clarkwgriswold

Put LCJ on Jimmy Chitwood.

The other side of switching that ball screen is that LCJ ends up on a big. Not good.

Thats's a charge. All damn day.

Toledo is the Three Musketeers (Jackson, Jackson and Knapake) and the seven dwarfs.

Some awful switches by the Zips result in some open 3's for Toledo. Just out Banks on Jackson and stop letting them switch it to Riak who has to give him space.

Time for Zips to show some maturity and composure.

Getting chippy. Shut them up by thumping them.

I think a big that could shoot it would realize that those who can't are on a shorter leash than those who can. I cringe every time he touches the ball. He needs to be in as he gives us some other things and plays hard, but every time he gets the ball is a gamble.

Wow, what a run. Just what we needed.

Zips will have to dominate the start of the second half or this game is over.

Toledo is shooting the lights out, but some of that is bad Zips D. Knapke's threes have been pretty wide open shots.

Riak shooting a three. Sigh... New rule for Deng- you're only allowed to shoot from inside the arc (the charge arc).

Willie Jackson looks like the 40 year old guy that shows up at the rec center and beats the hell out of the young guys.

Looks like a nice crowd, especially in GA. Maybe Akron is waking up to what we have. This one's going to be a tight game, but I sense the Zips will pull it out late.

I'm out of town and won't be able to make the game today so it's very important that all of you ZipsNation guys shout directives to the refs, coaches and players to make up for me. ?

Yep. Riak was making me nuts guarding Teague tightly at the 3 point line, even leaving his feet on occasion. My view is that with about 90% of big men you should back away and let them hoist all of the three pointers they want. As I recall, Teagie shoots in the low 20s percentage-wise on 3 points. He can shoot all of those he wants. Knapke is one of the 10% you can't do that with. Knapke's ability to go outside is in part facilitated by Willie Jackson being a strong inside presence and controlling the boards. X is going to have to work to keep him off the boards. Knapke is an interesting story coming from Maria Stein Marion Local, a great small school football power. I can't imagine many quality basketball big men come from 2100 person communities.

Their rebounding and scoring stats are pretty similar. Knapke is 3 or 4 inches taller and a good 30 pounds heavier. He is superior defensively and blocks a lot of shots. He also shoots it much better from the 3 point line. The only place Teague may have an advantage is foot speed. I'd love for the Zips to have either of them.

He'll be an interesting challenge due to his ability to shoot it from outside. When they faced Teague from Ball State, Riak seemed to over defend him at the arc and as a result Teague blew around him. I don't know if Knapke has the speed or ballhandling skills for that but if he does, UA has to pick its poison. Double teaming him doesn't seem to be in UA defensive plan.

That's Luke Knapke referenced above. 6'11", 245 pounds, 15 ppg and 8 rpg per game.

There are marketing majors and a marketing department in the business school. Put some of those kids to work for credits. I don't see that it's much needed thought as GT and the Beacon whip up plenty of excitement for the home games.

KD's coming back in conjunction with UA joining the ACC. That was just as solid of a rumor.

Well then Saturday is even more important!

The Zips now have a .500 record combined with football at 14-14. Wooohoooo!

The 9-8 Toledo Rockets come into the JAR Saturday night fresh off a 74-67 loss to Central Michigan. The Rockets entered the season with high hopes as the number 1 West Division team in MAC Preseason Coaches Poll, however, they have had a rough spell since mid-December losing 6 of their last 7 (Kansas City, Wright State, Bradley, Ball St., PCCC and CMU). Junior guard Marreon Jackson and senior center Luke Knapke were named the All-MAC West Division Preseason team. Jackson averages 17.2 ppg along with 4.1 assists. Koepke scores 15.2 ppg while kicking in 8.1 rpg. Willie Jackson scores 11.5 a game and rebounds at an impressive 12.5 rpg. This game worries me. Toledo appears to have as much individual talent as any team in the MAC. Let’s hope they don’t come together in the JAR. The game is also a fundraiser for Norton teen Emma Pfouts. If the Zips have half the fortitude of that little girl, we're in for a great season.

Another solid road win.