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[GoZips]

Do not get overly excited about the up coming men's basketball. While, yes the Zips will have a winning season, and, yes they are most likely headed for a post seasonbid, the overall view is not as rosy as many wish it to be.Why? Because inspite of excellent athletic ability, good shooting skills and well taughtdefense ... the Zips are just too SHORT. Unless six-ten Mike Bardo (a true freshman)is on the floor, the tallest player will be Romeo Travis at six-seven. This will becomeall to obvious when Nevada invades the JAR. The is no substitution for inches. Tallteams dominate. We have no tall. Next year it gets better. But, we are living in thisyear. The Zips are undersized. Thus they will continually see opponents putting tallplayers on the court. Some lesser quality opponents big men will not be able to stopAkron. The better teams will.Throw in a few "off" nights and the team is less than stellar. Oh, do not get me wrong,our Zips will be competitive. They just lack the size necessary to dominate. Spell thatR-E-B-O-U-N-D-S. This is the Zips Achilles heel.My speculation is that a twenty win season would be an excellent accomplishment. Topthat off with a play in round road game in the NIT and you have the season

[Roo2]

What you say is true, but only to a certain extent. Size does not equal rebounds. The Zips have had several "big" men over the past few years that have been just pushed around in the paint. Guys like Gary Trent dominated the MAC without the desired size. I would love to see a bunch of 7 footers on the squad, but I'll take talent any day of the week.

[Zip Watcher]

Seibart & Weinkein were MUCH better rebounders than J. Wood and Chris Hahn. Yep .. that argument holds water. Maybe I should give my season tickets away.

[gozips19]

didn't george mason go to the final 4 last year and their center was 6'8... and look at how small Can't's elite eight team was.. if you are on the small side you need great guard play, a deep team, and athletic bigs. akron has all three and should win 25-28 games with the schedule they have. also akron's rpi will be good as (posted in other thread) road wins boost a teams rpi.

[Z.I.P.]

Do not get overly excited about the up coming men's basketball.  While, yes the Zips will have a winning season, and, yes they are most likely headed for a post seasonbid, the overall view is not as rosy as many wish it to be.My speculation is that a twenty win season would be an excellent accomplishment.  Topthat off with a play in round road game in the NIT and you have the season

Aaaaahhh! Coach Go Zips -- a renowned expert at managing expectations.Now for the truth (sorry KD): With the additions to this team, and the return of J Wood (possibly a MAC rebounding champ), anything below 25 wins is failure.Let's not return to the Lee Owens days of pre-season strategizing. Please!

[GoZips]

Aaaaahhh! Coach Go Zips -- a renowned expert at managing expectations.Now for the truth (sorry KD): With the additions to this team, and the return of J Wood (possibly a MAC rebounding champ), anything below 25 wins is failure.

"Coach GoZips" being a close kin to the Ancient Mariner having been around about thatlong, has sized up his expectations based on the facts rather than wishful thinking.These Zips are going to be an excellent team this coming year. All the pieces are inplace. Only injuries, grades, and the quality of their play stand in the way of a stellarseason. If, if, if, the kids live up to the hype they will bring much joy to the houseJim Rhodes built (the cheap sucka).Twenty-five wins while not out of the question is a huge expectation. I for one do nothold Coach Dambrot and the kids to such a lofty and probably unobtainable goal.Twenty-one or two wins constitute an excellent season. You need to consider that several of our opponents are in "on the rise" seasons themselves. ORU, LMU to saynothing of preseason top twenty-five Nevada will severely test the Zips.In all likelihood opening the season at Texas Tech against Arkansas-Little Rock is onetough test itself. Beating AR-LR means facing Texas Tech on their court in front of their blood lust fans is by no means a walk in the park. The Zips head home lickingtheir wounds after this battle, win or lose. Let's be optimistic, hopeful and most of all ... patient.