Dambrot Article on the Next Big Step

[K-Roo]

Keith Dambrot Wants Zips to Get to a Higher Level

“We have to go into the hornet’s nest like Butler has, and VCU has, and show that we can beat those people,” he said. “But again, we don’t get as many opportunities as they do. And they get some at home that we don’t get. We’re trying to build our name so eventually we get home-and-home with those people, even if it’s not our home, if it’s Quicken Loans Arena and their home. That’s good enough for us. That’s what we need to do to take the next step."

[Dave in Green]

I hope that anyone who imagines that Coach Dambrot favors scheduling weak OOC competition for the Zips will read this article and understand just how hard he has been and continues to try to raise OOC SOS. He can't do it by himself. It requires the full cooperation of UA. It's not easy. It takes time. It's being done.

[MDZip]

Interesting paragraph at the bottom of the article:

Scuttlebutt: Word is the Mid-American Conference will return to an 18-game basketball schedule next season, which means there will be some games that will be two teams’ only meeting while other teams will meet twice.

There is also an administrative push to keep the divisions in place. If so, then most traditional rivalries will remain intact, home-and-home. So while Toledo and Bowling Green will remain in the East (BG) and West (UT) Divisions, they will return to playing each other twice. It will be interesting to see how this affects Buffalo, which has built a strong allegiance to the MAC East, but has no true East rival.

It’s Miami-Ohio, Can't-Akron, BG-Toledo, but no natural rival for the Bulls.

The Zips don't need more MAC games, so I hope Keith is fighting this one. Besides, I think the system in place now is pretty good, you defintiely know who the division champs are and the seeding for the MAC tournament is fair now. I think the 16 game schedule as it is is just fine.

[Blue & Gold]

I'm starting to feel a rivalry with Buffalo. It's not close to the same level as OU & K.e.nt, but in watching the K.e.nt-Buffalo game last night, I was a bit torn. I wanted the opportunity to play and beat both of them again.

[akronad]

Interesting paragraph at the bottom of the article:

Scuttlebutt: Word is the Mid-American Conference will return to an 18-game basketball schedule next season, which means there will be some games that will be two teams’ only meeting while other teams will meet twice.

There is also an administrative push to keep the divisions in place. If so, then most traditional rivalries will remain intact, home-and-home. So while Toledo and Bowling Green will remain in the East (BG) and West (UT) Divisions, they will return to playing each other twice. It will be interesting to see how this affects Buffalo, which has built a strong allegiance to the MAC East, but has no true East rival.

It’s Miami-Ohio, Can't-Akron, BG-Toledo, but no natural rival for the Bulls.

The Zips don't need more MAC games, so I hope Keith is fighting this one. Besides, I think the system in place now is pretty good, you defintiely know who the division champs are and the seeding for the MAC tournament is fair now. I think the 16 game schedule as it is is just fine.

I read that article early this morning and it seems to contradict everything Keith is saying. I think the schedule that in place works just fine. Honme and Honme with teams in your division and a single game withe ach of the teams in the other division. If the mAC goes for this new set-up, they are weakening an already weak legue and they will never get a second team in to the Big Dance.