CSU Game

[skip-zip]

@skip-zip, it's perfectly valid to make that shooting percentage comparison for perspective within the context of the overall point that Pat and Big Dog so far this season have been reliable inside scoring options when given the opportunity. The only way to know if they can maintain that shooting percentage for the season is to continue to feed the ball to them and give them opportunities. This is all in agreement with your original statement that Tree should "get more confidence that Big Dog or Pat can finish plays for us with an extra pass down low."

No. My point was that I want to see him do something other than a turnaround fade away jumper when he has his back to the basket. That was just one option.

Yes, I would like to see him make an additional pass in the low post, as an option. But, I was cautioning you about making shooting percentage conclusions after just 4 games of a 30 game season. I also added that players know who they can trust to finish plays.

[Dave in Green]

@skip-zip, I completely understood your points and was merely offering some preliminary data that supported one of your points. As far as I can tell we don't disagree on any of this.

[Warriors4life]

@1981grad, glad to see you thought the good things outnumbered the bad.

GT just posted some good post-CSU info in his Zips Sports Notebook. One item of interest is that Coach Dambrot will use games over the rest of the month to decide who he wants to have on the floor at the end of games:

A funny item in the story is that Can't is now going to copy the Zips' early scheduling gap:

Since it seems you know alot about the team. Do you know why Coach D isn't playing Kwan Cheatham Jr? If he wasn't going to play him he should of redshirt him... What are your thoughts? Thanks

[Captain Kangaroo]

Do you know why Coach D isn't playing Kwan Cheatham Jr? If he wasn't going to play him he should of redshirt him... What are your thoughts? Thanks

I think Kwan hasn't been playing for the same reason all the other Zips haven't been playing - the stupid "one-game-in-a-month" schedule.

Barring injury, since he's played in a D-1 game this season, he cannot be red-shirted this season.

If I were him, I might consider notifying the Zips trainer of some sudden, severe plantar facitis.

I think we will need him in Hawai'i. I wish he could play point guard.

[Dave in Green]

@KC4three, I believe that Coach Dambrot didn't play Kwan in the last game against Cleveland State because he thought it was more important for the team to be focused on experimenting with different combinations of veterans. In addition to Kwan not playing, Big Dog only played briefly in that game. I think you can count on seeing both Kwan and Big Dog playing longer minutes in this Saturday's game. The key to getting playing time from Coach Dambrot is to perform well on the defensive end, hustle all the time and mesh with the veterans. Most freshmen have more trouble on the defensive end than on offense. As Kwan improves his overall game, he will get more and more minutes as the season goes on.

[Hilltopper]

Since it seems you know alot about the team. Do you know why Coach D isn't playing Kwan Cheatham Jr? If he wasn't going to play him he should of redshirt him... What are your thoughts? Thanks

I was more than a little surprised when Coach played Kwan burning his redshirt in the process. Just like DIG said, Kwan needs to work on defense and not making dumb fouls in practice to see more playing time. The season is just getting underway and I'm sure there will be opportunities for KC to get some PT if he works hard in practice.

[Warriors4life]

@KC4three, I believe that Coach Dambrot didn't play Kwan in the last game against Cleveland State because he thought it was more important for the team to be focused on experimenting with different combinations of veterans. In addition to Kwan not playing, Big Dog only played briefly in that game. I think you can count on seeing both Kwan and Big Dog playing longer minutes in this Saturday's game. The key to getting playing time from Coach Dambrot is to perform well on the defensive end, hustle all the time and mesh with the veterans. Most freshmen have more trouble on the defensive end than on offense. As Kwan improves his overall game, he will get more and more minutes as the season goes on.

Thanks for your thoughts truly appreciated it

[ZachTheZip]

@KC4three, I believe that Coach Dambrot didn't play Kwan in the last game against Cleveland State because he thought it was more important for the team to be focused on experimenting with different combinations of veterans. In addition to Kwan not playing, Big Dog only played briefly in that game. I think you can count on seeing both Kwan and Big Dog playing longer minutes in this Saturday's game. The key to getting playing time from Coach Dambrot is to perform well on the defensive end, hustle all the time and mesh with the veterans. Most freshmen have more trouble on the defensive end than on offense. As Kwan improves his overall game, he will get more and more minutes as the season goes on.

I was thinking that he wanted a veteran frontcourt in the game while he experimented with the backcourt.

[Z.I.P.]

I was thinking that he wanted a veteran frontcourt in the game while he experimented with the backcourt.

I think we need to be more precise about the rule before assuming that Kwan's red-shirt has been "burned". Unless there have been changes to the rule, players do have an opportunity to play a limited number of minutes in X number of games before they catch on fire and lose their freshman virginity. Unless DiG disagrees.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I think we need to be more precise about the rule before assuming that Kwan's red-shirt has been "burned". Unless there have been changes to the rule, players do have an opportunity to play a limited number of minutes in X number of games before they catch on fire and lose their freshman virginity. Unless DiG disagrees.

Exhibition games, yes. "Real" games, no.

Once you log 1 minute in a real game there is no turning back. Barring injury.

No gray area.

[Dave in Green]

Aw, @Z.I.P., I am so disappointed. I thought you paid close attention to all of my posts. You must have totally missed this one:

@ZipsBurgh, here's what the NCAA says:

14.2.3.1.3 Preseason Exhibitions/Preseason Practice Scrimmages During Initial Year. During a student-athlete’s initial year of enrollment at the certifying institution, he or she may compete in preseason exhibition contests and preseason practice scrimmages (as permitted in the particular sport per Bylaw 17) without counting such competition as a season of competition. (Revised: 5/9/06)

The key word is "preseason." Once the formal NCAA basketball season begins, a freshman player can't play a single minute in any game, including exhibition games, without losing the ability to redshirt that season. The only way we see any of the Zips freshmen play again this season is if they give up their eligibility to redshirt.

Additional note: This is why BJ Gladden and Aaron Jackson didn't play in the Malone game. Even though it was an exhibition game, the regular season had already started, so playing in that game would have burned their redshirts.

[Z.I.P.]

Aw, @Z.I.P., I am so disappointed. I thought you paid close attention to all of my posts. You must have totally missed this one:

The key word is "preseason." Once the formal NCAA basketball season begins, a freshman player can't play a single minute in any game, including exhibition games, without losing the ability to redshirt that season. The only way we see any of the Zips freshmen play again this season is if they give up their eligibility to redshirt.

Additional note: This is why BJ Gladden and Aaron Jackson didn't play in the Malone game. Even though it was an exhibition game, the regular season had already started, so playing in that game would have burned their redshirts.

WOW! How did I ever miss the expert disgnosis of DiG on this engaging topic? My doubt originated from what are clearly unDiGestedly wrong local experts here in the 50th state, who even on the airwaves have stated that University of Hawaii players who have seen game action this season could still be eligible for a red-shirt season. I will refer them directly to Dave.

[Dave in Green]

@Z.I.P., there is one other possibility -- a medical redshirt. Should one of those freshmen go down with a season-ending injury early in the season, they could petition the NCAA for a medical redshirt. As long as the injury is legit, the NCAA is pretty good about giving players an additional season.