Zeke is Trying to Adjust to College Basketball

[Dr Z]

One thing is clear after the first full week of Zeke Marshall's college basketball career with the Akron Zips: His career will be a marathon, not a sprint.And even though Marshall is the Mid-American Conference's highest-rated recruit since Rivals.com began posting its top 150 national players in 2002, he is still a freshman.Friday, after five officiated eight-minute scrimmages against his teammates, he had two rebounds, two points and no blocks. He did not get his first rebound until the third session, and his second came in the last."It has been pretty much what I thought: an adjustment," Marshall said."The game is faster, it's harder and you have to run longer. I have to compete. Everybody wants to come after me. I have to answer back."Part of Marshall's problem has been an ankle injury that only recently healed to the point he could practice.Another part is that his teammates, coming off a MAC championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance, aren't just going to hand over their playing time to him."These guys don't want him to take their minutes," Zips coach Keith Dambrot said. "Before you can beat their guys, first you got to beat out our guys. Let's be fair to the kid."Seven-footers are rare in the Mid-American Conference. The past two -- Chris Kaman at Central Michigan and John Edwards at Can't State -- were nowhere near Marshall's level as a recruit.Yet Kaman became an NBA lottery pick, going sixth to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2003. He is entering his seventh season with the team.And Edwards played two seasons in the NBA, with Indiana and Atlanta, and currently plays professionally in Europe. Both were centers on the last two MAC teams to win a game in the NCAA Tournament. Neither started as a freshman.Akron returns its top four players to a team that earned the school's first NCAA Tournament bid since 1986. Now, winning a game or two in the tournament is the objective.History says Marshall's presence can help make that happen, even if he is not a starter.Edwards' coming-out party was as a sophomore reserve on Can't State's NCAA Elite Eight team in 2002. He averaged 11.8 minutes per game off the bench that season, until Can't played nationally ranked opponents. Then Edwards averaged 14.7 minutes a game. His size under the hoop kept defenses honest, even though his production (3.3 points, 2.1 rebounds per game) was meager.Marshall's impact with the Zips and on the league will not be measured by his early practices. As his career advances, his shot blocking, rebounding and scoring may rise dramatically as he will have three or four years to become the dominant big man most envision."You know he's going to get better," Dambrot said."He's got a ways to go. And I haven't been hard on him yet. The good thing is, we can win without him."Source

[Captain Kangaroo]

Can't argue with Alexander if he's actually taken the time to check out the practices.Like it or not, he offered more insight in that small column than David Lee Morgan did in 5 years.

[skip-zip]

I noted that they mentioned the words "his presence" at least a couple of times in the article. I've mentioned in previous posts that this, alone, will be helpful to us initially. It looks like we'll have to be very patient on the rest. Although, I would have been happier if I had heard that he swatted at least a couple of shots.I know they didn't mention any names, but I hope the references to guys fighting for playing time means that guys like Bardo and Sweich have been working hard to improve their situations. That can only help us.

[Zip Watcher]

I know they didn't mention any names, but I hope the references to guys fighting for playing time means that guys like Bardo and Sweich have been working hard to improve their situations. That can only help us.

Another nice effort from EA.I'm betting it's Nikola that's really going to fight for playing time. They guy was money down the stretch, and got a taste of some bigger minutes as the season ended. You have to figure there's got to be 20-30 for him alone. Bardo's physicality and defense will keep him on the floor also.I think early in the article, EA makes the comment that:

Another part is that his teammates, coming off a MAC championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance, aren't just going to hand over their playing time to him.

Is pretty telling also. The guy's a highly rated recruit with a huge upside and things you can't teach. But he's coming onto a team that caught fire in late Feb / Early March, pounded the 1,3 & 4 seeds at the Q .. mostly with a very good inside out game ... and returns the entire rotation for the 4 & 5 spots. He's going to have to earn it .. it's got the makings of a darn good team. The days of Freshmen showing up and starting right out of the gate at UA might be a thing of the past. Certainly this year with 12 of 13 players returning off a title season.Get 'em on Zips fans! B) B) B)

[Dr Z]

Odd sentence. You can read a lot into this if you wanted to. "The good thing is, we can win without him." Possible motivation?

[Quickzips]

Odd sentence. You can read a lot into this if you wanted to. "The good thing is, we can win without him." Possible motivation?

I wouldn't read too much into that. Personally I think all it is doing is stating the obvious. We've returned 4 starters and our entire bench from a team that won the conference tourney and went to the NCAA's last year. We don't necessarily "need" Zeke to play big minutes with lots of stats in order to win ballgames. Anything he can add this year is just gravy.

[ZachTheZip]

Zeke is playing with a team that is already complete. The rest of the team has the chemistry, the experience, and the coaching already. He's the only one without any of those. It would be different if we lost three seniors instead of one, and then he could work along with an actual freshman class that is dealing with the same issues as he is. But he's not. That puts more pressure on him. I think he can handle it. He just has to grit hit teeth and keep going.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Anything he can add this year is just gravy.

True...if your goal is to lose in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney.If the Zips are to continue their progression, they need Zeke to contribute meaningful minutes.If Jimmy Conyers contributes anything this season, it is gravy. If Zeke contributes it is not "gravy," it is HUGE.

[Quickzips]

Anything he can add this year is just gravy.

True...if your goal is to lose in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney.If the Zips are to continue their progression, they need Zeke to contribute meaningful minutes.If Jimmy Conyers contributes anything this season, it is gravy. If Zeke contributes it is not "gravy," it is HUGE.

I absolutely disagree with the implication that the Zips can't make it out of the first round of the tourney w/out a major contribution from Zeke. Last years team was an incredibly young team. I don't have the numbers available, but they were probably one of the youngest teams in the NCAA's. Yet they went toe to toe with a very good Gonzaga team for 30 minutes. Experience alone says we should be improved this year. I don't think it is at all out of the question that we could make it out of the first round without a major contribution from Zeke. You look at the mid-majors that make runs in the tournament and you will rarely find one that has a true C making a big contribution, particularly a true C who is a freshman. It isn't a necessity at all. Don't get me wrong, if Zeke can come in here and give us 20 minutes a game with 8-12 points and 6-8 rebounds and 2-4 blocks, or even 15 minutes with around 6 points and 5 rebounds and a couple blocks I'm going to be ecstatic. I just don't think it is an absolute necessity for our program to progress. Its gravy.I also disagree on the comment about Conyers. With Nate out of the picture I really think we DO need Conyers to step up. Nate was our best wing defender on the team the last few years. Losing him creates a major void. B.McKnight is likely to take over a lot of Nate's minutes, but the worst part of Brett's game has always been and will always be his defense. Now you can say that McClanahan is being groomed to take over that role, but I never looked at him last year and said, "this kid can be an elite defender." Maybe I'm wrong on that, but I just don't see it. The fact is that we are going to need contributions from Conyers, who at this moment IS our best wing defender. A lot more teams in the MAC and across the country have good wing scorers that can put pressure on your defense than teams that have great big men. We will need Conyers to step up and guard those guys more than we need Zeke to match up with the couple of 7 footers we might see this year.

[Zip Watcher]

Anything he can add this year is just gravy.

True...if your goal is to lose in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney.If the Zips are to continue their progression, they need Zeke to contribute meaningful minutes.If Jimmy Conyers contributes anything this season, it is gravy. If Zeke contributes it is not "gravy," it is HUGE.

I absolutely disagree with the implication that the Zips can't make it out of the first round of the tourney w/out a major contribution from Zeke. Last years team was an incredibly young team. I don't have the numbers available, but they were probably one of the youngest teams in the NCAA's. Yet they went toe to toe with a very good Gonzaga team for 30 minutes. Experience alone says we should be improved this year. I don't think it is at all out of the question that we could make it out of the first round without a major contribution from Zeke. You look at the mid-majors that make runs in the tournament and you will rarely find one that has a true C making a big contribution, particularly a true C who is a freshman. It isn't a necessity at all. Don't get me wrong, if Zeke can come in here and give us 20 minutes a game with 8-12 points and 6-8 rebounds and 2-4 blocks, or even 15 minutes with around 6 points and 5 rebounds and a couple blocks I'm going to be ecstatic. I just don't think it is an absolute necessity for our program to progress. Its gravy.I also disagree on the comment about Conyers. With Nate out of the picture I really think we DO need Conyers to step up. Nate was our best wing defender on the team the last few years. Losing him creates a major void. B.McKnight is likely to take over a lot of Nate's minutes, but the worst part of Brett's game has always been and will always be his defense. Now you can say that McClanahan is being groomed to take over that role, but I never looked at him last year and said, "this kid can be an elite defender." Maybe I'm wrong on that, but I just don't see it. The fact is that we are going to need contributions from Conyers, who at this moment IS our best wing defender. A lot more teams in the MAC and across the country have good wing scorers that can put pressure on your defense than teams that have great big men. We will need Conyers to step up and guard those guys more than we need Zeke to match up with the couple of 7 footers we might see this year.

+1

[Captain Kangaroo]

Anything he can add this year is just gravy.

True...if your goal is to lose in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney.If the Zips are to continue their progression, they need Zeke to contribute meaningful minutes.If Jimmy Conyers contributes anything this season, it is gravy. If Zeke contributes it is not "gravy," it is HUGE.

I absolutely disagree with the implication that the Zips can't make it out of the first round of the tourney w/out a major contribution from Zeke. Last years team was an incredibly young team. I don't have the numbers available, but they were probably one of the youngest teams in the NCAA's. Yet they went toe to toe with a very good Gonzaga team for 30 minutes. Experience alone says we should be improved this year. I don't think it is at all out of the question that we could make it out of the first round without a major contribution from Zeke. You look at the mid-majors that make runs in the tournament and you will rarely find one that has a true C making a big contribution, particularly a true C who is a freshman. It isn't a necessity at all. Don't get me wrong, if Zeke can come in here and give us 20 minutes a game with 8-12 points and 6-8 rebounds and 2-4 blocks, or even 15 minutes with around 6 points and 5 rebounds and a couple blocks I'm going to be ecstatic. I just don't think it is an absolute necessity for our program to progress. Its gravy.I also disagree on the comment about Conyers. With Nate out of the picture I really think we DO need Conyers to step up. Nate was our best wing defender on the team the last few years. Losing him creates a major void. B.McKnight is likely to take over a lot of Nate's minutes, but the worst part of Brett's game has always been and will always be his defense. Now you can say that McClanahan is being groomed to take over that role, but I never looked at him last year and said, "this kid can be an elite defender." Maybe I'm wrong on that, but I just don't see it. The fact is that we are going to need contributions from Conyers, who at this moment IS our best wing defender. A lot more teams in the MAC and across the country have good wing scorers that can put pressure on your defense than teams that have great big men. We will need Conyers to step up and guard those guys more than we need Zeke to match up with the couple of 7 footers we might see this year.

+1

-1

[RACER]

there is going to be an ajustment period going from high school to college.it's not like we don't have good players.nik really started to come on at the end of the year for a freshman.plus we don't know how bad his ankle is.if this was a coleman crawford team, and zeke looked bad i might be worried.i think it shows how much talent we have on this team.at the same time ck is right.the difference between the zags,and akron was the two zags big men.i think both of them are gone.i think the one player left early, but i might be wrong.the other one was a senior.

[Dr Z]

I would expect one of the most highly rated recruits in MAC history to contribute his first year. Especially in the MAC. Especially with his body type. I would be disappointed if he didn't. I bet if you ask Zeke, he would be disappointed if he didn't. I'm going to actually attend one game and see him play at the college level before I type too many opinions. I have NEVER been more excited to watch a Zips freshman in my life.PS Jawanza Moore will go down in my book as having the biggest turn around senior year where he went from 3 year liability to contributor. Jimmy Conyers has a chance to take that tittle. Stay tuned...

[Zip Watcher]

You must be referring to my previously discussed theory: The Jawanza Moore Effect.Jawanza's last game at the JAR was one of the best single game performances by a Zips player in the last 25 years. I think it was the BG Andrick-Hipsher toe to toe MAC Tourney game.Stacey with a HUGE 2nd half & OT after RA melted down.

[Dr Z]

You must be referring to my previously discussed theory: The Jawanza Moore Effect.

I didn't see that theory, but I'm serious in saying that. I remember the early Jawanza years. I hate to pick on him now, but how many open two hand under the hoop shots did he miss? Then in his senior season, it was like a light went on and all of a sudden and he was not only making shots, he was helping us win games. I really hope Jimmy becomes that guy. I hope that light comes on.I think the Zips with Zeke will have to learn how to win in a different way than they did last year. I think we will be better for it come Q time.

[Captain Kangaroo]

You must be referring to my previously discussed theory: The Jawanza Moore Effect.

I didn't see that theory, but I'm serious in saying that. I remember the early Jawanza years. I hate to pick on him now, but how many open two hand under the hoop shots did he miss? Then in his senior season, it was like a light went on and all of a sudden and he was not only making shots, he was helping us win games. I really hope Jimmy becomes that guy. I hope that light comes on.I think the Zips with Zeke will have to learn how to win in a different way than they did last year. I think we will be better for it come Q time.

If we create a similar theory for football, can we call it "The Mark Groza Effect?"

[GP1]

Don't get me wrong, if Zeke can come in here and give us 20 minutes a game with 8-12 points and 6-8 rebounds and 2-4 blocks, or even 15 minutes with around 6 points and 5 rebounds and a couple blocks I'm going to be ecstatic. I just don't think it is an absolute necessity for our program to progress. Its gravy.

Get ready to be ecstatic. The kid is a HS All-American. At a minimum, he should produce those numbers next year.It's not enough to just count on an extra year of maturity to move the team forward. I also don't understand why winning an NCAA game is the definition of moving forward. IMHO, what a team does during the regular season better defines how a team is progressing than one week at the end of the year. BB is a strange game where a really good team can have one bad day and lose a conference tournament game....that doesn't really define a team. I'd take going undefeated in the MAC as a strong step forward. Going undefeated or only 1 or 2 MAC loses would be a sign of a consistently good team. That's the step forward I'm looking for.

[Valpo Zip]

With the Browns sucking soo bad, i was impatiently waiting the cavs who were supposed to tear things apart. The Cavs started 0-2 With the zips football sucking equally as bad as the Browns, i am scared to expect zips basketball to tear things apart anymore. It is not a theory or anything, but just saying.

[ZachTheZip]

With the Browns sucking soo bad, i was impatiently waiting the cavs who were supposed to tear things apart. The Cavs started 0-2 With the zips football sucking equally as bad as the Browns, i am scared to expect zips basketball to tear things apart anymore. It is not a theory or anything, but just saying.

It's time we stopped associating Zips athletics with the usual Cleveland disappointments. Only the football team belongs in that category at this time.

[Blue & Gold]

It's time we stopped associating Akron with Cleveland, period. Cleveland sucks. Pittsburgh sucks. Columbus sucks. This is Akron, baby!The other day I saw a great t-shirt @ the Rubber City Clothing Co. Simply says,"F*ck you, I'm from Akron." I like it.(However, yeah, as long as our homeboy LBJ plays for the Cavs, I'll say, "Go Cavs!")

[Valpo Zip]

So what teams represent Akron in the NBA and the NFL?I totally agree with not associating cities and not rooting for another college in Columbus. But when it comes to pro sports, i think it is natural for people in NEO to root for cleveland teams.

[Blue & Gold]

So what teams represent Akron in the NBA and the NFL?I totally agree with not associating cities and not rooting for another college in Columbus. But when it comes to pro sports, i think it is natural for people in NEO to root for cleveland teams.You're right, it is. My attitude is really just sour grapes. I am simply beyond fed up with the Cleveland television media's COMPLETE ignorance of anything Akron that it's really given me a distaste for the city-up-north as a whole. Also supremely frustrating - and this is Akron's own fault - is the fact that the Zips have had such a perfect opportunity over the last 10 years of total Brown's suckiness in which to capture the hearts of NEO football fans in general, and Akron football fans in particular, and we, unfortunately, haven't done squat to capitalize on the opportunuty. Ahhh! Painful, hot button issue with me. Where's the number for my shrink?! Lol

[The Hip Zip]

I think that we all have to be patient with Zeke. The transition from HS to college ball is a big one and especially for a big man. No longer can they excel on the floor based on their size alone. The big guys now have to face the fact that there will be other big boys out there that can put the body on them. For many of them it's the first time that they have faced opponents that can guard them or keep them off of the glass.I recall watching CMU's Kaman early in his college career. He didn't even start and looked awkward and out of place out there at times. As time went by however, his total game caught up with his size and he's now entering his 7th or 8th NBA season. I do not think that its unrealistic to expect similar things from Zeke.Just be patient and don't expect too much too soon. In time it will happen, just don't panic if it doesn't happen right away.

[Blue & Gold]

Spot on, Hip Zip. I'm expecting to see Zeke struggle at first, be underwhelming during our first trip through the MAC East, but then start to click during our second round of MAC East games. Hey, he may be underwhelming all year, who really knows? He will, undoubtedly, eventually be a great player for us, but we will want to exercise patience.Additionally, I wouldn't get too worried over Zeke not having any blocks during our first day of scrimmages. Zeke may have (and I'm sure probably did) alterred a handful of shots without officially blocking one. If Zeke can alter shots, and get into the heads of the other team, that'll be as effective - if not as sexy - as blocking the shots.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Don't get me wrong, if Zeke can come in here and give us 20 minutes a game with 8-12 points and 6-8 rebounds and 2-4 blocks, or even 15 minutes with around 6 points and 5 rebounds and a couple blocks I'm going to be ecstatic. I just don't think it is an absolute necessity for our program to progress. Its gravy.

Get ready to be ecstatic. The kid is a HS All-American. At a minimum, he should produce those numbers next year.It's not enough to just count on an extra year of maturity to move the team forward. I also don't understand why winning an NCAA game is the definition of moving forward. IMHO, what a team does during the regular season better defines how a team is progressing than one week at the end of the year. BB is a strange game where a really good team can have one bad day and lose a conference tournament game....that doesn't really define a team. I'd take going undefeated in the MAC as a strong step forward. Going undefeated or only 1 or 2 MAC loses would be a sign of a consistently good team. That's the step forward I'm looking for.

Going beyond the 1st round in the NCAA tourney is absolutely HUGE. I don't get how anyone can blow that off as no big deal?Say the Zips make it to Round #2. The Zips are plastered all over the local and national media. They play on CBS, not ESPNU. The local bars are packed with Akron fans getting excited about their team. Dambrot no longer needs to talk about the potential his team has when he recruits against upper-echelon programs...he can point to himself actually cutting down a net after beating a Wake Forest.Keith Dambrot's Zips have been to the NCAA tourney. Now it is time to win a game (or two).Regarding going undefeated in the MAC -- Sure, that would be HUGE. However, if the Zips were to run the table in the MAC, then bow out in round #1 of the NCAA tourney, it would then be a HUGE letdown. Running the table in the MAC probably equates to no worse than a #11 tourney seed. That's a game an undefeated MAC team should win.Why are Zips fans so afraid of success? Everyone wants to pitter-patter around having high expectations for Zeke...of winning an NCAA tourney game? I don't get it. People SHOULD have high expectations for this team. The SHOULD have high expectations for the highest rated HS recruit ever to play for a MAC school. Side note: It absolutely amazes me how just about every Zips fans has gone from giddy over Zeke, to "I don't expect anything from him the first season." A couple Elton Alexander "buzz kill" quotes and everyone busts out their best let-down coping mechanisms? That's the power of the media.Great MAC teams win NCAA tourney games. Miami has won. Western Michigan has won. K.e.n.t. has won. Central Michigan has won. Throw in Cleveland State too.Zips fans need to appreciate winning the MAC. It's damn difficult to do. But the top mid-majors don't stop at winning their conference. They want more. I want more. Keith Dambrot and the Zips are capable of more. Thus I expect more in 2010.