10am Keith Dambrot on WKNR

[scottditzen]

Should be interesting.

Aaron Goldhammer is going to question coach about putting Nik in a position to foul out so early in the second half.

p.s. Rizzo in extreme pain after Bobcats lost last night!

[scottditzen]

Good interview, here are the notes:

KD: Despite ups and downs all season, the team constantly shows its resilience.

KD: We have so much conference tournament experience. And the team feels it can win under

any circumstance.

KD: Zeke has a long way to go....sees big improvements though. He needs to learn to stay out of

foul trouble...other players are "jumping into" him.

Aaron: Western Michigan plays with an attitude, big chip on their shoulder.

KD: We "pounded Western this year"

KD: Keys vs. WM will be how our "big guys" do against them and defending their best players.

KD: no worries about fatigue. Feels we do more post game practice than any other team.

Aaron: What's the secret to Akron's success every year?

KD: No secret. It's our depth, and character. There are no big stars, it's a good team effort.

Rizzo: Does your proximity to Quicken Arena give you and Can't a big home advantage?

KD: AKRON AND K-ENT HAVE THE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE BOTH TEAMS ARE BETTER THAN ALLTHE

OTHER TEAMS.

KD: The MAC tournament is one of the best in the nation. After 25 years with the conference, the

current state of the MAC tourny is the biggest improvement.

Rizzo: You used to play in Kobo Arena?

KD: Yes, in Detroit.

Rizzo: My God, that place is a cave...a rats nest.

KD: The Q is the perfect facility for the MAC, lucky to have it available.

KD: Props to Western. For tonight, we need to score in transition and play D. We have a great familiarity with them. It's going to be to our advantage.

Rizzo: Can't fans always text him and complain when he interviews Dambrot!

-END TRANSMISSION-

[Captain Kangaroo]

Rizzo: Does your proximity to Quicken Arena give you and Can't a big home advantage?

KD: AKRON AND K-ENT HAVE THE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE BOTH TEAMS ARE BETTER THAN ALL THE

OTHER TEAMS.

Love the quote.

[skip-zip]

I am NOT one to jump on opportunities to criticize the officials.....BUT...

Since they brought it up in the interview, those fouls on Zeke when offensive players are initiating the contact with Zeke to clear space to get off a shot are COMPLETE BULL !!!!

[Dave in Green]

KD saw exactly what Hilltopper and I saw and discussed last night. Opposing players jump into Zeke, who stands there with his arms straight up in the air. The refs call fouls on Zeke way too often when Zeke is not the one initiating the contact. Add these to the 1 or 2 silly fouls Zeke makes in most games, and he is in perpetual foul trouble.

Zeke can learn to control the silly fouls. He can't control the refs. The Zips coaching staff really needs to address this issue with the MAC. I'd put together a video compilation of every foul called on Zeke, send it to the MAC, and ask that it be reviewed by the head of officiating.

This really needs to be addressed before next season. If Zeke cuts his silly fouls in half and the MAC officials cut their silly foul calls on Zeke in half, Zeke will end up on the floor at the end of almost every game in his junior and senior seasons.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I am NOT one to jump on opportunities to criticize the officials.....BUT...

Since they brought it up in the interview, those fouls on Zeke when offensive players are initiating the contact with Zeke to clear space to get off a shot are COMPLETE BULL !!!!

This was a topic of much discussion last night.

Zeke needs to get a wider base, and beat his opponent to the spot.

Presently his feet are slow, and he doesn't get in good defensive position. He looks awkward, and that doesn't do him any favors with the refs. When there's contact, they will call a foul on the awkward-looking guy every time.

Zeke needs to work hard on his footwork this summer. He can block shots all day long with whatever footwork he presently uses...but if he wants to stop an opposing center who's backing him down on the low block, he needs to widen-up.

[GoZips]

I am NOT one to jump on opportunities to criticize the officials.....BUT...

Since they brought it up in the interview, those fouls on Zeke when offensive players are initiating the contact with Zeke to clear space to get off a shot are COMPLETE BULL !!!!

This was a topic of much discussion last night.

Zeke needs to get a wider base, and beat his opponent to the spot.

Presently his feet are slow, and he doesn't get in good defensive position. He looks awkward, and that doesn't do him any favors with the refs. When there's contact, they will call a foul on the awkward-looking guy every time.

Zeke needs to work hard on his footwork this summer. He can block shots all day long with whatever footwork he presently uses...but if he wants to stop an opposing center who's backing him down on the low block, he needs to widen-up.

Well said.

Let me add that Zeke needs to not leave his feet. Second, he needs to put less emphasis on blocking

shots. I think it takes away from rebounding as well as leaving a hole in the middle.

Zeke needs to live in the weight room, the chow hall and gym next off season.

[zippy5]

He just needs to play a little smarter. He'll be fine...another entire offseason to put some pounds on and work on his game, and he'll be great next year. As long as he can stay on the floor, I'm really excited to see 2 more years of him.

[skip-zip]

What you see happening is typical of slow-moving guys in the post. It's a little nudge immediately followed by a re-established position. And it often repeats itself several times until the offensive player realizes that he still can't get a shot off. So, it turns into either a much harder "nudge" right before the shot, a clear out with a forearm, or a complete lunge in order to attempt to draw the foul.

Yes, he can do a better job of "looking like" he's in great postion, as Captain suggests. But it doesn't change how the rule should be interpreted. I think the bigger issue is that the MAC officials simply don't want to allow a guy of his superior height to stand in there and block shots all game long. But the reality is, if these guys didn't get away with the pushes, these shots would be getting blocked repeatedly.

I've had plenty of discussions about this as well, between very knowledable basketball minds, and I really believe they just don't know what to do about his superior size, and feel compelled to call some of those on him. And it frustrates me that his advantage actually seems as if it's being held against him.

[Dr Z]

... needs to put less emphasis on blocking shots. I think it takes away from rebounding as well as leaving a hole in the middle.

I never thought of it like that, but that may be one of the reasons he is not playing "wide" and leaving the proper spacing between his opponent. His footwork may be the result of that blocking mentality also. In a previous post I suggested sending video of Zeke's fouls to the mac office. I think that may have been the result of my ignorance. I haven't seen as many games in person (big difference) as I would like to this year. After watching Tuesday and Thursdays games in person, I think that off-season work will be the answer. I can also see the result of Zeke's work in the weight room. He is adding muscle. I hope he stays focused and works hard, he can be the reason that we advance in years to come.

Thanks for the post scott.

[RootforRoo44]

KD saw exactly what Hilltopper and I saw and discussed last night. Opposing players jump into Zeke, who stands there with his arms straight up in the air. The refs call fouls on Zeke way too often when Zeke is not the one initiating the contact. Add these to the 1 or 2 silly fouls Zeke makes in most games, and he is in perpetual foul trouble.

Zeke can learn to control the silly fouls. He can't control the refs. The Zips coaching staff really needs to address this issue with the MAC. I'd put together a video compilation of every foul called on Zeke, send it to the MAC, and ask that it be reviewed by the head of officiating.

This really needs to be addressed before next season. If Zeke cuts his silly fouls in half and the MAC officials cut their silly foul calls on Zeke in half, Zeke will end up on the floor at the end of almost every game in his junior and senior seasons.

That video would be 4 hours long, i dont know if they'd watch it all.

[Blue & Gold]

...Second, he needs to put less emphasis on blocking

shots...

This has been my thought all season long, though I've never mentioned it due to the fact everyone absolutely loves when Zeke blocks a shot. But I don't care if he ever blocks another shot ever again. I don't like it when Zeke leaves his feet & swats @ shots. I also don't like to see him lean in at all. I'd prefer to simply see him plant his feet and extend his 7'6" arms straight up in the air and just alter every shot taken.

[Zips Win!]

I am NOT one to jump on opportunities to criticize the officials.....BUT...

Since they brought it up in the interview, those fouls on Zeke when offensive players are initiating the contact with Zeke to clear space to get off a shot are COMPLETE BULL !!!!

All things considered, I thought yesterday's game was one of the better officiated games we have had at the Q.

If we hit our 10 missed lay-ups, no one would have noticed the officials..

[RootforRoo44]

I am NOT one to jump on opportunities to criticize the officials.....BUT...

Since they brought it up in the interview, those fouls on Zeke when offensive players are initiating the contact with Zeke to clear space to get off a shot are COMPLETE BULL !!!!

All things considered, I thought yesterday's game was one of the better officiated games we have had at the Q.

If we hit our 10 missed lay-ups, no one would have noticed the officials..

WHAT?!

[Dr Z]

WHAT?!

Game was officiated fair, too many whistles in general though. I had an Akron fan behind me jumping up and down screaming every time Akron got a foul called on them. He made me ashamed to be an Akron fan. If you stuck around for the OU game, and watched OU fans cry about fouls, that's how it looked to the unbiased observer. While I was eating lunch today a BigTen game was on, they went 7 minutes of uninterrupted time up and down the floor, no whistles. That's more fun to watch than tons of stoppage in play. I like watching basketball, not foul shooting and officials calls.

[skip-zip]

I am NOT one to jump on opportunities to criticize the officials.....BUT...

Since they brought it up in the interview, those fouls on Zeke when offensive players are initiating the contact with Zeke to clear space to get off a shot are COMPLETE BULL !!!!

All things considered, I thought yesterday's game was one of the better officiated games we have had at the Q.

If we hit our 10 missed lay-ups, no one would have noticed the officials..

WHAT?!

No kidding. As I said earlier, I normally don't even think to mention it. I normally pass it off as typical MAC officiating. But, this one was especially horrible.

[Captain Kangaroo]

If we hit our 10 missed lay-ups, no one would have noticed the officials..

On the nose, ZipsWin!

[RootforRoo44]

WHAT?!

Game was officiated fair, too many whistles in general though. I had an Akron fan behind me jumping up and down screaming every time Akron got a foul called on them. He made me ashamed to be an Akron fan. If you stuck around for the OU game, and watched OU fans cry about fouls, that's how it looked to the unbiased observer. While I was eating lunch today a BigTen game was on, they went 7 minutes of uninterrupted time up and down the floor, no whistles. That's more fun to watch than tons of stoppage in play. I like watching basketball, not foul shooting and officials calls.

This is a pointless argument as we've already established that many on ZN.o are obvious MAC official apologists but I saw the OU game...the officials were terrible there too.

They made a few game changing calls that truly affected the outcome of the game.

They made about 10 that almost did for us. It's frightening that these guys are repeatedly being chosen for these big games.

[skip-zip]

WHAT?!

Game was officiated fair, too many whistles in general though. I had an Akron fan behind me jumping up and down screaming every time Akron got a foul called on them. He made me ashamed to be an Akron fan. If you stuck around for the OU game, and watched OU fans cry about fouls, that's how it looked to the unbiased observer. While I was eating lunch today a BigTen game was on, they went 7 minutes of uninterrupted time up and down the floor, no whistles. That's more fun to watch than tons of stoppage in play. I like watching basketball, not foul shooting and officials calls.

This is a pointless argument as we've already established that many on ZN.o are obvious MAC official apologists but I saw the OU game...the officials were terrible there too.

They made a few game changing calls that truly affected the outcome of the game.

They made about 10 that almost did for us. It's frightening that these guys are repeatedly being chosen for these big games.

It was way beyond their "normal bad". If that's not the case, I don't even bring it up.

[UAZipster0305]

WHAT?!

Game was officiated fair, too many whistles in general though. I had an Akron fan behind me jumping up and down screaming every time Akron got a foul called on them. He made me ashamed to be an Akron fan. If you stuck around for the OU game, and watched OU fans cry about fouls, that's how it looked to the unbiased observer. While I was eating lunch today a BigTen game was on, they went 7 minutes of uninterrupted time up and down the floor, no whistles. That's more fun to watch than tons of stoppage in play. I like watching basketball, not foul shooting and officials calls.

This is a pointless argument as we've already established that many on ZN.o are obvious MAC official apologists but I saw the OU game...the officials were terrible there too.

They made a few game changing calls that truly affected the outcome of the game.

They made about 10 that almost did for us. It's frightening that these guys are repeatedly being chosen for these big games.

It was way beyond their "normal bad". If that's not the case, I don't even bring it up.

We won the game, let's move on already! MAC refs suck. This is nothing new and nothing that will change. Let's focus on the game and opportunity that are ahead of us.

[UAZip0510]

WHAT?!

Game was officiated fair, too many whistles in general though. I had an Akron fan behind me jumping up and down screaming every time Akron got a foul called on them. He made me ashamed to be an Akron fan. If you stuck around for the OU game, and watched OU fans cry about fouls, that's how it looked to the unbiased observer. While I was eating lunch today a BigTen game was on, they went 7 minutes of uninterrupted time up and down the floor, no whistles. That's more fun to watch than tons of stoppage in play. I like watching basketball, not foul shooting and officials calls.

I agree with this 110%. The game was officiated fair, but I want to see more basketball than free throws, and I want each teams best players to be on the court when the game is on the line.

[zen]

I'd put together a video compilation of every foul called on Zeke, send it to the MAC, and ask that it be reviewed by the head of officiating.

... and in the cover letter, I would emphasize that the refs (perhaps subconsciously) are sympathizing with the smaller players in the MAC against Zeke, as if to handicap them because it's not fair... and this attitude will keep the MAC down, because in the future, other sought prospects coming out of high school will see how their predecessors were treated and avoid going there, and the MAC will never breach the glass ceiling.