Men's Basketball '11 - '12

[ZachTheZip]

Mississippi State (Nov. 9), Hiram (Nov. 12), Valparaiso (Nov. 18) and Duquesne (Nov. 19) are the tournament games.

So now Hiram is considered a tournament game? Is that why they're on the schedule and considered an actual game instead of an exhibition game? How the hell did they get into the Coaches vs Cancer Classic?

[Dave in Green]

On the tournament website, the only one-game subregional is the Akron Subregional with the Zips against Hiram.

Just guessing here, but maybe the Gazelle Group messed up on scheduling and couldn't come up with enough teams to create a fourth tournament game for UA, so they allowed UA to make the already scheduled Hiram game part of the tournament.

If you look at the Valparaiso Subregional, the Zips only have two games -- against Valparaiso and Duquesne, who each play three games in that subregional.

This tournament always seems to have odd scheduling.

On the good side, the Zips-Mississippi State game is one of only four tournament games scheduled to be on ESPNU.

2011 2K Sports Classic Schedule

[g-mann17]

... How the hell did they get into the Coaches vs Cancer Classic?

Perhaps they have coaches that don't like cancer?

[Derrt]

Why don't we get a chance to play in the Big Apple?

[GoZips]

Why don't we get a chance to play in the Big Apple?

The tournament sponsers pre-arraigne with the four regional hosts that they and

they alone play the tournament finals in the Garden.

This means that even if any of these pompus, major-mojors lose at home to

any of the mid-major teams, they still make the trip to MSG, not us.

On the converse, a lot of major-majors will not longer participate in tournaments

where if they lose a game they are shuttled to the loser bracket. These mighty

mucky-mucks do not want to watch an Akron or other mid-major playing for

the championship.

If it were up to me, and I have voiced my opinion, I would not commit to playing

a sham tournament.

This "tournament" is a sham. All Akron, Duquense and Valpo get out of it is

filled dates. I think the schools could do this without a mockery.

The coaches will counter with the woeful cry of "this is how we can get extra games

on our schedule". Well, form your own tourney.

[Dave in Green]

On the positive side, the Zips get a game with Mississippi State televised nationally on ESPNU.

Even if we could independently schedule a date with a major program like Mississippi State, odds are it would not be televised.

So while participation in the overall tournament may not be great for the Zips, it's not all bad.

But it would be even better if the Zips could get invited to a "real" tournament where the team that wins all of its games is crowned undisputed champion.

[Hilltopper]

But it would be even better if the Zips could get invited to a "real" tournament where the team that wins all of its games is crowned undisputed champion.

They have for 3 out of the last four years!

[RowdyZip]

Let's look at it this way, the point is moot unless we beat Mississippi State (and Valpo and Duquesne and Hiram for that matter).

[Dave in Green]

@Hilltopper & @RowdyZip, right, there's really not much difference in the strength of the teams the Zips are facing in this tournament vs. the last few years. I suppose that winning a tournament really doesn't do any more for you than just going out and beating all the teams you face. The main difference may be the nationally televised game with Mississippi State. I don't recall the Zips playing on national cable TV in any of the previous tournaments. Then again, my memory fluctuates. So maybe someone remembers differently.

[Quickzips]

Let's look at it this way, the point is moot unless we beat Mississippi State (and Valpo and Duquesne and Hiram for that matter).

If we lose to Hiram this board is going into nuclear meltdown mode.

[blueroo]

how hard is it for the zips to schedule big time opponents? i don't think many big time programs would be willing to schedule the zips. it is a lose/lose proposition.

[Roo]

how hard is it for the zips to schedule big time opponents? i don't think many big time programs would be willing to schedule the zips. it is a lose/lose proposition.

Hell, they dont even need to schedule big time teams. I am just looking for some quality at the JAR. Id pay to see them play Northwestern, Xavier, Dayton, Temple, St Joes, etc..etc...

I don't want to watch them play Hiram.

[GoZips]

how hard is it for the zips to schedule big time opponents? i don't think many big time programs would be willing to schedule the zips. it is a lose/lose proposition.

Hell, they dont even need to schedule big time teams. I am just looking for some quality at the JAR. Id pay to see them play Northwestern, Xavier, Dayton, Temple, St Joes, etc..etc...

I don't want to watch them play Hiram.

Wow ... !!!! This canard never gets old.

The Zips schedule that best opponents that will play them. They can not schedule Big Ten, Big East,

ecetra, if the other school will not play them. Most of these opponents you long to crush will not

even take the chance of playing Akron at their place; let alone giving a return trip to Akron.

Coaches do NOT like to lose their jobs.

Early on in the off season there were talks between Akron and Rhode Island to renew the series.

Coach Barron at URI asked to postpone a series renewal because they lost four starters and their

sixth man. Home or at Akron URI was likely facing a loss. See previous remark.

VCU, supposedly pre-season rated much better than Akron has tried repeatedly to wiggle out of

their commitment to give a return game for the ESPN Bracket Buster game played there. Frankly,

coach Smart does not like the risk of losing at Akron. Call it what ever you like. Smart knows

first hand what playing in the JAR is like. Remember, he was an assistant here for three years.

See comment above.

The JAR is a nasty place to play if you are Akron's opponent. Few teams come into the JAR boasting

that they will kick the Zips butts. Even fewer manage that task. There is precious little to gain

by coming into the JAR.

What does Akron gain by only playing on the road against major-majors? Tell us. Review the

results Charly Coles and his Miami Red Hawks have to show for all those away games.

You might not want to play Hiram; coach Dambrot does. He has excellent reasons for playing them.

Division one programs traditionally play Div,-2 or 3 opponents once a season as a courtesy.

Most Division one programs grant this courtesy every year. As does Akron.

The Hiram game is deliberately placed right after the Mississippi State game. The Bulldogs are going

to be a tough road opponent. The Hiram game gives the Akron coaches to correct problems

discovered when playing Miss. St.

Once again, for umpteenth time: if you have a problem with scheduling stop into basketball offices

and offer your assistance.

[Hilltopper]

how hard is it for the zips to schedule big time opponents? i don't think many big time programs would be willing to schedule the zips. it is a lose/lose proposition.

Hell, they dont even need to schedule big time teams. I am just looking for some quality at the JAR. Id pay to see them play Northwestern, Xavier, Dayton, Temple, St Joes, etc..etc...

I don't want to watch them play Hiram.

Not a single one of those teams would ever play at the JAR. They have nothing to gain by beating us and everything to lose by losing to us.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Not a single one of those teams would ever play at the JAR. They have nothing to gain by beating us and everything to lose by losing to us.

Xavier, Dayton, Temple and St Joes have all played the Zips, in the JAR.

[Quickzips]

As long as the Zips are a good program, but not nationally recognized as a mid-major powerhouse (Gonzaga, Butler levels) the best you can hope for in terms of home game opponents is along the lines of a middle of the road A-10, Horizon or MVC program (think Duquesne, CSU, Valpo). Like others have said, the big programs have no incentive what so ever to play here. They aren't going to go for a buy game, as they generally don't need one. They gain nothing by coming to Akron for a home/home or even a 2/1 or 3/1 series. If they win, big whoop. It isn't going to grab a lot of headlines because we aren't that kind of a "name" program. On the other hand, if they lose, it is going to grab some significant headlines. Those headlines aren't going to be particularly flaterring for the big program that was SUPPOSED to come in and take an easy W from the relatively unknown Zips.

Probably the best we could ever hope for would be to draw a name program into a "neutral" site game at the Q. Even that would be a relative long shot considering the Zips history of success in that building, but I think it may theoretically be possible. I could MAYBE see a program like Xavier, Pitt or even a Michigan State going for it some day. Again, big long shot, but if you are looking for the Zips to play a big name program in a more friendly environment it is certainly more realistic than getting some of those programs to travel to the JAR.

[blueroo]

i think that they need to schedule the middle of the road a-10 teams and more horizon league games at home. even that may be difficult, but i would have to think that beating teams from at least better conferences, eventhough they are not better than average 'teams' themselves, would be an improvement. i think that we have to go for steady improvemtns to the schedule. gradually get the hirams off the schedule. in the end, in zips nation, the scheduling is always going to be a discussion.

[taxpayer]

"i think that they need to schedule the middle of the road a-10 teams and more horizon league games at home." Agree and add attempt to schedule any A10 and/or Horizon League team into the JAR. It will take home&home or even 2 aways for 1 home game but I suggest doing it.

"i think that we have to go for steady improvemtns to the schedule" Agreed, same with roster and facilities. Lounge will help keeping up with our competition. Now upgrade strength and conditioning will I understand is taking place.

"gradually get the hirams off the schedule" Doubtful. ALL D1's, even the big boys play down the first game or two. It serves the D1's to help get rid of the jitters and it allows the competition to play in bigger venues with bigger crowds. They typically pick up some much needed revenue as well.

It will be a slow process, but it seems Coach D is making the effort to raise up the program. All that's needed now are more wins and another MAC Championship, which will be another dogfight this year which is good for us fans.

[Hilltopper]

Not a single one of those teams would ever play at the JAR. They have nothing to gain by beating us and everything to lose by losing to us.

Xavier, Dayton, Temple and St Joes have all played the Zips, in the JAR.

You're right CK. I guess I was too focused on Northwestern. I still think those games were the exception to the rule. How many seasons did it take to compile that list?

[Dave in Green]

To judge the difficulty for a mid-major like UA to attract big-name teams into the JAR, take a look at the home OOC schedules of other mid-major schools with programs similar to UA's and see how many big-name teams visit their arenas.

Take Miami, for example. They generally play the toughest OOC road schedule of any MAC team. How many home games do they get in return from the big-name teams?

It's not that all the mid-majors like UA aren't trying.

[blueroo]

i understand wanting to play a weak opponent to get your 'feet wet', but we can get rid of the d2 and d3 teams and play a poor d1 team at least.

[Zipmeister]

Akron could increase its odds of attracting a big time opponent to the jar by keeping track of the big time programs that sign local talent. Occasionally such a team will schedule a school from the area the player came from to give the kid a chance to play in front of his old fans. Not saying this strategy will work a lot, but it sometimes happens. Of course if the Zips beat a big time school in the jar, rest assured it is unlikely to happen twice because nobody else will agree to show up.

[Doug Snyder]

Akron could increase its odds of attracting a big time opponent to the jar by keeping track of the big time programs that sign local talent. Occasionally such a team will schedule a school from the area the player came from to give the kid a chance to play in front of his old fans. Not saying this strategy will work a lot, but it sometimes happens. Of course if the Zips beat a big time school in the jar, rest assured it is unlikely to happen twice because nobody else will agree to show up.

Actually I think this could work for a game or 2. In the mid 80s Huggins got a game with nationally ranked Pittsburgh because Jerome Lane was the star on Pitt. It was played at the old Coliseum...but it was our game and not on their court. The game was close till the end.

One thing working against this is most true “starts” stay only 1 or 2 years in college. That may make it unlikely that a school will risk scheduling a few years out when the star in question may not be there.

[Quickzips]

Akron could increase its odds of attracting a big time opponent to the jar by keeping track of the big time programs that sign local talent. Occasionally such a team will schedule a school from the area the player came from to give the kid a chance to play in front of his old fans. Not saying this strategy will work a lot, but it sometimes happens. Of course if the Zips beat a big time school in the jar, rest assured it is unlikely to happen twice because nobody else will agree to show up.

Having "local talent" on their roster is probably not going to be a big enough incentive to overcome the high potential for an embarassing loss. Particularly when you have other programs in the area that are more of a surefire win (YSU comes to mind).

[Doug Snyder]

i understand wanting to play a weak opponent to get your 'feet wet', but we can get rid of the d2 and d3 teams and play a poor d1 team at least.

Actually....it is better to schedule a local D2 or D3 team. Here is why:

1. Build good will in local area

2. get a game where you can work on some issues without risk of losing

3. get new guys some minutes without risk of losing. This may be the first time some guys see the floor in a college game

4. and the # 1 reason... scheduling D2 or D3 team does not affect you RPI ranking. Scheduling a weak D1 team to accomplish 1 thru 3 above would mean you will lower your RPI ranking.

Conclusion... Keep scheduling local D3 teams. Good for everybody involved. But let's keep it to one game per year.