clarkwgriswold

This will be the 4th time these teams have played in a year. That, coupled with 30 games of game tape, make it so these teams know each other almost as well as they know themselves. They're not likely to see any surprises, especially Friday night. The only exception to springing something on the other would be next week, not unlike the Zips surprised them last year by the way they defended Insincere in the final.

I suspect Long has impressed in camps as his performance at Hoban has been underwhelming. I would say though that Hoban's emphasis on the run has limited his opportunities. His performance in the final was not pretty.

Nice. PCCC's ticket vendor had a breach of their credit card system. Yikes. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/03/01/kent-state-university-audienceview-security-breach-credit-card-information/69957805007/

Nice article by Beaven in the Beacon along with some gracious comments from Ball State's coach. I'm not sure GT even knows where there visitors' locker room is located. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2023/02/28/akron-zips-basketball-score-ball-state-xavier-castaneda-sammy-hunter-enrique-freeman-john-groce-mac/69949794007/

Todd Packer!

Here we are again, headed off to the Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Center in Brimfield to face the arch-rival to close the season. PCCC is coming off of a 7-point win over OU and will look to avenge their 12-point loss at the JAR on February 3rd. They had technical issues with their ticket vendor tonight slowing things down at the gate, so get there early Friday night.

Teamism.

Who's this number 11 for the Zips??

The anticipation of finding out what Tuesday nights the Zips will play on is palpable.

My vote is for Stan Heath given how he's brought out the full potential in Bates and kept his team engaged for 40 minutes every night.

Groce wisely kept going to that well and WMU defenders helped all night by being late on the pick and roll and having their back to incoming pass. Not a whole lot of in game adjustments by WMU.

There's an old saying that a conference is only as good as its worst teams. If that's the case, the MAC is not very good. I would propose that MAC basketball eliminate any program with a direction in its name or that faced Evan Wilson on the floor this season.

Agreed. Coach Burno has done a nice job there. He and Coach Lewis from Ball St. should be frontrunners for MAC coach of the year.

The Zips hope to exact revenge against Ball State at the JAR Tuesday night. Ball State comes in at 20-9/11-5, fresh off an inexplicable loss to EMU that had followed an impressive win over PCCC. The Cardinals are very balanced in scoring, with 4 players that average between 12.1 and 14.5 ppg (Jarron Coleman- 14.5; Jaylin Sellers- 13.8; Payton Sparks- 12.8; Damarius Jacobs- 12.1). In their January 6th 70-63 win over the Castaneda-less Zips, Ball State was led by Coleman and Sparks who each scored 15 points. Enrique had a double-double for the Zips with 23 points and 14 rebounds and Tribble was the only other Akron player in double figures with 14.

I've always liked the idea of Tribble off of the bench. Unfortunately, I hate the idea of Sammy starting more than I like the idea of Tribble off of the bench.

I get the sense that the staff lets Lamar do whatever the hell he wants. I guess Lamar hoisting 3s is better than Emoni's sulking like a little B at the end of blowouts.

Kalamazoo's thinking Steve Hawkins was John Wooden at this point.

Time to start thinking about resting Enrique and X.

The Broncos defense has allowed the Zips to discover the successes of getting the ball to the big man on the pick and roll.

I'm getting a better understanding of how these guys lost to EMU.

Sammy making the most of his opportunity to start. Ugh.

Looks like a big contingent travelled down from Kalamazoo!

Some ugly lazy passes by the Zips tonight.

Giving up too many open 3s.

Lamar Norman has just moved past VonCameron Davis in voting for the MAC's worst hair.