GJGood Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 IPFW just lost their conference championship game by three points to North Dakota State so they barely missed out on being in the NCAA tournament. It is hard to say if that will have a positive or negative effect on them in this next game. The Mastadons did play two MAC schools this season. They won at Bowling Green but they lost in Oxford to Miami, both games were very tight and game down to the last couple minutes. IPFW also had some near upsets having lost by one point at Dayton and by two points in Champaign at the Big Ten's Fighting Illini.I think this is a team Akron is quite capable of beating but that pose some serious problems if they are playing well and we have one of our patented stretches where the offense shuts down.Interestingly, they only shoot 66.6% from the free throw line, They also only have two players averaging double digits in scoring (with nobody averaging 15 per game) but have seven players that score at least seven points per game. To me that sounds like this team may mirror the Zips in a number of ways.Anybody know any more about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 IPFW has played in four final fours, and hosted one -- in men's volleyball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted March 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 This team could pose major problems for the Zips. Not only are they in the top 40 nationally in three point shooting but the also led their conference in rebounding despite having no one taller than 6'9". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 IPFW ranks in the top 50 nationally in a number of team statistics, mostly offensive -- field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, points per possession, efficiency, assists, defensive rebounding percentage, etc. Their only top 100 win is over #37 North Dakota State, who they also lost to twice. Their coach said after losing to NDSU 60-57 in the Summit League tournament championship game that the Bison defense was really tough. So the Zips need to at least match that level of D.Their key player is veteran PG Pierre Bland, a 6-2 senior who runs their offense and averages a team-leading 33 minutes per game. He's the team's 3rd leading scorer, averaging just under 10 points per game (46% on 3-pointers) along with 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.9 turnovers. Tight D on Bland could be one of the most important factors in the game. This is an opportunity for Deji and Melo to make major contributions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomzip Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Last time we were in a lesser tourney like this was a disaster at home if I recall in front of like 1000 people. I see a one and done, hope the team with no heart proves me wrong. BTW, what happened to Kwan, he went MIA late in the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted March 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Everybody is wondering where the Zips collective mindset will be for this one and that is a fair question. but what about IPFW? How will their mindset be knowing they just missed the NCAA tournament suffering a three point loss to a team they had beaten once earlier in the season? It could be that both teams are in the same boat.Then again this is their first national postseason game ever, so maybe that will motivate them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 KD said on the Big Time Sports show this afternoon that Jake is definitely out for the rest of the year. They simply don't want to take a chance on him so he can come back next year at 100%.Factor in this being a road game for the Zips and I think we'll be a 3 or 4 point underdog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 http://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/afootball?iso=20140828T19&p0=415&fg2=ecbc33&msg=Akron+Zips+vs.+Howard+Bison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balsy Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 ^Keener shouldn't the timer go in the football section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K92 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 ^Keener shouldn't the timer go in the football section?Oh, my bad. I was just trying to cheer up some of the folks in this thread. I was just about ready to break out in song after reading some of the recent basketball posts."Gloom, despair & agony on me Deep dark depression Excessive misery If it weren't for bad luck The Zips would have no luck at all Gloom, despair and agony on me" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Lots of basketball history, plenty of seats and recently upgraded amenities to be experienced by those of us who attend this game. From the IPFW Wikipedia page:Although IPFW has no arena or stadium of its own, the venue for IPFW's large-attendance indoor athletic events is the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum which is adjacent to the portion of the IPFW campus on the west side of the Saint Joseph River.From the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Wikipedia page:The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, in the U.S. state of Indiana, initially built in 1952 for nearly $3 million near present-day Johnny Appleseed Park.In basketball, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum has hosted the 1955 and 1956 NBA Finals (hosted by the then Fort Wayne and now Detroit Pistons), as well as the 1953 NBA All-Star Game.The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is the current home of:* the Fort Wayne Komets of the ECHL ice hockey league,* the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League, and* the Fort Wayne Derby Girls of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 2.In 2013, a $3.96 million renovation and expansion of the 200 Level was completed. The project included upgraded restrooms with LED lighting, no-touch sinks, no-touch toilets, and no-touch urinals, and the addition of two food courts with three new vendors. Other restrooms throughout the Memorial Coliseum will be upgraded in 2014. The ribbon cutting ceremony was October 11, 2013. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Uh oh, Wikipedia contradicts Wikipedia on the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum hosting the 1955 NBA Finals:The 1955 NBA World Championship Series was the championship round of the 1954-55 NBA season. The best-of-seven series was won by the Syracuse Nationals, who defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in the final game when Syracuse's George King made a free throw with 12 seconds left to put the Nationals up 92-91. King then stole the ball from Fort Wayne's Andy Phillip with three seconds remaining to clinch the victory for Syracuse. Because of the arena not believing Fort Wayne would make the NBA Finals, the arena was booked and not available, and the Fort Wayne home games were played in Indianapolis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 OK, last nostalgia post from a sentimental old basketball fan. When the 1953 NBA All Star Game was held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, the MVP was George Mikan. That's one of the first names I ever recall my dad talking to me about. Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes and Bill Sharman are three other names that jump out at me from the past, as do Ed Macauley, Don Barksdale, Slater Martin and so many other stars from the early years of the NBA when I was so young and just beginning to be fascinated by the concept of throwing a ball through a hoop. The ghosts in that building will bring chills to any old-timers who make the trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 I lied. One last nostalgia post. For anyone who's genuinely interested in the history of basketball, please read every word in the Wikipedia entry on George Mikan. My dad always told me that Mikan redefined the sport, and this really tells his story. Best line to me:at the time it was believed that tall players were too awkward to ever play basketball well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronad Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Zips are 2.5 point dogs for this game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Had a chance to attend practice this morning for the first time in awhile. I saw a lot of enthusiasm and intensity from the players. They practiced hard and weren't holding anything back. No one was yelled at for dogging it. The coaching staff is confident that the players have a good attitude going into tomorrow night's game. That's no guarantee they'll have a great game. But I saw no signs that anyone was taking preparation for this game lightly.There were lots of individual player highlights during scrimmage on both offense and defense. One I especially liked seeing was Reggie driving the lane for a major slam instead of pulling up and shooting a jumper. We've seen this a little in recent games, and it really does appear that Reggie is developing into a more confident, complete player. I look for him to do well in the tournament and play an even bigger role in his junior season. The team bus was parked outside the JAR and was ready to leave for Fort Wayne as soon as the players finished showering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Lots of basketball history, plenty of seats and recently upgraded amenities to be experienced by those of us who attend this game. From the IPFW Wikipedia page:From the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Wikipedia page:@DiG, I hate to ruin your trip down nostalgia lane, with your report on the War Memorial Coliseum, but the Akron press release in Zn.o archives says this about the game time and venue:: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 • 7:00 p.m. ETHillard Gates Sports Center (2,300)Fort Wayne, Ind.Yes -- capacity 2,300! Gee, If the Mastodons are so motivated to win in their first try at post-season basketball, their fans are going to be pretty upset that that 13,000 seat arena won't be filled. Maybe they're just trying to quiet the thousands of Akron fans they were afraid would make the trip?One other detail: Rumor has it George Mikan has returned his tickets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Ha! I'm going to stop trusting Wikipedia. So IPFW apparently only holds some of their indoor sporting events at the big arena. If I'd checked the big arena's schedule, I'd have seen that there's a hockey game scheduled there tomorrow night. Instead, we get to see what a gym less than half the size of the JAR is like. Welcome to the big time. Thanks for saving us from showing up at a hockey game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staton14 Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Ha! I'm going to stop trusting Wikipedia. So IFPW apparently only plays most of their games at the big arena. If I'd checked the big arena's schedule, I'd have seen that there's a hockey game scheduled there tomorrow night. Instead, we get to see what a gym less than half the size of the JAR is like. Welcome to the big time. Thanks for saving us from showing up at a hockey game.According to their schedule they only played 1 game at the Memorial Coliseum. When I read the preview earlier it said that it was at the Coliseum but it has since been changed to the Gates Sports Center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 One other detail: Rumor has it George Mikan has returned his tickets. He must be a Democrat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 The two arenas are less than a mile apart, so no big changes in travel plans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Zips two and a half point underdog. OU and CSU a pick em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akronad Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Zips two and a half point underdog. OU and CSU a pick em.the line hasn't changed since I posted yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 the line hasn't changed since I posted yesterday.I can make the line move... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips88 Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Anyone aware of a link to a free stream for the game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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