2013-2014

[Blue & Gold]

Tree has set the new standard for the Zips. Anyone who doesn't work as hard as Tree is a lazy bum.

Tree's great. Not only is he our best player, but our hardest working as well. Great combo. Due to Tree, I really predict the culture/personality of this team will evolve over the next two years. We're going to be the hardest-working, hardest-nosed team in the conference.

It's going to be great having Tree molding our incoming freshmen into his image.

[ksu sucks]

The X factor this off season is Harney. He has the ability to be a MAC first teamer before it's all said and done. If he can improve his ball handling, look out.

[LZIp]

I think with Harney, its more mental than anything. I agree that there is a lot of potential with him.

[New Zip Fan]

Hello everyone, My name pretty much says it all. After following the Zips this year I have become a fan. Congrats to the Zips on a great season. I am curious about next season. With the loss of Gilliam, Walsh and Marshall where does this team stand as far as recruiting? Also I have heard mentioned about Quincy Diggs coming back. Is that going to happen? What about the current underclassmen, mainly the freshman, Avesec, Stalyga, Justice and Hoisten. These are the guys that didn't see much time. Is there anything there? I know Justice is a redshirt and I saw it mentioned that he may be the odd man out? Transfer? Can any of these guys make an impact? Sorry if any of these questions have already been covered. Again congrats to the Zips.

[taxpayer]

Wow, you guys are being harder on Melo than KD and that's saying something. For whatever reason, AA always had a long leash with KD; turnovers and blind passes and less than stellar defense. I, for one, have confindence in Melo. To judge him on getting thrown into the deep end of the pool against Can't State, Can't State and OU and then getting thrown into the middle of a raggy ocean (VCU) with very little experienced backcourt help is simply ridiculous. In a poor analogy but an analogy none the less, how comfortable and proficient were you as a high school/college freshman? Melo is already a very good defender and with some experience and time in the weight room, has a chance to be a lock down PG defender. The vision is there, he needs some strength and experience so he doesn't get knocked off balance when penetrating. Obviously, his shooting needs some work but I believe that too will come with time.

Give the kid a break, he was put in a very difficult situation, a situtuaion not of his making and was able to steady the ship enough for the Zips to become MAC champions.

The Zips won't be near as good/tough defensively next year. Zeke is the obvious major difference but don't overlook BWalsh's defense; when he was healthy he made life miserable for our opponents SG and SF. That's a difficult role and one not many guards embrace like Brian did. Chauncey was a good defender when healthy as well.

[cjapsu]

I thought one of the better observations by the announcers (I think it was Tom McCarthy) who said "he dribbles the ball too high for a point guard." I think it was also Tom who made the embarrassing quote of the night after Carmelo missed the hoop completely..."they would chant air ball, but empty seats can't chant"...that one hurt.

The announcers were complete a$$holes during the entire game. They showed Akron zero respect and actively rooted for VCU. I put it on mute after the first half. The NCAA should be ashamed that they let grown men just essentially mock a team that, despite the score, was trying very hard and worked the whole season to play the game. I watched a bit of the Syracuse/Montana game and there was nothing but respect for Montana even though they were blown out worse than we were. The team and fans watching knew they were getting beat; it was inexcusable for them to rub salt in the wound during a COLLEGE tournament.

Sorry, hijacked the conversation but had that on my mind since Thursday...

[akzipper]

I will say that we can't lose anyone. Playing without AA or Diggs isn't a big deal, but losing Tree or Harney would end our chances for next season.

Anyone think any big schools will make a run at KD this offseason? haha Duquesne again? They didn't give up after three tries, maybe they have another three in them. Maybe the one positive of a first round loss is that bigger schools won't be interested. But that's what happened to Porter and he still left.

[Dave in Green]

Playing without Diggs isn't a big deal? Right. MAC Sixth Man of the Year, proven backup PG, best Zips wing at driving to the rim and creating his own shot, best Zips wing at stealing the ball and getting easy layups, a Tree-like motor. Dime a dozen.

[Dr Z]

Playing without AA or Diggs isn't a big deal

Couldn't disagree more. If Diggs can find his way back to the team next season, he will be a big reason for its success. I sure would have liked to see QD an AA advancing the ball up-court Thursday.

[Buckzip]

Couldn't disagree more. If Diggs can find his way back to the team next season, he will be a big reason for its success.

You may want to turn your sarcasm meter on.

[johnnyzip84]

You may want to turn your sarcasm meter on.

You may want to revisit the original post to which Dr Z was responding. In it akzipper said the following:

Playing without AA or Diggs isn't a big deal, but losing Tree or Harney would end our chances for next season.

[Blue & Gold]

Tonight on ZipsLive (1350) they were talking about next year and Coach D said we had a point guard coming in who he wasn't allowed to name (Nyles Evans), and that "we might be bringing in another guard, because we're losing Alex a year earlier than we thought we would."

[Z.I.P.]

Like BRIAN's first name.

Are you referring to the Blair Walsh Project

That broadcast made me lose a LOT of respect (and I didn't have that much to begin with) for CBS College Basketball coverage. These guys spend all season doing Big Ten and other High Major conferences, and then watch a few minutes of tape of the mid-major whose game they're broadcasting. No wonder we get no respect. They don't do their jobs! Maybe if Clark Kellogg had done the game, he at least would have remembered that we kicked butt on the team his kid plays for!

[GoZips]

Tonight on ZipsLive (1350) they were talking about next year and Coach D said we had a point guard coming in who he wasn't allowed to name (Nyles Evans), and that "we might be bringing in another guard, because we're losing Alex a year earlier than we thought we would."

If you heard the broadcast the unnamed incoming point guard is Nyles Evans. Coach could not mention his name

simply because Evans can not sign a Letter of Intent until April.

Also significant is that Coach Dambrot expects Quincey back in a Zips uniform. Please, Lord, do not let there be too

much rust. And just maybe, Quincey has been working on point guard skills. I would love to have a six-six senior point

guard.

[ksu sucks]

After watching a couple sweet 16 games, I came to one conclusion: we need quicker, more athletic guards.

And yes, this was true even before the AA fiasco.

Bentancourt will be good enough for us to win the MAC every year. But if we plan on winning in the tournament, we need to upgrade at the PG/SG position.

[skip-zip]

Playing without Diggs isn't a big deal? Right. MAC Sixth Man of the Year, proven backup PG, best Zips wing at driving to the rim and creating his own shot, best Zips wing at stealing the ball and getting easy layups, a Tree-like motor. Dime a dozen.

This is precisely the skill set that I believe he brings to the table, which would have a big impact on our play.

[skip-zip]

Anyone think any big schools will make a run at KD this offseason? haha Duquesne again? They didn't give up after three tries, maybe they have another three in them. Maybe the one positive of a first round loss is that bigger schools won't be interested. But that's what happened to Porter and he still left.

I think that as every year passes, the likelihood of a big enough school making Keith a great offer continues to diminish. He's in his mid-50s, has already been winning consistently for years, and Duquesne is the best program in recent years that has tried to lure him away? What are the chances that the level of interest in him would suddenly elevate to a higher level now?

[mes102]

Anyone think any big schools will make a run at KD this offseason? haha Duquesne again? They didn't give up after three tries, maybe they have another three in them. Maybe the one positive of a first round loss is that bigger schools won't be interested. But that's what happened to Porter and he still left.

Difference is that Porter left for a professional head coaching position. He was never leaving Akron to go to another college soccer program. I feel that's the only way Dambrot leaves as well, which probably won't be any time soon, if at all...

[akzipper]

Well I'll just say anything could happen. Steve Alford just got hired at UCLA. He recently signed a similar 10-year extension and very little success in his 3 NCAA tournament appearances. Sound familiar? KD is on record saying he'll stay as long as UA is committed to putting money into the program. Are they? We are the best team in the MAC and don't even have a decent building to play in. As a fan it is beyond frustrating, and I can't even imagine how KD feels.