clarkwgriswold

"Light in the ass." I love it, but it also sounds like a proctologist's tool! I know Groce has really stressed the weightroom. There was a publicity picture of the team in the weightroom last year and they looked more muscular than the football team. That puts muscle on them, but I would agree that they're not a very "wide" team or team "heavy in the ass."

It's pretty clear that Sayles' time is going to be determined by matchups. At this juncture, he's down the depth chart as a spare big man. We'll see him when they need an extra big body or Reece and Riak get in file trouble and he'll ride the pine when they don't.

Oh well. Sure, I am disappointed that the Zips could not have won the tournament and could have played better today, but when asked last week I predicted past week that they would beat Tulane and lose to Liberty. As such, I can't be too disappointed.

The Zips get a nine day break for Christmas before the Minutemen of UMass visit the JAR on the 30th. UMass beat Maine on the 20th to snap a 6 game win streak and get to .500 at 6-6. From what I've read, UMass is very young, with their top talent being freshmen. They only returned 5 players for this season. They are coming off of an 11-21 season. The following Boston Globe article about them describes this game as a "dangerous trip to Akron." https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/colleges/2019/12/17/umass-has-lost-six-straight-but-minutemen-are/zUTjLnVquKOkqFgAh6l0UI/story.html Here's area couple of preseason previews- https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/mccall-feeling-different-energy-level-in-his-umass-basketball-program,586651 https://atlantic10.com/news/2019/10/28/211815182.aspx This is obviously not the UMass of Marcus Camby and John Calipari, but a win over an A-10 opponent would be nice coming into MAC play.

They may be better than expected as they have some decent transfer talent from some major programs.

At least you didn't have to worry about a t-shirt cannon.

Nice win. That's the type of high pressure character win a team like the Zips need to build some confidence.

I don't put a whole lot of faith in any ranking system this early in the mix. The sample size is just to small and players are still getting the feel for each other.

I remember Gest from high school. You'd see him on the field and think "that kid doesn't look like anything special." As soon as you thought it, he'd break off a long run. Eventually you'd start wondering if he just got lucky and he'd break off another. Kid's just a football player. Not flashy, just effective. This team can use some experience and maturity in the locker room. I sure hope some of this size is effective size and not more ineffective and inexperienced livestock.

Justin Turner sustained a hamstring injury at the Paradise Jam tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands in late November.

Duquesne finishes the OOC with 4-5 Austin Peay, 5-4 UAB and 3-6 Marshall, so I think they will have to wait longer to get a gauge. I think we'll get an earlier gauge with Tulane, Liberty (hopefully) and UMass.

They were picked 14th out of 14 in the SEC by SI. Here's a blurb going into the season- In theory, things can only improve as Jerry Stackhouse begins to rebuild a battered program. Vandy going winless within the conference was improbable (unfortunately, that happened), and mathematically even more so the second time around. That’s not to say they’re ready to dig out of the basement, but progress needs to be measured reasonably here. There are high hopes for sophomore Aaron Nesmith, and if junior Saben Lee can rein in the turnovers, he should be able to better stabilize this group. Still, it feels like this could be another long season. They've lost to Tulsa, Richmond and Liberty.

That's what Frostburg State will do a team.

I guess that's type of game is what you want coming out of exam week and going into a tough stretch of games, but it was a snoozer. Nice of Concord to give them some different looks- a press, some 2-3 zone and some 1-3-1 zone, etc. French and Dunn mentioned in the pregame that Dawson qualified coming out of high school but not out of prep school. Dunn said it would be a nice story for the Beacon. French then commented that the "rag" would only print negative stories about the Zips. Frenchy is continues his fond feelings for GT! LOL. Dawson was present, not in unform.

70-44, 7:52. I will let someone else take over from here. LOL.

Cole Meadows is a perfect name for a kid playing on a team from West Virginia. It could only be better if it's spelled C-o-a-l.

Jayden getting tuned up for all of the 6-5 180 pound centers we'll see from here out.

56-30, 17:10.

46-28 half. Tap...tap...hello? Is this thing working?

Zips working the 1-3-1 zone.

Mark this date. Riak caught a bounce pass and scored on it.

39-21. Zips getting a little sloppy from boredom. Concord nice enough to show the Zips some zone and a press. Might as well get some work in against different stuff. 39-21, 3:27.

We could get a Marquelle sighting in the first half.

The Mountain Lions seem beaten down by their close loss to Frostburg State last night.

28-11 varsity over JV.