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Congrats to Zipsnation member GoZips for being named the fan of the year at the banquet tonight. His work on the Coaches for Cancer wristband sales was much appreciated by the coaching staff. If you ever really want to know whats going on with the basketball program, GoZips is the guy who would know.

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Congratulations to GoZips. He really does bleed blue and gold, and is well deserving of this award. He really does know more about what's going on inside Zips basketball than anyone else posting on this forum. Problem is, if he shared all he knew, they would revoke the award and forever lock him out of the JAR. :D

On the hard news front, those with big travel budgets will be excited to learn that the Zips are working on starting next season in one of the Hawaiian tournaments. I didn't catch which one. Maybe someone else can fill in. Coach Dambrot says they are working hard to put together another top 50 SOS OOC schedule for next season, with the goal of getting to a top 25 SOS OOC schedule as soon as they are able to put all the pieces together. Middle Tennessee likes the Akron rivalry and this may become a long-running series. Oral Roberts and Marshall will play at the JAR next season, and the Zips will play at Cleveland State. Coach Dambrot also reported that 17-year-old Kwan Cheatham is still in a growth spurt, and is now up to 6-10, 230 pounds. In the some things never change department, Coach Dambrot says the Zips will continue to be a primarily man-to-man defense team with the zone used sparingly. They will make adjustments to the game plan based on no longer having Zeke to guard the rim. Finally, GameChngr44 promised us that she will continue to post on ZipsNation and keep us up to date on Zeke's interactions with NBA teams leading up to the draft.

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On the hard news front, those with big travel budgets will be excited to learn that the Zips are working on starting next season in one of the Hawaiian tournaments. I didn't catch which one. Maybe someone else can fill in.

I thought he said they were looking at the Hawaiian Tournament in the Christmas timeframe.

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Whai i remember hearing last night was the Zips are working to get into either the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii or the Anaheim Classic in California. But Coach D also said this would be over the thanksgiving week. In checking the respective websites the both have openings for one more team but the diamond head classic is scheduled for Dec. 22, 23, and 24th which makes the Anaheim classic more likely. Slight correction.... It is now called the DIRECTV Classic.

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Whai i remember hearing last night was the Zips are working to get into either the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii or the Anaheim Classic in California. But Coach D also said this would be over the thanksgiving week. In checking the respective websites the both have openings for one more team but the diamond head classic is scheduled for Dec. 22, 23, and 24th which makes the Anaheim classic more likely. Slight correction.... It is now called the DIRECTV Classic.

I suspect that given a choice KD would prefer the Anaheim Classic. His reasoning being the time differential. A three hour

time zone difference is less difficult to recover from than the five or six hour time differential going to Hawai'i brings.

Personally, I love Hawai'i and will always instantly prefer Paradise to southern California parking lots.

Besides, Z.I.P. would be there to enjoy the games and help us enjoy Hawai'i. Hey, Brudda is Ono's still a great

place to eat? Ono's is the one place KD really enjoyed the last time he was in the islands. Mahalo.

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A few more thoughts on the banquet: The three seniors all spoke movingly about how much it meant to them to be a part of the Zips program and how they all felt like part of a big family. Brian Walsh went first and had notes so as not to forget to thank everyone. He expressed how much he felt that he was wanted by the Zips coaching staff after he decided to leave Xavier, and how wonderful it had been to have his parents at all the games. Chauncey Gilliam went next without notes, and had some good, funny lines. He mentioned how his parents had driven from the Baltimore area to Akron for all the Zips home games, drove all the way back home after games and were at work the next morning. That's dedication! He closed by citing a long poem about overcoming adversity that he had memorized. Very impressive. Zeke had a bug and was under the weather. But he still came across as a strong and confident young man who had grown up considerably in his four years at UA.

Overcoming adversity was a big point of discussion all evening from everyone who spoke. Len Paul stood up and spoke inspirationally at length about how moved he was by the way this team had overcome so much adversity to put together the nation's longest college winning streak of the season. He remarked that even the best fans could never totally appreciate how difficult it is to maintain team chemistry and overcome the kind of adversity this team faced from before the start of the season right through the last game and perform as well as they had. He talked about how this experience of overcoming adversity would serve all the players well over the rest of their lives. Coach Dambrot remarked how exceptional it is to have UA's greatest basketball player remain so close to the team all these years and help mentor the young players.

One of the most touching moments of the evening came when the widow of Phil Martin (zip37 on ZipsNation) stood up and thanked the team and the coaching staff for all the wonderful years of entertainment they had provided for her late husband. I remember seeing Phil at every game before he passed away. He had worked for many decades for the National Weather Service at the Akron-Canton Airport, and was enjoying his retirement in Green, close to CAK. Every time I saw him in Green, we'd talk Zips basketball and he was absolutely passionate about it. Coach Dambrot said it was fans like Phil who make coaching at UA so special to him.

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A few more thoughts on the banquet: The three seniors all spoke movingly about how much it meant to them to be a part of the Zips program and how they all felt like part of a big family. Brian Walsh went first and had notes so as not to forget to thank everyone. He expressed how much he felt that he was wanted by the Zips coaching staff after he decided to leave Xavier, and how wonderful it had been to have his parents at all the games. Chauncey Gilliam went next without notes, and had some good, funny lines. He mentioned how his parents had driven from the Baltimore area to Akron for all the Zips home games, drove all the way back home after games and were at work the next morning. That's dedication! He closed by citing a long poem about overcoming adversity that he had memorized. Very impressive. Zeke had a bug and was under the weather. But he still came across as a strong and confident young man who had grown up considerably in his four years at UA.

Overcoming adversity was a big point of discussion all evening from everyone who spoke. Len Paul stood up and spoke inspirationally at length about how moved he was by the way this team had overcome so much adversity to put together the nation's longest college winning streak of the season. He remarked that even the best fans could never totally appreciate how difficult it is to maintain team chemistry and overcome the kind of adversity this team faced from before the start of the season right through the last game and perform as well as they had. He talked about how this experience of overcoming adversity would serve all the players well over the rest of their lives. Coach Dambrot remarked how exceptional it is to have UA's greatest basketball player remain so close to the team all these years and help mentor the young players.

One of the most touching moments of the evening came when the widow of Phil Martin (zip37 on ZipsNation) stood up and thanked the team and the coaching staff for all the wonderful years of entertainment they had provided for her late husband. I remember seeing Phil at every game before he passed away. He had worked for many decades for the National Weather Service at the Akron-Canton Airport, and was enjoying his retirement in Green, close to CAK. Every time I saw him in Green, we'd talk Zips basketball and he was absolutely passionate about it. Coach Dambrot said it was fans like Phil who make coaching at UA so special to him.

I though it was touching when Mrs. Martin said, in reference to her late husband, "he is no longer here, but I know where he is."

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I though it was touching when Mrs. Martin said, in reference to her late husband, "he is no longer here, but I know where he is."

I agree. It was a pleasure to attend last night and I was really glad to be able to thank the team for all they've done for UA. The last game may have sucked, but at least we were able to give a proper closing to a memorable season. Congrats to GoZips for being name fan of the year.

Now I'm officially ready to focus on football for a while.

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The wife and I attended the banquet and must say that from the players to the coaches I was impressed with how approachable, friendly and accommodating they all were. If you didn't attend you missed a very enjoyable and relaxed night out with some young men that represent UA well! All for $20. I think they said there were 450 in attendance, didn't feel like that but thinking back, the entire court was full. Nicely done Zips. Brian, Chauncey and Zeke, impressive speeches. It was evident of the character we've heard about from the coaches.

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  • 3 months later...
I suspect that given a choice KD would prefer the Anaheim Classic. His reasoning being the time differential. A three hour

time zone difference is less difficult to recover from than the five or six hour time differential going to Hawai'i brings.

Personally, I love Hawai'i and will always instantly prefer Paradise to southern California parking lots.

Besides, Z.I.P. would be there to enjoy the games and help us enjoy Hawai'i. Hey, Brudda is Ono's still a great

place to eat? Ono's is the one place KD really enjoyed the last time he was in the islands. Mahalo.

GoZips, I believe this is the first time I have seen this post (bettah late den nevah, eh?). Too bad I missed it the first time around, because I would have been really rooting for the Anaheim Classic, as I've always wanted to visit both Disneyland AND Knott's Berry Farm! :D And I have family and new friends over there in Orange Cty (due to Hawaii soccer). Do you think we'll get to go there any time in the future? I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Z.I.P.

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GoZips, I believe this is the first time I have seen this post (bettah late den nevah, eh?). Too bad I missed it the first time around, because I would have been really rooting for the Anaheim Classic, as I've always wanted to visit both Disneyland AND Knott's Berry Farm! :D And I have family and new friends over there in Orange Cty (due to Hawaii soccer). Do you think we'll get to go there any time in the future? I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Z.I.P.

Zip In Paradise, not in the near future as next season (2013-14) schedule is complete. Tip for the troops: the

Zip will play in a Classic a lot closer to home. Again an ESPN sponsored event. A distance that is reachable by automobile

(for the semi-diehard fan).

Folks, don't ask me what tournament. KD would strangle me. Just be happy, happy that its a done deal.

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