Terry Pluto article about the Zips

[ZachTheZip]

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index....e_browns_3.html

[RootforRoo44]

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index....e_browns_3.html

Some misspellings but all around a nice look at the Zips.

[Quickzips]

Not a whole lot of new information in here if you are a regular of the Zipsnation, but it is nice to see the Cleveland media giving a little bit of love to the Zips hoopsters, particularly this early in the summer.

No doubt about the fact that the Zips are loaded this year. All you have to do is take a look at the OOC schedule for this year and you can tell that KD knows it too. This is not a schedule that you put together for a team that has a lot of question marks and is relying on a lof of youngsters to be key contributors. Of course, all eyes are going to continue to be on Zeke as this is his senior year and his last chance to make good on all the excitement that followed his commitment to the program. Although Zeke will garner most of the attention I think the two biggest keys to this season will be the progress of our two second year forwards and the impact of Carmelo Betancourt. Tree and Harney will have all of the load on them at the PF spot this year with Cvetinovic gone. If they are able to handle that the Zips will be in a much better position. Harney worries me more than Tree who really put things together quite well the final third of the season last year. Betancourt may be an even bigger key for this team. If he can spell Alex at PG for 10-12 minutes per night it will take all kinds of pressure off the team. Alex will stay healthier with less minutes on that cranky leg, Q will be able to play more of the wing guard/forward where he is better suited and we will (hopefully) have a true floor general on the court at all times who can set up his teamates.

Ohio and Akron will almost assuredly be the class of the conference this year with EMU, Toledo, Can't, Buffalo and possibly BG all duking it out for third. At this point I don't know who has the clear edge, the Bobcats or the Zips. Based on last years results you have to go with OU, but that coaching change can have big implications for a veteran team returning all of their key contributors (see the 2011-12 Can't squad). At this point I think you have to call the Zips and the Bobcats 1a and 1b. Toledo looks primed to take that next step back to relevance in the MAC, but you have to wonder how that postseason ban is going to affect their psyche. If Can't were any other program I wouldn't put them in the conversation with all they have lost (Greene, Porrini, Manns, etc.), but this is Can't, and they always seem to find a way to scrounge up some unheralded JUCO who ends up as an all-conference performer. Buffalo has a lot of talent, but I think the loss of Watt is really going to hurt them, and will particularly have an impact on McCrae who will be expected to carry more of the load up front. BG returns a lot of their team from last year, but they were only a mid-pack team a year ago. Does another year together make that much of a difference for them or not? EMU is the team that is most puzzling to me. I just can't figure out if they are really a legit contender in the MAC overall or if they just caught a little lightning in a bottle last year with a new coaching staff and a new style of play against an abysml West division.

I know I should be looking forward to football season with the new coaching staff and renewed excitement, but with everything the hoopsters have going for them coming into this year I am much more excited about the start of the hoops season.

[Class of 82]

Most interesting to me was Dambrot's comment about maybe going more up-tempo and that it depends on how hard the team wants to work on the defensive end.

I totally get the surface meaning, but I'm not sure I particularly like some of the implications of what that comment might indicate.

These Zips better be ready to play some defense, rebound and get out on the break at every opportunity. With our depth, turning the other team over and running them ragged should be our game plan more often than not.

Hopefully, Keith's just planting a little seed and issuing a challenge.

[Dr Z]

Most interesting to me was Dambrot's comment about maybe going more up-tempo...

I'll have to see that to believe it.

If I were Bluto and had to write about the Browns and Indians these days, I would seriously consider retirement. How depressing.