Illini Zip

Dawson’s stock is rising.

I am wondering if he needs the off-season to heal his ankle.

I have wondered that too.

I would say Ali, Trimble or Castaneda could carry the team on any given night against most competition. Tonight we might need a couple of them to have good shooting performances with the regular support from Freeman, etc. I also agree with @1981 grad that Trimble needs to continue to be multi-faceted with his mid-range game. That's how he stays in the starting line-up while being streaky from deep. And @Blue & Gold and others have pointed out Trimble's liability at the defensive end. Trimble should be guarding the opponents wing. If he can't stay in front of his guy, please coach, bring in Dawson. I also need to see Clarke continue to grow. He is really picking up his defense nicely and has hit a couple of shots, but has yet to show that he can break down the defense off the dribble or pick and roll. I have him and Tavari Johnson penciled in at the PG spot next year with Castaneda splitting his time between the two guard spots. And Tribble backing up at the shooting guard spot. But Clarke is just not there yet. Plenty of basketball yet to play though. Come on Clarke, you got this. Finally, even though I have seen limited video of Sekou Sada Kalle, I have hopes he will become the next Xeyrius Williams. He is a big 6-10" forward who moves very well and is strong at the hoop. But even though his highlight videos show limited shooting from range, he has a nice release and can hit from the top of the key and beyond the arc. Hello, Stretch Four anybody. I would like to think he is progressing in practice and we might get to see him yet this year.

As much as I enjoy watching a ton of Zips basketball, I think fatigue really showed itself against CMU. We had way too many lazy passes and just didn't value every possession. Add the fact that CMU played like a team that hadn't seen the court in a couple of weeks with a few mind-numbing calls and you get some ugly basketball. Yet we escaped again. We are like the Great Houdini pulling off the impossible. That isn't going to cut it against Toledo. We have to be very sharp and play with purpose. Our guys have it in them. It helps that according to the GoZips schedule there is a full week off after this game. So leave it all on the court fellas and hope for a good shooting night. Prediction: Pain. (Just kidding) All I want is a competitive game to the end. Go Zips!!

I appreciate it guys. I was starting to panic. Ha!! Clark, do you search within ESPN+ or a general search engine? Nevermind: I see it in the upper-right corner. Good to know.

What am I missing. I don't see the ESPN 3/Plus link for the Akron/Central Michigan game at 7:00. Anybody?

It was kind of like watching a pitching duel in baseball. We do need to be able to win in different ways. I just don't like seeing our guys getting punked down low. But if @1981 grad says we won the battle of the boards, who can argue with that.

Physical teams have caused us trouble all year. Poster board material for the weight room in the off-season, especially for Ali, Freeman and Aziz.

Ugly, but hard fought win. Make no apologies. Zips win!!!

The light appears to be going on for Clarke. At least on the defensive end. Now drive and finish at the hoop.

Let's do this. Go Zips!!

I'm all out of "likes" guys so let me just say that I agree that rebounding is a cause for concern. And I have been in love with the quickness of Freeman from day one. He's so quick I was surprised he got caught tipping the ball in while hanging on the rim. Ha!! One last comment, I wonder how much fatigue is a factor with us being slow to the ball. We are running a short rotation these days.

I am seeing us getting beat a lot on the long rebound. Rebounds where a quicker guard like LCJ could in the past swoop in and snag it while the brutes are locked up in battles for position.

Trimble is giving BG the Western Michigan treatment.

I wonder if he re-injured his ankle.

I hope Clarke is going to be back. Even for a few minutes of defense. Our bench is getting pretty thin.

Call it wishful thinking, but it's time for the Zips to put Covid in the rear view mirror and play their best game since Wright State. Zips by 7 points.

I hope he is ready to go on day one. We need a quarterback badly.

Awhile back @Blue & Gold pointed out that Sekou Kalle is wasting a year of eligibility. At this point I have to agree. He's not seeing the court at all. I can imagine he is stuck behind a couple of young projects already in Freeman and Aziz, but why was he not redshirted? Does anyone have any insight into his situation and progress?

I am happy to see Tribble hit a few 3 pointers lately, especially tonight's which kick-started the run. I doubt he will ever become a sharp shooter, but that's alright. Just make enough when left alone so defenses have to stay home.

I am bearish on team execution, but bullish on team grit and desire to win.

Unbelievable. We stole that one.

I'm just amazed by Western Michigan's shooting tonight. Almost unconscious.

Let's go Zips!!