Leaderboard

I made the trip. Just a few observations - some already noted by others. Starters: PG - Tavari G - Young W - Eric M. F - Evan M. P - Lyles First subs: Shammah Bowen MMK ...Young moved to PG (though we all know Shammah still handles the ball a lot ... Evan M. moved to P Second round of subs: Stankovic for MMK Lyles back in for Evan M. Tavari back in for Young @ PG YSU was really hot from behind the arc. Kudos to them but definitely something we need to work on defensively. They had a guard named Tae Blackshear that was on fire & kept them in the game in the first half. Shammah was our 6th Man but was easily our best player & someone Groce can't presently afford to take off the floor. We don't look like as much of a shooting team as last year. Neither Stankovic nor Eric M. took a 3. I think we're going to need them to shoot from deep to better space the floor. Basically our offense consisted of Shammah, Tavari, Young, Amani, and/or Bowen launching it from deep. Stankovic is a physical wing. He's certainly tough and I can see he's not going to be punked by anyone. He makes his presence known out there. I'd even go as far as to say he's got some Ryan Andrick in him and may get under opposing players skin from time-to-time. He looks to be a good 6'7" by just comparing his height while on the floor to Evan M., Eric M., and Amani. Speaking of height, Tavari walked past me before the game and he is definitely 6' tall. No exaggeration there. I was a little surprised by how tall he was. Once again no inside game to speak of. Amani tried a few moves but I think only hit one of his patent hook shots (and none of his 3 point shots. Without looking at stats I'd say Amani definitely had a subpar game). Evan M. certainly likes to drive to the hoop... but he doesn't do anything more than that. At least he didn't tonight. Evan M. & MMK played a lot of minutes together & I don't really like them on the floor together as neither is a shooter. I was surprised at the amount of PT MMK received in general, not being much of an offensive threat. He's athletic & energetic but I'd expect his minutes to be cut back against JMU. Barri didn't do much. Looks like he's just going to be an occasional shot blocker/lane filler. Briscoe didn't get any PT. I was curious to see what he's got. Just watching him in warm ups he may be slightly slow-footed for this level. Idk. I probably shouldn't even say that without seeing him in game action. Tonight it looked like our team is a 3-point-or-bust squad. But I guess that's sort of what the game has evolved into. Idk. YSU got a lot of long rebounds & 2nd chance points. Someone else mentioned Head was not dressed along with the two true freshmen, Josh Henderson & Tai Perkins. I guess that's all I've got. It was kind of sloppy and disjointed. What I should have been expecting I suppose.

there goes the at large bid. John's Next endeavor.

If we beat UMass, and Kent continues to play well, I think the Wagon Wheel game at Infocision in 2 weeks will cause Joe's (Akron) left big toe to wiggle. Will there be a ticker tape parade down Exchange Street and tickets being scalped for $1,000 on Stub Hub? No. But there will be a palpable buzz and perhaps a "bigger than just friends and family" weekday crowd. Hopefully UA gives away a bunch of tickets. If the Zips blow a home game November 4th against this shitty UMass team, I'll personally go to Sully's Tool Rental, drive a rented bulldozer up Exchange, flatten Infocision and commence construction of a 40 foot tall bronze tribute to Charles Guthrie.

I don't know that I'd want this Zips team to go to a bowl game? We've improved from last year...we're better than the dregs of 1-A and even mediocre 1-AA teams...but if we were matched up against a decent G5 team I think we'd get smoked like Bowden's 6-6 team did against Lane Kiffin's FAU squad. Something like 50-3. A 5-7 or even 6-6 season would make me happy.

My understanding is that he can be called up at any time. I am sure if one of the Timberwolves bigs suffers an injury he can be added to the roster. The Iowa Wolves are probably starting their practice this week and the season opens I believe on the 8th. It will be interesting how much he has improved as a 2nd year pro.

YSU is a solid team. They played hard, handled the Zips pressure well and made timely shots. They will win a lot of games. The Zips could never sustain a run. They allowed too many open 3s and turned the ball over at inopportune times. Oggie looks like he fits in but his defense needs work. Shammah was the best Zip on the floor. His ability to create space they hit a jumper was on full display. Young continued to show his tenacity on defense. On one switch to a big man he actually muscled him out of the post. The Zips failures last night were clearly not effort related. They played hard and fast but just a little sloppy. They'll be fine.

Stats here: https://ysusports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary;team=home Thanks, Clark, for updates!

Thank you Clark!!

Rotations look like the real thing. Groce isn't visibly pissed so I really think he believes this might be good for them.

Tie game. 7 minutes left.

The card shop I work at on the weekends had a Panini redemption for an Enrique Freeman rookie auto. After learning that I PC Freeman, the shop owner gave the redemption to me. The card arrived today from Panini. Love seeing Zips on official sports cards!

Pitched two flawless innings.

And yet another perfect inning in relief for Bassitt in an epic World Series game. Bet the Blue Jays wish they had stuck with him a little longer in a game they desperately needed extended pitching moments. He still has a 0.00 ERA in this postseason.

...or Taylor Currie.

"Joe Akron" doesn't even know we're ineligible

Point shaving scandal incoming?

A bronze Arby's A?

YSU was a basketball desert for a half century. I spoke to the late Dan Peters (former YSU HC and Zips assistant) and he said it was virtually impossible to win there. It was a football school in the hood, and any decent players went to MAC schools. Low and behold YSU has won some games lately? They've cleaned up their campus and actually recruited some talent. And, their arena is basically a "red JAR". It gives me hope that someone could one day turn the Zips football program around. Our FB is nowhere near the loser program that YSU basketball was for 50 years. They even lost a serviceable big (7' 3" center) to USC, and apparently haven't skipped a beat. Having mob money to pay NIL doesn't hurt, I'm sure. 🙃

I think they will be "ok" also. Solid 5-7 wins a season.

Didn't YSU get the better of us in a scrimmage last year too?

The rest of this season is all about giving you opportunities to high five your wife!

The biggest concern for me was hearing that briscoe and barre played a total of 2 minutes. That puts its all on Amani. I love MMK as he is a hustle player. But he is not skilled enough to be our back up big.

It's puzzling. Could be any number of reasons.

Based on your recap, I think it's likely Groce was forcing the guys to play in uncomfortable ways. Frustrating for fans but it's good coaching if true. Odd that Brisco didn't get any PT. Wonder what's up with that. What I haven't heard yet is that we looked slow and weak. As long as those two attributes avoid becoming the descriptors of this team, we'll be quite competitive.

I saw on joe lunardi bracketology YSU is a team in the field meaning he thinks they win the horizon league. not a end of the world loss. But it sounds like we struggled on offense, and some of fears of the team came true. Feels like Monday night will set expectations for the rest of season.

6 turnovers for Tavari. Ugh. All of the stats are on the YSU site.

Thanks @clarkwgriswold!

Not very good defensively.

Oggi looking like he looked in Bosnia and Serbia. Not to mention Herzegovina.

Clark, is this the type of scrimmage where everyone is getting plenty of playing time or is this more of a dress rehearsal where roles are already becoming established?

Smooth. Very smooth.

Thanks for the updates Clark! Keep them coming. Go Zips!!

LSU was estimated to have spent the 3rd most NIL money in 2024 among all D1 football teams. In no way are they second level. As for Kelly, you should know that at places like LSU, a winning record isn't good enough. And for a coach who was making $10 M a year, it shouldn't be. You are paid to be a national title contender, and his LSU teams never were. If that makes me or anyone else willing to point that out a "loud a-hole", so be it. P.S. History will not view Kelly kindly regardless of what he wins or doesn't win. He will be remembered for valuing practice footage over the life of Declan Sullivan.

There can't be 20 Zips fans here and 4 of them came in my car.

Oggy in for Evan, Amani for Eric.

Damn. Stuck with the bobblehead again!

Hopefully Akron gets a mention or two during the series 👍🦘

Notes from the Tip-off Reception: * Evan Mahaffey is the real deal. He could be one of Akron's best ever by the time he is done here. * Cody Head is better than expected. * The Serbian will get some minutes. * The team is fully healthy as of a week ago. * Barre is a good fit as he can get up and down the floor. * Nate had 9 serious high money NIL offers. * The entire team looks like they've spent a lot of time with the strength and conditioning coach. * They beat Wright State in an exhibition. * Every player that has completed their eligibility at UA in the last 9 year left with a degree. * Every scholarship player who has completed his eligibility at UA in the last nine years has played professionally. * 26 practices so far. * They are going to play fast again this year. * The emphasis in practice all pre-season has been on defense. * The JMU Game will include the ring presentation and raising the banner. * There will be two fan experiences- trips to Vegas and New Orleans. * This group is really tight on and off the court. * The proceeds of the YSU scrimmage are being split between the schools' collectives.

78-70 YSU, 1:11

72-68 Penguins, 3:33 left.