clarkwgriswold

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.

I agree I overstated it, but it is my point that it happens all the time and is called infrequently in relation to the times it actually occurs.

I spend waaaaaaaaaaay too much time yelling at the refs about moving picks/screens. With today's reliance on the pick and roll and other screening offenses, it happens all of the time without it being called. Funny how one finally got called and they got it so wrong. I also suspect the ref may have been talked into it as it happened right in front of the Bulls bench.

GT was on with Munch Bishop late this afternoon and spoke in part on the poor crowd for a top 25 team being in town. On game day, GT contributed an article on Tyler Cheese. The headline was "University of Akron men’s basketball: Familiarity starting to lead to success on court for Tyler Cheese". The only reference to Buffalo in the entire article was in the third paragraph, stating "And the Zips — coming off a 72-53 victory Friday over rival Kent State — need that to continue if they are to avoid a letdown Tuesday night against 25th-ranked Buffalo (20-3, 8-2) at Rhodes Arena." George, if you want to see a better crowd, it just might help if you and your hometown paper get the word out.

Hmmmm, I took you as an old codger. LOL.

I sit up in the student section. Generally, it is me, my wife, a group of middle aged men and at most a dozen students. The Buffalo game, sadly, had more than usual (25 to 30?). The KSU game was fun in that section. The overall attendance however, despite being the largest of the year, was a little disappointing.

I'd like to see a bigger rotation too, but who would be in it? Walter's not ready. Fischer doesn't even suit up some nights and Marquelle McIntyre hasn't had his warmup shirt off since high school. I'd like to see that stat sheet as he missed two bunnies in the same possession in the second half as I recall. I'd be content with 8 points, 5 or 6 boards and a block or two.

The Zips return to the site of JImond Ivey's record setting 48 point performance last year this Saturday to face the 13-11 Cardinals. The Cards are 4-7 in the MAC and have won two in a row (WMU and NIU). All_MAC West senior guard Tayler Persons leads Ball State in scoring at 17 ppg, while Tahjai Teague leads rebounding at 7.9 rpg. They were predocted to finish second in the West in the pre-season poll, but currently sit in the 5th spot.