Men's Basketball '11 - '12

[dboze]

I'm assuming the 2K Sports Classic is where the Zips are supposed to meet Mississippi State, as they're one of the host teams along with Arizona, St. Johns and Texas A&M. Those four teams are automatically in the championship rounds at Madison Square Garden regardless of what the Zips or any other team does during the preliminaries.

From what I've heard it is Mississippi State as the 11/9 game and the 11/18 - 11/20 games will be played at Valpo. We will play Valpo and Duquense (A-10). I don't know who the 4th team/3rd game will be in that sub-regional.

[ZachTheZip]

Tough road schedule, laughably easy home schedule. Can't we ever get that to be the opposite?

[taxpayer]

I'm not thrilled with the John Carroll nor the Hiram games but having said that, this is a young team and they might be a little skitterish coming out of the box. I too, believe the 11/9 @K Sports Classic is away at Mississippi State.I believe one of the 2K games is against Duquesne, who is a rising A10 member and I don't like the fact the Zips play Detroit on Saturday 11/26 then travel on 11/27 and play at West Virginia on 11/28. WVU has six days to prepare for the Zips; the good news is most of their students will be home for Christmas break. Hopefully, Coach D has the Detroit game scheduled for a 1pm start so they can travel to Morgantown that night and have a light practice Sunday and then play Monday. That's a tough turn around as is playing VCU on 12/29 then playing a good Marshall team, at Marshall, on January 1st. Those will be very difficult circumstances for us.

[Quickzips]

Not much difference in this schedule and the last couple of years.The Zips better be ready to come out of the gate strong in this 2k sports classic bit. Particularly if the first game is the Miss. St. game. There aren't a lot of opportunities for "marquee" wins on this schedule, but Miss. St. probably qualifies as one. Like others have stated, I HATE playing both John Carroll AND Hiram. Pick one or the other as your exhibition game and be done with the overmatched NAIA and D-III schools. You can't even say that Hiram comes as a break at the end of a long stretch of road games this year. Ridiculous. Love games at WVU, at CSU, at MTSU, home against VCU, home against Detroit and at Marshall. Hate home games against Pine Bluff, Florida A&M, NC A&T. I can live with the home game against YSU. At least most of the snooze fest home games are over Winter Break when students aren't going to be on campus anyways.Very interested to hear who the final opponent will be for the 2k sports deal. If we can land another high mid-major type program in there it would really go a long way towards making this schedule more pallatable.

[Zips Win!]

This is a terrible schedule for traveling to away games....WVU on a Monday...Marshall on Jan 1....BG and Buffalo on Wednesday's.....BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[GoZips]

The John Carroll game is a true "exhibition" game. That is, it does not count win or lose.Most Div-1 teams tune up on one or two Div-2 or Div-3 teams in the preseason.Akron will play only one exhibition game as they will hold a closed scrimmage at homeagainst Eastern Kentucky a few days before the JCU game.The Hiram game is placed where it is to allow the coaching staff to correct any problemsfound during the Mississippi State game.Dave in Green has a good handle on what is happening with the 2K Sports Classic.All three of the games after the MSU game will be played at Valparaiso. I am racking my brainfor the name of the third opponent. I am not sure that I ever knew it in the first place.The kids just need to keep working and take all these games one at a time.Like most of you, I long to see quality opponents in the JAR. It is a tough sell. Coaches do notlike to go on the road and lose. Look at theeOSU. You can bet that any away game (and therewill only be a couple) will be against ranked opponents. Reason: no shame in losing to a Top 25team on the road.DistrictBaller is correct that VCU will not schedule us. KD is willing, Shaka is not. Go figure.

[Doug Snyder]

Not much difference in this schedule and the last couple of years.The Zips better be ready to come out of the gate strong in this 2k sports classic bit. Particularly if the first game is the Miss. St. game. There aren't a lot of opportunities for "marquee" wins on this schedule, but Miss. St. probably qualifies as one. Like others have stated, I HATE playing both John Carroll AND Hiram. Pick one or the other as your exhibition game and be done with the overmatched NAIA and D-III schools. You can't even say that Hiram comes as a break at the end of a long stretch of road games this year. Ridiculous. Love games at WVU, at CSU, at MTSU, home against VCU, home against Detroit and at Marshall. Hate home games against Pine Bluff, Florida A&M, NC A&T. I can live with the home game against YSU. At least most of the snooze fest home games are over Winter Break when students aren't going to be on campus anyways.Very interested to hear who the final opponent will be for the 2k sports deal. If we can land another high mid-major type program in there it would really go a long way towards making this schedule more pallatable.

It was my understanding the JC was an exhibition and Hiram for real. That seems the norm for KD as he likes to get the season off to a good start ... get the jitters out of the way with a win. Other schools schedule sacrificial lambs on opening day.

[Quickzips]

Not much difference in this schedule and the last couple of years.The Zips better be ready to come out of the gate strong in this 2k sports classic bit. Particularly if the first game is the Miss. St. game. There aren't a lot of opportunities for "marquee" wins on this schedule, but Miss. St. probably qualifies as one. Like others have stated, I HATE playing both John Carroll AND Hiram. Pick one or the other as your exhibition game and be done with the overmatched NAIA and D-III schools. You can't even say that Hiram comes as a break at the end of a long stretch of road games this year. Ridiculous. Love games at WVU, at CSU, at MTSU, home against VCU, home against Detroit and at Marshall. Hate home games against Pine Bluff, Florida A&M, NC A&T. I can live with the home game against YSU. At least most of the snooze fest home games are over Winter Break when students aren't going to be on campus anyways.Very interested to hear who the final opponent will be for the 2k sports deal. If we can land another high mid-major type program in there it would really go a long way towards making this schedule more pallatable.

It was my understanding the JC was an exhibition and Hiram for real. That seems the norm for KD as he likes to get the season off to a good start ... get the jitters out of the way with a win. Other schools schedule sacrificial lambs on opening day.

I understand that the Hiram game actually counts while the JC game is just an exhibition. What I'm saying is that we should pick one of these types of teams for an exhibition, and not schedule another one of them for a "real" game. These types of games add nothing in terms of RPI, don't really give us much of a chance to evaluate our own talent against another decent opponent, and draw peanuts for fans. I just don't see what the benefit in it is.

[Zip Watcher]

Playing togetherin a game situation is always helpful, isn't it?

[Doug Snyder]

Not much difference in this schedule and the last couple of years.The Zips better be ready to come out of the gate strong in this 2k sports classic bit. Particularly if the first game is the Miss. St. game. There aren't a lot of opportunities for "marquee" wins on this schedule, but Miss. St. probably qualifies as one. Like others have stated, I HATE playing both John Carroll AND Hiram. Pick one or the other as your exhibition game and be done with the overmatched NAIA and D-III schools. You can't even say that Hiram comes as a break at the end of a long stretch of road games this year. Ridiculous. Love games at WVU, at CSU, at MTSU, home against VCU, home against Detroit and at Marshall. Hate home games against Pine Bluff, Florida A&M, NC A&T. I can live with the home game against YSU. At least most of the snooze fest home games are over Winter Break when students aren't going to be on campus anyways.Very interested to hear who the final opponent will be for the 2k sports deal. If we can land another high mid-major type program in there it would really go a long way towards making this schedule more pallatable.

It was my understanding the JC was an exhibition and Hiram for real. That seems the norm for KD as he likes to get the season off to a good start ... get the jitters out of the way with a win. Other schools schedule sacrificial lambs on opening day.

I understand that the Hiram game actually counts while the JC game is just an exhibition. What I'm saying is that we should pick one of these types of teams for an exhibition, and not schedule another one of them for a "real" game. These types of games add nothing in terms of RPI, don't really give us much of a chance to evaluate our own talent against another decent opponent, and draw peanuts for fans. I just don't see what the benefit in it is.

It is my understanding that while the game will not help the RPI...it will not hurt either as only D1 games are in the formula. I see no harm in scheduling these games. but one is more than enough.

[tpsjugglerdude]

I hear NC State is the 4th game.

[Quickzips]

I hear NC State is the 4th game.

If true, this schedule just got a whole lot better. Mississippi StateHiramDuquesneValpoNC StateDetroitWVUMTSUCSUPine BluffFlorida A&MYSUNC A&TVCUMarshallI could live with that. Be nice to have a couple of more marquee home games, but you have to be a little realistic in regards to who you can get to come to our place.

[Dave in Green]

NC State is an ACC team. Based on last year's lineup, all eight of the "unseeded" teams that don't get to play for the championship were midmajors. I find it hard to believe that NC State or any other ACC team would accept being thrown in with the "also-rans."

[GoZips]

I hear NC State is the 4th game.

Not likely. NC State is playing in the Legends Classic in the same time frame.North Carolina Central?

[Districtballer]

The John Carroll game is a true "exhibition" game. That is, it does not count win or lose.Most Div-1 teams tune up on one or two Div-2 or Div-3 teams in the preseason.Akron will play only one exhibition game as they will hold a closed scrimmage at homeagainst Eastern Kentucky a few days before the JCU game.The Hiram game is placed where it is to allow the coaching staff to correct any problemsfound during the Mississippi State game.Dave in Green has a good handle on what is happening with the 2K Sports Classic.All three of the games after the MSU game will be played at Valparaiso. I am racking my brainfor the name of the third opponent. I am not sure that I ever knew it in the first place.The kids just need to keep working and take all these games one at a time.Like most of you, I long to see quality opponents in the JAR. It is a tough sell. Coaches do notlike to go on the road and lose. Look at theeOSU. You can bet that any away game (and therewill only be a couple) will be against ranked opponents. Reason: no shame in losing to a Top 25team on the road.DistrictBaller is correct that VCU will not schedule us. KD is willing, Shaka is not. Go figure.

Don't blame him. Having to face off against your mentor, win or lose, is tough. I highly doubt either coach enjoys having to do that, although I can understand Dambrot being more willing with much more to gain than Shaka does from a continued series. We've certainly played our fair share of games with Akron already though. Regionally, neither team holds much appeal for the home fan base. We can get games with teams just as good who our fan base is also familiar with, as I'm sure Akron is also able to do (although looking at that home slate, maybe not). Either way, if the offseason projections are true and Akron's squad is Sweet 16 caliber with top-tier talent itching to join the program, I don't see Akron basketball hurting any from this. It has been good getting to know some of the fine fans here though. Nothing like a good, informed mid-major fan in my mind, and you've got a couple of good ones here.

[Dave in Green]

..... Either way, if the offseason projections are true and Akron's squad is Sweet 16 caliber with top-tier talent itching to join the program, I don't see Akron basketball hurting any from this. .....

The offseason projections? That's nothing more than a way optimistic opinion of a couple of dreaming Zips fans. Don't you go pinning that statement up in the VCU locker room to inspire your team to bring their top game to Akron to put these pretenders in their place. The Zips will be lucky to do a little better than last season, so you can tell your team to relax and consider the trip to Akron to be a vacation.

[Districtballer]

..... Either way, if the offseason projections are true and Akron's squad is Sweet 16 caliber with top-tier talent itching to join the program, I don't see Akron basketball hurting any from this. .....

The offseason projections? That's nothing more than a way optimistic opinion of a couple of dreaming Zips fans. Don't you go pinning that statement up in the VCU locker room to inspire your team to bring their top game to Akron to put these pretenders in their place. The Zips will be lucky to do a little better than last season, so you can tell your team to relax and consider the trip to Akron to be a vacation.

Sorry, if you followed our tournament run, you'll see our guys thrive off of bulletin board material. I won't be able to let that one go. Akron around new year's is hardly a vacation destination. Akron on December 29th sounds like a business trip to me, and our boys will be all business.I hope for your sake the dreaming Zips fans are right. There is nothing like winning a NCAA tournament game. It's fun as heck.

[Doug Snyder]

..... Either way, if the offseason projections are true and Akron's squad is Sweet 16 caliber with top-tier talent itching to join the program, I don't see Akron basketball hurting any from this. .....

The offseason projections? That's nothing more than a way optimistic opinion of a couple of dreaming Zips fans. Don't you go pinning that statement up in the VCU locker room to inspire your team to bring their top game to Akron to put these pretenders in their place. The Zips will be lucky to do a little better than last season, so you can tell your team to relax and consider the trip to Akron to be a vacation.

LOL you must be like skip, BG and some others. Vacation in Akron lol Who would ever consider it!!!

[Dave in Green]

Right. I'm crazy. Don't pay any attention to me.

[Zipmeister]

Earlier someone posted that Hiram was showing the Akron game as an exhibition (while we are showing it as a regular game). I wonder if we could do this for football games; hey our game against OSU was just an exhibition game. Now Hiram isn't showing the Akron game on their schedule AT ALL!http://www.hiram.edu/athletics/menssports/...ewschedule.html

[Zip_ME87]

Now Hiram isn't showing the Akron game on their schedule AT ALL!http://www.hiram.edu/athletics/menssports/...ewschedule.html

That was the point...it's not on their schedule because, for them, it's an exhibition. It's on the Zips' schedule because it's real. (This is the same situation as the Millikin game last season.)

[Zipmeister]

Now Hiram isn't showing the Akron game on their schedule AT ALL!http://www.hiram.edu/athletics/menssports/...ewschedule.html

That was the point...it's not on their schedule because, for them, it's an exhibition. It's on the Zips' schedule because it's real. (This is the same situation as the Millikin game last season.)

Oh, I get it now, teams that aren't on your schedule are exhibition games. Does that mean Hiram also has exhibition games with KY, UCLA, and tOSU?

[Districtballer]

Now Hiram isn't showing the Akron game on their schedule AT ALL!http://www.hiram.edu/athletics/menssports/...ewschedule.html

That was the point...it's not on their schedule because, for them, it's an exhibition. It's on the Zips' schedule because it's real. (This is the same situation as the Millikin game last season.)

Oh, I get it now, teams that aren't on your schedule are exhibition games. Does that mean Hiram also has exhibition games with KY, UCLA, and tOSU?

I'm admittedly an outsider, but I've seen this a number of years now and it is puzzling to me. Why does KD schedule non-D1 opponents during the regular season? It would seem like win-padding to most MAC fans I bet, although I don't have a dog in the fight. You would hope with as far as KD has brought the program that you would be beyond having to play teams like this in the regular season. I get that a number of you guys think the RPI means nothing and there is just generally a conspiracy against mids to shaft us with whatever statistics speak against us. That said, there is no reason to be scheduling non-D1's in a D1 regular season when you're a pretty decent D1 program. Exhibition games are totally understandable, and not uncommon at all, but this is eyebrow-raising to be completely honest.

[Dr Z]

Why does KD schedule non-D1 opponents during the regular season? You would hope with as far as KD has brought the program that you would be beyond having to play teams like this in the regular season.

I can't answer for KD, I'm sure someone else here will try, but I have heard him say on a post game show last year, we are not good enough for a tough schedule yet. It seems like we are ready for a tougher schedule to me. Personally I think it benefits this team to play a tougher schedule. Maybe we are a year behind due to scheduling ahead of time. Maybe we will see a change next year, hopefully. We see enough cupcakes during mac play.

[GP1]

All times TBD. Back to back Ken+ games in March are going to be brutal.

This looks like a pretty challenging schedule to me. Outside of the major programs, there is YSU so the fans will have fun. CSU is a good program and it should be a fun game to attend. Detroit has history as a good program. We have MTSU for a trip down memory lane in Tennessee. We all know what VCU can do. WVU is a good program....too bad it is on a weeknight so not many will get to see the Zips play in a really good college arena. Three road games in a row to start January will provide a good challenge as well."Challenging" is the word I would use to describe this schedule. Some say it isn't any good because of Hiram and JC...everyone plays those types of cupcakes and two games don't make an entire schedule weak.