Akron blows out St. Francis
Posted December 19th, 2006 by mrasor
Men's basketball
Akron reminded its fans tonight how the Zips will win: defense.
St. Francis shot just 24 percent in Akron's 79-44 blow-out victory.
Without Romeo Travis, who was suspended for violating team rules, Akron also won the rebounding battle, despite a size disadvantage. Quade Milum stepped up with a double-double (10 rebounds and 10 points). Coach Keith Dambrot said Travis will play against Nevada.
Akron had six players score at least nine points. Jimmy Conyers may have stepped into Nate Linhart's role as the top small forward. Conyers looked more comfortable tonight, scoring nine and grabbing five rebounds. I'm just waiting for him to have an explosive "coming out" game.
I hate to be a downer, but the final minutes of the game bothered me. While the Zips held a lead around 30, the backups fired up 3s and played offense like it was an all-star game. I realize it's the only time they get to play, but running up the score in garbage time is bush league.
The athletic department, however, had to be pleased with how many teddy bears fans threw on the floor at halftime. The announced total was 370 if I'm not mistaken.
- Kent State gave Duke a scare tonight at Cameron. The Blue Devils eventually won 79-72, but the game was very close the whole way. Hate Kent all you want (and I do), but a Flashes win would've helped the MAC significantly. The ACC refs probably hurt Kent's chances, too. The foul count was KSU 25, Duke 16.
- With Akron's loss to Illinois-Chicago, the Zips dropped one spot to ninth in the Mid-Major Top 25. No other MAC team made the list, but Ohio is creeping up.
Women's basketball
Who would have imagined the women's basketball team would have more wins than the football team this year?
Akron beat St. Francis tonight, 71-54. The Zips (6-5) now boast a five-game winning streak, their longest since I was 10 years old (1995).
The team played scrappy defense and seemed to hustle more for loose balls tonight. Freshman power forward Riana Miller dropped 16 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Niki McCoy scored 21. Freshman point guard Sarah Tokodi is an exciting player to watch. She added 14.
Notice I mentioned their rank. These underclassmen are going to make this team good and possibly challenge for a MAC Championship in two years. Also notice I said in two years. Although the Zips have sliced through some weak competition, the conference season won't be so good to them. In fact, coach Jodi Kest should be thrilled with a .500 record in the MAC.
Just remember that this young trio will make women's basketball at UA matter someday.
December 20th, 2006 at 6:16 am
I diagree with your bush league comment. How do YOU expect the reserves to play? We may have been up by 30, but when the reserves get an opportunity to play, they have to play their butt off. You expect them to just go in there and coast? And then expect more minutes? How are they supposed to prove themselves and earn more minutes when they go in there and play like a reserve. They HAVE to go in there and play like LeBron James! Your playing time is based on performance. PERIOD.
December 20th, 2006 at 6:17 am
Give me a break "bush league". Let the back-ups have some fun. If coach would put them in earlier, they might not do that. That comment was definitely not needed.
December 20th, 2006 at 7:19 am
I agree it was bush league, although I wish Goddard would get a few minutes each game. On another note, you can't look at the number of fouls of one team vs. another as indicative of the officiating. We wouldn't want the officials to go looking for calss just to balance them out!
December 20th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Actually when the subs went in we were up by about 25-26… and ended up winning by 35. Flashs hit a couple of 3's too which would of put us only winning 18 or so, and coach would of had a cow with that one, give me a flipping break, rasor.
December 20th, 2006 at 2:03 pm
there was nothing bush league about it. Those kids ride the pine whole whole night. When they finally get in the game, let em play. STFU didn't pull up, they were still trying. People bitch too much about "running the score up" If a team can't stop another teams subs, then tough luck. There is a reason why you lose by 35 a night.
December 20th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Also, if they played D like an all-star game, STFU would have won. No one plays D in All-Star games. Thats why the score is always 147-140 and the last 3 minutes of the game is just a dunk contest.
Jodi Kest for president
December 20th, 2006 at 4:23 pm
Listen, there is nothing wrong with your subs trying to run a fluid offense. There is certainly nothing wrong with playing tough defense.
However, when you have a player going coast to coast with 30 seconds left, it's disrespectful.
Tim Carroll is a good kid from what I hear. It's just something Dambrot should fix, especially before MAC play begins when you might see a team more than once a season.