Valpo Zip

Tree is currently the MVP of the team in my book. I will add to your notes that he seems to be our go to guy at the beginning of every game. He is the one who takes (and mostly makes) the first few shots of the game and get every one going. It is not normal to see a Sophomore taking that role with 3 seniors and a Junior in the starting line up. Last year, when I first saw him, I thought to myself that tree would be another rebound/defense Matt Futch type of player, boy did he prove me stupid! Tree is shooting, handling the ball, and passing it like a guard. All that with only one playing year in college (2 total). The only thing that concerns me about his NBA potential is his size. At 6'7, he would be a bit undersized for the 4 and I am not sure that he has the skills to play the 3 (yet). I hope I am wrong though.

I hope I don't jinx him, but Zeke has really played at a different level in the last few games. I know the opponent wasn't too tough but the reality is that Zeke doesn't usually have great games against weaker opponents. He always seemed to play to his opponent's level. I remember how he dominated the next best center in the MAC (Justin Green) few times and how he also dominated the, now in the NBA, Arnett Moultrie from Miss. State... yet he would follow that with very pedestrian games against the average centers of the MAC. In the last few games, I have witnessed a more involved Zeke who is not only calling for the ball, but also getting it and doing good things with it. He is also rebounding better and still blocking shots without fouling. Last time I saw the "I don't wanna be here" Zeke was in Detroit. Here is hoping I don't ever see him again, neither this year, nor next year... in the NBA.

Dave, I wasn't aware of this site. Thanks for the link. I guess I was wrong. It is hard to argue with the numbers you're providing. I wasn't basing my opinion on any measurable evidence and most importantly, it is not like I don't appreciate the importance of Zeke on the team, I do. I was simply hoping that at this point, he would be able to consistently hit a shot (that is not a dunk or a put back). Go Zips! kick the vikings.

I know his numbers have been improving and that's a great thing but it can be attributed to two factors: 1 - better FT% 2 - more playing time because he is not consistently in foul trouble like he was earlier in his career (I credit the coaching staff here). However, I still stand by my comment that, other than the FT %, I don't see any significant improvement in Zeke's offensive arsenal.

Gozips, I hope you don't take this personal... but I disagree with almost all your points I watched the first 10 minutes and I had to turn the tv off because it was playground basketball and looked like those guys met one another for the first time 5 minutes before the game. It doesn't matter what PB does, that team is terrible and whatever they did should not affect our stats if we are as good as we claim we are. This is one of my biggest concerns with KD and his coaching staff. I don't see much development in their game. I'll give you a few examples: Serb: was a very promising freshman who can be developed into a superstar, finished his senior year as an average big man in the MAC. Nitro: was worse as a senior than what he was as a freshman and Soph Bardo: Could not learn how to make a 5 foot jumper in 5 years under KD Zeke: while improved in his FT percentage, still cannot rebound consistently or hit that hook shot he's been working on since 4 years. CG and Walsh: seem like the same guys who came in 2 years ago. Egner, Humpty, Quincy: well... Who exactly are the players that are developing and becoming stars under KD? Linhart: maybe and Conyers who gave us only one good year of play. I am not very impressed. Because it is Pine Bluff. No one cares how you do against pine bluff, John Caroll and Tiffin. We need players who show up for the big games (nothing against Reggie here) but since you brought him up. I am with you on this one. Kretzer showed that he can play and I appreciate his contributions even when he has an off night but I hope that his development doesn't stall like Serb, Nitro, and others. This is the problem. There is nothing to enjoy now. Are you telling me to not look until tournament time?

I didn't see that up-tempo full court press against Detroit, and I still can't figure out why. Detroit had their big guys all in foul trouble and their two super stars (#3 and #10) did not sit a minute in the second half (if at all the whole game). I was hoping that we will run something to wear them out, yet nothing happened. Our top players played maybe 20-22 minutes the whole game while theirs played the whole time without any problem.

Oh, you don't need to convince me that something is wrong. I was just justifying why KD got an extension and why he would have a job as long as he can bring talent in. The sad thing is, fan support will continue to be crappy and the AD will keep sending me emails about cheaper and cheaper ticket promotions every week.

A couple of years ago, after the loss to Austin Peay to start the season, I started to think that this team, despite the amazing talent coming into it, was simply stalled and that KD is not moving it forward any more. Today, I am totally convinced that this has been the case. The loss of Jeff Boals (and maybe Lamont Paris) two years ago, unfortunately, made this fact even more obvious. On the other hand, when I think about what should be done, I can't claim that I have an answer. How can firing KD be the answer? It is not like Coach K, Pitino, or Calipari are waiting for a position to open up in Akron or anything. Basically, Wistrscill is stuck in a tough position, two options: 1 - KD being the coach: bringing in amazing talent, far more than what our facilities and our gameday environment can normally get but can not develop it very well and cannot coach for a win during a game. You simply hope that the superior talent on your team will outweigh the other team's talent and get you the wins despite mediocre coaching. 2 - Fire KD: the new coach will bring in mediocre talent (what goes with what we have to offer) and "hopefully" be able to develop it and coach it up for enough wins. Which one would you pick? as much as it hurts, I will still take option 1.

Do we know the time for that game?

Surprisingly, it seems like some people on this board are more upset with the loss to Creighton than they were with the loss to coastal carolina. I have to admit that I never expected the zips to win this one...so I can't claim to be very disappointed. Anyways, for whatever it is worth, realtimerpi.com is projecting a Zips final record of 24-4. The only game they expect the zips to loose is at Ohio. That will result in a (15-1) MAC record. Do you see that happening?

MDZip, you're missing the whole point my friend. I am not rooting for the bobcats/flashes etc. in their OOC schedule because I like them or because I respect their fans. I am rooting for them because that's in the best interest of MY ZIPS. I will not stop rooting for my team's best interest just because some of the bobcats' fans are trolls.

I am not sure why do some of our fans enjoy knocking down other MAC teams. We complain about the weakness of our schedule and the RPI killer that is the MAC west stretch, yet we root for MAC teams to loose in their OOC schedule and achieve a lower RPI. I personally root for every single MAC team to win all their OOC games and I hope that OHIO and Can't are ranked #1 and #2 by the time we play them. This only makes beating them so much more rewarding.

Nick Harney got a beauty of a basket last year to win the BG game in Stroh Center Brian Walsh missed a 14 ft jumper for the win at the Q, also last year, but man that one looked good and I would try it again. Those two were plays drawn by KD and whether they worked or not, you have to respect a nicely drawn and executed play. On the other hand, between serb and Rico (over the last 3 years), I think I've seen a dozen plays that looked like winging it to end the game. If you want to dribble it down to take a last shot, nothing wrong with that as long as you have a plan. Just take the best shot ends up with either a prayer or a no shot.

This win is huge. I watched Ok State and Penn State, I feel that MTSU was a better team than both. We have great talent on the team but watching them still make you wanna pull your hair some times. Free throws seem to be a continuous issue year after year. game ending plays are always terrible but a win erases all mistakes.

...and the legacy of great last plays continue.

+2

Has it been seven already? Wow! 3 years of 3-33 makes you loose track of time.

That's theoretically true but Ryan Hollins is not physical enough to get and ones and he has been in the NBA for 5-6? years.

My concern is mostly with the MAC refs. The refs in PR were mainly fair and gave him room to work. It seems as if the refs in the MAC feel bad for the shorter centers dealing with Zeke so they allow them to hack him without calling a think on offense and on the other side call half of his clean blocks for fouls. I hope I am wrong though

He could be the tallest and most athletic player in the OAC, if not all D3 bball!

If that's true, he gave a up a full ride scholarship to go play at a DIII school with a huge tuition. I can't imagine that no DII school wanted him... Good luck to Josh.

It may also be useful to remind the committee that the Zips have a quality win at #8 Creighton that was stolen away by a 100% imaginary offside.

The seniors played like seniors today. CG filled up the stats sheet, Zeke filled up the block and put a lid on our basket, and Walsh was the Polamalu of the zips (where ever there is a play, there you see Walsh making it). Anytime our seniors play like they did today, we end up winning.

Because it keeps happening over and over again. The players change but the same inability to execute a play after a time out remains. Who is to blame? the refs? the fans?

See, I was stupid enough to take the day off today to watch the game. All my coworkers have been hearing about the supposedly great Zips since September... I am beyond venting. This is very embarrassing. I should get off this board before I say too many things that I shouldn't.