skip-zip

With BG, Buffalo, and OU now sitting right behind us, the possibilities are endless. Realistically now, with #1 as a long shot, we probably have about equal odds of being the #3 seed as being the #6 or #7 seed. This is why Buffalo becomes another critical game. Lose, and we're tied with them again AND they own the tiebreaker. Win, and we separate from Buffalo by two games, and I believe we're close to a lock of being no worse than #5 because of our tiebreaker advantage over BG.

I'll take just closing out the season with one-point wins I'd like to be greedy, but those last 2 road games are gonna be a real challenge !!

It's actually normally quite easy for most basketball teams to identify the defense as soon as you move into the half court area. Coaches watch it as well. The problem is whether you have the personnel and offensive sets in place to attack it. I didn't notice if our defensive changes coincided with some of Charlie's surprising time-out calls, but that could have been the case. The switching part is true. I'm actually surprised that KDs teams have not historically switched defenses from time to time. It's such an easy way to throw a little wrench into someone's offensive plans.

I'm surprised this hasn't been talked about more leading up to this game. I know I won't enjoy seeing him sitting on the other bench.

GP1 Buddy, the only "smart" comment you are going to get on this issue is liable to sound like a smart alecky one. The idea that you give up constitutional rights by working for the democratic sector is laughable. Unless there is some national security/public safety context involved (which is the reason why I as a military civilian worker and health and safety workers are prevented from striking -- not from collectively bargaining pay and privileges) it's unbelievable that some hot-headed pol like the newly enshrined Gov of Wisconsin would use budgets as an opportunity to destroy basic rights and responsibilities of government. Period. Good answer, but not the right one. Public employees will still have much better benefits than the rest of us. Maybe they need to be reminded who they work for and who is paying the bill. A private employee union (ie: UAW) is fighting for how much of the profits the rank and file will get as a result of their hard work. These types of unions share in the risk associated in business. If they are getting too much and the company can't afford it, the company goes out of businss. They all lose their jobs and there isn't a member who wants that. What risk does a public employee union share if they bankrupt the government? The answer is nothing. The govt just borrows more money if the can't pay the bill. Public employee unions are fighting for how much tax money they can put in their pockets, not over the value added to society through the production of goods. The corruption is a real issue as well. Basically, Democrats repay these unions with HUGE benefits programs for their votes. We are watching a bubble burst just like we saw the housing bubble burst. Just like we can't afford to throw money at stadiums, yet another hall of fame or any of the things we have in the past, we can't afford to have people work for 30 years and retire forever while we pay for them to go fishing for 30 years. The party is over. Public employee unions need to be smart here. There is talk of allowing states to file bankruptxy. If that happens, a judge may take a hatchet to their benefit programs. The best statement in the entire thread

Our attendance has been consistently average because everything else has stayed pretty consistent as well. Including the fact that we win 20 games, beat a few good teams in the process, but are never recognized as being at a competitive level against top programs. I think we're fortunate that we continue to win. But to the basketball fans outside of our circle, I can understand if they are waiting for something much more significant to happen. How does the old saying go?....Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll keep getting what you've always gotten?

I don't have a problem with unions. I just have a problem with someone making $100,000 a year to sweep floors. It's been way out of whack for way too long. Beyond that, it's very compelling when you hear that employees that work for private companies pay about 3 times as much for their benefits as public employees. It's simple....we can't afford to keep going on like this. This day was inevitable.

Barring a miracle, the #1 seed isn't gonna happen now. And again, Ken+ could have helped us by beating Miami too

Dave, I remember it the same way. We may have been in school at the same time. I even got to enjoy the first couple of years in the JAR as a student, and that atmosphere continued. I've said this many times. The people of my era would have given anything to sit on the floor. Instead, we got into the game from the upper bleachers, and generated a lot more noise in that place than there is now. I'm also dissapointed to hear that there is dissent among students that has possibly kept this current generation of Zips student supporters from reaching their potential. If most see the current state of the "club" as something that is not fun to be a part of, for whatever reason, that's too bad. But understandable.

First of all, Diggs will be a MAJOR player next year, even if we only lose 5 guys instead of 4 of them. And I see him playing the two guard positions, especially on the defensive end. Secondly, lets get rid of any thoughts that Nik has any chance whatsoever of being an NBA draft pick.

I think you're right. It looks like if we win out, no matter what else happens, we'd have the #4 spot. But, that's gonna take a couple of huge road wins, and wins at home against two teams that have already beaten us this year.

I don't think a "platoon" situation quite explains it now. It appears that that Abreu's role has been reduced to nearly a "give a starter some rest" role. And I think it's for the best.

I'm a little surprised The Cricket wasn't the previous record holder. I thought he'd played a lot of minutes as a FR ?? McLaughlin became a starter during his freshman season, but I don't know how his minutes would compare to Alex. He was pretty much a part of a 3 guard rotation from that point forward, along with Dowdell and Loyer. Dowling still got some minutes in there too.

Will he also break the freshman turnover record? He has the most on the team. My point is, both numbers have a lot to do with his extensive freshman playing time, although I think he'll do a lot for us in the coming years. Our best chances of winning a title are with McNees and Roberts in the backcourt, same as it's been for the last two seasons.

I agree with you about the #3 spot. The problem is, Miami has that spot, and they won last night. So, we now have to make up 3 games on them (or 2 and the tiebreaker) with only 4 games to go. And as of right now, they own the tiebreaker against us.

I'll just be happy with a first round bye, after where we were two weeks ago. And Miami just made that a lot more challenging with a win tonight. But, it never disappoints me to see Ken+ lose I'm sure winning the rest of our games is a MUST to have a chance at the #1 seed. We still trail Ken+ by 2 in the loss column. Whoever wished for these two teams to get pushed to overtime tonight got their wish. I hope that stretches both of them thin in the coming days.

Let me be clear. I will NOT be rooting for Ken+......I just want Miami to lose

And since we already played well against the two teams likely to hold that #2 spot, being in that #3 spot should be good for us again.

I agree with you. Great game tonight, but still how will we fare in a game when the threes are not falling like that? I wonder if KD is planning on going inside more to Zeke, Serb, and even McKnight once the MAC tourney starts? In the back of his mind right now he has to be thinking it is best to put as many different things on film as possible for our tourney opponents to have to prepare for. After tonight I think teams will guard our outside shooters a little closer, that should open up the inside game a little more as well. We were getting a lot of open looks because of the way we were being defended. The next game could be an entirely different story. But, there's always reason for concern when it appears that 3-point shooting is your primary offensive strategy. We certainly had BG's number this year.

Here's my deal... I can never root for Ken+. But it seems as if a Miami loss would be more beneficial to the Zips since that 2nd place spot in the MAC East (The #3 Seed) is a real possibility, especially with a home game against Miami still on the schedule. I think that #1 seed is just a tall task. Even with a Ken+ loss tonight, we'd still need to make up 2-3 more games on them in a couple of weeks, which almost surely means that we have to win at their place, win at OU, and get a lot of help elsewhere. I'd rather aim for securing that #3 spot since it's much more realistic, which means that Miami needs to lose tonight. And it's going to be soooo funny to me seeing Dials on the Miami bench when they come here.

Dials, Joyce, Travis, Middleton and Wood. Tell me which 2011 Zips starters would beat out any of that starting 5. Does that answer what type of season we SHOULD expect? I talk all the time on here about how we aren't as talented as we were a few years ago. So, you know I agree with you on that. But, how many programs would feel compelled to just throw an "off year" label on a season when you had 6 juniors/seniors with loads of playing experience, and a sophomore returning starter? If that's an "off year", or a rebuilding year, what would you anticipate the following year when 4 more of those guys are gone? It's something to ponder.

Bingo. I think we sometimes forget the successes we've had under Mr. McNees for the last 4 years. Oh yeah...and THIS was just added on MAC-Sports. In case you don't feel like clicking, ESPN2 has picked up the finale @Can't. And that MIGHT turn out to be our most important game of the year. Could still be win #20, which would be great in an off year. The question is......SHOULD this have been an "off" year?

Depends on what stats are being considered. A thorough direct statistical comparison between McNees and Abreu on statsheet.com shows that they're fairly closely matched, with each doing better in some categories than the other. In the important Offensive Rating category, which measures total player impact on scoring, assists, rebounds, turnovers, etc., McNees rates higher than Abreu, 98.4 to 91.8. I like Rico. He's going to be a great asset to the Zips this season and, hopefully, the next three as well. He's definitely more of a pure PG than McNees. But he's a relatively inexperienced freshman and McNees is a senior who's been there and done that. Also, McNees tends to peak toward the end of the season, as he's been showing the last few games. Overall, McNees is the best guard to lead the Zips right now, with Abreu playing an important supporting role. McNees-Abreu comparison on statsheet.com Amen. I don't think this is even a question anymore. And it looks like our coach feels the same way. If we are going to win the MAC title this year, it's going to be behind the leadership, floor direction, experience, and ability of Steve McNees.

Some of the ownership is on Zeke. But why do we have a 7-footer outside of the 3 point line playing defense on 6-foot guards? The majority of the ownership is on the coaching staff notice this and make the adjustment. How many games will it take? I think you're being too kind. Regardless of whether we want to blame it on foul trouble, coaching, or his teamates not getting him the ball enough, we still have to expect him to make more of his own opportunities simply by his size alone. But look at some recent numbers: EMU: 1 Offensive Rebound in 28 min. Nik had 10 in similar minutes. Toledo: 2 TOTAL Rebounds in 25 min. (seems impossible) during a game in which Nik pulled down 9 boards with similar playing time. WMU: NO Offensive Rebounds in 21 min. The guy simply needs to do a better job of getting after it when he is on the floor, squeezing the ball, finishing with some conviction around the hoop, and making more happen on his own. In my opinion they have him concentrating on blocks which leaves him out of position for rebounds. That, to me, is a coaching decision. If they kept him inside he could probably get more defensive boards but would be less interference on opponents shots. I had particularly addressed his lack of offensive rebounds.