2022-2023 Zips Women's Basketball

[zipsrule]

3:41 remaining tied at 56 with Ball State.

[zipsrule]

Not much from the Zips the rest of the way as they lose 61-56.

[NWAkron]

Not a great weekend to be a Zip.

[ewbrooman1]

Nice comeback to make it a game in the 4Q. But, Ball State had 21 points on 23 Zips turnovers. Ballgame. 😵

[LoyalZIP]

I’m not sure how they kept it so close with that many turnovers, but the Zips looked the part today. First time in a while. Hopefully getting back on track. 

[NWAkron]

26 minutes ago, LoyalZIP said:

I’m not sure how they kept it so close with that many turnovers, but the Zips looked the part today. First time in a while. Hopefully getting back on track. 

Just get to Cleveland.  Right?

[ewbrooman1]

I've pretty much gone from the glass is half full to at best half empty now. The women have lost 5 of 6 and have yet to beat a MAC team with a winning record. Unless things turnaround quickly even getting to Cleveland will be a quick exit.

Edited February 11, 2023 by ewbrooman1

[clarkwgriswold]

14 hours ago, ewbrooman1 said:

I've pretty much gone from the glass is half full to at best half empty now. The women have lost 5 of 6 and have yet to beat a MAC team with a winning record. Unless things turnaround quickly even getting to Cleveland will be a quick exit.

Same here.  In 23 games I've gone from thinking the program was improving to thinking the program was going sideways to now being concerned it's going backwards.

[zippy-claws]

Love the athletes, but so many basics seem to be missing now.  Rebounds are made and the ball's brought down to be slapped or wrested out of the bounders hands.  Passes telegraphed and easily picked off.  Settling for three point shots right away without looking for an option.  Shot clock management.  But mostly strength.  They are having balls taken from them with ease, where is the strength coach?  But agree with above, they still keep hanging in there despite terrible numbers of turnovers.  They had a chance anyway.  Also, used to think Todd Starkey from KSU was the biggest crybaby coach in the MAC but Brady Sallee is far worse, and is very vulgar with his language as well...Hoping they get knocked out early in Cleveland.

[LoyalZIP]

1 hour ago, zippy-claws said:

Love the athletes, but so many basics seem to be missing now.  Rebounds are made and the ball's brought down to be slapped or wrested out of the bounders hands.  Passes telegraphed and easily picked off.  Settling for three point shots right away without looking for an option.  Shot clock management.  But mostly strength.  They are having balls taken from them with ease, where is the strength coach?  But agree with above, they still keep hanging in there despite terrible numbers of turnovers.  They had a chance anyway.  Also, used to think Todd Starkey from KSU was the biggest crybaby coach in the MAC but Brady Sallee is far worse, and is very vulgar with his language as well...Hoping they get knocked out early in Cleveland.

Sallee is awful. He used to have a babysitter AD on the bench due to being such a D***. He’s been talked to be the league about it and everything. If you think he’s bad now, he’s been 10x worse in the past. It would have made the comeback so sweet yesterday. 

[NWAkron]

1 hour ago, zippy-claws said:

 But agree with above, they still keep hanging in there despite terrible numbers of turnovers.  They had a chance anyway.  

''to whistle past the graveyard'' ''To attempt to stay cheerful in a dire situation."

[ewbrooman1]

As of today for what it's worth.

 

 

 

Edited February 12, 2023 by ewbrooman1

[NWAkron]

2 hours ago, ewbrooman1 said:

As of today for what it's worth.

 

 

 

No problem dispatching Toledo

Edited February 12, 2023 by NWAkron

[Z.I.P.]

Toledo, I believe is the ONLY MAC team with ANY chance of an at-large, thanks exclusively to their win over top-10-15 Michigan.  Don't want to play them first round.

[72 Roo]

This team is not getting the coaching that it needs. That applies to the entire staff. The players are there to be capable of better performances. Change is most certainly coming.

[Z.I.P.]

19 hours ago, 72 Roo said:

This team is not getting the coaching that it needs. That applies to the entire staff. The players are there to be capable of better performances. Change is most certainly coming.

Is this the magic 8-ball speaking? 😉

I don't see how anyone can judge this team in any way other than to have overperformed given the caliber of talent present. The coaching staff has gotten more than should have been expected from the talent base. So the problem isn't as much coaching as recruiting. And there's no way recruits -- not to mention current players -- are likely to be excited about being part of a program that cannot receive support, or even adequate praise from administration.  Given the overall level of financial and systemic problems in the athletic program, so-called "minor sports" including women's basketball are unlikely to compete for conference championships anytime soon, excepting those like track and field/CC , swimming, tennis that have already experienced success. Not of course considered our men's soccer program a "minor sport" at Akron.  Only a major injection of cash, which seems between unlikely and impossible is going to change the overall situation. But others may disagree... 😃

[Basketballfan1]

27 minutes ago, Z.I.P. said:

Is this the magic 8-ball speaking? 😉

I don't see how anyone can judge this team in any way other than to have overperformed given the caliber of talent present. The coaching staff has gotten more than should have been expected from the talent base. So the problem isn't as much coaching as recruiting. And there's no way recruits -- not to mention current players -- are likely to be excited about being part of a program that cannot receive support, or even adequate praise from administration.  Given the overall level of financial and systemic problems in the athletic program, so-called "minor sports" including women's basketball are unlikely to compete for conference championships anytime soon, excepting those like track and field/CC , swimming, tennis that have already experienced success. Not of course considered our men's soccer program a "minor sport" at Akron.  Only a major injection of cash, which seems between unlikely and impossible is going to change the overall situation. But others may disagree... 😃

I couldn’t agree more. This team has consistently out performed the experts pre season rankings. Coach Jackson has out performed her predecessors (minus the COVID years). Someone said early on in this thread that coaches don’t get extensions until their contracts expire. But those extensions help recruit and retain good players. She has been able to bring in some really good talent. There are only a few missing pieces and recruiting like she has should get them there. Thank god they just gave an extension to the brand new football coach and his 2 win season! I sure hope the Beacon is paying attention to what’s going on with this administration and how it treats women sports. 

[LoyalZIP]

Yes, the team has out-performed expectations coming into the season. I have followed this program very closely for a long time, and even felt doom and gloom coming into this year. Thanks to a pretty light nonconference schedule, the new (ish)-look group built up some confidence and was looking fantastic through the early stages of MAC play. Then, the 4th quarter against BG happened. Since the 3rd quarter of that game, aside from the awesome 2nd half against UB, the play on the floor has regressed to a point that's as bad if not worse than at any point in the HC Jackson era. They've lost to a couple of really bad teams, one in blowout fashion, and have blown a couple of great opportunities to a couple of the better teams. 

 

This past Saturday, they hosted the annual Akron for Nakon game. One of my favorite games of the entire season year after year. The program takes so much pride in putting on such a great event, I've been fortunate to win quite a few auctions over the years. The team was looking like they were going to pull out an outstanding win over one of the best mid-majors in the country. Then they turned the ball over 23 times. This team is far too old to be doing that. Ferrell is a Sr., has been in the program a long time. Ditto Neitzel. Ditto Martindale. Camp was at the best program in the MAC with the best coach last year, and she turned the ball over 9 times Saturday. Ball State turned it over 10 times, a lot of them from great defense from Akron. Far too many of Akron's turnovers were from throwing the ball out of bounds. That is not acceptable for a team of this much experience. Period. 

 

With the loss of Dawson, the coaches in this league expected Akron to drop 5 spots in the standings by the time this season ended. As of now, they've dropped 3 spots to the sixth place. Fred Castro at EMU is a coach that I have always seen on about the same playing field as Coach Jackson. The Zips controlled the game in Ypsi and it was never really in question once they got going. If Akron loses to them at home on Wednesday, they could be in great danger of not making it to Cleveland, which would be a massive disappointment. Beat them, and you have the tie-breaker over them with a trip over to Kent on Saturday against a team you're more than capable of beating.

 

My biggest gripe with this staff remains the same as it did a couple of years ago. Player development is severely lacking. That extends far beyond the current group, as the last few graduating classes had a bunch of players that either regressed throughout 4 years or did not get significantly better. As for this group, Martindale came to UA as a deadeye shooter and was an awesome piece to have on the floor as a Fr. Unfortunately, that ACL injury prematurely ended a great first season, and she could have really helped that team as they lost a 1st rd. home game to EMU. Since then, her development has stalled, as her 3pt% has declined every season since. Ferrell has come a long way, but is not the kind of player to be the best player on a championship contender. Neitzel has come the furthest, as she was incorrectly utilized until the end of her Sophomore season. Corcoran, before her Walton-esque exodus this season, hit a plateau midway through last year and wound up falling down the usage totem pole and finishing the season injured. Bass is the best player on the team this year and has shown some progress, but her efficiency is down without a player like Dawson to carry the brunt of the load. As compared to her season with Buffalo, Camp's AST numbers are down, TOs up, and 3pt% way down. She is way out of control at times, and the BG meltdown happened in part due to Akron running out of timeouts due to her calling one on a loose ball that was unnecessary. 

 

Faith Stinson has shown some potential to be a great MAC player down the line. This year, though, as the best option on the bench, she has become fairly invisible in MAC play.

 

It's just frustrating. Last year really showed what this program could become. I was mortified as to what this season could be after losing the best player in the league, but the entirely new style of play won me back over, only to see if fall by the wayside to past issues popping back up again. I am still not ready to move on from this staff, but preseason expectations be damned. The recent stretch has been unacceptable and it is not up to the standard of this roster and coaching staff. There is no arguing that. In year 5, we should not be fighting to stay in the top 8 like this. I'll be there Wednesday cheering them on as they take a huge swing at getting the season back on track. If you're able, you should join too. 

[zippy-claws]

21 minutes ago, LoyalZIP said:

Yes, the team has out-performed expectations

Everything from this sentence on by LoyalZip is a spot-on analysis of this season and team (didn't want to take up too much space in quoting him).  Kudos LZ, succinct, well put, and I couldn't agree more.  It's frustrating.  But it's great you come out to the games and watch too.  Lots of empty seats....not that that's a surprise for a women's sporting event.

[zippy-claws]

1 hour ago, Z.I.P. said:

Given the overall level of financial and systemic problems in the athletic program, so-called "minor sports" including women's basketball are unlikely to compete for conference championships anytime soon, excepting those like track and field/CC

May want to hold back "excepting those like track and field/CC" from what I've witnessed so far this season.  Some creative writing in GoZips.com makes it seem a lot better than it is.  Especially on the women's side.  We'll have to see how the staff can recruit, but with all the defections after Coach Mitchell left, I think this program is headed to be a Zombie program, one the University funds barely to keep their status numbers up for Title IX and that's it.

[LoyalZIP]

25 minutes ago, zippy-claws said:

Everything from this sentence on by LoyalZip is a spot-on analysis of this season and team (didn't want to take up too much space in quoting him).  Kudos LZ, succinct, well put, and I couldn't agree more.  It's frustrating.  But it's great you come out to the games and watch too.  Lots of empty seats....not that that's a surprise for a women's sporting event.

I appreciate it. I certainly don’t post nearly as much on WBB as I do MBB or FB, but I’m the same season ticket holder & donor I am for them as I am the others. 
 

Coach Jackson has played a huge part over the last 15 years in changing the trajectory and perception of Akron women’s basketball. It was a nowhere program before she got to Akron, even if just as an assistant at the time. 
 

I won’t speak on the administration side of things, which seems to be the biggest gripe. I don’t know enough about what’s going on there in regards to the program, support, etc. What I can speak to, is the performance on the floor, and it is not up to the standard. That’s got zero to do with the administration at this point in time. They are separate discussions. 

[Basketballfan1]

2 hours ago, Z.I.P. said:

Is this the magic 8-ball speaking? 😉

I don't see how anyone can judge this team in any way other than to have overperformed given the caliber of talent present. The coaching staff has gotten more than should have been expected from the talent base. So the problem isn't as much coaching as recruiting. And there's no way recruits -- not to mention current players -- are likely to be excited about being part of a program that cannot receive support, or even adequate praise from administration.  Given the overall level of financial and systemic problems in the athletic program, so-called "minor sports" including women's basketball are unlikely to compete for conference championships anytime soon, excepting those like track and field/CC , swimming, tennis that have already experienced success. Not of course considered our men's soccer program a "minor sport" at Akron.  Only a major injection of cash, which seems between unlikely and impossible is going to change the overall situation. But others may disagree... 😃

I couldn’t agree more. This team has consistently out performed the experts pre season rankings. Coach Jackson has out performed her predecessors (minus the COVID years). Someone said early on in this thread that coaches don’t get extensions until their contracts expire. But those extensions help recruit and retain good players. She has been able to bring in some really good talent. There are only a few missing pieces and recruiting like she has should get them there. Thank god they just gave an extension to the brand new football coach and his 2 win season! I sure hope the Beacon is paying attention to what’s going on with this administration and how it treats women sports. 

[Basketballfan1]

I’m not arguing the many great points. There are many things I find unacceptable with the play right now. I only want to point out that this team and staff is on an island. It would be great to the administration care for them the way they do mens programs. Better to fix the problems you have with some support. 

[72 Roo]

6 hours ago, zippy-claws said:

May want to hold back "excepting those like track and field/CC" from what I've witnessed so far this season.  Some creative writing in GoZips.com makes it seem a lot better than it is.  Especially on the women's side.  We'll have to see how the staff can recruit, but with all the defections after Coach Mitchell left, I think this program is headed to be a Zombie program, one the University funds barely to keep their status numbers up for Title IX and that's it.

I share your concern for the T & F program. Coach Mitchell had a hell of a staff. They recruited way above our pay grade and put the program in the top 25 in the country. With Mitchell leaving we lost a lot of talent. I hope the new staff can recruit. So far I'm not seeing it. Our performance in meets reflects it. I hated to lose Mitchell. He was great and to lose him to Illinois as their pole vault coach, at higher pay than he received for being our HC, hurts even more. Kent is back to kicking our ass in T & F and that is unacceptable, no matter how good Kent is.

[Hilltopper]

1 hour ago, 72 Roo said:

I share your concern for the T & F program. Coach Mitchell had a hell of a staff. They recruited way above our pay grade and put the program in the top 25 in the country. With Mitchell leaving we lost a lot of talent. I hope the new staff can recruit. So far I'm not seeing it. Our performance in meets reflects it. I hated to lose Mitchell. He was great and to lose him to Illinois as their pole vault coach, at higher pay than he received for being our HC, hurts even more. Kent is back to kicking our ass in T & F and that is unacceptable, no matter how good Kent is.

Track and Field is reloading as we speak.