bryanschapiro Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 ....we have to get the NCAA bid. Do you think Jeremiah Wood will forget his MVP like performance, and nothing to show for it. Do you think Cedrick Middleton will forget his missed free throw. Do you think Nate Linhart will forget the fact that he had to ride the pine because he was turned into a cyclopse by Quade Milum's elbow. The Akron Zips men's basketball team will not forget what happened this season. They will return to MAC play next year, and they will do well. On paper, they may not stack up well, but anyone who knows these players and coaches personally knows that they will be ready. For anyone that doubts this team, don't. You can't begin to imagine what a healthy Jeremiah Wood can do over the course of a season. Nick Dials, believe it or not, still is battling with that knee. He won't be next season. Cedrick is already the hardest working guy on that team. I saw him today. I spoke to him. If he misses another free throw in his life I will be surpresed. Jimmy Conyers can play, and he has shown that. John Rybek (Officer Robot) gave us quality tournament minutes that had to raise some eye brows. This is not a team that missed it's last shot to go dancing. This is not a team that will rebuild. Like so many good programs, the Akron Zips will simply reload.p.s. Coach Dambrot is discouraged right now. Give it time. Don't jump to conclusions. He will not leave Akron any time soon. He knows it, I know it, you know it, he has come to far with this team to leave it where it is right now. These are his guys. He is like a father to them, and they are his children. You don't disown your children because they lost a championship game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyboy Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Next year, we will be deeper then we were this year with the addition of the recruits swiech,steward,and mcknight.Next year we will have more size then this year, with 2 players who are 6'10 (bardo and swiech)Next year we will have the same, if not more speed then this year with the addition of steward at PG(he is averaging 8.6 assists in HS)here is my thoughts on the starting line up.Middelton (backup will be steward)Dials Wood ( mcknight brothers as back ups)MilumBardo/Sweich (Not sure who will start in this pos) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatwad Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 here is my thoughts on the starting line up.Middelton (backup will be steward)Dials Wood ( mcknight brothers as back ups)MilumBardo/Sweich (Not sure who will start in this pos) Take out Milum insert Linhart and I think that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgm405 Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Start of the season:F-Wood/Swiech/BardoF-Milum/McKnightF-Linhart/Conyers/McKnight/RybakG-Middleton/McNeesG-Dials/StewardEnd of the season:F-Swiech/Milum/BardoF-Wood/McKnightF-Linhart/McKnight/Conyers/RybakG-Middleton/McNeesG-Dials/Steward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryanschapiro Posted March 13, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 You guys all make valid points. I will assure you that the players know that we hurt as a lot too from the problems at the end of this season. They want it for us as much as we want it for them. The red shirts will step up. Nate, Nick, Ced, and Woody will play out of their minds. Look for Jimmy and Officer Robot to be leaders off the bench. The point is, although we hate to look to next year while other teams are still playing, I'm sure Rome and Dru would be proud to know that their teammates came through, and made it to the big dance in 2008. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgm405 Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I think Swiech is the key to the season. Do you guys realize what a guy his size could do in the MAC, even as a freshman? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w00t Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I think Swiech is the key to the season. Do you guys realize what a guy his size could do in the MAC, even as a freshman?I'm salivating at the prospect of a Sweich/Wood frontcourt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipsbandman Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I think Swiech is the key to the season. Do you guys realize what a guy his size could do in the MAC, even as a freshman?I'm salivating at the prospect of a Sweich/Wood frontcourt. I saw a picture of McKnight's brother on facebook and he looks like a young Jeremiah Wood. Kid is very strong. He competes in shot put. Don't forget about him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRasor0200 Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Don't count out McNees, either. From what I hear, he's a good point guard.How clutch would it be for Steward or McNees to come in and play quality minutes right away? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I don't think Middleton or Dials wants to start at point guard next year. And my guess would be the Dambrot doesn't see either of them filling that role unless necessary. So, doesn't that leave either Steward or McNees as the projected starting point guard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgm405 Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 I don't think Middleton or Dials wants to start at point guard next year. And my guess would be the Dambrot doesn't see either of them filling that role unless necessary. So, doesn't that leave either Steward or McNees as the projected starting point guard? No offense...but what are you basing your opnion on that they don't want to play PG? And why in the world wouldn't you start those two? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BZip_08 Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 This team is going to be so intimidating looking just by size, let alone reputation. The end of the season might have been a heartbreaker, but the rest of the season was great! You cannot ignore 26 games just because of the last few seconds of one game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickzips Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 The thing I worry about most is our guard depth. We all know Dials and Middleton can play (though neither really seem to be a great fit at PG), but beyond that we have an unproven McNees, a freshman in Steward who is also unproven and bench fodder like Sallee and Goddard. I'd actually kind of like to see Conyers step up and play some guard this year. I think with a full year under his belt your gonna start seeing some bigger and better things out of this kid.With Wood, McKnight, McKnight, Milum and Swiech I like our odds inside against anyone in this division. Linhart is Linhart. Not exactley the MVP, but definitley a great role player. Rybak actually came on and started looking competent late in the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valpo Zip Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Conyers will eventually play at Guard as soon as Rybak is developed as a solid SF (which doesn't seem too far).Both Nick and Cedrick are seniors next year, the next recruiting class should contain 2 guards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Could someone post a picture of Brett McKnight? I saw him play last year, but I've heard that he's "transformed" his body this year? I'd really like to get a visual of him! He's got good ball handling skills, passing skills and, from what I hear, can hit the 3! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmyboy Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 The thing I worry about most is our guard depth. We all know Dials and Middleton can play (though neither really seem to be a great fit at PG), but beyond that we have an unproven McNees, a freshman in Steward who is also unproven and bench fodder like Sallee and Goddard. I'd actually kind of like to see Conyers step up and play some guard this year. I think with a full year under his belt your gonna start seeing some bigger and better things out of this kid.With Wood, McKnight, McKnight, Milum and Swiech I like our odds inside against anyone in this division. Linhart is Linhart. Not exactley the MVP, but definitley a great role player. Rybak actually came on and started looking competent late in the season. you forgot to mention Bardo. I have heard alot of good things about how he has grown this season, put on some weight and add to the fact that he is 6'10.... thats always a plus in this league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valpo Zip Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Bardo definitely has the built of a great bball player, i am not sure about the skills though.I remember last year, KD saying something like: "When you're in the MAC, you can't recruit big kids with skills, you have to teach them the skills"... Now the good thing about Swiech is that he does have the skills. No matter how big you are, you can't average 25 points if you don't have skills. Did Swiech have any big school offers ? other MAC offers ? this is the first time we could land some one who is ranked 29th in the nation in his position... what brought him to Akron ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quickzips Posted March 13, 2007 Report Share Posted March 13, 2007 Bardo definitely has the built of a great bball player, i am not sure about the skills though.I remember last year, KD saying something like: "When you're in the MAC, you can't recruit big kids with skills, you have to teach them the skills"... Now the good thing about Swiech is that he does have the skills. No matter how big you are, you can't average 25 points if you don't have skills. Did Swiech have any big school offers ? other MAC offers ? this is the first time we could land some one who is ranked 29th in the nation in his position... what brought him to Akron ? The big schools backed off of Swiech after his foot injury during his Junior year. If I remember correctly Michigan State was quite interested and some other big schools. I could be wrong on the schools though.As far as Bardo is concerned I'd like to see him get in more, but with Wood, Swiech, McKnight, McKnight and Milum all there I don't know where he would get much playing time in that rotation. Maybe the following year after Wood and Milum graduate I could see him getting more time in the rotation if he keeps progressing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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