. This team has really learned to play to their strengths and minimize/improve upon weaknesses. Getting hot just at the right time!

[Hilltopper]

Where in the @#$%#* were the students last night?

[UAZipster0305]

Yet another solid game. Tonight solidified in my mind that this team has learned to play a strong game without Zeke on the floor. Maybe the refs are a little picky on Zeke. But he is also his own worst enemy. He seems to be out there expecting to be whistled on every play, and he often is. He's got to learn what he can get away with and what's going to draw a whistle, and adjust his game.

The rest of the players are doing fine. I could nitpick the play of each of the players, because they all make some mistakes. But the key is that they are doing more good things than bad things as individuals. and even more importantly they are playing much better as a team. There's good communication and good chemistry when they're on the floor together. They're really resilient, and bounce right back from any adversity by aggressively attacking at the other end of the court. I like the way they're playing good team D right now, and I also like the passing and setups for easy buckets.

The Serb deserves big credit for playing consistent offense and defense game after game. I couldn't agree more with what I heard KD say in the radio interview on the way home from the JAR. Nikola may have the best all-around game in the MAC right now. If the Zips run the table and win the conference, the Serb deserves strong consideration as player of the year. He may not have the greatest stats. But without his all-around play the Zips would be in deep trouble.

If they run the table and make a strong showing in the tournament, they might just might have a shot at an at large or play in

OK, I am dreaming.

Had we not lost to NIU and EMU, I think we'd be right there on the cusp of an at-large NCAA bid. Unfortunately, just like most seasons, it's MACC or bust. I have a good feeling about the MACC though. We are peaking at the right time.

[RowdyZip]

Yet another solid game. Tonight solidified in my mind that this team has learned to play a strong game without Zeke on the floor. Maybe the refs are a little picky on Zeke. But he is also his own worst enemy. He seems to be out there expecting to be whistled on every play, and he often is. He's got to learn what he can get away with and what's going to draw a whistle, and adjust his game.

The rest of the players are doing fine. I could nitpick the play of each of the players, because they all make some mistakes. But the key is that they are doing more good things than bad things as individuals. and even more importantly they are playing much better as a team. There's good communication and good chemistry when they're on the floor together. They're really resilient, and bounce right back from any adversity by aggressively attacking at the other end of the court. I like the way they're playing good team D right now, and I also like the passing and setups for easy buckets.

The Serb deserves big credit for playing consistent offense and defense game after game. I couldn't agree more with what I heard KD say in the radio interview on the way home from the JAR. Nikola may have the best all-around game in the MAC right now. If the Zips run the table and win the conference, the Serb deserves strong consideration as player of the year. He may not have the greatest stats. But without his all-around play the Zips would be in deep trouble.

If they run the table and make a strong showing in the tournament, they might just might have a shot at an at large or play in

OK, I am dreaming.

Had we not lost to NIU and EMU, I think we'd be right there on the cusp of an at-large NCAA bid. Unfortunately, just like most seasons, it's MACC or bust. I have a good feeling about the MACC though. We are peaking at the right time.

The second half of your post is spot-on. After the Zips lost every one of their "major" opponent upset chances (Temple, Dayton, Minnesota, Miami), the chance for an at-large went out the window. If we had won those two, however, we'd be in the drivers seat to bring home the regular season championship and be inside the top 100 RPI. For a team in the MAC to even receive a breath in the at-large conversation, they'd either need to win 3 of 4 of those quality games or have a total of 3 to 4 losses. If we were up in the neighborhood of 19-8 or 20-7 with a 2nd 50 rpi, we might be in the conversation for an at-large NIT bid.

[ZZZips]

Where in the @#$%#* were the students last night?

The following quote is from the gocreighton.com story on the game:

"The crowd of 2,861 was 995 fans fewer than the 3,856 that attended the Oct. 21 soccer game between the schools in men's soccer last fall."

[zippy5]

Zeke needs to stop taking stupid fouls. The refs might be a little harsh on him, but he needs to nit put himself in positions where they can call those fouls. As my basketball coach used to say "You guys are the dumbest smart kids I know."

[zipboy]

Nice win last night and great game to watch. It was a good night of entertainment.

[GoZips]

Looking on the Jays boards I am puzzled as to why they are trashing their team.

I thought Creighton played a solid game with excellent ball players. I suspect that they under value their opponent (Akron) by quite a lot. The Zips are not chopped liver. In fact, Akron can be a formidable

opponent for any team in the country.

Creighton gave a good account of themselves. I would like to read a post from a Creighton fan that was

in attendance at the game.

A point made by the Creighton coach and one that was mentioned on the post game show was Akron

going to a double power forward (Cvetinovic and McKnight) and how that changed the game. The Jays

fell behind quickly at that point of the contest. I liked it immediately. Throws off game preparation

when you are scheming for tall centers. Speaking of tall centers, was that not Mike Bardo's best

on floor performance?

[RootforRoo44]

Speaking of tall centers, was that not Mike Bardo's best

on floor performance?

Yes, in a few games this year he has played well for spurts but had some lapses defensively (here and there). But last night he played like an All-MAC defender every minute he was on the floor. His tenacity on the boards was great as well, and he may have only had one defensive rebound but his positioning and tips gave at least 3 or 4 more rebounds to his teammates.

Bardo really fires up his teammates too.

[bigzipguy]

Double power forward is the way to go , when ever possible ,the rest of the way. It give us more of the inside presence and opens things up for our guards!!!

[GP1]

Go Zips. And thanks to all 900 of you who showed up tonight.

Were there really so few people there? If so, shame on Akron. The Blue Jays are a name program and the game should have been close to sold out.

[ZachTheZip]

Go Zips. And thanks to all 900 of you who showed up tonight.

Were there really so few people there? If so, shame on Akron. The Blue Jays are a name program and the game should have been close to sold out.

Attendance was about 2800. People who actually cheered during the very entertaining and competitive basketball game was closer to about 50.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Go Zips. And thanks to all 900 of you who showed up tonight.

Were there really so few people there? If so, shame on Akron. The Blue Jays are a name program and the game should have been close to sold out.

For the last decade+ the Zips have played 3rd fiddle to K.e.n.t. State and Ohio State in NE Ohio hoops.

The Zips have maintained a consistent level for the past 7 years, and K.e.n.t. has now regressed to our level.

We've now slipped 1/2 a spot, to "3rd-and-1/2 fiddle," below CSU and Ohio State and tied with K.e.n.t.

It is tough the Zips, tied for 3rd NE Ohio Fiddle, to draw more than 2,800 for Creighton. There simply isn't the interest or incentive.

Especially if all you do to market the event is place a poorly ripped-off .jpg flyer on your web site promoting a whopping 20% off tickets.

You reap what you sew, Marketing-wise.

You are who you are, basketball-wise.

2,800 is exactly what should have been expected.

If Marketing really pushed the event, and the hoops team hadn't experience such a bad Jan/Feb stretch, and the game was televised...then you approach a sell-out.

[GP1]

Go Zips. And thanks to all 900 of you who showed up tonight.

Were there really so few people there? If so, shame on Akron. The Blue Jays are a name program and the game should have been close to sold out.

For the last decade+ the Zips have played 3rd fiddle to K.e.n.t. State and Ohio State in NE Ohio hoops.

The Zips have maintained a consistent level for the past 7 years, and K.e.n.t. has now regressed to our level.

We've now slipped 1/2 a spot, to "3rd-and-1/2 fiddle," below CSU and Ohio State and tied with K.e.n.t.

It is tough the Zips, tied for 3rd NE Ohio Fiddle, to draw more than 2,800 for Creighton. There simply isn't the interest or incentive.

Especially if all you do to market the event is place a poorly ripped-off .jpg flyer on your web site promoting a whopping 20% off tickets.

You reap what you sew, Marketing-wise.

You are who you are, basketball-wise.

2,800 is exactly what should have been expected.

If Marketing really pushed the event, and the hoops team hadn't experience such a bad Jan/Feb stretch, and the game was televised...then you approach a sell-out.

I understand what you are saying, it's just a shame. What else is there to do in Akron on a Saturday in February? I used to live there and the answer is nothing. Heck, I live in Charlotte and there is nothing to do on a Saturday in February and it was in the 70s last weekend. I would have gladly paid full price to go to a UNCC game just to have some entertainment.

[Dr Z]

We've now slipped 1/2 a spot, to "3rd-and-1/2 fiddle," below CSU and Ohio State and tied with K.e.n.t. It is tough the Zips, tied for 3rd NE Ohio Fiddle, to draw more than 2,800 for Creighton. You reap what you sew, Marketing-wise. If Marketing really pushed the event, and the hoops team hadn't experience such a bad Jan/Feb stretch, and the game was televised...then you approach a sell-out.

CSU has put effort into marketing this year. I have seen advertising in many spots without looking hard. I wonder what their numbers are compared to last season?

PS What happen to that Ztv?

[Captain Kangaroo]

I understand what you are saying, it's just a shame. What else is there to do in Akron on a Saturday in February? I used to live there and the answer is nothing. Heck, I live in Charlotte and there is nothing to do on a Saturday in February and it was in the 70s last weekend. I would have gladly paid full price to go to a UNCC game just to have some entertainment.

I agree. I absolutely LOVE Saturday night games...BW-3's for 2-hours beforehand, and then the game.

But if I didn't have season tix, and was just Joe Akron, it would be a different story. Sitting on those wooden bleachers for 2 hours watching mediocre basketball is really a tough sell to the wife on a Saturday night.

Obviously the solutions to solving hoops attendance problems run a lot deeper, but the JAR seating, concessions, amenities, etc. is a big contributing factor for anyone looking for a fun Saturday night out. The JAR is a cracker box, and it won't change any time soon.

Could the JAR sell out? Sure. It still does for K.e.n.t games, and it did for LeBron's St V crew. But that's when there's a serious Buzz in the community. My Buzz from spending 2 hours at BW-3's only goes so far to help the Zips.

[RootforRoo44]

We've now slipped 1/2 a spot, to "3rd-and-1/2 fiddle," below CSU and Ohio State and tied with K.e.n.t. It is tough the Zips, tied for 3rd NE Ohio Fiddle, to draw more than 2,800 for Creighton. You reap what you sew, Marketing-wise. If Marketing really pushed the event, and the hoops team hadn't experience such a bad Jan/Feb stretch, and the game was televised...then you approach a sell-out.

CSU has put effort into marketing this year. I have seen advertising in many spots without looking hard. I wonder what their numbers are compared to last season?

PS What happen to that Ztv?

I've been to a CSU game this year. It was a conference game but it was just like every CSU game i've ever been to before. Lousy student support and an embarrassing curtain on one side of the arena. Their overall support is worse than ours.

[GoZips]

Go Zips. And thanks to all 900 of you who showed up tonight.

Were there really so few people there? If so, shame on Akron. The Blue Jays are a name program and the game should have been close to sold out.

GP1, this was posted "tongue-in-cheek". On the Creighton board a poster whined about there

would only be 900 fans in attendance. I was at the game and it was much closer to 3,000.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I've been to a CSU game this year. It was a conference game but it was just like every CSU game i've ever been to before. Lousy student support and an embarrassing curtain on one side of the arena. Their overall support is worse than ours.

CSU's attendance is on the rise. They drew 8k+ for a recent home game. CSU is getting a lot of media love both nationally and locally. The 2010-11 Zips would kill to have CSU's media situation. And arena.

For 2010-11 there's no doubt - CSU is the top mid-major basketball team in NE Ohio.

But CSU could lose their tourney, and the Zips could dance in 2011. Very good chance it could happen.

[GP1]

I agree. I absolutely LOVE Saturday night games...BW-3's for 2-hours beforehand, and then the game.

Sitting on those wooden bleachers for 2 hours watching mediocre basketball is really a tough sell to the wife on a Saturday night.

My wife and I always talk about what we would do if we were still living in Akron. We lived in the city around Stan Hewitt. We talked about it Saturday in fact. Going to BW3, the game and Crave for a snack after the game (because the "food" at the JAR is terrible) was the answer.

I know we joke about the benches, but it is no laughing matter. The benches were the #1 reason we did not attend many games the last couple of years we lived there. Even if it means fewer potential spectators, they need to eliminate the benches and put in seats....with rows of steps leading a fan up to their row. I also like order so every fan could be assigned a seat. It cannot be that expensive.

[RootforRoo44]

I've been to a CSU game this year. It was a conference game but it was just like every CSU game i've ever been to before. Lousy student support and an embarrassing curtain on one side of the arena. Their overall support is worse than ours.

CSU's attendance is on the rise. They drew 8k+ for a recent home game. CSU is getting a lot of media love both nationally and locally. The 2010-11 Zips would kill to have CSU's media situation. And arena.

For 2010-11 there's no doubt - CSU is the top mid-major basketball team in NE Ohio.

But CSU could lose their tourney, and the Zips could dance in 2011. Very good chance it could happen.

Yeah i just went and researched a little more on how they've done recently and it looks like people are starting to show up. Still, they have a similar attitude that we have, apathetic locals that would rather root for OSU still.