1981 grad

I heard the post game where KD indicated that we have got to get better on Defense. However, this is the second home game in a row where our offense looked really good. We are firing on all cylinders when we have Big Dog scoring inside and making some great passes with 8 assist, Jimond scoring 23 with almost all of his points coming on layups, Josh made some clutch 3 pointers in the 4th quarter, and there is no question that Kwan is playing his best basketball right now as a senior. My only problem is when they went with a small lineup with Kwan at center. I think with had 3 guards, Aron Jackson at forward and Kwan at center. It did not work and we lost our 10 point lead. KD indicated that Hughs had a bad back. I still would have Poke playing center because Kwan is just not strong enough for the center position. I thought BG played really well and shot the ball well. I did not think our defense was that bad but that they shot the ball well. There was a new ref I never saw before I he call 3 fouls on Big Dog that were all questionable. Looking forward to Fridays game, go zips!

I am going with 13-5 and I think all the losses are on the road. This team seems to play well at home at we always seem to shoot the ball well at home. However, not sure this team has the mental and physical toughness to win on the road. We really have not been tested in close games and we still lack the "go to" guy when we need points in a close game. I think that this team has the potential to be really good but a lot of things have to happen for this team to win out in the MAC. First, Big Dog has to have a great year. He is one of the most talented big men we have had. It is rare that you get a guy that is big, quick for his size, coordinated and is a great passer. He could dominate the MAC this year. However, it bothers me when KD indicated that he is still playing himself into shape. In non conference play he is averaging over 14 points and shooting 68%. If he continues that type of play we could be very tough this year. Will Kwan have a great senior year? He is shooting over 40% from the 3 line. His defense and rebounding have been great in non conference play. He has hit 14 of 15 from the line but he should have more foul shots as an interior player. I was real impressed with his game in Creighton and if he can play that well on the road we will be tough. Also, can he not get down on himself when things do not go his way. If Kwan plays well with a little inside offense we could go far. Jimond Ivey. I like his game because he gives us an athletic guy who can score on the fast break and close to the basket. When Big Dog has the ball and all eyes are on him Jimond can move without the ball and get easy baskets. He is now on KD's list of players that can make a mistake and not get pulled out which means he is playing with a lot more confidence. Like to see him average in double digits without shooting the 3 ball. If he has a breakout year we will be tough to beat. Antino I think Antino could be our best one on one player with his step back jump shot. I like him at the point, especially when Big Dog is not in the game because he probably the best point guard at getting to the basket and finishing at the basket. Unfortunately, all of our guards are small and not particularly strong and need to play tough on the road because it will get physical. He turns the ball over more than Noah but that will happen when you are aggressive driving to the basket. He shot over 40% in non conference play both from the field and from 3 point. Noah, would love to see Noah play like he did his frosh year before the knee injury. He had a great game at Marshall. Can he bring that every night. He has to shoot the ball well for this team to be successful. Because of the double team on Big Dog he will get the open looks. Josh Williams. He could be our best shooter. No doubt he is the streakiest shooter we have. When he is on it is like he cannot miss. I like to see him move without the ball and come off picks for open threes. He needs to improve on attacking the basket and his defense. Has only taken 8 foul shots the entire non conference schedule. I think we have good backups with Jackson, Hughs and Dunn Martin. We played a pretty weak non conference schedule at home so hopefully the good shooting is not a result of weak competition. Looking forward to MAC play and winning the MAC.

I listened to the post game broadcast and learned that the tournament, Don Haskins, is named for the coach who the 1966 tournament starting 5 African American players. I saw the movie, Glory Road that is based on his book and it is a great sports movie although it fudges the facts a little to indicate he won the tournament his first year at the school. KD indicated that the team was treated extremely well by the hosts and that they would love to come back some day. I also did not realize that UTEP, the host school, brought in 2 mid majors, and a 4th weaker team, Md. so hopefully the home team would be in the finals against a mid major. It did not work out that way. I would like to know why they won't stream the games so fans to the schools can watch their team in the tournament. KD started Dunn Martin at the point in the first half and then moved Antino to the point in the second half with Josh at the 2. The change must have worked since we pulled away in the 2nd half and Antino won MVP. I think Antino plays better at the point. His frosh year he played some of his best basketball after Noah went down with his ACL tear. Although I know it won't happen, I wonder how this team would play if Antino started at the one and Noah at the 2? KD also mentioned how well Ivey is playing and that he scored all his points within 2 feet of the basket on back cuts to the basket and movement without the ball. That is exactly what this team need, a guy who can score easy points and does not rely on the 3 ball. KD made a great move putting Ivey in the starting lineup and letting him play through his mistakes.

I always saw Poke as a forward and not a center. As pointed out by Kreed in last nights game, just not big enough to play against a true center. KD indicated that Utomi is strong and athletic. However, when he gets in he seems to want to shoot the 3 ball and stay outside. (like almost everyone else on this team). I was hoping he would develop into a strong forward who could rebound and score around the basket. Does not look like that will happen this year but he and Poke are frosh so we need to give them time to develop.

Thanks for the clip. I watched it and agree the place was empty. Interesting the last inbounds play on the clip was the same play Marshall use to score on us several times and it worked again last night. We have Antino under the basket not guarding anybody and the inbounds player throws the ball in and goes behind a screen and scores an open jump shot. It is time we need to guard the guy inbounding the ball and stay with him!

I am talking about the bench players we need to go 11 deep which would be Poke and Utomi. Sorry for the confusion.

I wish I could share your enthusiasm but in the non conference games we are 0 for 3 in away games including an ugly loss to a mediocre Youngstown State team. (I know we were playing ranked teams) Winning MAC games on the road is tough because it is a grind. That is why KD is trying to get more time for the bench guys so he can go 10 deep. However, that still has not happened as the box score indicates the bench players only played 7 minutes. The non conference schedule included only 3 away games. We do not know how this team will do on the road in a hostile environment. Who is the player that will step forward when we cannot put the ball in the basket? This team does not have any outstanding one on one player when we need a basket and we went without a basket in the last 8 minutes at Gonzaga. I am hopeful that you are correct but I think there is a real question how this team will play on the road when we hit the MAC schedule. Also, I just saw the box score and indicated there were 5000 at the game last night. Great crowd if it was true. Anybody confirm the attendance?

I also remember them doing it for a CTI or some other post season tournament game many years ago where we had a home game when the lower bowl was only 20% filled. (I remember it because I bought lower bowl seats in advance and felt like I should have bought general admission when they told everyone to move up prior to the game.) Because the lower bowl was so empty it was a good move for this game. However, I remember the Zips played like crap and we lost to a bad team and did not advance in the tournament. Not sure this is a practical idea when the lower bowl is three quarters full as it does create a few minutes of confusion as people run down for a limited number of better seats during the middle of the first half. It may be problematic with some season ticket holders who are paying extra money to sit down low and they open it up to everyone. Also, it may create problems if a season ticket holder shows up late for a game because of some other commitment and finds somebody else in their sear. You do not see the professional teams doing it for that reason.

I have been disappointed with Noah a good part of the season offensively but tonight he had a great game. Not only was he hitting the 3 but he had some nice penetrating moves and nice dish offs. I was hoping after the 19 point first half that he would go for 30 but they stopped double teaming big dog and he did not get as many good looks. I hope that he will keep contributing like he did tonight. Kwan had another solid game and really had some strong rebounds. This team is much stronger rebounding team with Ivey and KD made the right decision going away from the 3 guard offense. This was clearly the best home game of the season. Marshall ran a good offense and came off the screens very quickly. They shot the ball well but they are a poor rebounding team and did not have many offensive rebounds. Did anybody see the Ivey T. Had no idea what happened.

Jim Marshall "He ran the wrong way." He picked up a fumble and ran the wrong way scoring a safety. The Vikings won the game when he sacked the quarterback leading to a fumble.

If you watch the replay of the foul, the official does not make the call when Big Dog gives him the forearm in the back. However, when the center reacts like he has been hammered the official then raises his hand and calls the foul. As I told Gozags in a previous post, without the players reaction the foul does not get called. I think it was a smart play by their center. The Zips had just cut the lead to 2, had just hit a couple of threes, and were looking to take the lead. Why not try to draw a foul and get Big Dog in foul trouble. Several years back we had a player, the Serb, who used to flop all the time. If you are going to try to draw a foul, you might as well do it during a key point in the game. However, the T was total garbage.

I did not know that about your center. I am happy that the young man is back on the floor for the rest of the season and I hope that he has an injury free senior season. Best of luck to your team the rest of the year and we hope to see you again in the NCAA tournament.

First, Gozags, welcome to this board. I welcome the different point of view. Also, I had no idea that there was a replay of the game as I did want to take a second look at it so that for letting me know about the link. Our radio commentator yelled out on the air that the refs were "cheating the Zips" when they called the T. I do not feel that way. However, these are 300 pound guys who are bodying for position. Having looked at that play several times, Big Dog (our player) gave a forearm to your players back and it was nowhere near his kidney. Now, your player was smart and acted like it was more than it was to draw the foul. If he does not react that way in all probability a foul would not be called. The ref saw the reaction and called the foul. Big Dog got mad because he knew your player acted that way to draw the foul and said something to the ref and accordingly it was benign. (See above). The whistle for the T is heard on the replay and Bid Dog was at half court and was nowhere near the ref when the ref called the T. That was a bad call or a homer call. There was no reason to give a T when the player is walking away from the ref and is at half court. If the word was that bad the ref should have called the T immediately. I believe this is the first T that Big Dog has gotten in his 4 year career with the Zips. He is not a hothead and the ref did your team no favor making that call since it took a competitive game away from the Zags.

First, I admire your loyalty to the program for attending the game. Second, give me your "live" take on the T. On TV, they replayed the foul and Big Dog gave their center a small push in the back away from the ball and a second later he reacted like he had been hit with a hammer. The ref then called the foul. It showed Big Dog being frustrated and reacting but nothing to warrant a T. They did not show the ref calling the T. Did something else happened that was not shown on TV or was the T based on Big Dog's initial reaction that was nothing out of the ordinary. Finally, you are missing my point. I don't doubt that Big Dog and Kwan were pumping up their players. But they have to show leadership on the court in crunch time by making or attempting baskets. Big Dog had more skill than the opposing player and should have owned him the last 8 minutes. That is what we should expect from a senior playing a top ranked team when we have a chance to pull a major upset! These kids have to bring their A game when they have a chance to win against a topped rank opponent. The last 8 minutes there was no A game.

The old saying is that even a blind squirrel find a nut every so often. Well, when is it our turn to upset a ranked team? I thought that to win the game we had to play our best game and hope that Gonzaga had an off night. With 8 minutes left we were only 2 points down. We were not playing our best basketball. We had a chance to close this thing out. Instead, one bad call on Big Dog and the night is over. That is frustrating! (Ohio State all over again) I liked the Creighton game better than this game because we showed heart and came back against Creighton. If you are going to beat a ranked team you overcome bad calls from the ref. Not scoring any baskets in the final 8 minutes is horrendous. Big Dog and Kwan are seniors and have to show senior leadership. When they came back after the technical they were both non factors. I do not think they even attempted a basket. Both Kwan and Big Dog have to lead this team even when the refs call nonexistent fouls and imaginary technicals. Hopefully, this team will learn from the experience that you beat a ranked team by overcoming adversity and not giving into it.

I wish the feed was a little better because I did not see the T on Big Dog. It looked like he was upset with the acting job by their center but it did not appear the his reaction was over the top or deserved a t. We are not going to get any calls on the road but that one really hurt and turned the game around. Big Dog merely put his elbow on their center's back and then their center fell down a second later.

Our guards always seem to struggle against top ranked competition. They simply cannot penetrate except for Antino. Noah just does not have any quickness going to the basket. I am disappointed with Big Dog. He just lost it after the T and it was downhill from that point. You cannot play 35 minutes of good basketball. We needed to compete for 40 minutes.

The T on Big Dog looks like the turning point. The announcers are indicating that Big Dog looks tired. I was surprised the KD indicated on the last post game that Big Dog is playing himself into shape. The second half he has not looked as aggressive. Maybe because of the 4 fouls or maybe he is tired. Jimond is having a great game and must stay in the starting lineup.

Kuntowski is obviously an acting major. His reaction was 2 seconds after Big Dog put an elbow on his back.

Great cut by Ivey and great pass by Big Dog. The one time they doubled Antino hits the 3 so I do not think we will see any more double teams.

Without the double team our offense looks stagnant. Kwan is playing well but is only 1 of 7. Noah and Josh cannot penetrate and have not scored. The announcers have Big Dog with 2 fouls but I think he has only 1. We have to start penetrating or hitting our 3 ball to stay in this game. Been impressed with the defense and rebounding. Now we need to create some offense.

We have not made a 3 and we are only down by 6. Noah cannot penetrate and forces up a long 3. We need our guards to penetrate or hit their 3 ball to win this game.

Missed our first 2 3 point shots. We need to shoot the 3 ball well to stay in this game.

I watched Villanova defeat Notre Dame, both undefeated teams going into the contest. Great game. Now, there are only 7 undefeated teams in Division 1 basketball. After this game can we make it 6?

I just reviewed our stats and currently we are a good shooting team hitting approximately 50% from the field and 40% from the 3 point line. Last game I was impressed with how many interior baskets we scored, especially from Jimond Ivey. But the question remains if we can shoot this well against a top ranked team in a hostile environment? In the first half against Creighton Big Dog turned the ball over numerous times and we shot 25% from the 3 point line. We need to play better than that to stay in this game. I believe that Big Dog can hold is own and score if they do not double team him down low even if he plays against 7 footers. He is very athletic and quick for a big man and can finish around the basket. Also, we need to play well when he goes out as there is nobody else on the team with his skill set. It will be interesting to see if KD goes to Poke or Hughs to rest Big Dog. We are a well discipline defensive team but a top 10 team will score against the Zips. If we can hit our 3 point shots, get some interior scoring and limit the fast break points we could stay in the game. I like to see this team play well against good competition. This is great experience for out team to play against 2 top 20 teams in one week. However, to win this game we have to play mistake free basketball and hope the Zags have an off night. Go Zips!