Northern Illinois

[Captain Kangaroo]

When the team plays up to its full capabilities, the Zips are capable of blowing out teams like NIU.

I dunno...this year's Zips squad doesn't seem to be capable of blowing out any team...at least one that doesn't rhyme with "schmilliken."

You're right. With each passing game, my over-optimism about the potential of this edition of the Zips is harshly mocked by their on-court performance. With the NIU game they've proven once again that they are the weakest Zips team in the last six years. They're not a bad team, but just an average one. We fans have been spoiled to having at least slightly above average basketball teams under KD, so just average seems pretty crappy.

Realistically, these Zips are not going to do anything extraordinary this season. The most I'm hoping for now is that they somehow squeak their way back into the MAC tournament championship game for the fifth straight year. They will not blow out any team along the way. But they could get lucky and win a few close ones.

I'll reserve my optimism for next season.

To blow out teams you need to make defensive stops. We can't do that.

[MDZip]

I have no idea what we are trying to accomplish out there right now. We've got two plays to run on offense apparently right now. Iso for McKnight and everyone watch him take a wild, off-balanced layup attempt that misses badly or hoist up a 3 from wherever you are standing.

Its all starting to make sense now. Coach K was LeBrons original coach. This was the old Cavalier offense.

[Dr Z]

With each passing game, my over-optimism about the potential of this edition of the Zips is harshly mocked by their on-court performance.

This made me laugh. You should use this as your tag line.

[The Hip Zip]

With each passing game, my over-optimism about the potential of this edition of the Zips is harshly mocked by their on-court performance.

This made me laugh. You should use this as your tag line.

It is more than obvious that we miss Chris, Jimmy and Humpty much, much more than any of us thought we would. I want to see Alex on the floor as much as possible and it's time to give Egner minutes right now. The players and combinations we are putting on the floor ain't gettin' it. Look at it this way, K.S.U is in a transitional year, Geno will tell that to anybody that listens. So what does Geno do? He gives Henniger meaningful minutes in just about every game. We are getting beat inside so why not try Egner? I want to see if he can get some boards and help us get a stop or two.I would have no problem with us starting Nic/Egner/Diggs across the front line. I don't even think that Zeke enjoys playing the game. It's more like he's playing because he was expected to play, not because he WANTS to play. I want to see Diggs be able to play without having to look over his shoulder at KD. It's time to see what a couple of these guys are made of. There is nothing to lose.

BTW: My TV blushed last night.

[Dave in Green]

..... I don't even think that Zeke enjoys playing the game. It's more like he's playing because he was expected to play, not because he WANTS to play. .....

It may look that way at times because Zeke tends to overtly beat himself up on the court after every little incident he perceives as being an error on his part. I think he enjoys playing, but can't stand making mistakes. That attitude may make him more tense and wound up as the game goes on, which only leads to more errors.

While some players might benefit from being a little more serious and less loose, Zeke is not one of them. I think Zeke would benefit by learning to quickly let loose of mistakes and adopt the attitude that he's going to make more great plays than mistakes, so the mistakes aren't worth distracting him from making a great play the next time the ball comes his way.

After the game, Zeke can talk to the coaches about mistakes he made during the game and how he wants to learn to correct them during training and scrimmages.

[Dave in Green]

With each passing game, my over-optimism about the potential of this edition of the Zips is harshly mocked by their on-court performance.

This made me laugh. You should use this as your tag line.

I have been thinking about a new signature line. But not that one. I hope that's the only time I ever have to use that line!

[RootforRoo44]

..... I don't even think that Zeke enjoys playing the game. It's more like he's playing because he was expected to play, not because he WANTS to play. .....

It may look that way at times because Zeke tends to overtly beat himself up on the court after every little incident he perceives as being an error on his part. I think he enjoys playing, but can't stand making mistakes. That attitude may make him more tense and wound up as the game goes on, which only leads to more errors.

While some players might benefit from being a little more serious and less loose, Zeke is not one of them. I think Zeke would benefit by learning to quickly let loose of mistakes and adopt the attitude that he's going to make more great plays than mistakes, so the mistakes aren't worth distracting him from making a great play the next time the ball comes his way.

After the game, Zeke can talk to the coaches about mistakes he made during the game and how he wants to learn to correct them during training and scrimmages.

I agree completely about Zeke. It's much like hitting in baseball. If you beat yourself up every time you get out, you will be a stressed, mess of a person. And baseball is an extreme example because in baseball you can fail 70% of the time and still be a Hall of Famer. Keith Dambrot, being a baseball guy, should be able to help Zeke with such an example.

[The Hip Zip]

..... I don't even think that Zeke enjoys playing the game. It's more like he's playing because he was expected to play, not because he WANTS to play. .....

It may look that way at times because Zeke tends to overtly beat himself up on the court after every little incident he perceives as being an error on his part. I think he enjoys playing, but can't stand making mistakes. That attitude may make him more tense and wound up as the game goes on, which only leads to more errors.

While some players might benefit from being a little more serious and less loose, Zeke is not one of them. I think Zeke would benefit by learning to quickly let loose of mistakes and adopt the attitude that he's going to make more great plays than mistakes, so the mistakes aren't worth distracting him from making a great play the next time the ball comes his way.

After the game, Zeke can talk to the coaches about mistakes he made during the game and how he wants to learn to correct them during training and scrimmages.

Thats fair enough Dave, I might have been a touch harsh. I want more than anything to see Zeke succeed, I really do. I want to see him improve and reach a higher level of play. Zeke needs a big boost of confidence for sure. He must realize that he has a God given gift, a gift that should allow him to become a great, great player. But to get there he needs confidence, he needs an inner fire and he needs to have the will to dominate. Until he finds that he's not going to be a great player. The good news is that he's only a soph. and still has time and a chance to become the great player that we are all expecting to see. The pressure on Zeke is high, we all know that but Zeke needs to know that a few mistakes are OK. He in himself is not going to lose us any games for us but he sure as hell can win us a few.

[ZachTheZip]

..... I don't even think that Zeke enjoys playing the game. It's more like he's playing because he was expected to play, not because he WANTS to play. .....

It may look that way at times because Zeke tends to overtly beat himself up on the court after every little incident he perceives as being an error on his part. I think he enjoys playing, but can't stand making mistakes. That attitude may make him more tense and wound up as the game goes on, which only leads to more errors.

While some players might benefit from being a little more serious and less loose, Zeke is not one of them. I think Zeke would benefit by learning to quickly let loose of mistakes and adopt the attitude that he's going to make more great plays than mistakes, so the mistakes aren't worth distracting him from making a great play the next time the ball comes his way.

After the game, Zeke can talk to the coaches about mistakes he made during the game and how he wants to learn to correct them during training and scrimmages.

Thats fair enough Dave, I might have been a touch harsh. I want more than anything to see Zeke succeed, I really do. I want to see him improve and reach a higher level of play. Zeke needs a big boost of confidence for sure. He must realize that he has a God given gift, a gift that should allow him to become a great, great player. But to get there he needs confidence, he needs an inner fire and he needs to have the will to dominate. Until he finds that he's not going to be a great player. The good news is that he's only a soph. and still has time and a chance to become the great player that we are all expecting to see. The pressure on Zeke is high, we all know that but Zeke needs to know that a few mistakes are OK. He in himself is not going to lose us any games for us but he sure as hell can win us a few.

Zeke needs to play angry. It's when he says to himself "f--- it" and just plays the game instead of beating himself up over every little thing that he is at his best. Same could probably be said for McNees. Dambrot likes his recruits to be somewhat self-critical, and for some it leads to improvement, but for others it simply shuts down their ability to play. It's just a game. Have fun. Do your thing and stop worrying so much.

[The Hip Zip]

On the money Zach