This is going to be a fun season

[akronzips71]

Tree is playing like Tree, and he is the absolute team leader. Q and Harney are true potential POY players, but they would have to beat out Tree, LOL

Pat will be fighting for minutes. This is going to be fun.

The thing I like the best:

Only two guys on the roster under 6'6". That's like an NBA team.

[Quickzips]

Not going to get too excited about one game against a vastly over-matched opponent, but the Zips did everything you want them to do in this one.

It looks like you can pencil Gladden and Jackson in as red-shirts. Evans and Johnson will play. Cheatham is right on the edge. All 5 guys can play. But so can just about everyone else on the roster.

I have no idea how you defend the trio of Tree, Harney and Q. Those guys can beat you in so many ways. As long as the PGs can get them the ball those guys combined could average 50+ this year.

Like what I saw from Nyles Evans. He isn't a pure PG, but he brings some different things to the game. He looks very good on that full-court pressure, and he has one of the better 3 point shots on the team at the moment. That said, right now he is a bit behind Betancourt in terms of setting up the offense.

Johnson gets up and down the floor reasonably well for a guy his size. He's never going to be John Wall or Derrick Rose, but he isn't an anchor out there like a lot of people were expecting.

Overall a good night for the Zips. Take the 55 point exhibition win and move on to Coastal Carolina. We owe those guys one.

[akronzips71]

Not going to get too excited about one game against a vastly over-matched opponent, but the Zips did everything you want them to do in this one.

It looks like you can pencil Gladden and Jackson in as red-shirts. Evans and Johnson will play. Cheatham is right on the edge. All 5 guys can play. But so can just about everyone else on the roster.

I have no idea how you defend the trio of Tree, Harney and Q. Those guys can beat you in so many ways. As long as the PGs can get them the ball those guys combined could average 50+ this year.

Like what I saw from Nyles Evans. He isn't a pure PG, but he brings some different things to the game. He looks very good on that full-court pressure, and he has one of the better 3 point shots on the team at the moment. That said, right now he is a bit behind Betancourt in terms of setting up the offense.

Johnson gets up and down the floor reasonably well for a guy his size. He's never going to be John Wall or Derrick Rose, but he isn't an anchor out there like a lot of people were expecting.

Overall a good night for the Zips. Take the 55 point exhibition win and move on to Coastal Carolina. We owe those guys one.

I have to disagree with you. Jackson and Cheatham were VERY impressive. Cheatham is some athlete for a guy his size (6'9.5"?). Some REALLY nice moves, moves that Zeke never had. He is going to press Pat AND Big Dog for minutes, in fact, it may be Big Dog who gets the shirt. Cheatham can contribute big time right away.

Jackson is like a combo of Harney and Q. He is athletic and all over the place. He will NOT sit out the year.

[zippy_ua_00]

I caught myself looking at the roster sheet tonight a couple times to make sure I wasn't wrong about cheatham and jackson being freshman. Zips basketball is gonna be good for a while

[Quickzips]

I have to disagree with you. Jackson and Cheatham were VERY impressive. Cheatham is some athlete for a guy his size (6'9.5"?). Some REALLY nice moves, moves that Zeke never had. He is going to press Pat AND Big Dog for minutes, in fact, it may be Big Dog who gets the shirt. Cheatham can contribute big time right away.

Jackson is like a combo of Harney and Q. He is athletic and all over the place. He will NOT sit out the year.

The Zips will not play 12 or 13 guys. It just isn't going to happen. Someone is going to have to sit. All of these guys have a lot of talent. But someone has to sit out.

When BJ and Aaron don't get in until the final minutes of the first half that is a pretty good indication that those two are going to sit. Kwan looked good at times, and settled down as the game went on, but his shot selection could use some work.

[Z.I.P.]

From what you guys have seen in practice, on and off-court and in "game" one, do you have a feeling that Nick Harney is ready to take the step up to being an impact player, each and every night he takes the floor? I have to tell you, in my mind (as small as it is, and there's plenty of room for the rocks to rattle around) Nick's development to that point would do more than any other player's in terms of making Akron a top-25 team when the 2014 regular season ends, and Akron makes their NCAA tournament debut as a 7 or 8 seed. And you can tell Nick Z.I.P. said so!

[akronzips71]

From what you guys have seen in practice, on and off-court and in "game" one, do you have a feeling that Nick Harney is ready to take the step up to being an impact player, each and every night he takes the floor? I have to tell you, in my mind (as small as it is, and there's plenty of room for the rocks to rattle around) Nick's development to that point would do more than any other player's in terms of making Akron a top-25 team when the 2014 regular season ends, and Akron makes their NCAA tournament debut as a 7 or 8 seed. And you can tell Nick Z.I.P. said so!

I actually think Q is the key to the season. He looked great tonight. We need to make up Zekes points and rebounds, and AA's too.

Q looked like THE MAN. Very athletic, very controlled.

Tree is what he is, always the beast.

Q needs to step up. If he does, it makes Harney's job easy. It will probably not be until the Dance that anyone can defend Tree, Q and Harney at the same time, if they get it together.

[LZIp]

Tree looked like Tree.

Q looked great.

Harney played like the player I know he can be.

I really like Nyles. I think he will fill in for AA fine.

Deji hit some shots.

I just dont know about Forsythe. Seems like a mental/confidence issue for him. He can play if he can fix that. Looked like Johnson can give us quality minutes at the 5.

[phil]

Saw a lot of good things out there. Diggs, Harney, Tree and Jackson looked very good. However, I would like to see more passing and movement without the ball. A lot of dribbling and one on one moves. Not sure that will work against good teams in the early part of the schedule.

I cannot get the VCU game out of my mind. I think we have to be more athletic to complete with very good teams like VCU. Would like to see more from Kretzer and McAdams. I see them out on the wing and did not do much tonight.

It was fun seeing all the freshman on the floor the last 5 minutes. I thought Cheatham and Jackson looked the best. Big dog is big but looked a little slow and winded after about 4 minutes. It is tough to judge against the competition tonight.

I think this team has potential but must learn to play together as a team. I think if Harney can have a breakout year it might be the key. Tree and Diggs look like they are ready to go.

[akronzips71]

Saw a lot of good things out there. Diggs, Harney, Tree and Jackson looked very good. However, I would like to see more passing and movement without the ball. A lot of dribbling and one on one moves. Not sure that will work against good teams in the early part of the schedule.

I cannot get the VCU game out of my mind. I think we have to be more athletic to complete with very good teams like VCU. Would like to see more from Kretzer and McAdams. I see them out on the wing and did not do much tonight.

It was fun seeing all the freshman on the floor the last 5 minutes. I thought Cheatham and Jackson looked the best. Big dog is big but looked a little slow and winded after about 4 minutes. It is tough to judge against the competition tonight.

I think this team has potential but must learn to play together as a team. I think if Harney can have a breakout year it might be the key. Tree and Diggs look like they are ready to go.

That is why I like Cheatham and Jackson. They both appear VERY athletic. Big Dog not so much. Pat not so much.

[Zipgrad01]

My thoughts...

Quincy Diggs is a beast. He is on a whole different level as far as his athleticism.

Tree - What else do I need to say?

Harney played well, but most of his points were put backs and dunks. Still, he looks a lot more comfortable on the floor.

Betancourt - I thought he looked much better on offense. He still doesnt seem like much of an offensive threat, but it was tough to tell too much in the game because of the competition level.

Forsythe - Ouch. Slow. Soft. Doesnt hussle. Doesnt seem to care. To say that he looked horrible is an understatement. He got bullied around the rim by 6'4 D3 players. He needs to figure out if he really wants to play or not because he is the weak link in my opinion and taking a roster spot.

Johnson - I am mixed with him. He has nice moves for a guy his size. My concern is that he is too slow to be a center against good D1 competition. He doesnt really get off the floor much at all. He looked much better than Pat.

Evans - I really liked his pressure defense. The kid really hustles. He definitely isnt a pure point guard. The kid can flat out shoot and score. He is definitely going to fill the offensive vacancy from Abreu nicely.

Cheatham - He is very impressive. He is a long, lean and fluid athlete. He is a very versatile player that could play multiple positions because of his skill set. His jump shot looks nice for a guy his size.

Jackson - This kid is going to be a player. Again, a very fluid athlete and I really like his outside shot.

Gladden - Has a nice D1 body already. Very good athlete. Doesnt look comfortable playing on the perimeter. He is going to be a heck of a player.

I paid much more attention to the newbies and i came away very impressed. The future looks great with these guys and I think their hype was justified.

[akronzips71]

My thoughts...

Quincy Diggs is a beast. He is on a whole different level as far as his athleticism.

Tree - What else do I need to say?

Harney played well, but most of his points were put backs and dunks. Still, he looks a lot more comfortable on the floor.

Betancourt - I thought he looked much better on offense. He still doesnt seem like much of an offensive threat, but it was tough to tell too much in the game because of the competition level.

Forsythe - Ouch. Slow. Soft. Doesnt hussle. Doesnt seem to care. To say that he looked horrible is an understatement. He got bullied around the rim by 6'4 D3 players. He needs to figure out if he really wants to play or not because he is the weak link in my opinion and taking a roster spot.

Johnson - I am mixed with him. He has nice moves for a guy his size. My concern is that he is too slow to be a center against good D1 competition. He doesnt really get off the floor much at all. He looked much better than Pat.

Evans - I really liked his pressure defense. The kid really hustles. He definitely isnt a pure point guard. The kid can flat out shoot and score. He is definitely going to fill the offensive vacancy from Abreu nicely.

Cheatham - He is very impressive. He is a long, lean and fluid athlete. He is a very versatile player that could play multiple positions because of his skill set. His jump shot looks nice for a guy his size.

Jackson - This kid is going to be a player. Again, a very fluid athlete and I really like his outside shot.

Gladden - Has a nice D1 body already. Very good athlete. Doesnt look comfortable playing on the perimeter. He is going to be a heck of a player.

I paid much more attention to the newbies and i came away very impressed. The future looks great with these guys and I think their hype was justified.

For a youngster you are very smart.

I see Cheatham starting before this season is over. It looked, in the short time he played, like he was much taller than 6'9", and he has moves like someone closer to 6'3"

I have personally never seen a big at Akron who looked that fluid, and in his first D1 game no less.

[Dave in Green]

I just posted about the freshmen and the redshirt situation in the redshirt thread. As for Pat and Big Dog in tonight's game, I think it's hard to measure big centers when they're playing against a team of midgets. Zeke never looked that great against the midget teams, but performed at his best against other big centers. I want to see how Pat and Big Dog perform against real teams with real centers. Neither one of them look like all-star centers right now. But they don't have to be. They're part of a team, and they have roles to play that will become more critical against better opponents.

Coach Dambrot said he had tears in his eyes when he saw Q on the floor because he knows what Q has been through to get here. I felt the same way. I just have this feeling in my gut that Q is going to be a major force in the big games that the Zips really need to win. Most of us already had that feeling about Tree, and I saw nothing tonight to change that. He's a lot like the Tree from last season, but a little more in control and with a nicer looking mid-range jumper. Harney looked fantastic, but he always does against the weaker teams on the schedule. He's just so smooth and athletic taking the ball to the hoop. But he's struggled in the past against tougher competition, and that's where I'm looking for him to show better this season. That will be a major key to how far the Zips can go.

Similarly, I thought Deji looked good tonight. But, again, it was a case of a D1 player with great athleticism against D3 athletes. If Deji can play under control like he did tonight against tougher opponents, he'll provide some important quality backup minutes. Nyles looked pretty good in his first outing. I was concerned that he might be more of a shoot first PG. But Coach Dambrot said in the postgame interview that Nyles' shooting was one of the reasons why they recruited him. He wants a PG who can nail 3s when needed, and that's Melo's weak spot. After seeing Melo, Nyles and Q run the point tonight, I can see situations where all three could be effective. This may be the most interesting situation to watch develop as the season progresses. Kretzer and McAdams had fairly quiet nights, and it remains to be seen how much they've improved their games over last season.

[MDZip]

Even though Betancourt didn't shoot much, he had 6 assists, 2 steals and no turnovers in 15 minutes (plus three rebounds), that's what you like to see from a point guard. Unfortunately, team free throws (which shouldn't be affected by opponent level) was abysmal at 41%. Hope that improves in a hurry.

[johnnyzip84]

The future sure is bright. Kwan is already my favorite Zip of the future. He has nice court presence (probably a vestige of his shorter days spent in the back court) and he can do a lot of things on the floor. But I agree with DIG that the Big Dog will probably be the only non-redshirt UNLESS an injury or another situation develops. Kwan doesn't look strong enough at this point in his young career to guard a physical player in the post, but the Big Dog does and that will be the deciding factor.

You guys already hit on most of my other observations. The PG role will probably be filled on an as-needed basis, with match-ups partially dictating who plays at a given time. As fully expected, Evans is not much of a distributor, but he has that "ice running through his veins" look as a clutch shooter. We'll see how that plays out against better competition. I think Melo looked stronger and somewhat more settled, but he still has a way to go.