clarkwgriswold

I'm curious to see how the Zips come out Saturday. This latest string of games could test their resolve. I'm a little concerned about Utomi. This "slump" has extended to a point that I wonder if something else is up. Injury maybe? He stuck it out at Akron when others bailed and he's worked hard, so I am rooting for him.

Remember the good old days when that MAC home playoff game ticket in the season ticket packet was worthless?

Fresh off of three close losses, the ZIps host Miami this Saturday at the JAR. The Deadhawks are 14-12 overall and 6-7 in the MAC. They beat the Zips 68-61 in Oxford on January 19th. 6'4" sophomore guard Nike Sibande (brother of Adidas, Puma, Reebok and Keds Sibande) leads Miami scoring at 15.8 ppg while 6'7" sophomore forward Delonte Brown and 6'8" junior forward Bam Bowman lead rebounding at 5.4 rpg. In their last six games they've alternated wins and losses and they just beat Ball State. Let's hope this pattern continues Saturday. On an unrelated note, I am off to read the Bobcat Attack forum. This should be fun.

Especially on the home floor on a game winning shot. I will say I am pleased with the effort Groce gets out of the kids. Good defense starts with hard work and effort. On the other end, I am concerned that the offensive woes have as much to do with scheme as they do with shots not falling.

I'm really regretting reopening this can of worms. I'll blame it on the Beacon.

I guess I should be happy that they were competitive with one of the top teams in the league, but this is getting old. Not going to listen to the postgame. Can't stomache hearing the same thing again.

Well $h!+.

Utomi, Ivey and LCJ a combined 10 of 43.

To Riak's credit, he did a decent job on Wiggins tonight.

Zips with a 7-1 run showing some fight.

Down to 1 timeout, given up 33 points in the half with over 6 minutes left, down 9... This offense is putting waaaaaaaaay too much pressure on the defense.

Utomi 1 of 10. Good thing Roscoe is balancing it out to some extent.

"One of the best 3 point shooting teams" Groce has had. "They'll eventually start going in" (in April).

Pass out from under the basket...make a three...miss a dunk...ugh. It doesn't help if he's Ben Wallace on defense when he's George Wallace on offense.

It's just had that smell...

Appreciate the reasoned discussion 1981 grad. With each minute they play, the more that reason will fade. Hopefully, these are all experiences that will benefit them in the future.

I'm no longer giving them the benefit of being young and inexperienced. Utomi is a junior second year starter and played a lot in his freshman season (89 career games); Ivey is a senior who has started at least two years (125 career games); Riak is a junior who played regularly as a freshman and sophomore at E. Carolina (63 career games); LCJ played regularly at Long Beach (59 college games); E-man is a junior who has played 73 games; and Banks and Cheese each have two years of post- high school basketball. Thin yes, inexperienced, not so much, at least now.

They'll have to establish some momentum first as they'll have none coming out of Ball State.

If he wore "some sort of long winter Nike jacket" to Akron Muni Court, he was overdressed.

Kind of what I was thinking. I just didn't want to hear myself say it!

Looks like he pled and is headed to Tampa- https://www.ohio.com/news/20190218/former-ua-basketball-player-pleads-guilty-to-assaulting-teammate-during-practice

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.