126-101 YTD
I got the Zips at -5' and also played BG +4' as BG has a history of giving Kent St fits. Those will probably be my only two plays this entire week.
Good story on the Zips and the unusal act of switching their senior night :
Zips to honor seniors
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:34 p.m. EST, Feb 23, 2010
Senior Night is the formal title of the proceedings, but A Farewell to Forwards could serve as an informal subtitle.
Jimmy Conyers, Chris McKnight and Tim Carroll, who have all filled various frontcourt roles for the University of Akron for the past four seasons, will be honored Wednesday night at Rhodes Arena when the Zips (20-8, 10-3) play the University at Buffalo (16-9, 8-5) in a key Mid-American Conference game.
It won't be a final goodbye because at least one more home game remains ? Kent State on March 5 ? but it will give fans a chance to show their appreciation to three seniors who have been part of UA teams that have won 70.4 percent (93-39) of their games from 2006-07 through 2009-10.
''They are guys who have helped us win games,'' Zips coach Keith Dambrot said.
The 6-foot-5 Conyers, a resident of Baltimore, is sure to receive a warm reception in the pregame ceremony just because of the way his career has unfolded.
Conyers joined the Zips program in 2005 as the most hyped of the three recruits from that year. The others were Nate Linhart (1,023-point scorer and 2009 MAC Tournament MVP) and John Rybak (transferred to Texas State).
But transcript issues coming out of high school forced him to sit out the 2005-06 season. Then, over his freshman through junior years, Conyers had consistency issues that had him in and out of the lineup.
''It was definitely disappointing because I had high expectations coming here,'' Conyers said. ''I just tried to make the best of it.''
Conyers has put that behind him with a solid senior season that has him averaging 9.5 points (second on team), 6.8 rebounds (first on team and sixth in MAC) and 25.9 minutes played (second on team).
''You have got to be proud of Jimmy for hanging in there and making the most of this opportunity,'' Dambrot said. ''With all that he has gone through, he is really our best player. He is competitive. He is tough. He makes less mistakes than he used to. You have to be proud of his resiliency.''
A barometer of Conyers' career and his senior season came last Saturday in a 70-53 loss at Virginia Commonwealth. Conyers made two free throws with 16:37 remaining for the 265th and 266th points of the season. That allowed him to tie and then surpass the 265 points that he scored in his first three years combined.
''I had to listen and learn here at first . . . and I am trying to put that into play now,'' Conyers said. ''I like the position I am in. It's definitely been satisfying.''
McKnight, a 6-7 product of Lancaster High School, has had a solid, if unspectacular, career with the Zips. He has been part of the rotation for all four of his seasons and has career totals of 876 points and 452 rebounds, while shooting 48.2 percent (297-of-616) from the field.
Dambrot has said repeatedly that when McKnight and his younger brother, junior Brett McKnight, are in the flow of the offense and scoring points, his team is formidable.
''Chris has had a pretty good career,'' Dambrot said. ''When he has been good, we have been good. Check the numbers when he and his brother play well. We usually win.''
McKnight said that he felt he could have been more productive, but that it was never from lack of effort.
''I am never satisfied with what I do. I always strive to do better,'' said McKnight, whose last home game, a 91-88 win against Ohio on Feb. 14, saw him record career highs in points (25) and rebounds (18). ''I want to leave here with people knowing I always played hard and tried to give it my all every game.''
Carroll, a 6-5 resident of Akron and graduate of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, was a walk-on and spent his whole career as a nonscholarship player.
He had offers from schools such as Binghamton, Colgate and North Carolina A&T, but decided to take a chance at UA. He did not play much, finding himself behind forwards such as Linhart, Conyers and the McKnights, but said he has no regrets.
''Being a basketball player, there is nothing like winning. We have that here, which made it easier to stay even though I was not playing,'' Carroll said. ''Here, we get along and support each other on and off the court. It's special to be part of something like that.''
Senior Night is being held against Buffalo rather than in the finale against Kent State because of what happened two years ago.
Dambrot started all seniors in the season-closer against the Golden Flashes. The result was a slow start that led to a 61-58 defeat for UA. Dambrot did not want a repeat of that next week.
Still, Carroll will not start Wednesday night at his own request because of that 2008 game against Kent State.
''Here is all you need to know about Tim Carroll,'' Dambrot said. ''He came into my office last week. He said, 'Coach, I don't want to start on Senior Night. I don't want what happened two years ago to happen again.' ''
''That's the type of kid he is. He is an unbelievable teammate, a hard-working kid who has been an integral part of our team even though he doesn't play much.''
As their college basketball careers wind down, the seniors are starting to prepare for the future.
Conyers, with five years at UA, and McKnight, with the help of summer school classes, expect to graduate in May with communication degrees. Both said they want to play professionally overseas.
Carroll, who has switched majors several times, expects to graduate in August with a degree in sports management. He said he wants to become a graduate assistant next year with an eye toward becoming a coach.
Important game
The Zips could clinch a bye in the MAC playoffs with a victory over the Bulls on Wednesday night.
But a loss would not ruin their chances. One UA win in the final three games would give them a bye. Also, any loss by Miami would do the same, starting Wednesday night at Ohio.
That would allow UA to miss a first-round game March 7 and advance right to the quarterfinals in Cleveland on March 11.
The Zips and Golden Flashes are tied for first in the MAC East and are tied for the best conference record.
I got the Zips at -5' and also played BG +4' as BG has a history of giving Kent St fits. Those will probably be my only two plays this entire week.
Good story on the Zips and the unusal act of switching their senior night :
Zips to honor seniors
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:34 p.m. EST, Feb 23, 2010
Senior Night is the formal title of the proceedings, but A Farewell to Forwards could serve as an informal subtitle.
Jimmy Conyers, Chris McKnight and Tim Carroll, who have all filled various frontcourt roles for the University of Akron for the past four seasons, will be honored Wednesday night at Rhodes Arena when the Zips (20-8, 10-3) play the University at Buffalo (16-9, 8-5) in a key Mid-American Conference game.
It won't be a final goodbye because at least one more home game remains ? Kent State on March 5 ? but it will give fans a chance to show their appreciation to three seniors who have been part of UA teams that have won 70.4 percent (93-39) of their games from 2006-07 through 2009-10.
''They are guys who have helped us win games,'' Zips coach Keith Dambrot said.
The 6-foot-5 Conyers, a resident of Baltimore, is sure to receive a warm reception in the pregame ceremony just because of the way his career has unfolded.
Conyers joined the Zips program in 2005 as the most hyped of the three recruits from that year. The others were Nate Linhart (1,023-point scorer and 2009 MAC Tournament MVP) and John Rybak (transferred to Texas State).
But transcript issues coming out of high school forced him to sit out the 2005-06 season. Then, over his freshman through junior years, Conyers had consistency issues that had him in and out of the lineup.
''It was definitely disappointing because I had high expectations coming here,'' Conyers said. ''I just tried to make the best of it.''
Conyers has put that behind him with a solid senior season that has him averaging 9.5 points (second on team), 6.8 rebounds (first on team and sixth in MAC) and 25.9 minutes played (second on team).
''You have got to be proud of Jimmy for hanging in there and making the most of this opportunity,'' Dambrot said. ''With all that he has gone through, he is really our best player. He is competitive. He is tough. He makes less mistakes than he used to. You have to be proud of his resiliency.''
A barometer of Conyers' career and his senior season came last Saturday in a 70-53 loss at Virginia Commonwealth. Conyers made two free throws with 16:37 remaining for the 265th and 266th points of the season. That allowed him to tie and then surpass the 265 points that he scored in his first three years combined.
''I had to listen and learn here at first . . . and I am trying to put that into play now,'' Conyers said. ''I like the position I am in. It's definitely been satisfying.''
McKnight, a 6-7 product of Lancaster High School, has had a solid, if unspectacular, career with the Zips. He has been part of the rotation for all four of his seasons and has career totals of 876 points and 452 rebounds, while shooting 48.2 percent (297-of-616) from the field.
Dambrot has said repeatedly that when McKnight and his younger brother, junior Brett McKnight, are in the flow of the offense and scoring points, his team is formidable.
''Chris has had a pretty good career,'' Dambrot said. ''When he has been good, we have been good. Check the numbers when he and his brother play well. We usually win.''
McKnight said that he felt he could have been more productive, but that it was never from lack of effort.
''I am never satisfied with what I do. I always strive to do better,'' said McKnight, whose last home game, a 91-88 win against Ohio on Feb. 14, saw him record career highs in points (25) and rebounds (18). ''I want to leave here with people knowing I always played hard and tried to give it my all every game.''
Carroll, a 6-5 resident of Akron and graduate of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, was a walk-on and spent his whole career as a nonscholarship player.
He had offers from schools such as Binghamton, Colgate and North Carolina A&T, but decided to take a chance at UA. He did not play much, finding himself behind forwards such as Linhart, Conyers and the McKnights, but said he has no regrets.
''Being a basketball player, there is nothing like winning. We have that here, which made it easier to stay even though I was not playing,'' Carroll said. ''Here, we get along and support each other on and off the court. It's special to be part of something like that.''
Senior Night is being held against Buffalo rather than in the finale against Kent State because of what happened two years ago.
Dambrot started all seniors in the season-closer against the Golden Flashes. The result was a slow start that led to a 61-58 defeat for UA. Dambrot did not want a repeat of that next week.
Still, Carroll will not start Wednesday night at his own request because of that 2008 game against Kent State.
''Here is all you need to know about Tim Carroll,'' Dambrot said. ''He came into my office last week. He said, 'Coach, I don't want to start on Senior Night. I don't want what happened two years ago to happen again.' ''
''That's the type of kid he is. He is an unbelievable teammate, a hard-working kid who has been an integral part of our team even though he doesn't play much.''
As their college basketball careers wind down, the seniors are starting to prepare for the future.
Conyers, with five years at UA, and McKnight, with the help of summer school classes, expect to graduate in May with communication degrees. Both said they want to play professionally overseas.
Carroll, who has switched majors several times, expects to graduate in August with a degree in sports management. He said he wants to become a graduate assistant next year with an eye toward becoming a coach.
Important game
The Zips could clinch a bye in the MAC playoffs with a victory over the Bulls on Wednesday night.
But a loss would not ruin their chances. One UA win in the final three games would give them a bye. Also, any loss by Miami would do the same, starting Wednesday night at Ohio.
That would allow UA to miss a first-round game March 7 and advance right to the quarterfinals in Cleveland on March 11.
The Zips and Golden Flashes are tied for first in the MAC East and are tied for the best conference record.
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