Latest Bracket Buster Junk

[GoZips]

Learned this afternoon that the Zips have a high probability of facing either George Mason or Virginia Commonwealth in the Bracket Buster.Posters on the Colonial blog board are lamenting having to play the lowly Zips.If any of you feel like stepping over and offering an earful here is the link: http://caazone.com/boards/Fair warning. It is a bit difficult to get an account and use it on that board. I continue to have trouble with it.

[zipboy]

2 years ago we got a great RPI game in Nevada, last year we were hurt with Austin Peay. Sounds like it is our turn to get a good one. I like the MAC vs Colonial for a new rivalry. This would give us good RPI games for nonconference ,a very similar league to the MAC.

[GoZips]

zipboy, I agree with you. However, the CAA posters see us as bastard step children. Red headed ones at that.Boy are they in for a surprise.

[RowdyZip]

zipboy, I agree with you. However, the CAA posters see us as bastard step children. Red headed ones at that.Boy are they in for a surprise.

Wow, this kinda makes me hope we DO get Mason. It'd be nice to stomp them in the JAR. I find them to be quite similar to K-e-n-t. Obnoxious as hell because of one good run in the tourney and a couple autobid-first round exits. At least GMs run wasnt 6 years ago...

[Blue & Gold]

Didn't Can't already stomp GU earlier this year? And GU's still talking smack? Whatever.

[GoZips88]

One thing I really like about the ESPN Bracket Buster ... it FORCES some of these teams who wouldn't THINK of playing AT Akron to come here and play us. Too bad (at least according to Frenchy) that the MVC has right of refusal on where/who they play in the Buster (pansies). Looking forward to seeing who we draw tomorrow.

[skip-zip]

Good point GoZips88....these games do serve as a way for us to get a good, quality opponent from another conference to play us at home.

[GoZips88]

Here's a link to the ESPNU Bracket Buster web site ...O'Reilly / ESPNU BracketBusters

[GoZips]

Posted on the CAA board early this afternoon:The Missouri Valley Conference and the Horizon League will take center stage in late February on ESPN's BracketBuster weekend, the network announced Monday. Both conferences will have five teams represented, including the marquee matchup of current Horizon League leader Butler (No. 11 ESPN/USA Today) taking on the Valley's top team Drake (No. 15 ESPN/USA Today) on Feb. 23. Among the other big games that weekend, all three current Mid-American co-leaders are in action including Akron hosting CAA leader Virginia Commonwealth, Can't State traveling to face No. 23 Saint Mary's and Ohio entertaining the CAA's 2006 Final Four participant, George Mason. In other games, Winthrop hosts Davidson, the Southern Conference's top team, while Rider (10-2 in the MAAC) takes on Cal State Northridge (7-1 in the Big West). In total, 28 teams will square off on ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN360.com and ESPN Classic on Feb. 22-24. With the Valley and Horizon leading the way with five schools playing in BracketBuster weekend, the Mid-American has four participants while the MAAC and WAC have three schools each. The CAA and Big West have two teams apiece while the Southern, Big South, Summitt and West Coast conferences have one school represented. The times and networks for each game will be unveiled on Monday, Feb. 11. BracketBuster Weekend ScheduleFriday, Feb. 22Marist at Cleveland StateDavidson at Winthrop Saturday, Feb. 23VCU at AkronSiena at Boise StateUW-Milwaukee at BradleyDrake at ButlerRider at Cal State NorthridgeGeorge Mason at OhioCreighton at Oral RobertsCan't State at Saint Mary'sNevada at Southern IllinoisUC Santa Barbara at Utah StateMiami (OH) at Valparaiso Sunday, Feb. 24Wright State at Illinois State

[ziptrumpet87]

Today's ESPN Bracketology has TWO MAC teams... Can't (auto-bid) and OU. Both are 12 seeds (East and Midwest).source

[GoZips88]

Fox Sports Akron/VCU stat comparison ...Stat comparison Akron and VCU

[Districtballer]

Hey Akron fans, VCU fan here...should be a good game. It'll certainly make for great TV. While it is true that Akron was less than desirable for VCU...now that we've got it, we'll take it. I hope you all don't take it personally as it appears some of you already have. It was just based off the fact that it does little to help us with an at-large bid should we need it. Having you 18 spots lower in the RPI would do little to improve our RPI if we did win, which apparently is next to impossible to do in your house (55-2?? That's awesome...). If we lose, the ramifications for our RPI would be substantial. Then the fact that you lose 4 of 5 top scorers from your team next year makes the return trip at VCU a game that most of our fans would not be really excited about. That said, the game this year should be a downright battle and make for excellent TV. I'm not so cocky as to predict a win for my team without having seen you guys play. But we're a very good ball club. Hopefully we can give you a run for your money at home and put that record to the test.

[Zip Watcher]

Then the fact that you lose 4 of 5 top scorers from your team next year makes the return trip at VCU a game that most of our fans would not be really excited about.

At the moment, I wouldn't worry yourselves too much about the Zips next year .. they'll still be pretty good. Besides, VCU will be losing 3 of their top 4 also. I think it's a good matchup. Perhaps we should play this year's game first.Hope you can make it up to the WOODshed for the contest.Go Zips.

[Districtballer]

Then the fact that you lose 4 of 5 top scorers from your team next year makes the return trip at VCU a game that most of our fans would not be really excited about.

At the moment, I wouldn't worry yourselves too much about the Zips next year .. they'll still be pretty good. Besides, VCU will be losing 3 of their top 4 also. I think it's a good matchup. Perhaps we should play this year's game first.Hope you can make it up to the WOODshed for the contest.Go Zips.

Actually, that's not quite true. We lose Shuler (big loss), Michael Anderson, and Wil Fameni. But Fameni hardly plays as he has been suffering from knee tendinitis all year long. 6'9 freshman Larry Sanders has stepped into the starting lineup in his stead. We currently start 2 freshmen and we will be returning Wooden award candidate and current Bob Cousy finalist Eric Maynor who you might have heard of. We lost 2 of our top 3 last year and we're still quite good this year. VCU is in fact a very young team, having 9 newcomers this year. I agree though, it should be a very good matchup and a great game. We know all about how good you are at home, so rest assured no one at VCU is taking you lightly. You should take it as a compliment that VCU did not want you as a matchup, shows how good you guys are. I would have been happier with you having a higher RPI, but there is still much basketball to be played and Akron's RPI will hopefully go up over the next few weeks. I will do my best to make it up for the game! Hopefully I'll be able to meet some of you fine folks up there!

[Zip Watcher]

Ok .. well I was citing current scoring averages per ESPN. Certainly your roster does look young overall.You can snoop around here and find lots on what the Zips have coming back next year if you like. In fact, we have an incoming frosh from your neck of the woods (statewise anyway .. I have no idea where VES is in respect to VCU). Check the thread in recruiting about Nikola Cvetinovic .. he appears to be having a pretty good senior year.We lost our 2 "best" players last year also .. btw.

[Districtballer]

Ok .. well I was citing current scoring averages per ESPN. Certainly your roster does look young overall.You can snoop around here and find lots on what the Zips have coming back next year if you like. In fact, we have an incoming frosh from your neck of the woods (statewise anyway .. I have no idea where VES is in respect to VCU). Check the thread in recruiting about Nikola Cvetinovic .. he appears to be having a pretty good senior year.We lost our 2 "best" players last year also .. btw.

Interesting, never heard of this guy. We actually recruited the Virginia State POY (Brandon Rozzell) last year and have 3-star guard Bradford Burgess from Benedictine coming in as well. We also had the #5 mid-major recruiting class in the country as per rivals last year with 3 Rivals 3-star recruits. http://rivalshoops.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=682458VCU is one of the better defensive teams in the country. We lead the nation in defending the 3-point line with the lowest opposition 3-pt fg% in the country. We are lead by Maynor and Shuler who stepped up from being sixth man last year to a first all conference player this year. Maynor is considered as one of the top 10 point guards in the country and is a NBA prospect. The aforementioned Larry Sanders at 6'9 has a 7'7 wingspan (that is not a typo). 7'7. and is the leading freshmen shot-blocker in the nation and 15th nationally overall.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I would think this will be a great match up. If VCU defends the 3-line well, they can give us trouble. That's how we lost to Ken.t and CMU...their guards got in our face. But...both those games were on the road. We don't lose at home. Ok...95% of the time we don't. Two seasons ago we drew Austin Peay. They were pretty full of themselves...and we smoked them. Both in the tourney, and in the return game this season.While it isn't "sexy" (in terms of ESPN-based prominence) to play the Zips, our coach will have four 20+ win seasons and a 19-win season under his belt in his first 5 years at the helm. A win vs. UA in any season would look good on VCU's tourney resume. Rest assured -- Our team next season will be very competitive. But for now, I'm looking forward to the 23rd.

[Districtballer]

I would think this will be a great match up. If VCU defends the 3-line well, they can give us trouble. That's how we lost to Ken.t and CMU...their guards got in our face. But...both those games were on the road. We don't lose at home. Ok...95% of the time we don't. Two seasons ago we drew Austin Peay. They were pretty full of themselves...and we smoked them. Both in the tourney, and in the return game this season.While it isn't "sexy" (in terms of ESPN-based prominence) to play the Zips, our coach will have four 20+ win seasons and a 19-win season under his belt in his first 5 years at the helm. A win vs. UA in any season would look good on VCU's tourney resume. Rest assured -- Our team next season will be very competitive. But for now, I'm looking forward to the 23rd.

Please don't tell me you're comparing Austin Peay to VCU...

[zipboy]

I was hoping for this matchup. VCU is a high mid major, I would love to start a series with. Easy to get to Richmond next year, should be a marquee game on the 23nd.

[Districtballer]

I would think this will be a great match up. If VCU defends the 3-line well, they can give us trouble. That's how we lost to Ken.t and CMU...their guards got in our face. But...both those games were on the road. We don't lose at home. Ok...95% of the time we don't. Two seasons ago we drew Austin Peay. They were pretty full of themselves...and we smoked them. Both in the tourney, and in the return game this season.While it isn't "sexy" (in terms of ESPN-based prominence) to play the Zips, our coach will have four 20+ win seasons and a 19-win season under his belt in his first 5 years at the helm. A win vs. UA in any season would look good on VCU's tourney resume. Rest assured -- Our team next season will be very competitive. But for now, I'm looking forward to the 23rd.

Please don't ever compare VCU to Austin Peay again. Entirely different level team. Austin Peay is a joke.

[meatwad]

Please don't ever compare VCU to Austin Peay again. Entirely different level team. Austin Peay is a joke.

No worries Districtballer, no one here thinks that AP is anywhere near the level of VCU... after all you did beat Duke in the tourney last year. CK is just saying that it could be somewhat of a letdown if you are upset about getting a "crappy draw," cause it could get a whole lot worse if you lose when you weren't expecting to.Every year some teams are happy with their draw and some aren't... it's kinda the way it has to go. We look forward to seeing you soon; keep winning in the meantime.

[RootforRoo44]

oh im saying that Austin Peay is about the same level of quality as virginia commonwealth...they both suck

[Districtballer]

Yeah...I think that's actually VCU fans think this is such a letdown...Cause they know that Akron is a much better team at home than their RPI indicates. It's a no-win situation for us really. As for the winning thing, we'll do our best. Hopefully we can run the table from here on out, I hope y'all will do us the same favor til we meet. Anyway...that's how the bracketbuster goes...some years you have a draw you deserve, other times one you didn't, and still other times you feel shafted...but it'll be a good game.

[Districtballer]

oh im saying that Austin Peay is about the same level of quality as virginia commonwealth...they both suck

Please...what I call sucking is having one NCAA appearance in the history of your school as a 15 seed in 1986. What I call sucking is having 26 wins in a year and still getting passed over by not only the NCAA but NIT as well. You can talk smack when you actually do something and have a history as a team. Gimme a break. Austin Peay has been to more tourney's than Akron at least.

[zippy5]

oh im saying that Austin Peay is about the same level of quality as virginia commonwealth...they both suck

Please...what I call sucking is having one NCAA appearance in the history of your school as a 15 seed in 1986. What I call sucking is having 26 wins in a year and still getting passed over by not only the NCAA but NIT as well. You can talk smack when you actually do something and have a history as a team. Gimme a break. Austin Peay has been to more tourney's than Akron at least.

VCU is a pretty good team. Beat Duke and took Pitt to OT, I was a Pitt fan before I came to Akron, I was from the Burgh...but Akron sucks? Hahaha I didn't know the current status of a team was judged on our 20 year history of being D-1. I can't wait until we beat you by 20 in the JAR.