johnnyzip84 Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 First, let me say .. good topic. I like reading how people responded to this .. and it forces a little different dialog. I'm just now getting caught up from all of the time away the past 2 weeks, so I haven't been able to post much of my thoughts yet, but I have been mulling this particular one over for the past week. I thought of several words: Belief, Tenacity, Resiliency (someone used that?), Resolve, Habitual, Transitional .. etc .. but in the end, because of a feeling that I got from watching the MAC tournament, and then the ND game, and having the chance to speak with some of the staff & players both before and after the game in Chicago .. I choose the following: Ascending This season was one that will be looked back upon as a critical season in the ascension of the Zips from a team that is competitive in their mid-major conference to one that is competitive on the national stage. It wasn't a perfect season, without bumps & slumps. It was however, a season which saw a team right itself before it mattered .. and pull together to win 11 of 14 down the stretch, including their 2nd tourney title & NCAA birth in 3 seasons. It took a few trips to the Q for the Zips to make a habit of winning games there. Then it has taken some trips to the championship game for the Zips to make a habit of winning on Saturday. Now they have played in 5 straight .. and won 2 of 3. Likewise, it will take a couple of trips to the big dance to make a habit of winning there. I believe firmly that what transpired in Chicago proved to the Zips themselves that they belong on the stage w/ top D1 teams. They know they had the right game plan to beat ND. They know they had the size and athleticism to punch the ball in against a #2 seed. They see that they got the shots they needed to compete with and scare the Big East runners-up. Whether or not an ND beat writer saw that , or Zips fans saw that or believe that doesn't matter. The TEAM & STAFF know they had the game plan and the players to win that game. Shots didn't fall. So they will go back again .. and habits will continue to be formed .. and the Zips will continue to rise. For me, I will remember this as an ascending season, where another corner was turned in the belief structure of our Zips. Get 'em on. You're going to need them. B) B) Go Zips! +1 As DiG alluded, there's not much to add. Well stated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted March 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 They see that they got the shots they needed to compete with and scare the Big East runners-up. Shots didn't fall. Good post. I'm not sure that ND was scared at any point during the game. A scare is winning by 3 or 4, not 13. ND had a bad weekend and it was proven when FSU beat them to move on to the Sweet 16. In any event, let's focus on shooting. Akron badly needs to develop a guy who can make shots in big games....a go to guy. It's one thing to get shots, it's another thing to make them. Every offensive trip is an opportunity to make a shot. Every trip to the foul line is an opportunity to make a shot. Execution is the key. The Zips could have easily beat ND had they executed. At the end of the day, the results matter. I'm also cautious to look at one season and infer from that season what a team will do the next season. If the logic is a good season translates into another good season, you couldn't prove it with my Steelers. Over 50% of the times they have made the Super Bowl, they have not made the playoffs the next season with almost the same exact players and 6 of 7 times winning the Super Bowl the year before. Most teams who lose the Super Bowl have a losing season the next season. Akron will have a lot of new guys on the floor and we never know how they will perform when the bullets start to fly. Every season is different. More than anything, this season was interesting. Interesting is a good thing because I'm interested to see how they will do next season. I'm looking for more. I want to see more wins, more wins against major programs, more wins against high level mid majors and a MAC East Championship at the least. A guy who can fill up the stat sheet will be a good start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 under-over-achievers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontrealExposloveZippy Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Enigmatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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