skip-zip Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 This might still be a little premature....but... The way Villanova has dominated in their last two tournament games, they might be the best team in the country right now. So, I can't help but to think about the fact that we played them this year. And we played a great first half, on the road, and actually led by as many as 8 at one time. Have we ever been able to say that we played the best team in the country the year that they may win a national championship? Is it fair to even compare ourselves to them? Why not? We played them this season. Does this put a damper on some people's theory that "We aren't good enough to play the giants in our OOC schedule....We'll just get destroyed"? Quote
blueandgold Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 I am hoping Villanova wins the whole tournament. I guess I'm kind of thinking the same way you're thinking. Quote
K92 Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 6 minutes ago, LZIp said: We lost by 20. Yeah, but if 'Nova wins it all we have fans that will find a lot of solace in that and it will be mentioned many threads for years to come as evidence of just how close we really are to being a national power and how we always get screwed. Quote
kreed5120 Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 It's not hard for a mid-major to hang with a top 25 team for a half. You see it all the time in March Madness. Where those teams pull away is in the 2nd half as attrition settles in and the team with more depth pulls away. Quote
skip-zip Posted March 25, 2016 Author Report Posted March 25, 2016 (edited) 44 minutes ago, LZIp said: We lost by 20. And they just put a similar whipping on Miami and Iowa, two Top-25 team, on a NEUTRAL court. So, what does that mean? Edited March 25, 2016 by skip-zip Quote
zippy5 Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 It means they're a lot better than both teams Quote
kreed5120 Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 Perhaps if we took them to the wire and lost in heartbreaking fashion, I could see it. BUT I can't imagine Dambrot is going to too many high school recruits houses and saying "Come to Akron we're good. We only lost to Villanova by 20." 1 Quote
skip-zip Posted March 25, 2016 Author Report Posted March 25, 2016 I didn't create the thread to sway anyone to think one way or another. I just saw it as the most direct representation we've ever had to see where we might stand in reference to the very top of D-1 college basketball. We may have just played someone who's the best team in college basketball, in the same year. I'm pretty sure that has never happened. Quote
kreed5120 Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 (edited) I like the fact that we have a team of that caliber on our schedule. It's a good recruiting tool in the sense that it gives a potential recruit that was overlooked because he wasn't tall enough or athletic enough or played at a smaller school a chance to shine on a big stage. We get that win and we go from not even being in the bubble discussion to a serious at-large candidate. I just feel it would be a step backwards if Akron views playing a potential top 5-7 team tough for 17 minutes and not losing by 40 as an accomplishment. Edited March 25, 2016 by kreed5120 1 Quote
Hilltopper Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 1 hour ago, kreed5120 said: Perhaps if we took them to the wire and lost in heartbreaking fashion, I could see it. BUT I can't imagine Dambrot is going to too many high school recruits houses and saying "Come to Akron we're good. We only lost to Villanova by 20." What he can say is we play a schedule that includes playing the top teams in the NCAA Tournament. Quote
kreed5120 Posted March 25, 2016 Report Posted March 25, 2016 4 minutes ago, Hilltopper said: What he can say is we play a schedule that includes playing the top teams in the NCAA Tournament. I agree and I feel I addressed that. The fact we played them is the selling point, not the fact we lost by 20. "I like the fact that we have a team of that caliber on our schedule. It's a good recruiting tool in the sense that it gives a potential recruit that was overlooked because he wasn't tall enough or athletic enough or played at a smaller school a chance to shine on a big stage." Quote
LZIp Posted April 3, 2016 Report Posted April 3, 2016 In be4 "Akron would beat Oklahoma" or "Akron would have made a tourney run!" Quote
Dr Z Posted April 3, 2016 Report Posted April 3, 2016 On March 25, 2016 at 9:15 PM, skip-zip said: Is it fair to even compare ourselves to them? Why not? We played them this season. It would be "fair" if the Zips could have beat a lousy Columbus team, but since they didn't, no it's not. On March 25, 2016 at 9:15 PM, skip-zip said: Does this put a damper on some people's theory that "We aren't good enough to play the giants in our OOC schedule....We'll just get destroyed"? Playing opponents like Villanova makes the Zips a better team. How could it not? It's also more interesting for fans of the team. 1 Quote
skip-zip Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Posted April 3, 2016 8 hours ago, Dr Z said: It would be "fair" if the Zips could have beat a lousy Columbus team, but since they didn't, no it's not. Playing opponents like Villanova makes the Zips a better team. How could it not? It's also more interesting for fans of the team. Well, I think we've at least destroyed the theory that Akron shouldn't play the very TOP teams on the road. It's ridiculous. We have no reason to be afraid of anyone in D-1. But, many people here still fail to see the many other benefits to playing those games as well, and you touch on a couple of them. But, I don't understand why you feel that the Akron/Villanova comparison should somehow be judged based on whether we won or lost in Columbus? Quote
blueandgold Posted April 5, 2016 Report Posted April 5, 2016 Villanova plays a similar style to the Zips, in that, they are a team of good players who know how to play as "a team". No real superstar. They also focus on good team defense like the Zips as well. This win shows that our style of basketball, with no individual star players and good defensive play, can win at any level. Quote
skip-zip Posted April 5, 2016 Author Report Posted April 5, 2016 3 hours ago, blueandgold said: Villanova plays a similar style to the Zips, in that, they are a team of good players who know how to play as "a team". No real superstar. They also focus on good team defense like the Zips as well. This win shows that our style of basketball, with no individual star players and good defensive play, can win at any level. I actually didn't even think about the similarities in team's makeups when I started the thread, but you're right. One other item that has not been mentioned is that they come from a conference that has virtually been forgotten after the massive shuffling of leagues a few years ago, so that's always nice to see too. 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.