clarkwgriswold

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.

Out of curiosity, I just checked on Payton Sparks. He's averaging 9 minutes a game at Indiana.

Oh my inner conflict- I am unwashed and a blue hair!

I've done that a number of times with no response. I've given away a few at times but many have received no response. Maybe I need to pitch them as a prize or a "major award."

Lots of Ball State optimism over at Over the Pylon, including referring to their own team as a "dog turd" in Akron's path. LOL. https://overthepylon.boards.net/thread/5411/akron-game-tuesday-january-2023

Jihad's development has really helped. He was merely a bit player last year, averaging 7.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg. This year he's up to 18.5 ppg (4th in the MAC) and 7.4 rpg (5th in the MAC). As a team, they are 8th in offense and 3rd in defense (behind the Zips and BG).

Some points from the BSU Game preview: * Last season, both teams won on their home court, with Ball State prevailing 70-63 on Jan. 6 before Akron claimed an 87-83 decision on Feb. 28 in Northern Ohio. * Jihad leads the Cardinals in scoring (18.5 points per game) and rebounding (7.4) averages. The junior forward out of Detroit has led the Cardinals in scoring eight games so far, scoring in double-figures 13 times, including six games with 20+ points. The big man's total points (259) and scoring average both rank fourth in the Mid-American Conference, while his rebounding average is fifth. * The Cardinals are a young group, as the roster includes only one senior or graduate student (Ethan Brittain-Watts). Ball State returns only 21.5 percent of minutes played and 19.6 percent of points scored from last year's team. * Jihad was named the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week on both Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.

I think part of the issue lies in the inferiority complex psyche of the area in general that bleeds over to the University. The residents of Summit County never much appreciate what they have here, looking to other areas' cultural attractions and sports. Part of that is an underlying propensity of Joe Akron to think it's "just Akron basketball", not "real" D1 basketball like they have in Columbus and Cincinnati.

Just like we're of rare few that show up regularly the polling numbers tell us we're in the rare few willing to support a levy for a new arena.

Could it be that "Joe Akron" doesn't care about the games of what some consider to be the 15th to 20th ranked NCAA D1 basketball conference? I'm the rare guy that wants to see the Northern Illinois Huskies on a cold Tuesday night in February. We ZipsNation folks are the diehards. I'd like to see this program get the attention it deserves and has earned, but at the same time the grumpy old man in me is content with my $60 ticket and space to spread out at the game.

I don't think that the actual $10 is as much the issue as is way it was handled. There was no head's up that I am aware of until after the GA tickets were ordered and sent out. The deck parking was always a part of the GA season ticket and that was the expectation for many going in. I think a better solution would have been a good head's up with the option to add on a parking pass. With the way it was handled it has become a matter of principle for some rather than a matter of affordability. This position has been further aggravated by the "parking police" being a private entity.

But they have valet parking. 😁

I'm starting this thread to continue the discussion regarding basketball attendance that broke out in the BG game thread. As for the GA seating, the cost of a season GA ticket is $60. $60. Parking for those games- $140.

I'm think I should start a thread on this rather than have it in this BG Game thread.

Let's be frank. When in the history of Akron athletics, other than for Acme Zip games and a rare and brief run of an individual team, ever engaged the average Akron area sports fan? You'll find greater allegiance to the Browns, Indians/Guardians, Buckeyes, Cavs, college alma maters, Notre Dame and high school teams among the average Summit County folk sports fan than you'll find for the Zips. One place I see an improvement that may help a little is the Beacon's new approach to Zips athletics. The basketball coverage this year has been a vast improvement with great coverage. Actually providing the average area fan with relevant info about the team can help spark interest. Is it going to fill the JAR or Infocision, no, but maybe it will get dad to grab his son and head down to the JAR some night to see the good things that are happening.