GP1

Good post Skip. The part of their defense that impressed me the most was the half court perimeter defense they played against UNCC. Their pressure kept the ball far from the basket and didn't allow easy post entry passes at all. They absolutely controlled the tempo and execution of UNCC's offense. UNCC currently has better guards than what the Zips have. Our guards really need to be a the top of their game this Thursday and limit turnovers. This is absolutely a winnable game for the Zips. A 12 beating a 5 is not unusual. I would go as far as to say this is the most important game in the history of the MBB program.

Actually, they do. People west of the eastern time zone. Normally, I hate this starting time, but I have a meeting on Thursday evening that will last until 8 PM so this is perfect timing for me.

I saw VCU play UNCC this year in person. They have a great perimeter defense and the Zips guards need to be ready to play 40 minutes of intense basketball. The A10 is a very good conference. It is one I think the Zips could compete well in. We'll find out how well this Thursday. Congrats to the fans who get an easy trip to Auburn Hills. Very nice area. Go Zips!

Good observation and placing a time on it. It looked to me that KD went into the game with the strategy he wasn't going to let OUs best player beat him. Hats off to #30 for OU because he played a great game against every big man we threw at him. In fact, he took it to Zeke a couple of times and scored in a way not many people do, but at the end of the day #30 wasn't going to beat us. Cooper was always the threat and the Zips had a 40 minute strategy for him. It seemed that KD was willing to sacrafice #30 scoring in the first half in order to get to the second half where the Zips could get a lead and test Cooper et al on tired legs to hit three point shots. It worked. OU played the second game the night before and was physically and mentally tired. Bad shots, bad defense, bad passing, etc. defined OUs game last night. The Zips steady play throughout and fatigue were two key components in the game last night.

Veterans KD's most important move of the night last night had less to do with Xs and Os, and more to do with the deployment of personnel after halftime. He put his veterans in a position to make the team successful and they did. From a player and coaching perspective, it might have been the best second half of basketball I've ever seen the Zips play in a big game. It all came together.

It's a beautiful day here in Charlotte. Throw a bunch of stuff away I should have thrown away six months ago...check. Clean garage...check. Mow lawn...check. Blow down drive and sidewalk...check. I'll be watching the Zips victory from a patio at one of my favorite all time bars. Let's get a check for a Zips win.

See the confusion the MAC creates? Who would want to watch a real D-1A football game on a nice spring/summer Saturday evening when they can freeze their ass off watching it on a Tuesday night in November? Who would want to watch their MAC school play in a national championship playoff where they actually have a chance to win one when they can watch them play in a bowl game in front of tens of people in Idaho in mid December? It's funny. If the guy from Deadspin writes an article about it and I mentioned it months ago, it means something. Connect the dots. Other are talking about it. Just like I mentioned the BCS schools having their own league years ago on this board and they move ever closer to it every day, this will come around to be a topic that starts to get traction in coming years and will become a reality at some point. Will it be a reality because people want it? No, it will be a reality because the "building process" from the non-BCS schools will force them to try to get TV revenue to support their building process before it collapses under its own weight. BCS schools are in the process of doing the same thing.

Something tells me this beer thread is going to get a lot larger in the next 24 hours...

I agree. CK uses the Boston analogy. I would like to use the Charlie Batch analogy when discussing our point guard problems. Last year, Charlie Batch started and lost to a bad Cleveland team. One week later, he beat the future Super Bowl champion in the Ravens. A player can really get up to speed in one week. I look for better guard play this week.

You are looking in the wrong place for embarrassment. We have a football stadium named after a telemarketing company that got far worse publicity and engages in worse behavior than a kid involved with pot. It's so pathetic I can't even get angry at that.

Deadspin Good idea. Wrong reasoning.

Can you please help me find where I wrote this?

"...beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will..." - Yoda With that thought, why would I be angry at the Zips? If they somehow lose this weekend, I'll be disappointed, but I have trouble bringing myself to be angry at young adults between the ages of 18 and 23.

I love taking poorly designed and conceived surveys so the surveyor can add me to a marketing list. Why not just call me during dinner time to ask me these questions?

Depending on how involved he was, he could be in really big trouble, or in a mountain of trouble. If the package was shipped across state lines, he could be facing Federal charges in addition to state/local charges. I don't see how he avoids jail.

In addition. We have won this tournament with lesser talented teams against better talented teams. There is no way the Zips shouldn't be the favorite to win this year.

Last week I said I believed the A-10 was the most wide open tournament. Now, I believe the MAC is equally as wide open. For those of you going to the tournament, I think you are going to see some very competitive basketball. Your money will not be wasted.

Before Friday morning, I thought Akron would run away with the MAC Tournament. I still think they will win it, but now the door is open for at least five teams to win if the chips fall their way. Again, I picked Akron. If there is a sleeper out there and you want to select Other, have at it. My sleeper would be Buffalo. Pick you winner and why you pick them.

Good review. The one point that sticks out to me is the lack of big plays last year and the need to improve. I hate to harp on this point because I think it is being corrected, but it is easier to hit on big plays when you put yourself in position to get big plays. Last year, we did not have a QB that could gain any yards running so we were constantly playing from long down and distances. When the other team know you have to pass, they can defend against the pass. Therefore, a big play is less likely to happen. When do big plays happen? After a nice gain on first down. If we pass on first down and there is nothing there, then the QB runs for six yards, there is a good opportunity for a play action pass. Second and four means the defense has to defend run and pass so there are better match-ups down field. The Zips will get more big plays this year as a result of having a QB that can effectively get yards with his feet making it favorable to hit deep passes.

Why have so many taken to using the word "classy" in the last 24 hours?

Arrive to the pre-game party early and drink heavily. Then, be loud at the game.

I don't want to speak for Dave, but 18-72 is 25% and if they went 19-72, they would be 26.38% and that is a 1.38% improvement over 18-72.

I agree it is conditioning, but I want to come at it from a slightly different angle. The best way to get in shape is to play in games and get a lot of playing time. Back up players don't get that so they aren't in as good of shape as starters. One week isn't enough to get the kid in game shape. I'd also like to come at the PG position from a different angle as well. A game consists of 200 minutes per team (5 positions x 40 minutes). 40 of those minutes are played by the point guard. So, to me, this isn't a question about who starts, but one of how many minutes per person given the limited playing time of some of the players. It will be interesting to see how the Zips deal with this challenge.

I would love to be a fly on the wall of the coaches office today. My guess is at some point they have already had a conversation that might have started with, "If (Insert Any Player's Name Here) broke his leg and was out for the season, what would we do?" My guess is KD and his staff knew what they were going to do within five minutes of getting the news. Now is just a matter of whether or not the players can adapt to the changing circumstances. I'm oddly confident about tonight's game. Go Zips!

I think the Zips did a really good job with their initial statement. AA suspended until legal matter is resolved. That's all they need to say about that. Diggs went away quickly and so will AA. In terms of the future, they just need to keep it in perspective of basketball. "We spent today preparing the players for tonight's game. Next week, we are going to prepare for the MAC Tournament by looking at every possible strategy and player combination just like we have all season."