Blue & Gold

There are three players who look like triplets. They are Q, CJ Oldham & Nick Harney. CJ is the slightest of the three. I was extremely impressed with Harney today. Q is one of the teams' best, however, as much as I've heard about his improved 3-point shot, it still kind of has a knuckleball motion to it rather than a smooth rotation. However, it does go through the hoop, which is all that matters. KD was really riding Chauncey today. He obviously has extremely high expectations for him. Tree is a physical specimen. I can't believe he's only going to be a freshman. The team just looks absolutely huge. Tall & muscular. Quick feet. Extremely athletic. Rico is as quick as Jimmal Ball (minus the hops). McClanahan looked amazing. He looks like a senior - extremely confident, under control & just effortlessly hits from NBA range. Blake Justice & Deji Ibitayo are both very big. Neither look like true freshmen. Ibitayo's arms are muscular & hang down to his knees. He looked like the #2 PG today, which surprised me. Walsh played more 2G today (someone correct me if I'm mistaken about this), but looks/plays like a veteran already. This team might just be amazing. I'm still going to stick w/ my prediction of a relatively slow start - just like last year. The team will have to learn to play together & It will be interesting watching KD learn which combos play best together & getting his rotations down. Hope I'm wrong! Anyway, I haven't seen a MAC team pass the eyeball test like this since... ever?

+1. Encouraging to see. Also, good to hear a couple of names tossed out. I remember Lee Owens getting me excited to see Andre McRae (sp?) before the season started. Andre rarely disappointed.

Low expectations?

I can't make practice on Sunday. Does anyone know the time of either Monday's or Tuesday's practices?

You always wonder how a "West Virginia HS Defensive POTY" ends up with the Zips. Now you know...he has "baggage." Add him to the long list of too-good-too-be-true Zip recruits. Marcus Sanders...EJ Lilley...Nate Robinson...David Harvey...Derrick Tarver... My favorite name for the list of "never-played-a-game" superstars in blue and gold: Mike Tracy. Halfback from Eastern PA, circa 1981-82. Runner who broke Tony Dorsett's HS rushing records (may have been at Upper Darby HS, too). Akron was in play because the kid was listed as 5-4. Couple weeks before school, word come down, he joined the Army. Now, let me tell ya bout Derrick Tarver... He played, excelled, but played for the wrong coach at the wrong time! +1. I liked Derrick Tarver. I didn't care for Hipsher much.

Thanks for the update! I'm going to try and hit a practice next week. Zeke hit a 3 when I went to see him play in the King James Classic. I believe that was the summer before his senior year of high school. He's extremely coordinated.

Isn't he our first verbal? Yes indeed. Franco was 2nd. I don't think we have a 3rd yet. Wow, did I screw the pooch on that post, or what? And here I thought the floodgates had opened.

Today's ABJ

This stuff is why I love ZN.O. Thanks for the scoops!

Zzzzzing.

Oops. Obviously, that above post was intended to be an Edit, not a Reply.

Hey Zach, thanks for the update from Egner. You're great at following the various guys on twitter. Me? Not so much. Could you post any twitter info you think we'd appreciate? Btw, I just signed up to follow @AkronZipsMBB. Thanks for the tip.

Hey Zach, thanks for the update from Egner. You're great at following the various guys on twitter. Me? Not so much. Could you post any twitter info you think we'd appreciate?

We do?!? Why? It's called an exhibition game. Everyone plays them. I enjoy it when we play either Malone, Walsh or Mount Union. Their fans seem to really appreciate the experience as well.

Any insights into Harney's game? Or was he one of the players still in pre-season la-la land?

Any updates on the practice?? +1

Daryan Martin 6-3, 215 OLB The Zipmeister should approve of his size.

Here is a nice article from today's ABJ concerning the Zips' forthcoming trip to Canada. Thanks, Tom! Go Zips! P.s. and here is an ABJ link to the Zips' Canadian schedule.

Generally, ZN.O views of BCS conferences are a little skewed. We generally have this misconception that all BCS schools are akin to the elite, perennial Top 10-15 programs that the various networks love to televise. That just isn't the case. While, from nearly top-to-bottom, SEC football sends shivers down my spine, if the Zippers were just a little bit better (than our currently embarrassingly laughable state) we could hang right with half of the Big Ten, half the Big 12, 1/2 of the PAC-12, most of the ACC & the entire Big East (save recently added TCU). We often have this idea that every BCS-conference school is filling a 100,000-seat stadium like PSU, Texas or Tennessee. The vast majority of them do not & mid-majors generally give them a run for their money on the playing field. Every year the same majority of BCS schools get drilled by the same perennial Top 10's as do the mid-majors.

"Tunnel of Pride." How embarrassing. Their faces should be as red as their jerseys.

Sounds good. I'm finally starting to get excited! Go Zips!

He was one of my favorite players. An under-sized, over-achieving ballhawk.

Well said.

Maybe a JUCO 5? K.e.nt landed 6'11" Justin Manns and while he's a far cry from a Zeke, I think I'd be extremely happy w/ a player like Manns backing up Big Z.