clarkwgriswold

Bandaogo was the Zips next big man up and he opted to transfer. I suspect he didn't want to be a backup to the best big man in the MAC. Baker is the next one up and could really be a good one but apparently he was not ready and decided to red shirt. I have to trust Groce on that one. The Zips are fortunate to have the best big man in the MAC, a league that has trouble attracting quality big men.

Moving on quickly from the Cayman abomination. After a week off for Thanksgiving, the Zips head to Las Vegas next Tuesday to face the Runnin' Rebels. Currently, the Rebels are 2-2 with wins over Stetson and Pepperdine and losses to Florida State and Southern. They place Richmond tonight. UNLV plays in the Mountain West where they were predicted to finish 6th in the preseason poll (3 spots ahead of Utah State!). Guard Dedan Thomas Jr. was chosen as the preseason Freshman of the Year. 6'9' graduate student forward Kalib Boone is leading their scoring at 14.3 ppg while kicking in 5 rpg. 6'6" fifth year forward Jalen Hill averages 13.3 ppg while leading rebounding at 7.5 rpg.

Here's hoping they still show a little fight for the rest of this.

Enrique just had his first rebound. 🤔

Heck of a finish to the half. Ugh.

They played poorly and were still in the game against a quality opponent. If we're still seeing these issues in February I'll be concerned but a down performance in November doesn't cause me much concern.

The Zips will face Drake in the 3rd/4th place game after the loss to Utah State. The Bulldogs are led by Missouri Valley Conference pre-season player of the year Tucker DeVries. Through 3 games, the 6'7" DeVries averaged 20.7 ppg and 8 rpg. Graduate 6'10" big man Darrell Brodie made the MVC preseason second team and through 3 games averaged 13 points and 6.5 rpg. 6'1" junior guard Atin White is also scoring 20.7 ppg through 3 games. The Bulldogs were chosen as the top team in the MVC Preseason poll, though they did not receive the most first place votes.

Damn. Game of missed chances.

Osobor's rebound on that missed free throw was a killer.

Okay, let's be the opposite of the football program and finish.

Just can't get timely stops.

Thornton playing like an NIU player rather than a Zip.

4 of 15 on three pointers. Ugh.

A-freaking-men. Enrique needs help in the post and with his height Hunter needs to be that guy.

37% shooting for the Zips in the first half, 30% on threes, only 5 bench points.

It's the Enrique vs. Great show so far.

You have to have a lot of confidence in your genes to name your kid Great.

Draft Kings still Zips +1.5 with the under/over at 141.5.

I love how the NCAA finds "new information" relevant to their investigation right at the point they're "In the face of pending litigation set to be filed Monday afternoon" after having the case for months and denying the appeal twice.

Wow. Completely shocked by that score. Drake was ranked as the top team in the MVC preseason poll and DeVries was the preseason POY. I really saw them as the favorite in the tourney. Looks like they relatively shut down DeVries and held their 6'10" big man to 9 points and 6 boards. The field goal percentage tells the story- SAF- 63%; Drake- 38.9%.

Imagine a second wave that would include Ali, Thornton, Scott and Dawson.

I depends on whether we get the under control and composed Ali or the Ali that dribbles the air out of the ball backing down a defender while the rest of the team watches.

...and the connection is working. In the post-game last week Thornton told about how he knew X from being fellow Chicago players and how X and his former roommate Trendon Hankerson helped draw him to the Zips.

I'm hoping he can learn a little from his fellow Chicagoan Thornton.

Pretty good, and HE HAS ALL THE INTANGIBLES. 😁