clarkwgriswold

Blast from the past!

I will agree that their bottom is ugly (cue the pep band with "Fat Bottomed Girls"), but teams like Northern Kentucky, Wright State, Oakland and UWGB would be regularly competitive in the MAC.

I'd also take me some Northern Kentucky, Wright State, Oakland, Canisius, Dayton, Valparaiso, Indiana State, Evansville... How about the Horizon League, or do we think we're above that?

I get that they're not a big name but they've been competitive games against a similar opponent- a 4 point win and a 3 point loss. They also have a signature win against a P5 opponent.

Even without "challenge" with another conference, I'd love to see more games against similarly situated regional teams. I'd much rather see games against like Marshall and IUPFW than teams like UT-Martin, Tennessee State, Alabama State, etc. From a fan perspective they are more entertaining. From a team perspective, I think it prepares the team better for league play.

I just took a look at the MAC individual stats leaders. Oh well, at least Ivey and Utomi are in the top 10 of average minutes played. Is that "team-ism"?

Turner is 3rd in MAC scoring while Joltin' Joe Dimajeo Wiggins is first in rebounding.

The Zips head to 18-7 BUGS this Tuesday to meet the Falcons. The Falcons are 10-2 in the MAC, having lost only to Toledo and Miami. They were picked to finish LAST in the MAC East pre-season poll with 6'10" senior forward Dimajeo Wiggins making the all- MAC East team. 6'4" redshirt sophomore guard Justin Turner leads BUGS scoring at 18.2 ppg while Wiggins leads rebounding at 11.2 rpg (while scoring 13.2). The team that received the fewest number of total points in the MAC pre-season poll has shocked the MAC. They are 12-1 in Stroh Center.

GT pretty well sums up today's misery- https://www.ohio.com/sports/20190216/university-of-akron-mens-basketball-zips-come-up-cold-on-offense-again-in-57-56-loss-to-ball-state

I would give that award to the DeKalb crapfest of January 12th.

Too little composure and poor fundamentals down the stretch. We are too far into the season to blame anything on a lack of experience. I am beginning to think LCJ is a shooting guard trapped in a (high school freshman's) point guard body. They shot 30% against a team giving up 42% on the MAC season. Just another day in our love/hate relationship with the Zips.

Grrrrrrrr.............damn Zips. ...and that's why it's nice to have a TO at the end...

The highs and lows of LCJ...

Hope you don't need them.

Feels even worse.

Only one timeout left...

Zero points so far from the Zips centers...

Zips shooting is awful today.

Good "team-ism" in the first half (whatever in the hell that means).

I just think Jackson needs to slow down a little on the. He gets a little rushed sometimes, doesn't get a good base and is off balance and that makes him inconsistent. I don't think Ivery sees anything out of the ordinary as Ball St. has seen more than his once in a lifetime game.

Wow, looks like Buffalo shot lights out on the three in the second half.

I, like many, am concerned with the Zips offense, but I am uncertain as to how concerned I should be. On one hand, it's difficult to be a good defensive team and a good offensive team at the same time. They expend so much effort on the defensive end that they may not have much left at the offensive end. Also, the great defense slows the game down by extending the other team's possessions and that impacts the flow of the game and limits the Zips offensive possessions. They are 11th in the MAC in field goals attempted by opponents and correspondingly 8th in field goals attempted. That's a recipe for lower scoring games. On the other hand, they all too often appear to be standing around on offense. 4 guys watching while one guy dribbles and waits for a screen. I can't expect them to be Marshall with constant motion, but I am concerned that some of it comes down to scheme.

Wow, how'd I forget E-man? Agreed on Banks. I think he could be a very good 6th man/offensive threat type of player.

Moving screens/picks.

I could see a starting 5 of LCJ, Cheese, Utomi, Williams and Riak, with Banks and Reece playing major minutes. Throw Roscoe, Sayles and Toles into the mix and they have a nice rotation. However, in today's day and age, they'll lose one or two of those guys.