Jump to content

Zips Basketball- Looking Back to 21-22/Looking Forward to 22-23


Recommended Posts

On 3/18/2022 at 3:27 PM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Aziz is arguably better than Zeke was his freshman year. Zeke had more opportunity to play than Aziz. Groce and his staff have already shown they can develop bigs as well if not better than Dambrot & co. Aziz has really only been in the States for a little over a year. He is raw but has a nice foundation of skills and understanding. Fully expect him to get stronger and more decisive. Kalle is the odd man out in the front court unless he takes a significant leap. 

This you?  Your opinion sure has changed a lot in two weeks.  

  • Thanks 3
  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Not a system fit. When you fall out of the regular rotation and the team proceeds to go on an incredible 8 game winning streak including a MAC Title, the writing is on the wall that maybe this system isn't right. 

 

He was not a key defender or rebounder, and a liability on offense. This team needs offense. 

 

 

Positive outlook regarding the Transfer Portal: any incoming transfers won't transfer again. I think what you're going to see is Year One become a trial period. For the team, is this guy truly a fit schematically, mentally, emotionally, etc.? For the player, is the program a fit, can I transfer up, etc.? We'll see 2-3 years of an incoming player post-transfer instead of 4, but that's no different than a JUCO or a non-redshirt freshman who sees little PT his freshman year. 

 

More talent is out there than ever before and that talent will have more of an immediate impact than ever before with at least one year of collegiate development under their belt. We'll see more disappointing regular seasons as teams take time to develop the chemistry, but better end of season runs like what we saw this year with the Zips. 

 

Just my outlook on the whole situation.

 

Actually players can use the portal to facilitate more than one transfer.  Case in point - Dayton got a transfer  guy named Weaver after he played two years at Southern Cal. He played at Dayton for two more years but because of COVID he has one more year of playing time remaining. He recently entered the portal again, but this time to avoid sitting out a year (which he could choose to do) he must either graduate or get a transfer waiver.

Edited by Zipmeister
.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 minutes ago, RowdyZip said:

This you?  Your opinion sure has changed a lot in two weeks.  

 

Yep. 😂

 

Both statements can be true though. He can develop into a good player AND not be a system fit for us. Would Big Dog be a system fit for Groce? Nope. Was he an All-MAC player under Dambrot's system? Yes. 

  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Groce is a good enough coach that if he had Big Dog he would alter his offense in a way to make it work.

 

Aziz transferred because he knows if he stays he won't see the court for the next 2 years with Freeman ahead of him. I don't fault him for that. In his case it was definitely in his best interest to transfer. Let's get the stretch 4 that we desperately need that would help compliment Freeman's game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

25 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

"Stretch 4"   drink!

Reminds me of the Cavs days when the missing piece was a stretch 4 to compete with the Magic after Rashard Lewis was an X factor the year before. We traded for Antawn Jamison, then the Celtics beat us and Lebron went to Miami.

Edited by LZIp
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I liked Aziz as a person and teammate. I liked the potential in Aziz. Groce knew his capabilities and I thought Aziz would figure more into our plans for 22-23. But I am also sure Groce had a meeting with Aziz and explained that more playing time would only come with significant improvement. I think Aziz took that into account and decided he wanted to play more and the transfer portal gave him his opportunity to find out where that might be. I'm thinking that he will find a starter's position with a lesser team and lesser conference or he will be a backup at a P5 and get little more PT than he would have with us.

 

This is a time when we have our mojo shaken, but as I've said before it also presents opportunity, opportunity to get better. Groce knows that. He will take advantage of the scholarship openings to find a big that can move, play ZeeFence and score. I'm OK with that. The sky is not falling. We've taken a hit, but we can emerge better. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here is a possible fit. Currently in the portal from Georgetown. Local Cleveland player from Lutheran East that we previously showed interest in before he committed to Georgetown.

 

https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2021/jalin-billingsley-259900

Edited by blueandgold
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/31/2022 at 12:52 PM, kreed5120 said:

Unlike the Ali departure I don't mind this. Aziz and Freeman can't coexist on the floor at the same time and we want Freeman to play 30+ minutes a game. That means Aziz really doesn't have a pathway to playing more and contributing. He barely saw the court in the MAC tournament and only played in the UCLA game when Freeman was in foul trouble. I think we'd be better served using this scholarship to land a big that can play next to Freeman that way Groce has more flexibility in his lineup.

Aziz is a Pivot man. Freeman is a PF.  I don't see a conflict.  Though I do think Freeman and Ali had a developing chemistry that will be missed.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, blueandgold said:

I'm hoping that Groce can find a big with soft hands. That always seems to be an issue for us over the years. I think back to Riak and how good he would have been if only he had great hands.

 

I think The Pointer Sisters sang about this back in the day.

 

"I need a Center with a soft hand, I need a Zip with an easy touch."

 

 

  • Haha 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, tboned said:

Aziz is a Pivot man. Freeman is a PF.  I don't see a conflict.  Though I do think Freeman and Ali had a developing chemistry that will be missed.  

Groce tried playing them together on the court numerous times and it didn't work offensively. It just made it easier for opposing teams to double Freeman to force him to have to pass and allowed defenses to pack the paint to prevent guards from getting to the hoop as Aziz shooting range is about 2 feet from the basket and Freeman is less than 10 feet. 

 

Freeman is at his best when he is isolated in man defense in the low post. If he's playing next to another post player you want said post player to be able to at least knock down a mid-ranger that way it can keep the defense honest.

Edited by kreed5120
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Groce tried playing them together on the court numerous times and it didn't work offensively. It just made it easier for opposing teams to double Freeman to force him to have to pass and allowed defenses to pack the paint to prevent guards from getting to the hoop as Aziz shooting range is about 2 feet from the basket and Freeman is less than 10 feet. 

 

Freeman is at his best when he is isolated in man defense in the low post. If he's playing next to another post player you want said post player to be able to at least knock down a mid-ranger that way it can keep the defense honest.

 

Yep, the only way that works well is if Freeman extends his range or the other big guy is like Xeyrius and can play away from the basket.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...