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UA basketball team brings back all but one player, adds talented freshman
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 11:56 a.m. EDT, Oct 15, 2009
Coach Keith Dambrot wants his 2009-10 University of Akron basketball team to appreciate the recent past, but not be impressed by it.
The Zips, who open practice for the new season Friday, won the Mid-American Conference tournament for the first time and made the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history last March.
Yet, that team lost more games (23-13 record) than any in Dambrot's five-year tenure, tied for third in the MAC East and needed two miraculous shots to edge Toledo in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
''We were 9-8 at one time last year and needed a couple of great plays to get out of the first round,'' Dambrot said. ''We know what a fine line it is. We know we will be competitive, but we also know we could be middle-of-the-pack.
''We have to get better. We were not a great team last year. We matured at the end.''
Optimism is high because the Zips return all but Nate Linhart from last season and have added highly touted 7-foot freshman center Zeke Marshall to the lineup.
But Dambrot has emphasized that complacency will not be allowed from now until March.
''For us to win, we have to so the same things we always have to do. We have to guard the basketball,'' Dambrot said. ''And we have to rebound the basketball and shoot the basketball better.''
Up front, the Zips return brothers Brett and Chris McKnight, who were first and third in scoring last season at 11.2 and 9.2 points per game, respectively.
Also back in the frontcourt is Nikola Cvetinovic (4.5), Jimmy Conyers (3.2) and Mike Bardo (1.6).
Marshall, one of the highest ranked high school centers in the country last season, will be used inside more for his defense and rebounding than scoring. The downside is that an ankle injury that has limited his number of fall workouts.
The backcourt is loaded, led by starters Anthony ''Humpty'' Hitchens (8.8) and Darryl Roberts (8.3). They will share time with Steve McNees (5.8), Brett McClanahan (4.2) and the injury-plagued Ronnie Stewart (3.3).
Dambrot said he worries most about the loss of Linhart, who was the second-leading scorer, leading rebounder and best defender in 2008-09.
''It's tough to lose a player like that,'' Dambrot said. ''He did so much for us.''
He also worries that every opponent will be looking to knock off his NCAA Tournament team.
''We have a much more experienced team than last year. Obviously, that provides us with different challenges,'' Dambrot said. ''Last year, we were picked fifth or sixth in the East. This year, everybody thinks we are great. We are going to be playing with a bull's-eye on our backs all year.''
The first practice will be at 5 p.m. Friday but is at Barberton High School because Rhodes Arena is being used for UA volleyball. The first practice at Rhodes Arena is 2 p.m. Saturday.
At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, UA will hold a ''Meet the Team'' session at Rhodes Arena. Fans will be able to interact with UA men's and women's players, as well as take part in other festivities.
The first exhibition game is Nov. 10 at Rhodes Arena against Mount Union. The season opener is Nov. 15 at home against Austin Peay as part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Coach Keith Dambrot wants his 2009-10 University of Akron basketball team to appreciate the recent past, but not be impressed by it.
The Zips, who open practice for the new season Friday, won the Mid-American Conference tournament for the first time and made the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history last March.
Yet, that team lost more games (23-13 record) than any in Dambrot's five-year tenure, tied for third in the MAC East and needed two miraculous shots to edge Toledo in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
''We were 9-8 at one time last year and needed a couple of great plays to get out of the first round,'' Dambrot said. ''We know what a fine line it is. We know we will be competitive, but we also know we could be middle-of-the-pack.
''We have to get better. We were not a great team last year. We matured at the end.''
Optimism is high because the Zips return all but Nate Linhart from last season and have added highly touted 7-foot freshman center Zeke Marshall to the lineup.
But Dambrot has emphasized that complacency will not be allowed from now until March.
''For us to win, we have to so the same things we always have to do. We have to guard the basketball,'' Dambrot said. ''And we have to rebound the basketball and shoot the basketball better.''
Up front, the Zips return brothers Brett and Chris McKnight, who were first and third in scoring last season at 11.2 and 9.2 points per game, respectively.
Also back in the frontcourt is Nikola Cvetinovic (4.5), Jimmy Conyers (3.2) and Mike Bardo (1.6).
Marshall, one of the highest ranked high school centers in the country last season, will be used inside more for his defense and rebounding than scoring. The downside is that an ankle injury that has limited his number of fall workouts.
The backcourt is loaded, led by starters Anthony ''Humpty'' Hitchens (8.8) and Darryl Roberts (8.3). They will share time with Steve McNees (5.8), Brett McClanahan (4.2) and the injury-plagued Ronnie Stewart (3.3).
Dambrot said he worries most about the loss of Linhart, who was the second-leading scorer, leading rebounder and best defender in 2008-09.
''It's tough to lose a player like that,'' Dambrot said. ''He did so much for us.''
He also worries that every opponent will be looking to knock off his NCAA Tournament team.
''We have a much more experienced team than last year. Obviously, that provides us with different challenges,'' Dambrot said. ''Last year, we were picked fifth or sixth in the East. This year, everybody thinks we are great. We are going to be playing with a bull's-eye on our backs all year.''
The first practice will be at 5 p.m. Friday but is at Barberton High School because Rhodes Arena is being used for UA volleyball. The first practice at Rhodes Arena is 2 p.m. Saturday.
At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, UA will hold a ''Meet the Team'' session at Rhodes Arena. Fans will be able to interact with UA men's and women's players, as well as take part in other festivities.
The first exhibition game is Nov. 10 at Rhodes Arena against Mount Union. The season opener is Nov. 15 at home against Austin Peay as part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 01:27 PM, 10/15/2009
Can't wait! GO ZIPS!
Canton, OH
Posted 05:17 PM, 10/15/2009
FEAR THE ' ROO. . .. .
Highland Square, OH
Posted 05:24 PM, 10/15/2009
It's a promising season. That's for sure. The Kent game is on ESPN this year!
I hope Zeke's injury is seriously minor..
Kandi, SL
Posted 09:13 PM, 10/15/2009
I just hope no one makes tha same mistake they made wiht the football team, basing predictions on unrealistic expectations. This is a very young team. You never know when the quarterback might be injured, or suspended indefinitley.
Highland Square, OH
Posted 10:06 PM, 10/15/2009
I feel much more comfortable saying that this team will atleast compete. I trust KD MUCH more than JD.
Beachwood, OH
Posted 10:02 AM, 10/16/2009
ZIPS Basketball = $0 = NCAA Tourney. GREAT Coach in Dambrot. Great Future.
ZIPS Football = $61 Million: New stadium = 1-5 (soon to be 1-10).
Gonzaga does not have a football team and their basketball team is consistently rated in the top 10 of all NCAA schools. Many people wonder why didn't Akron invest in their best program given limited resources. Build a state of the art basketball arena to help with INTERNATIONAL recruiting and stride towards a top 10 basketball program. I am hopeful that the football team can aspire to the level of UA's basketball program.
Posted 10:26 AM, 10/16/2009
@Yid
Enrollment at Gonzaga is only 9,000
Give the football team time to grow
tired of typical northeast Ohioans
that have no patience and want to chance
everyone out of town as a result. Football team
will be fine in due time.
Beachwood, OH
Posted 10:43 AM, 10/16/2009
I have been here for 11 years and the football team is at its lowest point. Proven academic research shows that you give a manager (coach) four years to show his stuff, if he doesn't cut it you put in new management. Period!!
Posted 05:48 PM, 10/16/2009
@Yid
Mac Championship
Wins against NC State and Syracuse
Did you forget about that?
Highland Square, OH
Posted 06:24 PM, 10/16/2009
@ Andre
Doesn't matter now. He's outta here. He had more than enough time. It's JD and only JD's fault.
I, for one, am REALLY excited to see who they hire as the next head football coach.
_________, OH
Posted 08:18 PM, 10/16/2009
GOOD LUCK ZIPS!!!
North Hill, OH
Posted 10:47 PM, 10/16/2009
Wow, am I looking forward to this season. Time to pick up the season tix next week!
GO ZIPS!
North Hill, OH
Posted 10:48 PM, 10/16/2009
It's going to be a great season...I can't wait to plant my heiney at the JAR. Picking up the season tickets next week....
GO ZIPS!
Kandi, SL
Posted 03:42 PM, 10/21/2009
See how easily satisfied Akron sports fans are! On the other hand, why don't they fill the JAR Arena? Either the tickets cost too much, or they'd rather watch HS sports. Both indicate how cheap you are.
