Ohio University tonight

[Dave in Green]

@Ada Zip, from your description, it seems that you like Coach Dambrot the person you used to personally interact with, but you dislike Coach Dambrot the person quoted in media interviews. Further, it's your interpretation of his quoted words that you really dislike, whereas not everyone is going to interpret his words so negatively. Finally, the alternate wording that you suggest for one of his statements is a classic PR non-statement, the kind of bland wording that causes some coaches to be criticized for not really speaking their mind.

If most of his vivid "defenders" are those who personally interact with him on a regular basis, wouldn't it also be fair to say that most of his vivid "attackers" are those who judge him only by their negative interpretations of some of his quotes in the media? Personally I just don't get why this is such a big issue to a few fans. But the fact that we all have different perspectives is part of what makes the world interesting. If I were Coach Dambrot's PR guy, I'd advise him to just continue being himself and accept the fact that you can't please all the people all the time.

[tboned]

Though I am new to this site, I have been a season ticket holder for several years. I just want to express a few of my observations.

The bar set by KD is quite high. The expectations of the fans is also quite high. This is great for the Team the School and us fans. With the exceptions of Tree and Harney, we are a very young team. We struggled early on to settle on a starting line-up. Once a starting line-up was set, injury, illness and self- inflicted judgment errors turned it upside down. Couple that with Coach Peters illness, and this season has been anything but easy.

We may not be having the season we all want, but I see our program as very solid.

P.S. It’s not over yet!!!!!

[Balsy]

As this is my first post, I will apologize upfront if it is out of line:

First, i've been a season ticket holder for a few years, so while that fact doesn't give me any additional insight, I'm not totally a newbie.

When i read this quote in the Beacon:

“We were jittery to start. Big crowd. Can’t put the ball in the basket. Then showed quit. It’s as simple as that,” Dambrot said. “We didn’t shoot it well enough to play very well, but we could have competed better. We didn’t even try defensively; we had some guys who didn’t even try.”

I didn't see it as throwing anyone under the bus. He used the word "We", he didn't give any names, he kept it pretty vanilla.

As close as he came was saying we had guys that didn't even try.

He seems to be dealing with a ton of emotional upheaval this year, starting with Dan Peters' battle for survival and going all the way through the ongoing rumors of Abreu's return. This includes the not-so-secret battles of Q, Tree and Harney.

He's tried different approches, different lineups, different motivations, but for the first time in a long time, this team is not responding the way he's hoped.

Being a true NE Ohio sports fan, I realize it's our custom to go after the head coach when things don't go right.

But, in this case, I honestly do think he's trying a number of different things.

Full Disclosure: I did have my picture taken with Coach at the golf outings.

First welcome to ZNO second, +1. I completely agree with you. I didn't get that he was throwing anyone under the bus when I heard that quote myself, but it's just me.

Dave +1.

I will say, that the "picking on 19 year old athletes" becomes the cry sometimes. Yes, college kids (having just graduated myself) can be very immature and do a lot of growing up during college. But they're also not children. College students can take a lot more criticism than people think they can, and are quite capable of handling themselves and accepting responsibility.

[GJGood]

I wonder if the thought process is that by saying they showed 'quit' it will actually motivate the team to fight through even more than they have at other times this season. Sometimes guys need coddled to get results, other times they need a swift kick. I am hoping KD's quote serves as a swift kck.

[UAZip0510]

@Uazip0510: If you want to use the "Alex should have been our PG" argument, I will counter with the "Q shouldn't be playing" argument as his eligibility should have expired last year. IMHO, should have could have would have are just too lame for excuses after 30 games into the season.

Quincy isn't a true point guard. Not having a true point guard that can effectively run the offense is the Zips' #1 issue. If you look ONLY at basketball , this team would be much better, with Abreu than they are with Diggs.

[K92]

Glib,

Welcome to ZN.o and thank you for jogging this memory from my childhood.

[Dave in Green]

@Glib Shanley, sorry, but the fact that you had your photo taken with Coach Dambrot at a golf outing automatically disqualifies you from having any credibility here with a certain percentage of forum members. Just kidding, we have lots of disagreements of opinions here, but we all have in common that we're Zips fans. New forum members adding their opinions are always welcome. Hang around and have some fun along with the rest of us.

[Derrt]

Quincy isn't a true point guard. Not having a true point guard that can effectively run the offense is the Zips' #1 issue. If you look ONLY at basketball , this team would be much better, with Abreu than they are with Diggs.

I'm happy to hear you feel that way. I'll tell Q to hang up his jersey tonight, because you would rather have Alex on the team.

[Balsy]

I'll take Diggs over a felon who almost completely, and single handedly, takes down his team's best chance it had to making a run in the NCAA.

[Dave in Green]

@I speak truth, I think what @UAZip0510 meant was that the Zips would be better off with a true PG playing PG and Q playing his natural position of wing 100% of the time. Since the Zips currently do not have a proven true PG who's shown they can consistently play the position at a high level, the Zips are fortunate to have a multi-talented player like Q who can take up the slack. But wouldn't you really prefer seeing Q playing wing alongside a consistently high performing true PG?

[skip-zip]

Quincy isn't a true point guard. Not having a true point guard that can effectively run the offense is the Zips' #1 issue. If you look ONLY at basketball , this team would be much better, with Abreu than they are with Diggs.

I don't like that Q has had to play some PG, and I have been quite focal about it. But, regardless, there's no question that Quincy is a far better basketball player than Alex.

[UAZip0510]

I'm happy to hear you feel that way. I'll tell Q to hang up his jersey tonight, because you would rather have Alex on the team.

I'll take Diggs over a felon who almost completely, and single handedly, takes down his team's best chance it had to making a run in the NCAA.

Please review what I said, especially the part in bold.

Quincy isn't a true point guard. Not having a true point guard that can effectively run the offense is the Zips' #1 issue. If you look ONLY at basketball , this team would be much better, with Abreu than they are with Diggs.

Please review what I said, especially the part in bold. I never said I wanted Diggs to hang up his jersey nor did I say I wanted him gone and/or Alex back. I simply noted that if you only looked at this from a basketball standpoint, Abreu would be better for this team than Diggs. Of course we can't separate basketball and off-court issues...I'm just trying to illustrate the impact of losing AA - a true, effective point guard - and how it has severely hurt a team whose biggest weakness this season is a lack of a true, effective point guard.

[UAZip0510]

@I speak truth, I think what @UAZip0510 meant was that the Zips would be better off with a true PG playing PG and Q playing his natural position of wing 100% of the time. Since the Zips currently do not have a proven true PG who's shown they can consistently play the position at a high level, the Zips are fortunate to have a multi-talented player like Q who can take up the slack. But wouldn't you really prefer seeing Q playing wing alongside a consistently high performing true PG?

Thanks DIG, I'm glad someone got it.

[Sportsjunkie330]

I'll take Diggs over a felon who almost completely, and single handedly, takes down his team's best chance it had to making a run in the NCAA.

Funny. Why was Q not on the team last year?

[Valpo Zip]

What a bad turn this conversation has taken!!!

@Sportsjunkie: Are you seriously comparing the two?

The one had a fight with his girl friend and was suspended by THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE UNIVERSITY. No courts, no jail time. Does that compare to a Drug dealer who was convicted and jailed?

[Balsy]

Please review what I said, especially the part in bold. I never said I wanted Diggs to hang up his jersey nor did I say I wanted him gone and/or Alex back. I simply noted that if you only looked at this from a basketball standpoint, Abreu would be better for this team than Diggs. Of course we can't separate basketball and off-court issues...I'm just trying to illustrate the impact of losing AA - a true, effective point guard - and how it has severely hurt a team whose biggest weakness this season is a lack of a true, effective point guard.

I know. I'm reiterating for those who somehow want to accept Abreu back for one year; that having Diggs (not convicted of any crime) will always be better than having a convicted felon whom nearly destroyed his team single handed. I'm also reiterating that we can't simply look at having AA back on the team from only a basketball standpoint. I agree with you, AA is a better True point guard than any we have on the team...however we cannot look (and should not look) at the issue simply from a basketball standpoint. .

What a bad turn this conversation has taken!!!

@Sportsjunkie: Are you seriously comparing the two?

The one had a fight with his girl friend and was suspended by THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD OF THE UNIVERSITY. No courts, no jail time. Does that compare to a Drug dealer who was convicted and jailed?

+1, well said Ada Zip. The two are not comparable.

[Derrt]

Funny. Why was Q not on the team last year?

Scorn ex girl friend, and a quick to judge school administration (womens AD, and "judge" on school hearing), that had an issue with KD and the type of players he brought in. Politics played a part in why Quincy did not play last year. Especially with all the BS happening at Ohio State and Penn State that same year, Akron U felt it needed to set an example. Allowing Q to play this year, helped them save face, they were even pissed at the interview he did with George on his return. Plenty more to this story, but you'll never know. Same reason why you'll never know the exact reason why Harney is not playing now, or why Tree had a break down and left practice earlier this season. But the next time you want to be funny Sportsjunkie330 don't be. Happy Tuesday folks. Im sure this post will be deleted.

[Hilltopper]

Scorn ex girl friend, and a quick to judge school administration (womens AD, and "judge" on school hearing), that had an issue with KD and the type of players he brought in. Politics played a part in why Quincy did not play last year. Especially with all the BS happening at Ohio State and Penn State that same year, Akron U felt it needed to set an example. Allowing Q to play this year, helped them save face, they were even pissed at the interview he did with George on his return. Plenty more to this story, but you'll never know. Same reason why you'll never know the exact reason why Harney is not playing now, or why Tree had a break down and left practice earlier this season. But the next time you want to be funny Sportsjunkie330 don't be. Happy Tuesday folks. Im sure this post will be deleted.

Nice post.

[zippy5]

I think we're all in agreement we'd be in a lot of trouble without Q this year. Alex or no Alex. I'm glad he's back doing what he loves and finishing his degree.

[Valpo Zip]

I think we're all in agreement we'd be in a lot of trouble without Q this year. Alex or no Alex. I'm glad he's back doing what he loves and finishing his degree.

Absolutely!

[Sportsjunkie330]

Scorn ex girl friend, and a quick to judge school administration (womens AD, and "judge" on school hearing), that had an issue with KD and the type of players he brought in. Politics played a part in why Quincy did not play last year. Especially with all the BS happening at Ohio State and Penn State that same year, Akron U felt it needed to set an example. Allowing Q to play this year, helped them save face, they were even pissed at the interview he did with George on his return. Plenty more to this story, but you'll never know. Same reason why you'll never know the exact reason why Harney is not playing now, or why Tree had a break down and left practice earlier this season. But the next time you want to be funny Sportsjunkie330 don't be. Happy Tuesday folks. Im sure this post will be deleted.

Actually I know a little more than you might think....