First practice official practice tomorrow

[GoZips]

The thing that worries me about the C situation isn't so much having the talent to replace Zeke. By all measures we have two guys on the team who should be able to play C at the DI level. Can they be as good individually or in the aggregate as Zeke? That remains to be seen, but both guys seem like they belong on the court at this level.

Neither Pat or "Big Dog" (I love that nickname, btw), are direct match up replacements for Zeke. However, either

and both possess their own skill set that will be quite sufficient to replace Zeke. Both men are talents in their own right.

The thing that worries me is the adjustments the rest of the team is going to have to make to playing with a C who isn't Zeke. Not to point out the obvious again, but Pat and Big Dog (I hate that nickname btw) are not the shot blockers that Zeke was. Not even close. Most guys at this level aren't. The rest of the team is going to have to make adjustments for that. Sound defensive principles are going to be even more important this year. Guys can't go out there gambling for steals the way they did the last 4 years because Zeke isn't going to be back there to clean up the mistakes.

And, since when is shot blocking the absolute measure of defense? I do not get this pre-occupation with shot blocking.

I really enjoyed Zeke's tremendous ability to block shots. Pat and Isaiah will get their share. The emphasis will be on

total defense, not just shot blocking. One great advantage Pat and Big Dog will have is having a point guard who actually

plays defense. Both Melo and Nyles can get after the opposition.

It isn't just a matter of replacing the player. It is a matter of adjusting the system to fit the guys that you do have on the roster. I trust that KD can get the job done, but it is going to be interesting to watch.

Trust in Keith. This coming season will yield the best Zips team ever to this point in team history. These kids can play.

Better, they are more focused. They get thirty-one regular season games against all D-1 opponents. When the smoke

clears you will like where the Zips finish.

[Dr Z]

When the smoke clears you will like where the Zips finish.

Ooooohh, I see what you did there, very clever.

[akronzips71]

We were a pretty high scoring team the last few years, and I expect a lot more this year.

That Big Dog guy (I HATE THAT TOO) looks like he can play offense, so can Niles apparently.

With Zeke in the middle, we did not have that much offense. I mean, he did average double digits, but at seven feet tall he "should" have thrown down 20 a night.

That is NOT a knock on Zeke, just a statement of fact. The first three years he was missing dunks (!) and never had an outside shot. He also was never that great at putbacks.

Zeke was what he was, one of the all time Zips greats. But with Pat or especially Big Dog, we WILL have more offense, and probably more rebounding as well.

I do not blame the rebounding on Zeke - KD had him out the the three point line playing defense, so he was often not in position for a defensive bound. He did what the coach told him to do for the good of the team.

But THIS year, we have big guys who can shoot and bound. Should be very interesting.

And yes, we WILL give up a few more points per game so we better be good offensively.

[Dave in Green]

Just a couple of observations:

Most 7-footers come nowhere near averaging 20 points per game in college. Zeke led the Zips in his senior season with more than 13 points per game. This is a typical high scoring average for a Keith Dambrot-coached team, which favors balanced scoring and focuses more on defense. Zeke may have averaged more points in a different system with a different coach.

Nicknames don't come from fans. They come from teammates and coaches in the same way that fighter pilots get their call signs. Anyone who doesn't like the nickname Big Dog is going to have to learn to live with it for the next four seasons. Isaiah Johnson is Big Dog to his teammates and coaches.

[akronzips71]

Just a couple of observations:

Most 7-footers come nowhere near averaging 20 points per game in college. Zeke led the Zips in his senior season with more than 13 points per game. This is a typical high scoring average for a Keith Dambrot-coached team, which favors balanced scoring and focuses more on defense. Zeke may have averaged more points in a different system with a different coach.

DIG, with all due respect, I think that is exactly what I said.

[Dave in Green]

@akronzips71, you and I usually agree on a lot of things. But I thought that what I said was a little different from what you said. Maybe we're just stating the same thing a little differently.

[akronzips71]

@akronzips71, you and I usually agree on a lot of things. But I thought that what I said was a little different from what you said. Maybe we're just stating the same thing a little differently.

Yes, because there is no doubt he would have scored more in a different scheme.,

However, this year adjustments will be made and I expect more scoring from the C position and more putbacks from Tree.

[Dr Z]

I thought this was done well.

[a-zip]

@akronzips71, you and I usually agree on a lot of things. But I thought that what I said was a little different from what you said. Maybe we're just stating the same thing a little differently.

[akzipper]

I thought this was done well.

Would like to see the return of gold.

[wadszip]

High School stats are tough to compare. Pat played at Brunswick, Zeke played in the WPIAL

Unless you are sticking up for Pat (which I know you aren't), you do realize he played against better HS competition than Zeke?

"At Brunswick" Pat went up against 4-star Michigan State recruit Kenny Kaminski. He also went up against 3-star Iowa recruit Aaron White (who was 3rd team All-Big Ten as a sophomore). That's not even counting all the Garfield Heights kids (and other D1 kids in the NOC) that Pat went up against.

Plus, the WPIAL is an organization for a an entire 9-county region (Western Pa.) vs. an 18-team league in the NOC (Cleveland). What's funny is that that 18-team NOC produces as much of (if not more) high-end basketball talent as the entire WPIAL, despite being 10 times smaller.

[legendofzippy]

Would like to see the return of gold.

Has this been discussed more, as to why the silver? I'm probably in the minority, but I like it.

[akzipper]

Has this been discussed more, as to why the silver? I'm probably in the minority, but I like it.

Silver has been the trend in college sports. Bigger schools, like Oregon, started to introduce silver and chrome. It became popular and other schools have been doing the same. I think just this season I have seen about 10-20 chrome football helmets. I think originally it was cool but once every school did it lost it originality. Basketball has been the same with most schools adopting a silver/grey alt. I'm just suggesting we go back to our roots and ditch the black and silver, for some blue and gold.

But hey, as long as we don't follow this awful trend I will be happy.

[mivid12]

any practices updates? tidbits? insights? conclusions? observations? surprises? impressions?

[GoZips]

any practices updates? tidbits? insights? conclusions? observations? surprises? impressions?

Pat Forsythe had an exceptional day at practice today. Pat dominated the middle and schooled Big Dog something fierce.

Today officials were used for the first time. Kind of a semi-scrimmage environment. First intra-squad scrimmage later

this week.

Everyone is healthy. Jake's back has settled down. Just the usual cuts, bruises and unbroken bones.

Oddly, very little in the way of temper flares. Senior leadership shaping up.

People are battling for several open roster spots and starting roles. No comment.

Coach has set a very high team goal. It is up to this talented group of players to go that distance. They have the ability.

btw, for anyone who thinks or believes that the Zips are underdogs, please visit Coach Dambrot for some mind alteration

therapy.

[Dr Z]

btw, for anyone who thinks or believes that the Zips are underdogs, please visit Coach Dambrot for some mind alteration

therapy.

The Zips were underdogs only 6 times last season. The only time they won as an underdog was against Ohio.

[MaxZIP]

The Zips were underdogs only 6 times last season. The only time they won as an underdog was against Ohio.

That is amazing. I agree that they are not underdogs to win the MACC

[akronzips71]

That is amazing. I agree that they are not underdogs to win the MACC

The first two or three games will tell all.

Not so much by win or lose, this is a team with different components than last year (No Zeke, no AA), but in the way they play together as a team.

[MDZip]

Guess there is still some pretty good respect for the Zips out there. Ranked #10 in the first College Insider Mid-major poll. Toledo is 23rd and the only other MAC school ranked. Ohio and Can't got some ORV's. A little surprised to see St. Mary's ranked below the Zips, should be a damn good game. Let's get this started!

[Dave in Green]

The College Insider voting panel scores high on the DiG preseason college basketball prediction IQ test.

[LZIp]

The College Insider voting panel scores high on the DiG preseason college basketball prediction IQ test.

So they consider Wichita St and Gonzaga a mid-major but not Creighton and VCU?

[Dave in Green]

@LZip, the following is quoted directly from their website:

NOTE: The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Great West, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, WAC, West Coast.

[LZIp]

@LZip, the following is quoted directly from their website:

derp. did not realize creighton moved to the big east. Dont know why I thought VCU was still in the colonial

[jjackson123]

@GoZips - do you know when the Zippers practice this weekend?

[GoZips]

@GoZips - do you know when the Zippers practice this weekend?

Yes. Sunday 8 to noon. Ask for permission to attend.