clarkwgriswold

The 15-9 Chippewas of Central Michigan come to town Saturday afternoon to face the Zips. The Chips are 4-7 in the MAC. 6 foot junior guard Shawn Roundtree and 6-6 freshman forward lead the Chips at 15.2 ppg. 6-7 sophomore forward David DiLeo leads rebounding at 7.2 rpg, while also contributing 12.5 ppg. The Chips MAC wins are against OU (twice), BG and NIU.

His story today has OU going "16-of-27 (29 percent) from behind the 3-point line." Ugh.

OK, I'm just some schlub that likes basketball who once poorly coached some youth basketball. From that perspective it makes me absolutely bonkers to watch a team get beat on something I as a complete amateur can identify as a key in the game, in this instance taking the 3 point shot away from Dartis. I can't tell whether the kids weren't clued in on this or aren't executing, but neither if those possibilities are a positive for the Zips.

And they pressure the ball on the perimeter.

Groce looks like he may hurt someone (maybe himself) at half.

They are 73% from 3 point range. Ugh, the Zips are just a bad basketball team.

Ummmmmm guys???!!!

ESPN3.

Guarding the 3 point line and running shooters off of it will be important tonight. Block killed the Zips in the first game from the three point line and Dartis can get really hot from out there.

From your mouth to the basketball gods' ears Captain!

He certainly does appear to have bought in. One thing I have noticed the last couple of games is some awful body language, especially on defense after giving up points. Rather than appear angry that they were beat, I'm seeing a look of "Damn, here we go again." Hope that's not a sign of anything.

4 assists. Four. Damn. Assists.

Interesting. Wonder if someone mixed them up as I got 2 Wilsons as they advertised.

George's most recent article regarding Groce and his statements about the team's attitude/effort- https://www.ohio.com/akron/sports/university-of-akron/university-of-akron-basketball-john-groce-says-zips-need-to-develop-better-habits-more-toughness

I think this is the first time Utomi has struggled. He was a huge scorer in high school and didn't have any real expectations placed on him last year. This year, the exodus of so many players combined with his early season play against inferior opponents sent the expectations of him through the roof and I am sure he bought into it to some extent. Now he's being forced into strange territory from jumping center to start the game to guarding the other teams' bigs. I certainly hope it doesn't push him towards a transfer and that he sees reinforcements are on the way. He could be a big part of the future.

Good memory NWAkron!

...and some Verizon stores had free tickets.

OK, if we're going to stretch back, Russell Holmes from the 85-86 team. Huggins was short on bigs and they got UA football player Holmes to come out to help. At 6-3 , he was outsized but survived on grit, hustle and muscle. Guy lettered in football and basketball. When was the last time you heard that?

I cringed when I typed it, but it is factual. I guess the truth hurts.

The Zips head to Athens Tuesday night to face the 9-13 Snobcats. OU is 2-8 in the MAC and last in the East (which makes me smile inside just a little.) They have a 4 game losing streak which started with a 71-68 loss to the Zips. Freshman guard Teyvion Kirk leads scoring at 15.2 ppg with senior guard Mike Laster kicking in 15.0 ppg. Junior forward Doug Taylor leads rebounding at 7.2 ppg. Gavin Block kept OU in the game at the JAR with 18 points, 7 rebounds and was 6/11 on three pointers. A loss would drop the Zips into the cellar with the Snobcats.

Groce had some head cases at OU and Illinois, equal to or greater than Tree or Diggs. Their problems were off the court, but when they were on the court they went 100% and had an edge we've seen none of from this squad. Diggs also had the heart to work his way back to the team as I recall.

Nick Harney. Sorry, couldn't help myself. I've thought all season Antino would have done well under Groce. Two others that come to mind were knuckleheads who limited their Zips' careers- Treadwell and Diggs.

I just went back and looked at our early source of hope- the early season out of conference schedule. The teams the Zips beat are now 51- 92. IPFW is the only team over .500 at 16-10. I guess that explains the success. This team is just not very good. Not the coaches' fault. Not the players' fault. Just the cards they were dealt when KD left, players bolted and they were left to hustle up a roster of players. There are kids seeing time that would be riding the pine on other MAC rosters or if KD never left, but we can only hope the floor time they are seeing benefits the squad down the line. There may well be kids who see less time next year than they see this year when the roster settles.

He earned it. Guy makes me crazy.