Districtballer Posted December 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2011 What a difference when your hated coach (Shaka Smart) runs your team to the Final Four. All of a sudden Shaka is a darling. Tell the truth, Baller, you and the rest of your fans were ready to tar and feather Shaka midway through last season. Frankly, I would not blame Shaka for shaking Richmond dust from his heels and taking a better job. A couple of years ago I posted on your boards that you would love Shaka as your coach. The VCU fans ran me off the boards as, and I quote, "an idiot who knows nothing about basketball". I am still waiting for an apology. Why should you expect an apology ? That's funny but keep on waiting. We'll bring food and water as you age. It's actually more funny because what he said happened never actually occurred as I explained later on in the thread. As for being favored, I highly doubt that we would be at your place. Perhaps on a neutral court, but definitely not at your house. Are you aware yet that this is also going to be some sort of Terry Bowden night? Tickets were selling well already, but now it mighit be an extremely excited crowd and a possible sellout. This timing is bad for you guys, but if you are hoping for a crazy atmosphere, this is probably going to be the case. Yes I saw that, glad to hear it. Big-time teams play in big-time environments. Our team thrives off of playing in packed houses with high energy levels. It's more the half-empty, quiet environments that give our guys trouble. We've played in front of a sellout crowd every game at home this season, it will be a great test to see how we fare in front of a sellout crowd rooting for the other squad. Hopefully both our teams can give the fans a show that will keep them coming back to the JAR, win or lose. If you put an exciting product on the floor, who knows how many football fans might take interest in the basketball program? Hopefully Abreu is back at 100% and you give us your best possible effort in the most hostile atmosphere you can muster. I wouldn't have it any other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I actually don't anticipate a "hostile" crowd. People are going to be very excited and happy that night, with the addition of the introduction of a marquis hire as our football coach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I actually don't anticipate a "hostile" crowd. People are going to be very excited and happy that night, with the addition of the introduction of a marquis hire as our football coach. My god I hope not. Lets hope Bowden turns out to be a marquee coach, we just got rid of our marquis one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 I actually don't anticipate a "hostile" crowd. People are going to be very excited and happy that night, with the addition of the introduction of a marquis hire as our football coach. My god I hope not. Lets hope Bowden tunrns out to be a marquee coach, we just got rid of our marquis one. You're right. Anyone who managed to witness all 4 quarters of each home game over the last 2 years, definitely qualifies as a sadist. Guilty as charged! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jalapeño Zippy Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 Looking for a pregame watering hole for this one with friends and family in town....I see that Thirsty Dog has Thirsty Thursdays....thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Districtballer Posted December 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 This guy has the Zips as a 2 point favorite according to this from SportsChatPalace: http://sportschatplace.com/college-basketb...a-commonwealth/ Akron is 4-4 ATS and VCU is 7-4. VCU has shown that they can play with the big boys. But what I am most impressed with the Rams is their ability to beat teams that they should. VCU’s lone losses were to Seton Hall, Alabama, and Georgia Tech. Shaka Smart will have his boys ready to play and we will see how Akron responds. VCU likes to get up and down the court and shoot the rock from wherever, whenever. The Zips are currently averaging 74.9 ppg as a team. I think the over should be given a look here. When a team like Akron, who operates efficiently on the offensive end is forced into an uptempo game, points will be plentiful. I personally feel that VCU should be a small favorite in this game, given their body of work. VCU’s impressive ATS record is a testament to how they are perceived by the general public despite a final four appearance a year ago. The Vegas picks should be out tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mes102 Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 You going to be in town, Districtballer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mriordan Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Any word on Abreu and Harney? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Districtballer Posted December 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 You going to be in town, Districtballer? No sir, family obligations prevented that from happening. Looking forward to watching it online though! Here's a cool article from Fox Sports Ohio on the game and the connection between Smart and KD: http://www.foxsportsohio.com/12/28/11/Spec...amp;feedID=9467 "(Akron coach) Keith Dambrot has meant so much to me, personally and professionally," Smart said. "He's my closest friend in coaching. I have a lot of coaching acquaintances, but I don't have a lot of true friends beyond basketball, and Keith is certainly that. "We talk all the time. We talk about his team, my team, our families, everything. We just haven't talked a lot lately because we're playing each other. We both want to win." Smart met his wife, Maya, while at Akron — "basically on a blind date," he said — and the couple welcomed their first child last spring. "Those were great years at Akron, lots of fun," Smart said. "I learned a lot from Keith, and I have great respect for everybody at the university." "I was driving my son home from a soccer tournament in Chicago and listening to the Kansas game on the radio," Dambrot said. "When VCU won, I teared up. My son kind of looked at me like I'd gone nuts, but that's what Shaka means to me. I was so happy for him." Dambrot and Akron have had their own success — six straight 20-win seasons, two NCAA tournament berths in the past three years — albeit on a smaller scale. Dambrot is 0-3 vs. VCU as head coach, 0-1 vs. Smart. Beating a team that played in the Final Four nine months ago would be the kind of marquee win Dambrot hopes his program can continue to collect. Last month, Akron beat Mississippi State, which is 12-1 and ranked No. 14. "Shaka is one of the reasons we've been able to turn this into a good program," Dambrot said. "He did great work here and was a big part of laying the foundation. It was clear to me then that he was destined for great things. "(Thursday) is a big game for us. It's a great opportunity to play against a high-caliber opponent in our building. We just hate having to try to beat a family member." Said Smart: "It always brings mixed feelings. Actually, we had too many road games when we were finalizing this year's schedule and tried to get this game pushed back to (another year), but we couldn't. I love those guys at Akron, but they must not hate playing us as much as they say they do." Here's another article from Ohio.com: http://www.ohio.com/sports/vcu-vs-ua-baske...riends-1.252560 “It will be a little bit strange, honestly,” Smart said. “In coaching, you never like to play against your friends and mentors. It’s such a competitive situation and, usually, I’m Akron’s No. 1 fan, but obviously on Thursday, we are trying to beat them.” Dambrot, 53, is in his eighth season as UA’s coach and said he has no plans of annually playing against Smart. This matchup is a return game from the 2010 ESPNU BracketBusters when VCU defeated UA. “We’re too good of friends,” Dambrot said. “We’ll never play again if we have our way. We hate it. He is a family member of mine. He is the best and most loyal. It is a terrible game for both of us. I’d be happy if we won, but I wouldn’t be happy for him. Coach [ben] Braun is my best friend, but I think Shaka has overtaken him even. He is upset when we lose and feels bad for us. I talk to him at least four or five teams a week. “We kind of mentor each other with questions like: What would you do if this happens? What would you do playing against this 1-3-1 zone or this 2-3 zone? We can’t do that when we go to play each other. It is difficult. If one of us wins and the other doesn’t, we’re not happy for the other guy. It is kind of a no-win situation for either one of us.” Vegas has VCU as a 1 point favorite at your place. I think that's giving a lot of respect to our squad. It'll be a tough game and hopefully an entertaining one. We'll see if KD and Akron can get their first win of the series. It sounds like the series won't continue as long as Smart and KD are coaching at our schools, and this is KD's best team of all the one's we've played against, so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Akron take the W. Here's to a good, clean game with no injuries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hopefully its just coach-speak, but in the game notes on the ABJ site, Dambrot says Rico "probably won't play." It does look like Harney will be back in the lineup. We are gonna have a tough time against the press without Alex... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hopefully its just coach-speak, but in the game notes on the ABJ site, Dambrot says Rico "probably won't play." It does look like Harney will be back in the lineup. We are gonna have a tough time against the press without Alex... I agree about Rico. For those of you that have not seen VCU this year, they are the best defending team that we have faced by far. They can toss a variety of looks at us and are not adverse to picking us up in the back court. I just can't see us beating them w/o Rico based on what I have seen when he was suspended. If I were a betting man I'd be on VCU and the under. I'd be even happier though to leave the JAR tonight with a W over a VCU team that has already improved greatly since their first couple of games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hopefully its just coach-speak, but in the game notes on the ABJ site, Dambrot says Rico "probably won't play." It does look like Harney will be back in the lineup. We are gonna have a tough time against the press without Alex... I agree. I'm sorry for everyone that AA won't be playing. I don't think we're half as good without him on the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dboze Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hopefully its just coach-speak, but in the game notes on the ABJ site, Dambrot says Rico "probably won't play." It does look like Harney will be back in the lineup. We are gonna have a tough time against the press without Alex... I agree. I'm sorry for everyone that AA won't be playing. I don't think we're half as good without him on the floor. All I can say is Don't count Alex out...he might surprise us and play..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Districtballer Posted December 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 Hopefully its just coach-speak, but in the game notes on the ABJ site, Dambrot says Rico "probably won't play." It does look like Harney will be back in the lineup. We are gonna have a tough time against the press without Alex... I agree. I'm sorry for everyone that AA won't be playing. I don't think we're half as good without him on the floor. All I can say is Don't count Alex out...he might surprise us and play..... Fully expect him to at least give it a go. Everything indicates that Abreu would rather eat his knee than not play on it. Coaches are just trying to keep the opponents on their toes which is what they should be doing. Good coaches prepare for all scenarios and Akron will be tough with or without Abreu. Looking forward to what should be a very good mid-major game. Hoping that JAR will be full with the Terry Bowden effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 The pressure is really giving us problems. Dambrot has to make sure either Abreu or Diggs are on the floor at all times, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 Halftime score 36-31 Akron. Nic has 10 pts, 4 rebs. Walsh 3 for 3 on treys! Maybe VCU wasn't sandbagging after all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootforRoo44 Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 VCU is a little out of control tonight...good to see us getting decent position on rebounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronzips71 Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 Sloppy. Very sloppy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 Sloppy. Very sloppy Zebras are no help either.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy_ua_00 Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 Sloppy. Very sloppy Zebras are no help either.... Seriously we are getting homered in our own gym Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 So many tick-tack fouls are costing us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 So many tick-tack fouls are costing us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootforRoo44 Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 I wonder when Dambrot will figure out how to get his players to not be stupid late in games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted December 30, 2011 Report Share Posted December 30, 2011 Some calls didnt go our way, but in the end we did ourselves in. Good game. Just got to win the MAC... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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