GJGood Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Largely because I want to shoft focus from the disappointment of falling a few points short in Cleveland as the top seed for a second straight year I wanted to start a post on what is next for this team. The Zips may still het a shot at a big name program or to make a postseason tourney run even if not on the biggest stage. I just hope the team is able to bounce back emotionally and play well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 We might even get an opportunity to lose to Ohio State again! Yippie! Yappie! Yahooie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 For what its worth my personal projection (and I am certainly no expert) is that Akron will be a 6 seed again in the NIT . If that were the case they would travel to a 3 seed in the first round. Knowing that the NIT likes somewhat regional games when possible and seeing who potential 3 seeds are I think there is a significant chance that the Zips will be heading to Bloomington to take on one of the bigger name programs in college basketball lore in the Indiana Hoosiers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Who cares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtyolcrowe Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Who cares!!! They'll be a lower seed cause they beat nobody and their SOS is weak. So they will travel to a big program and lose by 10-20pts. If this team didn't have heart tonight. They won't have it ever!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 2 minutes ago, dirtyolcrowe said: Who cares!!! They'll be a lower seed cause they beat nobody and their SOS is weak. So they will travel to a big program and lose by 10-20pts. If this team didn't have heart tonight. They won't have it ever!!!!! This might be the first time I've ever agreed with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Exciting news sure to electrify the fanbase! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Maybe its just me but I think the NIT is better than nothing as ot can only help the young guys develop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 6 minutes ago, GJGood said: Maybe its just me but I think the NIT is better than nothing as ot can only help the young guys develop. Not trying to be confrontational, but I am having trouble seeing any real benefit. I don't see how the team will be motivated for one. I don't see Dambrot not playing the seniors to try to get the young guys more experience, and lastly I do not see an extra week of practice making any real difference. I believe we've turned down lesser tournaments before. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feetg10 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 It's hard to imagine this team playing hard in the NIT after seeing their effort in the Championship game. But, I hope they show up to play. I think they can do well if properly motivated. It's not the tournament we wanted but I want to see my team play more basketball. I don't think we are at the point with our program that we can act like we are above playing in the NIT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 38 minutes ago, feetg10 said: I don't think we are at the point with our program that we can act like we are above playing in the NIT. 100% Agree. It should be a chance to beat someone of some significance, and this program needs that more than anything else right now. We earned that opportunity by winning the conference by 3 games this year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 As wrong as it is mid-majors need to NOT look at the "other" postseason tournaments as negatives. Sure they are not the ideal destination but the NIT, CBI, CiT, and now Vegas 16 are realities for any mid-major without a huge national name because even the most deserving mid-majors are going to be frowned upon by the NCAA selection commitee in favor of very pedestrian "major" schools. As far as the NIT specifically goes, every year there are 32 teams in their bracket and almost none of them are overjoyed about being there. That said teams are still able to play well and become motivated to advance and play as long as possible. If they can do it why can't we? I have never understood those that have tje NCAA or nothing at all mentality. I get that attitude if you honestly believe you can make a run at a national title but did anybody really think that could happen? Yes, ithe NCAA is the prize we want first and foremost but it is not the only prize or opportunity on the landscape. I still remember attending my first Akron game as a student and saying that my dream was to see this program make a sweet 16 someday. That was back in the last year of the Coleman Crawford era but it is still the dream for me today. That is about rhe realistic ceiling for 95% of all mid-majors the way it is now. Last noght means it won't happen yet again this year. It felt like a punch in the stomach and it really has me bummed out. Still, though, there is an opportunity for this team to keep playing and maybe even get a win over a 'name' program or make a postseason run. I believe those are chances that, as a mid-major, you have to be thankful for and try to take advantage of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtyolcrowe Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 current NIT bracketology has Akron as a #7 seed playing #2 Iowa!!!!!!!!!!!! well.....at least its not OSU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 (edited) 8 minutes ago, dirtyolcrowe said: current NIT bracketology has Akron as a #7 seed playing #2 Iowa!!!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn't surprise me. A team from a "Power Conference" who could barely win half of their games this year, and finished 8th in their league is rewarded with 2 more home basketball games, and the upper hand to beat down a couple more teams from "lesser conferences". Ya gotta love it. Akron's RPI = 58 Iowa's RPI = 81 Not much different than last year when our RPI was 40 points better than OSWho, and they sent us on the road. And also as a repeat of last year, we'll be playing a team that got knocked out of their conference tournament early, and hasn't played since Thursday. Edited March 12, 2017 by skip-zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted March 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 4 minutes ago, dirtyolcrowe said: current NIT bracketology has Akron as a #7 seed playing #2 Iowa!!!!!!!!!!!! well.....at least its not OSU. I am wondering if that guy at NYC Buckets has some inside information. I have traded messages with him a few times in the past and he has expressed to me how the pairings are always about keeping the bigger schools at home and regional first round matchups yet this morning he has Akron going to Iowa instead of Indiana and both UT-Arlington and Monmouth as 4 seeds just barely getting a home game. That seems to go against his own beliefs in the NIT committee. I guess I can see them sending the Zips to Iowa City but I doubt Monmouth gets a home game and will be absolutely stunned if Arlington does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Well after sleeping on it, I am still not excited. However, there is still a chance this season that the program can make a nice run in a postseason tournament which could be a positive to take away from this season as it hasn't happened in many years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZippyRulz Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 (edited) If we don't show up and play with conviction in the NIT then KD truly should be fired, as well as the AD. They are being paid well to represent the university. Edited March 12, 2017 by ZippyRulz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 How much does it cost the University to send the team travelling to another game which could be God knows where? Travel, lodging, etc. Then if you win, you go somewhere else. Meanwhile a lot of the fans are back home watching the real Tournament, or Cavs, or Indians spring training games. meh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZippyRulz Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 (edited) I don't see this progrum turning down an NIT appearance stat and hanging a banner. Wouldn't it be nice if the banner said "NIT Final 4" ? Edited March 12, 2017 by ZippyRulz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 (edited) Losing in the finals last year didn't sting as much to me as it did this year. Last year after losing to Buffalo I was confident that we were returning the #1 team in the conference. I can't say the same for next year. We clearly have no replacement ready in the wings for Big Dig and Utomi has shown flashes of being great, but he will be a very undersized 4. Big Dog was the one that created open looks for everyone else. We are pretty much going to have to implement an entire new offense. All that being sorry I can't get excited for a 2nd rate tournament. This might have been Akron's last best chance to make some noise under Dambrot. Edited March 12, 2017 by kreed5120 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 1 hour ago, LZIp said: Well after sleeping on it, I am still not excited. However, there is still a chance this season that the program can make a nice run in a postseason tournament which could be a positive to take away from this season as it hasn't happened in many years. At this point, the players should be happy that the overall performance in conference play this year earned you a chance to continue to play in the 2nd best tournament. If you don't like it, you ought to think about doing more to make a difference in a game for all the marbles against a #6 seed. Or the previous group of late season losses that cost you any other opportunity to do something about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigzipguy Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 3 minutes ago, kreed5120 said: Losing in the finals last year didn't sting as much to me as it did this year. Last year after losing to Buffalo I was confident that we were returning the #1 team in the conference. I can't say the same for next year. We clearly have no replacement ready in the wings for Big Dig and Utomi has shown flashes of being great, but he will be a very undersized 4. Big Dog was the one that created open looks for everyone else. We are pretty much going to have to implement an entire new offense. I agree that this year's last was worse than last. Bulls were much better than this Kent team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 (edited) 10 minutes ago, kreed5120 said: I can't say the same for next year. We clearly have no replacement ready in the wings for Big Dig and Utomi has shown flashes of being great, but he will be a very undersized 4. Big Dog was the one that created open looks for everyone else. We are pretty much going to have to implement an entire new offense. Maybe not the appropriate thread, but here goes.... Next year is pretty simple. The entire season rests on the group consisting of Poke, Aaron, Michael, and Daniel to fill 2 front court spots adequately enough to be able to rest on our enormous reservoir of Guard experience to carry us. That's it. That's the season preview for next year. And judging by the amount of minutes that most of them were entrusted with this year, they have a lot of work to do between now and November to perform those roles adequately enough. Edited March 12, 2017 by skip-zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dre22era Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 Will probably screw us on not hosting a NIT game again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 12, 2017 Report Share Posted March 12, 2017 10 minutes ago, kreed5120 said: Losing in the finals last year didn't sting as much to me as it did this year. Looking back 10 years, I had my heartaches with the banked-in 3-pointer against Miami, and the OT loss to OU in 2010, and the OU game in 2012 where the Bobcat rebounder grabbed the rim at the end on the missed free throw and was never assessed a Technical and is un-reviewable. But we all have to live with what happened last year and this year. We simply got BEAT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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