1981 grad

You have to feel bad for the non scholarship players like Noble and Anderson. They have not seen the floor the entire MAC season. With Miami slumping, this would be the game to get them some minutes. I hope it happens.

This season I noticed that KD is not using his bench as much as in previous seasons. Not saying this is good or bad. Just an observation. This year we have 4 starters averaging over 30 minutes in MAC play and Antiono averaging 27.5. Josh is averaging 20 and Utomi 10 with Dunn Martin getting 8, Poke 6, Aron, 6 and Hughs 2. So although we are playing 11, only 7 players are averaging double digits in MAC play. I took a quick look at the stats the past 3 seasons to see if this was unusual for MAC play. In the past 3 years, we have never had 4 players averaging over 30 minutes. In the 2013-2014 season, we had 2 players average over 30 minutes (Q and Tree). Since then only Noah has averaged more than 30 minutes per game. In the 2013-2014 season, we had 11 players averaging double digit minutes in MAC play. In In 2014-2105 we had 10 players averaging double digit minutes. In 2015-2016 we had 8 players averaging double digit minutes with one player averaging 9.4 and another 7.8. There has been a clear trend of less bench play. I remember in years past KD always commenting how he liked to go 10 or 11 deep and that is how Akron played. I also remember people on this board complaining that KD substituted to frequently and did not allow players to get into the flow of the game. (Have not seen that complaint this season). I an not being critical of KD. There are many reasons for the reduced bench play, no blowouts, Hughs injury, Big Dog and Kwan having outstanding senior years, and Dunn Martin, Poke, Utomi and Hughs being frosh. I wonder if KD will use more bench the last 2 games since we have won the MAC or during the tournament when we have to play 3 games in 3 days.

Have teams always cut the nets when they win the conference? I thought it was when the team won the MAC tournament.

I just seen I sign that he's the guy! Let's hope that we keep seeing the same sign game after game.

If Kent beats Ohio U tomorrow I think that clinches the MAC title outright. Kent has been playing well so it may happen.

This was a great team win. Everyone played well. I hope that we will see more of Josh and Noah taking it to the hoop. It opens up the floor and punishes the defender for getting in their grill outside the 3 line. It helps that the refs were calling it close because they got to the foul line on their drives. We definitely need to work on boxing out. The announcer said it best, stick your butt in the other guys midsection to keep him off the boards.

Josh and Noah finally figured out that if guys are guarding them close take it to the hoop. Great drives by Noah and Josh.

Noah driving to the hoop again. I have seen his with the ball driving to the basket more this game than any game this season. We are also getting some calls tonight.

I like how Noah is taking the ball to the hoop. It is not pretty but he draws a foul. That is what this team needs is penetration instead of relying on the 3. Nice start to the 2nd half. Now lets keep it up and not rely on the easy shot.

We cannot afford another weak opening to a second half. Open it up strong! Get it to Big Dog!

Both Noah and Josh are driving more. I am sure that is something they are working on. I saw Noah hit the deck for the first time this season. These guys need to penetrate if they are going to be guarded closely at the 3 line. Noah has missed several easy baskets driving to the basket the last 3 games but at least he is making the effort. I do not like seeing Josh, Noah, Antino and Utomi in at the same time. Not one of them is a good rebounder and we are getting killed on the boards. We are slow to the ball on the offensive rebounds.

Great play by Josh and then he screws up a 3 on 1. Bounce pass, Bounce pass, Bounce pass!

Our bench players looked bad when they were in there. Dunn Martin missed 2 three pointers, Utomi didn't draw iron on his 3 and then fouls a 3 point shot on the other end. Josh has not taken a shot and Poke got blocked. We need the bench to step up. Stop forcing the 3!

Great start! Keeping Kwan inside and letting him work inside has paid dividends. Noah and Jimond hitting open three balls. Noah still has to keep his man in front of him. Keeps getting beat off the dribble.

Noah is not an athletic guy but I thought he had one of his better games at Bowling Green going 2 for 3 from the 3 line and attempting to penetrate and score. He is not the same player after his injury but KD loves his steady influence so I expect him to start.

There are certain changes that I am looking for to turn this thing around. Big Dog only had 1 foul shot at Bowling Green. The guy was living at the foul line earlier in the season. At Kent and at Bowling Green he has slow starts. We need to get him the ball early and get his to score or shoot foul shots. Kwan needs to find his shot. He was so consistent earlier this season and we need a solid performance in Buffalo. He needs to finish strong at the basket and find some easy shots. Does anybody remember when Jimond was getting easy baskets off of Big Dog passes? Jimond is our best cutter to the basket and Big Dog is not connecting with him. That needs to change. Antino clearly had his worst game at Bowling Green. He is the most competitive guy on the team and if his game goes south we are going to be in trouble. He likes to shoot the transition 3 but at Bowling Green he was coming up empty and we had short possessions without any passing. Utomi had only 1 shot in 15 minutes at Bowling Green and was coming off a great performance against Kent State. This guys gives us serious offense and then at times disappears. We need consistent scoring from him when others are tanking. KD needs to use his bench including Poke and Dunn Martin. Dunn Martin had a good game at Bowing Green. KD should reward him with more minutes. We will need our best game to beat this guys and execute down the stretch. Remember, at Bowling Green we had 2 turnovers in the last 2 minutes and a defensive lapse that allowed a coast to coast drive that cost us 2 foul shots at the end of the game. We can do better. Go Zips!

Antino played amazing basketball at the end of the season and at the tournament after Noah went down with an injury. In the semifinal with Buffalo Hurly showed me how smart he was as a coach when he pressured Antino full court when he brought up the ball. It wore him down and he did not have a great game. I always thought that KD should have has somebody else bring up the ball that game to keep Antino fresh. That was the last year of the double bye into the semifinal for the winner of the MAC.

I watched it also and it should have been a no call at the end of the game. Big Dog was set. However, we should practice these end of game situations because Kent did the same thing last year. Coast to coast while the defender back pedals (not Big Dog) and allows him to get to the paint. There is no way Big Dog should have been left defending in the paint.

Guys shooting 3 point shots in transition is great if they are making them. Antino had the worst game in a while. One for 8 shooting and 3 turnovers. Kwan 2 for 10 with 2 turnovers and 0 offensive rebounds. These guys both having bad games is a killer. I really think these guys are wearing down at the end of the season. Utomi played 15 minutes and only took one shot. We need him to get involved in the offense. Dunn Martin played well. At the end of the game would liked to see him in there instead of Antino. For the last shot would have like to see Poke in there for his jumping ability and maybe an alley oop to win the game.

This game is going down to the last 3 minutes. This should be no surprise to anybody considering this season. Need to pull it out.

Need to get the ball into Big Dog and finish this game. The MAC championship is ours for the taking. Need to close this out now!

Great come back. Antino and Kwan are struggling at the 3 line. Need to get the ball inside. I have never seen so many fast break opportunities by Akron in 1 game. Looks great!

Aron Jackson made a nice move to the basket, made the 2 foul shots and then gets pulled. I feel bad for the guy. KD should reward the guy for driving to the basket. Need Utomi to score. BG has limited Big Dog to 2 points. Antino is taking some quick threes, unfortunately he is missing. We need to keep getting the ball to Big Dog. Eventually, he will get some calls and can start scoring.

Big Dog is getting killed when he shoots and the refs refuse to blow the whistle. I do not believe he scored. Looks like KD may get a T soon if this keeps up.

Great to see KD going to his bench early and Utomi is the first sub into the game. Kwan starting out hot shooting. Good sign