1981 grad

I think if Jackson struggles on the road today we will have a tough time winning. Stats do not lie and when you look at the MAC stats you will see that we need our point guard to play better in order for us to win. ## Player gp-gs min avg fg-fga fg% 3fg-fga 3fg% ft-fta ft% off def tot avg pf dq a to blk stl pts avg 01 JACKSO 11-11 365 33.2 46-144 . 3 1 9 18-77 . 2 3 4 38-47 . 8 0 9 9 16 25 2.3 23 0 23 24 1 13 148 13.5 His 31% shooting percentage is the worst of the starters. He is shooting an anemic 23% from the 3 line with him and Daniel taking the most 3 point shots on the team. He does not have a positive assist to turnover ratio. He is making his foul shots which has helped us close out some games. I believe he is playing better the last few games and have been encouraged to see him making 12 foot jump shots. He needs to stop shooting the 3 ball as much and get easier shots. He is super quick but he needs to finish better at the basket and draw some fouls. It would help us immensively if after he is able to penetrate that he could get the ball to our center. But that chemistry has not developed and Riak has probably the worst hands on the team. I love Jackson's quickness and his ability to penetrate but he needs to get that shooting percentage up to 40% and stop hoisting the 3 ball from long range especially early in the shot clock.

If you look at our stats in MAC play, we are actually worse although we have been shooting much better in the last 4 or 5 games. Our field goal percentage is .384 and our 3 point shooting is at .272. These have gone up because our 3 point shooting was at .21. I like the MAC stats better in that we can discount the non conference games where we did not play competitive teams and it upped our percentage shooting. Our percentages are getting better because we are taking easier shots. Jackson took 12 foot jumpers on Tuesday and made them both. If we ever have a guy come off and screen and shoot a 12 footer without hesitation our shooting percentage would get higher. It amazes me that I have yet to see a player come off a screen and shoot a 15 foot jump shot.

Not getting called? Klac had at least a dozen illegal screens called on him on his limited playing time with the Zips. I see that called at least once a game and I know that there was more than one called in the Zips-Buffalo game. In this case the Bulls player sold it by falling down when he hit the screen. A more experience ref would not have been influenced by the players reaction to hitting the screen and should have been looking at whether Emans feet were set. LCJ is also great at getting offensive fouls by reacting to contact. His height and weight are an advantage when drawing the offensive charge.

I had to watch the replay of the ref's call on the illegal screen. Not only was it a bad call, they replayed it on TV and the commentators even indicated it was a bad call noting that Eman was clearly set before the Buffalo player ran into him and fell down. The bad call cost us a possession and then 2 points when Groce got a T for complaining about the bad call. (I would still like to know what Groce said to get the T). The ref who made the call was built like a weightlifter. I don't recall him ever reffing one of our games before and I hope we never see him again.

I saw some really good things last night. In the first half, Jackson used his quickness to create space and then took a 12 foot jump shot and scored. I have not seen that all year. I also saw some successful pick and rolls using Riak. Of course, he dropped a pass that wen through his hands but at least they were trying to execute a basic play. Ivey did a great job on Masinburgh. The bad is that we still have problems on our offense and we went through long periods when we could not put the ball in the basket. Also, way to many turnovers for this team to win. No bench points. Whenever Rosco comes in the other team seems to get offensive rebounds. He missed his only shot. Groce stated that he did not like the teamism and that guys were getting on each other. I did not see that. Instead, guys could not make open shots in key situations. Jackson made a 3 and then triggers an early 3. He was also asleep on the last offensive rebound. However, he led us back into the game. The refs were no help tonight. I play B Ball with a high school ref and he indicated that a good ref does not need to give out technical fouls unless a coach verbally attacks a ref. He expects coaches to complain about calls and will not T them unless they call him names or use profanity. I doubt very much if Groce said anything to deserve a T. I think that was his first T of the season. Did anyone hear what he said? I saw the the illegal screen and it looked like the player ran into the Akron screen and fell down. Not a foul. WE cannot blame the refs for the loss but they certainly had their moments.

It is weird how different players react to injuries. I think everyone on this board would agree that Noah Robotham was a different player after he hurt his knee. I thought both Poke and Sayles showed some promise last year. This year I think they have regressed. Sayles seems slower this year and just does not look as aggressive as last year. Poke displayed great shot blocking last year and had spurts of offense with some great dunks. They both have struggled this year although Poke seems to be hitting his stride the last couple of games.

The Zips ad for this game indicated that last ranked team we faced in the Jar was in 06-07 season. I could not remember who we played and after checking the schedule from that season my educated guess was Nevada and we loss by 2 points. It was a bracket buster game and we got Nevada on the schedule because the rule of the bracket buster was that you had to play the team the following season at their arena. We played at Nevada in 05-06. It was a great way of bringing a quality opponent to the Jar. I also noticed we played Dukes that year toward the end of the season probably in another bracket buster. Any thoughts on a home and home with the Dukes? Too soon?

Groce indicated in postgame that he talked to the team when Kent took a 4 point lead in the second half. I watched a replay of the game about how we were outrebounded and you have to give Kent credit in that they attacked the boards on the offensive end while Akron was more concerned about getting back on defense. Several of the offensive boards were when Kent drove the lane and Riak or Eman were rim protectors against guys driving the middle. This left their man open for a rebound with nobody putting a body on him. One of the perimeter defenders needs to come down to the paint to put a body on the guy that our center is convering so that he cannot get an offensive rebound. Another offensive rebound was on Roscoe just not getting a body on his man. Groce took him out rather quickly and he did not contribute much on Friday. I thought Riak did a good job on the boards.

We are doing better than last year with an almost completely new roster. Groce has these guys playing good defense. We just blew out Kent State. Banks Cheese and Jackson can take the ball to the hoop and score. If we can shoot well like we did on Friday we can be dangerous. I like that we play Ohio and Miami at home.

I don't remember Akron ever knocking off a ranked team. We lost to a really good VCU team at home that may have been ranked on last second shot but I believe that is close as we have gotten. Might be our best opportunity to win against a ranked team. If we play as well as we did in the second half we should be in the game at the end. Go Zips!!

Even though this was a rivalry game, I noticed it was a very competitive and clean game, no trash talking, no posturing, and no dustups during the post game handshakes. I really believe that Groce has recruited class guys on this team. I also give Groce credit for the win against Kent considering we only had 2 players that played in this rivalry game last year, Ivey and Utomi. (I believe E man was already out last year). We shot 48% from the field and 41% from 3 point. We also shot 23 3 balls. I think this team plays so much better when they limit their 3 ball shooting and keep it on the low twenties instead of the low thirties. We need the higher percentage shots from the paint instead of the three balls at the end of the shot clock. With these numbers we can give anyone in the MAC a tough game.

GReat second half by the Zips. Why can't Jackson play this way for 40 minutes. I thought in the first half we were rushing our shots on the 3 ball. In the second half we had great ball movement and it seemed like we had more time to shoot the 3 ball and it finally went in. Jimond played great defense tonight. I also think that Riak is getting better as a rebounder. He pulled down some difficult rebounds in a crowd. I think they outrebounded us in the first half because Kent was very active on the boards and Riak tried to block shots leaving him unable to rebound. Really like how Banks and Cheese take the ball to the hoop especially on the break. Groce really has this team playing great defense. Looking forward to the game against the Bulls. I don't think Akron has ever beat a ranked team. Might be our best chance.

What is amazing to me about this team is that how many times do you see a player come off a screen ready to shoot the ball without hesitation and attempt a medium jumper. If you were to say never that would be about right. KD would run off the ball screens to get players an open look. Reggie would come off a base line screen and shoot the ball without hesitation. The play was designed to get the player an open look. When you watch the Zips run off the ball screens they receive the ball away from the basket without any thought of a quick jumper. An offense must be designed around your personnel to get easy shots. For an offense to have 3 assists the entire night (all by Cheese) indicates the offense is simply stuck in the mud. The other issue I see is that we have players like Cheese Ivery and Jackson that attack the basket only to find the opposing center guarding Riak waiting for him under the basket. The opposing center just ignores Riak and waits for a Zip to come into the lane. Last night we never see Riak, Sayles, or Eman get a pass off a drive for an easy basket. (that would be an assist) Our spacing needs to get better to open up the lane. It would help if Riak was actually a threat from the 3 line. The offense needs a life line. Groce has done a great job on defense, maybe he needs an offensive coordinator on this team.

WE shot 28% for the game and 14% from the 3 line. Our point guard had no assists. WE cannot make a 3 pointer and Jackson then launches a 3 point shot 20 feet behind the 3 line. He cannot make an open 3 from the baseline but shoots a 3 from the bleachers. It makes no sense. This team continues to struggle on offense. Cheese broke through in the second half. We should have kept feeding him the ball. That first half had to be one of the worst displays of offense. I expected better play tonight.

Like the move by Groce to bring Cheese in for Jackson. Paid dividend right away. Riak is a great rebounder tonight. Go Zips!!

This team struggles so much offensively I will be curious if we can play good defense the entire game against the best of the MAC. A road win against Toledo would work wonders for the confidence of this team. We still look terrible when we try to sit on a lead. We struggled to close a game with a 26 point lead. Ohio had a couple of unforced turnovers at the end of the game or it could have been more interesting. I think Groce is correct when he indicated that this team has to get better to compete with the best teams in the MAC. WE need to get more offense from our center position. (4 points yesterday on 2 of 7 shooting). I think that if this team can shoot 40% or better that it will have a chance to win if we continue to play great defense.

Utomi, Ivey and Jackson played well on the road and we played great defense. They were really bothered by our zone press. GReat to see some decent shooting from the outside. Let us hope that we can continue to play well on the road.

I love watching Cheese, Ivey and Jackson one on one on a fast break. They never hesitate and take it to the hoop. Ivey has gotten better each year.

Great defense but watching the Akron offense makes me think it would have been better if the stream did not come back.

Thanks! Have it now playing a commercial. Will probably lose it again when game starts up again.

Not getting the stream. Anyone else having problems?

After watching Buffalo lose last night it makes you realize how difficult it is to win on the road. They have a great veteran team and have lost 2 road games. It reminded me of what KD used to say, that opposing teams always brought their A game when they played Akron based on our past success. Now Buffalo is the class of the MAC. We need our 2 veterans, Utomi and Ivey to have great games. Also, we won against N. Illinois because Jackson had a great game. We need him to play well on the road. That simply has not happened. WE need our first road win. Go Zips!!!

I will be curious to see where this young man lands. Beating up a teammate during a practice will not endure you to many coaches. It is weird how the NCAA will remove an athletes eligability for a recruiting violation but he is still eligble after knocking a teammate unconcious.

Attacking the basket is a good thing. After Riak gets a rebound he needs to attack the basket. Yesterday I saw him make a 3 pointer, attempt a fade a way 8 footer, and turn the ball over several times passing the ball outside. Jackson attacked the basket and finished at the basket. If you noticed he did not circle around in the paint as he has in previous games. Groce has to teach these guys a basic rule in basketball. When you have the ball in the paint, take it to the hoop. You either get fouled, get blocked, or get a layup. Anytime you have a basketball play where you have a 67% chance of scoring you make that play. This team has the athleticism and quickness to get to the hoop. We just need to do a better job of finishing.

We shot well in the second half. I also noticed at halftime that we came out early and did 3 point shooting drills. I watched Roscoe drain about 5 in a row and thought he would look good in the second half. Of course he air balled his first 3 ball but made his second. Glad to see Groce do something different and it paid off. We shot 40% from 3 ball land. Finally!!! This team is playing good defense. The first 10 minutes was tough to watch. I can tell you our offense, Utomi, 3, Riak, 3, and Jackson 2 drives to the basket. It was a struggle. When this team was up 8 with 4 minutes to go I knew that N. Illinois was going to make a run. We just cannot keep a lead late in the game. They switched to a zone, we looked lost and then the game got tied. It is great that this team is finally winning close games. Jackson played his best Mac game and was able to finish at the basket or draw a foul. Great win for the Zips. Need to win one on the road.