Akron OU in game thread

[Hilltopper]

THAT part of your post is no laughing matter.

At 22-4, and 19 wins in a row, and we still aren't in the AP poll? And nobody gives us much of a shot at an at-large?

It saddens me and angers me that we don't have a lot more accolades to show for it, but the OOC schedule was indeed the only missing piece that was within our control.

Would you please give it rest until the off season! Are you and akzipper related?

[GoZips88]

Is it too early to start the thread where we discuss the location of the Zips first round NCAA game after they win the MAC?

Yes. Location of next game is in Buffalo. Go Zips!!!

[GP1]

Yes. Location of next game is in Buffalo. Go Zips!!!

You're probably right. Would it be too early to start the, "Who will we beat in the MAC Championship?" thread?

[acstorfer]

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com...-win-over-ohio/

[akzipper]

You're probably right. Would it be too early to start the, "Who will we beat in the MAC Championship?" thread?

Worry about the next game. That's all that matters.

[GP1]

Worry about the next game. That's all that matters.

Can we let KD and the players worry about the next game and we start the "Where is the pregame party going to be before the MAC Championship game going to be?" thread?

[akronad]

I waited until this morning to add anything. First to those from OU that posted cmpliments on here, Thanks. You are class and you're tema isn't too bad either.

Last night the wife and I sat to watch the game. After going down 18, she got up to do the dishes and never returned. I was concerned, but not in panic mode. I have seen these kids all year comeback and achieve and last night was no different. Wow, KD can coach! He went with the hot hands. Forsythe didn't play much, but that actually worked out for us. Kudos to the entire team What a great game. Now, let's win in Buffalo.

Gooooooooooooo Zips!

[bigzipguy]

The Zips not only need to be thinking about the next game only,but on each and every PLAY OF THE NEXT GAME ONLY!!!!!!!!!

[Dave in Green]

This is the tough part of the OOC schedule that the Zips signed up for this season:

#27 Oklahoma State, neutral site

#53 Tennessee, neutral site

#25 North Carolina State, neutral site

#22 Middle Tennessee, home

#40 Creighton, away

#60 Detroit, away

#84 North Dakota State, home

Seven top 100 RPI teams, including four top 50, is a robust OOC schedule. Cleveland State was also expected to be a top 100 team before injuries struck. Unfortunately, losing Tree and Harney for the first three games of the season cost the Zips the Oklahoma State win, which put them in the PR tournament consolation bracket and lost the Tennessee and North Carolina State matchups. Even losing those two games, the Zips still have the #54 OOC SOS in the country. There are only three mid-majors ranked ahead of the Zips that have better OOC SOS -- Gonzaga, Middle Tennessee and Belmont. Certainly with the type of team the Zips have now, and which they should also have next season and beyond, they should continue to try to increase OOC SOS a little more each season. But they had a reasonable OOC SOS this season.

[MDZip]

I do want to congratulate the prescient OU student with the "The Streak Ends Tonight!" sign. He was correct, Ohio's 19 game unbeaten home MAC streak is indeed over. On the game site on ESPN, there were 534 comments which I have to think is also a Zips record. Also a gutty performance by Brian Walsh coming off an injury. Interestingly, he and Reggie Keeley had a somewhat similar imapct on the game in about the same amount of minutes. And even though they returned pretty much the same team, part of the big difference between OU last year and this year has to be Ivo Baltic. I remember him playing fairly well last year in the MACC, according to ESPN, his line from last night was one attempt, no points, no rebounds and he fouled out in 13 minutes of play. When one of your bigs that you counted on from the previous year pulls this kind of a disappearring act, it has to effect the rest of the team. Glad it has been helping the Zips but I actually feel a little bad for the guy.

[Dave in Green]

I really like the lead paragraph in the Bleacher Report game story:

Very rarely does a game billed as one of the best matchups in conference history live up to the hype, but this game was everything and then some.

And I really like the closing paragraph in the SB Nation game story:

With only three regular season games left against Buffalo, Miami and Can't State the Zips are favored to finish MAC play undefeated and are the favorites to win the MAC Tournament. Ohio on the other hand has dropped two games in a row and has failed to beat a big-time opponent all season. They've dropped both regular season games to Akron and have failed to show up when tested on the road. With this loss it's looking like last years bell of the ball will be left out in the cold come mid-March this year.

[natemathwhiz2]

I do want to congratulate the prescient OU student with the "The Streak Ends Tonight!" sign. He was correct, Ohio's 19 game unbeaten home MAC streak is indeed over. On the game site on ESPN, there were 534 comments which I have to think is also a Zips record. Also a gutty performance by Brian Walsh coming off an injury. Interestingly, he and Reggie Keeley had a somewhat similar imapct on the game in about the same amount of minutes. And even though they returned pretty much the same team, part of the big difference between OU last year and this year has to be Ivo Baltic. I remember him playing fairly well last year in the MACC, according to ESPN, his line from last night was one attempt, no points, no rebounds and he fouled out in 13 minutes of play. When one of your bigs that you counted on from the previous year pulls this kind of a disappearring act, it has to effect the rest of the team. Glad it has been helping the Zips but I actually feel a little bad for the guy.

I sent a similar message to the O-zone on twitter, for which they blocked me "@OhioOzone so that sign saying 'the streak ends tonight' was in regards to your recently ended home win streak, right?" hahahaha gotta love the irony

[Dave in Green]

Wednesday Night in the MAC: A Treasure Trove of Top Performances

Javon McCrea, Jauwan Scaife and about half of the Akron basketball players highlighted a wonderful night in high qualify MAC basketball play, taking us back to the good old days.

[a-zip]

This is the tough part of the OOC schedule that the Zips signed up for this season:

#27 Oklahoma State, neutral site

#53 Tennessee, neutral site

#25 North Carolina State, neutral site

#22 Middle Tennessee, home

#40 Creighton, away

#60 Detroit, away

#84 North Dakota State, home

Seven top 100 RPI teams, including four top 50, is a robust OOC schedule. Cleveland State was also expected to be a top 100 team before injuries struck. Unfortunately, losing Tree and Harney for the first three games of the season cost the Zips the Oklahoma State win, which put them in the PR tournament consolation bracket and lost the Tennessee and North Carolina State matchups. Even losing those two games, the Zips still have the #54 OOC SOS in the country. There are only three mid-majors ranked ahead of the Zips that have better OOC SOS -- Gonzaga, Middle Tennessee and Belmont. Certainly with the type of team the Zips have now, and which they should also have next season and beyond, they should continue to try to increase OOC SOS a little more each season. But they had a reasonable OOC SOS this season.

We beat Penn State too, who just beat #4 Michigan. That should help

[tpsjugglerdude]

We beat Penn State too, who just beat #4 Michigan. That should help

Not much. Before the game Penn State was ranked 201 on live-rpi.com. The win moved them up to 184, which is not an impressive win.

[LZIp]

Not much. Before the game Penn State was ranked 201 on live-rpi.com. The win moved them up to 184, which is not an impressive win.

It still doesnt count as an impressive win, but sure helped our RPI

[Z.I.P.]

Never Say Die Zippers!

I would encourage people to go back to the first pages of this thread, for a real kick in the pants! You get an idea of who kept, and who lost faith in our kids. These are the New Cardiac Kids!

[akzipper]

If you're knocking the crowd, please. Your team would kill for half that kind of support on a Saturday, let alone a rainy Wednesday evening. And your team deserves it. They are legit. Best atmosphere I have seen in the Convo to date.

First of all, we've all experienced the Akron soccer crowds. As far as basketball OhioU fans need to stop throwing out attendance numbers. The JAR only holds over 5,000 so of course we can't have a crowd of 10,000. Last time I checked that's not possible.

[jupitertoo]

First of all, we've all experienced the Akron soccer crowds. As far as basketball OhioU fans need to stop throwing out attendance numbers. The JAR only holds over 5,000 so of course we can't have a crowd of 10,000. Last time I checked that's not possible.

Surprised to see AKZipper reappear in this thread given his early-game postings last night. "Stick a fork in us. We're done." Something about Zeke and Treadwell being forced to walk home. That's some intelligent insight there!

[UAZipster0305]

I would encourage people to go back to the first pages of this thread, for a real kick in the pants! You get an idea of who kept, and who lost faith in our kids. These are the New Cardiac Kids!

Given the outcome, I'm as proud as ever of the record I left. Objective and analytical even at halftime. Heading into overtime without Zeke I wasn't nearly as confident though.

[zippy5]

Given the outcome, I'm as proud as ever of the record I left. Objective and analytical even at halftime. Heading into overtime without Zeke I wasn't nearly as confident though.

I had an akzipper moment and thought we were done. No zeke and a crazy convo with momentum on ohio's side. This team is special.

[bUAkronG]

Since we are tooting our own horns, I kept faith!!

Down 11 at the half? Let's be honest, if any Zips team could make up a deficit like that(even to OU on the road) it is this Zips team. We just need to come out and play our game. We have been playing poorly but can turn it around in a hurry.

[akzipper]

Surprised to see AKZipper reappear in this thread given his early-game postings last night. "Stick a fork in us. We're done." Something about Zeke and Treadwell being forced to walk home. That's some intelligent insight there!

I never called out any players so do some research first. I did say they we'd lose, but admitted I was wrong after the game.

[ksu sucks]

I did say they we'd lose, but admitted I was wrong after the game.

How many times have you had to say that this season?

[Hilltopper]

How many times have you had to say that this season?

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