Dambrot Quote that I Thought of Several Times Tonight

[Captain Kangaroo]

Slightly paraphrased because it is late: "People picked OU to win our league this year. They got hot for two weeks last year, that's all. K.e.n.t's been winning for 12 years...we've been good for 6 1/2 years. We're the favorites."

I wonder if that text was on a locker room wall somewhere tonight?

OU is a really good basketball team. In my wildest dreams I couldn't see the Zips beating Georgetown in the NCAA tourney, and the Bobcats actually pulled it off, and only 10 months ago.

OU is the real deal. We have no one that can hang with Cooper. Abreau tried to run smack with him and was promptly, and throughly taken to school. Cooper was double-teamed all night and almost effortlessly racked up 15 assists. He did whatever he wanted, while forcing Zips guards to make mistake after mistake after mistake. I hope this is a wake up call for the entire team and staff. That's the worst loss I can remember in quite some time, at least that wasn't an OOC opponent or K.e.n.t. No fun at the JAR tonight. Joyce/Dials/Middleton - where are you? Can anyone guard the perimeter? Is "My fingers are crossed and I hope he misses it" our new defensive mantra?

Buffalo ALWAYS plays us tough in their house. Big-time gut check for the Zippers this weekend.

[RootforRoo44]

I still agree with Dambrot. The Bobcats have had a few decent streaks where they have played well. They still are an 8-8 team that's lost A LOT of games at home this year, a few against bad teams.

I see them playing on Day 1 of the MAC Tourney this year and unless lucky again, not doing anything in Cleveland.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I still agree with Dambrot. The Bobcats have had a few decent streaks where they have played well. They still are an 8-8 team that's lost A LOT of games at home this year, a few against bad teams.

I see them playing on Day 1 of the MAC Tourney this year and unless lucky again, not doing anything in Cleveland.

If we play them on Day one, you may need to keep your Rowdy Rag at home on Day 2.

OU put things together late (last season), but if you look at the talent they placed on the floor last night, the experience, and the depth, you should be scared. They are 2-0 in our last 2 meetings, and the next one is in Athens.

3-0 isn't luck...it would signal a trend.

Would Bubba have gone "Dave Jamerson" against the Zips and scored 60 last night?

We do not match up well against OU. They can shoot...and we can't guard. They also have the beef inside to negate Nik and Zeke.

[GP1]

OU shot a higher percentage in the first half from 3-point range than they did 2-point range. Then they shot about the same from 3-point range in the second half. Were the Zips at least trying to do a better job defending the 3 in the second half? If not, why isn't someone complaining about halftime adjustments? If so, some of the players need to do some soul searching.

[Captain Kangaroo]

OU shot a higher percentage in the first half from 3-point range than they did 2-point range. Then they shot about the same from 3-point range in the second half. Were the Zips at least trying to do a better job defending the 3 in the second half? If not, why isn't someone complaining about halftime adjustments? If so, some of the players need to do some soul searching.

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

IMO - The leash needs to come off Diggs. He needs more court time if he's going to get better. He has the size and speed needed to shut down a quick guard. Ditto more time for Egner...another athletic player that plays "fast."

More Egner and Diggs...reduced time for McNees and Cventinovic. Not anything crazy...but a swap of 5-or-so minutes worth of PT each would be welcome.

[GP1]

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

I don't want them yelled at either. Yelling is for practice. I'm more interested in whether or not a different strategy was deployed.

[skip-zip]

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

I don't want them yelled at either. Yelling is for practice. I'm more interested in whether or not a different strategy was deployed.

GP..I couldn't tell you what we may have tried to do differently between the two halves. They just did a great job of finding space in our defense, and set some great screens to bounce some guys out to the perimeter for open looks. I don't know the last time I saw an Akron game where the opponent had so many open shots. They were even able to find the open guys in the paint in a lot of situations. Their ability to identify the places to attack time and time again was amazing to me. They were all on the same page, for sure. And very unselfish. Teams shoot those kind of percentages when few shots are seriously challenged.

I agree with Captain. If defense is the premium of this team, then guys like Egner and Diggs could really help get after some of those shooters if they spent a few more minutes a game on the floor.

[Captain Kangaroo]

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

I don't want them yelled at either. Yelling is for practice. I'm more interested in whether or not a different strategy was deployed.

We pressured and double-teamed a lot in the 2nd half. OU picked us apart.

[Dave in Green]

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

IMO - The leash needs to come off Diggs. He needs more court time if he's going to get better. He has the size and speed needed to shut down a quick guard. Ditto more time for Egner...another athletic player that plays "fast."

More Egner and Diggs...reduced time for McNees and Cventinovic. Not anything crazy...but a swap of 5-or-so minutes worth of PT each would be welcome.

I don't think it's KD's style of defense to leave wide open shooters and hope they miss. I think it's the failure of Zips players to properly execute KD's defense and not leave so much space to an open player that they can't get back to cover the player they're responsible for guarding when he gets the ball. This may work against a poor passing team without a decent PG. Against a PG like Cooper it's suicidal.

To correct his, all the Zips need to do is analyze videotape of the Bobkitties defense. The OU players were able to tightly cover Zips players on the perimeter as well as inside. Whenever a Zips player caught a pass, whether outside the 3-point line or under the bucket, they immediately had a Bobkitties player in their hip pocket. If the Zips play defense like that, the Bobkitties don't shoot the lights out.

I absolutely agree on more PT for the Zips best defensive players, whoever they might be. Over time I think Diggs and Egner could play better D than some of the Zips current starters. They might also be better able to create shots against a tight defense than some of the current starters. But we'll never know unless they're given a fair chance to develop.

[jupitertoo]

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

I don't want them yelled at either. Yelling is for practice. I'm more interested in whether or not a different strategy was deployed.

We pressured and double-teamed a lot in the 2nd half. OU picked us apart.

I wouldn't read too much into one game. OU played well, but they have not shown the ability to play with any consistency thus far. Very thin in the front court until next year. Even very good teams come out flat from time to time. If this Ohio team were to play Akron in a 10-game series, Akron would still win 7. In my mind, the jury is still out on John Groce - he's certainly a good recruiter and should have a much better team next year, but I'm not sold on his ability to coach up a team its full potential. Dambrot is much better than that in my mind.

[MDZip]

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

I don't want them yelled at either. Yelling is for practice. I'm more interested in whether or not a different strategy was deployed.

We pressured and double-teamed a lot in the 2nd half. OU picked us apart.

I wouldn't read too much into one game. OU played well, but they have not shown the ability to play with any consistency thus far. Very thin in the front court until next year. Even very good teams come out flat from time to time. If this Ohio team were to play Akron in a 10-game series, Akron would still win 7. In my mind, the jury is still out on John Groce - he's certainly a good recruiter and should have a much better team next year, but I'm not sold on his ability to coach up a team its full potential. Dambrot is much better than that in my mind.

Who are you and what have you done with jupitertoo's body?

[johnnyzip84]

This group of Zips guards have never defended the perimeter well. You can yell all you want at halftime...it isn't going to change anything.

I don't want them yelled at either. Yelling is for practice. I'm more interested in whether or not a different strategy was deployed.

We pressured and double-teamed a lot in the 2nd half. OU picked us apart.

I wouldn't read too much into one game. OU played well, but they have not shown the ability to play with any consistency thus far. Very thin in the front court until next year. Even very good teams come out flat from time to time. If this Ohio team were to play Akron in a 10-game series, Akron would still win 7. In my mind, the jury is still out on John Groce - he's certainly a good recruiter and should have a much better team next year, but I'm not sold on his ability to coach up a team its full potential. Dambrot is much better than that in my mind.

Who are you and what have you done with jupitertoo's body?

Warning, MDZip! Warning, MDZip! Intruder approaching, intent unclear.

[Hilltopper]

Our inability to make the outside shots in the beginning of the game is what killed us. What was our shooting percentage at the end of the first half? Until our shooting guards and small forwards start hitting the wide open shots they were getting, we will struggle. That compounds itself, because the more we struggle on offense the worse we play on defense. It looks to as though we start to take more chances on defense when our shots aren't falling which just made things worse. McNees is killing us with his inability to make a shot. He missed at least 3 wide open lay ups last night. Dambrot needs to shake up the starting lineup so we can get out of the gate better.

[Hilltopper]

Our inability to make the outside shots in the beginning of the game is what killed us. What was our shooting percentage at the end of the first half? Until our shooting guards and small forwards start hitting the wide open shots they were getting, we will struggle. That compounds itself, because the more we struggle on offense the worse we play on defense. It looks to as though we start to take more chances on defense when our shots aren't falling which just made things worse. McNees is killing us with his inability to make a shot. He missed at least 3 wide open lay ups last night. Dambrot needs to shake up the starting lineup so we can get out of the gate better.

Halftime stats of note: Akron 21, Ohio 37. The Zips are shooting 28.6 percent, compared to Ohio at 51.9 percent. The Zips hold a 17-12 rebounding edge. Akron has 10 turnovers and four assists; Ohio has five turnovers and 12 assists (Cooper has 10 alone). Tommy Freeman leads the Bobcats with nine points, all on 3-pointers. The Bobcats have made 6-of-11 3-point attempts; Akron is 1-for-6. Marshall has two points and no rebounds.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Our defense killed us last night.

If your shots aren't falling, and you play defense, you are still in the game. The fact that we didn't defend cost us the game.

Too bad ZipsWin doesn't post any longer. I'd be interested in his assessment.

[Zip Watcher]

I still agree with Dambrot. The Bobcats have had a few decent streaks where they have played well. They still are an 8-8 team that's lost A LOT of games at home this year, a few against bad teams.

I see them playing on Day 1 of the MAC Tourney this year and unless lucky again, not doing anything in Cleveland.

I wouldn't read too much into one game. OU played well, but they have not shown the ability to play with any consistency thus far. Very thin in the front court until next year. Even very good teams come out flat from time to time. If this Ohio team were to play Akron in a 10-game series, Akron would still win 7. In my mind, the jury is still out on John Groce - he's certainly a good recruiter and should have a much better team next year, but I'm not sold on his ability to coach up a team its full potential. Dambrot is much better than that in my mind.

I find I'm agreeing with R4R a lot lately .. and that Jupitertoo has a pretty good perspective on OU.

[Captain Kangaroo]

jupitertoo's post doesn't speak to the problem at hand -- The Zips do not match up with OU well at all. Nor do we match up with any team possessing skilled guards who can hit a wide open 3. I do not look forward to seeing Guyton back in a K.e.n.t. uniform at all.

I don't care if OU is losing to Sisters of the Poor...they are beating the Zips.

And like last season...the Bobcats are getting better as the season goes on.

It also concerns me that the Zips are still playing terrible at home.

I hope Abreau learned a lesson last night. One was certainly administered.

[zips4ever2008]

The whole game stunk. Zips were just bad and I thought both teams were going to have guys foul out. I thought the refs weren't going to get out of the arena alive with the way they called the game. I thought Ohio faked a lot of fouls. I was close to the action so I saw a lot of that. Freeman crying of getting elbowed by Zeke. Zeke is 7 feet, Freeman was like 6-5, what do you expect. Cooper holding his face as Mcness flew over him. Was not touched. Of course Cooper was doing a lot of jawing the whole game and even after the game. Something went down as the teams exited the court. It was just a bad game all around. I hope the Zips get back on track in Buffalo. One thing about Ohio is that they live and die on the three. They can't be shooting threes every game and making them.

[OZoner]

That was the best game Ohio played since the Georgetown game... and that wasn't a coincidence. Everyone sees the talent this team, but as people have pointed out, they have been mediocre at best so far this season. Why? I think part of it is motivation. They simply don't get up for every game.

They get up for Akron. One played flat-out said, "I hate Akron." While I've never gotten anyone on the Zip side to be that blunt, they feel the same way . There's some bad blood here, and Ohio is going to be jacked for Akron each and every time they play. The Zips have to be ready for that.

[Captain Kangaroo]

One thing about Ohio is that they live and die on the three. They can't be shooting threes every game and making them.

If you don't guard them they can.

I'm a 44-year old Rec League Has-been, and if no one guards me at the 3-point line, I make 4-of-10 easily.

[Dave in Green]

... I thought Ohio faked a lot of fouls. I was close to the action so I saw a lot of that. Freeman crying of getting elbowed by Zeke. Zeke is 7 feet, Freeman was like 6-5, what do you expect. Cooper holding his face as Mcness flew over him. Was not touched. .....

Bingo. Freeman could teach Anderson Varejao some things about flopping. Anyone else remember a Zips-Bobkitties game where the Zips were repeatedly whistled for fouls as the teams were headed upcourt and Freeman would stop dead in front of Zips players who were looking over the shoulders so he could get "run over" and grotesquely flop to the floor?

We all know that Zeke is not an elbow thrower. But in this case two OU players were swarming Zeke, and Freeman appeared to be trying to hit one of Zeke's elbows with his head to draw a foul.

As much as I dislike OU's questionable tactics, I admire the intensity with which they play.

[Blue & Gold]

That was the best game Ohio played since the Georgetown game... and that wasn't a coincidence. Everyone sees the talent this team, but as people have pointed out, they have been mediocre at best so far this season. Why? I think part of it is motivation. They simply don't get up for every game.

They get up for Akron. One played flat-out said, "I hate Akron." While I've never gotten anyone on the Zip side to be that blunt, they feel the same way . There's some bad blood here, and Ohio is going to be jacked for Akron each and every time they play. The Zips have to be ready for that.

It was "chippy" out there. It's good OU got up for the game; at least one team did. I wish we had played with some of the passion OU obviously brought to the court last night! Bobcats outplayed the Zips in every facet of the game.

[OZoner]

I know what you're referring to, and those were charges. His feet were planted and they hit him square in the chest. No question. I know a lot of people throw the f-bomb his way because he takes a lot of charges, but look at film... he's really good at drawing them. Throwing his head into Zeke's elbow would be really stupid, as he suffered a concussion last month.

Cooper, though, reminds me of Chris Paul's flopping antics.

[Dave in Green]

I know what you're referring to, and those were charges. His feet were planted and they hit him square in the chest. No question. I know a lot of people throw the f-bomb his way because he takes a lot of charges, but look at film... he's really good at drawing them. .....

Technically, it may be a charge when someone is standing with their feet planted and someone else runs into them. But the circumstances on these charges were not typical. In all cases, OU had just scored, the Zips were inbounding, and everyone was headed upcourt. I've been watching basketball for more than half a century, and have only rarely seen an offensive player who didn't even have the ball charge into a defensive player as the teams were heading upcourt. Freeman made it happen several times in one game.

I supposed one could call that "good basketball" because it achieved positive results for the team that ran the "play." But if every player in basketball employed this tactic, the game would be unwatchable.

[infofan]

I give the academy award for acting to Mr Freeman for holding his nose and claiming he was elbowed intentionally by Zeke. In my opinion that was a terrible call. I dont claim to know the rules but it seems a player has to be permitted room to turn around. If you get your nose too close its going to get hit. Zekes not the strongest guy out there but if he wanted to elbow freeman hed be on the deck. Once again MAC officiating is as inconsistent as this years Zips!

One other note - I heard Abreao's dad was at game. It looked to me like he was trying to impress instead of trying to execute. He got schooled, and hopefully learned from that.