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MBB First Practices


dboze

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McCrea would be my easy choice as pre-season POY as well. But this guy lists him as a GUARD on the all-conference team. Nothing about McCrea's game is guard-like in the least. I know it can be tough sometimes to squeeze the players you think are the 5 best into an "all-conference 1st team".

I've said before that the MAC East is going to be extremely competitive this season, even more so than usual. My biggest beef with these predictions is the over-rating of WMU.

Please explain how a team that won twenty-one games last season and returns all five

starters, and has a veteran, respected coach is 'overrated'.

I seriously doubt that any MAC coach will take Western Michigan lightly.

I spoke a little too quickly. Losing Juwan Howard JR might hurt a little, but they do have some quality players in Ward and Whitfield coming back.

It seems to me that WMU under Steve Hawkins tends to excede expectations when they are low, and disappoint when the are raised. What's the highest finish for a Hawkins-coached team?

Didn't they win the MAC tourney a while back?

Edit: 2004

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McCrea would be my easy choice as pre-season POY as well. But this guy lists him as a GUARD on the all-conference team. Nothing about McCrea's game is guard-like in the least. I know it can be tough sometimes to squeeze the players you think are the 5 best into an "all-conference 1st team".

I've said before that the MAC East is going to be extremely competitive this season, even more so than usual. My biggest beef with these predictions is the over-rating of WMU.

Please explain how a team that won twenty-one games last season and returns all five

starters, and has a veteran, respected coach is 'overrated'.

I seriously doubt that any MAC coach will take Western Michigan lightly.

I don't know as I would underestimate Western, but best team in the conference? That is a pretty bold statement. Best team in the West division I would probably give them (although I expect Ball State to give them a run for their money on that one). But the power of the conference is still in the East. I don't know how you can put them ahead of all of Akron, Buffalo, Can't, Miami and Ohio. I don't think any MAC coach will take the Broncos too lightly, but I don't think they are the best team in the conference either.

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I don't know as I would underestimate Western, but best team in the conference? That is a pretty bold statement. Best team in the West division I would probably give them (although I expect Ball State to give them a run for their money on that one). But the power of the conference is still in the East. I don't know how you can put them ahead of all of Akron, Buffalo, Can't, Miami and Ohio. I don't think any MAC coach will take the Broncos too lightly, but I don't think they are the best team in the conference either.

On February 8th, I wonder if their fat-ass center will try to kick any of our guys again?fat-man.gif

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I can understand someone predicting that WMU could have the best regular season record in the MAC. They return a lot of experienced players from last year's winning team, and they play two games each against the weaker MAC West teams and only one game each against the stronger MAC East teams. So while the stronger MAC East teams are beating up on each other, WMU could fatten up its record with lots of wins over the weaker West teams.

If WMU racks up the best regular season record in the MAC, that would make them MAC champions without necessarily being the strongest, best overall team.

Then comes the MAC tournament, and WMU is one of maybe a half dozen teams that could get hot and run the table at the Q.

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As promised: First basketball practice will be held at Barberton HS starting at five PM Friday.

Better practice to watch is Saturday morning in the JAR.

What time? And I'm assuming it's open to the public?

The Barberton Public Shools are doing the team a favor because the JAR is not available to MBB on Friday evening. I do not think they are expecting anyone except the Zips team to attend. They are hosting a football home game at 7pm.

As for Saturday, The Zips are not having an event like many major programs have for the first practice. If you were invited to attend, you were provided access information. The JAR is not as accessible on weekends as it is on weekdays when the entire facility is in use. I have no idea if the exterior doors will be unlocked for visitors during any of the weekend practices.

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Gaffney article on the opening of practice.

I don't know if anyone else caught the notes at the bottom of the article. Dials is now coming here as a "volunteer". I have to admit, it hurt when I saw him getting excited on the Miami bench last year in Cleveland during that OT battle in the MAC tournament. That was hard to watch. Glad to see that he's back with the good guys.

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I don't know if anyone else caught the notes at the bottom of the article. Dials is now coming here as a "volunteer". I have to admit, it hurt when I saw him getting excited on the Miami bench last year in Cleveland during that OT battle in the MAC tournament. That was hard to watch. Glad to see that he's back with the good guys.
It was breaking news on ZipsNation back in September...those guys are good. :D
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Gaffney article on the opening of practice.
Nice article. I like the photos included. Speaking of that...shouldn't that face be plastered all over Akron?

I want to see this one on a billboard with just the caption "Zeke!" using the stylized Z. :D

321500_2062071914853_1336371916_31827544_1831453436_n.jpg

Zeke swatted him, and he is doing his best to push him off !! I see an offensive foul there. I'm sure it wasn't called. :D

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Gaffney article on the opening of practice.
Nice article. I like the photos included. Speaking of that...shouldn't that face be plastered all over Akron?

I want to see this one on a billboard with just the caption "Zeke!" using the stylized Z. :D

321500_2062071914853_1336371916_31827544_1831453436_n.jpg

Like it, but I'd rather see the one of him blocking Rodriguez's shot at the end of the MAC Championship game (and then just the number "9" quietly underneath). And while I'm dreaming I'd like the Can't State board quote during the championship game of "Marshall's only a sophomore. Crap!" included as well. :)

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As much as I want to see the Zips practice, I'm thinking some of the later practices might be more interesting to watch than the earliest ones.
But tonight is the only night you can get this, before or after. :)

checked the link.... I think I will start calling you "lard arse" when I see you now ;)

Growing up in the Massillon area it was always considered a treat to go to Barberton for chicken. Being part Slovenian, Barberton was knd of an obligation and was part of my mother’s heritage....definitely went often. Chicken yes...but never blood sausage. Now...the chicken is verboten too. Too bad...it was always something to look forward too.

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