Buffalo

[Blue & Gold]

I'm positive Brett McClanahan shooting a fadeaway 25 foot three pointer wasn't the play that was drawn up in the huddle.

I hope you're right. At that point in the game, I thought we should have tried to get the quick 2, but it sure looked like they were looking to launch a 3 the whole time.

[meatwad]

U want to know who the good old boys are. Theses are guys that helped us loose early in the season. KD has a favorite lists and Chauncey is not one of them. For that reason by default I think KD is a piece of ---- His favorites guys played 23 mins plus and didn't score that much for min played (except for Alex). Chauncey played only 10 mins for whatever the reason and for a team who makes that adjustment no wonder he didn't score. If you want him to score go to your coach and tell him to wake up...

Good old boys = anyone but Gilliam? Got it.

So how are you related to him?

[UAZip0510]

U want to know who the good old boys are. Theses are guys that helped us loose early in the season. KD has a favorite lists and Chauncey is not one of them. For that reason by default I think KD is a piece of ---- His favorites guys played 23 mins plus and didn't score that much for min played (except for Alex). Chauncey played only 10 mins for whatever the reason and for a team who makes that adjustment no wonder he didn't score. If you want him to score go to your coach and tell him to wake up...

The same Chauncey Gilliam who has started for the majority of the season? That's the one that's not a favorite of KD's?

[zippy_ua_00]

Nitro needs to sit the bench the rest of the season. I cant watch another dumb 25 ft shot in a pivitol time of the game come up 2 feet short. hes not helping us so he only hurting us. Put his ass on the bench

[Derrt]

I do not feel like going on a search to see who posted the comment but they were absolutely right when they said the team has lost its Chemistry. The last time this team had good chemistry was the Can't state (white out)game . Everyone got touches that night and they passed the ball extremely well that game. If I am wrong, prove it.

[skip-zip]

I do believe Zeke is coached to be outside.

Of course he is. For the most part, if we're playing man defense, he covers his man.

[UAZip0510]

I couldn't agree more! Dambrot goes out of his way to state that all that matters is the MAC Tournament. Is it any wonder that we under perform in the OOC and the Bracketbuster every year?...Then hit a home run in the MAC Tournament. He hasn't expected us to win in the NCAA Tournament, and we haven't. It was obvious the team didn't care about the CBI a few years ago either. They didn't even show up.

20 win seasons, MAC Championships, and NCAA Tournament appearances are great, but now that these things are established as nearly standard, Dambrot must continue to raise the bar and think bigger than the MAC. That means, every game matters and should be played with the intention of winning!

We weren't playing to our potential before the ORU game, but now it looks like we are playing pick-up. No discipline, organization, or team work. I feel the lackadaisical attitude towards the Bracketbuster combined with the tough last three MAC games has made us complacent and lost.

IMO, we'll either end up in the NCAA Tournament or the CBI. This team doesn't have the mental edge required to win on the road at Can't right now.

Am I the only one who remembers him actively pushing his team for an at-large bid before the loss to ORU? Things have changed, and KD is being realistic.

Let's look at his exact quote from tonight:

“I told our guys this: If we win it outright or don’t win it outright. This might sounds like rationalization. I try to win every damn game. If we go to Can't and win, that’s great. If we go into Can't and lose, we still have to win the Tournament. The only thing to gain is the NIT Tournament. It’s a great tournament. The NIT teams are good. I’m not poo-pooing the NIT, but once you’ve been to the NCAA Tournament, that’s what you want. We have to make sure we are ready for that conference tournament."

That sounds to me like anything less than getting back to The Dance is a disappointment. Isn't that the truth?

[phil]

There was a lot of one on one basketball in the paint tonight. Tree was 5 of 13, almost all in the paint. Zeke also had numerous opportunities in the paint. We got the ball down low but could not finish. We also did not have many layups off passes tonight. I thought Buffalo played hard and earned the win. I think keith is taking the right approach in order to instill confidence in this team. They win 2 at the Q, nobody cares who won tonight.

[skip-zip]

Nitro needs to sit the bench the rest of the season. I cant watch another dumb 25 ft shot in a pivitol time of the game come up 2 feet short. hes not helping us so he only hurting us. Put his ass on the bench

I believe that was the type of shot we we're playing for in that situation, he just had to launch it from too far away, and ended up getting a hand in his face at the last moment when he pulled up to shoot.

But, I'll agree that he's not contributing much right now. A few others can join that group. We really need to take a few lessons from the Canadians about how to play as a cohesive unit, because we are have struggled to learn it on our own.

[UAZipster0305]

Am I the only one who remembers him actively pushing his team for an at-large bid before the loss to ORU?

I recall Dambrot saying the ORU contest wasn't the most important game they had remaining. The attitude should be that the next game is the most important game yet!

[wadszip]

U want to know who the good old boys are. Theses are guys that helped us loose early in the season. KD has a favorite lists and Chauncey is not one of them. For that reason by default I think KD is a piece of ---- His favorites guys played 23 mins plus and didn't score that much for min played (except for Alex). Chauncey played only 10 mins for whatever the reason and for a team who makes that adjustment no wonder he didn't score. If you want him to score go to your coach and tell him to wake up...

You got me stumped. Who are the "good old boys"? Name them, because I can't figure out who you are referring too. Is Quincy one of them? If so, you're wrong in saying that he is somebody who helped the Zips "loose" early in the season. If not for Q, the Zips don't beat Mississippi State.

Is it Brian Walsh? If so, I also don't know how he helped the team lose early in the year. The only two early losses where he played more than 20 minutes were Duquense and Cleveland State. The Duquense loss was hardly on him. He played a solid game. He didn't play well against CSU, but that's one game. Overall, Brian deserves minutes just for the way he hits the boards (something Chuancey has been allergic to doing).

It obviously isn't Brett. While he played a lot of minutes early, those have been cut back (rightfully) since conference play began. And he only played 15 tonight, so that doesn't reach your "23-minute" scenario.

Trust me, I've been a big proponent of Chauncey starting, and there was no reason for him only to get 10 minutes, but to call KD a POS for doing that is low-class. Even in a best-case scenario, Chauncey is going to have to live with 20 minutes, tops. Because Q and Walsh have earned their share as well. And as bad as he's played, Brett, being a senior who came up big last year, still deserves a chance to turn his poor play around (though it has to be a short leash at this point).

[Derrt]

Just say the post game interview. KD impressed me on that one. Gave props when props were due, and made no excuses. Lets just Win the MAC Tourney. 5000 G's (well until tomorrow morning when I check the forum again)

[UAZip0510]

I recall Dambrot saying the ORU contest wasn't the most important game they had remaining. The attitude should be that the next game is the most important game yet!

Winning the ORU game might have put us on the bubble for an at-large if we had also won out (which still might have been a long shot). If we don't beat the MAC teams we face in Cleveland, our NCAA hopes are dead. So no, the ORU contest wasn't the most important game they had remaining.

Dambrot isn't a bullshitter. Some like him for that (me), some don't (I'm guessing you). Sure, KD could have come out and talked about how the ORU game was the biggest of the season, but he would have been lying. March 9th and 10th are all that matter for this team.

[wadszip]

Winning the ORU game might have put us on the bubble for an at-large if we had also won out (which still might have been a long shot). If we don't beat the MAC teams we face in Cleveland, our NCAA hopes are dead. So no, the ORU contest wasn't the most important game they had remaining.

Dambrot isn't a bullshitter. Some like him for that (me), some don't (I'm guessing you). Sure, KD could have come out and talked about how the ORU game was the biggest of the season, but he would have been lying. March 9th and 10th are all that matter for this team.

Exactly.

Like you said, even if Akron beats ORU, they still would've had to have won out until the MAC finals to have a chance at an at-large. How has that been going? The Ohio game was bigger (but not the biggest). Tonight's loss being that it was the last home game against the No. 2 team should've been the biggest. Even with that, the Can't game now will even be bigger (and that's just to get an NIT invite).

Overall, the biggest games are March 9-10, which always have been.

Even if a tourney appearance doesn't happen, let's cut the KD bashing. He has drastically changed his philosophy (which was bashed on this board) for the better the past two years. This is still year one in the new-look Zips program. Let's give it time. The only way he can change his philosophy even more is to start going the JUCO route. While, I'm not 100 percent against it, lets see how this team improves next year before that even becomes a debate.

Regardless of how this year ends, lets not jump off bridges. If there is not improvement next year, it's free game.

[UAZipster0305]

Winning the ORU game might have put us on the bubble for an at-large if we had also won out (which still might have been a long shot). If we don't beat the MAC teams we face in Cleveland, our NCAA hopes are dead. So no, the ORU contest wasn't the most important game they had remaining.

Dambrot isn't a bullshitter. Some like him for that (me), some don't (I'm guessing you). Sure, KD could have come out and talked about how the ORU game was the biggest of the season, but he would have been lying. March 9th and 10th are all that matter for this team.

Can you imagine Caleb Porter saying something like that? Dambrot's attitude about the ORU game is a big part of what has led to the complacency of this recent slump. It has set the tone for recent games. And don't think this team is like a switch and can be turned back on just because we will have games in the MAC Tournament. Chemistry takes time to develop. I will be surprised if we get past OU, Buffalo, or Can't in Cleveland.

[zippy5]

How many games in a row did we lose last year pre mac tourney? I'll believe in KD at tournament time until he shows me I shouldn't.

[ZTVSports]

[lumberjack]

Chauncey's defense is why he does not get a lot of minutes tho. I am not sure why he didn't start tonight but I have a hunch it has to do with friction he has with KD.

That is BS. I know why he didn't start and it has to do with one of the players. If the coach play him as a guard where he belongs then is D will be much better.

[wadszip]

How many games in a row did we lose last year pre mac tourney? I'll believe in KD at tournament time until he shows me I shouldn't.

Good point. It was two, but both by double digits on the road. ... to Ohio and Can't.

However, last year, the Zips started off slow in league play and then seemingly clicked after the EMU loss and began to bury teams early, leading up to those final two games. Even the Can't game, while eventually a loss, Akron had the lead at halftime before the wheels fell off in the second half. OU, like they did this year, just ran us out of the gym from the start.

This year, despite the 12-1 start, the Zips had only led at the half in five of those 13 league games. Counting the last two (both losses), they have only led at half in a grand total of 6 of 15 league games. That is not good. No team that is in position to win a league should be playing from behind that much.

And, while tonight's Buffalo game was the first they've lost in league play while leading at the half (albeit by four points), this team has:

One time: Led at the half and lost ... tonight against Buffalo.

Three times: Led at the half but allowed the opponent to hang around until late in the second (BG, Toledo, and @Central Michigan)

One time: Led at the half then buried a team in the second (NIU).

One time: Buried a team from the start (Eastern Michigan).

...

Nine times: have found themselves in a dog fight for at least 20 minutes and won.

Even at 12-3, this team has not shown a killer instinct. The two best games were both at home against overmatched western teams ... Even NIU (one of the 15 worst D1 teams hung around for 20 minutes). While the Zips jumped on EMU early, and got up by as much as 25 or so, still allowed them to pull within 13 midway through the second before turning it back on.

With that being said, somehow, though, this team still controls its regular season and postseason MAC destiny, but it's been hardly a dominating display of basketball. I'll continue to hold out hope that this group can still get both done.

At the same time, I'll continue to realistically look toward next year. And it's strange that I have to feel this way. The Zips have warts, but every team who has ever played in the MAC have had as much if not more. Still, some of those teams have still been able to put together much more dominant seasons. You may even argue that last year's team was more dominant in MAC play than this year's team. That team finished 9-7, while this year's team will finish no worse than 12-4.

[wadszip]

That is BS. I know why he didn't start and it has to do with one of the players. If the coach play him as a guard where he belongs then is D will be much better.

You still aren't coming out and saying it, but I now know who you are referring too ... Brian Walsh.

Come on, man. Walsh has earned his starting role just as much as Chauncey. If anything, move Walsh to the 3 and Chauncey to the 2. At least Brian will go hard after a rebound. To call out Walsh as a "good old boy" is ignorant.

I hope you aren't Chauncey's mouthpiece, if so, he never should have came to Akron in the first place. If he wanted to play 30-plus minutes a night and be the man, stay at Baltimore County, which has an impressive 4-25 record this year. He made the move to play against better competition and play with better teammates. One of them happens to be Brian Walsh, who stepped down in competition, to be a part of this team.

Like I said earlier tonight, and earlier this season, I like Chauncey in the starting lineup ... as a 3 and Walsh as a 2. The team has hit a rough patch, but Brian vs. Chauncey is not the reason. KD is playing those guys where they should be, it's up to them to realize that and become a team.

However you want to slice it, Chauncey, Brian, Q, Brett and Harney are all basically competing for the same minutes. I agree that it may have been too slanted tonight, but for the most part, all of those guys have had their opportunities to get quality minutes.

Bottom line, this team's recent struggles have been more on the players than on the coach. It's a young team that has a lot of new guys, playing roles they aren't exactly used to. The sooner those guys learn their roles, the better the team will be. The talent is there 1-9.

[wadszip]

Zips J, This was what I meant...I know inside stuff that I don't share on this site but a special player called me and had a heart to heart. I told him almost what you said. Either a player wants to play or he doesn't when he is aware what is at stake. You can't make him do what his heart won't allow him to do. But I totally agree that you don't experiment late in the season. This is what I meant when I said go with what got you to 12-1. You should play every game late Fed. as if it is March (win or go home) Oh my definition for good old boys was Brett 3 point air ball for starters..Also I know my kid when he his mind isn't clear he won't concentrate on his shot. I was really hurt the team didn't clinch the title tonight as well.

I missed this earlier. Funny you say go with what got you to 12-1. Isn't that Walsh at the 2 and Chauncey at the 3? Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't that has been the lineup throughout the MAC season? The only difference tonight was Q at the 3. But you already said that wasn't the problem, it was Chauncey being played out of position.

So what is it?

[ksu sucks]

I don't want to start a fight on here but two kinds of people seriously need to wake up:

I was referring to this...

Sure Dambrot....couldn't draw up a smart play if his life depended on it

Do you really believe that? That's a dumbass remark and you know it.

Some of you are in meltdown mode. I'm not. I sure hope the team isn't.

[taxpayer]

Lumberjack, your insinuations are sickening. Since you know CG tell him he should not repeat what he did at the games conclusion; he is better than that. If he has issues suggest he take them to KD.

My observation is we've gone to focusing on ME and not WE. SHARE the ball and if covered or doubled, PASS to the open man. Too many forced shots last night. I'd love to see the coaches demand defensive & rebounding intensity. If you don't want to play D or you'd rather leak out then box out, enjoy the view from the bench.

I know it's simplistic but IF we play as a TEAM we will regain our way. If we continue to rebound half heartedly and play soft inside then go one on one on the offensive end it's going to be an unfortunate end to a season of promise.

To the poster who wants a shooter, are you serious? The Zips have a shooters, one of whom is first or second in the MAC in shooting percentage from the "3"; Brian Walsh.

[BirdZip]

Random replies:

Someone said that Zeke is out at the three point line because they are playing man-to-man so if his man is out there he needs to be out there. Actually, I think that's only in kindergarten games. In big-boy basketball, if the man you're guarding isn't a threat to hit a 3, and you're 7 feet tall, you play off to guard the real scoring threat in the lane / position for a rebound. And Zeke is coached to be out there--KD's defense has the big man picking up the guard coming off the high screen with the intention being that you immediately cut him off, stopping their play, then ideally switch off. When it's Zeke, though, that neutralizes a big part of his upside.

I agree that Brett McClanahan shouldn't be getting 15 minutes. The way he's been playing, he probably shouldn't be getting 15 seconds. I too would like to see more of Chauncey. However, I've witnessed several times Chauncey being pretty disrespectful to KD on the bench. If you wonder why he isn't playing much, maybe that has something to do with it. if you're the coach and someone is constantly talking back to you or arguing with you, does that make you want to play him more?

I highly doubt that KD wanted McClanahan launcing that 25-foot 3-pointer given how he barked his ear off after he took it. With that being said, someone above questioned KD's ability to draw up an effective play and then someone questioned that statement. I can think back to about 20 different times where KD called time out at the end of a half or the end of a game and the team came out and looked like the keystone cops. The track record is not good. In the same category is at the end of this game where the ball is inbounded to the corner after a tiem out, we trap but don't go for the ball/foul, then wait until #1 gets the ball to foul the 90% free throw shooter. What kind of strategy is that?

Our big men don't pass. Buffalo recognized it and took advantage of it. Granted refs were not great but Buffalo was last night. They earned that win.

[BirdZip]

And I love Brian Walsh. Great basketball mind, smooth shot, excellent rebounder. I'd like to see us run more through him, not less.