Buffalo?

[UAZipster0305]

I was unable to watch or listen to the UA-Buffalo game today. Nothing stands out as a glaring weakness in the boxscore other than we were outscored. What happened? Was Zeke in foul trouble? Did we not defend well?

This loss really hurts in terms of the standings, and I think we will look back on this game as being crucial. Even though we already lost in-conference at home, at least it was to Ohio (potentially the best team in the league). We needed two wins against Buffalo.

[RootforRoo44]

I was unable to watch or listen to the UA-Buffalo game today. Nothing stands out as a glaring weakness in the boxscore other than we were outscored. What happened? Was Zeke in foul trouble? Did we not defend well?

This loss really hurts in terms of the standings, and I think we will look back on this game as being crucial. Even though we already lost in-conference at home, at least it was to Ohio (potentially the best team in the league). We needed two wins against Buffalo.

1)check this thread.

2) You're right, this game will probably come back to haunt us.

3) Ohio is hardly anything close to the best team in the conference. Akron and Can't are both better teams.

[UAZipster0305]

I don't think we are better than Ohio or Can't. I'm not trying to be negative but rather, realistic. Ohio proved it on the court and Can't was without their best player in our house. I hope I am wrong, and only the remainder of the season will tell. Go Zips!

[Zipmeister]

I don't think we are better than Ohio or Can't. I'm not trying to be negative but rather, realistic. Ohio proved it on the court and Can't was without their best player in our house. I hope I am wrong, and only the remainder of the season will tell. Go Zips!

How did Ohio do against Can't and Miami?

[RootforRoo44]

I don't think we are better than Ohio or Can't. I'm not trying to be negative but rather, realistic. Ohio proved it on the court and Can't was without their best player in our house. I hope I am wrong, and only the remainder of the season will tell. Go Zips!

One game, look at our overall records and the teams we've each beat and lost to. OU has lost to some terrible teams, I would say the only bad team we've lost to besides Buffalo is Ohio University. We may not have killed the teams we were supposed to kill but at least won. We just haven't upset anyone yet.

You could argue that Can't, Miami, and Akron are all better than OU, and the argument is pretty good save for one fluke win that the Bobcats have over us.

[UAZipster0305]

I don't think we are better than Ohio or Can't. I'm not trying to be negative but rather, realistic. Ohio proved it on the court and Can't was without their best player in our house. I hope I am wrong, and only the remainder of the season will tell. Go Zips!

One game, look at our overall records and the teams we've each beat and lost to. OU has lost to some terrible teams, I would say the only bad team we've lost to besides Buffalo is Ohio University. We may not have killed the teams we were supposed to kill but at least won. We just haven't upset anyone yet.

You could argue that Can't, Miami, and Akron are all better than OU, and the argument is pretty good save for one fluke win that the Bobcats have over us.

Are you dillusional? We got worked in that game against OU. We had no answer for Kellogg or their PG.

[RowdyZip]

Miami also lost to BG...

[Zipmeister]

Back on point....

we beat the spread.

[RACER]

ou is not the best team in the mac.they have already lost to Can't and miami.the mac is wide open this year.not that ou can't win the mac,but to say they are the best team right now is crazy.

[Z.I.P.]

ou is not the best team in the mac.they have already lost to Can't and miami.the mac is wide open this year.not that ou can't win the mac,but to say they are the best team right now is crazy.

Yes, it's wide open, and there's still an outside chance Akron will beat my pre-season prediction, and finish higher than fourth. That said, when do we start the "new coach" thread?

[72 Roo]

We have as good of talent as any team in the league. If we are weak in one area (guards who can defend) we make up for it in other areas. But we are not playing well. Despite the stats we protect the ball poorly. Our TO's are killing us at crucial times. More than that we play with no clear vision of what to do. If we don't hit the three we are dead. We are not playing as a team. Until we do, we will not achieve much. Right now, Ohio and K.e.n.t. are playing better than us. KD has got to take ownership and fix it. BTW, I agree with the other posters who say he should stop blaming the players. We need leadership now, not the blame game.

[skip-zip]

I don't think we are better than Ohio or Can't. I'm not trying to be negative but rather, realistic. Ohio proved it on the court and Can't was without their best player in our house. I hope I am wrong, and only the remainder of the season will tell. Go Zips!

One game, look at our overall records and the teams we've each beat and lost to. OU has lost to some terrible teams, I would say the only bad team we've lost to besides Buffalo is Ohio University. We may not have killed the teams we were supposed to kill but at least won. We just haven't upset anyone yet.

You could argue that Can't, Miami, and Akron are all better than OU, and the argument is pretty good save for one fluke win that the Bobcats have over us.

Are you dillusional? We got worked in that game against OU. We had no answer for Kellogg or their PG.

I agree with you Trimmy. When you get manhandled by someone, like OU did to us, you can't call that a "fluke".

But with that said, it's the MAC. Every team is going to show their weaknesses during the course of the season. OU may just be a bad matchup for us, but a favorable matchup for someone else. And I won't look forward to the trip to Athens this year. But, we'll win our share of games, and so will several others. You just hope to be one of the teams in the mix the last week of the season.

The Buffalo loss certainly isn't encouraging. When it counted, they made plays and we didn't.

[RootforRoo44]

I don't think we are better than Ohio or Can't. I'm not trying to be negative but rather, realistic. Ohio proved it on the court and Can't was without their best player in our house. I hope I am wrong, and only the remainder of the season will tell. Go Zips!

One game, look at our overall records and the teams we've each beat and lost to. OU has lost to some terrible teams, I would say the only bad team we've lost to besides Buffalo is Ohio University. We may not have killed the teams we were supposed to kill but at least won. We just haven't upset anyone yet.

You could argue that Can't, Miami, and Akron are all better than OU, and the argument is pretty good save for one fluke win that the Bobcats have over us.

Are you dillusional? We got worked in that game against OU. We had no answer for Kellogg or their PG.

No more delusional than someone who is using one game to determine how good or bad two teams are. Again, look at the full body of work, Ohio has already proven they are a weak team.

Oh yeah, and look what happened this weekend. They lost for the SEVENTH time at home. They are 5-7 at home, good teams don't lose seven times at home in one season, let alone five times before conference play even begins.

[Captain Kangaroo]

On the two hot topics at-hand -

OU isn't a bad team. They lost to a Guyton-reinstated K.e.n.t. team by 3. That will happen. They also lost in triple OT to a good Miami team.

IMO - they had a lot of off-season turmoil that contributed heavily their early-season problems. They are playing decent ball right now, but not catching any breaks. If they can tough it out, they will be in the mix in March. With Cooper, it is pretty safe to say they will be in the mix. Beyond all that...they are a bad match up for the Zips.

On topic #2 - We got smoked by Buffalo, at Buffalo, last year and we still made it to the MAC finals. There's still plenty of basketball to be played. My fear is - I really don't know if there's enough upside to the rotation that Dambrot has settled on? Abreu will improve. Zeke's having ups and downs, but improving. After that? Roberts is Roberts. McNees is McNees. McKnight is McKnight. Bardo is Bardo and McClanahan is probably playing at as high a level as he can.

I still say Cventinovic's gotta lose some minutes to Egner. Either that, or start finishing around the hoop and playing more disciplined defense. We need to get faster and longer. So throw Diggs in there too.

[Dave in Green]

..... Again, look at the full body of work, Ohio has already proven they are a weak team. .....

Looking at this season's full body of regular season work to date, OU is 7-8 overall and 1-2 in the MAC.

Looking at last season's full body of regular season work, OU was 17-14 overall and 7-9 in the MAC.

Looking at last season's full body of post season work, OU was 5-1, sweeping the MAC tournament and upsetting #3 seed Georgetown in the NCAA tournament.

At what point last season did OU go from being proven as a weak team to being proven as not a weak team?

If it happened once, could it happen again?

[skip-zip]

On the two hot topics at-hand -

OU isn't a bad team. They lost to a Guyton-reinstated K.e.n.t. team by 3. That will happen. They also lost in triple OT to a good Miami team.

IMO - they had a lot of off-season turmoil that contributed heavily their early-season problems. They are playing decent ball right now, but not catching any breaks. If they can tough it out, they will be in the mix in March. With Cooper, it is pretty safe to say they will be in the mix. Beyond all that...they are a bad match up for the Zips.

On topic #2 - We got smoked by Buffalo, at Buffalo, last year and we still made it to the MAC finals. There's still plenty of basketball to be played. My fear is - I really don't know if there's enough upside to the rotation that Dambrot has settled on? Abreu will improve. Zeke's having ups and downs, but improving. After that? Roberts is Roberts. McNees is McNees. McKnight is McKnight. Bardo is Bardo and McClanahan is probably playing at as high a level as he can.

I still say Cventinovic's gotta lose some minutes to Egner. Either that, or start finishing around the hoop and playing more disciplined defense. We need to get faster and longer. So throw Diggs in there too.

This is a pretty fair assessment. I've said all along that I don't like our chances when Nik and McClanahan are trying to carry the load, and you've mentioned some of the reasons why here. I think we'll be a better team this year if the burden find it's way back to guys like McNees and McKnight. And I also believe we could be better with Egner and Diggs taking more of McClanahan and Nik's minutes.

[Z.I.P.]

On the two hot topics at-hand -

OU isn't a bad team. They lost to a Guyton-reinstated K.e.n.t. team by 3. That will happen. They also lost in triple OT to a good Miami team.

IMO - they had a lot of off-season turmoil that contributed heavily their early-season problems. They are playing decent ball right now, but not catching any breaks. If they can tough it out, they will be in the mix in March. With Cooper, it is pretty safe to say they will be in the mix. Beyond all that...they are a bad match up for the Zips.

On topic #2 - We got smoked by Buffalo, at Buffalo, last year and we still made it to the MAC finals. There's still plenty of basketball to be played. My fear is - I really don't know if there's enough upside to the rotation that Dambrot has settled on? Abreu will improve. Zeke's having ups and downs, but improving. After that? Roberts is Roberts. McNees is McNees. McKnight is McKnight. Bardo is Bardo and McClanahan is probably playing at as high a level as he can.

I still say Cventinovic's gotta lose some minutes to Egner. Either that, or start finishing around the hoop and playing more disciplined defense. We need to get faster and longer. So throw Diggs in there too.

This is a pretty fair assessment. I've said all along that I don't like our chances when Nik and McClanahan are trying to carry the load, and you've mentioned some of the reasons why here. I think we'll be a better team this year if the burden find it's way back to guys like McNees and McKnight. And I also believe we could be better with Egner and Diggs taking more of McClanahan and Nik's minutes.

How has Dakotah Euton looked, in his minimal minutes? Is he a possible recipient of time -- from Nik I suppose?

[RootforRoo44]

@ Captain

I think you're right with Egner needing more minutes but i think a bigger problem is our shooting guard taking only four shots and having six points/2 rebounds/1 assist in 26 minutes.

It's time for Dambrot to sit McNees. McClanahan can move into SG and McKnight can start at small forward. I think McKnight has proved that he can be a dependable scoring threat and he may be the only person on the team who understands how to play tough when we need to.

1) Abreu

2) McClanahan

3) McKnight

4) Cvetinovic...reduced minutes with more for Egner

5) Zeke

[dboze]

@ Captain

I think you're right with Egner needing more minutes but i think a bigger problem is our shooting guard taking only four shots and having six points/2 rebounds/1 assist in 26 minutes.

It's time for Dambrot to sit McNees. McClanahan can move into SG and McKnight can start at small forward. I think McKnight has proved that he can be a dependable scoring threat and he may be the only person on the team who understands how to play tough when we need to.

1) Abreu

2) McClanahan

3) McKnight

4) Cvetinovic...reduced minutes with more for Egner

5) Zeke

I agree. I know that Zeke has been in foul trouble the last 2 games, but he needs more shots. 10 shots in the last 2 game (3/5 OU and 2/5 Buffalo) vs 14 shots (8/14) against Can't. We need to establish a better inside game. Mcknight can help in this area. Maybe Egner can too...

[Captain Kangaroo]

@ Captain

I think you're right with Egner needing more minutes but i think a bigger problem is our shooting guard taking only four shots and having six points/2 rebounds/1 assist in 26 minutes.

It's time for Dambrot to sit McNees.

Would it be heresy to start McKnight/Diggs, and have McNees be our "Microwave" 6th man?

[Dave in Green]

Nothing is heresy when you're on a losing streak. If the starting lineup is based on who plays best in practice, then the first question should be whether or not the best players in practice are always the best players in games. Maybe yes, maybe no. How would anyone know for sure if different combinations weren't actually tried in games?

Another way to put it would be to ask how many conference games do you have to lose before you begin tinkering with the lineup to find a more effective combination? There's something to be said about sticking with what you think is your best combination even when it goes through a rough period. The key question is how long to wait for the present lineup to break out of its rough period?

Then you have to factor in exactly how important a starting lineup is on a team when you begin subbing after the first few minutes anyway. A more critical factor is what lineup to insert when the team is faltering, blowing a lead and falling behind. Which combination of players is most likely to halt a slide and make the team competitive again when the game is on the line? Is it always the same, or does it change depending on the makeup of the opponent, or maybe which players are more on top of their game on a certain day of the week for a variety of reasons?

Coaching is an interesting combination of art and science.

[zippy5]

we're such a different team with Zeke on the court. Our success will be directly related to how long he stays out of foul trouble. The sky is the limit if he can stay away from the 2 ticky tacky fouls he gets a game.