Captain Kangaroo

His shot is an exact clone of Rick McFadden's. Unless Rick's was perfectly released, it rattled out. He rarely got the kind rolls.

But 3/4th of the teams in the MAC are horrible. I think you could start for 1/2 the teams in the MAC. Melo will be fine. Things will eventually slow down for him. But he ain't there right now.

The Zips wll struggle against OU's guards. Abreu can't do it all. And for as much grief as Betancourt is getting, Ibitayo has been almost as bad. He has the unflappable offensive confidence of Derrick Tarver, coupled with the production of an off-night Brett McClannahan. Betancourt needs to slow down. Big time. A panicky point guard who predetermines what he's going to do as he crosses half court is a bad thing. Less Ali Kart, and more patience and poise. Zips fans better pray Abreu stays healthy. And that somehow either CB or DI can step up and give us 8-or-so solid minutes at the point every night. I want this team to achieve its full potential. They can beat 3/4th of the MAC with Betancourt at the point for 30 minutes. Big whup. We have two months for someone to step up at back up PG. We won't be beating any Gonzaga's or Notre Dame's...let alone guard-heavy OU...with Abreu needing to play 39 minutes.

I caught myself laughing a few times at how ridiculous some of his moves were. Barry Sanders-like in his cutback, change-of-direction style. Our kick off and punt return game, or lack there-of, really hurt us last season. I think TB addressed a big need here. What a fun kid to watch!

Chauncey is the key to the Zips doing any real post season damage. Guys like Kretzer and McAdams will have their moments, but having a steady, healthy senior in CG is absolutely invaluable. His sweet three's were just as critical as Zeke's blocks and free throws on Saturday. Loved having him back in the line up.

I still don't think it's as good as the "Ryan Bain" hoax Brookhart played on us. I really believed he existed! At the time, I thought this was Ryan outside the JAR...but in hindsight it's obviously an unshaven Tom Wistercill.

This is an affliction know in the medical community as Patellar Gluteal Extension Syndrome, where the leg-knee cap junction extends well beyond its normal linear dimensions after kicking K.e.n.t.'s ass for an extended period of time. It should be completely healed by Wednesday (per Zips medical staff).

How'd you get this picture of DIG?

This will be the first time since the Ball-Bosley era that Zips fans have a good chance to out-number K.e.n.t.'s, @ K.e.n.t. Should be fun.

Ok...then we should build a 2,000 seat arena (just to be safe). Coastal Carolina beat Clemson this year...so I guess they really should have built a 13,000 seat arena? The truth is - there is no use in building a 3,800 seat arena just so you can say you sell out every game. 90% of college basketball arenas have empty seats. The final nail is the Wistercill coffin will be his proud press conference boasting of his shiny new 3,800 seat arena...with 2 loges and a beer keg in the corner. A 3,300 seat arena is fine for Coastal Carolina, who typically draws 1,000 fans off the beach or out of Hooters. The Zips average over 3k/game. They sell out for Can't @ 5,600. If we build a 3,800 seat Division 1 arena, those games against Malone and John Carroll would soon become Conference games. For fun - Yurachek isn't the only ex-UA AD building a new arena. Towson's opens soon. 5,200k capacity.

Lest anyone think building a 30,000 seat palace for a, to-date, bottom 5% of D-1 football team wasn't perceived as a colossal bitch slap by KD , see how he feels when the proposal for a 3,800 seat "arena/dinner theater" is floated past him. "Hello, Duquesne? It's me again...how's it goin'?" It is the Wistercil administration, so it wouldn't surprise me...

So you think he is that much worse than K.e.n.t's John Edwards? Zeke will play in the NBA. Whether he's the next Ryan Hollins, or better, is really the only question. Maybe...probably...he starts in the D-League. But Fab Melo's there too.

A blogger from Akron says he's: "the most significant signing in the league's history and claimed he would quickly become the most dominant MAC player in recent memory." Wow... what hype... what pressure. In comparison to BCS-level programs, there is no real pressure in the MAC... I don't care who the recruit is. You aren't covered in the national media. You are completely under the radar. Your foul shots are in front of 923 family and friends in Dekalb Illinois. If you score a paltry 6 points in a game, some guy from Thailand is the only person in the free world who gets worked-up over it.

Attempting to get this thread back on topic...I think we should all give the Ball State dance team credit for embracing their situation -

Don't look now...but Arkansas Cream-Puff and Texas Southern have combined to win 6 of their last 7.

If there's a Bryan Hipsher bobblehead night, I'm renting a U-Haul and going through the turnstiles 1,500 times.

With tendonitis, a cupcake opponent, and a more-than-serviceable back up center why would Dambrot play him heavy minutes?

I believe the Colley Matrix has us at #12?

Who cares. It's a toy.

Speaking of "entertaining to watch," it will be very interesting to see how the remainder of the Zips home schedule plays-out. Games against OU and Can't will be great, but how can anyone get excited to see a lot more games like Wednesday's WMU drubbing in front of <2k? Dambrot has built a really strong team. The rest of the MAC hasn't. That sucks for folks like me that would like to watch high-level mid-major hoops for my $600 in season tickets. Maybe DIG and GoZips are on to something by attending practices...I think I'd rather watch the Zips' top 5 go against our 6-10 guys for 40 minutes than watch a 40 minute, 29 point drubbing of EMU! Zeke vs. Forsythe Harney vs. Tree Walsh vs. Kretzer Abreu vs. Deji/Carmelo Stalyga vs. Gilliam Dambrot always wanted to be "The Gonzaga of the MAC." Well...OU and Akron are the Gonzaga and St Mary's of the MAC. Unfortunately there's no BYU in the MAC...just a hoard of San Francisco wannabees.

Hopefully WMU doesn't become a MAC bottom-feeder, or we'll never play them.

Dammit. I liked all your comments, JZ. Regarding the ones I highlighted: Deadnutz on regarding the trap. Great trapping teams flow like a really fast amoeba. We were slow...late...mechanical...whatever you want to call it... it wasn't a cohesive, disruptive force whatsoever. Back up PG is scary at the moment. The big selling point on Carmelo was his high level prep career. I envisioned him as a plug-in-and-go guy from the start...and I think KD did too... but he will need the summer to get stronger and more confident. Either that, or the new JUCO PG will get his PT in 2013-14. Deji is a turnover machine at the point. And despite his confidence in shooting the three... he's not exactly Kyle Korver yet either. He does play good D, and he hustles. But offensively he had too many negative plays. Do I pine for Diggs at the point? Not really. He was really out of place there. Much more effective on the wing. And if I did pine for him, he ain't coming back this year anyhow.

God f-ing dammit. My sincere apologies Johnny. I accidentally do that about once per year. Figures I do it on a great post... I owe you a really good beer sometime soon.

I agree with you, but it is a league game, so there isn't anything he can do about it. I am as big a fan of Jonas and The Human Victory Cigars as anyone...but if KD wants to start filling up the JAR while playing these schlep teams he needs to ratchet it up a couple notches and laying some 40+ point beat downs on them. Get some WWE swagger going on. Loser Schlep Opposing Coach: "Akron ran the score up on us. It wasn't sportsman-like. Dambrot is a Jerk." KD: "If the guy doesn't want to lose by 40+, he needs to get better. Next cupcake, please." Count Von Count: "ONE MAC cupcake...ha ha haaaaa."