Quickzips

Big question right now is what would you rather see happen to OU? If they win today against Miami they will be the 3 seed, on the other side of the bracket from the Zips (along with Buffalo) and Akron won't have to face them until Saturday if at all. If they lose today and EMU loses today they would be the 4 seed, on the same side of the bracket as the Zips. They would get a bye until Thursday where they would likely face an EMU team that had to play 2 games in 3 nights just to get there. The Zips would then likely match up with them on Friday night. If they lose today and EMU wins today, OU would be the 5 seed. They would get no bye, but they would be on the same side of the bracket as the Zips. The bobcats would have a home game Monday against NIU, then would have to travel to Cleveland on Tuesday for a Wednesday matchup against another MAC West cupcake. Passing that test they would match up Thursday with a rested EMU squad that beat them during the regular season. If they survive that they would advance to take on our Zips on Friday evening. Personally, I almost prefer them to be the 3 seed. As much as I would like to see them have to play 5 games in 6 nights, I think having the likely matchup with them against Buffalo in the late game Friday works in our favor. Even though those are the only two teams to have beaten us this year, it would likely be a slugfest that would run late into the evening, tiring out whoever advances to Saturday where we will hopefully be fairly well rested and waiting. Worst case scenario IMO is to have them at the 4 seed.

I hate to do too much speculating, but unexcited and ill almost seems to be the default for Harney. I think I've seen him crack a smile maybe 2 or 3 times all year. He just tends to look disinterested, like he doesn't really care about anything that is going on. Particularly when he is on defense. I really hope the light turns on soon for this kid, because he has the talent to be an elite player in this league.

Tree seems to be figuring out what Akron basketball is all about. His attitude on and off the court look like a guy who is understanding what it takes to earn minutes and be successful in this program. Been very impressed with his performances over the last 10-12 games. Give him another offseason to work on some things (defensive rotations, free throw shooting) and the sky is the limit for this kid. Now if some of that would just rub off on Harney.

IMO this is the kind of thing Zeke needs to work on if he wants to get some run at the next level. He is never going to be an elite, or even above average low post scorer. He simply doesn't have the lower body for it. But big guys who can stretch the floor are a hot commodity in the NBA. With his defensive abilities, if Zeke can turn himself into a good 15-18 foot jump-shooter he can carve out a nice little nitch for himself at the next level. I would expect to see Zeke work a lot on this aspect of his game in the offseason and display it a lot more his senior year.

First half TO's: 14 Second half TO's: 3 That is the difference in the ballgame and the key for this Zips team. You value possessions and take care of the ball, you win ballgames. It is as simple as that. I said at halftime, that if Harney played 5 more minutes we would lose the game. I don't think I saw Nick on the floor at all the second half. Kid has to get his head right or he isn't going to have a very long career here. Finally, a HUGE shout out to Quincy...er...I mean Chancey Gilliam. Every time the Zips need a bucket in that second half, whether it was to come out of the locker room on a good note or to stem off a mini-Flashes run there was Chauncey hitting tough shot after tough shot.

Abreu, Walsh, Gilliam, Tree and Zeke. That is my five on the floor in the second half. All 20 minutes. Those are the only 5 guys putting any effort in. Gotta send a message to Q, Nitro, Serb and Harney right now. If you aren't going to try, you aren't going to play. This is flat out embarrasing to watch these guys going through the motions, shrugging off stupid turnovers, not getting back on D, slopping up crap at the rim. At this point, the Harney factor should be if he plays more than 5 minutes we are going to lose. The guy hasn't put an ounce of effort in since the last time we played these thugs. And if I watch him take 4 steps before dribbling the ball one more time my TV is going through the window.

Well thats enough for me for tonight. If the Zips aren't going to bother to play with any energy, I'm not going to bother to watch.

I don't know how anyone can be enjoying anything about this game right now.

Zips have come out with zero energy. I hope we haven't already shut it down and are playing for the Q.

The MAC site links to ESPN3, which is not available from my provider, otherwise I would just use that. Firstrowsports it is.

Anyone have a link to tonights game for those of us stuck in without access to ESPNU/ESPN3?

The danger of administration giving in to that lobbying (which did occur) is being played out right now.

I'm out of this one. No point in continuing to try to have a rational debate in this one.

Really uncalled for personal attack man. It is one thing to question a fellow fan's opinion on our team, it is another to put into question that fan's academic integrity and the academic integrity of our institution. Your post read that the ONLY way we are getting into the tourney (I presumed the NCAA tourney) was to go in with the NIT already in our back pocket. I simply pointed out that that isn't necessarily the case. Now if you meant the MAC tourney that is an entirely different story, and I apologize for misconstruing your words, but it is no reason to come back with the personal attacks.

Akron now assured of no worse than the 3 seed as Can't is faltering big time down the stretch. Can't just doesn't look like a team right now. You hear KD talk a lot about how our guys like playing with each other. I'm not sure any of the guys on Can't's team like each other. They are sloppy, they have no interest at all in rebounding and they aren't very mentally tough. They could well lose the 4 seed to Eastern or BG before it is all said and done.

If Miami can hold on against the Bulls and BG can upset Can't tonight then the Zips will go into tomorrows game against Ohio already having sewn up one of the top 2 seeds and the triple bye that goes with it.

Wow did you miss my point. The original post implied that we had no chance of making it to the NCAA's if we didn't clinch the one seed, which would also give us the NIT auto-bid. I simply pointed out that this wasn't the case for the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 squads. I'm sure those teams would have loved the extra byes, but I also know that they wouldn't have given up the NCAA berths to go back and have the bye. Back to the subject at hand. Again, I really don't care where we clinch. It is going to happen one way or another. Frankly, if this team DOESN'T clinch, we have a lot bigger problems than just losing out on the NIT bid, or having to play an extra game in Cleveland. Losing 3 in a row, including two in a row against the suddenly struggling Bulls and Flashes would be an utter meltdown heading into the tournament. Even losing two of those games would be unaccetable IMO. This team has had momentum the entire conference season. Can't give that up now.

I believe the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 teams would disagree.

Don't care where we clinch, so long as we do it. Hoping it comes on Sunday (I hate seeing us lose games, especially to OU). Don't care about NIT bids at all (I've made that very clear on here several times). The bar has been raised for this program. We can't be satisfied sitting at the kiddie table of March Madness anymore. Time to prove that we belong with the big boys.

The only thing I could see KD MAYBE doing is limiting Abreu's minutes a bit in the final 2 games. Alex is dealing with some injuries to his back right now, and that knee is probably still not 100%. Being our only true PG on the roster, I could see KD cutting his minutes to 18-22 minutes a night in the final couple of games so as not to put too much wear on Alex. It would also allow us to get Q a little more burn at PG which can only help going into tournament time. Outside of that, I expect KD to keep his rotations mostly the same.

Not sure what to make of that. Buffalo is known for collapsing down the stretch, and it is starting to look that way again up in Canada. OU is a dangerous team. They can get hot from 3 at any time and run a team out of the gym, but the Zips are still the team to beat.

Egner was never going to get in the game. He was in streets. Still having back issues. Rumor is the Zips are going to try for a medical redshirt. A nice win for the Zips tonight. Weird game all around. BG hung around despite the Zips playing fairly well on both ends (outstanding on offense). Zips are switching too much on the screens on the defensive end and it is causing some mismatches and some easy shots for the Falcons. Very nice to see us close the game out so well from the stripe though. Warmed my heart.

This game affirms what a lot of us have already known. The Zips are a good team, but they aren't good enough to continue skating for long portions of the game and then trying to turn it on in short spurts and win. Hopefully this serves as a wake up call for this group. We aren't THAT good that we can continue to play hard for only 60% of the game and expect to win against a decent opponent.

I'm surprised you aren't used to it by now. Bo Borowski is a MAC ref.

Most ridiculous part about that foul on Zeke, right after the announcers state that, "sometimes it is tough for officials to adjust to a shot blocker." BS. Borowski has been watching Zeke for 3 years. The explanation is much simpler. Bo Borowski is a terrible official. On a related point, I'm still waiting for the day when KD's team comes out ready to play in a bracketbuster game. We're lucky to only be down 11 at the half with how sloppy and unprepared we have been.