clarkwgriswold

I don't think the scoring stats are skewed. I think they are a sign of the talent being spread out through the roster rather than being top heavy with someone like an LCJ, X or Enrique. That's a good thing as long as it is properly managed and somebody is capable of stepping up in a pinch to get a hoop.

Some interesting stats: * The Zips top scorer, Nate, is 18th in the MAC in scoring. He's the only Zip in the top 25. * 8 different Zips have led the team in scoring for a game. * Despite not having a top scorer, the Zips lead the MAC in points per game. * The Zips are fourth in points allowed on defense. * The Zips are second in point differential (Miami is first). * Okonkwo is first in the MAC in rpg. * Tavari is 4th in assists and assists to turnover ration. * Amani is 3rd in blocks and 21st in rpg. * Young is 5th in 3 point FG%. * Nate is 5th in steals. All in all, this adds up to a deep team with a large number of guys who can score and that despite the faster pace is playing reasonable defense.

Ouch. What the hell was that? LOL.

Travis Steele brings his 14-4/5-0 Miami Redhawks into the JAR Saturday at 2:00 for a battle of the MAC’s last undefeated teams. 6’6” sophomore wing, Xavier transfer, Kam Craft leads the Redhawks in scoring at 15.2 ppg. 6’5” junior guard, Peter Suder, a Bellarmine transfer, is second on the team in scoring at 14.1 ppg. Rutgers transfer Antone Woolfolk, a 6’9” forward, leads rebounding at 5.9 rpg while contributing 8.4 ppg. The game is part of a doubleheader with the women who play Buffalo at 4:30.

Seth with a bad night. 0 points, 4 turnovers.

Evan in!

Buffalo has 8 freshmen on the roster, the most in D1 according to the announcer. That may bode well for the future, but they're awful in the present.

Tough to complain about a 15 point halftime lead but the Zips had an ugly stretch there on both offense and defense.

Sloppy unproductive stretch here for the Zips.

The first 750 in attendance get a blue Bulls shirt tonight. I'm thinking they'll be able to carry out this promotion for 2 or 3 games to get rid of 750 shirts.

That was as bad of a stretch as I have seen from a MAC team in a long time.

Yikes. Buffalo can't even make foul shots.

Wow, quite a crowd.

Groce essentially admitted as much to me years back. I told him how much I appreciated him putting together his first roster to keep the program afloat and he told me that when the job was offered to him he and the assistants were excited because they saw a team with a remaining core that could immediately compete but that by the time he got here much of that core had bailed.

Speaking of Gray's physical strength, I do like how he has taken on the role of defending other teams' bigs in our shortage of big men. He uses his larger frame well in bodying up on those guys where our other guards are not physically equipped to do so.

Bud has done at outstanding job with building the team chemistry with a bunch of new players, completely overhauling the offense from last year and rallying the team after a rough OOC schedule.

The fall of the Buffalo program demonstrates just how lucky we were to transition from KD to Groce.

I was very impressed by Gray in his post-game with the radio guys. What an intelligent and eloquent young man.

Probably not nearly as much fun as bringing in the huge Ohio Wesleyan and SUNY Brockport contingents. I trust Groce when he says Dustin works hard to put together the schedule. If Duquesne was a possibility, I suspect it would have already happened, but it would be nice to see it happen if possible.

If nothing else it could put some butts in seats from the SVSM and UA people with a connection to the Joyce family. Duquesne brought a few people to the game at SVSM and there was a contingent of Joyce family and friends. Maybe not the gate buster of Ohio Wesleyan or SUNY Brockport but a larger visitor contingent than we are used to seeing. Seems like something Keith could facilitate.

It's a good thing he didn't turn down the job!

Miami on the money line was easy money.

Somehow, you can get Miami and points in Brimfield today.

In the last two games, both convincing wins, the opponents have taken 64 foul shots. The Zips have taken 24. I'm generally not one to gripe about the refs and realize some disparity can come from having a more aggressive defense, but that is ridiculous.

In the MAC it does.