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By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 02:34 p.m. EST, Dec 12, 2008
His position in the pecking order has undergone an alteration, but his essential purpose remains constant.
By necessity, senior Nate Linhart has become more of a scorer and a leader for the University of Akron basketball team that meets North Carolina A&T on Saturday night at Rhodes Arena.
However, that has not prevented him from continuing to make plays all over the floor, some that find their way to the stat sheet and others that don't.
''His role has changed a little, but it is still basically the same,'' UA coach Keith Dambrot said. ''He is still a guy that does a lot of little things, gets steals, loose balls, guards the good players, get rebounds.
''We are trying to do things to get him more shots because he is experienced, is a good 3-point shooter, and is driving the ball better. But we also want him to do the things he has always done for us.''
Linhart, a 6-foot-8 forward and Gahanna Lincoln High School graduate, averaged 6.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in his first three seasons, when he started 70 of 98 games. He was not needed to do more than that because the Zips had plenty of firepower in those years.
But, in 2008-09, he is the leading returning scorer and rebounder, and has responded by leading the Zips in both categories at 11.6 and 6.1, respectively.
Linhart also has become more of a team leader because he and Jimmy Conyers (who may be granted another year of eligibility in 2009-10) are the only two seniors on a roster full of freshmen and sophomores.
''My numbers have gone up, but I don't see my role changing that much, other than leadership,'' Linhart said. ''I am being more vocal and more assertive offensively because I need to be.
''I have tried to step up offensively, but I have also tried to keep up my defense and keep doing other things. I like the challenge of guarding the other team's best players.''
Linhart's contributions in his career — statistically or nonstatistically — have helped the Zips compile a 78-31 record during his time in a Zips uniform.
''He has been a good player for us, but the best thing I can say about him is that he wins,'' Dambrot said. ''He does so many things that help us. The ultimate compliment I can give him is that the guy wins.''
In Linhart's first three seasons, the Zips have had records of 23-10, 26-7 and 24-11, have reached the Mid-American Conference title game twice and made two appearances in the National Invitation Tournament.
More of the same was not expected this season because of the Zips' reliance on underclassmen, but Linhart does not see team underachievement as an option.
''In my senior year, I am not going to lower my standards. I am not going to lower my goals,'' Linhart said. ''We want to win 20-plus games and win the MAC. I have the same goals I have always had.''
While statistics have not defined his career, Linhart will leave with an impressive list of them. He has scored 746 points in his career and will need to average 10.6 points for the rest of the season to become the 37th member of the school's 1,000-point club.
He also has 144 steals in his career, which has him sixth on the all-time charts. He will not catch leader Jimmal Ball (242 in 1997-2000) but could move into second past Joe Jakubick (189 in 1980-84).
Linhart, a marketing major who expects to graduate in the summer, doesn't want to think about his final numbers and final games. He said he prefers to live in the present rather than think back or ahead about a career and school experience that he has so enjoyed.
''I am trying not to reminiscence in the midst of the season,'' he said. ''I have been in some big games and have had some great teammates. I have life friends here for sure. I will be talking to them when I am old and settled down.''
Zips shorts
The Zips defeated North Carolina A&T 88-70 at home last season. . . . The Aggies (5-3) have four players averaging in double figures, led by senior forward Nicholas Wilson (13.0). . . . The Zips have only one more home game the rest of the calender year, hosting St. Francis (N.Y,) College on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
His position in the pecking order has undergone an alteration, but his essential purpose remains constant.
By necessity, senior Nate Linhart has become more of a scorer and a leader for the University of Akron basketball team that meets North Carolina A&T on Saturday night at Rhodes Arena.
However, that has not prevented him from continuing to make plays all over the floor, some that find their way to the stat sheet and others that don't.
''His role has changed a little, but it is still basically the same,'' UA coach Keith Dambrot said. ''He is still a guy that does a lot of little things, gets steals, loose balls, guards the good players, get rebounds.
''We are trying to do things to get him more shots because he is experienced, is a good 3-point shooter, and is driving the ball better. But we also want him to do the things he has always done for us.''
Linhart, a 6-foot-8 forward and Gahanna Lincoln High School graduate, averaged 6.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in his first three seasons, when he started 70 of 98 games. He was not needed to do more than that because the Zips had plenty of firepower in those years.
But, in 2008-09, he is the leading returning scorer and rebounder, and has responded by leading the Zips in both categories at 11.6 and 6.1, respectively.
Linhart also has become more of a team leader because he and Jimmy Conyers (who may be granted another year of eligibility in 2009-10) are the only two seniors on a roster full of freshmen and sophomores.
''My numbers have gone up, but I don't see my role changing that much, other than leadership,'' Linhart said. ''I am being more vocal and more assertive offensively because I need to be.
''I have tried to step up offensively, but I have also tried to keep up my defense and keep doing other things. I like the challenge of guarding the other team's best players.''
Linhart's contributions in his career — statistically or nonstatistically — have helped the Zips compile a 78-31 record during his time in a Zips uniform.
''He has been a good player for us, but the best thing I can say about him is that he wins,'' Dambrot said. ''He does so many things that help us. The ultimate compliment I can give him is that the guy wins.''
In Linhart's first three seasons, the Zips have had records of 23-10, 26-7 and 24-11, have reached the Mid-American Conference title game twice and made two appearances in the National Invitation Tournament.
More of the same was not expected this season because of the Zips' reliance on underclassmen, but Linhart does not see team underachievement as an option.
''In my senior year, I am not going to lower my standards. I am not going to lower my goals,'' Linhart said. ''We want to win 20-plus games and win the MAC. I have the same goals I have always had.''
While statistics have not defined his career, Linhart will leave with an impressive list of them. He has scored 746 points in his career and will need to average 10.6 points for the rest of the season to become the 37th member of the school's 1,000-point club.
He also has 144 steals in his career, which has him sixth on the all-time charts. He will not catch leader Jimmal Ball (242 in 1997-2000) but could move into second past Joe Jakubick (189 in 1980-84).
Linhart, a marketing major who expects to graduate in the summer, doesn't want to think about his final numbers and final games. He said he prefers to live in the present rather than think back or ahead about a career and school experience that he has so enjoyed.
''I am trying not to reminiscence in the midst of the season,'' he said. ''I have been in some big games and have had some great teammates. I have life friends here for sure. I will be talking to them when I am old and settled down.''
Zips shorts
The Zips defeated North Carolina A&T 88-70 at home last season. . . . The Aggies (5-3) have four players averaging in double figures, led by senior forward Nicholas Wilson (13.0). . . . The Zips have only one more home game the rest of the calender year, hosting St. Francis (N.Y,) College on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
North Hill, OH
Posted 03:35 PM, 12/12/2008
Keep this great Zips coverage up, ABJ, and I may have to re-subscribe...
I think this Zips team will continue the streak of 20 wins, albeit a little closer than in past years.
All the while, we'll get to watch that team east of here end their streak...fantastic!
Posted 02:56 AM, 12/13/2008
They still have athletics at Cant state? And I thought the whole Flushes basketball team was in jail...hmm
Posted 02:56 AM, 12/13/2008
GO ZIPS btw!
