Captain Kangaroo

While I agree with the Cap'n that we really could use a WR with some height, both Russell and Sconiers played well at times for true FR last year. I respectfully disagree. If we had Cherry/Sparks/Irvin, Russell and Sconiers would be 4th and 5th on the depth chart. We need someone the caliber of Schifino, Bailey, Cherry, Sparks, Irvin, Hixon, Arthur etc. What we have now reminds me of Mongomery or Goodwin. We won't win anything if those guys are our in our Top 2 or 3 @ WR. Both are young, so I could be wrong. But I don't think I am.

I dunno...this year's Zips squad doesn't seem to be capable of blowing out any team...at least one that doesn't rhyme with "schmilliken." You're right. With each passing game, my over-optimism about the potential of this edition of the Zips is harshly mocked by their on-court performance. With the NIU game they've proven once again that they are the weakest Zips team in the last six years. They're not a bad team, but just an average one. We fans have been spoiled to having at least slightly above average basketball teams under KD, so just average seems pretty crappy. Realistically, these Zips are not going to do anything extraordinary this season. The most I'm hoping for now is that they somehow squeak their way back into the MAC tournament championship game for the fifth straight year. They will not blow out any team along the way. But they could get lucky and win a few close ones. I'll reserve my optimism for next season. To blow out teams you need to make defensive stops. We can't do that.

Great arena too.

As the Zips Dance Team Coach would say: "F#$K Stats, we are F%$*-ing S-O-F-T!" Brett McKnight drives the lane like every defender is 7' 8" and 389 lbs. Wide open lay ups, and he pulls up from 10 ft. Miss after miss after miss from 1ft. I apologize for getting on Cventinovic for his missed lay ups. McKnight is WAY worse. At least Nik hits 60% of his 1-footers. McKnight hits about 43%, and begs for fouls...while he's FADING AWAY?! Zeke was soft tonight. McKnight was soft. We overplayed on defense like we have all season, leading to numerous easy scoring opportunites for NIU. Silas averages 24 ppg, so against our vaunted "1.7 Multiplier Perimeter Defense" he went for 39. He joins Cooper and Cotton and Kool and....oh, I give up. If you're a scorer and you play against the Zips, you can name your points. McNees panicked when we had PLENTY of time left for a poised come back, tossing up all sorts of wild stuff. Not a 5th year senior performance tonight. Dambrot's technical was a total blunder. We got out of it surrendering only 2 points, but the guy has to compose himself. We had NIU on the ropes, and he broke our momentum and let them off. Beyond that, no need to get a T because the foul disparity was justified! The lazy, slow-footed Zips were reaching, grabbing, pushing...doing everything but playing hard-nose D. This team isn't as talented as those of year's past, but their lack of defensive effort, and offensive poise makes them difficult to enjoy. Unless...we're playing Milliken. Mopped the floor with those sorry bastards...

And the JAR scoreboard operator is officially exposed.

I caught that too. If he was on the fence with regards to continuing his blog coverage of the Zips, you may have just nudged him to stop I wonder what he thinks of Almondo Lemon's chances of getting a pro try out?

I dunno...this year's Zips squad doesn't seem to be capable of blowing out any team...at least one that doesn't rhyme with "schmilliken." Are you suggesting that we put St. Louis on the schedule ? Visit My Website If BG could beat them by 6, I like our chances for a blow-out! It would be fun to play Majerus in the Bracket Buster, but the Billiken's look to be on an OU-esque roll right now. I don't think the planets are aligning.

Coming to theatres near you: Disney ROOligans (in 3-D). Starring the voices of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. Fun for the whole family! Movie Trailer: "Welcome to Lee Jackson Field, the home of the ROOligans, A place where there are no ROOles, An atmosphere filled with unROOly patrons, A stadium where opponent's seasons are ROOined." (Maybe Tim Allen can play the Firm's boss) Sort of like a Wes Welker press conference?

I dunno...this year's Zips squad doesn't seem to be capable of blowing out any team...at least one that doesn't rhyme with "schmilliken."

Roberts turned it on when Humpty was injured last season. He seems to be a guy that plays measurably better as his minutes increase.

They have on less win than the Zips. Ohio: 8-11 (1-4). six losses at home Akron: 11-8 (2-3). two losses at home OU Fan says - "Score board." That's the bottom line. Like Toledo in years past, OU is a really bad match up for the Zips. Zips fans should pray we don't see OU in the tourney. And - I predict OU will win a home game this season.

They have on less win than the Zips.

+1

Do you typically do this good a job posting superfluous comments simply to weasel some free advertising for your web site or Twitter?

You know how, at Cavs games, they'll put a Michigan logo, or some schlep in the stands wearing a Michigan shirt on the big screen, just to get the crowd to begin booo-ing? Last season I saw the "Jeff Penno Shot" shown on the video screen several times in an attempt to get Zips fans to "boo" when an opponent was at the free throw line. Without a doubt, the most ignorant idea in the world. If you were at that game, and saw that shot go down, it absolutely ripped your heart out. To show the Miami team celebrating on the JAR video screen is consistent with the other inane decisions we've seen this year. ZZZips is correct...stupidity, and no control. I wish we had an AD that was a Zip. When will George Van Horne be ready?

Could it be that Zeke isn't winning his battles for position? Or that he's not calling for the ball? Or that he's not getting in a point guard's ear and letting him know that he's tired of busting his hump on the offensive end for nothing? Zeke needs to be more aggressive. It goes against his nature, but it has to happen. He's a skilled 7-footer in a league full of hamburger post men. It's time to pick up the pace. I saw Zeke play against K.e.n.t. It isn't the same player I've seen the past couple games. I want to see his K.e.n.t. effort more frequently.

A couple quick note on Saturday nights game - * Nice crowd for such a cold evening, with the team on a 3-game slide * Love Saturday night games, where you can have a couple beers and some food at BW-3's before the game. * Joe Jakubowski seems to have regressed in his 9th season. Very pedestrian game. * The leash on Diggs is too short. McKnight was having a fairly awful game and stayed on the court, while Diggs made a few errors and was nailed to the pine. Diggs errors we aggressive ones, which are easier to live with than lazy or stupid mistakes. I will continue to clamor for more Diggs PT. * The defense the Zips played over the final 3 minutes was what I've been waiting to see from this team all season. They actually woke up? I liked McNees' post game quote (on the last game surge) - "Me and Darryl have won a lot of games together. We just said 'enough is enough.'" * Zeke having 22 minutes played, and zero points, is not right. Zeke needs to assert himself offensively. Like he did versus K.e.n.t. BG had nothing special on their interior, and Zeke was totally shut down. Zeke needs to say "Enough is enough," and start picking it up. * In the end McKnight came through, and Roberts delivered a really clutch performance. Now the Zips need to build off it...not wait until 5 minutes left in the game to assert themselves. * The Zips play 4 horrible teams between now and February 5th. They should go 4-0. 15 - 8 in mid-February is good stuff. Anything less is disappointing. Nice win Saturday, Zips. Please build off it!

For the last time, they are not Greyshirts. They are non-qualifiers (old Prop 48).

I'm as intrigued as anyone about Harney and Treadwell...but both have 1 yr of HS basketball under their belts. And both will be coming off a 1yr layoff. I don't foresee 2011-12 being "The Year." At least without Egner and Euton having monster summers.

5' 10" 5' 9" 5' 7" That's ain't gonna cut it at WR.

The Charlie Coles Effect. On a somewhat related note: The Lady Zips held EMU to a putrid 22.9 percent (16-70) from the floor Saturday afternoon, and somehow managed to lose @ home.

I remain aghast that we have no WR's committed. Usually JUCO guys sign late...I really hope he is working the Cal JUCO circuit hard right now.

He's only 72 away from overtaking Jawanza Moore on UA's all-time "Missed Lay Ups" list. If he stays in school, he's got the record all to himself by early December 2011. I can't see him walking away from that opportunity.

I would rather stab my eyes with a red-hot hot poker than watch Charlie Coles teams all season. There's a reason Miami is drawing crowds at Millet that rival those of a Zips women's game. I agree with ZW that Coles is always in the mix...he says some funny stuff...but in the end he really doesn't win anything noteworthy. A buddy of mine always says: "Jim Tressel is one pass interference call away from being John Cooper." Charlie Coles is one 40ft bank shot away from being an elderly Reggie Witherspoon.

Or that we rarely play great opponents in back-to-back games. Think of our usual OOC schedules and our weak conference. Oh OK, KD deserves no praise at all. Get real. He deserves praise, but the point RFR44 makes is valid. Maybe he doesn't word it in a way that softens his opinion, but it is still a valid point. Early in his career, KD stated that he was not going to play a lot of high level teams because he wanted to create a culture of winning. It worked and he deserves praise for that. Several 20 win seasons based upon an easy schedule KD designed were completed. The Zips were used to winning and went deep into the MAC Tournament and won one (although they should have won more). That's just a fact. The flip side of that is some fans may not look at that as a great accomplishment, but a good accomplishment and want something more. The Zips are still playing an OOC schedule that causes people to question when the "building process" will come to an end and when the next level will be achieved. How about another MAC Championship or even two in a row? If Can't can do it, we can do it. Coach D is a good coach and this is still a good program. He isn't a great coach and really isn't the best coach in the MAC. He isn't even the best college basketball coach in NE Ohio as that position belongs to the coach at CSU. There is still some illusion associated with this program in terms of the 20 win seasons and fans are realizing that. Zips fans are looking for substance at this point and not illusion. Watch a magician enough times, and you figure out the illusions. Zips fans have seen this act before and they are growing tired. When fans start to look behind the curtain, it becomes hard on a coach. The Zips have a high school All American who is developing slowly and that is unacceptable as players like him don't come along very often. The Zips gave the boot to some playes after last season. When you give the boot to someone, whether in business or sports, you are saying you can find someone better...Are the Zips better this season? The Zips are losing the same way over and over again. Beating BG would be a good dose of substance fans are looking for. If substance is not created, we have to rely on faith in the "building process". I've had enough building watching Zips sports to last a lifetime and I want some substance. For a Football Guy in the Carolinas, that was an excellent basketball post.