2/12/08

[The Hip Zip]

That's the night that Northern came in as a 17 pt dog and whipped us good. I would think that this should provide significant motivation for KD & the boys tonight. The only way the Huskies keep this close is if Chad Harnish tosses 5 TD passes.

Akron 81

Northern 50

[Quickzips]

If the Zips hold serve at home they all but guarantee themselves a bye to Friday in the conference tournament. That has to start tonight with NIU. The Huskies are the worst program in the MAC and arguably one of the worst in all of D-I hoops, but as Hip pointed out, they have been in this position before and come into the JAR and stole one from us. Is this team going to be mentally strong enough to not play down to the level of competition? I'm not sure it really matters. Even if we play at NIU's level we should still win this one (although I predict an utter meltdown of Zipsnation if it plays out like that).

I'll say Zips 78, Huskies 52. This one should be a laugher. Let's put the MAC West to bed and get back to the East.

[johnnyzip84]

The line is 20.5 to 21.

NIU might start fast coming off their home upset of Miami. But it will quickly go downhill for them from there.

Zips 87

Huskies 59

[skip-zip]

That's the night that Northern came in as a 17 pt dog and whipped us good. I would think that this should provide significant motivation for KD & the boys tonight. The only way the Huskies keep this close is if Chad Harnish tosses 5 TD passes.

Akron 81

Northern 50

There were a lot of STUNNED people that night. I believe that was the game that snapped a very looooong home winning streak too.

Better not happen again.

Zips 85

NIU 62

[MDZip]

If the Zips hold serve at home they all but guarantee themselves a bye to Friday in the conference tournament.

If the Zips win all of their remaining home contests, they are guaranteed one of the top four seeds. If they beat NIU and EMU loses today (both of which are very possible), all of the West teams are eliminated from knocking the Zips out of a top four seed. Miami can't catch them, and if we win all of our remaining home games, the worst we can be is 13-3. That eliminates BGSU, especially since we would hand them a loss. With a win today and EMU loss, the worst the Zips could possibly be is a five seed, no matter what. A five would be a complete collapse. Zips are looking great for a top four seed.

[The Hip Zip]

There were a lot of STUNNED people that night. I believe that was the game that snapped a very looooong home winning streak too.

Better not happen again.

Zips 85

NIU 62

If memory serves, I don't think we were even in the game at any point. They took early control and were never threatened

[RowdyZip]

NIU is averaging 55ppg. I don't think there's any way they hit 60 against us. 74-51, Zips.

[Zipmeister]

NIUs successful application to the NCAA to waive the shot clock for tonight's contest dramatically impacts the flow of the game. Final score: Zips 16, NIU 2.

[cjapsu]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembered that game immediately. I lived in Chagrin Falls at the time and braved a few snow squalls to get to Akron in time for tipoff.

What a TERRIBLE game that was... not a lot of guys on the team left from that year but I'm hoping the ones left are fired up for a bit of revenge.

[Quickzips]

If the Zips win all of their remaining home contests, they are guaranteed one of the top four seeds. If they beat NIU and EMU loses today (both of which are very possible), all of the West teams are eliminated from knocking the Zips out of a top four seed. Miami can't catch them, and if we win all of our remaining home games, the worst we can be is 13-3. That eliminates BGSU, especially since we would hand them a loss. With a win today and EMU loss, the worst the Zips could possibly be is a five seed, no matter what. A five would be a complete collapse. Zips are looking great for a top four seed.

Not at all worried about beating out EMU for a bye to Thursday. Quite frankly, EMU would have to win out and the Zips would have to lose every game the rest of the season for them to move ahead of us in the standings. I see that as highly unlikely. If EMU ties with us, we hold the tie breaker. I want to get the bye to Friday. EMU beating Ohio today would be more helpful for that, although frankly, as I said earlier, if the Zips hold serve at home they should have one of the top 2 seeds anyways. That would put us a 13-3 in the conference. Buffalo would have to go 5-1 including a win at least one road win (at either Can't or Akron) to move ahead of us. Ohio and Can't would both have to win out just to tie with us. Ohio would have to take 3 on the road against Buffalo, Can't and Miami. Can't would have a more realistic chance with their only road games being at Miami and at BGSU. Even if it were to happen we may still end up with the tiebreaker depending on the circumstances.

[ZippyforPresident]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembered that game immediately. I lived in Chagrin Falls at the time and braved a few snow squalls to get to Akron in time for tipoff.

What a TERRIBLE game that was... not a lot of guys on the team left from that year but I'm hoping the ones left are fired up for a bit of revenge.

I was just thinking about that. Does NIU basketball have to bring a snow storm with them every time they come to town?

[Dave in Green]

More than 10 minutes into the game, EMU leads OU 9-0 with the Bobkitties 0-11 from the field and 0-3 from the free throw line.

OU has gone more than the first quarter of the game without scoring!