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BracketBusters game against Valparaiso will help, team says
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Saturday, Feb 21, 2009
The University of Akron is in the middle of the most pressure-filled and fate-determining portion of its Mid-American Conference schedule.
So logic might suggest that the ESPNU BracketBusters game tonight at Valparaiso would be an unwelcome distraction and major irritant.
Think again, Zips faithful.
''We have been focusing on the league for so long, but with this, the focus will switch,'' junior forward Chris McKnight said. ''I think it is OK to take a breather from the league. We will take a break for a few days and then get back to it.
''We always look forward to playing games against good teams. Playing on the road against a good team will help us.''
The Zips (17-9, 8-4), who are in a four-way tie for second place in the MAC East behind Buffalo, are coming off a tense 53-44 victory over Miami at home Wednesday night.
The game against Valparaiso, a member of the Horizon League, comes between Miami and a road game against Buffalo next Thursday. Then comes home games in the MAC with Bowling Green and Ohio University, and a road game with Kent State.
Zips coach Keith Dambrot said he doesn't like taking a 350-mile bus ride to Indiana for the game and having a quick turnaround against Buffalo, but he understands the competitive benefits.
''I like playing this time of year. People thought the Youngstown State game was rough on us, but I liked it,'' Dambrot said, referring to a 14-point victory at YSU on Jan. 26. ''You get better by playing.''
The BracketBusters format brings together mid-majors seeking to separate themselves from the pack and to impress the NCAA Tournament committee in filling out its field of 65 teams.
But this game won't sway selectors, because neither team has enough victories or a high enough Rating Percentage Index to merit an at-large berth. The Zips have an RPI of 119 and Valparaiso (7-20, 4-12) has an RPI of 251 (out of 343 teams).
So Dambrot realizes that the BracketBusters will not help his team in that regard because its fate is in its own hands.
''RPI is meaningless for us right now anyway,'' he said. ''We are not getting in the NCAA Tournament unless we win the league.''
Valparaiso has had some successful seasons under coach Homer Drew but had a large group of seniors in 2007-08 who are gone.
The Crusaders have been competitive in most games against a schedule that is rated the 78th toughest in the nation. They stayed with North Carolina (85-63) and Purdue (59-45) for a spell before faltering, and they lost at No. 21 Butler just 59-51 on Jan. 30.
Valparaiso thrives on 3-point shooting at the encouragement of Drew, who won the 600th game of his coaching career on Feb. 13 with a 71-47 victory over Loyola of Chicago.
''It's going to be a hard game. They played Butler very well there, and they waxed Loyola the other night,'' Dambrot said. ''Their record is not very good, but that guy has won 600 games.
''He is one of the best offensive coaches in the country. So it will be fun from that perspective.''
The Zips and Crusaders have two common opponents. UA won at Youngstown State 67-53 and Valparaiso won at YSU 68-57. The Zips lost in overtime at Miami 64-51 and the Crusaders lost at Miami 62-50.
Valparaiso, which has lost six of its past seven games, has only one player averaging in double figures. Urule Igbavboa, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, is averaging 12 points, as well as a team-best 5.6 rebounds.
The Zips, who started 8-7 but have a 9-2 record since Jan. 17, are led in scoring by sophomore forward Brett McKnight (11.5) and senior forward Nate Linhart (10.1).
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
The University of Akron is in the middle of the most pressure-filled and fate-determining portion of its Mid-American Conference schedule.
Get the full article here.
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