GoZips Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Here is the complete Diamond Head Classic bracket, in .pdf It looks like Iowa State jumped the gun, so ESPN Regional (owner of the event) just put it out for all. Note how St. Mary's and South Carolina face each other in the first round. That cuts in half any likelihood of facing one of these two teams. I am a bit surprised that the Zips open with Oregon State as the working board in the offices has had Iowa State as the opponent for the first round. Things change. Only the paper work for the Cleveland State game is holding up the release of the OOC schedule. Since the coaches are out of town until Monday, July 22, do not expect any announcement about the schedule until at least then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Note how St. Mary's and South Carolina face each other in the first round. That cuts in half any likelihood of facing one of these two teams. I am a bit surprised that the Zips open with Oregon State as the working board in the offices has had Iowa State as the opponent for the first round. Things change. Only the paper work for the Cleveland State game is holding up the release of the OOC schedule. Since the coaches are out of town until Monday, July 22, do not expect any announcement about the schedule until at least then. Maybe ISU didn't want to play us. Can't blame them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Maybe ISU didn't want to play us. Can't blame them. Well, there's a strong possibility they will be playing us in the second round -- unless they decide to throw the game to GMU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxpayer Posted July 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 I doubt ISU is looking to duck us; they've reloaded their guard positions with transfers plus some big recruits at that position. We should do well at the 4 matchup as I'm not sure they have someone to control tree and I think they are unproven at the 5 as we are. Our guards will have their hands full defending their opponents, if we can get tough defensive mind sets from our guys we will frustrate them. If not, could be a track meet. We need better d at the pg position than what we got last year. Melo played excellent d and hope that's true of our new pg as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legendofzippy Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Maybe ISU didn't want to play us. Can't blame them. I think this comment is a joke, but not sure. I like the Oregon State matchup anyway. Looks like they'll also be breaking in a new PG. Found this as a preview for them: Oregon State Sucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 I doubt ISU is looking to duck us; they've reloaded their guard positions with transfers plus some big recruits at that position. We should do well at the 4 matchup as I'm not sure they have someone to control tree and I think they are unproven at the 5 as we are. Our guards will have their hands full defending their opponents, if we can get tough defensive mind sets from our guys we will frustrate them. If not, could be a track meet. We need better d at the pg position than what we got last year. Melo played excellent d and hope that's true of our new pg as well. Akron reloaded their guard positions, too. The shooting guard consists of Quincy Diggs and Reggie McAdams. A fifth year senior and an experienced, capable sophomore. The two's have size, quicks, athleticism, shooting range and able to go to the rack. A tad bit of point in either one, to boot. The point is much deeper with Nyles Evans and Carmelo Betancourt. Both are capable ball handlers. Evans is showing excellent shooting and ability to drive to the basket. Melo still has his defensive skills. He needs to get more offensive. I believe he will deliver. The post position, the other area of concern appears to be in good hands. Both Pat and Big Dog are owning the middle. Power forward is again a position of strength what with Tree providing the broad shoulders and Jake his understudy. Jake gives the three ball range sometimes needed from that position. Tree will again scoop the glass, IF he can beat Pat to the ball. Small forward belongs to Nick Harney. Either Lil Dog or Action Jackson should provide depth. Guessing two or, at the outside, three of the Freshmen red shirt. Injuries and grades may determine who plays. DeJi Ibitayo has 'amped' his game considerably. His skill set has dramatically improved. Conditioning is holding him back. Don't mean to exclude Kwan Cheatam. Kwan has an excellent offensive game and shoots with precision. He is one tall small forward or third guard. Kwan is still only seventeen. He is going to be a great player in due time. By the time of the Diamond Head Classic the Zips will have a set rotation of talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 No respect for the Zips from ESPN for the Diamond Head Classic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxpayer Posted July 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 No surprise in the ESPN preview. Boise State and ISU are the fav's on paper in the middle of summer. The Zips have alot of work to do defensively to reach the level they were playing at during last season and especially in the MAC tournament. Our offense is average at best; IMO the Zips win because of defense not offense. We wear most of our opponents down and they have trouble scoring and defending the last 10 minutes in games. We don't wow anyone on the offensive end and that's a big problem. It is also the reason we stumble in the NCAA tournament. Better teams have solid defense and have above average offensive capabilities. We don't. I'd love to see our offense run plays that match the players on the floor strenghts as opposed to dribble, dribble, dribble, pass - shot. We've had some great shooters recently but rarely ran them of one screen let alone two or three. In the MAC we have had the better athletes in most games so we won most games. I believe we will continue to be a very good defensive team due to KD's focus at that end. IF the Zips are going to take the next step up the food chain the offense needs overhauled. To me, the Zips will be the 3rd best team in this tournament (as of July 2013). Carmelo & Q will be very good defenders, Tree will be above average. That makes the 3 & 5 the key. I expect Nyles to play good defense or KD will make his life tough unless he is lights out on the offensive end. Pat & one of the freshman bigs need to be dependable defenders and very good rebounders. Time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 ^ I dont think we are as bad on offense as you make us out to be. We were 57th in the nation last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronzips71 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 ^ I dont think we are as bad on offense as you make us out to be. We were 57th in the nation last year. But that was with two starters who contributed around 23 points a game. There are no longer here. Unless we can make up those points, we won't be much on offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 But that was with two starters who contributed around 23 points a game. There are no longer here. Unless we can make up those points, we won't be much on offense. He was referencing the past in his post. Players get better, we have the 6th man of the year back. Offense will be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronzips71 Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 He was referencing the past in his post. Players get better, we have the 6th man of the year back. Offense will be fine. From your lips to Gods ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 But that was with two starters who contributed around 23 points a game. There are no longer here. Unless we can make up those points, we won't be much on offense. The Zips replace Zeke Marshall with Pat Forsythe who is much more offensive minded than Zeke was. Be more concerned with the loss of Zeke's ability to defend the rim and cover the point guard's assignment. Hopefully, with Evans, this wont be necessary this year. Big Dog loves playing the blocks. He is a scoring machine in close. Quincy and Reggie will easily out produce an over worked Brian Walsh. Nyles Evans is far more offense minded than Abreu ever was. Nyles is quick, crafty, goes to the hole kind of point guard. Have some faith in your coaching staff. These men took a mediocre Zips team to the top of the MAC and have kept them on top. Tremendous battle shaping up for playing time among the freshmen. Enjoy it. In my opinion the College Sports Madness badly undervalued the Zips. At least the monkey is on someonelse's back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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