Pre-Dayton Game Thoughts

[GoZips]

I watched most of Sunday's practice before heading at ten till four over to the soccer stadium.

This was, by all accounts, the most intense practice I have seen by the men's basketball squad in

a couple of years. KD was "el diablo". KD pushed his charges and the coaches like a man possessed.

Akron is not going to Dayton to show up and collect a paycheck. Akron is going to Dayton to win.

The Zips are going to attack and play up tempo, pressure on the ball, in your face basketball.

The intensity level was high enough to drown in. I got an impression that at least one redshirted

player has neither the talent or the spirit to survive the rigors of playing out his red shirt.

On the other hand, Chauncey Gilliam continues to greatly impress me. Heard in conversation that

both of the two non-qualifiers are better than anyone on the floor. And, considering that most of

returning Zips, the transfers, Walsh and Gilliam are excellent players, that is saying a lot.

Expectations for Egner, Abreu and Diggs are high.

A trip to Dayton to watch the Zips could well be worth the time and money invested.

[Quickzips]

Thanks for the inside info GoZips. Looking forward to watching this game tomorow on Fox Sports. Very encouraged by the news on Gilliam, Walsh, Treadwell and Harney. This team is already pretty talented and it is only going to get better in the coming years. Hopefully we can go down to Dayton and score the upset on the Flyers home floor. That would definitley be a big early season eye opener for the rest of the conference.

[Zips Win!]

Thanks for the inside info GoZips. Looking forward to watching this game tomorow on Fox Sports. Very encouraged by the news on Gilliam, Walsh, Treadwell and Harney. This team is already pretty talented and it is only going to get better in the coming years. Hopefully we can go down to Dayton and score the upset on the Flyers home floor. That would definitley be a big early season eye opener for the rest of the conference.

I heard it was to be joined in progress after the Cavs game... so maybe the second half..

[skip-zip]

We've certainly played well against them the last two times. If we win, it's HUGE. If we play competitively, I'll be satisfied. Certainly an early-season test to see how good we might be this year.

Guys like Egner, AA and Diggs are indeed our future. And whatever they can contribute this year is a big plus. As I say all the time, never count on newcomers to pick up the slack for departed players. But if any major contributors do happen to emerge from this bunch as the season progresses, we could be a really good team.

[mes102]

Dayton has a "predict the score" thread up...here it is:

http://udpride.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15732

[Captain Kangaroo]

Thanks for the inside info GoZips. Looking forward to watching this game tomorow on Fox Sports. Very encouraged by the news on Gilliam, Walsh, Treadwell and Harney. This team is already pretty talented and it is only going to get better in the coming years. Hopefully we can go down to Dayton and score the upset on the Flyers home floor. That would definitley be a big early season eye opener for the rest of the conference.

I heard it was to be joined in progress after the Cavs game... so maybe the second half..

It should be on Fox Sports Cincinnati (Direct TV CH 661) in it's entirety.

[RowdyZip]

Dayton has a "predict the score" thread up...here it is:

http://udpride.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15732

That's quite a thread, with predictions ranging from a 15-20 point blowout by UD to a couple folks predicting a Zips win. I think it's a close game, and a tough first "test" for the Zips.

Dayton 74

Akron 77

[johnnyzip84]

Trying to find a line on this game, and I thought I might have seen in a Google search "Dayton favored by 7" but I can't confirm (web site blocked). Anyone have an official line? 7 sounds about right.

I figure both Nik and Nitro (sounds like a mixed drink) are keys to this game. If we get healthy contributions from both, I think the upset is there for the taking.

[Dave in Green]

Pomeroy predicts 70-59 win for Dayton.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I think the game could play-out in a number of ways...but the key for the Zips will be avoiding the epic, 10-minute scoring drought.

I also think our perimeter defense needs to be dramatically improved from where it was the last 1/3rd of last season.

Score consistently, and defend the 3-point line, and we have a good shot at the upset.

[Zip Watcher]

So a UD blogger asked some questions.

And I answered them here.

In a nutshell, I think it's a battle of tempo. Mostly predicated on the defensive glass. Zips rebound well and get out on the break a little bit, then they come away from UD Arena with a win. If they get beat badly on the defensive glass, and can't transition .. then our jumpers need to fall. There's a couple of ways the Zips can win. All require a good defensive effort.

Do 3 things well:

- Keep UD in the half court set as much as possible.

- Rebound well (limit UD 2nd chance points) & look up floor for quick releases.

- In the half court, start the ball in the post to Nik & Zeke. Patiently work to the open shooter.

Take the points and the over.

B) B)

Go Zips!

[Valpo Zip]

Any zipsnationers going to be in Dayton tomorrow? if so what section(s)?

[Dr Z]

So a UD blogger asked some questions. And I answered them here.

Nice job ZW.

Trying to find a line on this game

Check here tomorrow Johnny.

[johnnyzip84]

I'll second Dr. Z's compliments. Nice job, ZW!

Thanks for the link, Dr. Z

[Zipmeister]

Any zipsnationers going to be in Dayton tomorrow? if so what section(s)?

As discussed in a separate thread, Zipmeister will be sitting 4 rows behind the Akron bench.

[Quickzips]

So a UD blogger asked some questions.

And I answered them here.

In a nutshell, I think it's a battle of tempo. Mostly predicated on the defensive glass. Zips rebound well and get out on the break a little bit, then they come away from UD Arena with a win. If they get beat badly on the defensive glass, and can't transition .. then our jumpers need to fall. There's a couple of ways the Zips can win. All require a good defensive effort.

Do 3 things well:

- Keep UD in the half court set as much as possible.

- Rebound well (limit UD 2nd chance points) & look up floor for quick releases.

- In the half court, start the ball in the post to Nik & Zeke. Patiently work to the open shooter.

Take the points and the over.

B) B)

Go Zips!

Can't argue with much of anything there. Zips will have to keep Dayton off the offensive glass and limit 2nd chance opportunities, defend the 3 point line and try not to let Chris Wright get the ball in the open floor. If Zeke's early season success with those jump hooks continues and we can knock down a reasonable percentage of our 3's we will be in good shape. So hard to predict this game as we haven't seen the Zips against anything close to this kind of competition thus far.

[Zipmeister]

So a UD blogger asked some questions.

And I answered them here.

In a nutshell, I think it's a battle of tempo. Mostly predicated on the defensive glass. Zips rebound well and get out on the break a little bit, then they come away from UD Arena with a win. If they get beat badly on the defensive glass, and can't transition .. then our jumpers need to fall. There's a couple of ways the Zips can win. All require a good defensive effort.

Do 3 things well:

- Keep UD in the half court set as much as possible.

- Rebound well (limit UD 2nd chance points) & look up floor for quick releases.

- In the half court, start the ball in the post to Nik & Zeke. Patiently work to the open shooter.

Take the points and the over.

B) B)

Go Zips!

I like the fact that Dayton Doug thinks the game is being played on Friday. If the Fighten Flyers are thinking the same thing that will give us 96 hours to build up a lead.

[Z.I.P.]

I watched most of Sunday's practice before heading at ten till four over to the soccer stadium.

This was, by all accounts, the most intense practice I have seen by the men's basketball squad in

a couple of years. KD was "el diablo". KD pushed his charges and the coaches like a man possessed.

Akron is not going to Dayton to show up and collect a paycheck. Akron is going to Dayton to win.

The Zips are going to attack and play up tempo, pressure on the ball, in your face basketball.

The intensity level was high enough to drown in. I got an impression that at least one redshirted

player has neither the talent or the spirit to survive the rigors of playing out his red shirt.

On the other hand, Chauncey Gilliam continues to greatly impress me. Heard in conversation that

both of the two non-qualifiers are better than anyone on the floor. And, considering that most of

returning Zips, the transfers, Walsh and Gilliam are excellent players, that is saying a lot.

Expectations for Egner, Abreu and Diggs are high.

A trip to Dayton to watch the Zips could well be worth the time and money invested.

Well...I'm just glad to hear coach Dambrot doesn't send a manager to eject observers from the upper seats of the JAR during practice, like his predecessor did.

[GoZips]

I watched most of Sunday's practice before heading at ten till four over to the soccer stadium.

This was, by all accounts, the most intense practice I have seen by the men's basketball squad in

a couple of years. KD was "el diablo". KD pushed his charges and the coaches like a man possessed.

Akron is not going to Dayton to show up and collect a paycheck. Akron is going to Dayton to win.

The Zips are going to attack and play up tempo, pressure on the ball, in your face basketball.

The intensity level was high enough to drown in. I got an impression that at least one redshirted

player has neither the talent or the spirit to survive the rigors of playing out his red shirt.

On the other hand, Chauncey Gilliam continues to greatly impress me. Heard in conversation that

both of the two non-qualifiers are better than anyone on the floor. And, considering that most of

returning Zips, the transfers, Walsh and Gilliam are excellent players, that is saying a lot.

Expectations for Egner, Abreu and Diggs are high.

A trip to Dayton to watch the Zips could well be worth the time and money invested.

Well...I'm just glad to hear coach Dambrot doesn't send a manager to eject observers from the upper seats of the JAR during practice, like his predecessor did.

Those salt water Mai Tais have addled your feeble brain oh vaunted Paradise Zippy.

I sit or stand along the sidelines most of the time. Care to join me grasshopper?

[johnnyzip84]

The line looks to be Dayton by 12 to 12.5 points. I defintely would take the points.

[ZachTheZip]

On the other hand, Chauncey Gilliam continues to greatly impress me. Heard in conversation that

both of the two non-qualifiers are better than anyone on the floor. And, considering that most of

returning Zips, the transfers, Walsh and Gilliam are excellent players, that is saying a lot.

That is surprising. And exciting.

[Dr Z]

I defintely would take the points.

Do it!

DAYTON is 2-1 against the spread versus AKRON since 1997

2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1997

[Z.I.P.]

The line looks to be Dayton by 12 to 12.5 points. I defintely would take the points.

Latest line is Dayton by 8.5. Least that's what you get in the isles.