Zeke adding 'Pounds'

[dboze]

Zeke has gained 17 pounds since the beginning of the last season. He's really hitting the weights this summer. He came to Akron around 210 and is now up to 227. His goal is to get to at least 235 + by the begining of the season.

[Zip Watcher]

Great to hear. Hope those summer workouts are keeping him challenged!

Go Zips!

[ZachTheZip]

Adding pounds is great, so long as it doesn't detract from his agility. I would rather have a thinner center that can run with the guards than a lumbering behemoth that is only at the half-court line by the time the rest of the team is in position.

[RootforRoo44]

Adding pounds is great, so long as it doesn't detract from his agility. I would rather have a thinner center that can run with the guards than a lumbering behemoth that is only at the half-court line by the time the rest of the team is in position.

With his natural agility and the strength im sure he's adding, i dont think moving up and down the floor will be a problem. Now he will also be moving the opposing center along with him.

Zeke is going to DOMINATE next year.

[MaxZIP]

Adding pounds is great, so long as it doesn't detract from his agility. I would rather have a thinner center that can run with the guards than a lumbering behemoth that is only at the half-court line by the time the rest of the team is in position.

I think he would need to add 50+ to be a lumbering behemoth.

[Quickzips]

My only real concern here is with the ability of his skelatal structure to handle the extra weight. Tall guys sometimes have a tendency to become injury prone when they add muscle because their skelatal system can't handle the extra weight. Perfect example, Greg Oden, who has become more and more injury prone as he's added muscle. If Zeke's frame can handle it, and he isn't getting "sloppy fat" then by all means, put on the extra muscle. Just make those throw downs all the more thunderous.

[GP1]

Going from 210 to 235 is only a 12% increase in his weight. I don't think a 20 year old kid is going to collapse under the strain of that increase in weight. He is 6% up in weight now which tells me putting the weight on slowly is a good way of keeping him from getting chubby.

This is all positive. His increased strength will increase his confidence. It will make him more durable. I thought the kid looked in really good shape for his age and height last year.

He should be the best player in the MAC next year. It's all good.

[tpsjugglerdude]

Adding pounds is great, so long as it doesn't detract from his agility. I would rather have a thinner center that can run with the guards than a lumbering behemoth that is only at the half-court line by the time the rest of the team is in position.

run with the guards? Why does he need to do that? Have you watched our offense. We walk up the floor.

[Dr Z]

Sometimes I read a post and think, what is (fill in the blank) going to think when they read this.

How long ago was everybody telling Z he should gain weight? Now when he is, some are concerned he is gaining too much weight?!?

Zeke is on a calorie plan. He is doing what KD has instructed.

[dboze]

Sometimes I read a post and think, what is (fill in the blank) going to think when they read this.

How long ago was everybody telling Z he should gain weight? Now when he is, some are concerned he is gaining too much weight?!?

Zeke is on a calorie plan. He is doing what KD has instructed.

Yes, that is it. The weight that he has gained is ALL MUSCLE. He still looks like he has 5% body fat. Don't worry about his agility. He made a spin dribble move that I've never seen him do. Seems to have gotten stronger & faster.

[Dave in Green]

Over many years of following basketball, I've seen players who were too skinny, too fat, not strong enough, and too muscle-bound to have coordinated moves. Each player has an ideal overall weight and an ideal muscle-to-fat ratio. I have enough faith in KD and his coaching staff to think that they are not pushing any of their players in the wrong direction. Maybe someone with some inside knowledge can tell us something about the Zips conditioning staff. They're really the ones responsible for getting each player on a specific diet and conditioning program to reach their optimum physical condition.

[FromdaBurgh]

This was taken May 8th. Don't worry family...no agility loss, no lumbering behemoth monster weight gain, no loss of flexibility! Zeke is just fine, getting stronger, working harder.....its all good people! BREATHE!

[Dr Z]

Zeke is just fine, getting stronger, working harder.....its all good people! BREATHE!

Thank you for replying.

[Zip Watcher]

....its all good people! BREATHE!

+10

That might be the best suggestion posted here @ ZN.O in a LONG time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Go Zips!

[johnnyzip84]

This was taken May 8th. Don't worry family...no agility loss, no lumbering behemoth monster weight gain, no loss of flexibility! Zeke is just fine, getting stronger, working harder.....its all good people! BREATHE!

Great pic, Mama Zeke! The Zips had a football player a few years back......Jason Taylor......another fine Western PA lad.....you may have heard of him ......well as part of a marketing campaign before his senior year (if I recall correctly), he was prominently featured on several area billboards in his football gear, but with his shirt off and his chiseled physique prominently displayed. This was an early indication that JT would have the potential for other careers after (well even DURING) football. Do I see history repeating itself? Thanks for your insight and your CALMING influence!

[Zipmeister]

This was taken May 8th. Don't worry family...no agility loss, no lumbering behemoth monster weight gain, no loss of flexibility! Zeke is just fine, getting stronger, working harder.....its all good people! BREATHE!

Great pic, Mama Zeke! The Zips had a football player a few years back......Jason Taylor......another fine Western PA lad.....you may have heard of him ......well as part of a marketing campaign before his senior year (if I recall correctly), he was prominently featured on several area billboards in his football gear, but with his shirt off and his chiseled physique prominently displayed. This was an early indication that JT would have the potential for other careers after (well even DURING) football. Do I see history repeating itself? Thanks for your insight and your CALMING influence!

Personally, I think it would be goofy to dress Zeke up in football gear.

[GP1]

This was taken May 8th. Don't worry family...no agility loss, no lumbering behemoth monster weight gain, no loss of flexibility! Zeke is just fine, getting stronger, working harder.....its all good people! BREATHE!

Great pic, Mama Zeke! The Zips had a football player a few years back......Jason Taylor......another fine Western PA lad.....you may have heard of him ......well as part of a marketing campaign before his senior year (if I recall correctly), he was prominently featured on several area billboards in his football gear, but with his shirt off and his chiseled physique prominently displayed. This was an early indication that JT would have the potential for other careers after (well even DURING) football. Do I see history repeating itself? Thanks for your insight and your CALMING influence!

Personally, I think it would be goofy to dress Zeke up in football gear.

+1

[Dr Z]

....as part of a marketing campaign before his senior year (if I recall correctly), he was prominently featured on several area billboards in his football gear, but with his shirt off and his chiseled physique prominently displayed.

I still remember that billboard. It was pretty cool. It might have been our last football marketing billboard. Now they just call me every week and say "are you going to buy tickets" I am, I just want to see how many times this guy calls before the season starts. So far 4 times.

[Captain Kangaroo]

What if Zeke pulls a muscle weightlifting? Or drops a plate on his toe? Won't his free throw arm-motion be restricted if he gets too big? He's not spending too much time in the weight room and neglecting his classwork, is he? And what supplements is he taking...hopefully they have all been approved by the NCAA? Is he wearing a weight belt for back support? Please make sure he stretches properly before lifting...that's sooo important!

[GP1]

I still remember that billboard. It was pretty cool. It might have been our last football marketing billboard.

My wife remembers that billboard more than I do. Quite fondly in fact.

Given the brilliance of using billboards as marketing devices, we must have had one Hell of and paid gate that year.

[Dr Z]

Given the brilliance of using billboards as marketing devices, we must have had one Hell of and paid gate that year.

One of my favorites.

[Dave in Green]

Oh darn. Now we'll have to find another rumor to cultivate our ulcers.

But, seriously, it would be interesting to know more about the Zips diet, strength and conditioning program. I know we've had many discussions about some players looking winded after relatively brief stints, and others playing long minutes and apparently still having spring in their legs.

At the beginning of last season, for example, Zeke appeared to slow down after being on the floor for awhile. As the season went on, you could see Zeke's stamina growing along with his biceps. Toward the end of the season, Zeke looked like he would be good for 30 minutes per game or more.

If Zeke is staying on that same diet, strength and conditioning program during the off-season, he will certainly move closer to realizing the dominant force potential that everyone sees in him.

But what about the rest of the team? McNees is like the Energizer bunny who never seems to slow down, which always makes him a threat to score at the end of a tight game as he's demonstrated at the Q. Cvetinovic, on the other hand, still appears to play in spurts that leave him exhausted.

Overall team fitness is a good topic, because a team that's in better physical condition and with better endurance will generally have an increasing advantage as the game wears on and their opponents are wearing down.

[Dr Z]

At the beginning of last season, for example, Zeke appeared to slow down after being on the floor for awhile. As the season went on, you could see Zeke's stamina growing along with his biceps. Toward the end of the season, Zeke looked like he would be good for 30 minutes per game or more.

Z had an injury that was slowing him at the beginning of last year that he played through.

[Captain Kangaroo]

What if Zeke pulls a muscle weightlifting? Or drops a plate on his toe? Won't his free throw arm-motion be restricted if he gets too big? He's not spending too much time in the weight room and neglecting his classwork, is he? And what supplements is he taking...hopefully they have all been approved by the NCAA? Is he wearing a weight belt for back support? Please make sure he stretches properly before lifting...that's sooo important!

Oratorious D.I.G reminded me of another point - He isn't working exclusively on weights and neglecting his cardio, is he? Oh that would be terrible...just terrible...

For you, D.I.G.:

[Hilltopper]

I want the real CK back! Did Zach hijack you login?