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By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 01:20 p.m. EDT, Mar 20, 2009
The University of Akron basketball team returned home from the NCAA Tournament today with an appreciation of the experience and thoughts of a return appearance.
The Zips (23-13) led tournament-tested and 10th-ranked Gonzaga 52-51 Thursday night with 9:43 left in a first-round game at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. But the Zags countered with a 19-1 run over the next six minutes that led to a 77-64 victory and elimination for the Zips.
It was just the second NCAA Tournament game in UA history, but the hunger for a return was obvious for a team that will return all but forward and captain Nate Linhart in 2009-10.
''With the young guys that we have, going into next year, this is something to build on,'' junior forward Chris McKnight said. ''Next year, I feel like we can do the same thing. You've just got to keep pushing and make sure we're working in the offseason.''
The 2008-09 Zips were the surprise of the Mid-American Conference, being picked to finish low in the East Division, but winning the tournament title to earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Coach Keith Dambrot also hungers for a tournament return, but knows that his team must not assume anything.
''Next year, everybody is going to think automatically that we're going to be a good team,'' Dambrot said. ''But we're a good team because we're a hard-nosed, meat-and-potatoes Midwest team.
''We play with heart and passion, and if we don't do that, we're just average to below average. Just because we finished well doesn't mean we're going to be good next year.''
Dambrot saw firsthand the value of experience and how it helped a Gonzaga team that relied heavily on juniors and seniors.
The Zips led 38-35 at halftime and 49-43 with 14 minutes left, but saw the Zags (27-5) seemingly shift gears in an instant and reclaim the momentum.
''I told our guys . . . that as competitive as I am, I was a little bit disappointed that the game didn't go into the last three minutes,'' Dambrot said. ''We were right there. We played with good passion and desire, but we just had a hard time when it really mattered. And you could tell that they'd been there before.''
Linhart, in his last game in a Zips uniform, also said that a veteran Zags team in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th consecutive year capitalized on their experience.
''It's a credit to them. They've been here before and they knew what they were doing,'' Linhart said. ''They had the confidence to push through our storm. It's unfortunate we weren't able to fight back in the second half.''
Despite the loss, it is impossible to forget a season full of highs and lows that was marked by a fourth consecutive 20-win record and concluded with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
''We were dead in the water about 55 times this year,'' Dambrot said. ''We came roaring back and we'll come back again.''
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
The University of Akron basketball team returned home from the NCAA Tournament today with an appreciation of the experience and thoughts of a return appearance.
The Zips (23-13) led tournament-tested and 10th-ranked Gonzaga 52-51 Thursday night with 9:43 left in a first-round game at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. But the Zags countered with a 19-1 run over the next six minutes that led to a 77-64 victory and elimination for the Zips.
It was just the second NCAA Tournament game in UA history, but the hunger for a return was obvious for a team that will return all but forward and captain Nate Linhart in 2009-10.
''With the young guys that we have, going into next year, this is something to build on,'' junior forward Chris McKnight said. ''Next year, I feel like we can do the same thing. You've just got to keep pushing and make sure we're working in the offseason.''
The 2008-09 Zips were the surprise of the Mid-American Conference, being picked to finish low in the East Division, but winning the tournament title to earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Coach Keith Dambrot also hungers for a tournament return, but knows that his team must not assume anything.
''Next year, everybody is going to think automatically that we're going to be a good team,'' Dambrot said. ''But we're a good team because we're a hard-nosed, meat-and-potatoes Midwest team.
''We play with heart and passion, and if we don't do that, we're just average to below average. Just because we finished well doesn't mean we're going to be good next year.''
Dambrot saw firsthand the value of experience and how it helped a Gonzaga team that relied heavily on juniors and seniors.
The Zips led 38-35 at halftime and 49-43 with 14 minutes left, but saw the Zags (27-5) seemingly shift gears in an instant and reclaim the momentum.
''I told our guys . . . that as competitive as I am, I was a little bit disappointed that the game didn't go into the last three minutes,'' Dambrot said. ''We were right there. We played with good passion and desire, but we just had a hard time when it really mattered. And you could tell that they'd been there before.''
Linhart, in his last game in a Zips uniform, also said that a veteran Zags team in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th consecutive year capitalized on their experience.
''It's a credit to them. They've been here before and they knew what they were doing,'' Linhart said. ''They had the confidence to push through our storm. It's unfortunate we weren't able to fight back in the second half.''
Despite the loss, it is impossible to forget a season full of highs and lows that was marked by a fourth consecutive 20-win record and concluded with an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
''We were dead in the water about 55 times this year,'' Dambrot said. ''We came roaring back and we'll come back again.''
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Barberton, OH
Posted 01:54 PM, 03/20/2009
Go Zips!!!!!!!!!!
Akron, OH
Posted 02:00 PM, 03/20/2009
GO ZIPS!!!! I was proud of AU taking it to the Zags yesterday but we simply could not keep up in the second half. The Zags went on a 27-5 run and that can not happen if the Zips want to win. I am hopeful that they will be back next year, GO ZIPS!!!
akron, oh
Posted 02:01 PM, 03/20/2009
Be proud of how far you can and next year go farther yet.... great game!
hudson, oh
Posted 02:10 PM, 03/20/2009
Hungry? The tuition-paying students who'll foot the bill for this jaunt are the hungry ones.
Akron, Oh
Posted 02:18 PM, 03/20/2009
I've never seen a college kid go hungry. Also, be proud of the accomplishments of this team, which represents not only the U of A, but the MAC and the city of Akron as well.
Nice job guys. We hope for the best again next year!
Lorain, oh
Posted 02:53 PM, 03/20/2009
Patriot do you even know what you are talking about????
"Hungry? The tuition-paying students who'll foot the bill for this jaunt are the hungry ones"
Guess how much UA gets for making it into the tourney??? Jabroni..
Posted 03:06 PM, 03/20/2009
The NCAA pays travel costs for Universities in this tournament - team, cheerleaders, and band. The only students 'paying for it' and possibly going hungry are ones that chose to make the trip to Portland on their own to support the team.
Akron, Oh
Posted 03:28 PM, 03/20/2009
@mattvj5 - that's it, keep making stuff up. Can't stand to see anything positive happen can you? A much larger proportion of UA students' $$$ goes to support UA's performing arts hall (E.J. Thomas) with very little in return for UA students (one student oriented concert per semester if they are lucky and then pizza and hot dog parties outside the hall or a few lame "stage door concerts" attended by very few UA students.) E.J. Thomas is the biggest student rip-off on campus.
Akron, OH
Posted 04:03 PM, 03/20/2009
Great job Zips. You showed you belonged there.
_________, OH
Posted 11:51 PM, 03/20/2009
Frist class program all the way. Thank you for a great season! It was a fun ride! Next season the sky is the limit! But why stop there! Believe!
Posted 08:00 AM, 03/21/2009
? I believe students can get in to most events at E.J. Thomas for free, but heaven forbid Akronites do anything to broaden their horizons. That's why Akron has the poor reputation it has.
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:52 AM, 03/21/2009
hannaman - not even close. UA students do not get into any concert for free outside of maybe one this spring and if they did, so what. offering free admission to something I don't want to see is not serving me in the least.
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:04 AM, 03/21/2009
Hot dog and pizza parties on the concrete slab outside UA's Thomas Hall is broadening our horizons? Who knew?
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:20 AM, 03/21/2009
If I take your money to throw a dog fight and invite you to it for "free" and you decline because you don't like dog fights, can I say that it's your problem that you don't want your horizons broadened?
Posted 09:22 AM, 03/21/2009
Great ride for the Zips, but it's a shame that Coach Dambrot didn't receive Coach of the Year in the MAC. The guy has averaged 23 wins four years in a row, and this year Akron was picked to finish no higher then 4th. What do you have to do to win it?
Akron, Oh
Posted 10:10 AM, 03/21/2009
Go UA Zips. I think we are seeing the beginning of great things to come.
akron, oh
Posted 11:18 AM, 03/21/2009
The zips hung tough, a great base to build on. Now go back and do it in the classroom and get ready for next years run.
Posted 02:03 AM, 03/22/2009
hey patriot...you can raise my tuition even more if it helps us get back there again!!! GO ZIPS!
