1981 grad

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!

I thought this was a fun game to watch as the Zips actually had some fast break points, some nice interior passing, a few nice drives to the basket, a few dunks and streak shooting by Josh to start the game and Big Dog to end the game. Big Dog made a nice 12 footer and gave some thought to shooting a 3 before putting the ball down and driving to the hoop. Jimond continues to impress by making easy baskets and E had some great blocks. He is a leaper and gets off his feet fast to swat the ball. He could be a rim protector like Zeke if he continues to improve. I know this will not happen but I actually like the starting lineup tonight and would bring Noah off the bench to replace Antino. Antino has the ability to drive and create his own shot where Noah is more of a field general who cannot create his own shot. I would rather see Antino at the point than at the 2. It will be interesting to see if Jimond continues to come off the bench after Noah returns or if he will replace Josh in the starting lineup. Blue and Gold commented that Josh looks uncomfortable driving to the basket. Noah also does not have a strong move to the basket. We need players who can finish at the basket. My guess is that KD will keep the 3 guard lineup and bring Jimond in very quickly if we have a slow start.

I will double down on that moment when watching the NIT selection show when they showed the Penno basket in the beginning of the show and then had some senile coaches select the NIT and leave out Akron even though we won something like 26 games.

I also remember that game because it was the loudest game I can remember at the Jar in the last minute when Kent almost gave us the game. The place was electric until the last shot and the Jar went silent. An amazing comeback and an amazing shot by Kent to win it.

My viewpoint is that of an Akron fan and not as an outside fan looking at whether Akron is a good team. I like to watch good basketball and I thought Akron played well last night. They do not have the talent Creighton has and would have to play error free basketball and hope Creighton has a sub par game to pull off the upset. Neither happened last night. Frustration was watching the Buffalo game and the Ohio State game last year where we had the talent to win but played sub par games.

I do not share your frustration as there were too many positives in this game. Kwan a senior, lead this team with 17 points and played great defense. You have to love a kid that has a great game against good competition. If Kwan plays like that in Cleveland we will be tough. Jimond, played the most minutes of anyone on the team playing great defense. He is the most athletic Zip, good rebounder, and has quickness. Hopefully, this will convince KD that he should start and we are done with the 3 guard starting offense. Jimond deserves a start even when Noah comes back and Josh should come off the bench. I thought Antino did well attacking the basket although at times he got into trouble. He is the one Zip that can create his own shot with his step back jumper. This was a great learning experience for Dunn Martin. I saw him make a nice runner. He has to learn to attack the basket rather than shooting a quick 3. Most importantly, at Villanova last year this team got blown out in the second half. Here, this team made a comeback in the second half and cut into the lead. This team played with heart in the second half making key shots. They could not get key stops down the stretch. Since this was their first game against a ranked opponent, a 10 point loss in a well played game is not a frustrating loss.