CMU game notes

[zipboy]

I was in absolute awe for about a 12 minute stretch in the 1st half. I don't know how you play better than that. Top 10 thoughts on the game

1. At the 1st timeout, KD lights into the team for their defense, switches to a half court trapping zone, and we go on a 25-1 run. It seemed like CMU got trapped in the same spot about 6 times in a row. Collins and Cedric also came in and increased our defensive pressure.

2. Nice to see Dru get some looks and drain them. I agree that I like him better than Jimmal. Rashon Brown is still my favorite but Dru is a better floor general.

3. Travis is quickly becoming a good interior passer. It is nice to see different guys step up each night. Romeo did not get score much but played D and had 5 assists.

4. Best overall game of the year for Bubba. How comfortable did he look in the open court?

5. After the falling away 25 footer by Goddard, KD just put his head down and started grinning. This kid could step up bigtime down the road. Anyone notice Doug Penno hit for 21 a few days ago for Miami?

6. Nice to see Futch play with some emotion, but the yelling after the block came about 2 seconds later. If he had done that to Andrick, he would have been walking around with sore knee caps the next day.

7. Just a bunch of hard working tough nosed guys. How can Akron not fall in love with this bunch?

8. Who was the guy in street clothes hanging out with J Wood, a possible transfer?

9. Another steady game by DP.

10. Chapman may be out which can only help us. Can't afford to stumble at home. After beating BG by 14 and WMU. Ball looks to be a challenger.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Anyone notice Doug Penno hit for 21 a few days ago for Miami?

6.  Nice to see Futch play with some emotion, but the yelling after the block came about 2 seconds later.  If he had done that to Andrick, he would have been walking around with sore knee caps the next day.

8.  Who was the guy in street clothes hanging out with J Wood, a possible transfer?

All great points. I'll comment a little on the above:

Doug Penno is Jeff Penno's (former Zip walk on) brother, I believe. Doug was pretty highly touted out of HS, so it doesn't surprise me that he's putting up good #'s. I believe Jeff Penno is at Wright State now?

Futch flat out clubbed that CMU player towards the end of the game. He should have gotten a technical. Then again, maybe it was payback for that BS "intentional foul" call against Joyce earlier?

Speaking of street clothes...several people around me were wondering if Dambrot has ANY dress code for the guys on the end of the bench? I kind of agree. BTW: I have to assume the guy you saw is some mid-season transfer. I'm curious as to who he is?

It appears Rob Preston has taken the spot in Joe Dunn's heart formerly occupied by Andy Hipsher? I would have given the Sub of the Game to Collins. We CMU tried to make a run at the beginning of the second half, it was Collins' aggressive D that snuffed their run out.

How do we win by 39 without Wood? Just amazing....

How do you lead at the half by 23 when Travis has 2 points? Just amazing...

Bubba just kills the opponent's "will." It seems like he gets his 3's in spurts. Boom, boom, boom...three 3's and the Zips get on a 9-0 run. And he hits the back-breaker 22 footers to boot.

Dru had a great game.

I like the fact that no Zip...aside from "Mr. 3-Pointer" Futch...catches flack for taking the 3-point shot. Peterson might miss 4 in a row, but he'll take the 5th on in a heart beat if he's open. Ditto Dru, Mc Fadden, Bubba, Preston, Collins, Middleton...I think the reason we're shooting so well from 3-point range is there's no pressure (of getting benched). That, plus our ball movement is so good we seem to get a lot of open looks.

Goddard's play was phenomenal, a treat to behold. I would love to see him get more PT, but who's time does he take?

I'm really looking forward to the Ball State game. It should be a war.

By the way, I hear Can't is a "patsie?"

[Zip Watcher]

Waiting for Tuesday night is going to kill my productivity. I'm really looking forward to seeing BSU. "The Fiercest Mid-sized Birds" are coming off wins at WMU and vs. BGSU. This is a good measure of where the Zips are at the midpoint of conference schedule.

Nice crowd. Weather killed the overall turnout .. might have been much better.

I think this was Futch's best game of the year. Immediately before he got called for that hard foul, the guy he was guarding clubbed him in the jaw with a strong elbow. Can't say I was pleased to see that activity when you're up by 30, but I can't blame Matt for bringing the hammer down. The difference between last year and this was that he waited until the guy was going up with the shot to do it.

The improvement I see in Futch is this: He spent a lot more time on the block working with his back to the basket against CMU. Maybe more time in this game than the whole rest of the season. He's a load, and he's getting better at using his size and strength to get himself close in shots by the rim .. now keep at it big fella and you'll get them to drop. A few times he got in TOO deep and had nowhere to go. I like the effort and the progress away from always choosing the 20 footer (1 shot not withstanding).

I'm liking our Frosh A LOT! Agree wtih what's been said about Bubba. Middleton can flat out play. He's going to be our key stopper in the backcourt. Maybe a Shaw who can score? And does Quade have wings? I swear he was flying in the second half a few times.

Generally, I have to like the team atmosphere in the JAR. They've really bought into the system on both ends of the court, and that will help them overcome bad shooting nights. If DP has an off night, they're ready and able to look elsewhere. Finding the open shooter has been a strength. There are moments in games where they begin to get less agressive on offense, and it stagnates, but they're getting shorter and less frequent.

I do think they should be careful to not try and embarass a team too often. I know it's hard to tell a walkon not to shoot, but dropping 3 bombs less than 10 seconds into the shot clock when you're up 30 is sort of harsh. I say save that for Can't State .. especially in the MACC. In those games, there is no such thing as too much.

Looking at the schedule, the next 5 are going to be big indicators of this team. I'm looking for a win on Tuesday and then at least a split of the next 4 after that. Winning 3 of 5 starts to solidify the home game on 7 March. 4 or 5 gets me thinking MAC East.

Go Zips!

[Guest Guest]

Sorry don't agree about the walkon... when else is he allowed to shoot, maybe they should put him earlier when it counts, because he obviously shouldn't sit until the last four minutes of the game, has better stats than alot of scholarship players...

It's amazing how when Bubba is good, Cedrick is down and vica versa, imagine when they both are on!

Quade puts on some weight, and he will be something....

Rick McFadden is showing me nothing at all this year, sometimes I think he should be sitting.....

[Z-Pouch]

Sorry don't agree about the walkon... when else is he allowed to shoot, maybe they should put him earlier when it counts, because he obviously shouldn't sit until the last four minutes of the game, has better stats than alot of scholarship players...

It's amazing how when Bubba is good, Cedrick is down and vica versa, imagine when they both are on!

I'm not sure there is anyone's playing time that I would want him to take. Defensively, we would lose a lot with him at key times. I do think there will come a game(s) that Goddard steps up and contributes when others are not shooting well. Overall team defense should be first and foremost.

Bubba's starting to show that he is more then just a shooter -- Ala Milum, if he could put on some additional lbs he has potential.

Rick McFadden is showing me nothing at all this year, sometimes I think he should be sitting.....

Sometimes RM makes some really bad passes but the guy always hustles and gives good effort on Defense. It's nice having a 6'6/6'7 guy chasing on the wing and scrapping for rebounds. I wonder if all the little things that RM does are under rated.

Looking forward to Tuesday - BSU is a solid team and should give us a good idea of how far the Zips have progressed.

[Guest Guest]

The xfer is Marcus (?) Butler from M'field St. Peters, transfer from EVV.