NCDS: Keith Dambrot, Head Coach - Akron

By: Keith Dambrot, Head Coach - Akron

We have made this our season of high expectations and low tolerance. We have been picked by just about every preseason magazine, web site and media organization as the favorite in the league this season. While that is flattering and not all that surprising, we really don't pay much attention to or read that much into that type of thing. We have high expectations every year, so our approach to this season is no different that years past, when people picked us to finish fourth or fifth in the conference.

We're trying to make sure that we are doing things correctly and that the process is right on a day-to-day basis, both academically and athletically. I think the more perfect we can get the process, the more perfect our results will be. Those results include graduation rate, good citizenship, community service and of course we're going to try to win.

One of the reasons people expect us to be so successful this season is our depth - we return four starters and just about every other player from last year's team that won the Mid-American Conference Tournament and played in the NCAA Tournament. The only scholarship player not back from last season is Nate Linhart, who graduated over the summer and is now playing professionally in Austria. Nate was a 1,000-point scorer and our go-to guy. He helped us tremendously on both ends of the floor. The fact that he was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and picked as the league tournament MVP last season should tell you everything you need to know. It will be more difficult that most people think to replace just one player in the lineup, but we feel we can fill that void with our depth and experience.

We also have big game experience now, which we did not have as much of last year. We have been in a lot of big games. Also, I think just the natural progression of young people maturing physically and emotionally is another strength of the group. We are much more mature than we were a year ago.

People are also excited about our freshman addition - 7-foot center Zeke Marshall from McKeesport, Pa. We are hoping that some of what we lost in Linhart, we will be able to gain in Zeke, but more in the area of shot blocking and shot altering. Zeke has made great progress and is starting to adjust to the college game. Our approach with him has been no different than any freshman in the program before him, and we understand that there is an adjustment period. He has played well in our first two games, finishing with a double-double in our season opener against Austin Peay as well as in our exhibition win versus Mount Union.

It is disappointing that we opened the season with a loss to Austin Peay. We gave up a 15-point lead with seven and a half minutes to play and that is inexcusable. We can say whatever, we can blame the players or me but I thought we did a very poor job of handling prosperity first and adversity second. It comes down to developing a willingness to win. We have to have a better sense of willingness to win, handle adversity and prosperity.

We are preparing to play three games in three days in the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla., with our first game coming against a challenging N.C. State team. This should be a great event and is in a great setting. Our hotel sits right on the beach and it has been a nice relaxed atmosphere for everyone involved in the program.

Similar to last season, I feel it might take 8-10 games until we begin to click. We started last year with a 9-8 record, but finished at 23-13 and went dancing in March. We want to be playing our best basketball at season's end. Again, the emphasis is on the process.

Thank you for taking time to read my first diary entry. I look forward to providing you with insight into the Akron program throughout the season. Go Zips!

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