Quickzips

Sorry if I am Debbie Downer on this one, but I don't see a lot to be "savoring" here. I mean, it's kind of nice, I guess.... It would be a lot more savor-worthy if the RPIs were Zips 29 and NC 30.

Seriously? I know it is North Carolina, but that is pretty close to the absolute worst North Carolina team they have ever fielded. Wake me when the Zips are in the same RPI range as them during a good year.

He blew his ACL junior year of HS. Everybody but Western Michigan backed off him.Also, I talked to some scouts about Kool. They didn't seem too impressed.Yet another example of how much of an inexact science scouting is. A kid like Kool could help a lot of programs around this country. I'm sure there are a few teams with national title hopes right now that wish they had a kid like him coming off their bench as a sparkplug. He's been a darn good player his entire career. It isn't like this kid just blossomed this year.

One thing that worries me with that video is the look on McNees' face at the end of that one. He looked either distraught that he missed that layup or just plain gassed. He's played a lot of big minutes the last two nights for us. I hope that isn't going to catch up to us tonight.

Word from Ohio is that Cooper is battling a knee injury that is accounting from some of his lack of production. Not surprising in the least with how skinny he is. I pointed out to some people last night during OU's warmup that his legs are skinny as a rail. You never want to see a talented player hurt like that, but if this is true it could certainly benefit the Zips.

Watching that again, I didn't realize just how important Brett McKnight was to Chris getting that put-back. Brett really crashed the boards hard and it looked like 3 Western players were all trying to keep him off the glass. He served as kind of a decoy and allowed his brother to swoop in for the easy board and bucket.

Nik was all over the place last night. He takes it very personally when something doesn't go quite right for him, and he can't do that. You just have to shake it off and know you will get it done the next time. Don't get me wrong, I love the dude's emotion, and I think it is necessary on a team that sometimes looks like it is falling asleep. He has had a lot of times this year when he has been able to harness that emotion and turn it into a positive for himself and the team. We need more of that out of him tonight and less of the "I'm gonna take my ball and go home" look that I saw last night.

Four in a row in the championship game. Time to boost our record to 2-2. This is a really interesting matchup. The team that has been here before and knows what it is all about against the team that hasn't seen this level of success in a while and, like last years Akron squad is probably to young to know the difference. Needless to say, I think we were all hoping for a matchup against Miami, but the Redhawks stunk up the Q last night in one of the worst tournament semifinal "games" I think you will ever see. I don't think OU is unbeatable though. They've played two games that they pretty well had in hand from the opening tip. I want to see what happens to them when the Zips come out of the gate hitting shots and take an early lead. Needless to say, if this is a close game I think it favors the Zips. Akron has gotten used to winning close games this year while OU is 3-8 in games decided by 5 points or less. As for the individual matchups. The story of the week for OU has been Armon Bassett. The well traveled guard has put up huge numbers this week and is a virtual lock for the all tournament team regardless of tonights outcome. Bassett is a dual threat in that he can get to the rim and finish or he can step back and hit jumpers with almost unlimited range. He likes to drive to his right more than his left. Zips need to overplay him to his left. Make him drive the basketball to his weak side. DJ Cooper has been the story for OU for most of the season and was the landslide MAC freshman of the year. He has struggled this week though going 1-10 in two games at the Q with 4 points and a lot of early foul trouble. It looks like the key to beating him is to make him work early and often on the defensive end. Zips don't want to let him get into a rythm on offense. OU's only senior is Kenneth Van Kempen who apparently has decided that he is a jump shooter. He's been taking nothing but 12-15 foot jumpers all week and missing them with striking regularity. If I am KD I will give him those all day long. I'm not going to challenge those shots until he proves he can make a couple. Up front they also bring Reggie Kelly and DeVaughn Washington. Kelly is more of a traditional post up big. He didn't play much in the first matchup with the Zips, but put up 12 points and 20 rebounds including 11 offensive boards in the double overtime matchup at the JAR. Zips need to keep him from crashing the offensive glass. He isn't having a particularly good tournament either, but you can bet John Groce remembers that last matchup against the Zips and will look to him for a spark. Washington is kind of a JJ Hickson type of player. He rarely has a play called for him but gets a lot of points on runout dunks, putbacks and off of open feeds in the lane after his guards penetrate and draw the double team. He has been their second best player this week, but I think if the Zips can just keep a body on him and not let him run free in the lane they can keep him under control. The X factor for OU is probably Tommy Freeman. Freeman doesn't stand out on the court, but he is a very efficient 3 point shooter who can shoot a team out of the gym if he gets hot. This is where our defensive rotations really need to be crisp, because the penetrating ability of OU's guards can get Freeman a lot of open shots off of the drive and kick. Just like OU doesn't want to see Steve McNees heat up from 3, the Zips don't want to let Freeman get going out there. Asown Sayles is their defensive specialist and will probably see considerable playing time, but isn't much of an offensive threat. Ivo Baltic is more or less a warm body up front although he will make the occassional hustle play. He had a pretty nice offensive board against Can't that got OU another possession on Thursday night.On the other side of the ball, OU does a very nice job of mixing up their defenses. They will probably start out in a man to man, but they will switch to a 2-3 zone at times and they like to extend the defense to pressure the ball every now and then. They frustrated the hell out of Miami last night by double teaming Kenny Hayes at the top of the key. OU doesn't just show and retreat with a big guy, they look to trap out front. This will leave Akron's bigs open underneath for some easy baskets. Miami did a piss poor job of taking advantage of this last night. If the Zips are patient they can get some easy buckets out of this. Outside of Van Kempen they lack a lot of bulk up front, so they try to make up for it by not allowing the ball into the post. If we can get one of the McKnights or Cvetinovic the ball on the block I like our odds. The Zips should also try to exploit Freeman on the perimeter. They play him mostly at the 3 which would match him up against Conyers. Jimmy has posted two double doubles this year against him. He tries hard on defense, but Conyers is just a terrible matchup against him. Jimmy needs to stay aggressive and force OU to either double him or let him beat them. Prediction:Zips 66Bobkittens 59Zips Dancin!

Am I crazy, or did Brett McClanahan play better defense on Kool? I think Brett's defensive game has improved leaps and bounds from last year. He was focused again last night. I'm surprised he isn't getting more PT. Overall IMO we didn't defend Kool tight enough. We wouldn't pick him up until he crossed the three point line. When he didn't have the ball we would lay off him and try doubling down low. We should have had at least one person in his side pocket the whole game. If I coached that game Kool would have woke up very sore today.McClanahan did an alright job on Kool, but he lost him a few times too. I think Jimmy did a better job on him. I think a lot of you are underestimating just how difficult it is to guard a guy who is the only offensive weapon on a REALLY bad team who has the heart of a lion and is trying to extend his career by one more game. To me, that is what we have run into the last couple nights. Medlock had been through so many medical issues only to finally be healthy for a full season and he had that look in his eye that said "I'm leaving it all on the floor cause I don't want it to end here." Same thing from Kool last night. I don't know as you are going to see the same thing from OU's guards tonight. Bassett has been playing well, but I think he snuck up on some people. I think Can't and Miami were gameplanning against Cooper who has had an awful tournament and Bassett has snuck up on them. I don't think he is going to sneak up on the Zips. In the end, I'm a little concerned, but I don't think it is time to push the panic button at all.

Chris had a big game last night. It is the kind of game I think a lot of us were looking for a lot more this year. I think most of us had high hopes for Chris coming into this season, but the logjam at PF seems to have negatively impacted him more than anyone. It is nice to see him making the most of his last few games here though.

Left at halftime of that game. Had to, if we would have stayed for the second half I was in danger of falling into a coma. Amazing how you can go from such an exciting game for the Zips and Broncos to such a snooze fest for the big rivals Miami and OU. I don't particularly like playing OU. They have the hot hand right now. The Zips are going to have to have a little more of that first half effort from tonight and a lot less of the 2nd half effort if they want to win tomorow. Would have much rather seen Miami, and not just for the revenge factor. OU is a very dangerous team. Like most teams in the MAC, I don't think they can match up with us in the frontcourt, but man do they have some guards who can play.

With the way this tournament has gone, Zips might want to have a few cardiologists scattered in the stands tomorow night. Gotta give Chris McKnight some mad props on that one. He was a man possessed. You could see it in his body language, he didn't want this to be the last game of his career. Very good game from Humpty as well. We are a much better team when the ball is in his hands and he is looking to penetrate. Good things happen when you break a team down off the dribble and Humpty has the ability to do that. Zeke had a pretty good night as well. A few key rebounds leading to extra possessions. Horrible night for Nikola. He seemed like he was in a funk from the word go. Not much better from Brett McKnight either. Finally, have to give some serious props to David Kool. I want so bad to hate him because of how difficult he made that game, but I just can't. The kid plays with a lot of class and is such a major talent. Without him, I don't think Western could beat Toledo in all honesty. It is kind of bittersweet knowing that was his last game in this conference. It will be nice not having to try and guard him any more, but at the same time he is so much fun to watch.

That looks like some serious hops right there. The camera angle is a little funky, but you can tell the kid is playing above the rim in every sense of the word.

You know what, none of the Can't fans were complaining about the tournament setup 3 years ago when a miracle by Doug Penno knocked the best team in the conference and the best shot this conference has had in years of winning in the NCAA's out. Now that the shoe is on the other foot all you hear from them is how whacked out this conference is, how unfair the seeding is, how the tournament is really worthless and we should just send the regular season champ to the NCAA's like the Ivy League does. Ironic. When the shoe is on the other foot it doesn't fit so well does it?

Lets look at it this way:Player Season Average EMUHumpty Hitchens 25.5 min. 40Steve McNees 32 min. 42Jimmy Conyers 32 min. 36Chris McKnight 20.5 min. 9Zeke Marshall 16.6 min. 35Brett McKnight 19 min. 31Daryl Roberts 24 min. 25Nikola Cvetinovic 21 min. 18Brett McClanahan 12.5 min. 12Ronnie Steward 6 min. 1Humpty, McNees, Brett McKnight and Zeke may be a little tired. Cvetinovic, Chris McKnight and Steward should all be pretty fresh having played less minutes than normal. Conyers, McClanahan, Roberts played pretty close to their average. I think in the end it will even out. I would expect to see a little more of Steward tonight (say around 10-12 minutes) and definitely more Cvetinovic and Chris McKnight. I think the only problem will come in if we start having the same guys get in foul trouble early again tonight or if we start going into multiple OT's again.

I think my favorite thing about that whole sequence is watching the reactions of guys afterwards. McNees does the little hanging hand thing for a second, then starts moving back on defense, then when the timeout is called, he walks to the bench like nothing happened. He knows the game is just tied, and that they have 5 more minutes. Yeah, it was a big shot, but not time to celebrate yet. EMU's players on the other hand, looked totally dejected. Could have seen then how the 2nd OT was going to play out just by looking at the body language.McNees has taken a lot of crap on these forums, but he is still one of the most exciting players on this team. You never know when he is going to get hot from beyond the arc, but you sure know that when it happens you don't want to miss it.

Ohh hell's to the yeah. Ohio State in the first round with the chance to take on Xavier if we make it through. You wanna get Joe Akron excited about Zips basketball...right there would be your chance.

Did anybody else see Singletary throw a deliberate knee to Bassett after the whistle around the 7 minute mark of the second half? One of his teamates had already committed the foul and it was starting to get a little chippy. Singletary walked over like he was going to try to calm things down, then threw a cheap knee to Bassetts mid-section. Good to see him go out on a classy note.

he doesnt commit "silly fouls" the refs just calls tacky things on him.IMO any foul Zeke commits 12 feet from the basket or beyond is a "silly" foul. He's clearly had plenty of those this year. I can think of at least two from last Friday alone. I can handle him picking up a foul or two going for a block around the rim. Fouls 15 feet from the basket when his guy has barely even started his move to the basket, those are "silly" fouls. He's a freshman, so he gets a certain amount of a pass, and I will give him credit for avoiding those yesterday when nobody else on the team seemed to be able to avoid getting Borowskied (hey look, I invented a new word), but I want to see those kinds of games more often before we go anointing him as "arrived".

Ok, now that this crazy day at the Q is pretty much over with (well, not if you are a Bull or a Redhawk, but...) it is time to move on to tomorow.Western comes in with the player of the year in David Kool who is probably the most consistent and dynamic scorer in the conference. They came back from 14 down in the 2nd half against Central today. They have a little bit of momentum. Can't take this team lightly, even if we beat them early in the season.I think the strategy for this one is pretty simple. Accept that Kool is probably going to score 20+ on you, but don't let his teamates beat you. In the first meeting Kool was 11 for 20 for 30 points, the rest of the team went 13-38 for 40 points. The Zips simply accepted the fact that Kool is going to get his points, didn't throw a lot of double teams at him, didn't try to force the ball out of his hands, and beat Western when nobody else really stepped up for them. What little I saw of the Central game today, the Chip's tried to double Kool a lot, leaving open looks for his teamates which they converted enough to get them the win. Western might be a one man show, but they know what to do when you try to take away their weapon. On offense, the ball has to run through the post. In the first matchup both McKnights, Conyers and Cvetinovic all scored in double digits. Reason? Western is terrible up front. Their frontcourt isn't big enough, strong enough, skilled enough, athletic enough or deep enough to match up with us. If I am KD I am telling my guys not to shoot the 3 unless it A)comes from a pass out of the post following a double team or is so wide open there isn't anyone between you and Lake Erie. Cvetinovic and Chris McKnight in particular should be fresh having not played many minutes tonight, and our guards all had to go major minutes. Gotta play to our strength.Prediction:Zips: 75David Kool: 30WMU: 62

Hope Can't enjoys that NIT bid you guys were all so worried about. Wanna talk about a choke job? How about dropping your opening game in the conference tournament to the #9 seed by 17. I don't know about you guys, but the Zips have to be considered the favorites right now.

Easy there big fella's. Zeke had a great game there, but he still has plenty of flaws. He kept himself out of foul trouble tonight (funny how he kept himself out of foul trouble for once, but nobody else could). Until he learns to consistently cut back on the silly fouls I'm afraid these kinds of games from him are going to be sporadic.

What is it with the Zips struggling with crappy West teams in the first game at the Q? One way or another I'll take it, but damn.At least Cvetinovic and Chris McKnight will be rested for tomorow. Everyone else will be gassed, but...those two should be good.

c'mon man three out of four of them have 4-stars! haha I would be happy with 2/4 on that list, but even just getting that would be a stretchSeriously though, I think if somehow by the grace of God we go this recruiting class NO ONE in the MAC would even have a chance against us, especially with the classes of 2009 and 2010 being on the team too. This class would rock the college basketball world, but still we are only dreamingI have only seen one of the three rated at 4 stars and that is Sampson. Crider and Jackson are both generally looked at as 2 or 3 star players, which isn't bad. Still, I think we are realistically in the race for all 3 of them. Sampson would clearly be the biggest steal if we could land him, but I am actually most intrigued by Crider. The kid reminds me a lot of Conyers with a little more developed game offensively. As for the comment about Henry, I couldn't find a youtube video of him, hence I left him off the list in favor of Jackson. I really think we will need a SG or two out of this class as we will be losing Roberts and McNees. I would like to grab up a guy like Henry, Jackson or Remy Abell from Kentucky who is in the 6'3" to 6'5" range. IMO that is the biggest thing we are lacking on this team is some size at the guard positions. Ennis will help out being a PG who I see listed anywhere from 6'0" to 6'2" with athletic ability to spare. Even if we don't get some of these guys, there is still plenty of talent on our radar for this recruiting class. Anton Grady, the 6'8" PF from Cleveland Central Catholic would look very nice in blue and gold. Stevie Taylor from Gahanna Lincoln is a bit on the small side but all the reports say he has mad PG skills. Crider's teamate PG Travis Trice. The aforementioned Henry and Abell.

2011 Recruiting Class (hopefully) replacing McNees, Roberts, Brett McKnight and BardoDylan Ennis: 6'0" PG-Lake Forest Academy Jakarr Sampson: 6'7" SF-Akron St. Vincent St. Mary Keep an eye out at 2:06 for his steal and breakaway layup if you want a real pretty play.Markus Crider: 6'6" SF-Wayne High School-Huber Heights Traevon Jackson: 6'2" SG-Westerville South Athleticism problem solved. And btw, these are all players with reported offers from the Zips. Ennis is already verbally committed.