Latest Bracket Buster Junk

[Districtballer]

District, apparently you have an inferiority complex. You have to find fault with everything. Then you twist it to attempt to prove something you do not knowanything about.Case in point, you keep referring to the RPI as if it were some golden and pure measuring stick. It is not. It is a lie. It proves nothing. Last year Akron had an RPI better than eleven teams admitted to the NCAA tournament. These were all at large bids. The claim the selection committee was not the 26 wins, or the 13 wins on the road, it was our SOS. It is all a sham. and when VCU gets screwed by those old a-holes, do not come here for sympathy.I am going to bed. I am tired of dealing with a twelve year old.

Why would I have an inferiority complex with Akron??? I was not the one posting on the opponents board several days before the match ups were announced touting a VCU matchup. Yeah...SOS is another part of the equation, you can't play a schedule with no one of significance and expect to get an at-large bid. No RPI is not the be all and end all...but it is an important component of the equation. I won't come here for sympathy, don't worry. Sorry to hear a twelve year old is giving you trouble there. Sweet dreams!

[Districtballer]

Hmmm..Can't State beat George Mason by 18 points...and WE'VE BEATEN Can't STATE 4 OF THE LAST 5 TIMES WE'VE PLAYED THEM OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.Do you need to know anything more than that? District Baller...that's EXACTLY what we are saying. You're bragging about the POY in your state going to VCU, when the 3rd rated player in your STATE signed with a lowly MAC school. Does that not tell you anything?

Just that no one from Virginia was interested. Or they wanted to play away from home. I bet you'd be surprised to learn that there are better players outside of Virginia (ie. Florida) that we might pursue. Again, can I please get the name of said recruit? Didn't stop us from having a superior recruiting class to any team in your conference.

[plowerman78]

honestly im not one to get upset but distict who do u think you are. coming on to our board, disrespecting our team, saying that our conference is nothing compared to your little colonial athletic crap you call a conference. Honestly you live in the past way to much, did you beat duke yes congrats, did george mason go to the final four 2 yes 2 years ago yes BUT BUT BUT THIS IS THIS YEAR..THE HEAR AND KNOW..FEBUARTY 23RD CANT COME AROUND SOON ENOUGH WHEN UR LITTLE RAMS COME UP TO THE JAR, AND LEARN WHAT MAC BASKETBALL IS ALL ABOUT..55-2 AT THE JAR..22 STRAIGHT GAMES WON AND BY THE WAY ITS 2008 AND Can't STATE STILL SUCKS!!! LIVE IN THE NOW DISTICT NOT THE PAST!

[Agent Zero]

honestly im not one to get upset but distict who do u think you are. coming on to our board, disrespecting our team, saying that our conference is nothing compared to your little colonial athletic crap you call a conference. Honestly you live in the past way to much, did you beat duke yes congrats, did george mason go to the final four 2 yes 2 years ago yes BUT BUT BUT THIS IS THIS YEAR..THE HEAR AND KNOW..FEBUARTY 23RD CANT COME AROUND SOON ENOUGH WHEN UR LITTLE RAMS COME UP TO THE JAR, AND LEARN WHAT MAC BASKETBALL IS ALL ABOUT..55-2 AT THE JAR..22 STRAIGHT GAMES WON AND BY THE WAY ITS 2008 AND Can't STATE STILL SUCKS!!! LIVE IN THE NOW DISTICT NOT THE PAST!

:blink: Yikes..

[Zip Watcher]

Just saying...trust me, we got hosed with this matchup and deserved better. You won't help us whether we win or lose.

It's precisely this sentiment that is causing you problems around here. You seem to believe that you're somehow beneath playing the Zips. With the "we got hosed" attitude .. you better well come in here and beat the Zips .. because you're acting like it's an inconvenience.Two other things:The Zips are 21-10 all time in NCAA tournament games. Look it up. We've been D1 for less than 30 years .. but it doesn't mean there isn't history and tradition here. Basketball didn't start when we moved up.And lay off the Governors .. they're welcome friends around these parts. And by the way .. they've provided a bigger upset than VCU in the NCAA .. don't be so quick to dismiss them. Look it up. VCU fans would do well to be considered fans as good as AP's.

[Valpo Zip]

I think that we are all getting too emotional and sensitive here. Every single team in the bracket buster will be hoping to play a team with a higher RPI, this is mathematically impossible.We were happy when we got Nevada, we were disappointed with AP. As far as RPI goes, and for a team who is building an rpi-based resume for an at-large bid, i can see why would the VCU fans be disappointed. I don't feel insulted or disappointed by that. My problem is that the VCU fans feel that they will come here, beat us and it will still not make any difference. Well that's wrong. Every team that beat us at home in the last 3 years was in the tournament, so for all of you VCU fans, beating us at home will go a long way on your resume... the committee may not respect us as a team but they do respect teams that beat us at home. In that sense, you should be happy that you control your destiny. Unlike us last year, we got AP, we beat them , but still didn't make a difference.

[Dr Z]

Again, can I please get the name of said recruit?

Probably this guyMake sure you stop back after the game is over...either outcome.

[Districtballer]

Again, can I please get the name of said recruit?

Probably this guyMake sure you stop back after the game is over...either outcome.

Now show me where he's ranked third in the state. Surely a no star rivals recruit with only Akron recruiting can't be the 3rd ranked player in Virginia? Our VA recruit is a 3-star Scout recruit and a 2 star Rivals recruit with offers from Richmond, Northeastern, Loyola Chicago , and Western Carolina. I'll be here no matter what. Guys I totally understand that we'll probably lose this game, given your dominance there...and I'm glad some of you get VCU's position with the RPI. Yes I agree it sucks...but to say it's not a huge factor in giving out an at-large bid is foolishness...Of course Akron would have a better RPI then several NCAA tourney participants every year. That's cause there are auto-bids from 15 or so conferences ranked lower in the RPI than the MAC. Unfortunately its not that you're a bad team...it's just that cause your RPI is double digits lower than ours, but you're dominant at home...it only hurts us unless we win, and then it only marginally helps us. Hope you guys don't take it to personally. You bet the Ohio folks would be griping too if they had to play VCU this year...it's the same situation. We're very good at home and 15 or so spots behind Ohio. It's a no-win situation for them. Anyways should be a good game. Hopefully we can keep some mutual respect between two fine mid-major teams. I promise I'll be here to offer congratulations regardless of the outcome.

[GoZips]

District, this pains me to do. You seem to ignore facts, especially facts that contradict your preconceived baloney. You wrote, "I was not the one posting on the opponents board several days before the match ups were announced touting a VCU match up." Fact: I wrote on yourboard several days before the pairings were announced that I would like an Akron vs. VCU match up. Looks like I called it right on the money. Give me credit formaking a wise and accurate analysis. Instead you try to make it sound like I did not know what I was talking about. Truth is, I did know. I even posted beforeany CAA poster where VCU and G. Mason would be playing. Again, I was 100% correct. Give props for those who are more wiser than you are. Trash me becauseI am wiser than you? That is pathetic.You wrote: " Again, can I please get the name of said recruit?" Fact: Nikola Cvetinovic's name was posted on this thread less than an hour before you asked thequestion. Can't you retain what you read? In a response I posted, "an Akron fan mentioned Nikola Cventinovic on the CAA board. A poster claimed he never heardof Nik. Odd, Nik is rated as the third best HS player in Virginia. Not third best in his conference, not third best in his division, but third best player over all in Virginia.I would say that the Zips found a pretty decent player over in Lynchburg. Six-seven, 240#, averaging over 20 ppg and often pulls down double-doubles. Hmmmmm"You wrote, "Didn't stop us from having a superior recruiting class to any team in your conference". That's nice. That recruiting class shows potential. It does notautomagically translate into on the court performance. Zips fans are deeply impressed by what our coaching staff has done with our recruits. Almost to a manthey have far exceed what critics claimed they could produce. I for one am quite pleased with our kids. Soon, you will be, too.You wrote, "You don't think you should consider the same? You've never beaten us before, you are 0-2 in the series against us." Fact: Not one of the players on eitherteam was alive when those two games were played. Also, in 1970 Akron was a college division program (equivalent to today's division 2.) I think that VCU was a university division program (equivalent to today's division one) in those days. Both games were close according to the final scores.I suggest that you get beyond Scout and Rivals for sources on a kid's abilities. No college coach in his right mind recruits off either of those two lame operations. Therehas to be at least a dozen basketball scouting services that far exceed either of those web sites. They are for fans, NOT, coaches. Good scouting services charge severalhundred dollars per season for their analysis. Try subscribing to a couple of chum up to the VCU coaches ask them to let you look through their purchased copies.Also, you can google "rick bolus" and see his over views for free. You will find that three of Akron's incoming class are ranked between twelfth and twentieth in Ohio.

[Zip Watcher]

Odd, Nik is rated as the third best HS player in Virginia. Not third best in his conference, not third best in his division, but third best player over all in Virginia.

GZ .. for the benefit of all here .. can you please share a source for this claim?

[YouveBeenRammed]

I have to give GoZips props. You have been over on CAAZone for last last two weeks or so enlightening us about the MAC and posting about his wishes of an Akron-VCU Bracketbuster matchup. Personally I feel it is a compliment to have a fan of another school wishing to play our school. I really respect your passion as well. We all have passion for our schools, if we didn't we would not be posting on message boards our feelings and hopes for them, however, you were never negative on our boards once about any of the CAA's schools. It was only until a select few began to be critical of a VCU/Akron matchup that you defended Akron as a legitimate opponent for our Rams. Those posters who have trashed Akron are just plain ignorant. Akron is a great matchup for VCU. After this year they will have 4 straight 20+ win seasons. That is a great accomplishment. As a fan of college basketball I have great respect for the MAC. Can't State, Akron, Ohio, Miami and Toledo all have good basketball traditions. Central Michigan also have a great '03 season with Chris Kaman leading the way. I am really looking forward to this game. I hope we give you guys a good game, because you like most good mid-majors are tough to beat at home. Here's to a good game.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I have to give GoZips props. You have been over on CAAZone for last last two weeks or so enlightening us about the MAC and posting about his wishes of an Akron-VCU Bracketbuster matchup. Personally I feel it is a compliment to have a fan of another school wishing to play our school. I really respect your passion as well. We all have passion for our schools, if we didn't we would not be posting on message boards our feelings and hopes for them, however, you were never negative on our boards once about any of the CAA's schools. It was only until a select few began to be critical of a VCU/Akron matchup that you defended Akron as a legitimate opponent for our Rams. Those posters who have trashed Akron are just plain ignorant. Akron is a great matchup for VCU. After this year they will have 4 straight 20+ win seasons. That is a great accomplishment. As a fan of college basketball I have great respect for the MAC. Can't State, Akron, Ohio, Miami and Toledo all have good basketball traditions. Central Michigan also have a great '03 season with Chris Kaman leading the way. I am really looking forward to this game. I hope we give you guys a good game, because you like most good mid-majors are tough to beat at home. Here's to a good game.

Thanks for checking in. The game will definitely be a good one. The game is important to us on several levels. VCU is a much better opponent than our Austin Peay draw of two years ago. The Zips struggle to get quality mid-majors on the schedule, so drawing a respected team like VCU is great for 2008, but maybe even better for 2009. Ditto VCU gets an opportunity to match up with one of the quality programs in the midwest.Our post season tourney credentials aren't quite VCU's, but when teams bank in 40 footers to beat you in the tourney finals...and the NIT snubs you after 26 wins...it is tough to build much of a resume'. Such is life in a 1-bid conference. Prior to this coach, we had two really bad ones...for 9 years each...thus our lack of much semi-recent tourney history from 1990-2003. I look forward to seeing VCU in person. I saw the George Mason game a little over a week ago, and GM took it to you guys in the end. They reminded me a lot of Ohio U with their size, so the OU/GM matchup will be great to watch afterwards.I'd offer to buy GM fans a beer before the game, but 11am starts kinds put a damper on it. Maybe BW-3's afterwards?

[Zip Watcher]

I'd offer to buy GM fans a beer before the game, but 11am starts kinds put a damper on it. Maybe BW-3's afterwards?

CK, you got inside dirt on that start time?

[w00t]

* The MAC and the Colonial are comparable conferences. I'll leave it to everyone else to demonstrate what significance that fact has, if any. (OMG Ira Newble totally pwn3z Speedy Claxton, our conference is teh ossum and yours suxxorrrrr!!!@!!11).* Nobody cares about any conference's past performance. GMU's Final Four and Can't State's Elite 8 will not get either of them into the tournament this year. * I doubt that Grant is breaking the heart of Billy Donovan, Leonard Hamilton, or even Frank Haith with this supposedly glorious Florida recruting haul. * Akron recruited last year's Ohio POY... so what? The best player in VA is Ed Davis (if you don't count Brandon Jennings who transferred in to Oak Hill Academy), and I hate to break District's heart, but he's going to North Carolina next year, not VCU. Do the Oak Hill guys count as Virginia players? Because none of them are going to VCU either. Burgess (the guy District is drooling over) may be a good player, but he would be lucky to crack a list of Virginia's top ten high schoolers this year, and to say he's the best is absurd. (However, is he more highly regarded than Cventinovic? Absolutely.)* District's main point, which I think was lost on many people before a glorified game of "My Dad Is Bigger Than Your Dad" began, is that VCU got unlucky with their BracketBuster draw. He's absolutely right. The point of the BracketBuster is (supposedly) to help the mid-majors bolster their tournament resumes... how could VCU possibly benefit from playing a road game against a team that's 55-2 at home over the last three years and has a lower RPI than they do when they're teetering on the brink of an at-large bid? Nothing to gain, everything to lose. Not that VCU is alone, the BracketBuster is one of the most witless contrivances I've ever seen. A REAL BracketBuster would be if the likes of Duke, UNC, Arizona, UCLA, Kansas, and Michigan St. were forced to go out and play the top mid-majors ON THE ROAD. As it stands, ESPN cooked up this scheme to have the top mid-majors beat up on each other for a weekend every February. Pfft, thanks a lot.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I'd offer to buy GM fans a beer before the game, but 11am starts kinds put a damper on it. Maybe BW-3's afterwards?

CK, you got inside dirt on that start time?

Everything seems to point to an 11am ESPN2 game. But, that's just my guess.

[Agent Zero]

* The MAC and the Colonial are comparable conferences. I'll leave it to everyone else to demonstrate what significance that fact has, if any. (OMG Ira Newble totally pwn3z Speedy Claxton, our conference is teh ossum and yours suxxorrrrr!!!@!!11).* Nobody cares about any conference's past performance. GMU's Final Four and Can't State's Elite 8 will not get either of them into the tournament this year. * I doubt that Grant is breaking the heart of Billy Donovan, Leonard Hamilton, or even Frank Haith with this supposedly glorious Florida recruting haul. * Akron recruited last year's Ohio POY... so what? The best player in VA is Ed Davis (if you don't count Brandon Jennings who transferred in to Oak Hill Academy), and I hate to break District's heart, but he's going to North Carolina next year, not VCU. Do the Oak Hill guys count as Virginia players? Because none of them are going to VCU either. Burgess (the guy District is drooling over) may be a good player, but he would be lucky to crack a list of Virginia's top ten high schoolers this year, and to say he's the best is absurd. (However, is he more highly regarded than Cventinovic? Absolutely.)* District's main point, which I think was lost on many people before a glorified game of "My Dad Is Bigger Than Your Dad" began, is that VCU got unlucky with their BracketBuster draw. He's absolutely right. The point of the BracketBuster is (supposedly) to help the mid-majors bolster their tournament resumes... how could VCU possibly benefit from playing a road game against a team that's 55-2 at home over the last three years and has a lower RPI than they do when they're teetering on the brink of an at-large bid? Nothing to gain, everything to lose. Not that VCU is alone, the BracketBuster is one of the most witless contrivances I've ever seen. A REAL BracketBuster would be if the likes of Duke, UNC, Arizona, UCLA, Kansas, and Michigan St. were forced to go out and play the top mid-majors ON THE ROAD. As it stands, ESPN cooked up this scheme to have the top mid-majors beat up on each other for a weekend every February. Pfft, thanks a lot.

Well said.

[Hilltopper]

* The MAC and the Colonial are comparable conferences. I'll leave it to everyone else to demonstrate what significance that fact has, if any. (OMG Ira Newble totally pwn3z Speedy Claxton, our conference is teh ossum and yours suxxorrrrr!!!@!!11).* Nobody cares about any conference's past performance. GMU's Final Four and Can't State's Elite 8 will not get either of them into the tournament this year. * I doubt that Grant is breaking the heart of Billy Donovan, Leonard Hamilton, or even Frank Haith with this supposedly glorious Florida recruting haul. * Akron recruited last year's Ohio POY... so what? The best player in VA is Ed Davis (if you don't count Brandon Jennings who transferred in to Oak Hill Academy), and I hate to break District's heart, but he's going to North Carolina next year, not VCU. Do the Oak Hill guys count as Virginia players? Because none of them are going to VCU either. Burgess (the guy District is drooling over) may be a good player, but he would be lucky to crack a list of Virginia's top ten high schoolers this year, and to say he's the best is absurd. (However, is he more highly regarded than Cventinovic? Absolutely.)* District's main point, which I think was lost on many people before a glorified game of "My Dad Is Bigger Than Your Dad" began, is that VCU got unlucky with their BracketBuster draw. He's absolutely right. The point of the BracketBuster is (supposedly) to help the mid-majors bolster their tournament resumes... how could VCU possibly benefit from playing a road game against a team that's 55-2 at home over the last three years and has a lower RPI than they do when they're teetering on the brink of an at-large bid? Nothing to gain, everything to lose. Not that VCU is alone, the BracketBuster is one of the most witless contrivances I've ever seen. A REAL BracketBuster would be if the likes of Duke, UNC, Arizona, UCLA, Kansas, and Michigan St. were forced to go out and play the top mid-majors ON THE ROAD. As it stands, ESPN cooked up this scheme to have the top mid-majors beat up on each other for a weekend every February. Pfft, thanks a lot.

Finally some sane posts on this thread. Esp. the part about what a true "Bracket Buster" would look like. Along the same lines, I would rather see us get a home game against one of the BCS lesser knowns, who will get into the postseason based only on pedigree.

[Districtballer]

* The MAC and the Colonial are comparable conferences. I'll leave it to everyone else to demonstrate what significance that fact has, if any. (OMG Ira Newble totally pwn3z Speedy Claxton, our conference is teh ossum and yours suxxorrrrr!!!@!!11).* Nobody cares about any conference's past performance. GMU's Final Four and Can't State's Elite 8 will not get either of them into the tournament this year. * I doubt that Grant is breaking the heart of Billy Donovan, Leonard Hamilton, or even Frank Haith with this supposedly glorious Florida recruting haul. * Akron recruited last year's Ohio POY... so what? The best player in VA is Ed Davis (if you don't count Brandon Jennings who transferred in to Oak Hill Academy), and I hate to break District's heart, but he's going to North Carolina next year, not VCU. Do the Oak Hill guys count as Virginia players? Because none of them are going to VCU either. Burgess (the guy District is drooling over) may be a good player, but he would be lucky to crack a list of Virginia's top ten high schoolers this year, and to say he's the best is absurd. (However, is he more highly regarded than Cventinovic? Absolutely.)* District's main point, which I think was lost on many people before a glorified game of "My Dad Is Bigger Than Your Dad" began, is that VCU got unlucky with their BracketBuster draw. He's absolutely right. The point of the BracketBuster is (supposedly) to help the mid-majors bolster their tournament resumes... how could VCU possibly benefit from playing a road game against a team that's 55-2 at home over the last three years and has a lower RPI than they do when they're teetering on the brink of an at-large bid? Nothing to gain, everything to lose. Not that VCU is alone, the BracketBuster is one of the most witless contrivances I've ever seen. A REAL BracketBuster would be if the likes of Duke, UNC, Arizona, UCLA, Kansas, and Michigan St. were forced to go out and play the top mid-majors ON THE ROAD. As it stands, ESPN cooked up this scheme to have the top mid-majors beat up on each other for a weekend every February. Pfft, thanks a lot.

Finally some sane posts on this thread. Esp. the part about what a true "Bracket Buster" would look like. Along the same lines, I would rather see us get a home game against one of the BCS lesser knowns, who will get into the postseason based only on pedigree.

Sorry...you misunderstood me, Our recruit who was VHSL Player of the year last year was Brandon Rozzell. Bradford is not player of the year in Virginia, nor will he be. I was just pointing out that while your recruit apparently is the third best player in VA (which no one has backed up), scout has him as a two-star, and rivals has nothing on him. Ed Davis is definitely number 1 this year, we have Kendall Marshall (going to UNC), Ben Boggs (Virginia Tech), Roscoe Davis (West Virginia) Shamarr Bowden (Charlotte) and Bradford Burgess (VCU)...not including Powerhouse teams like Oak Hill and Hargrave Military Academy...all higher ranked than Cvetinovic. Yeah I know all about Ed Davis, he plays on the same team as Bradford Burgess and happened to beat Oak Hill and Brandon Jennings this year. And you're right, Billy Donovan, Leonard Hamilton and Frank Haith are not worrying about our recruiting class, we are not challenging high major schools for recruits, but we have some of the best mid-major recruits in the nation. But to the topic at hand. We did get unlucky...but we'll take the draw...Akron is a good team, and we can only hope to stay within 20 of you guys at home. We'll give it our best shot. Then when you come to our place next year, we'll try and return the favor!

[w00t]

But to the topic at hand. We did get unlucky...but we'll take the draw...Akron is a good team, and we can only hope to stay within 20 of you guys at home. We'll give it our best shot. Then when you come to our place next year, we'll try and return the favor!

For the record, I don't think this will be anywhere near a 20-point game.

[Districtballer]

But to the topic at hand. We did get unlucky...but we'll take the draw...Akron is a good team, and we can only hope to stay within 20 of you guys at home. We'll give it our best shot. Then when you come to our place next year, we'll try and return the favor!

For the record, I don't think this will be anywhere near a 20-point game.

Well some of your posters have led me to believe we'll be lucky if we keep it any closer than that.

[ziptrumpet87]

But to the topic at hand. We did get unlucky...but we'll take the draw...Akron is a good team, and we can only hope to stay within 20 of you guys at home. We'll give it our best shot. Then when you come to our place next year, we'll try and return the favor!

For the record, I don't think this will be anywhere near a 20-point game.

I agree. As much as I'd like to see it happen, I'm not counting on it.

[GoZips]

woot, perfectly stated.As for revealing who claims that Nik Cvetinovic is the third best player in Virginia I have to take the high road that CAP'N K so often takes ... because I said so. FranklyI do not care to reveal my source as I like keeping open lines of communications. Paths that quickly close when you start bandying about certain persons name.CAP'N K ... I understand now your "because I said so". Here I am forced to take the same high road lest my great sources become past tense.DISTRICT probably is being honest (to a degree) when he claims VCU signed a POY. Now I do not have knowledge of how many classes/divisions Virginia has fortheir HS system. Here in Ohio there are six divisions. There will be a Player of the Year in each division. Most likely we will get two POY (Hitchens and Sullivan)of those six divisions. DISTRICT did not claim to have garnered the Virginia Mr. Basketball which would be the over all top player in Virginia. BJ Mullins will get the Ohio Mr. Basketball thanks to the usual politics. What the hell do sports hacks know anyway? Those free buffets at Suckeye U are mightytasty. And, if you are a hack writer you wont be grazing there next year if you do not prop the Suckies number one recruit.For grins and giggles ... Koufos (sp) or some other tosu recruit received the Mr. Basketball award given by the hacks. Brett McKnight was voted the best HS playerin Ohio by the HS Coaches Association. Young Mr. McKnight is not attending oversized U.Since DISTRICT claims that VCU signed a POY that means that the player is already at VCU as this season's POYs have not been announced. Nor could they be until all tournaments are completed. Capese? I would tend to believe that Cvetinovic will be the POY of his division in Virginia. He sure has the numbers in points,rebounds, blocks and steals to warrant such an honor. Virginia POYs this year (2007-08) are not yet named. Maybe this kid was a POY last year as a junior. Whichis one heck of an accomplishment. Last player in Ohio to do that went straight to the NBA. Oh, and he was Ohio's Mr. Basketball three years running.All three of Akron's Ohio early signees are probably going to be first team all state. They are all having great senior years. Thus, I again have to wonder about DISTRICT's claims about signing three first team kids from Florida. Now since I know a fair bit about recruiting do to my past I find it difficult to accept that a kid in Florida let alone three kids who were first team all state as juniors would sign with any mid-major let alone one 800 miles away. That type of kid signs with high majors.With six divisions in Ohio HS basketball that translates to thirty first team all state kids. Of note, Steve Swiech was a first team all stater in Pennsylvania (wheresuch an honor is far more difficult to achieve due the number of schools than it is in Virginia). We know where Steve is. Steve is red shirted future Zip star.

[Districtballer]

woot, perfectly stated.As for revealing who claims that Nik Cvetinovic is the third best player in Virginia I have to take the high road that CAP'N K so often takes ... because I said so. FranklyI do not care to reveal my source as I like keeping open lines of communications. Paths that quickly close when you start bandying about certain persons name.CAP'N K ... I understand now your "because I said so". Here I am forced to take the same high road lest my great sources become past tense.DISTRICT probably is being honest (to a degree) when he claims VCU signed a POY. Now I do not have knowledge of how many classes/divisions Virginia has fortheir HS system. Here in Ohio there are six divisions. There will be a Player of the Year in each division. Most likely we will get two POY (Hitchens and Sullivan)of those six divisions. DISTRICT did not claim to have garnered the Virginia Mr. Basketball which would be the over all top player in Virginia. BJ Mullins will get the Ohio Mr. Basketball thanks to the usual politics. What the hell do sports hacks know anyway? Those free buffets at Suckeye U are mightytasty. And, if you are a hack writer you wont be grazing there next year if you do not prop the Suckies number one recruit.For grins and giggles ... Koufos (sp) or some other tosu recruit received the Mr. Basketball award given by the hacks. Brett McKnight was voted the best HS playerin Ohio by the HS Coaches Association. Young Mr. McKnight is not attending oversized U.Since DISTRICT claims that VCU signed a POY that means that the player is already at VCU as this season's POYs have not been announced. Nor could they be until all tournaments are completed. Capese? I would tend to believe that Cvetinovic will be the POY of his division in Virginia. He sure has the numbers in points,rebounds, blocks and steals to warrant such an honor. Virginia POYs this year (2007-08) are not yet named. Maybe this kid was a POY last year as a junior. Whichis one heck of an accomplishment. Last player in Ohio to do that went straight to the NBA. Oh, and he was Ohio's Mr. Basketball three years running.All three of Akron's Ohio early signees are probably going to be first team all state. They are all having great senior years. Thus, I again have to wonder about DISTRICT's claims about signing three first team kids from Florida. Now since I know a fair bit about recruiting do to my past I find it difficult to accept that a kid in Florida let alone three kids who were first team all state as juniors would sign with any mid-major let alone one 800 miles away. That type of kid signs with high majors.With six divisions in Ohio HS basketball that translates to thirty first team all state kids. Of note, Steve Swiech was a first team all stater in Pennsylvania (wheresuch an honor is far more difficult to achieve due the number of schools than it is in Virginia). We know where Steve is. Steve is red shirted future Zip star.

I am talking about our current freshmen...not this upcoming year's class. There are three such divisions in Virginia. 1A, 2A, and 3A. Rozzell was POY for 3A. This I believe is public schools in the State. Therefore prep schools like Hargrave and Oak Hill don't count. Last year we had 2 1st team players and one 2nd team all-state player from the 5A classification in Florida and one 1st team all-state from the 3A division. (Florida has 6 divisions in total) Joey Rodriguez was #100 recruit in the nation according to Hoopscoop with offers from Kansas State and UMass, who he decommited from before coming to VCU. He was a 3 star on rivals and scout. Scout listed him as the #37 point guard in the country. He played on the State Championship team with Lake Howell and was part of a big 3 with 5-star Florida commits Nick Calathes (McDonald's AA) and Chandler Parsons. He is currently starting for VCU, as is 6'9 Larry Sanders, (7'7 wingspan) leading freshman shot blocker in the country (15th overall). We have some extremely talented freshmen making immediate contributions this year. I'm sure you guys also have your stud freshmen, and while I've honestly never heard of Cventovic, I trust he'll be a decent player for Akron.

[Natty]

what up gang.Another VCU fan here (also host a VCU podcast at vcuramnation.com ..we had Kyle Whelliston on recently, check it out!)This should be a good game, hopefully it won't be, but you guys are mighty tough at home (and on the road for that matter). I honestly haven't seen you guys play this year, but on paper the Zips look pretty consistant. Worst losses were @ Winthrop by 10 and @ Can't State by only 6? Not bad at all. I really hope our boys play up to their potential. We all know what Maynor can do, I think more people are starting to know what Shuler can do...but if people get to see our young guys play to their potential ...Sanders, Rodriguez, and Kearse, we are gonna be a tough out against any team in this year's NCAA tournament. Sanders has played organized hoops for only 4 years I am told...but he's cracked our starting lineup as a freshman, and he's tied for 14th in the nation in blocks/game while averaging only 15 minutes on the court. He contributed his most minutes of the season just the other day against Towson (26) and turned that into 7 blocks (as well as 11 points and 8 boards). Kearse had some virus that apparently causes severe fatigue, which kept him from playing/practicing at times this season.. but when he's healthy he's been a scoring machine as a freshman. Scored 11 in only 19 minutes in that same game against Towson, had 17 in only 20 minutes at Hofstra a couple of games before that. Anyway, I'm bragging a bit about our guys here but the moral is I think this will be a nail biter. Let's hope both our teams can keep the wins comin in prior.

[meatwad]

w00t... you pwn. You pretty much hit the nail on the head. Your sanity is much appreciated.