Evaluating Coach Dambrot

[kreed5120]

17 minutes ago, Class of 82 said:

I just lurk now. Used to be a regular. Invented the I Hate Kent Haiku more years ago than I care to consider at the moment. I love The University of Akron. I am a Zip. My first game at Memorial, the coach was Laturza. Listened on the radio when Earl the Pearl dropped a 50-spot on Akron with possibly our best team ever.

 

You idiots questioning KD? I hate to call people idiots, but that is what you are if you want a new coach. Just stop. Please.

We are in the MAC. That is who we are. It is not the best conference, but winning it's conference tournament is never easy, especially when your best player ways 290 pounds and has to play three games in three days.

 

I am still all in with this program. Shout-out to those who are all-in with me.

Wish you were an active member these days. We need more logical minds such as yourself around here.

[kreed5120]

18 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

George Thomas on the NIT & on Dambrot turning down USF to stay at Akron.

 

I appreciate GT highlighting the lousiness of the J.A.R. as compared to USF's Sun Dome and calls on the community to do something about it:

 

It’s a worst-kept secret that Rhodes Arena is in need of a significant overhaul or replacement. Word is that behind the scenes there are those working diligently to accomplish that at UA. But the fact that Dambrot is getting offers should surprise no one. A significant part of any program is the facilities it can offer athletes. If the community at large appreciates what Dambrot has accomplished with the Zips, it needs to show support.

 

Thanks, GT! 

I take back most of the bad stuff I've said about him...

[skip-zip]

35 minutes ago, Class of 82 said:

I just lurk now. Used to be a regular. Invented the I Hate Kent Haiku more years ago than I care to consider at the moment. I love The University of Akron. I am a Zip. My first game at Memorial, the coach was Laturza. Listened on the radio when Earl the Pearl dropped a 50-spot on Akron with possibly our best team ever.

 

You idiots questioning KD? I hate to call people idiots, but that is what you are if you want a new coach. Just stop. Please.

We are in the MAC. That is who we are. It is not the best conference, but winning it's conference tournament is never easy, especially when your best player ways 290 pounds and has to play three games in three days.

 

I am still all in with this program. Shout-out to those who are all-in with me.

 

I'm with you, dude.  But apparently it's been a long time since those English classes at UA for you.  

[skip-zip]

22 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:

George Thomas on the NIT & on Dambrot turning down USF to stay at Akron.

 

I appreciate GT highlighting the lousiness of the J.A.R. as compared to USF's Sun Dome and calls on the community to do something about it:

 

It’s a worst-kept secret that Rhodes Arena is in need of a significant overhaul or replacement. Word is that behind the scenes there are those working diligently to accomplish that at UA. But the fact that Dambrot is getting offers should surprise no one. A significant part of any program is the facilities it can offer athletes. If the community at large appreciates what Dambrot has accomplished with the Zips, it needs to show support.

 

Thanks, GT! 

 

Some intelligent insight into the inner workings of Akron Athletics, Keith's other offerS, and the Arena?  

 

That's might win an award !!

[Class of 82]

15 minutes ago, skip-zip said:

 

I'm with you, dude.  But apparently it's been a long time since those English classes at UA for you.  

Skip... I swear it is a talk-to-text issue. Just didn't catch in my edit. I received an A in both English Comps in 1977-78. I assure you.

 

Thanks for being such a great Zips fan, bro. And I mean that. And thanks so much to all the other diehards.

 

Go Akron. To hell with Cleveburgh. And screw tOSU.

[kreed5120]

https://mobile.twitter.com/RossBjorkAD/status/841352257622929409

 

Illinois State head coach tweeted out that he was looking for a home and home next season against a P6 team. Ole Miss AD responded that he'd love to work something out.

 

Edit: Looks like a done deal.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanMuller/status/841366488791552000

Edited March 13, 2017 by kreed5120

[Blue & Gold]

It'd be great if we could get just one marquee P6 home OOC game per year.

 

Not asking for the moon.  And it doesn't have to be Duke.  Some low-life P6 team would do just fine.

Edited March 13, 2017 by Blue & Gold

[Blue & Gold]

As it is now you have to be a Zips basketball purist/diehard to go to a game.

 

Neither the venue nor the opponents are a draw.

[zippy5]

KD should be on the phone with Illinois State yesterday. There are more of those teams in the same boat as us

[dirtyolcrowe]

37 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

https://mobile.twitter.com/RossBjorkAD/status/841352257622929409

 

Illinois State head coach tweeted out that he was looking for a home and home next season against a P6 team. Ole Miss AD responded that he'd love to work something out.

 

Edit: Looks like a done deal.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DanMuller/status/841366488791552000

why doesn't KD do something creative like that!!!!  Kudos to the Illinois St coach, who's getting a home & home with Ole Miss!  who happens to be in the NIT as well!

[UAZip0510]

7 hours ago, Balsy said:

 

What does that matter when we lose whenever it really matters?  

 

Again, I'm going to stress that I AM NOT CALLING FOR DAMBROT TO BE FIRED.  I am calling for The Zips to give a damn about changing the culture of meh.  Because honestly, I'm personally getting more and more bored with following the Zips.  Win 20 games a year and lose in the MAC C is boring to me.  Win 20 games and lose to any team worth a damn is boring to me.  Sorry, it is.  Maybe I was spoiled because we went to the NCAA every-other-year when I was in college...but the program to me has lost a lot of spunk.

 

I guess I don't get where you think they don't give a damn about taking the next step...?

[Balsy]

1 hour ago, Class of 82 said:

I am still all in with this program. Shout-out to those who are all-in with me.

 

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

Wish you were an active member these days. We need more logical minds such as yourself around here.

 

1 hour ago, skip-zip said:

 

I'm with you, dude.  But apparently it's been a long time since those English classes at UA for you.  

 

And those of us who are critical of Akron's current circumstance aren't die-hard fans?  Again, I'd like to emphasize that there aren't many voices here calling for Dambrot to be fired.  However, there are some critical voices of displeasure.  Are you guys seriously happy with a four year drought?  What the hell is the point to being the "best program in the MAC" if you can't get to the finish line?

There's obviously something that's got to change with the Zips program or it will continue to be stagnant.

[skip-zip]

1 hour ago, Class of 82 said:

Skip... I swear it is a talk-to-text issue. Just didn't catch in my edit. I received an A in both English Comps in 1977-78. I assure you.

 

Thanks for being such a great Zips fan, bro. And I mean that. And thanks so much to all the other diehards.

 

It's my pleasure.  I enjoy it.   And just for the record, you did better than me in my early 80s English classes.    

 

1 hour ago, Class of 82 said:

Go Akron. To hell with Cleveburgh. And screw tOSU.

 

  You're my kind of Akron fan.  You need to come around more often 

[zippy5]

5 minutes ago, Balsy said:

 

 

 

And those of us who are critical of Akron's current circumstance aren't die-hard fans?  Again, I'd like to emphasize that there aren't many voices here calling for Dambrot to be fired.  However, there are some critical voices of displeasure.  Are you guys seriously happy with a four year drought?  What the hell is the point to being the "best program in the MAC" if you can't get to the finish line?

There's obviously something that's got to change with the Zips program or it will continue to be stagnant.

I don't think I'd call it stagnant. If we scored 6 more points Saturday, we'd be talking about 3 of the last 5 regular season champs and dancing 2 of those years. We obviously didn't. But I don't think that makes us stagnant. If I remember right, we had 1 regular season title before 2013. We have 3 since then. I think that shows we're consistently getting better. We finished 3 games up on every one but stumbled on a Saturday night. I can't argue that we've had trouble in the big games, but I don't think that means we're stagnant either. I think we're all in agreement that we want more. It's very frustrating that we've really dominated the conference the past 5 years but only have one NCAA bid to show. The life of a mid-major.

[morris buttermaker]

I'm getting confused on the USF thing..... did KD interview for the job?.. when?.. or did they make an offer with no interview? Do colleges need to ask for permission to interview coaches that are employed?

Edited March 13, 2017 by morris buttermaker

[ZippyRulz]

4 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

George Thomas on the NIT & on Dambrot turning down USF to stay at Akron.

 

I appreciate GT highlighting the lousiness of the J.A.R. as compared to USF's Sun Dome and calls on the community to do something about it:

 

It’s a worst-kept secret that Rhodes Arena is in need of a significant overhaul or replacement. Word is that behind the scenes there are those working diligently to accomplish that at UA. But the fact that Dambrot is getting offers should surprise no one. A significant part of any program is the facilities it can offer athletes. If the community at large appreciates what Dambrot has accomplished with the Zips, it needs to show support.

 

Thanks, GT! 

 

And for the ABJ's part, will they send a reporter to an away game?

 

 

Edited March 14, 2017 by ZippyRulz

[LZIp]

Maybe my reading comprehension is bad, but I don't think I've seen a single person I would take seriously say they want KD fired.

[skip-zip]

20 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

I don't think I'd call it stagnant. If we scored 6 more points Saturday, we'd be talking about 3 of the last 5 regular season champs and dancing 2 of those years. We obviously didn't. But I don't think that makes us stagnant. If I remember right, we had 1 regular season title before 2013. We have 3 since then. I think that shows we're consistently getting better. We finished 3 games up on every one but stumbled on a Saturday night. I can't argue that we've had trouble in the big games, but I don't think that means we're stagnant either. I think we're all in agreement that we want more. It's very frustrating that we've really dominated the conference the past 5 years but only have one NCAA bid to show. The life of a mid-major.

 

This is a great post.

 

Winning the league by 2 games last year and 3 games this year, in conjunction with the dominance in 2013, tells us a lot about how we've grown in stature in relation to the rest of the conference.  Certainly a wider and more representative sampling of how we compare vs. coming up a couple of baskets short in one game at the end of the season.  What if Buffalo doesn't hit the 3-pointer last year with 1 second on the clock?  If that one, single moment was different, does that actually make people view our coach differently?  It shouldn't, in my opinion.  

 

I don't think any of us disregards the importance of winning that MAC Tournament Final because of it's attached ticket to the Dance.  We're all bummed.  In fact, I threw the Sunday paper in the garbage without reading it so I wouldn't have to look at Kent State.  But our increased level of dominance in this conference over the last several years can't be ignored.  

 

Something we all need to continually keep in mind is that 2 of our own NCAA tournament appearances came when we were the 5th and 6th best teams in the conference that year.  So, I'm not going to complain like Keith is somehow always taking the favorite into the MAC Tournament, and coming up empty.  

 

Edited March 13, 2017 by skip-zip

[kreed5120]

16 minutes ago, Balsy said:

 

 

 

And those of us who are critical of Akron's current circumstance aren't die-hard fans?  Again, I'd like to emphasize that there aren't many voices here calling for Dambrot to be fired.  However, there are some critical voices of displeasure.  Are you guys seriously happy with a four year drought?  What the hell is the point to being the "best program in the MAC" if you can't get to the finish line?

There's obviously something that's got to change with the Zips program or it will continue to be stagnant.

Stagnant is our perpetual 5-7 football team whom you always make excuses for. I distinctly remember you saying you'd take a Solich Ohio over a 2-3 year Fleck reign. Now you seem to be back tracking from that as Dambrot, unlike Solich, has won both the MAC regular season and title game multiple times while still being competitive year in and year out. 

 

Of course I want more as does everyone else. Dambrot has shown his loyalty multiple times by passing up more money to stay with his alma mater and we have people like you trying to criticize and minimalize what he's accomplished.

[zippy5]

12 minutes ago, skip-zip said:

 

 

Something we all need to continually keep in mind is that 2 of our own NCAA tournament appearances came when we were the 5th and 6th best teams in the conference that year.  So, I'm not going to complain like Keith is somehow always taking the favorite into the MAC Tournament, and coming up empty.  

 

This too. If he "did what he was supposed to do" we'd probably have 4 less MACC appearances. We're at a point where we're all pissed if we don't dominate the conference and then win the tourney. 

[LZIp]

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Stagnant is our perpetual 5-7 football team whom you always make excuses for. I distinctly remember you saying you'd take a Solich Ohio over a 2-3 year Fleck reign. Now you seem to be back tracking from that as Dambrot, unlike Solich, has won both the MAC regular season and title game multiple times while still being competitive year in and year out. 

 

Of course I want more as does everyone else. Dambrot has shown his loyalty multiple times by passing up more money to stay with his alma mater and we have people like you trying to criticize and minimalize what he's accomplished.

Your constant need to bring up the football team in the basketball forum is odd to me. KD has been here much longer than Bowden. When is the last time the program took a step forward? Look in the mirror.

[kreed5120]

7 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

This too. If he "did what he was supposed to do" we'd probably have 4 less MACC appearances. We're at a point where we're all pissed if we don't dominate the conference and then win the tourney. 

Amen. This kind of mentality is why Dambrot has "only" 3 COY awards. People just expect us to go 15-3 in the MAC and win the tournament. Victim of his own success I suppose.

[zippy5]

2 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Amen. This kind of mentality is why Dambrot has "only" 3 COY awards. People just expect us to go 15-3 in the MAC and win the tournament. Victim of his own success I suppose.

But at the same time we should have a MAC tourney championship in the last 4 years. It's a fair point

[kreed5120]

23 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Your constant need to bring up the football team in the basketball forum is odd to me. KD has been here much longer than Bowden. When is the last time the program took a step forward? Look in the mirror.

We are at the top of the MAC and as Zippy5 has pointed out we have distanced ourselves in recent years as the MAC #1 program (Winning 3 out of the last 5 MAC regular season titles). We've won 52 games and still counting the past 2 seasons combined and I'm pretty sure Big Dog/Kwan will be the winningest senior class in UA basketball history. The problem with being at the top is there is only 1 way to go.

Edited March 14, 2017 by kreed5120

[clarkwgriswold]

I don't think the KD detractors realize that the only reason for their complaints is the level of expectation KD has brought to the Zips program.  There weren't discussions like this when Dan Hipsher was recruiting division 2 level players to UA (including his own kids).  The program was mired in mediocrity and we had no expectations, happy to be occasionally competitive.  Now, based upon KD's hard work, we've been to the summit of the MAC and want more.  We're not having these discussions without the KD based success.  Changing course from the guy that's brought the program here is more likely to set it back rather than further the success.

 

Don't get me wrong.  I'm the guy in the bleachers smarter than the coaches and I whine about bad defense on dribble penetration and all of the other faults we beat to death on here, but to jump ship here or make major changes would be the NCAA basketball equivalent of the the New Coke.