Captain Kangaroo

You're right. We should consider ourselves fortunate to have so much discussion about the #11 guy on the bench. It shows we really don't have any legitimate stuff to grouse about.

Well, we do have a Wagner as our lead "composer". Good to see those Western Cult classes finally paid off!!

Their "out" is to transfer to a lower division and play immediately. Or transfer to another D-1 school and sit for a year. And that year costs a season of eligibility if that player had redshirted. It is a bum deal for the student athletes. Coaches can come and go as they please, but the player's options are comparatively unfair. If players had the same freedom as the coaches, however, I think it would be anarchy. The "diamonds in the rough" that a MAC school might uncover, would be likely to be "recruited" to BCS programs after said BCS program saw what they could do on the field. My take - the players are stuck. It's an unfair, but necessary evil. Worst case (i.e. being a 2010 Zips football player), you still gets a free education, and get to play football for 4 years, which is really cool when you're 18 - 23 years old. You get a personal trainer... great practice facilities...food....housing...it isn't like their rowing in the bowels of a boat... Ok...maybe it is just a little...

My guess is the 16 yard line!!! ... and they're usually finished at the 8 yard line.

McKnight has been king of the stat line: 2-9 FG's 1-4 3-pointers 5-6 FT's 20m/g for some time. He never has been too interested in playing defense. I hate to lose a guy who's been through the MAC bus trips for 3 seasons, with 3 MAC Finals under his belt. But if he's got "Senioritis," and he's becoming a bad influence on the younger players...then we're better off without him. I'm comfortable with Euton and Egner taking his minutes. Bardo? IMO - He watches the opposing centers equally as well whether he's on the court, or off it. Super-quality kid. But basketball-wise...well...what's the opposite of "up-side?"

The match should have been held in Boca.

The pass to LaFrance was way too low, and put him is a bad position. A good throw, and he'd have been much more-likely to tuck it away. Where was the Wildcat? Our last possession screamed for it. Oh well... one game away from perfection...

I agree with you that the Zips will defeat U@B. Andy Alleman more or less guaranteed it! I sure hope Zach Campbell gets out of this funk though. He must have let CK's praise get to his head! I agree. My updated ratings have Alex Allen running away with Team Offensive MVP. I think the wear and tear on Campbell's leg is starting to show. He's punted more times this season than an Auburn punter will kick in an entire 4-year career.

Word on the street was - Hall was suspended. Also - I heard the no-huddle was suspended for the first 10 games.

What we actually know is McKnight was suspended for 30 days. He didn't dress for a premier OOC game @ Dayton, although he was healthy, and his suspension was over. And, we know Euton fills a similar hole on the Zips squad - an interior big body with "instant offense" capability from the 3-point line. If I'm Brett McKnight, I see the writing on the wall. Suck it up, or get used to reduced minutes... or no minutes... in 2010-11. Per the PD, Brett McKnight has violated his double secret probation, and is now indefinitely suspended. You're supposed to do this stuff when you're a Freshman, not a Senior. How, oh how, will this affect team harmony and chemistry?

BTW - Nice write up, ZW.

I remember Lee Owens had a huge win in his first (second?) season, when his Zips knocked off Miami something like 10-6 in a hurricane-like environment. Maybe the bettors are thinking Dysert's absence, and the weather, might help the Zips cover a spread?

What we actually know is McKnight was suspended for 30 days. He didn't dress for a premier OOC game @ Dayton, although he was healthy, and his suspension was over. And, we know Euton fills a similar hole on the Zips squad - an interior big body with "instant offense" capability from the 3-point line. If I'm Brett McKnight, I see the writing on the wall. Suck it up, or get used to reduced minutes... or no minutes... in 2010-11.

Thank heavens for the ZN "Search" function. Hand is raised. Big Year for Nitro Can only hit 3's against the competition on the court

Shaking my head at this comment. Dayton was tough as nails the entire game. There was no sleep walking, meandering or other such nonsense. Agreed. Dayton played very well. I don't see how anyone could see it differently? It was a great basketball game. Dayton finished, and we didn't. Had we played the same game against an undisciplined team, like Mississippi State or Florida State of BCS, OOC wins of the past, this year's Zips would also have won. I like our chances against Miami FL.

I thought the Zips played extremely well last night. The loss of Zeke to a couple ticky-tak fouls really hurt. The game really got away from us when Zeke left, and I don't know why KD stuck with Bardo...who seemed intent on passively watching Dayton players rebound, drive and dunk over him at-will. Dayton's big men moved way too fast for him. I agree with Dr. Z that this team is light years ahead of last season's edition. Abreu is a much more capable back up PG than Steward or Humpty. Nitro and Roberts seem to be confident, and ready to play this season. Euton can spell Zeke at C if necessary, but can also spot up and hit the three (my new "David Falknor" has arrived!!) Cventinovic still plays like a bull in a china shop. If he could just learn to finish confident and strong around the rim, he'd score 4 - 6 more points per game. He gets in good position, then throws it up, and hopes. That said, the kid must really have worked on his free throw shooting. I hope it holds up for the rest of the season. To help, I'm making a sign for him -- "Make Free Throws, Not Babies." Diggs was a step slow on D, and took bad shots. KD's job will be figuring out how to best utilize this kid. He's a player, no doubt. More Euton and Egner in the paint, less Bardo, and this team should be able to play with about anyone. Very fun team to watch. Great hustle, and great ball movement all night. Brett McKnight who?

When you are a Zips fan, the sources of ridicule are seemingly endless.

Dennis Helsel was one of the nicer people I've ever met.

Really? I remember that Waddell was friendly with Joe fan. Thomas, not so much. Great AD .. but not a great interacter w/ Joe Fan in my experience. I agree. Hardly said "boo" to Thomas in his 3-or-so years here. Waddell spearheaded "fan relations." And he did a good job of it. Maybe TW needs a "Waddell?"

Me too!

Look at Dambrot giving the "boot" to multiple hoops Zips last season.... maybe iCoach went to school off his exodus plan? On the surface the football house-cleaning looks bad, but we've got 3 years to see if it is the right move. I hate being the absolute worst college football team in the country as much as the next UA alumni. But if the solution to the problem was jettisoning a large chunk of the team, and that solution works, I'm all for it. Whether it is, or isn't, it's what we've got. Is iCoach Al Golden Jr., or Shane Montgomery Jr.? I don't see this "plan" yielding a 6-6 record. It's either insane, and we are going 4-32 over the next three seasons. Or the guy is a genius, and we're in a bowl in 2013. It's going to be one or the other.

Zips run out of $1 dogs...10 minutes prior to tip-off? ** The window remains staffed by 4 people who need a calculator to combine two $1 Pepsi's and two $1 hot dogs? Lines were 20...30 people deep? Who knew? Even when the Zips listen to my advice and run a decent college promotion...they find a way to blow it. Next time: Use this, fill it with water and hot dogs. Done. *** ** Note: Hot Dog warmer was re-filled, and after a lengthy delay, a 2nd batch was served. *** Note 2: How can we offer Doctorates in Polymer Science, but not run a concession stand for a 2,500 person crowd?

We lost to Austin Peay last year, and ended up having a phenomenal season...at least by some people's standards. To paraphrase Mark Twain -- "Reports of OU's death are greatly exaggerated." With hard work and dedication, the CBI is still within reach of the Bobcats.

OSU would be absolutely nuts. I hope that's the draw!!

I think the game could play-out in a number of ways...but the key for the Zips will be avoiding the epic, 10-minute scoring drought. I also think our perimeter defense needs to be dramatically improved from where it was the last 1/3rd of last season. Score consistently, and defend the 3-point line, and we have a good shot at the upset.