Oral Roberts

[Dr Z]

Oral Writing

I'm trying to decide my favorite post:

1. "Don't even get me started on student attendance/school pride. The lack thereof has becoming sickening.

aaWe even have ORU cheerleaders wearing OU & OSU gear after the game, walking out of the arena."

2. "Getting home games at a place like ORU, against good opponents is HARD."

3. "How quickly we've gone from really excited about this team to really wondering about them."

[Dave in Green]

@skip-zip, heaven forbid that anyone should be misled on an internet forum. Any fan can obviously see that Coach Dambrot is constantly calling plays throughout games. Many of these called plays end up not being run because the defense counters, and the Zips counter that with a different offensive play. In the case of Reggie's pair of 3-pointers, they worked because the defense left Reggie open in one of his favorite shooting spots. After the second trey, ORU's defense adjusted and didn't allow Reggie to get open. That defensive adjustment left the inside a little more open, and the Zips went back to work inside where they had been having problems with ORU's collapsing defense prior to Reggie's treys opening things up.

[skip-zip]

@skip-zip, heaven forbid that anyone should be misled on an internet forum. Any fan can obviously see that Coach Dambrot is constantly calling plays throughout games. Many of these called plays end up not being run because the defense counters, and the Zips counter that with a different offensive play. In the case of Reggie's pair of 3-pointers, they worked because the defense left Reggie open in one of his favorite shooting spots. After the second trey, ORU's defense adjusted and didn't allow Reggie to get open. That defensive adjustment left the inside a little more open, and the Zips went back to work inside where they had been having problems with ORU's collapsing defense prior to Reggie's treys opening things up.

Reggie got open because we ran a set play specifically for one guy, to get him a screen and a wide open shot from a good spot. It may have even been a double-screen with him circling up from the baseline, I'd have to see it again. They weren't "leaving him open" because they were concentrating on defending somewhere else. That had nothing to do with it. In fact, he was being chased closely by a defender when the play opened up.

The point was that I was just cautioning you about indicating that actual "plays" are being called continuously throughout a game. I many instances, teams are simply calling a rotation for a trip down the floor, not a particular set play. I just wanted to point out that difference.

[skip-zip]

I'm trying to decide my favorite post:

1. "Don't even get me started on student attendance/school pride. The lack thereof has becoming sickening.

aaWe even have ORU cheerleaders wearing OU & OSU gear after the game, walking out of the arena."

2. "Getting home games at a place like ORU, against good opponents is HARD."

3. "How quickly we've gone from really excited about this team to really wondering about them."

#1 would clearly be my choice. Wow, doesn't that sound familiar, and it's probably the thing about Akron "supporters" that bothers me the most.

That reminds me. I often hear people make statements such as "Well, I grew up a Suckeyes fan, how can I change my loyalties just because I went to school at Akron?". And My answer is.....WHY NOT? I grew up a Notre Dame fan, and became loyal to the Blue and Gold almost as soon as I stepped on Akron's campus as a student. In my opinion, if someone is a student and fan, and is not making that transition, then they aren't trying. Students, particularly, are around the environment 24/7. Go to the games, get excited, start following the players, etc., and you can easily get hooked forever. Just like me.

[Dave in Green]

@skip-zip, I get your fine point on set plays vs. rotations. In a non-technical discussion it's common to include rotations under the general heading of plays, with a rotation being considered a multi-part play with options. Coach Dambrot is constantly calling one or the other throughout the game. On Reggie's treys, I think if you can find the video you'll see that on the first one Reggie was wide open and standing in that spot for some time with no defender near him. When he caught the pass it seemed as if he had forever to setup before firing, and no defender even had a chance to get a hand near his face. On the second trey he was more in motion and coming off a screen to the same spot on the court, and had less time to setup as the defender was flying at him from the right side, but just a little late getting there.

[GoZips]

. . .

The point was that I was just cautioning you about indicating that actual "plays" are being called continuously throughout a game. I many instances, teams are simply calling a rotation for a trip down the floor, not a particular set play. I just wanted to point out that difference.

Actually, D.I.G. is correct. Sorry.

Coach Dambrot signals offensive and defensive plays continually.

Against Cleveland State a series of plays named "horns" was introduced. The ball movement by the Zips drove the CSU

defenders nuts. It was a scheme they had not seen by Akron previously and obviously were not prepared for. "Horns"

contributed greatly to Akron nailing eleven of twenty-two three point shots. The Zips were wide open. ORU prepared for

"horns" and the defender(s) chased Akron players relentlessly. This probably accounts for why ORU never went to a zone

defense.

[Balsy]

Go to the games, get excited, start following the players, etc., and you can easily get hooked forever. Just like me.

+1

[Dave in Green]

@GoZips, thanks for the explanation about the Zips surprising CSU with their new "horns" offense. There was some speculation in the game thread that CSU wasn't playing with its usual intensity. Maybe "horns" deserves some of the credit for throwing CSU players off their usual game, as confusion and intensity don't mix very well.

ORU fans seemed surprised on their forum that their team wasn't playing any zone D despite having so many players in foul trouble, and from what you say "horns" may have been a factor there, too. Coach Dambrot doesn't get nearly enough credit for things like this.

[Dr Z]

Zips Finding Their Way By George M. Thomas

“It was a tough time at the beginning and adjusting to that,” Treadwell said. :But I feel like I’ve got it now and as teams continue to guard me different ways, I adjust. “I’m definitely feeling differently. I got in there and watched a lot of game film to find out how teams were going to check me and guard me and things like that.”

[skip-zip]

Actually, D.I.G. is correct. Sorry.

Coach Dambrot signals offensive and defensive plays continually.

So, you're saying that a SET PLAY is called on every possession? That would be a first among basketball coaches.

What you described in your post would be an offensive rotation (or scheme, as you call it), and not a set play. This is the distinction I am drawing, and the reason I pointed this out to Dave. I don't think you two are understanding the difference.

[ksu sucks]

Coach Dambrot doesn't get nearly enough credit for things like this.

Not to worry. The usual suspects will come around at some point this season and remind us that Dambrot deserves very little credit.

[Dave in Green]

So, you're saying that a SET PLAY is called on every possession? That would be a first among basketball coaches.

What you described in your post would be an offensive rotation (or scheme, as you call it), and not a set play. This is the distinction I am drawing, and the reason I pointed this out to Dave. I don't think you two are understanding the difference.

You hear that, @GoZips? We just don't spend enough time listening to the guy in the video to know the difference between an offensive rotation and a set play. As a consolation prize, we at least understand the English language well enough to know that "every" is not a synonym for "continually."

[K92]

You hear that, @GoZips? We just don't spend enough time listening to the guy in the video to know the difference between an offensive rotation and a set play. As a consolation prize, we at least understand the English language well enough to know that "every" is not a synonym for "continually."

I think it's pretty cool that Tony Romo was there watching.

[Hilltopper]

I think it's pretty cool that Tony Romo was there watching.

Looked like he was taking notes too. Based on the last few weeks, maybe he should have stuck with basketball. Football hasn't been working out to good for him.