clarkwgriswold

I was hoping it was short for Water Moccasins. That's much cooler than some cute little songbird.

The Choo-Choos of UT Chattanooga head into the JAR Tuesday night to face the Zips. The Mocs are 3-3 having beaten Hiwasee, Alabama State and Tennessee Wesleyan with losses to Wyoming, Jacksonville State and UAB. Their head coach is a familiar name, Lamont Paris, who many will remember as a name mentioned for the Zips job last year. Their leading scorer is Makinde London, a 6-10 junior forward who started his college career at Xavier.

Ivey looks a little lost. He also looks to be pressing on the offensive end. He needs to take a deep breath, focus on defense and let the offense come to him. This team will need a viable third option to be successful and he's that guy.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement for the defense!

Well, that's appropriate as many of them played like they just got home from their day jobs working baggage at the airport!

We should be nice. Paul Haynes is likely coaching his last game!

So, he's doing better this week?

Wooohoooooooo. Now let's come out in the second half, step on their necks and put this away.

Ugly first half. Kato 3 for 15 and another blocked punt!

Damn special teams. Lucky to have gotten away with that one.

Great fast start!

#ButlerAlsoOfTheMidwestButALittleEast. LOL

Maybe that's why every guy was Peters in the CSU game!

I was at the JAR for Saturday night's game and present for TB's rousing halftime speech which I assume urged us all to get out in support of the Zips this Tuesday night. Between TB's yelling and the awful sound system, I really have no idea what in the he!! he said, but he was animated enough that I assume it was intended to get us Zips fans all psyched up for the game and out to Infocision. Go Zips.

Part of that is familiarity. With all of the changes on the roster, it takes time, but it will come.

Welcome IlliniZip. Appreciate the perspective.

Good stuff B&G. Like I said in my post, I would not be surprised to see Sayles and Parrish in the starting line at some point. I think Poke has a role on this team, I just see his game as more suited to 10 to 12 minutes a game of high energy play. I also like Patton, but right now he looks to be finding his way while Parrish looks at home. I'm encouraged that we're splitting hairs with some talented kids as opposed to cringing when some come on the court.

Some basic observations: * Utomi will be one of the MAC leaders in scoring, in part out of necessity and in part because he is just so talented on the offensive end; * I love the free throw shooting; * Some of the guys are still finding their way, but that's to be expected from a young team; * The team will go just as far as Utomi, Duvivier and Ivey can take it; * In time, I would not be surprised to see Sayles and Parish in the starting lineup; * I love Poke's energy, but he's a bench player with high energy in spurts; * Much better defense against dribble penetration; * Too many points given up by back door cuts and running off of picks; * I like the interaction of the coaching staff with the players. All in all, I was very happy with what I saw. I wasn't able to get to the CSU game, so this was my first exposure. Strange with all of the new faces, but I think this will be a team that will grow on us. I expect a little pain, but these kids will be easy to root for.

Zips need a run here.

Yes. One of the few.

Thanks to the great JAR sound system, I have no idea what the hell Terry Bowden just yelled for the last 3 minutes, but I think I am supposed to have been whipped into a frenzy.

Good first ten minutes, awful second ten minutes. Zips having trouble since UTM went to more aggressive zone.

Zips allowing them to stick around. Pretty small crowd tonight.

This coaching staff SCARES ME.

Why can't anything be easy.