The Hip Zip

I'll buy into this. I was very surprised to learn that Coppin was # 3 out of 351 NCAA div. one teams in terms of possessions per game. Ironically, they trail Green Bay who sits at #2. We won't see many more, and presumably none, with quicks like those two from here on out. This is the good news because the speedy guards have been wheeling right through us.

Word on the streets is that Scott Scarborough's interior designer had a hand in the design. I'm expecting something exceptional.

A defensive train wreck. Big Dog had a nice game on the offensive end and on the glass. However on the defensive end guys roll right by our guards and get to the hole and our bigs are not mobile enough to stop them either. I'm not in a state of panic but I saw a lot of stuff I didn't like tonight.

Somebody please remove the super glue from the bottom of Big Dog's sneakers.

ETSU isn't that bad. They hung 103 on Green Bay in a double digit win and they just took down GA Tech as well.

" Coppin State basketball has a rich and storied tradition . You really have to admire how they took it to Chestnut Hill last week and win or lose this is a game that will really help us out over the long haul"..... Said nobody ever.

I always thought that Boothe was the goods, exceptional touch for a big. We are just now seeing what he can do . With guards like Juice Brown and Rian Pearson running the show the past few years he didn't get as many quality touches as he should have,

Their keeper was magnificent. Could have easily been 3 or 4 more scores for the good guys.

Deep breath people, it's over. This was a tough spot on the schedule no matter who we played. We will get healthier, we will get better.

We were pretty gassed but it can not be denied: Worse shot ever......

Have seen bits and pieces of their last copuple of games and they looked like crap, sans Fowler. With what they had returning around him, they should be playing better, much better.

I attended the game in Pitt thanks to MD Zip.and yes, we really never were in it despite Bret McKnight having a monster game.Think we got beat by 20 -22 or so. For the record, I think that 'Nova is better than that particular Pitt team and maybe considerably better. Time will tell.

Sykes is gone and GB will probably be down a bit this year but Fouse and Love are both really solid players for them. Don't read too much into the Stanford game as the Tree's are hurting and struggling as well. With our depleted roster we will surely have to dig deep but we can get it done. I suspect that all of this will make us a better team when it really counts. Positive waves here but I 'm not sure we'll be the favorite in this one.

Those ribs can be a real mother to heal. We can only hope that it's sooner rather than later. Jake's issues worry me much more. He's a great guy and I just want him to live a long and healthy life. if that includes giving up basketball, then so be it. He'll be a success in any endeavor he chooses. In the meantime, can't we catch a break ?

That is horrible news about Jake, Just hope it's not a season ending thing. I think we just flat out hit the wall after a strong first 15 minutes. While a tad disappointed, I'm not at all discouraged at all by this performance. I like this team and we will get better,

MAC related..... Great to see John Groce and Illinois get handled on their own floor by the U T Chattanooga Mocs. Sitting on the Mocs bench was a familiar face. None other than Reggie Witherspoon who is now an asst. coach there. I always liked Reggie so that was really sweet to see.

I may be of the minority here, but I like the idea of riding our best horses for as long as we can. While not having a couple pieces is never a great thing, I like having our battle tested veterans on the floor as much as possible. No negative waves .

I can honestly say that I am just about as geeked for this one as I was for our recent NCAA tourney games, A win here puts us on the national map very early in the season . While that is a longshot, I do expect us to compete and compete well. This team has the "it" factor, high character guys that have belief in their abilities and trust in their teammates. Here is a brief preview I dug up :from one Taylor Bechtold who writes for the website stats.com. Although his Wildcats are playing up to high expectations, Villanova coach Jay Wright realizes that could easily change in a quick turnaround against a tough foe. As the 11th-ranked Wildcats seek their 27th straight home victory, Akron will try to extend its best start in 35 years Sunday with another upset in the NIT Season Tip-Off. Much is expected of Villanova after it brought back Josh Hart, Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu from a team that won 33 games, the Big East regular-season and tournament titles and added highly touted Jalen Brunson. The Wildcats haven't disappointed, winning their first three by an average of 32.0 points. They've shot 48.7 percent while their pressing defense has helped force 17.3 turnovers and limit opponents to a 32.2 field-goal percentage. Kris Jenkins led the way with 17 points Friday, Phil Booth added 16 off the bench and Ochefu contributed 12 and 16 rebounds in an 86-51 home win over East Tennessee State in the preliminary round of the Tip-Off. Ochefu leads six players averaging double-digit points with 15.0 to go with 12.0 boards after his third straight double-double. "I'm happy with the wins of course," said Ochefu, who has led the Wildcats to a plus-7.0 rebounding margin. "Just like coach said, we have to get better every day with our defense and rebounding. That's a challenge we're going to have all season." Villanova would like to keep that mindset as it faces an Akron team that certainly won't be intimidated after shooting 50.9 percent - including 13 of 28 from 3-point range - in an 88-80 win over Arkansas in its opening-round game Wednesday. The Zips (3-0) are one of only five teams with at least 21 wins in each of the past 10 seasons and they appear well on their way to another during their best start since attaining Division I status in 1980-81. They've beaten a team from a Power 5 conference in each of the past five seasons and are 3-2 in those matchups over the last two. "This is an outstanding team coming in here off a big win at Arkansas," Wright told the team's official website. "We've been in this position before of playing two games in three days, but it's a new experience for our young guys." Akron's Antino Jackson led the way with a career-high 23 points and seven assists against the Razorbacks, while Reggie McAdams scored 18 and Isaiah Johnson 15 off the bench. McAdams has gone 10 for 17 from beyond the arc over the first three games. The Zips also have been strong defensively, limiting opponents to 54.3 points on 28.4 percent shooting - including 14 for 68 (20.9 percent) from 3-point range. The Wildcats led the Big East in 3-point shooting at 38.9 percent in 2014-15, but went 19 for 66 (28.8) in their first two games before improving Friday. Starting guards Brunson, Hart and Arcidiacono hit 6 of 7 to help Villanova go 14 for 34 (41.2). After halting Arkansas' 25-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents, the Zips will try to deal Villanova its first home defeat since January 2014. "We are big and strong, which most mid-majors are not, and we feel we can play at this level," coach Keith Dambrot told the team's official website. This is the first meeting between the schools. Updated November 21, 2015

I'll give EMU a mulligan with Raven Lee suspended. They have a couple of young guys that can play and can be a big factor in the west, Losing to Oakland is no disgrace, the Griz are very, very good. Can't is still bad as evidenced by the Pengs taking them down to the wire in the first game of the DH, Despite being hit hard by graduation Toledo can play.. Booth has a really nice inside/ out game, great touch for a big.

Just about every great team has a guy like Antino.. This kid is all guts, all the time. I love his game.

Thought the highlight was when Frenchy dropped an F bomb during a commercial break on the webcast. A close second was when I dropped an F Bomb after another point blank miss by Big Dog. All and all, it was a totally worthless 40 minutes of hoops. How about the next time we bring Hiram in, lets handicap it. Maybe 5 on seven or we wear patches over each players dominate eye, let the dance team play 5 minutes of each halt, etc, etc. The possibilities are endless...............................

Thoughts..... Wadszip summed it up pretty well. Antino is rapidly becoming one of my fav Zip guards in the past 20 years. He's heady, passionate and some of those finishes are just WOW ! A PG who can get to the rim is such a valuable asset at this level. When Robo gets back, this team will become light years better. Typical season opener, lots of work to be done. The Vikes F C press was probably the softest I've ever seen. Cleveland State will fight to win 10 games this season and maybe, just maybe, the addition of N Ky to the horizon will keep them out of the basement.

Yes, I was looking at the backed seats between the FT lines. I was incorrect about the price though, its $80 including the donation. If this were a meaningful MAC game I'd shell it out , and have in the past, but not for this. Thanks for the reply. BTW: Zips -7' is the opening number. If I were a betting man......

Can't wanted $50 a shot to park our butts in the lowers. While I'd like to be there, I'll pass

from Elton and Cleveland.com Link to full story CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The last private scrimmage is in the books for the Cleveland State men's basketball team and the opener is just days away, against Akron in the second game of the Coaches vs. Cancer doubleheader Saturday at Can't State's M.A.C. Center. Can't State plays Youngstown State in the first game at 7 p.m. When asked if the young Vikings are ready, coach Gary Waters was pretty succinct. "We have to be,'' he said. "You and I both know this is Akron's year. What I want to see is how we compete. Just play basketball." The Vikings, with five freshmen and four sophomores, are definitely a young group. But following the scrimmage with Notre Dame College, Waters said, "that scrimmage told me a lot."I like how we press,'' he said of the Vikings, who are expected return to 40 minutes of full court defense. "I really didn't know if I had that one defensive stopper on the perimeter, but I think we do. Terrell Hales (6-4, sophomore guard) is going to be a very, very good defender." Edit: Please don't cut and paste entire articles in ZN. We would like to see writers of articles that interest ZN members receive the proper amount of attention. Thank you.