Gameday news and notes
Posted March 4th, 2007 by mrasor
Men's basketball
It seems like there is an abnormal amount of buzz in the community about tonight's game.
A lot of non-Zips fans are asking me about it. A lot of people were talking about it last night at the bars.
(That gave me the opportunity to start my first-ever "Kent State sucks" chant in a public place that's not Rhodes Arena. A Flashes fan responded by displaying the double-fisted bird.)
- The ABJ's Stephanie Storm previewed the game by talking about the buzz, as well. She mentioned Cedrick Middleton is battling some nagging injuries.
- The Record Courier talks about some of the celebrities expected to be on hand tonight at the sold-out M.A.C. Center.
- Kent State is a two-point favorite with the over-under at 140.
- Danny Sheridan likes the Flashes by 2.5 points.
Here are some things to watch for tonight…
- As bad as the Zips are at foul shooting, Kent State is worse. The Flashes make a Chris Dudley-like 64.7 percent of their free throws.
- Akron holds a large advantage on the perimeter. Kent State gives up 3s and, except for Armon Gates, doesn't shoot them very well, either.
- Julian Sullinger and Mike Scott played well in the first meeting. They profited off Omni Smith's penetration. Sullinger and Scott crashed the boards and scored on many easy putbacks.
- More apologies go out to Toledo fans, but you'll see the MAC's best coaches and teams duel tonight in the most raucous atmosphere the conference will ever see.
I have to admit I was wrong. I thought Kent State's rebuilding would be much rockier. Jim Christian is my MAC Coach of the Year for making it all work, despite some chemistry and discipline problems.
The Flashes may be as talented as the Zips. They lack experience, but you can definitely see how this rivalry will continue to flourish the next few seasons.
Earlier in the year, I said there would be four MAC games Akron would lose. Kent State, Miami, Ohio and Toledo was the list.
I need to amend that. I really think the Zips are ready to win a big road game. It's hard to say if this will even be a road game in terms of fan support, anyhow.
To win, Akron needs to close the spigot on Kent State's guard penetration. A zone defense might be appropriate, considering the Flashes aren't a great shooting team.
It should be an amazing game and serve as an appetizer for March Madness.
College basketball rules.
Prediction: Akron 70, Kent State 64
March 4th, 2007 at 11:26 am
For anyone not going this game is on FoxSports net tonight, fyi. Crack open a cold one or twelve and GO ZIPS!!!
March 4th, 2007 at 11:44 am
My prediction:
1: Kent fan support is pathetic as usual
2: That nut ball terrorist professor Kent has will show up and declare a jihad on Akron … and Kent … and America in general. Man does Kent have some idiots.
3: At some point John Rybak takes off from the foul line, throws the ball in between his legs and off the backboard, does a front flip while eating a grilled cheese sandwich, then wind mills the ball home with a force so great, the rim melts and 40 Kent students sitting in the student section are vaporized. The rest suffer severe third degree burns. Unfortunately he is called for traveling and then reverts back into the player we all know and groan about. Never showing that flash of super human, Detlef Schrempf like, mega talent again.
4: The M.A.C. center will smell like weed … as usual.
5: Wood will try to repeat the Rybak dunk, only tripping over his own feet and landing on a few Kent players, leaving them paralyzed from the waist down.
6: Romeo Travis and Dru Joyce realize that they need this win to secure any type of legacy outside of "well, they didn't win anything but their teams were pretty good." and combine for 50 points, 19 assists, 26 rebounds and 9 blocks.
7: TV announcers mention LBJ so much that Damon Jones mistakenly thinks it is a Cavs game and immediately releases a statement to the press saying that Drambrot is ruining his shooting form and he needs more playing time. After all, he is the greatest shooter in the world.
8: Matt Futch shows up at the game and delivers the most vicious elbow seen all season to the face of the woman taking the tickets at the door. He can't help it, that is what he does.
9: Half way through the game, Jim Christian gets a call from OU, recruiting him to be their head coach.
10: Zips win 89-71. Akron fans rejoice while Kent fans fire up their preferred smoking apparatus.
And here is a bonus one for you. Some time around the 15 minute mark in the second half, Charlie Frye's leg will fall asleep. He will be removed from his seat and promptly replaced by Derek Anderson. The fans will quietly clamor about how well Derek sat in that seat and how he had the arm to lift his soda up while standing up so someone could walk in front of him. Charlie will return with 1 minute 30 seconds left, only to spill the soda and knee someone walking by. Ladies and gentlemen, we have our selves a sitting controversy. Hopefully the Browns don't draft that lame ass Brady Quinn to take the seat at next years game.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
LOL! Esp. about No. 8.