Zip Watcher

What I want to know is if Tim Carroll is a dreamy-eyed optimist or if he's generally a pretty realistic guy. Because if he's generally a pretty realistic guy, this is a pretty stunning statement. The man speaks the truth.

Thanks for the links, B&G Since Nik is a known commodity, I don't mind at all the fact that he won't be making the trip. Hopefully Egner's concussion is subsiding. Egner practiced today.

Made the mistake of booking the summer rental early this year. So I'm dismayed to not go to Montreal. I'm aware of at least 2 fans making the trip. I'm sure we'll all get some good scoop. Go Zips!

Could just meet at the Lizard in Independence and drive right to the Convo.

Perhaps he rescinded because the all knowing & posting Zach told him he'd be redshirting. That sounded like a trap, so he's off.

Wow .. prognosticating red-shirts 11 months before he can enroll .. and 16 months before his first practice.Your view of the future gets deeper and deeper.Kid is a big-time rebounder based on the first 2 pages of Google hits.Welcome aboard the Zips Nation, Gary .. be careful what you read around here. B) Go Zips!

And Owens. I don't personally know anyone who views our athletic success in a positive light during his tenture.My recollection is that Bobinski's mis-step wasn't the hiring of Owens & Hipsher (both did some heavy lifting in their time here) .. it was the knee jerk 5 year extensions offered at the urging of Terry Pluto.

Lucky Z.I.P. In Paradise, what "2 guard"? Brian Walsh is a true point guard. And, at six-foura dimension in Zips basketball here to fore never seen.Not on this roster he's not.

Green is a pick & pop big. Good shooter, more quickness than Euton .. probably more strength.For about the 5th consecutive season, the Zips will enter the fall with the deepest roster *on paper* that they've ever had. The challenges of mixing the lineups up and finding the right mixes will be there for the staff again. There's no data to suggest they're not up for the challenge.I think perhaps ALL 13 of these guys are going to have to get their minutes the old fashioned way:and EARN them!Too much talent isn't a problem .. it's the makings of a team with a high ceiling. B) Go Zips!

The other thing at work here is that there's not a log-jam in the back court. The Zips graduated 2 big minutes guys in McNees and Roberts. While we might expect to see Nitro more at the 2 than the 3 this year, and we expect that Walsh will step in and contribute .. there still needs to be another guy if Nitro slides to the 3. In that case Walsh can't fill both Robert's and McNees' shoes.I for one was surprised at the build on Deji .. given the old YouTube videos, I sort of figured we be seeing a guy who was 6-3 and 165 soaking wet or something, especially with his hops. Not so. B) Go Zips!

Ibitayo may well surprise people with his 6'9" wingspan on his 6'3" frame.Although he doesn't fit the mold of taller, longer and more athletic, don't forget about Alex Abreu. He has shown the ability to be a pest of an on ball defender at times who can force opposing PG's into some bad decisions.I'm very curious to see what happens with Deji and Blake. This team is going to be stacked this year, and I really don't know where KD is going to find minutes for two true freshmen, but it will be very interesting to see what happens if one or both of them come in to camp and just light it up. Right now, I would expect to see those two redshirt, but who knows.My sources tell me that it will be extremely difficult to sit Deji.

Ibitayo may well surprise people with his 6'9" wingspan on his 6'3" frame.

My guess is that we won't see the 94' defense. I think the approach has been moderated a bit.Full court trapping press .. etc, generates some easy buckets. But it also gives up a LOT of easy buckets. I would argue anecdotally that the teams that are really good in the 94' full trap .. etc, aren't very good in the half court.In the system the Zips currently have, especially as they get leaner and quicker, they can be exceptional in the half court, and pretty good in the full court. I think what we'll see is the ability to press 3/4 to full in spots, when needed .. but that KD won't do it exclusively.Now, having a top notch shot blocker and some athletic 4 men means that we can pressure the ball at the perimeter more, and maybe take more chances, so I do expect to see that.What I think we'll see in the Zips will be an effort to run the ball with any and every opening given .. and some aggressive D in the half court, with 3/4 to Full press in spots. I don't think we'll go Mackey, Huggins @ UC or early Jim Calhoun. If the Zips can become top 30 in overall defense with good to great half court decisions .. they don't need to be giving up layups in a full court trap.As it was last season, the Zips averaged 2 more attempts per game than the opponent. And it wasn't KD's best defensive team. If they can leverage the increased athleticism to pry 3 or 4 more TO's away per game, that gap can be doubled, or even more. I'd say use the depth, energy and athleticism to become an elite half court defense, and get good at outlet passes and running the ball down teams throats on the fast break.It's going to be good .. and up tempo, especially with the ball. I'm really looking forward to it.My $0.02Go Zips B) B)

+1 on that game and the Tailgating.Thinking about the Rubber Bowl in general reminds me of the fact that my son (then 4 years old) refused to go in to the upper rim restrooms and asked if we could go out and use the port-o-potties.Re-read CK's final Rubber Bowl field storming note here. One of my favorite ZN.O posts of all time.

I agree. Dan went from being a loud, barking coach to being a dick. Stacey looked like Barkley in the second half that day. Did he have 30 after halftime?

I think Treadwell making posters out of LBJ and DWade this afternoon could be a great JAR moment. Make it happen Tree!

+1 Also a +1 to CK's mention of the Red Panda lady .. especially in the Miami game right after Steve had dropped 6 of 6 from outside in the first half.

Wow .. too many hotdogs .. MTSU indeed.

Morehead St. in 1986. Only title won in the building.

FYI, they do that all the time .. whenever and wherever it's possible. I'm not aware of any such requests being declined. Caleb & KD are out and about more than anyone knows.

I'm not sure when Zeke will be drafted, but I'm pretty sure at least 2 of the 2011-2012 Zips will spend some time in the NBA.

I wouldn't mind opening the pipeline a bit more for the second coming of Ramon Ramos also. Doesn't need to be limited to PG's does it?

Gilliam has 2 years remaining. But Walsh has 3. Walsh played 2 at Xavier IIRC. Don't make me post an endzone gnome pic! En español, tres años? Wow. That wasn't my understanding at all. He must have gotten a medical hardship for his Freshman year at Xavier. It's pretty clear he was at Xavier for 2 seasons (even refers to his red-shirt Frosh year). That's great he'll have a full 4 years in the program here. I'll update the graphic sometime soon.

Seems like he's going to prep-school it this upcoming year, and join the Zips next season. I believe AA did the same. I wonder if their are any PR bigs in the stable?

Gilliam has 2 years remaining. But Walsh has 3. Walsh played 2 at Xavier IIRC.