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After taking a bit of a step back from the edge overnight, I’d say I’m willing to call this one of the more promising losses of the season. With X out, all of the foul trouble, all of the missed shots, all of the bad offense, this was a one possession game with about 2 minutes to go, on the road against a damn good team. If they had come out like they did against Marshall and been behind by 10+ all night, I would feel differently. But I think last night, while disappointing, gave me more of an indication that this team may be further along than I had thought going into this week. They took the punch in the mouth early and kept their composure all night. Now, while Kobe has come a long way on the defensive end, he’s become so passive on offense. Same with Tavari, though he does shoot it more. If you watch his play vs. Nevada compared to anyone since, he looks so hesitant and small. He rose up with confidence in the Caymans, but has shrunk with the grown expectations. Hankerson showed this week that on the offensive end, he needs X running the show in order to make a difference. He can’t create, and the only guards that have done any creating are X and Tribble—one of which who can shoot. Unfortunately, while I think there’s a lot of talent on this roster, they play making is only coming from X and Freeman. There are no other playmakers, guys that make everyone else on the floor better. The feeling of Mike Dawson’s absence grows.

I think saying he is not signed is speculative.

The Zips offense is just painful to watch when they get in that mode of overdribbling and not moving. There was way too damn much of that in the last 10 minutes last night. Last night was Kobe Mitchell's time to step up. He was given 27 minutes. The result- 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 turnover. No team can survive on an 8 man rotation when three of them (Mitchell/Hunter/Lyles) combine for 5 points, 3 rebounds and 0 assists. I love the effort Groce gets out of this squad but continue to be concerned about the talent level and this concern is really magnified when X is out.

Groce just flat out called it the worst officiating of the year. Can’t disagree. Definitely wasn’t one-sided, but it just put UA’s offense right into the mud.

Normally not like this after a game, but I cannot lie I’m livid. I guess I’m not used to losing to teams like that. I’m not faulting the effort. Just so much dumb $*** tonight offensively. They played hard but looked afraid on offense. Just a bad loss. A game they should have won.

This game annoys me. Horrible flow thanks to the refs, peed down our leg at the end, yet we still probably win with X. This team still has a long ways to go with all that said. Need some guys to be something other than a body out there, at least show some flashes.

Officiating is a joke both ways. Zips just have no offensive threat. When was the last time we even attempted a jumper? Tavari is one of the most freshmen freshmen I’ve ever seen tonight. Wow.

That's ONE. Take a bow and sit down! 😂

nice minutes from Lyles.

She is due end of March

I believe Clarke is a pretty good ball handler and facilitator at the top of the offense as well even if he is not a scorer. I think Tavari is going to be a star in the MAC if he chooses to stick around but right now we are in the “growing pains” stage. Having both X and Garvin out in addition to the inexperience of Tavari is the Zips biggest detriment right now. That said this game was more competitive than I thought it would be going in and that was without the knowledge of the foul trouble that was coming

And a tough gutty win on the road, even with one starter scoring no points. Zips have started off 10-2, best start in program history. Might be something growing here, besides what coach Jackson is growing herself.👶 Fun to watch her pat her stomach during the game, wonder who she is trying to calm down. That baby is probably going to be able to handle stress really well. 😊

Why is Groce complaining like he’s a spectator on ZipsNation? It’s his job to install offense. It’s his job to make sure they’re moving. We were standing around like a 6th grade team. I’ve seen a million high school games better played than that. It’s also Groce’s job to recruit players who can play at this level. Give me Ali, Dawson, X, and Tavari. The rest of Groce’s recruits look like D-2 players. Groce doesn’t get credit for winning the lottery with Freeman. Kobe Mitchell looks like he’s going to crap his shorts when someone passes him the ball. He passes up open 3’s to pass the ball… to Tribble… on the perimeter.

Dambrot? Is that you? 1000% unacceptable. In the era of the Transfer Portal, nobody should get a redshirt IMO. Prather, Mosengo, etc. We need to see what they can contribute offensively since nobody else wants to contribute outside of X and Freeman.

Not that bad of a loss considering the Zips are down three players.I’m a bit concerned about some of the players development and the recruiting of talented height.

X, Clarke, and Dawson. I thought, even full strength, this was going to be a tough one. Ugh this one burns.

Sucks that we had to play this game without X.

Tavari has all the talent in the world but these freshman mistakes are killers right now

How is there a technical foul on Freeman AND a foul on Sparks on that play?

Good guess!!

Did the Ball St. basket count? 31-30...or 28???

Hunter with a 3 and the Zips take a 29-26 lead.

Imagine this: Tavari hits an open transition 3

Good lord. Every time.

Seems like every team has at least a few players hit the portal after spring ball. Especially when some of the incoming players leapfrog veterans on the depth chart. Not going to mention any names but there are still at least 1 or 2 guys I could see hitting the portal at each position. In particular DB, DL, and OL.

More power to Kalle leaving to get a chance to start, but I won't miss Trimble. He was good for one or two Steph Curry-like 3-point clinics a year but that was it. Prior to his benching or whatever happened he was good for 7 pts, 2 boards, 1 assist and 0 defense a game. The only stats he leads a team in is lack of hustle, especially when his shot is not dropping, and highest pouting percentage.

WMU is 💩. Defense isn't in the dictionary at Toledo and WMU is struggling to hit the 30 mark... in the second half...

Bilhal Kone - the DB from Indiana State - committed to WMU.

When does spring semester start? Figure you want to get all the guys here for spring ball that you can, though probably not an end all be all. George didn’t join til summer last year and I don’t think Holt and Thompson were either. Probably a few other contributors I’m missing too. regardless, you’d hope/expect a few other commitments this weekend.

St. Louis CITY SC Acquire Goalkeeper Ben Lundt from Phoenix Rising FC

It kills me to see Dawson standing there with a basketball looking healthy...

Not any different than any other coaches contract. Even though he was not making the same $$ he made at OSU, the $95k we were paying him made the 4th highest paid coach in the MAC. Guthrie has put a lot of effort into the baseball program. We are now back to the full scholarship level and the silly rule about only recruiting from Ohio has been dropped. Beals knew exactly what he was signing up for when he put his name on that contract. He and the Marshall AD are just scumbags. At the end of the day UA is financially better off than when he got here after he pays the buyout.

Ugly ugly ugly game. Turnovers, fouls, horrible misses all around. But any MAC win is a great win. Onto Miami!

Nice win by the Zips over the Bobkittens this evening. They might be part of the "Ewing theory" whereby you play better after the loss of a star player. Excellent team ball tonight.

I actually looked that up before posting & it said in America to just spell it "walla" now, or even "wa-la." I almost used "presto." 😅 Edit: or not. Upon further review it clearly says that is the incorrect usage. 😑