Districtballer Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 http://espn.go.com/blog/espnevents/post/_/...oach-to-success The University of Akron basketball team held its first practice of the 2013-’14 season last Friday. Led by 54-year-old coach Keith Dambrot, a 1982 graduate of the school, the two-time defending Mid-American Conference regular-season champions—only the third team in 30 years to earn that honor—personify that dangerous mid-major that flies under the radar, ready to pounce on an unassuming powerhouse foe. For the last eight seasons, Akron has won at least 20 games, one of 15 teams nationwide to do so. With Dambrot at the helm, it's the third-longest active streak of 20-win seasons among mid-major coaches (in 2004-'05 the team just missed the cut, winning 19). Last season, Dambrot earned MAC Coach of the Year after leading his alma mater to a school-record 26 wins, to MAC regular season and tournament championships, and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years and the third time in five (the school has a total of four NCAA Tournament appearances). Ironically, the Zips were eliminated by VCU, which is coached by Shaka Smart, Dambrot’s assistant at Akron from 2003 through ’06. Akron knows what it has in Dambrot, who signed a 10-year contract in 2012, and received a one-year extension last month, taking him through the 2022-'23 season. A day before that first practice, Dambrot took time to talk with ESPN Events, touching on the tradition of Akron basketball, and the opportunity to play in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Thanks for posting. I like reading that we made it to the 2nd round of the NCAA tourney. I guess that's one way to advance to round #2...add a play-in round and call it round #1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxZIP Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Just like the Indians making the "Playoffs" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I've said before that I thought Pat Forsythe looked better in some ways earlier last season than later, and Coach Dambrot's remarks about him in this article suggest that Pat might show much better this season with more playing time: We felt like we kind of stifled [sophomore] Pat Forsythe’s development a little last year because, as the season went on, Zeke played better and better and better and we didn’t give Pat as many minutes. But we thought early in the season, when we were giving him minutes that he played pretty well. So we feel like Pat can help us defensively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 I've said before that I thought Pat Forsythe looked better in some ways earlier last season than later, and Coach Dambrot's remarks about him in this article suggest that Pat might show much better this season with more playing time: We felt like we kind of stifled [sophomore] Pat Forsythe’s development a little last year because, as the season went on, Zeke played better and better and better and we didn’t give Pat as many minutes. But we thought early in the season, when we were giving him minutes that he played pretty well. So we feel like Pat can help us defensively. Keith, that's because you didn't listen to our demands for the Twin Towers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZip0510 Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Just like the Indians making the "Playoffs" Yes, that was the Playoffs. The two aren't even comparable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Actually, the Indians' brief encounter with the MLB playoffs was excruciatingly comparable to the NCAA basketball tournament playoffs -- one loss and you're out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Q: The Zips will play in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Dec. 22-25). How important is it for the program to get exposure by participating in these early season tournaments? Dambrot: It’s huge. Last year we played in Puerto Rico and played well [the team went 2-1, beating UNC Asheville and Penn State, losing to Oklahoma State]. This year we’re at Diamond Head. Just to be able to get those guys on a neutral floor is big. Last year we played the 59th-best out-of-conference schedule in the country, and this year’s schedule is even better. Getting on television is a key to recruiting, so we’re on television quite a bit. We go to St. Mary’s and to South Carolina and to Middle Tennessee and to Cleveland State. So we’ve got a really hard schedule. This answer reminded me to remind the person in the athletic department who is supposed to remind the person who sends in the paperwork on players to the NCAA to do so ASAP so everyone on the team can play in this year's preseason tournament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Q: The Zips will play in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Dec. 22-25). How important is it for the program to get exposure by participating in these early season tournaments? Dambrot: It’s huge. Last year we played in Puerto Rico and played well [the team went 2-1, beating UNC Asheville and Penn State, losing to Oklahoma State]. This year we’re at Diamond Head. Just to be able to get those guys on a neutral floor is big. Last year we played the 59th-best out-of-conference schedule in the country, and this year’s schedule is even better. Getting on television is a key to recruiting, so we’re on television quite a bit. We go to St. Mary’s and to South Carolina and to Middle Tennessee and to Cleveland State. So we’ve got a really hard schedule. This answer reminded me to remind the person in the athletic department who is supposed to remind the person who sends in the paperwork on players to the NCAA to do so ASAP so everyone on the team can play in this year's preseason tournament. Um, yeaaaah... so, if you could go ahead and get all of our players compliant before the season begins... yeaaah, that'd be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxZIP Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Yes, that was the Playoffs. The two aren't even comparable. The play in game is new. The old wild card meant you got to play a series. An extra layer was added . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 The play in game is new. The old wild card meant you got to play a series. An extra layer was added . Exactamundo! Good luck next season, Tribe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UAZip0510 Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 The play in game is new. The old wild card meant you got to play a series. An extra layer was added . Yes, I understand that (I'm a season ticket holder). I'm just saying - although it's one game, they were a Playoff team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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