Zips vs Penn State

[Blue & Gold]

Difference to me is that the PSU used time outs to at least try to swing the momentum. Dambrot watched a big lead turn into nothing and never called a time out. It was obvious that PSU came out strong and we were struggling. This is Dambrot's MO and I don't think it ever works. Burn a time out and stop the bleeding.

I agree. After KD finally called the timeout, we then proceeded to go on a, what, 7-0 run? Should have been called 10-points earlier.

[ZIPSMOM2]

I thought we played OK and at times we look tired. We should of won that game but I will take 2 out 2 . I'm still proud of these young men and I know we will grow from our mistakes and come out as a really good team. This is a very talented team... we just need to work on some things which I know the coaches will do so.

[Blue & Gold]

I'm surprised at how good this team looks. I'll admit, I thought we could flush this season down the drain when we lost Tree.

I think this team looks better than any Zips team we've seen in a number of years, including the Zeke Marshall years.

Forsythe has stepped up big time. He's much more offensively-minded than Big Zeke ever was. I love it. I love the fact he's only a junior. Very exciting.

The vast improvement of Kwan Cheatham is just breathtaking. When I watch him play I simply can't believe this is the same Kwan who wore a Zips' jersey last season. Jimmy Conyers would be the only player I could think of that I've witnessed make a bigger leap one year to the next.

Deji continues to get better and better every year. He's going to be one of the better players in the MAC this season. When we recruited him out of Chicago, I remember one recruiting service ranking him as the #1 most athletic player in the state his senior year. Well, Deji has worked and worked on his game and is now not only athletic, but a very skilled basketball player.

Nyles Evans doesn't look like the same Nyles Evans we saw last year. Nyles can, and does, really help this team. Always glad to see a local player do well.

I was in the camp that was a bit concerned with a seeming lack of player development within the Zips program. Well this year has really begun to change my mind on that front.

Antino Jackson is going to be a legit D-1 point guard. (What a backcourt we're going to have adding Joshua Williams next year. We've gone from having no point guard to an embarrassment of riches.)

Noah Robotham is simply a revelation. Best freshman I've seen suit up for the Zips since... Jimmal Ball. Not as explosive as Jimmal, but an even better point guard. MAC Freshman of the Year.

BJ Gladden has definitely been underwhelming, but I feel he is going to be fine. He's big, strong, athletic. Game just has to slow down for him. It may not happen until next year. This 10-game stretch of light(er)weights should really help his confidence.

Big Dog. I know he was hurt. But he hurt his wrist for crying out loud. That shouldn't stop you from jogging, sprinting, running stairs, doing wind sprints, treadmill, etc., etc. The rustiness of his basketball skills is understandable, but his lack of conditioning...

Getting a little tired of McAdams. As has been astutely observed: a one-trick pony. Even I could hang around beyond the 3-point line & just launch a handful of 3's a game. Floor spacing? Okay, but other than that... I may even start Gladden over Reggie. However, I'm pretty sure Reggie will get into more of a groove as the season goes on & I'll eat my words. At least I hope so.

Kretzer is similar, but he seems to be the glue that holds the team together. I really like his hustle, presence, body language & leadership.

Anyway, the team looks very good. Ball movement has been great. I attribute this to having legit PG play and, dare I say it, not thinking we should rely on Tree.

[K92]

Reggie kind of reminds me of Nitro.

[ZippyRulz]

Even a mediocre start to the 2nd half would have won the game.

+1. IANABC, but IMHO the top priority at the beginning of each half offensively should be to draw fouls. Work the ball inside and/or drive to the bucket, put some fouls on their starters, get to the line for a few points and loosen up the defense. When you come out shooting cold from the field, we see what happens. Take some pressure off of the outside shooting % and more of them will go in.

[zippy5]

STA2014

zippy5's campaign to stop the acronyms, who's in?

[K92]

STA2014

zippy5's campaign to stop the acronyms, who's in?

You better make it STA2015 because I don't think you can quell this phenomenon in a month.

[Hilltopper]

PSU charted direct to State College Sunday night and slept in their own beds for 2 nights. Zips were up at 6am Monday for a flight to Philly and had a bus ride from there to State College.

[zippy5]

You better make it STA2015 because I don't think you can quell this phenomenon in a month.

OKIWC

STA2014-2015

We'll go on a 12/1/-11/30 fiscal year so we have 4 days to gear up.

[ZippyRulz]

Come on, now. Everyone knows IMHO. "I Am Not A..." is also very commonly abbreviated and the rest of it is obvious from the context. I can't believe anyone would want to waste server space and keystrokes spelling everything out, I mean WTH?

[LZIp]

PSU charted direct to State College Sunday night and slept in their own beds for 2 nights. Zips were up at 6am Monday for a flight to Philly and had a bus ride from there to State College.

Whoever is in charge of traveling arrangements needs to do a better job. It is the same distance from Phili to State College at it is from Akron to State College. From Akron you don't need a wasteful flight and save a few hours.

[Dave in Green]

Whoever is in charge of traveling arrangements needs to do a better job. It is the same distance from Phili to State College at it is from Akron to State College. From Akron you don't need a wasteful flight and save a few hours.

You are correct about the bus trip from Akron to State College being roughly the same as Philly to State College. However, the Zips weren't in Akron. They were in Charleston, SC, Sunday night after the game and left for State College early Monday morning. It made no sense to try to fly back to Akron late Sunday before busing to State College early Monday.

[Hilltopper]

LZip, the team didn't even arrive back at the hotel until after 9 pm on Sunday. There are no commercial flights available directly to State College. I guess they could have flown home to Akron on Monday and bussed to PSU on Tuesday. No additional flights were needed either way. I'm pretty sure ESPN payed our travel expenses for this tournament, so beggars can't be choosets.

[taxpayer]

PSU vs Akron travel - wow, what a contrast. In light of UA's financial black hole, I will drop my support for a new arena. I will bring up needed improvements to the JAR but after some years of inquiring and researching travel challenges UA deals with, especially early in the season, I will suggest to UA's athletic department that the best thing we can do for mens' basketball is to fundraise/appeal so chartering can be an option 4 or 5 times a year. It's almost embarrassing to hear how the Zips got to State College. Powers that be know what a problem it is to get into and out of State College and if you want our team to win these types of games give them some assistance.

Beggars can't be choosers, man I hate that statement. Start the Charter fund! Wonder if you could have "bought" some seats on PSU's charter? Or offered to split the cost with them?

[Dave in Green]

Here are the field goals made-attempts for the 1st / 2nd halves by each Zips player:

3-4 / 1-5 Kwan

3-5 / 1-4 Pat

2-4 / 4-11 Noah

2-4 / 0-3 Nyles

3-5 / 0-2 Reggie

3-3 / 1-4 Deji

0-1 / 0-1 Jake

0-1 / 0-1 BJ

1-2 / 0-1 Big Dog

0-0 / 0-1 Antino

While Noah was 4-11 in the second half, the rest of the team combined was 3-22.

[Hilltopper]

KD has openly expressed his desire to upgrade the teams travel arrangements. We could use about $100,000 a year to pay for charters. You can earmark any contributions you make to the Z-Fund for what ever team you support. Have you made your contribution yet for this year? It's tax deductible.

[ZippyRulz]

Here are the field goals made-attempts for the 1st / 2nd halves by each Zips player:

3-4 / 1-5 Kwan

3-5 / 1-4 Pat

2-4 / 4-11 Noah

2-4 / 0-3 Nyles

3-5 / 0-2 Reggie

3-3 / 1-4 Deji

0-1 / 0-1 Jake

0-1 / 0-1 BJ

1-2 / 0-1 Big Dog

0-0 / 0-1 Antino

While Noah was 4-11 in the second half, the rest of the team combined was 3-22.

Running the ball opens up the offense in football. Pounding the ball inside opens up the offense in basketball.

[GP1]

Here are the field goals made-attempts for the 1st / 2nd halves by each Zips player:

3-4 / 1-5 Kwan

3-5 / 1-4 Pat

2-4 / 4-11 Noah

2-4 / 0-3 Nyles

3-5 / 0-2 Reggie

3-3 / 1-4 Deji

0-1 / 0-1 Jake

0-1 / 0-1 BJ

1-2 / 0-1 Big Dog

0-0 / 0-1 Antino

While Noah was 4-11 in the second half, the rest of the team combined was 3-22.

This shows me how tired the team had to be. Everyone shot badly. You shoot with your legs and guide the ball with your arms and hands. No legs, no shots made. Very simple. The conditioning they got in the past week will pay dividends down the road.

[taxpayer]

HillTopper - let's set the bar a little lower than $100,000. One of the few good things about the MAC is it is a regional conference. Busing does't take a huge toll on the team as the vast majority of trips are 6 hours or shorter. I don't believe the Zips need to charter all that much. For the OCC they could use a few of them, let's say 4 round trips each season. My first thought is to combine the team and fan base when traveling to and back from these TV created Thanksgiving season tournaments. If the Zip fans would commit in enough numbers it would lower the cost to the basketball budget. If fan interest is limited I suggest commercial flight in but charter home. Against PSU that would have made a huge difference as the Zips would have been in State College by midnight or 1am at the latest as opposed to the 12 marathon they experienced. They could have had a light workout and run through at PSU's facility, had some decent meals and two good nights of sleep.......I suggest to the powers that be that a projected cost of chartering to and from the OCC tournaments and a few selected games be mailed or posted so that the individuals or corporations that contribute to the Zips basketball program could decide to contribute to such a fund.

This is the quickest and financially achievable way to assist the Zips on getting to the next level versus the big boys.

Do you all think there would be sufficient interest and support to accomplish this goal?

[Balsy]

Perhaps Penn State is just better than we expected? They've only lost one game this season, which was 4-1 Charlotte who's only loss came against the U.