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Zips nip Chipps with late barrage
Zips play strong, but lack of consistency shows
Man in motion: New coach for the Zips tackles rebuilding
Victory is never too late for Zips
Zips women win 5th game in a row
Victory is never too late for the Zips
Zips hit the road after home stretch
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Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
Akron Zips:
Late surge gives Zips ugly road win
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Garfield at Buchtel basketball
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
Coach Dambrot eager to see young players in exhibition game
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Thursday, Nov 06, 2008
University of Akron basketball fans are eager for the public unveiling of a 2008-09 team long on potential but short on experience.
Coach Keith Dambrot is just as eager, as his Zips meet Walsh University at 7 tonight at Rhodes Arena in an exhibition game.
''We found out some things against Xavier,'' Dambrot said, referring to a closed scrimmage Saturday against the Musketeers. ''It will be interesting to see how we will play with people in the stands.''
In recent years, preseason games didn't mean as much because the Zips had veterans with little to gain except fine-tuning their skills. However, nine of the 17 scholarship or walk-on players on this team have never appeared in a college game, so Dambrot will be learning right along with the fans tonight.
''We are trying to figure some things out. That's probably the most difficult thing we are facing now,'' Dambrot said. ''We are trying to figure out who can do what and who is going to play.''
The Zips do return two full-time starters in forwards Nate Linhart and Chris McKnight, but they averaged only 8.5 and 6.4 points, respectively.
Also back are guards Steve McNees (5.1 ppg) and Darryl Roberts (3.9), forwards Brett McKnight (4.0) and Jimmy Conyers (2.9), and post Mike Bardo (1.5).
That obvious lack of returning firepower — top three scorers Jeremiah Wood, Nick Dials and Cedrick Middleton are gone — means that increased production from everyone will be needed.
It also means that highly touted freshmen such as guards Ronnie Steward and Anthony ''Humpty'' Hitchens must become meaningful contributors.
With that in mind, Dambrot plans to use as many players and combinations tonight as he can. The only holdout might be freshman guard Alex Sullivan (ankle).
Walsh, which was 25-6 last season and reached the NAIA national tournament for the fourth consecutive year under coach Jeff Young (Ellet), also is rebuilding. The two key losses are St. Vincent-St. Mary graduates Corey Jones and Brandon Weems, both 1,000-point career scorers.
The Cavs do have six returning lettermen, but were hampered with the loss of Kent State transfer Isaac Knight, who is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Zips shorts
The exhibition game will be broadcast on radio stations WARF (1350-AM) and WCER (900-AM). . . . The game is included in season-ticket packages and all general admissions seats are $5. . . . The season opener is Nov. 15 at home against Canisius College.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
University of Akron basketball fans are eager for the public unveiling of a 2008-09 team long on potential but short on experience.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 08:14 AM, 11/06/2008
Glad the season is getting under way and I can't wait to see how the new guys do. Go Zips!
