Postgame quotes
Posted November 26th, 2007 by mrasor
Men's basketball
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Keith Dambrot:
"We showed we can defend tonight. We couldn't let Tyndale or Christmas kill us, and we didn't. It's not a great win, but we took steps."
"Woody did a good job throwing out."
On McNees' passes: "You see these gray hairs, don't you? The guy thinks he's Magic Johnson."
On Conyers: "This guy is a good shooter. He just hasn't shown it yet."
"Having a healthy Cedrick makes us a better team."
On Temple's Sergio Olmos: "I didn't think he could get 11 all season, but he did (tonight)."
On poor foul shooting: "I try not to talk about it. All we can do is shoot the reps and be positive. Either you believe or you don't believe."
On the different offense: "This team has to play a little faster to win."
On Ronnie Stewart's health: They ruled out a heart problem. It could be a stomach issue. He's out of the hospital now.
On Linhart: "Linhart is perplexing me. He is struggling offensively."
On Conyers' defense: "Jimmy is probably a better post defender than the 4 guys we got (power forwards McKnight and Milum)."
Looking toward next season, when 10 of the 13 players will be freshmen and sophomores: "I'm just hoping they keep extending my contract. Most of the time, you don't win with freshmen and sophomores."
On incoming recruits Humpty Hitchens and Alex Sullivan: "I like that unbelievable quickness at the guard spot, which we haven't had."
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Other interviews:
Conyers talks about guarding Dionte Christmas: "That was tough. Move. Move. Move. Never sit still, chasing him off screens."
Wood talks about his hair: "The kids love it."
Wood talks about Rhodes Arena: "We take pride that when people come here, we win."
Temple coach Fran Dunphy talks about the game: "I thought they (Akron) did a really good job offensively. I watched their tape, and they like to take teams away from what they want to do. Akron plays really good man-to-man defense."
November 27th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Some of my thoughts (for what they are worth)
Guards played good until it mattered late in the game, and then the lack of a true point guard almost cost us the game…
3 point shooting won this game tonight b/c turnovers, free throw shooting and rebounding didn't. Can't wait until that night when the 3 pointers don't save us…
Does Nate Linhart ever think that he actually committed a foul? Every time there is a foul called on him, he seems to think that it is a total bogus call. Could come and bite him one night if he gives a cranky ref the wrong look…
Jeremiah's hair - I don't even know where to begin, other than the old guy in front of me rattingly off this line "If you're the ref, and you look at this guy with his hair like Mickey Mouse, how can he have any creditibility?" (Although I do think that whoever did laundry actually shrunk his shorts as they only came to mid calf tonight instead of his ankles)…
Crowd was somewhat of a disappointment, as were the AK-Rodies (or should we start calling them the Ak-No bodies?). I mean, seriously, how much homework can you have on the first day back after a 4 day layoff???
And speaking of lack - What's with one and a half concessions stands? I say half b/c one side opened up about midway through halftime. The 2 other stands in the main entrance were closed, and the one upstairs must have still been on Thanksgiving break. You mean to tell me that Athletic Dept cant hire some kids at like $6/hr to work 3 hrs a week???
I think that we are going to end up falling in love with Steve McNees the same way that we have with Nick Dials. A hard working, guts out, get on the floor type of player. Reason for saying this — The old guys in front of me liking him, and judging by their comments throughout the game, that's saying something.
And in closing, did anyone who was at game notice a certain bench player known for shooting threes upon entering the game pouting throughout much of the second half? Not mentioning names, but his last name begins with a G and ends with a D, and boy did he looked p'd off that his services weren't going to be needed tonight.
On that note, good night!
November 27th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I really think this team will be much better once Ronnie is able to out on the court and get a couple of games under his belt. he will make freshman mistakes for sure but he has a tremendous amount of talent too. I believe KD should have included him in his comment about incredible quickness that team hasn't had in his tenure. good to hear he is out of the hospital and that it doesn't sound like a heart issue.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:39 am
What a shame the attendance is. I cannot believe that only 2309 people attended that game.
I am at a total loss trying to figure out why wouldn't students, alum, or any other basketball fan in the area attend that game… pathetic.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
UA Sports Marketing Director: Worst. Job. Ever.
You know, just to avoid the embarrassment of an empty gym, and to begin creating interest among the young, wouldn't it be wise to distribute THOUSANDS–not hundreds–THOUSANDS of free tickets to high schools and even middle schools…EVERY. SINGLE. GAME. ?
Let's face it, UA is making ZERO money on ticket sales now. Maybe they can put some young butts in the stands who will buy concessions and sportswear.
Boy, this University is going NOWHERE…and FAST.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Looks like Rasor didn't have to worry about Keith's comment about playing Goddard, didn't get in at all last night, but Keith makes comments all the time that he never comes through with….
Whew, Rasor, then you don't have to get on the bandwagon!
November 27th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
What is up with Nate Linhart? And he still gets so many minutes????
November 27th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
"You know, just to avoid the embarrassment of an empty gym, and to begin creating interest among the young, wouldn’t it be wise to distribute THOUSANDS–not hundreds–THOUSANDS of free tickets to high schools and even middle schools…EVERY. SINGLE. GAME. ?"
Yeah…Zips basketball games have no worth. Just give away thousands of free tickets. Now THAT'S clever marketing.
How about SELLING tickets? How about REVENUE? Has the lame Marketing efforts of the bloated Zips Marketing staff dumbed everyone down to the point where people actually believe tickets for a perennial 20-win, tourney-contending team can't be done?
Giving free tickets away to watch Zips basketball is absurd. Almost as absurd as paying someone a salary to fill the JAR to the level I saw last night.
November 27th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Here's why I hope Goddard doesn't play: If he does, it means the other guards aren't shooting well. He's not an all-around player.
I wouldn't mind seeing Linhart fade like Rybak did. That would mean Conyers is blossoming, which he appears to be.
As for giving away tickets, I'm not terribly against it as long as it doesn't cut down on the current revenue coming in. I'd be worried current ticket buyers would see people getting in for free and ask WTF? It would be good to have a packed house so the JAR looks like a hot place to be.
November 27th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Ziplooker sounds like a Goddard family member or friend.
He is what he is.
Mike- maybe you can do some research on the marketing of men's basketball or have the Buchtelite do it. Looks like whoever is in charge is stealing money
November 27th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Bill,
I forwarded your e-mail to the Buchtelite's sports editor. That's a great story idea. Thanks.
November 27th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Totally agree on your Linhart comments. I am very disappointed in the lack of development in his game over these past couple of years. Also, I don't know where Quade's head was last night. It was probably the worst minutes I've ever seen from him, but hopefully this was just an off night. We are going to need some of his "muscle" against the big starting front line of Wyoming this Saturday (6' 11", 6' 9" and 6'8").
November 27th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
CK (is that Calvin Klein, Clark Kent, or CooKoo?), in a perfect world, the idea of "selling" tickets and making "revenue" work. This, however, is the Akron Twilight Zip-Zone, where an entire city ignores the very fact that there's a college here, let alone ever considers "purchasing" a ticket. Heck, you could GIVE AWAY the tickets and STILL not get people coming. I believe there is a perception that coming to a game at the JAR is inconvenient…no parking, traffic jams, etc. That perception may have come from ex-students experiencing those issues during their time on campus. (I know I had the parking nightmare issues.)
In addition, with all of the new construction of buildings, a lot of people don't have a clue where they're going, esp. at night. Yes, these are lame excuses, but can you now see why Joe Dunn retired when he did? I'm still waiting for Mack Rhoades and his henchmen to work their seat-filling magic. And I'm guessing it'll be a Loooooong wait. So yeah, giving away tickets to school kids does not seem unreasonable at all in this depressed market. But if you prefer looking at empty blue chairs and bleachers, hey…have at it.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I bet some of the empty blue seats in the lower level are paid for for corporate entertainment but go unused; how can we get them to realize what they are missing? It would help if they got some TV news coverage too.
November 28th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Before the season started I went to the ticket office to see about increasing the # of season tickets I purchase. I was told that there were no areas in the JAR that i could get 5 seats together except in the first couple of rows of the upper reserved section. I would have to wait until all the season ticket renewals cma e back and they would contact me with what was available. I am still waiting. In my opinion, most of the "Marketing Dept." would be well suited to working at the BMV.
November 28th, 2007 at 11:01 am
With our great marketing department, and brilliant ABJ coverage, I wonder if the city of Akron even knows UA has a
b-ball team..
November 28th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
"CK (is that Calvin Klein, Clark Kent, or CooKoo?)"
Quality material. You have a future in UA Sports Marketing. I urge you to send Mack a resume'.
November 28th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
LOL.
November 28th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Maybe UA needs to take its product to the people. Like a "meet the team" day at all area high schools, especially meeting the HS teams and coaches. Let the guys talk with the potential-fans. It's easier to get behind a team when you feel some sort of kinship or allegiance. Maybe there are other large-gathering events where the team can go market itself, as well.
Whatever they're doing now, it ain't workin'.
November 29th, 2007 at 12:57 am
What about hosting a high school game followed by a zips game??? This would bring fans that normally wouldn't come and help fill the seats…I mean do something the Indians had dollar dog night to get people to come.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Who is responsible for putting together Akron's BB schedule these days? I've seen better high school teams than NC Central. It was embarrassing. Mid-way through the 2nd half, the Zips still had the score TRIPLED on them. This kind of game does them more harm than good as far as their rankings. I just checked the latest RPI index, and Akron is now rated 192nd. This is all due to their pitiful "SOS" (strength of schedule), which so far ranks 322 worst out of 341 teams! Compare that to Miami, OH, with a record of 4-3, who is ranked 26th in the RPI because of a SOS that is rated 2nd in the nation, and Toledo, with a record of 2-7, who is ranked 75th because of a SOS that is #1 in the nation! Kent St (record of 8-2, RPI 62nd, SOS 144) and Ohio (record of 5-2, RPI 68th, SOS 129) get their better RPI ranking due to both a decent schedule and a good win/loss record. With the reliance that the NCAA and NIT put on RPIs, Akron is never going to have a chance with their weak schedules. They say that they have a hard time getting games with major and mid-major level teams. Why can Miami and Toledo get these kind of games, but Akron cannot?
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