Rachel Tecca

[MDZip]

Just to give the ladies a little credit after climbing out of a 1-3 start, they are now 4-3 and in second place in the East. But Rachel Tecca has been amazing, she was the MAC East Player of the week after scoring an Akron record with 43 points (and 22 rebounds) at Eastern Michigan in just 27 minutes. She holds the Akron record for points and rebounds in a career and is now 28 rebounds short of becoming just the second player in MAC history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. And this young lady continues to be named to the all-MAC academic teams every year as well. Damned impressive.

[Z.I.P.]

Just to give the ladies a little credit after climbing out of a 1-3 start, they are now 4-3 and in second place in the East. But Rachel Tecca has been amazing, she was the MAC East Player of the week after scoring an Akron record with 43 points (and 22 rebounds) at Eastern Michigan in just 27 minutes. She holds the Akron record for points and rebounds in a career and is now 28 rebounds short of becoming just the second player in MAC history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. And this young lady continues to be named to the all-MAC academic teams every year as well. Damned impressive.

That is awesome! I have to think that Rachel must be on the WNBA Draft board (along with the young lady from Michigan who is Akron's foil! Go Rachel go!

[GP1]

I like the work Kest has done with the WBB program. They are playing a very entertaining brand of basketball as they average over eighty points.

After a glimpse of their schedule, it looks like they either kick butt or get their butts kicked. Almost every game, win or lose, is decided by ten points or more....very unusual. Not even sure how something like that happens.

[skip-zip]

I like the work Kest has done with the WBB program. They are playing a very entertaining brand of basketball as they average over eighty points.

This is the only thing that brings me to some of their games, Otherwise, I would never watch ladies basketball.

[akzipper]

Unfortunately I think our women's team is more entertaining than the men's team.

Wouldn't even be surprised to see them beat the men. Maybe that would at least give KD's team some motivation.

[Balsy]

I really wish everyone would stop pushing the panic button on the Men's team....We're really lucky that we've got two GOOD basketball teams, but roughly speaking I'd say from the women's basketball games that I've watched (which mostly have Akron or the top schools) they are more entertaining IMO than the men's games. However I wouldn't go so far as to say that the women's is better than the men's. They've both play difficult road schedules, the men are 13-6...WBB is 10-8.

I guess the weird observation I've made from watching both teams is that the men seem to find ways to win even though they are playing terribly...and the lady Zips tend to win by playing hard for 40 min. Suffice as to say, I don't know which one is better...

[mes102]

The difference is that most people don't know how difficult the women's schedule really is, especially in the MAC.

Crystal Bradford was National Player of the Week(1/22), and Rachel Tecca is this week's National Player of the Week. Back to back weeks with a MAC player as National Player of the Week.

I have been busy with this winter. Normally, my schedule picks up in the winter, but this winter has been overwhelming with work(if that gives you an idea what i'm talking about). Here's my take on the women's team:

1) They got off to a slow start in MAC play. Teams go through slumps, but the amount of games(or sometimes minutes in a game) that the slump happens for is how you figure out how good of a team you really are with adversity. They're starting to find themselves again, and there's only 2-3 more games that I see them having trouble with in the regular season. I still think a top 4 seed in the tourney again.

2) My biggest concern with the women's team last season was the lack of bench. Whether the players weren't ready for that level, or Kest just didn't want to experiment lineups with something that was working. This season, Kest has expanded the bench use, and they're using 8-10 players in any game. Sometimes even more than that.

3) The freshmen here are very good. Plybon started right away, so that one is a given. However, in a blow out(like CMU or EMU), they get to see the floor. I like what I see out of the freshmen when they get a chance. Especially Scipio and Ricketts.

4) Megan Barilla has stepped up this season as a great backup point guard to Cassell. She isn't putting up the numbers like she did last season, but part of that is because she isn't in the game as much thanks to Barilla's progress. Gibson has helped sooth the King injury, and has done a great job coming off the bench and being productive. Anita Brown is doing a great job of being the first off the bench, and can plug into Plybon's or Luburgh's spot depending on the game matchup.

5) The incoming freshmen are going to be a force as soon as they get here. I expect at least two of those incoming freshmen to get quality minutes next season. The transfer from NC State, Theranny Dunnigan, is going to be Tecca's replacement next season. I think many will be surprised how good she will be for the Lady Zips when she finally gets to see the floor in an actual game.

6) This coaching staff is one of the best in the MAC. In my opinion, any of the coaches can be plugged in as the head coach if Kest leaves, and not have any major bumps along the way. To be honest, I don't expect a couple of them to be there by the end of next season. Coach Boxx and Coach Jackson are well ready to be head coaches in my opinion.

7) This conference for women's basketball is all about matchups. Central Michigan has a hard time with the MAC West and Bowling Green. Ball State has a problem with us. They own CMU though. Toledo is a force in the MAC west, but then have a hiccup against Ohio. Akron blows out EMU, but EMU holds CMU to 60 some points. Every team has a matchup that they own, and a matchup they can't seem to get through. It all matters on the seeding on who goes to NCAA this season in my opinion.

I'm excited for the stretch run here, and see what happens. And it starts tonight with the men's team at home vs Ball State. #4PetesSake #3Peat4Pete

[mes102]

Lady Zips next game is Thursday at Toledo. Should be a good one.

[zippy5]

Unfortunately I think our women's team is more entertaining than the men's team.

Wouldn't even be surprised to see them beat the men. Maybe that would at least give KD's team some motivation.

lol