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Zips get run over in second half
Zips get gobbled up by Wolfpack 66-45
Plenty of work waiting for Zips
Zips lose despite play of Murphy, Tamboue
Buckeyes' start fast in semifinal WNIT win
Bowling Green wide receiver might be tough for Zips to catch
Zips would rather forget 56-17 loss to Owls
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Man found dead in North Akron home is identified
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Man allegedly paid teens to spit in his face
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Indians add 7 players to 40-man roster
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Blogs:
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Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Friday Night Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
For your Saturday entertainment …
Akron Zips:
Two blowouts, one night
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Hey, somebody's gotta stick up for the Browns
Kent State Sports:
Singletary update
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Indiana Pacers – Here’s to LBJ and Free Throws
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Bowling season starts today
All Da King's Men:
Headed For Disaster
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Federal Judge Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
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Let's Talk Real Estate:
Silverdome Potentially SOLD!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
George is looking for a Thanksgiving buffet in Akron.
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HRLite House:
Colloquium at University of Akron
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
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!
