Zips @ Buffalo

[K92]

This is still the best Zips team ever. We need to come out and show our support against Miami and get the JAR insanely rocking for Can't. I don't know about the rest of you but I am still planning on having an awesome time at the Q. These players took us all on one Hell of a fun ride and it was fun while it lasted. Now they just regroup and prove that the streak was no fluke. They need our support more than ever now.

[akronzips71]

To his credit, Zeke did not play like he was sick. Too bad the rest of the team could not rise to the occasion. But like I said, one loss in the last 20 games. People should stop complaining and show up for the last two home games.

And yes, Zeke will be missed at the JAR.

[FromdaBurgh]

This is still the best Zips team ever. We need to come out and show our support against Miami and get the JAR insanely rocking for Can't. I don't know about the rest of you but I am still planning on having an awesome time at the Q. These players took us all on one Hell of a fun ride and it was fun while it lasted. Now they just regroup and prove that the streak was no fluke. They need our support more than ever now.

EXACTLY ^^^^^ +1000

[Zipgrad01]

This is still the best Zips team ever. We need to come out and show our support against Miami and get the JAR insanely rocking for Can't. I don't know about the rest of you but I am still planning on having an awesome time at the Q. These players took us all on one Hell of a fun ride and it was fun while it lasted. Now they just regroup and prove that the streak was no fluke. They need our support more than ever now.

Amen...I cant wait until Tuesday and Friday and the tourney....these guys will regroup. I have complete faith in that.

[mes102]

We all said that all this team needs to do is just get to the Big Dance. Tonight, even though most of us are seeing this loss a bad thing, it might be a silver lining involved. The pressure is now off. Eventually it wears on you. And tonight it did. It's hard to bring your "A" game day in, and day out, when all the other teams need to do is have their "A" game on one day. When you have the longest winning streak in the nation, nationally-ranked, and the best team in your conference, don't you expect to eventually trip up once with the constant bullseye on your back? It happens to everyone, and after all, these players are HUMAN. Just ask Michigan and Kansas about their losses to Penn State and TCU, respectively.

Gamechanger44, I don't think most of us on here are necessarily mad at the team or blaming the team. Zips didn't play well tonight, and Buffalo did. It happens.

I can't vouch for anyone else on here, but I'm sure I'm not alone in what I'm about to say. I'm just a little upset that we just got ranked, had an emotional win over Ohio, and then in a flash of one bad game, it's gone. Most of us feel angry at not the team, but the NATIONAL MEDIA. We should of been weeks ago, and now we may not see it again, ... ... ... ... ... until we make the Final Four

If people met the team at the JAR after the OU win, it would show this team a lot more if people were there when they got back from this lost to show gratitude for the journey of the streak, and time to rally them up for the rest of season.

[meatwad]

Zips fans. Let's take a step back from the ledge.

DiG might have already made a point similar to this somewhere, but think of it this way:

From a pure probability perspective eventually the Zips were likely to lose a game. We might be surprised its this one against a "worse" team, but all too often that's how these things happen. It takes a very good performance from Buffalo (probably one of their top 3 performances all year) and a bad night from the Zips (probably one of our 3 worst performances of the year). It happens.

Let's assume (and this is a bold assumption) that the Zips were 85% likely to win each individual game in "the streak" (very generous considering we were underdogs in Vegas @OU). The odds of the Zips winning 20 in a row in that case is .85 ^ 20 = 4%. 4%!!!!!!!! Real assumptions would put that somewhere below 1%. The streak was an incredible run and it was a ton of fun. I've loved watching this team play this year.

We're still good. Very good. But a loss is not the end of the world by any means. Regroup. Win the last 4 games of our MAC season. We'll be an 11 or 12 seed in that scenario and in the perfect position to make a run in the tournament.

No doom and gloom Zips fans. This was bound to happen. Don't focus on the fact that it came against a lesser opponent. Think of the fact that we beat good teams multiple times in the last 2+ months.

My two cents have been added.

Onward and upwards.

GO ZIPS!

[Big Zip]

@GameChanger if they were exhausted tonight should we expect another loss on Tuesday. That is an awful quick turnaround. Listen I'm not doubting you the team was exhausted and people were sick but I think this happens to all teams at this point in the season. It was a loss plain and simple...no excuses for why.

Were the exhausted when this team beat us silly for most of the game at home? This is a bad match-up for the Zips and I hope they end up on the other side of the bracket come the tournament because we struggle with Buffalo plain and simple. Exhausted or not...sick or not we struggle with them.

It's a loss and now the boys need to move on and start a new win streak! Everyone here regardless of their frustration level has their back. The people on this board (even though it may not always seem that way) love these kids and are proud of them. This is still the team that can will us proud come tourney time. We're all looking forward to seeing win Akron's first game in the Big Dance and then our second game.

[mes102]

Does anyone know when the team will be back on campus? I think it would help keep the team morale up if people showed their support at the JAR that they're still with this team until the very end, and not jump off as soon as there's a bump in the road...this is our first loss in the year 2013...THINK ABOUT THAT...we've had the privilege to watch some great Akron basketball the past two months...I feel this is the least we can do for the team that has given us great memories so far, by showing up and telling them to keep their heads up...

[johnnyzip84]

Big Zip is absolutely correct about the matchup difficulty, and I don't care about the Bulls overall record (they've been slowly figuring out what to do without Oldham). The ONLY reason why the Zips prevailed in the 1st game is because U@B had a 5 minute "deer in the headlights" stretch facing the Zips' zone.

Reggie Witherspoon is an EXCELLENT "schemer" and it shouldn't be a surprise that they were ready for the zone this time around. Their adjustment was simple. Either they penetrated to the foul line and kicked it out or they found McCrea in the middle for the kick out. Of course, it helps to have a 6'8", chiseled, savvy POTY candidate on your side (although that was a bit of a cheap shot on Jake).

It's true that trap games are real, but it's equally true that basketball is now, and always has been, a game of matchups.

I still believe the Zips can get it done. But right now I wouldn't assume anything. K.E.N.T. is playing much better, U@B is a tough matchup and OU is OU. The Zips will have to earn their way into the NCAAs. I don't see anything unfair about that. Let's get the Redhawks on Tuesday and regain the swagger!

[GoZips]

This was a painful and devastating loss. By tomorrow the kids (the players) will be over the pain. Fans, please do like wise.

Suck it up and move on. There is still a lot of great basketball left in this team.

Hugs to GameChngr44 ...!!!! See you Tuesday.

I cast my vote for Javon McCrea (don't care if I spelled his name correctly) for Thug of the Year.

These referees were piss poor if they could not see the kidney punch he put on Jake Kretzer.

No way on God's green Earth does McCrea deserve consideration for Player of the Year. He disqualified himself.

I WANT OUT OF THE MAC.

[Spin]

Let's just hope we don't draw Buffalo at the Q...

[bigzipguy]

I am more concerned about Harney taking 3's against anybody , then I am matching up with Buffalo.

[Dave in Green]

Sorry I couldn't be here tonight with the rest of you loyal Zips fans. Had a family engagement I had to attend. Recorded the game on DVR but will probably not watch it. The great ride had a little detour tonight. Many of you have mentioned different reasons, and it was probably a little of each. But all I've been reading all season is that this is the college basketball season of crazy upsets, so why should the Zips be immune? Like the rest of you, I'm really disappointed. But I still love this team, all that they've accomplished so far and all that they can still accomplish.

It's been fun tracking all the national attention and pondering the percentages of an at-large bid. The Zips will now fall out of view for awhile on the national stage. But this loss does not mean that all the media will stop believing that the Zips have a good shot at an NCAA tournament run. The only difference now is that there is no more chance of an at-large bid, and we're back to where we're used to being -- W2@Q. The Zips first have to win two home games against teams they match up against better than they do Buffalo to clinch the regular season MAC championship for a second straight season. They need to get their mojo back in these next two games before heading back to the Q. I'll be at the JAR next week yelling as loud as ever. See you there.

[RootforRoo44]

I think everything that's needed to be said has been said.

So all that's left to say is:

LETS DO THIS!

FOUR more wins. Get it done and we go dancing, and then we're gonna do some SERIOUS damage in the tourney. I have faith in these guys and you should too.

Things are about to get real.

[ZachTheZip]

Does anybody have a .gif or a vid of McCrea punching Kretzer?

[zippy5]

Serve them right...the zips need Chauncey on the floor...

Thanks for showing your true colors.

[Let'sGoZips94]

- 19 game winning streak (longest by any team all season, and the longest by any team since Kentucky's 24 game winning streak last season)

- NATIONAL exposure/spotlight

- First MAC team to ever go 13-0 in the MAC

- #24 ranking in the Coaches Poll, along with a program record for number of votes received in the AP Poll

- Beating OU twice, especially down in Athens

- Some of the best, consistent crowds ever at the JAR

Historic season. 4 games to go until the Dance. More history to come.

Be Loud. Be Proud. Go Zips.

[Zip_ME87]

It was THIS TEAM who had the LONGEST RUNNING STREAK IN SCHOOL FREAKIN HISTORY...hell the SOCCER team didnt even do that!

Give me a freakin break and SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Support your team....and let them know that WE ARE BEHIND THEM! Like I tweeted...'THE STREAK MAY BE OVER...BUT YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS NOT'...#RemainFocused

Just to set the record straight, the 2009 Zips Mens Soccer team went 23-0-0 to start that season (matching an NCAA record).

As far as last night's game, I'm disappointed and hurt for the players. No matter what I'm feeling as a fan, I know that they're hurting more. The key as you say is to remain focused on winning the MAC. See you at the JAR Tuesday. GO ZIPS!

[skip-zip]

@GameChanger if they were exhausted tonight should we expect another loss on Tuesday. That is an awful quick turnaround. Listen I'm not doubting you the team was exhausted and people were sick but I think this happens to all teams at this point in the season. It was a loss plain and simple...no excuses for why.

Were the exhausted when this team beat us silly for most of the game at home? This is a bad match-up for the Zips and I hope they end up on the other side of the bracket come the tournament because we struggle with Buffalo plain and simple. Exhausted or not...sick or not we struggle with them.

It's a loss and now the boys need to move on and start a new win streak! Everyone here regardless of their frustration level has their back. The people on this board (even though it may not always seem that way) love these kids and are proud of them. This is still the team that can will us proud come tourney time. We're all looking forward to seeing win Akron's first game in the Big Dance and then our second game.

Exactly.

This Buffalo team has outplayed us for about 90% of the two games we played against them this year. And they do it playing the same 5 guys for most of the game? It's ridiculous for a team like us to use exhaustion as an excuse against a team like that. I've moved them to the top of my list of teams I do not want to see in Cleveland.

I was hoping that last night would be the night that we finally played a complete game. And we did. Unfortunately, it was a complete game in the wrong direction. Going 4-21 from 3-point range is atrocious, and allot of it was just bad shot selecction. Maybe a plane flight wasn't such a good idea.

Side Note: What group of officials in the country would see the forearm to Kretzer's lower back as a push with hands? I don't talk about the officials much, but they were blind on that one. It could have changed the game.

[Dr Z]

Recorded the game on DVR but will probably not watch it. The great ride had a little detour tonight. Many of you have mentioned different reasons, and it was probably a little of each. But all I've been reading all season is that this is the college basketball season of crazy upsets, so why should the Zips be immune? Like the rest of you, I'm really disappointed. But I still love this team, all that they've accomplished so far and all that they can still accomplish.

You should take the time and watch it. If the Zips played poor, and UB just got lucky, I would advise against it. It was not like that, UB played well against us. UA played well, not well enough to win, but well. Other than a few minor things I won't mention, I thought the UA staff had a good game also. If Zeke was as sick as indicated, way to tough through it. It was a great run (the streak), and the team should be proud of it. Now we need to hit the reset button, and start another run. Everything this team has set out to achieve is still tangible. I want this team to do something no Akron team has done, time for a step forward!

PS This will be the last time I complain about this, because I think I'm in the minority. I just can't take listening to Reghi, I hit the mute button with 7:30 left in the half. I was tired of him saying "We're just getting started"..."We're just settling in here." Finally in the second half I got curious as to what was wrong with Jake and hit unmute. I hit mute again after multiple "Hang on everybody" at every time out. "Akron's 19 game win streak...", it's like he can't think of anything to say when there is a time out. Even when I have the mute button on, he annoys me when I have to look at his painted head. It didn't help that my team was losing either.

[ZipGB8]

- 19 game winning streak (longest by any team all season, and the longest by any team since Kentucky's 24 game winning streak last season)

- NATIONAL exposure/spotlight

- First MAC team to ever go 13-0 in the MAC

- #24 ranking in the Coaches Poll, along with a program record for number of votes received in the AP Poll

- Beating OU twice, especially down in Athens

- Some of the best, consistent crowds ever at the JAR

Historic season. 4 games to go until the Dance. More history to come.

Be Loud. Be Proud. Go Zips.

With all of that said, the NCAA committee seems to pay more attention to the conference's national ranking status and I believe the MAC is 18th out of 32 which sucks. It took all those times for teams in the Missouri Valley to win against big school teams to go from mid-major to high major and all those wins for Gonzaga and St. Mary's to carry the West Coast from mid-major to high major as well. Their needs to be like 3 or 4 teams from the MAC with 20+ wins every year and be close to national rankings for the overall conference rank to rise up. So basically that factors into how high your seeding can be in the NCAA Tournament. If you're the conference tournament winner from the Atlantic Sun or Southland or Summit League conferences, you will probably be a 15 or 16 seed.

If the Zips win out from now, they will be 27-5 and regardless of the record, they will probably be a 13 seed, maybe a 12 seed depending on how the RPI's are of other conference tournament winners and how many at-large bids are handed out to non tournament winners. Like if VCU or some other Atlantic 10, Mountain West or Conference USA, or Colonial Athletic school misses out on at-large bids because of RPI or strength of schedule, we might get lucky and get a 12 seed. If Akron in 2000-2004, when the MAC was ranked 14th or 15th in conference ranking, would have finished 27-5 and winning the MAC Tournament, they would probably get an 11 seed at best. But I think with in recent years past other mid major schools getting 25, 26, or 27 wins and winning conference tournaments, we could get a 12 seed. That's of course if we win out. Especially if we got a good amount of Top 25 votes and came close to being ranked, there is justice for a 12 seed.

The NCAA benefits higher ranked conference teams because they say "but wait a minute, their strength of schedule makes up for their disappointing record. I mean look at Michigan State in 2009-2010 when they were 19-14 and barely made .500 in the Big Ten, they got a 10 seed in the tournament and still made it. They didn't have a tough SOS, they just had key injuries. The NCAA cut them slack because they made it to the national championship game the previous year. There could have been at least 4 other schools with 22-25 wins that could have been given the at-large bids. Like Dayton that year who won the NIT.

[zen]

my brother had been telling me "McRea is the one who has been killing Kënt" and not 10 seconds after the game was over a told-you-so text pops up on my phone.

I just wanted this one last game. I wanted to see the Zips in the AP poll.

[Zips Win!]

The Zips Win! jinx will take the blame for this one! Yesterday made me 1-6 going to UB over the last 13 years. The roommate said no more, but the ride is so easy and Santora's Pizza and Pub is an awesome place for wings and beer.

Yes, UB is a tough match-up. But they had the perfect storm going yesterday. They drained threes from all over the court in the first half and

they were allowed to foul us at will, with little getting called. We never got into a rhythm. Sorry folks, it's hard to score when getting hammered.

I for one, am a believer that we are an outside/in team. While the front line can be dominate, I think we struggle at our spacing inside until we start hitting a

few threes. Immediately is all opens up and Zeke and Tree then go work. The off-ball clutching and grabbing of our bigs made it tough and then we didn't hit enough threes to make UB honest.

The effort was awesome. I didn't really see a tired team, just one frustrated because we could never get into a flow...

[roopride]

As fans we should be disappointed in the loss. I would have been a great Monday with a win. That's why we follow this team, every game. But Tuesday we'd be right back at the same point. Need to Win.

This is really fun to see the passion on the board but, WE ALL need to be more positive about this team and the program. It seems to me that things keep getting better and can continue to do so. Saturday's game wasn't our only chance. We all know the reality is in the end the team needs to just win. Win Tuesday, etc....

I hope we have a big turn out for Tuesday's game.

GO ZIPS!!!!!

[mivid12]

Thats all I'm saying HS...the fact of the matter is there were some MAJOR UPSETS this season in college hoops.

agreed, however it's such a huge hill to climb for akron to get noticed nationally that a loss like this diminishes the attention....when teams like duke lose there's merely a shrug of the shoulders by the national hacks and they're still part of the national scene....

while i get the kids may have been tired and sick, if you are WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE as a basketball team, you HAVE to win these games