clarkwgriswold

He and Dawson have been able to stay active and involved during their slumps. Hopefully, Sammy can snap out of it like Dawson has.

We need to get more from Sammy. So far in MAC play, he's 2 for 17 from the field and averaging 3 points and 4 rebounds a game. Fortunately, other guys have stepped up to fill the void.

Beacon/Ohio.com article on the game- https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2024/01/10/akron-zips-basketball-score-ball-state-enrique-freeman-stats-ali-ali-greg-tribble-mikal-dawson/72165900007/

We'll see on Halcovage. He was just hired in March and I suspect is still paying for some of Whitesell's issues. Halcovage in part should thank the Zips as Whitesell was shown the door after the Zips pummeled the Bulls (101-77) in the MAC tournament. One of the issues raised by Whitesell's detractors was his ineffectiveness in recruiting and it looks like Halcovage is paying the price for it this season.

On a positive note, I was able to give away a ticket. LOL.

I started feeling old when I started picking the kids of guys I had previously drafted in fantasy drafts!

As this season goes on all of those new and young Ball State kids are going to gel and get a bunch of wins. Lewis is solid and if a third player can get established to help Jihad and Anderson they could make a nice MAC run.

Our Canadian friends come to the JAR to face the Zips this Friday night. The Bulls are 2-13 after loss to Miami. Heading into the Miami game, 6’8” fifth year forward Sy Chatman leads Bulls scoring at 18.8 ppg (3rd in the MAC), while also contributing 7.1 rpg. 6’6” senior forward Isaiah Adams averages 13.2 ppg. 6’9” senior forward Jonnivius Smith is averaging an impressive 9.5 rpg (2nd in the MAC) to go along with 8.4 ppg. Anquan Boldin Jr, son of the former NFL star, also plays for the Bulls.

Whew!

Lewis has been a good hire for Ball.

After not getting a call on Tribble's drive.

Shammah's role growing with every game.

Another late close out.....sigh.

How is that a foul on Tribble???

Contrary to the announcer's statement, Kaleb is not good on defense. He is good at stepping into lanes for steals and is smart as to positioning but he gets taken off of the dribble and often gets blown by on penetration.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to inform ZipsNation that PCCC is now down 23 with 11 minutes left in Garrettsville. We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Still really impressed by Jihad.

The announcers are decent.

Playing like they've never seen a zone.

Sammy needed to aggressively take it at Jihad on that fast break.

It could be worse. We could be down 14 at half at home like another area team.

PCCC down 14 to Toledo at half.

Outrebounded 20-15.

Frustrating half. A little slow on some of the defensive rotations and close out. Down 2 and Jihad only played 9 minutes.

He was easy to forget, averaging only 7 a game. Man, did he improve in a year.