Captain Kangaroo

It's the playoffs. The bench gets shortened.

I contend we're "fortunate." Ohio State fans are spoiled. Kentucky fans are spoiled. Zips fans are hardscrabble motherf*ckers that deserve something special like what this basketball team is providing. I sat through a decade-and-a-half worth of Coleman Crawford and Dan Hipsher...seeing great basketball seasons implode as knees get blown out... players punching coaches... opponents banking-in dream-killing, 3-point buzzer-beaters... Five Pound Friday.... MAC POTY candidates prematurely leaving the program under often program-embarrassing circumstances...VCU...and the list could go on. In this week alone, I've driven 30 minutes back and forth to support the team in Akron, and 50 minutes back and forth, twice, to support them in Cleveland, getting home with my son after midnight during the week, all in support of the Zips. There's few things that irk me more than when someone calls me, or any other Zips fan "spoiled." We're fortunate to have the run we've experienced over the past 11 years, but we are not spoiled. We paid a lot of dues along the way, and deserve whatever thrills, fun, and satisfaction we experience in supporting the team.

Loser of the game Saturday goes to the NIT.

If by "a win tonight" you mean "a loss on Saturday," you would be correct.

For Colts, The Price is Reitz

What they're saying in Kalamazoo...

Are you calling ZipsWin! a fish?

If we grabbed a 5th year senior, Bowden would be admitting he has no clue how to recruit, or groom a quarterback. We have 3 Power 5 QB commits on our roster now, and the 4th QB has started about 30 D1 games in his career. One of those guys better be able to handle the job. We have so many holes...if we have an extra scholarship for a 5th year kid, it better be for a WR or OL.

Great win by the Zips last night. They played relentless on defense, and aggressive on offense...it was a lot of fun to watch. The sparse crowd didn't affect them at all (the ones that showed up did a nice job of acknowledging the team's effort). McAdams stated is was easier to get into the flow offensively, since there was no pressure to produce in a short time period. I believe it. Big Dog did a nice job yet again. It was great to see him adjust after his first missed dunk, and get 8 inches in the air instead of 4, to throw down #2 with authority. Antino drilled a three from 24 feet in the second half, and I glanced at KD to see if he was pissed...but he was smiling and clapping. It was a much looser "vibe" last night, and I think the team responded well to their freedom. Interesting post game quote from Dambrot that it was important for the team psyche to get Pat on the floor, if only for a couple minutes. It will be interesting to see if Pat can be effective on Wednesday night...or if he can only inspire for a couple minutes. Loved the refereeing. The game flew by. It was good for the local economy, as the early end allowed me to have a second $2 Blue Moon at B-Dubs after the game. Walters had some rough stats...but it's tough to enter the game an be asked to dribble-out the clock, then make something happen with 10 seconds remaining. Loved how Antino and Reggie attacked the rim. There was even a rare McAdams sighting in the paint! At least we've had some time to adjust to Noah's injury. The team seems to have adopted, and adjusted to Antino's pace. Thanks to the Zips for bucking up and giving us a puncher's chance in Cleveland. Wednesday night will be a blast, and after that we're on house money.

As Steve Spurrier has said: "If you don't like it, get better."

If the Zips were to somehow win the MAC tourney, the meat-grinder they'd have survived would be the best preparation you could ever ask for if you wanted to win an NCAA Round #1 game.

And the prophesy is fulfilled.

Where is GP1 with a "When Athletic Director's Strike" post?

Interesting stat from the K.e.n.t. game: Kwan took nine 3's. Made 2. That put him slightly below his conference-season average of 26.8% from 3-land.

Why wouldn't they?

I don't think it will be a tough call. If he's 90% or better come December, he plays in 2015-16. Based upon the well-known 6-to-9 month recovery time, I'd expect he'll be playing this upcoming season. If he has a setback, the redshirt option is a nice one to have in the back pocket.

#TeamMichigan

Didn't the kid know that the Zips win 20 games every year?!

I don't think that's a fair comparison...Noah's record is with Antino, and Antino's record is without Noah. On the road, at K.e.n.t, Antino had 16 points (4-6 from behind the arc), 7 assists (vs 2 turnovers) in 33 minutes. Committed only 2 fouls. Antino makes things happen. He's proven he can run the team under as adverse a set of conditions as you'll see in the MAC. He's a different style of point guard than Noah, but he's shown he can be equally as effective.

Sad to see the some Zips fans begging for the referees to bail them out. Kretzer allowed the guy to have an open lane to the hoop. 6 foot, 9 inch Kwan backed off and let him have an uncontested layup at the buzzer. 39 minutes and 58 seconds of an awesome team effort was pissed away in the final 2 seconds. That's the facts. Own it.

You are high. Kretzer let the guy have the lane, and Cheatham backed away in the low block and let him have an uncontested layup to win the game. Unreal.. Great effort by the Zips for 59 minutes and 58 seconds. Weak, or no effort in the last 2 seconds, and it cost them the game.

Big Dog can barely last 20 minutes. If Pat can give us 8 minutes, take it. There is no tomorrow. It's K.e.n.t. Cut the toe off if you need to.

I've seen McAdams go for 50% of that by himself. Someone needs to step up tonight. Kwan..McAdams...Deji...someone needs to be a "man among boys." If that happens, the rest of the team will follow.

I think a win tonight would mean a TON. National television. #1 rival. On the road. The final game before the conference tournament. If the Zips can pull this one out, they go into the MAC tourney believing they can win it all. Even down to 8 scholarship players, the Zips are as good as anyone else. The Zips need to play like a wounded badger tonight, and fight like hell. Let the rest take care of itself.

I heard Dambrot picked up the phone, said "Karma is a bitch," and hung up.