Game On 2007-2008 Basketball Preview
A season for redemption
Vincent Dorsey
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Sports
McNees has gotten the majority of the time as the team's starting point guard in practice and in the Zips' 79-55 exhibition win against Walsh University Nov. 8.
While admitting that McNees still has a lot to learn about UA's system, Dambrot said that he is pleased with the progress of the young floor general.
"He's shown he can shoot the ball," he said. "He's shown he can handle the ball and pass it. He's got some things he's gotta get better at, but if you consider he's a (redshirt) freshman, he's done a really good job."
After the Zips posted a 26-7 record in 2006 and were not granted an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament or invited to participate in the National Invitational Tournament, some supporters of the program clamored for the Zips to travel and play high-major non-conference games at the start of each season in an attempt to raise the team's RPI and better their chances of postseason play.
Dambrot, however, has decided to stick with his plan and only play non-conference road games in which the home team agrees to come play in Akron in a future season.
The Zips' head coach said that he sees the method as the best way to build a consistently competitive program.
"If you look at the history of our school since it has been Division I, we haven't had very many winning seasons," Dambrot said. "My job when I started this program was to build a program that could maintain over a long period of time.
"My thing is if you play those high-majors on the road for money, you're not gonna win, and if you're not gonna win, you can't develop your program."
Dambrot cited the fact that wins are an important factor in determining a team's RPI, and reiterated that the MAC was simply not strong enough last season to enable the Zips to get a postseason invite.
Dambrot is fully aware that each decision he makes will be scrutinized and second-guessed, but said that he's comfortable with the team's scheduling practices.
While admitting that McNees still has a lot to learn about UA's system, Dambrot said that he is pleased with the progress of the young floor general.
"He's shown he can shoot the ball," he said. "He's shown he can handle the ball and pass it. He's got some things he's gotta get better at, but if you consider he's a (redshirt) freshman, he's done a really good job."
After the Zips posted a 26-7 record in 2006 and were not granted an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament or invited to participate in the National Invitational Tournament, some supporters of the program clamored for the Zips to travel and play high-major non-conference games at the start of each season in an attempt to raise the team's RPI and better their chances of postseason play.
Dambrot, however, has decided to stick with his plan and only play non-conference road games in which the home team agrees to come play in Akron in a future season.
The Zips' head coach said that he sees the method as the best way to build a consistently competitive program.
"If you look at the history of our school since it has been Division I, we haven't had very many winning seasons," Dambrot said. "My job when I started this program was to build a program that could maintain over a long period of time.
"My thing is if you play those high-majors on the road for money, you're not gonna win, and if you're not gonna win, you can't develop your program."
Dambrot cited the fact that wins are an important factor in determining a team's RPI, and reiterated that the MAC was simply not strong enough last season to enable the Zips to get a postseason invite.
Dambrot is fully aware that each decision he makes will be scrutinized and second-guessed, but said that he's comfortable with the team's scheduling practices.
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