The Akron Zips actually performed fairly well in the tough Ohio Valley Conference conference in their first season in D-1.  This ‘stepping stone’ season might have been solid but the Zips are not in ‘Tennessee anymore’ and the OVC is not the MAC.    A changing of the guard at Coach meant a different approach and style from the old days of Division Two.  Dambrot was replacing the legendary Tony Laterza and brings a more defensive approach to the Zips in place of the run and gun style of Laterza.  This is not an easy transition especially with the move into the MAC with their more athletic players.  This was a brave new world and the Zips would be tested.   The cupboard might not be full in Akron but it is not completely empty either and Dambrot has at least two studs he can rely on to perform at the MAC level in the upcoming season. 

 Bill Turner was the only true post option the Zips had.  An ornery power forward who likes to mix it up underneath, Turner’s presence is important to keep this team in games.  Turner is a terrific board guy who can also score in the paint and though he is only six seven and 220 had to guard way too many centers.  ‘Boot Strap Bill’ is looking to have another productive season for the Zips and turn that into a shot at the pros.  Turner averaged over 13 points a game last year and easily led the team with over 8 and a half boards per contest.  He is consistent as well not missing a games and collected 12 double doubles down low.  He is not a shot blocker but is solid on defense getting position against much bigger guys.  His back to back showdowns with Nate Thurmond of Bowling Green this year were the thing of legend.  Giving up almost four inches and 40 pounds to the long armed marvel Turner did not give an inch and got so much under the big man’s skin with his non-stop physicality that the two almost came to blows several times.  Cooler heads prevailed as these two both are pros but he got the respect of the big man as well as the league and will have some place to play next season.  Too bad Boot Strap is leaving for greener pastures after this season but it is not like he being made to walk the plank and live the rest of his existence at the bottom of the ocean.  It is just this senior to be’s time to graduate. 

 Sophomore Joe Jakubick is the number one offensive weapon in the Zip arsenal at least from the perimeter.  A player who can fill it up from the perimeter or take his guy to the hole, Jakubick has the tools to be something special.  At six five with point guard ballhandling skills Jakubick is the best offensive weapon this program has ever had.  A product of Mansfield Ohio Jakubick could play point but is too valuable coming off screens and hitting mid-range jumpers.  He needs to expand his game this season to the three point line as for now he has been most effective using his height against smaller wings going to the hoop and a terrific mid-range game. He did take shoot some threes in his first year here but he did not shoot at a high percentage.  When you play the Zips the primary thing you must do is slow down Jakubick.  Easier said than done as this kid averaged over 17 points a game and if you double team he is adept at hitting his open teammates almost averaging three assists a game. Jumpin Joe was as good of an offensive player as there was in the MAC and he is not a bad defensive wing either.  He led the team in steals and though he is not super athletic can finish off the break.  His hard work and desire to succeed should continue to put him amongst the top players in this league.

 Point guard next to Jakubick was a rotation of three solid though unspectacular players.  Juniors Larry Jenkins, Nate Barnett and Larry Quarles have battled it out for the last two seasons.  Jenkins had the job but got hurt and sat and the other two split the job with neither one getting the upper hand in their quest to be the primary floor general for the Zips.  Jenkins is back and wants his job back but Dambort is bringing in some kids plus Sophomore Eric ‘Cricket’ McLaughlin joined into the fray last year and seemed to ‘jump’ ahead of the pack.  He was getting a large amount of minutes by the end of the year as a Jenkins injury opened up the competition for the other three.  This smooth lefty is a good leader and though he might not be as big as his three competitors he got his minutes through his ability to lead.  McLaughlin is a cat quick but undersized guard who is the best long-range shooter of the three.  He loves to run using his crazy quickness to push the team up and down the court.  Cricket became a huge fan favorite with his aggressiveness and his non-stop motor and of course his ability to score. Barnett might have the most upside of the quartet as he is bigger at six three and a solid defender who can really set up a team’s offense.  He is not as good scoring but Dambrot did not necessarily need more offense from the point though he did want a little more speed on the break.  An injury early to Jenkins opened the door for McLaughlin who showed he could flat play.  Jenkins never gave up and did come back late in the year though he was definitely third string by then.  Dambrot has recruited the point guard from his high school team so who know how that will end up but to be honest the best of the bunch might be Jenkins.  Jenkins had a terrific first year here being named All-American.  Really!  That was in the D-2 though and he missed most of last year with that injury to his knee but is back in the mix this year. Quarles had a solid season for the Zips and comes in as the starter for now.  He can score inside and out but is best penetrating.  Quarles is also a solid all around player who can score and defend.  This will be interesting to watch to see if Dambrot goes with the veterans or goes with a complete overhaul? 

The third guard was a position in flux with as many as five kids getting some minutes here.  At times the Zips went with three guards and at others they just went with Jakubick, a point and three big men.  Of course, with this team’s lack of dependable talent outside of Turner, Dambrot will probably prefer the three guard option and to be honest Jakubick is better suited guarding three’s than twos.  Seniors Fritz Nagy, Bob Smith, Jim Fenton, Hank Vaugh and Bob Whaley split time last year and all six can score.  Nagy has the athleticism and overall game to perhaps go to the next level but an injury cost him the second half of his last year in Akron and this might hurt his chances.  He will be back but Nagy might have some doubts after that serious knee injury.  Still, he is big enough (6’2 185) and gifted enough and darn it Fritz ‘the Cat’ can play.  ‘Sumthin’ Smith is a gifted offensive player who can really score but is a bit small (5’9) to play the two guard at this level.  Still, this hometown kid is an AK-Rowdies favorite and has heart.  ‘Red’ Fenton is a terrific scorer but he has had trouble guarding others since the Zips got to D-1.  Mike Harkins is similar to Fenton but this Akron kid is way down the Zip line.  Whaley is a 5’11 speed merchant who can flat score.  All of these guys were recruited in D-2 days and all are in jeopardy of losing their jobs with the new sheriff in town.  Dambrot could just as easily cut all of these guys before the season begins especially if any of his recruits can actually play. 

Junior Len Paul started next to Turner for most of the last two years.  This 6’4 190 lb lefty can sure stroke it and has a nice touch around the basket.  This Cleveland kid is small but knows how to get his shot off and in the hole and does not play a fool’s game.  Paul is a competitor who knows how to play the game.  Reliant on positioning and smarts Paul gets the job done offensively though he is limited on the boards and defensively.  A solid three who can run the court almost as well as hit pullup jumpers from 15 feet, Paul might not be a star but he is a solid player.  Fellow junior John Britton can also score the ball but is stuck behind Paul unless Turner plays at the 5.  Britton is a 6’5 shooter who can also go inside and helps on the boards.  He should play more this year as Dambrot vows to get the best players on the court no matter the position. 

The Zips really had limited options at the post behind Turner but these guys were just not big enough realistically.  No real size or talent left the team scrambling and leaves many openings for Dambrot recruits. Seniors Don Williams, Fred Golding and Alex Adams were the best options but none of them had the size to really compete.  Williams is a terrific athlete but vastly undersized (6’5) for the paint in the MAC.  Golding is a six four board guy who has a great touch around the basket and shoots almost 90% from the line.  He was vastly overmatched on the defensive end last season and barely played the last half.  Adams is also too small (6’4) though he. like Williams, is a tremendous athlete who knows how to play.  Adams was the first black on the team and left for military duty and then returned.  He was ‘the man’ here and was the program’s  star before he left on leave.  In a league filled with the likes of Nate Thurmond and Wayne Embry they were overmatched physically.  Akron ended up mainly playing a very small lineup with a perimeter oriented team and just did not work in the mighty MAC. 

A transitional year where the boys from Northeastern Ohio jump up to the big time of the MAC with a new coach in tow is on the horizon.  That coach, Keith Dambrot, is already well known around these parts for leading a Lebron James led team to national prominence and some might say this team does not have as much talent as that team did.  And they might be right!  They do have one of the best scoring wings in the conference and some talent competing for spots at the point and at center.  Two of these kids coming in battling for minutes are from Dambrot’s high school team and are hoping to help their coach change the culture around here.  Of course nothing will change if some of the young kids down low don’t get better (and bigger) in a hurry as the Zips will not have ‘Boot Strap’ Turner to pull them out of the abyss of the deep dark sea for much longer!