Illini Zip

I guess I’m a little more bullish on Amani. He seemed to be shooting pretty well from deep before he got hurt. I don’t know what happened thereafter. I will concede that in order to play on the perimeter Amani probably needs to improve his handle a bit and a lack of lateral quickness would hurt him with certain defensive assignments at the 4 spot. Maybe I am just having a hard time excepting so much of Groce’s offense is shelved having 5 guys on next years roster between 6-6” and 6-8”, none of them being a serious threat away from the rim. You all know what Xerius and Hunter added to the team, but consider a 6-9” big who can pass and shoot well from the free throw line area. Such a player is an absolute zone killer in this offense. Anyway, I am choosing to hope someone emerges from the off-season with more to offer and today my money is on Amani.

I do think there will be an open competition all Summer long. But I would like to see Shammah get the nod to start for this very reason. He would have started on most MAC teams and could have started for the Zips as well. I feel similarly about Amani. It’s his time to shine too. Especially, if he takes another step forward during the offseason. That said, there is something to be said for veteran leadership being on the floor at all times. Also, something @clarkwgriswold pointed out was that Young and Shammah do play well together. Finally, I can’t imagine how emotional it will be for the Mahaffey parents to see their sons out there together for the first time. They probably get all choked up just thinking about the money they will save on gas alone. As of today, my starting lineup would be thus: Tavari Shammah Nate Amani Okonkwo Second wave has countless possible variations: Young/Perkins Eric Hardman Evan/MMK Brisco I do subscribe to the 4 guard/big and 3 guard plus a wing/big theories. But I am suggesting starting the game with Amani playing a stretch 4 role. He can run the court just fine. How many times did we see him chase down and block from behind on an opponent’s fast break.

I have been told on more than one occasion that I should go to hell. Can I get there from the University of Akron?

I have no love for Bruce Pearl. And now it’s go Florida because of the Eric Gordon scandal involving Kelvin Sampson (now with Houston) and probably Senderoff.

Is this a bad time to remind everyone just how much I hate Toledo?

Should help with recruiting.

Going off of this year’s NET that would work as a Q2 game for us as well as Xavier or Dayton so I’m in for that. I want more Q1 and Q2 opportunities.

I would like to see the Zips play 2 neutral court games a year in large venues. Instead of home and home, it would be “home away from home” and “home away from home”. Our home away from home is Rocket Mortgage and I would like a OOC game to be played there annually so every one of our players has that experience before the MAC Tournament. Then we play a different team at their home away from home (Atlanta, Denver, New York, etc) so we experience yet another environment. The following year we flip the game locations. Next year I imagine we could start the season in Q2 (51-100) so we would target 2 teams from that range. That way there is not a NET advantage for any team. There is a lot of nice competition in this range. This is probably an expensive idea, but it’s my suggestion.

I cringe as I type this because we already beat this horse to death and we are in agreement. But here’s a possible scenario if Evan struggles to shoot and Amani regains his confidence. Evan plays with Amani, Evan at the wing defensively and Amani at the 5. Offensively they switch, Amani on the perimeter and Evan at the 5. I just wouldn’t suggest playing Evan and Okonkwo together under those circumstances.

On a completely random note, Arby’s owes a big thank you to whoever associated our new logo with that of the fast-food chain as my consumption of beef and cheddar and chicken cordon blue sandwiches has drastically increased. Apparently, I am easily influenced.

I’ll jump in just to say good question and I have no idea. I was wondering myself if he had made the court and I was just fixated on Evan Wilson. I do think the walk-on role as we have known it could die off while being replaced by a couple more managers and a few redshirt freshmen each year.

I have that line up in my mind too. Lyles proved early in the year that he can hit plenty of threes. He just needs to become a reliable stretch 4 for next year. And hopefully BBM (big brother Mahaffey) can hit wide open threes.

I agree with both of you.

That team with Riak and X was our most balanced/complete yet.

So I guess we’ll just have to wait and see where Lewis ends up and Evan can guard him there.

Baltic moved really good for 6-9.

Groce when at Ohio almost took out North Carolina with a 6-7 center. They were able to play his preferred style, spread the floor, drive and shoot a lot of threes. But it’s a new era and we just got out-rebounded by Arizona by something like 53-20. They doubled up our points in the paint and dominated second chance points. It wasn’t from a lack of effort. They were taller, stronger and more athletic at all positions. Others have already addressed this and Evan Mahaffey is definitely a step in the right direction. But Lyles on a free throw miss got pushed right off the blocks. I think Brisco will help, but a 7 footer or 6-10, 250lb, Austin Parks type player would be a welcome addition at some point. And even though you do lose some quickness and agility, Groce did run his offense with full-sized bigs when at Illinois.

I like family aspect to this move. I watched the spotlight video already. A very nice family/story and a great addition to the team.

Zips add Evan Mahaffey.

Exactly.

I thought Arizona got hosed with about 5 minutes left. They deserved 2 technical shots which would have tightened the game down to 5 points I think. Who knows if that would have made a difference. Duke is just insane this year.

Josiah Harris departs.

So you’re not predicting a home and home with Fordham anytime soon.

I had to look it up, “All Glory To God”.

I did see this and you are probably right, but I was waiting for things to shake out.