The Final 9 Games

[UAZip0510]

I think it's becoming clear that the Zips will not only fail to reach 20 wins this year, but that they'll also be missing out on a MAC Tournament bye. However, the season is not over. On this date last year, Ohio U was 11-10 overall, 2-5 in the conference. They made some changes, improved over the next 10 games, won the MAC Tournament, and beat Georgetown in the NCAA Tournament. I'm not saying we'll do the same, but you can't call it a year just yet, especially in this conference.

With that said, here's a few things I think need to happen to turn this thing around. Feel free to add your thoughts.

1) Run the offense through Zeke Marshall. I know, I know. Sometimes Zeke plays like a future pro, other times he plays like a taller Quade Milum. He's only a sophomore. He's got to develop more...he's not a finished product. I know. But still, Dambrot was right when he kept stressing the same thing over and over in the preseason - this team will be as good as Zeke is. When he plays at his best, they beat good teams like Can't State. When he struggles, they are forced to count of the team's other scorers, who are all inconsistent. It's time to run the offense through Zeke, for better or for worse.

2) Settle on a Starting Lineup. Players do well with a consistent rotation...it's February, it's time to settle on one. And please don't let it include Bardo. I'd go McNees/McClanahan/McKnight/Cvetinovic/Marshall, but that's just me.

3) Play Josh Egner and Dakotah Euton. Both are freshmen, and will make freshmen mistakes. But both can score, especially Egner. Egner also has the potential to be a great defender. Scoring and defense, something this team is sorely lacking.

What else do you guys think?

Regardless, don't give up...we are Zips fans through thick and thin...LETS GO ZIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RACER]

when you shoot 20% from the three line,and 30% from the field your not going to win.

you can get the ball into zeke.teams will double team him all day if we can't make an open

jump shots.eastern only scored 60 points.when you hold a team to 60 points you should win.

[UAZip0510]

when you shoot 20% from the three line,and 30% from the field your not going to win.

you can get the ball into zeke.teams will double team him all day if we can't make an open

jump shots.eastern only scored 60 points.when you hold a team to 60 points you should win.

And one game doesn't make a season...they're shooting 43% from the field on the season (31% tonight), 35% from three (24% tonight). They had a horrid shooting night, but it's not like that's the norm. Even if they won tonight, it's still obvious that they need to fix a lot before Cleveland. This thread is my attempt to discuss that.

[RACER]

if they make two or three more baskets they win.it's that simple.make shots you win.shoot bad,and you lose.

[UAZip0510]

if they make two or three more baskets they win.it's that simple.make shots you win.shoot bad,and you lose.

Sure, but I'm looking bigger picture, not just tonight.

[The Hip Zip]

I liked Quade. Some of the most spectacular dunks at the Jar were Quade's on the back end of an alley-oop

[skip-zip]

It's easy to pass this off as a horrible shooting game, but we haven't proven to be a good shooting team throughout the course of this season. The root of the problem is that were left with a team this year that does not have dependable and consistent scorers. In fact, I can't think of one guy who fits that category. I had hoped that McKnight would be that guy when he returned in late December. The only encouraging thing is that we appear to be playing better defense over the last week or so.

Sure, a low seed "can" win the tournament. But think of the history. OU as a #9 last year was the lowest seed to ever win the MAC tournament. The year before, Akron as a #5 was the lowest ever. It's a long shot. And instead of waiting and resting our hopes on a near-miracle in Cleveland, I'd much rather see us just play a lot better basketball over the next few weeks, and give myself something to raise my hopes of a possible successful finish.

[ZachTheZip]

Bench McKnight. Bench McNees. Don't let them back on the court unless we're in a blowout.

[jjackson123]

As UAzip said in his original post... They need to settle on a starting lineup. Besides the Mcknight suspension, the coaching staff has no excuses not to have one by now as veryone has been healthy and able to practice

Why not start Mcknight? I know he has not been playing well, but maybe it is because coming off of the bench isn't his thing this year. I, like KD thought it was a good idea at the time of his return to bring him off the bench but he has not been playing well and clearly needs a spark.

Abreau, Mclanahan, Mcknight, Nik, Zeke... very versatile 5 IMO

Also... Dear Brett McKnight, for the love of God please learn/get better at finishing around the rim.

[jjackson123]

Also, I know I contradicted myself with my last comment but it needed to be said. It seems like everyone, especially Nik and Mcknight struggle with putbacks and 1 on 1's downlow

[Zips Supporter]

if they make two or three more baskets they win.it's that simple.make shots you win.shoot bad,and you lose.

Yep I agree. That's how Ohio beat us earlier this year. They made their open shots, they took the right shots, and they took advantage of turnovers. We didn't in that game and the NIU game. That's how you win in this gritty conference. It all comes down to turnovers/how well you take care of the basketball and who shoots the ball better. Just ask Geno Ford.

[Zips Supporter]

Bench McKnight. Bench McNees. Don't let them back on the court unless we're in a blowout.

I actually disagree, I think McNees is one of the few guys on the team that actually knows how to make the offense work around Zeke. Not too many people like Zeke because of his development so far but he excels off guard play. Any coach should be able to see that. And the past 2 or 3 years McNees was always one of those guys who if he missed 2 shots, especially 3's, he would lose confidence and not take as many shots for the rest of the game. It took him until this year to finally get off that kick. I think he's shown good enough leadership to earn more minutes.

And I beg the differ just a little with McKnight. He has been consistent enough this year. He is just one of those guys who plays better in home games than on the road. His offensive skills havent been lacking. i just think his shot is not where it was in 2009, the year they made the tournament. McKnight also plays better when the lineup on the floor is smaller.

[Dr Z]

If we can get to the Q, Brett & Steve will be the ones we are going to have to have step up. Good or bad, that's the way it is, IMO.

[skip-zip]

As UAzip said in his original post... They need to settle on a starting lineup. Besides the Mcknight suspension, the coaching staff has no excuses not to have one by now as veryone has been healthy and able to practice

Why not start Mcknight? I know he has not been playing well, but maybe it is because coming off of the bench isn't his thing this year. I, like KD thought it was a good idea at the time of his return to bring him off the bench but he has not been playing well and clearly needs a spark.

Abreau, Mclanahan, Mcknight, Nik, Zeke... very versatile 5 IMO

Also... Dear Brett McKnight, for the love of God please learn/get better at finishing around the rim.

It's not that he's not playing well, he's just not hitting shots. You can sometimes see his frustration. Ditto for McNees. And in my opinion, I see those two guys working harder on the defensive end than maybe at any point in their careers.

I think Dr. Z is right. Brett and Steve have to start making shots. They might be the only guys capable of carrying us to a championship right now. Let's hope they both break out of this funk soon.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I think Dr. Z is right. Brett and Steve have to start making shots. They might be the only guys capable of carrying us to a championship right now. Let's hope they both break out of this funk soon.

We don't have an alternative but to play Steve. We do have some alternatives to Brett.

Brett is Brett. He ain't gonna change. Time to start integrating some of the #3/#4 guys with upside.

[mes102]

Now im not at practice, so i don't know how they do there. But here is what I would have on the floor:

McNees

Roberts

Diggs

Cvetinovic

Marshall

McNees might change spots with Roberts in SG spot. I would like to see Roberts play some PG as well. Diggs has impressed me defensively, but McClannahan I see more of a offensive side then defense; however, he's not been as effective as of late. McKnight is just too much of a hazard on defense. He keeps picking up silly fouls on defense.

We need to find this year's Jimmy Conyers fast. My opinion is that it could be Roberts if he produces more. It may be Diggs, or may even be Egner. But someone has to step up now, and help Zeke out...

[Captain Kangaroo]

Not to belabor the McKnight point...but he averaged 2.5 FT's per game last year, and shot 77%.

This season he's averaging 2 FT's per game, and making 67%.

When he was at his most effective last season, he was going 2-9 from the field, but making 5-6 FT's in a given game (remember he began the 2009-10 season horribly at the line, then shot around 90% the last 1/2 of the season).

He needs to get back to banging inside and finishing around the rim if he's to be useful to the Zips. If he keeps playing soft he doesn't get to the FT line, and he becomes a shot-a-minute offensive liability.

[RootforRoo44]

if they make two or three more baskets they win.it's that simple.make shots you win.shoot bad,and you lose.

When you play a team as God-awful as EMU, it shouldn't be a matter of a few baskets. That game should be a 20-point blowout win 9 out of 10 times.

[Captain Kangaroo]

if they make two or three more baskets they win.it's that simple.make shots you win.shoot bad,and you lose.

When you play a team as God-awful as EMU, it shouldn't be a matter of a few baskets. That game should be a 20-point blowout win 9 out of 10 times.

If we could kick an extra point, we'd have beaten Gardner Webb.

[RACER]

if akron buchtel had a guy who could make extra points they would have been state champs.

my point is if you can't make routine normal plays your not going to win games.

right now none of our perimter players are shooting well.it's wasting a good effort by zeke,and nik.

[mes102]

if they make two or three more baskets they win.it's that simple.make shots you win.shoot bad,and you lose.

When you play a team as God-awful as EMU, it shouldn't be a matter of a few baskets. That game should be a 20-point blowout win 9 out of 10 times.

I guess this was that 1 out of 10?

[ZachTheZip]

Dambrot is going back to basics.

''I tell them, look, let me try to fix you. That's kind of my deal anyway. That's what I built my whole coaching career on,'' said Dambrot, whose only non-20 win season at UA was a 19-10 mark in 2004-05. ''We are going back to the basics.

''We are going to guard one-on-one in practice. We are going to help and recover. We are going to box out every day. We are going to treat it like the preseason again.''

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Dambrot has eschewed his preference for man-to-man defense in favor of mixing it with 1-3-1 or 2-3 zones in recent games. That combination of defenses probably will continue the rest of the way.

''This team might have to play more zone. It's evident,'' Dambrot said. ''It's not really my cup of tea, but I have to do what I have to do.''

[GP1]

Dambrot is going back to basics.

''I tell them, look, let me try to fix you. That's kind of my deal anyway. That's what I built my whole coaching career on,'' said Dambrot, whose only non-20 win season at UA was a 19-10 mark in 2004-05. ''We are going back to the basics.

''We are going to guard one-on-one in practice. We are going to help and recover. We are going to box out every day. We are going to treat it like the preseason again.''

Desperate times call for desperate measures, so Dambrot has eschewed his preference for man-to-man defense in favor of mixing it with 1-3-1 or 2-3 zones in recent games. That combination of defenses probably will continue the rest of the way.

''This team might have to play more zone. It's evident,'' Dambrot said. ''It's not really my cup of tea, but I have to do what I have to do.''

Interesting read. Seems to be focused on things that aren't the problem. When there is a problem, don't focus on the little issues around the problem. Focus on the problem itself.

The problems as I see them are as follows: First, .421 fieldgoal percentage for the season...terrible. Second, .343 three point fieldgoal percentage for the season...not terrible, but not good either. Third, FT percentage < 70%.

The primary goal of basketball is to take the little orange ball and throw it through the little orange ring hanging 10 feet above the floor. The Zips are not doing this at an acceptable level. Scoring a lot of points puts a lot of pressure on the other team. Less defensive practice...more shooting practice.

The Zips are being out rebounded because they can't make shots. Missed shots turn into rebounds for the other team. Offensive rebounds are extremely difficult to get so avoid having to get them by making the first shot. Make shots, less rebounds for the other team....it's simple.

[Dave in Green]

It's simple to talk about throwing a little orange ball through a little orange ring more than the other team. It gets complex when well-executed obstacles are put in the way that require well-executed strategies to overcome.

A well-executed defensive plan leads to fewer high-percentage shots for the other team and decreased likelihood of them putting the ball through the ring more frequently than your team.

A well-executed offensive plan leads to more high-percentage shots for your team and increased likelihood of putting the ball through the ring more frequently than the other team.

In the end, all that matters is for your team to score 1 more point than the other team before the final buzzer. It doesn't matter if the final score is 1-0 or 100-99. What matters is winning.

The Zips current combined offensive/defensive plan is not working so well with the current players. There are many different adjustments available. But not all of them will produce the best results with a given group of players. Coaches make big bucks to resolve situations like this. KD and his staff have to come up with a solution that works for the current players. The players have to buy into it and be held accountable.

[GP1]

It's simple to talk about throwing a little orange ball through a little orange ring more than the other team.

Maybe it is really that easy. They are playing a basketball game, not designing a ship to fly to Mars.

It's D1 college athletics and because of that the competition is good. They need to do a better job against good competition. KD is the same guy he was when they were winning 20, but now the players can't execute. Maybe it's the players and not the strategies. KD can't shot the ball for them, but he can focus on them doing a better job of shooting. While I don't get to see every game, I do get to see some. The level of difficulty in the MAC is nearly the same as it was five years ago. The players just need to execute better and I think KD focusing on defense and rebounding is not the solution.