Illini Zip

I’m ready to start another 13 game winning streak on Tuesday night. Go Zips!!

I think the regular season has to matter. Personally the top 8 teams is enough, but if you want to give everyone the chance to have a post-season the 1 and 2 seeds still need to be given byes to the semis. You can still play the first rounds at the home courts like before. If we did allow all teams to play, how would that look with 13 teams?

I like that Lyles is still playing hard and attacking. Good for him.

Not just this game.

Starting to see way too much flopping get called.

I think the radio guys said Nate hurt his finger again.

Young is back. I was concerned he really aggravated that knee again.

And may I boldly proclaim, the best fan forum in the MAC.

And in the portal/NIL environment, retention is all the more challenging.

By Akron not having an obvious Player of the Year candidate doesn’t that just strengthen the argument for Groce being Coach of the Year?

Always a good day when Kent State loses.

Always a good day when Toledo loses.

Anybody know how Rich Brisco is developing as a red shirt? He seems to be very similar in style as Okonkwo. I wouldn’t expect him to play much next year regardless of what happens with Okonkwo. I’m just curious if he’s a keeper.

Some days he’s better at finishing around the rim than others. We were so spoiled with Freeman being almost automatic. May I ask what encourages you that he has a higher ceiling? I do like his energy for defending, rebounding and dunking. But he is currently fouling too much.

That’s funny. You just beat me to the Amani subject @clarkwgriswold, but with a different take. Hat tip to Amani, he’s turned into a real good shot blocker.

I also think they need to adjust to teams running them off the three point line. Their offensive flow appears to be out of whack. And thus they are not stepping into their shots naturally. They still have time to figure it out before Cleveland.

Congrats Enrique!! Now win this thing.

Not how you want to go into a halftime celebration for Enrique.

Now neither is looking good.

Our defense is looking better. Our offense not so much.

Long, baggy shorts era.

The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

He didn’t dive on a ball he lost either. It might be because he had just hurt his hand a bit earlier, but it was a bad look.

I hear unicorns wear #25.

I just want to caution against looking at the final foul tally in the box score. It doesn’t always tell the story of the game. The type and timing of the foul is how refs manage the game. This game was pretty close throughout, but in my opinion by the second half this game should have been played between a 10-20 point advantage for the Zips. Central Michigan was allowed a lot more hand-checking and body contact leading to bad shots and turnovers. That’s why I keep on Tavari to get physically stronger. He will not get any help on the road when the opponents rake his arms. We should have had many “and one” opportunities in this game. Scott was given a dead ball foul when he should have went to the line. And that half-court violation at the end is caused by the refs allowing physical play by the defense. It’s harder to protect and advance the ball when you know the opponent has been allowed to rape you all game. Understanding these things and being able to play through them on the road will make this team all the more dangerous come March.