akron

UA names assistant coach for women's basketball

Wed, 24 May 2006 23:45:26 GMT

The University of Akron today announced the hiring of Bob Bolden as assistant coach of the women's basketball team. He will begin immediately.

Bolden, who played at Walsh University in North Canton, comes to the Zips after spending the last two seasons as head coach at University of Arkansas-Monticello. His teams there were 30-27 (.526) and made the Gulf South Conference tournament twice.

Prior to going to Arknansas-Monticello, Boldon was an assistant on Jodi Kest's staff at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for two seasons (2002-03 through 2003-04). Kest was named head coach of the Zips on May 12.

NCAA sends out warning

Wed, 10 May 2006 22:32:00 GMT

The NCAA is trimming the gray area from eligibility rules for underclassmen entering the NBA draft.

However, player-agent Bill Neff said that's a futile exercise, with many in his profession cutting under-the-table deals with players.

The NCAA recently distributed a four-page memo, reminding schools what underclassmen can and cannot do to test their NBA marketability. The memo warns underclassmen not to accept travel expenses from NBA basketball teams, though that's been common practice in the past.

One of the authors of that memo said its purpose is heading off trouble and, potentially, holding rule-breakers accountable.

"It's fair to say we've had multiple student-athletes facing possible violations of NCAA rules," said Rachel Newman Baker, the NCAA's director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities. "We're trying to avoid (those problems), so we're not dealing with it next semester."

The NCAA now requires underclassmen in the draft to sign forms, stating they know the rules and understand the risk to their eligibility.

"We want it very clear up front," Newman Baker said, "if we do get into investigating a case, the `I-didn't-know' answer will not work."

The NCAA dealt with messy situations the past few years, involving former Connecticut forward Charlie Villanueva and current Kentucky center Randolph Morris. Each turned pro and had contact with an agent, only to pull out of the draft and seek to play college basketball.

NCAA sends out warning

Wed, 10 May 2006 18:31:00 GMT

The NCAA is trimming the gray area from eligibility rules for underclassmen entering the NBA draft.

However, player-agent Bill Neff said that's a futile exercise, with many in his profession cutting under-the-table deals with players.

One of the authors of that memo said its purpose is heading off trouble and, potentially, holding rule-breakers accountable.

The NCAA now requires underclassmen in the draft to sign forms, stating they know the rules and understand the risk to their eligibility.

"We want it very clear up front," Newman Baker said, "if we do get into investigating a case, the `I-didn't-know' answer will not work."

ZIPS NOTE - NCAA

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 01:32:00 GMT

Basketball banquet April 25 at Tangier

The University of Akron's men's basketball team will be honored at a postseason banquet April 25, at Tangier restaurant.

Reservations are necessary. Tickets can be ordered through the basketball office, 330-972-7678.

The banquet begins with a social hour at 6 p.m. A buffet dinner will start at 7 and the program at 8.

The Zips are coming off one of the best seasons in school history, finishing with a 23-10 record and reaching the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Ncaa - Smart Named Clemson Assistant Coach

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:59:00 GMT

University of Akron associate head coach Shaka Smart was named assistant men's basketball coach at Clemson, Tiger head coach Oliver Purnell announced on Wednesday. Smart replaces Kevin Nickleberry, who resigned earlier this month to become head coach at Hampton.

Smart, 29, becomes a member of Purnell's Clemson staff for the second time, and teams up with the coach for the third time in his career. Smart came to Akron in June 2003 after following Purnell from Dayton to CU that spring. Smart was coordinator of basketball operations at Dayton for the previous two seasons.

"We are very pleased to have Shaka return to Clemson," Purnell said. "He worked with our program at Dayton and he made a big impact on our final two seasons. For the last three years he has been a major reason Akron has made significant improvements. They won 23 games this past year and we saw first hand the strength of that program because we had a very competitive game with them in Puerto Rico (San Juan Shootout title game/66-59 Clemson win)."

Smart recently completed his third year as a member of the Akron basketball staff, and first season as associate head coach. He coordinated the program's recruiting effort, scheduling, and played a large role in on-the-court instruction.

The Zips finished the 2005-06 season with a 23-10 record, the most wins in the program's Division I era, and notched the school's first DI postseason victory in the form of an 80-73 overtime win at Temple in the opening round of the National Invitation Tournament. UA also posted a 13-0 mark at Rhodes Arena, and boasts an 18-game home win streak which ranks as the third-longest nationally.

These long shots could go far

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:39:00 GMT

All the talk about preseason top 10s or 25s for next season is ludicrous -- at least until June 18, which is the deadline for early entrants to the NBA draft to withdraw.

The decisions that will have the biggest bearing on those preseason lists will come from these five players: Texas C LaMarcus Aldridge, UCLA G Jordan Farmar, Florida C Joakim Noah, LSU F Tyrus Thomas and Memphis F Shawne Williams.

There's no reason to try to do a legit preseason "poll" until those guys decide where they'll spend next season.

Instead, let's look at who the next George Mason might be. That school's improbable run to the Final Four isn't going to be repeated for a while -- if ever. But the Patriots' success is going to put more pressure on a lot of mid-major coaches, the old, "Well, they did it, so why can't you?" argument.

Here's an early look at what appear to be next season's strongest mid-majors.

Akron (23-10 this season, including 1-1 in NIT tournament): The Zips will return their top four scorers and five of their top seven. The two best players are F Romeo Travis and PG Dru Joyce, who played high-school ball in Akron with basketball player LeBron James. Joyce had a better than 2-1 assist-turnover ratio this season, and he should help the Zips be the class of the Mid-American Conference championship next season.

Kelly Kennedy Resigns As Head Women's Basketball Coach - WNCAA

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:46:00 GMT

University ofAkron head women's basketball coach Kelly Kennedy has resigned as head women's basketball coach, effective immediately, UA Athletics Director Mack Rhoades said.

Rhoades asked for and received Kennedy's resignation today.

"We appreciate Kelly's efforts over the last four seasons," Rhoades said. "However, I felt it was now time for the program to head in a new direction. She did recruit quality young women who represent the program well. We wish her the best in the future."

Kennedy, who just completed her fourth season at the helm, saw her Zips eliminated from the Kraft Mid-American Conference women's basketball tournament in the first round at Ball State, 71-46, on March 4. Akron finished the 2005-06 season with a 5-23 mark, including a 2-14 record in MAC play.

Creighton 71, Akron 60

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 00:45:00 GMT

If Creighton was still disappointed over not getting an NCAA tournament bid, the Bluejays didn't show it against Akron in their first-round NIT game.

Pierce Hibma hit consecutive 3-pointers to open the game and the Bluejays quickly built a double-digit lead they held most of the night in a 71-60 victory over the Zips on Thursday.

Afterward, coach Dana Altman and his players talked about how they have come to embrace their appearance in the NIT, their consolation prize after losing four of their last six games.

"We came out fired up,"said Anthony Tolliver, who led the Bluejays with 18 points. "It's an opportunity to play. That's what we wanted. It's not in the context we wanted. We wanted to be in the NCAA, obviously. It's an opportunity keep playing ball."

Creighton (20-9) showed no adverse effects from having 13 days off since their loss to Bradley in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. The Bluejays led 40-26 at halftime.

"The guys played with some energy tonight," Altman said. "We got a few shots down, which helped us get going. This time of year, when you don't play for 13 days, that's really a long time."

The Bluejays will host Miami in a second-round game Monday. A meeting with Michigan or Notre Dame awaits the winner.

Altman said if his team continues to advance in the NIT, it would help the MVC counter the knocks against the conference, which had four teams earn NCAA bids.

"There is no way we're going to get Miami to come in here on a home-and-home, so it's a good opportunity for us," Altman said. "You've got to get excited about having the chance of going to Michigan or having Notre Dame come in here. You can't look ahead, but having those teams in the bracket and having those opportunities we just don't get."

The chance to play those 'name' opponents cushions the blow of not making the NCAA, Altman said.

"We're disappointed we're not in the NCAA tournament, knowing that one or two games was the difference. That really makes you disappointed," Altman said. "But our program will never be at the point where we can look our noses down at the NIT."

Akron (23-10) finished with its most wins since the school started playing Division I basketball in 1980-81.

While Creighton had to wait almost two weeks between games, the Zips had one day to prepare for Creighton after winning 80-73 in overtime at Temple on Tuesday.

"I thought we were a half-step slow," Akron coach Keith Dambrot said. "I thought two of our best players, Cedrick Middleton and Dru Joyce, just didn't really have it. I know I was extremely tired yesterday. I felt like I had been run over by a truck. I can only imagine what it was like for the players."

Nick Porter had 15 points, Hibma 14 and Johnny Mathies 11 for the Bluejays.

Romeo Travis had 25 points to lead the Zips, who shot just 35.5 percent and were outrebounded 43-34. Nick Dials was 3-for-6 on 3s and finished with 11 points. Middleton had six points and Joyce was held scoreless.

Hibma, who was 3-for-16 from long range in his last seven games, made all of his career-high four 3-pointers in the first half.

Akron got within 18-15 on a Darryl Peterson basket, but Tolliver hit a 3 to start a 9-0 run that put the Bluejays up 27-15.

The win gave the Bluejays 20 victories for an MVC-record eighth straight season.

"That was one of our goals coming into the season, and it was good to get that accomplished to keep the tradition alive here," Dane Watts said. "Nobody on the team wanted to be part of the team that broke that streak, so we're glad to get that off our back. Now everybody is focused on getting number 21."

Zips Men's Basketball Tourney Ticket Allotment Exhausted

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 19:52:00 GMT

The No. 3-seed Akron Zips are scheduled to play the winner of Monday's first-round matchup between sixth-seeded Western Michigan and 11th-seeded Eastern Michigan. Tipoff for Thursday's quarterfinal game is 2 p.m. The final three rounds of the MAC Tournament will be played in Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena.

The UA Athletics ticket office sold out of its original share of 1300 tickets, but is expecting to receive more Tuesday morning. Fans can continue to reserve tickets by contacting the ticket office at 1-888-99-AKRON between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The office is located at the main entrance to Rhodes Arena.

Season-ticket holders can still claim a ticket for Thursday's game by returning the "MAC Tournament - First-Round Game" ticket found in their season booklet. That ticket is not valid for admission to Quicken Loans Arena.

Season-ticket patrons and otherZips fans will have the opportunity to fill out a form allowing them to pre-purchase tickets for the duration of the MAC Tournament.

All seat locations will be determined by the season-ticket priority points system and based on availability. Patrons will not be charged for any games in which the Zips do not play.

Quarterfinal round tickets orders not picked up prior to the end of business Wednesday, will be available in the main lobby of Quicken Loans Arena beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday. The Zips ticket office will have "Will Call" tables set up in an area labeled "MAC Winners Circle." That arena entrance is located at the northeast corner of the building (corner of Huron and Sixth Streets).

Zips in second, but have a chance - ncaa

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 23:17:00 GMT

The Akron Zips ncaa basketball team(20-7, 13-3) may be one game behind Kent State (21-7, 14-2) in the Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings, but their title hopes are in their hands.

The Zips have a road game at Buffalo (16-11, 6-9) Wednesday, then end the season with a home game in Rhodes Arena on Saturday against KSU. Akron has smoked the opposition at home this season, winning every game by an average margin of 15 points, including 77-44 over Wright State, 79-61 over Eastern Michigan and 75-53 over current MAC West co-leader Western Michigan. In MAC play, only Miami (Ohio) came within 10, losing 52-45.

Akron's most recent win, over Ohio, gave the Zips a 20-win season for the first time since 1988-89 under coach Bob Huggins, and solidified an opening-round bye to the MAC Tournament quarterfinals in Cleveland.