Dr Z

I wonder if any television will be tuned to NBC Sports Network at 6 pm at the Corner Alley today? I think it would be interesting to hear the bar crowd react during the game.

ESPN3 –Michael Reghi and Murry Bartow. EMU has three players scoring in double figures led by third-team All-MAC honoree Elijah Minnie with 16.8 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the floor (184-of-403) and 33.0 percent from downtown with a team-high 65 made 3-point FG (65-of-197). Minnie leads the squad at the free throw line, shooting 84.5 percent (87-of-103), and in blocked shots (54) while ranking second in rebounds (5.9 rebs/g, 184 total) and steals (57). He adds 38 assists to the stat sheet. First-Team All-MAC selection James Thompson IV follows with 15.3 points per game. Thompson leads the Eagles in FG made (185), FG percentage (.683, 185-of-271) and rebounds (357). Of his 11.5 rebounds per game, Thompson secured 230 defensive boards and 127 offensive rebounds. He is first in blocked shots (55) and adds 24 steals. Paul Jackson rounds out the double-digit scoring, averaging 14.9, while teammate Tim Bond scores 9.3 points per night on average. Jackson leads the squad in assists (140) while shooting 41.6 percent from the floor (171-of-411) with 27 made triples. Bond shoots 47.5 percent from the floor (112-of-236) and 37.7 percent from long range (29-of-77) with a team-best 77 steals. In addition, Jordan Nobles is a threat from deep, draining a second-best 31 triples on 84 attempts (.369). Defensively, EMU limits opponents 67.2 points a night on 40.7 percent shooting from the field and 35.1 percent from downtown with 8.0 made 3-pt FG per game. The Eagles caused 456 turnovers (14.7 tpg) while collecting 272 steals (8.8 stl/g) and 191 blocked shots (6.2 blk/g). On the glass, Eastern Michigan is slightly outrebounded by its opponents 1073-1083 for a slim -0.3 margin.

Probably a little more to do with home court vs a neutral court. I'll admit, I thought the line would be 7. ?

I hope Earl is there Thursday.

if you didn't watch the game last night, it is worth going back and watching how it ended. I would start at the WMU bank-shot three. 1:43:00 mark. Reading the play by play, or looking at the box score does not give credit to the effort put forth. So was Thomas Wilder's three point shot. ?

Steve admitted, and apologized for giving up after the game was over. Sports can bring out some crazy emotions. Hope we can all stay on an emotional high this weekend.

Nice interview with Virshon after the game last night. Joe asked him what he thought of coach calling the last play for him, and putting a freshman in charge with the game on the line. Virshon responded that he was surprised by coach telling him to go to the basket with juniors and seniors on the floor. Virshon said it was the first time any coach drew up a play for him to finish a game. He also said it was the first time he had to make two free throws to win a game. Coach Groce actions last night spoke volumes as to who he thinks the most improved player is.

Former University of Akron football player Zach Guiser (Fayette City, Pa.) has earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA announced. Each of the 30 Division I fall sports recipients will receive a $7,500 scholarship to be applied toward the graduate degree program of his choice. A semifinalist for the 2017 William V. Campbell Trophy, Guiser was a team captain last fall. A preseason All-MAC selection by Athlon Sports and College Sports Madness, he was named to the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. Just the second first-team Academic All-American in school history, Guiser suffered a season-ending injury against Iowa State. He finished this fall with 16 tackles, an interception, and a break-up. The Academic All-American was also a three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and three-time Academic All-MAC selection. Named to the President’s List (8 semesters) for a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (GPA), Guiser earned a bachelor’s degree in December 2017 in pre-physical therapy/sport science. A member of the University’s Honors College, Guiser is pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy from Walsh University. Additionally, Guiser will be honored on Tuesday, March 6, by the Northeast Ohio National Football Foundation with a $2,000 scholarship. The NCAA awards Postgraduate Scholarships to student-athletes who are in their final year of college athletics eligibility. Up to 175 scholarships are awarded each year for use toward an accredited graduate program. Awardees are evaluated on their academic and athletic achievement, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership. The program rewards college athletes whose dedication and effort reflect the characteristics needed to succeed in graduate study. Awardees are chosen by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, which includes faculty athletics representatives, athletics administrators, and a conference commissioner. “These scholarships are one of the ways the NCAA provides a pathway to opportunity for student-athletes,” said Mattie White, chair of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee and senior associate athletics director at Indiana. “These scholarships are reserved for student-athletes with distinguished college careers highlighted by outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. These experiences prepare them for success in graduate study and life.” Source: GoZips.com

7:45 pm ESPN3 – Mike Monaco (play by play) and Austin Richie.

Akron to Play Football Series with UMass & Temple — The University of Akron football team will play a two-game series with former Mid-American Conference rivals– the University of Massachusetts and Temple University, Akron Athletics announced on Monday. UA and Minutemen will meet in Amherst on Sept. 28, 2019, and in Akron on Oct. 3, 2020. The Zips and the Owls will meet in Akron on Sept. 11, 2021, and in Philadelphia on Sept. 2, 2023. Akron and UMass have met four times in series history (2012-15) with the Zips holding a 3-1 edge, all in MAC play. Since 1967, Akron and Temple have met 21 times on the gridiron with the Owls holding a 14-7 edge. In MAC play (from 2007-11), Temple holds a 5-0 advantage over the Zips. 2019 August 31 at Illinois Sept. 7 UAB Sept. 21 TROY Sept. 28 at UMass 2020 Sept. 12 at UAB Sept. 19 at Clemson Oct. 3 UMASS 2021 Sept. 11 TEMPLE 2022 Sept. 24 at Appalachian State 2023 Sept. 2 at Temple

There are better Nah. The chart below reminds me of the story of when Lee Owens tried to recruit Allen Iverson.

Round 1: Monday March 5 - All games begin at 7PM Bowling Green Falcons @ Central Michigan Chippewas Northern Illinois Huskies @ Kent State Golden Flashes Ohio University Bobcats @ Miami-Ohio Redhawks Akron Zips @ Western Michigan Broncos

Is Kwad the fastest player in college football? After two seasons of middling around on the football field despite success in track, Smith showed out, catching 34 balls for 726 yards and seven touchdowns in 2017. He averaged 21.4 yards per catch a season ago, after averaging 24.5 on six catches as a sophomore. A larger sample set last year showed Smith can be dynamic when somebody gets him the ball. He's the fastest player in the MAC and one of the speediest in the country.

Between what I witnessed and coach's comments about his practice habits, I'll vote Virshon. PS This would be a nice thread for a poll. Easy to vote for ZN members.

I think some success can be gained by giving the young guys a taste of what the tournament in Cleveland is about. Just getting them there, and getting them comfortable with the logistics of the tournament would be a good step IMO.

The NCAA has granted University of Akron football player Mykel Traylor-Bennett a sixth year of eligibility after missing the 2017 season. Traylor-Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree in Summer 2017 and is pursuing a master’s degree in sport science and coaching. “We are very excited that the NCAA has accepted the waiver he applied for because of medical hardship to receive a sixth year of eligibility, very similar to what Warren Ball went through,” seventh-year head coach Terry Bowden said. “It’s so good for Mykel Traylor-Bennett who had an ACL injury last year after previously having an injury that kept him out of the 2015 season. What that does is it brings us back to a player who as a true freshman started several games at wide receiver. We moved him to tight end, and he started for us there, but now we’re able to move him back out to wide receiver. He can give us a physical presence, very much like Jerome Lane did. That’s what we’re excited about. I’m not sure if there’s going to be a more physical wide receiver in the conference than Mykel Traylor-Bennett.” “I never doubted God’s plan,” Traylor-Bennett said. “Adversity makes the man.”

Without Olojakpoke and Sayles, and a 10-player roster, eight Zips have been in a starting role over the last few weeks. Duvivier, Ivey, and Utomi have started all 27 games, and they have been joined by Eric Parrish (18), Virshon Cotton (6), Torrey Patton (6), Mark Kostelac (7), and Lucas Smith (4). That would be my assessment of the current situation—"taking stock."

Broadcast ESPN3 – Paul Peck (Play by play) and Amy Audibert (Analyst) Scouting the Bulls Buffalo enters the contest with a 21-8 overall record, including a league-best 13-3 record in MAC play. The Bulls rattled off eight straight league wins to open MACtion, falling to Kent State on the road, 82-79. They bounced back with a pair of wins before dropping their second game at Northern Illinois, 90-88, in overtime. The Bulls have won the last 3-of-4 MAC games, including a 108-82 win against Ohio. Buffalo is 13-1 (8-0 MAC) at home, 7-5 (5-3 MAC) on the road, and 1-2 at neutral sites this season. Four players are currently averaging double figures for the Bulls, led by C.J. Massinburg with 17.0 points per outing. He is shooting 46.6 percent from the floor (158-of-339), and 39.4 percent from long range with 69 made 3-point field goals (69-of-175). Massinburg also leads the squad at the free throw line (108-of-146, .740) and on the glass (220 rebs, 7.6 rebs/g). In addition, he is second in steals (33) and third in assists (73). Nick Perkins is second in team scoring with 16.8 points per game. He makes 48.2 percent of his shots (175-of-363) with 31 made 3-pointers (31-of-92, .337). He ranks second on the team in rebounds (179), pulling down 6.2 per game. Jeremy Harris follows with 15 points per game. Almost half of Harris’ shots come from long distance as he buried a team-high 74 trifectas with 158 total field goals made.He shoots 46.5 from the floor and 42.0 from deep. Wes Clark rounds out the double-digit scoring with 14.9 points per night on 46.5 percent shooting (100-of-215). In 19 games, Clark has drained 35 long-distance shots (35-of-90, 389), dished out 107 assists, and swiped 24 passes. Davonta Jordan leads the Bulls with 124 assists and adds 7.7 ppg. Defensively, Buffalo allows opponents to score 77.2 points a night on 43.3 percent shooting from the field and 34.1 percent from deep with 6.8 triples per game. The Bulls caused 409 turnovers (14.1 tpg) while collecting 171 steals (5.9 stl/g) and 109 blocked shots (3.8 blk/g). On the glass, Buffalo outrebounds its opponents 1126-1060 for a +2.3 margin.

If his health permits, I would guess, just like @94zipgrad, coach Stroud would assume the title of DC. I'm pretty sure he was the one calling the plays during game day. Can he fit another title in, assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator, and defensive coordinator? I'm not sure. I know first hand that coach Stroud's knowledge, and passion is second to none. Since there was no immediate announcement I wonder if coach Amato's announcement didn't take the staff by surprise. I hope everything is (health) okay with coach Amato. Lot's of talent on that side of the ball, whomever steps in is coming into a pretty good situation. Their biggest task will be finding a way to get a bigger push up front against our better opponents. When coach Bowden talked about the defense in the past he would typically say, coach Amato takes care of all that. I wonder if coach Bowden becomes a little more involved now?