1981 grad

This team seems to live and die by the 3. We were horrible from the 3 line and we do not have players that can drive to the hoop with any consistent results. These guys do not come off screens to get open. It is dribble drive and pass off for a three. When your players are not hitting the 3, we are bad. Most importantly, we are not great on defense. Opposing players can drive to the hoop. Freeman had some nice blocks but we need to play better defense. If Swingle can score easy points on our d, we are in trouble.

I agree with the commentators, the Zips are just not playing with any confidence. Without Ali and Trimble shooting well, we are hurting. Trimble used to be our number 2 scorer. Also, nobody has stepped up on the bench. Nothing inside from Reese, and almost nothing from the bench. We are not a great defensive team and when our offense sucks, we suck.

Who else has stepped up on the floor. Ali is 0 for 12 in his last 12 shots from last game, Dailey just missed a fade away, Trimble missed his last 3 3 balls, one was wide open. He is getting no help.

I also believe the effort is there but we need to step it up on defense. Freeman has great hands. That was not an easy pass to handle. Trimble, Ali have been very quiet this game. Need them to step up.

Correction, Mcsweeny

Wyn forces a 3 and then does not get back on d. Wonder if Groce will leave him in the game.

I think the d has been better tonight than in most games. They are playing with intensity. Swingle has been hitting the outside shot while LCJ has struggled with the 3 ball. The difference in the game. Also, Ali has also struggled for the 2nd straight game.

Did anybody on this board think that when Dailey shot that 3 it was going to go in the basket?

What happened to our great foul shooting? LCJ once again struggling to find his shot.

Like to see them work the ball inside to Reese.

You mean Akron plays defense? (LOL)

The defense was horrible today. You cannot just leave your man standing by himself at the 3 line and then wonder why they go in. This team has been winning because of their offense, shooting the ball well. That did not happen today. Ali was taking the early shots and kept missing. Dailey regularly takes 4 shots a game and makes one. Trimble vanished in the first half and we had trouble penetrating to the hoop. Not sure if the team travelled today but it sure looked like it. I remember another game where we went down to OU and got killed where it was not even close. At least there was no crowd there. I remember they used to fill that place several years ago. Hopefully, they can shake it off.

They have Tribble playing the point instead of Clarke. An upgrade on defense although difficult to say that today.

Ali went from dependable 2nd scorer to cannot hit a barn. When guys cannot hit a 3 drive to the basket and hit a 2. Sometimes it seems that when we cannot hit a 3 we just keep shooting the 3. Hopefully they will start dropping.

LCJ is just playing horrible defense. He is not staying in front of his man and letting him drive to the basket. When a man is driving to the basket Reese has to challenge him and not let his have an uncontested layup. After cutting the lead to 1 we let them get back to 9. This game is going to be a struggle.

I just do not understand why we keep leaving the guys wide open at the 3 line. Bad Defense

Where is Trimble. Have hardly seen him today. LCJ cannot drive to the basket. Really struggling on both ends of the floor. We have seen this before and we always seem to come back.

Once again LCJ left his man for an open 3. Stay with your man. These are all open looks.

It think that Ali after that big game was told to shoot more. Unfortunately, coming up empty from 3. On Ohio's first basket, no reason for LCJ to come off his man. The ball is in the corner. He needs to stay with his man. That is just bad d.

I thought we are much worse defensively this year so I checked the stats from last year to this year and was amazed how similar the stats are from last year. Last year our average win was by 8.8 points (75.7-66.9) and this year it is by 9.4(79.3-69.9) points. Last year we shot .428 from the floor and this year we shot .461 from the floor. However, last year out opponents shot .40 from the floor last year and now shooting .44 from the floor. Last year we shot 305 from 3 pointers and this year we improved to .351. However, our opponents improved from 303 to 361. This season is very much last season except we are better offensively and worse defensively but not by a great deal.

Buffalo looks a lot tougher and more physical than Toledo. It seems like they are coming up with every loose ball. Listening to the Zips and then Dakich makes me realize how much better the commentary was in the Zips game. They talked about the teams so much more. Took 5 minutes to figure out the T because they were too busy talking about anything but the game.

LCJ with that last turnover has probable turned the ball over 4-5 times this game. Of course he also has 10 assists. This is probably the best game I have seen Ali play and they needed that game tonight. We have really been controlling the 2nd half recently ever since the Kent game.

Tribble has played outstanding ever since you made that post. Love the inside scoring. Reese loves to dunk. Can we close this game strong?

Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali Trimble

LCJ having a real bad first half and we are still in striking distance, a good sign. Our defense has picked up. They have Tribble playing point guard and he just had a great assist. Although Dailey made his first 3, had been bad since then forcing shots. Surprised how Groce sticks with him. Is his defense that good? I just don't see it.