Dave in Green Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 It's pretty hard to get around playing inexperienced players when you're the 9th-youngest team in the country out of 347 DI teams. The Zips currently have 16 players on the roster with a total of 15 seasons of collegiate experience (0.94 years/letters won per player), and 12 of the 16 players have one year's experience or less. In any case, I feel for the players who I know worked their tails off in practice to get ready for this game, and who are more down right now than any Zips fan. But the bottom line is that the Zips were a little off while the Jays were at their peak. It happens. If the Jays had been a little off and the Zips at their peak, it would have been a different result. The Zips still are not quite good enough to consistently win at this level. They're close, but no cigar. The only thing left now is what we Zips fans are so used to. They have to use the rest of the season to get ready for the MAC tournament, and then be good enough by that time to not only win the tournament but be able to actually win an NCAA tournament game or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 While nobody was going stop McDermott entirely I have to think that what we lack is the "lock down defender". I found myself wondering how he would have done faced up with a guy like Nate Linhart or Jimmy Conyers. My guess is not nearly as well as he did today. I was fool enough to think the 10' points was a gift prior to the tip. I once again now painfully realize that we are what we are. Bring on the MAC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 While nobody was going stop McDermott entirely I have to think that what we lack is the "lock down defender". I found myself wondering how he would have done faced up with a guy like Nate Linhart or Jimmy Conyers. My guess is not nearly as well as he did today. Diggs was to be that guy for the '11-'12 Zips. At least in the games where he mentally showed up. Look back to the Oral Roberts game last year. Dominique Morrison did whatever he wanted. We always seem to allow the opponent's best player to control the game. And to any "Master of the Obvious" poster out that ready to pounce on the "REPLY" icon and type: "Yeah, that's why they're the opponents best player. Player X does that to a lot of teams." Spare us your insight. The PD seemed to blame the Zips Omaha whipping on playing only 2 games in 20 days. I'll actually buy into that a little. But who's scheduling all these D-3 schools at the beginning of the season, and then formulating sure a bizarre schedule cadence in a year where the Zips are supposed to be making a case for an at-large bid? GameChanger wonders why students are staying away from the JAR - Until this team does something special, there will be a lot of empty wooden bleachers on Zips home days again this year. The 2011-12 early season gave the Zips a lot of opportunities to make some magic, and thus far we've done nothing but yank dead rabbits out of the hat while a couple suffocated pigeons fall out of our sleeve. In every remaining game this season, with the possible exception of OU, the Zips should be even-money or favored. There will be fun times to be had in the JAR this winter/spring, but next chance for any real magic to occur is 3+ months away. Hopefully we figure out some way to go from Good to Great. Good is fun, but Great appears to be even better. At least from what my buddy from OU keeps telling me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Until this team does something special, there will be a lot of empty wooden bleachers on Zips home days again this year. That's it. For those waiting for halftime student contests, posters of Zeke Marshall's wingspan, and the continual mention of consecutive 20-win seasons to get people forming lines in front of the JAR, don't hold your breath. Knocking off recognizable programs and obtaining national rankings will bring more people. Just simply winning games isn't enough. Neither is being consistently in the mix in Cleveland in March. Maybe we don't need to "Think Bigger". We simply need to do the things within the program that will make us "Perform Bigger" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breezy123 Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Yes who in the world scheduled the Zips to play 4 games in the past 27 days. Hard to get any momentum when you have that much time off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Rusty or rested? I've seen teams that had extra time off come out and destroy another team, and people credit that to the team being rested and having had plenty of time to prepare for that specific opponent. I've seen other teams in similar situations stumble like the Zips did, and people say they had too much time off and got rusty. Honestly, I don't see extra time off between games as a defining factor in winning or losing. It can work both ways depending on other factors. Holding McDermott below his season shooting averages alone would have been no guarantee the Zips would have won. He hit 4-7 2-pointers (57%), and he's about a 50% shooter on the season. So hold him to 3-7 (43%) and you've held him below average. He hit 6-8 3-pointers (75%), and he's about a 50% shooter on the season. So hold him to 3-8 (38%) and you've held him below average. Subtract those 11 points and McDermott gets 19 -- below his 22 ppg season scoring average. And Creighton still outscores the Zips. This was a team whipping by a skilled, aggressive bunch of well-coached players who played their game to perfection. When both teams play their best games, the better team usually wins. By all measures, Creighton is a better team than Akron. The Zips needed to play their best game and hope it was enough to catch a better team that was not playing its best. It didn't happen. It doesn't happen often. That's why they're called upsets. And starting to pull off upsets is the first indication that a team may be about to move up to a new, higher level. That's what we're all still waiting to see from the Zips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mivid12 Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 at the very least, it appears the MAC is there for the taking....watched OU and memphis and was unimpressed....Can't? no chance...zips should own the reg season and tourney.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Rusty or rested? Another way to look at the layoff is - We had a ton of time to prepare for Creighton, while they had to worry about game plans for other opponents. We just laid an egg. No two ways about it. It wouldn't be so bad, except the ball's been pulled away from us old timers too many times. My butt and back are killing me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valpo Zip Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Surprisingly, it seems like some people on this board are more upset with the loss to Creighton than they were with the loss to coastal carolina. I have to admit that I never expected the zips to win this one...so I can't claim to be very disappointed. Anyways, for whatever it is worth, realtimerpi.com is projecting a Zips final record of 24-4. The only game they expect the zips to loose is at Ohio. That will result in a (15-1) MAC record. Do you see that happening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zips Win! Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Surprisingly, it seems like some people on this board are more upset with the loss to Creighton than they were with the loss to coastal carolina. I have to admit that I never expected the zips to win this one...so I can't claim to be very disappointed. Anyways, for whatever it is worth, realtimerpi.com is projecting a Zips final record of 24-4. The only game they expect the zips to loose is at Ohio. That will result in a (15-1) MAC record. Do you see that happening? UA instructed me to "Think Bigger" this year. So, if they were thinking bigger so was I. Therefore, I was expecting 13-1 non-conference and 15-1 in conference. Anything less isn't really thinking bigger... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronzips71 Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 I don't think we played badly at all. They just played great. They shot an unreal percentage. We made a few mistakes, sure. So what, they shot right over Zeke and the shots dropped. We had to double team McD, and he still scored 30 points and the others scored too. They just played a great game, and we played a more "normal game". They did not play like #16. They played like #5. There is no shame in losing this game. They just played great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Huge problem. After nine years, KD shouldn't have three freshmen playing in a meaningful game like this. The development of the older players should have separated them to the point there is a huge difference between first year and upper class players. The problem is the development of players, or the lack there of. To illuminate the problem is to shine a light on a part of the program we are not shining a realistic light on. Stale. Oh Great One, Are you suggesting that the coach should not be playing his best players? I admit, I have had issues with some players not reaching what we perceive as their potential under Dambrot. However, at this time the rookies are getting playing time because of their prowess on the court, not because of their future potential. Interestingly, next season I would look for another very young playing rotation as I definitely look for BJ Gladden to have every chance to get serious PT at the 2-guard from the start. And a senior center will be replaced by a sophomore. At the same time, I look at Jake K as the best all-around shooter/wing player Akron has had since at least Joe Jakubick. Akron's lack of a "go-to" scorer could be over for the next three years if Kretzer is used according to his talent. Wonder if that jybes with Keith's style/strategy of sharing the wealth? Also, I was not disappointed as the rest of you seem to have been by Sunday's game. Akron played one of their best games of the year -- except for shooting from beyond the arc. Walsh has got to find his range, or we're in real trouble. Or his playing time is. Do not forget to respect the opponent. Creighton is clearly the best team we have faced -- Oklahoma State was ripe for the picking, we really layed an egg in THAT one, not at Omaha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dboze Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Creighton is clearly the best team we have faced -- Oklahoma State was ripe for the picking, we really layed an egg in THAT one, not at Omaha. I agree. The issue is not a lack of a go-to-scorer. It is the inability of this team to recognize who has the hot hand and get them the ball. On Sunday, Zeke was 5/6 at one point, 2 back-to-back baskets. Continue to feed him. On another might be Kretzer, Tree, Harney, Chauncey, or anyone. When need better recognition as a team to feed the player that on. We'll be ok the rest of the way..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted December 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Oh Great One, Are you suggesting that the coach should not be playing his best players? At the same time, I look at Jake K as the best all-around shooter/wing player Akron has had since at least Joe Jakubick. Akron's lack of a "go-to" scorer could be over for the next three years if Kretzer is used according to his talent. No. He should play his best players and is playing his best players accordingly. I don't think mid majors find high levels of success with freshmen. They tend to find success with upper classmen who have been well developed. The last mid major team that had conference success for an extended period with four players starting as freshmen was Winthrop University between 2005-2008 (I know this because the school is about 8 miles from me). They made the NCAA each year and lost the first game every year except for 2007. Other than that, it doesn't happen often for mid majors. When Can't was good and made the Elite 8, they had upper class players leading the way and playing most of the minutes. Jake K could be the go to guy over the next few years if his talents are developed. If not, we are looking at another freshman three years from now getting lots of playing time. It becomes a repeating story if the players aren't developed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gozips19 Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Didn't get a chance to see the game. Saw Zeke scored almost all of his points in the 1st half. Did they stop going to him or did he just get lost in the post? Also, where were Harney and Kretzer playing on the floor? KD really needs to figure out their roles quickly. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 Part of the Zips' lack of experience is due to the absence from the rotation of the entire year's HS recruiting class from 2010: Dakotah Euton - Gone. Michael Green - Gone. Josh Egner - Almost Gone. Less experienced but more effective players are taking what was expected to have been the PT of those three. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 I don't think we played badly at all. They just played great. They shot an unreal percentage. We made a few mistakes, sure. So what, they shot right over Zeke and the shots dropped. We had to double team McD, and he still scored 30 points and the others scored too. They just played a great game, and we played a more "normal game". They did not play like #16. They played like #5. There is no shame in losing this game. They just played great. Here's the issue, especially for the older fans. We want the next step. Many of us probably get less patient as we get older. And we keep squandering opportunities, again, and again, and again. Watching the #15 team in the country beat us this badly, and start to clear their bench several minutes before the end of the game, can't possibly be viewed as a "no shame loss" if you're wanting to see us move forward as a program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 We'll be ok the rest of the way..... We are always ok the rest of the way (after the tough OOC games are tucked neatly away in the loss column). We're never good to begin the season. We always lose to upper-echelon programs. Some of us thought this year would be different...we thought bigger...and the ball got yanked away...again. I hope we don't draw the likes of a Nevada or VCU in the Bracket Buster. Lucy will tilt that ball, laces out, and I'll do it all over again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpsjugglerdude Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 I hope we don't draw the likes of a Nevada or VCU in the Bracket Buster. Lucy will tilt that ball, laces out, and I'll do it all over again. You will probably get your wish. Neither of those teams are away teams. In fact, the A-10 is not in it at all. We don't have to worry about a tough matchup next year either since this is the final year for Bracketbusters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted December 11, 2012 Report Share Posted December 11, 2012 The final bit of craziness to this game is that after losing to Creighton, the Zips moved UP 15 spots in RPI from #125 to #110! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 The final bit of craziness to this game is that after losing to Creighton, the Zips moved UP 15 spots in RPI from #125 to #110! We may have cracked the top 100 if we had lost by 30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted December 12, 2012 Report Share Posted December 12, 2012 We may have cracked the top 100 if we had lost by 30. I was thinking the Zips needed more losses to highly ranked teams in order to move up into the Top 25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 Hoping for the best for Josh Jones. Creighton's Josh Jones to undergo heart procedure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Sad news about Creighton's Josh Jones, but not as bad as it could have been. Josh Jones (heart condition) 'retires' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted January 12, 2013 Report Share Posted January 12, 2013 If we thought McDermott had a great game against the Zips, check out his numbers against Missouri State: 39 points on 15-19 from the field (12-15 2-pointers and 3-4 3-pointers) and 6-7 free throws plus 10 rebounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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