Miami @ Akron 2-21-15

[MDZip]

Miami (Ohio) (10-16, 5-8 MAC) at Akron (17-9, 8-5 MAC)

Date: February 21st, 2015 7:30 PM

Site: James A. Rhoads Arena

TV: None

Webcast and Live Stats: Available at GoZips.com

Radio: SportsRadio 1350 AM (WARF)

This is one of the artifacts of the new 18 game schedule I do not care for, with 5 games to go in the season, this is our first game against an East division opponent who we play again in a few days.

Zips still have plenty to play for seeing as right now they are in the dreaded fifth seed spot. While I don't think the top seed is realistic any more a top four seed most definitely is. The Zips own a lot of tiebreakers right now with the groups at the top. Might even be advantageous for Toledo to grab the top spot alone leaving the Zips in a good spot with anybody else they might end up tied with. This is an important game with OU hosting Can't (absolutely the possibility of an upset) and one of either Buffalo or BGSU losing, the Zips will put themselves right back in the thick of it.

[The Hip Zip]

The MAC slate looks like they are all going to be tight games.

Robo.... any news??

[skip-zip]

The MAC slate looks like they are all going to be tight games.

That better not apply to this game!!

This is a below average team, at home. These are the games where we normally start to assert ourselves late in the season with the tourney approaching. And we're coming off of a decent performance at home against a very good team, while missing an important player. This better be a decisive victory.

[zippyfan34]

Noah is likely out per Ohio.com

[The Hip Zip]

Skip.... I think that this will be a close one. Line is -9' and I think Miami will stay within that number. Zips by 4 and I hope I'm wrong about the margin of victory.

Thanks 34.....

[Sportsjunkie330]

Skip.... I think that this will be a close one. Line is -9' and I think Miami will stay within that number. Zips by 4 and I hope I'm wrong about the margin of victory.

Thanks 34.....

You're so close to 1,000 posts..... I expect your 1000th the be a good one!

[Blue & Gold]

Ohio.com game story

http://www.ohio.com/sports/zips/ua-basketball-zips-must-beware-of-improving-redhawks-1.568488

"...UA is likely to play without a key cog in its lineup again. Freshman starting point guard Noah Robotham will likely sit out with the flu. Robotham’s wise-beyond-his-years calm and guidance has proved to be a steadying force for the Zips this season and has greatly contributed to the team’s success. He missed the Zips’ 68-66 loss to Toledo on Wednesday."

I like GT's colorful description of Antino Jackson:

"In his place, fellow freshman Antino Jackson will once again get the start. It took his Zips teammates some time to get used to Jackson’s style (think jackrabbit on Starbucks with a couple of shots of espresso for an extra kick) against the Rockets."

[1981 grad]

I think is a must win for the Zips but it will be a test of how strong this team can compete:

Playing without their starting guard.

Just lost a tough game at home.

Have now lost 2 in a row.

Playing a Miami team that just won by 11 points against OU.

I think it is important that we start strong. However, against Toledo we once again started very slowly. Among the starters, Antino was the only player to score in the first 5 minutes by hitting 2 3 pointers. The one thing I have noticed is that Evans is simply not scoring very much. We need to get more from our starting 5 in the beginning of the game. I would still like to see Deji start but know that is unlikely to happen. Looking forward to the game. I hope the snow does not deter anyone from showing up.

[The Hip Zip]

Miami beat BG at BG by 11 last out as well as Ohio by 11. They are a dangerous team

[Dave in Green]

I rarely miss a home game, but tonight is one of those nights that I have a non-basketball commitment. I feel good about Antino running the point and Malcolm backing him up. With that lineup they came close to beating Toledo and will do better against Miami.

[zipsrule]

They started the game pretty well, but faltered with 8 minutes to go in the half. WAY too many turnovers.

[Quickzips]

Anyone who still wants us to play big more often with the twin towers on the floor needs to go back and watch the last 2 minutes of that first half. With Pat and Isaiah on the floor together with Kwan, Jake and Noah the Zips were an unmitigated disaster against Miami's zone press. An 11 point lead gets slashed to down 1 at the half in the blink of an eye.

You have to have ball handlers on the floor against the press. This is basketball 101. There was no reason to stick with that lineup as long as we did. Just because you have two big guys doesn't mean you have to have them on the floor together.

[zipsrule]

I still love the open mic on commercial break. Frenchy!

[zipsrule]

After being up 38-30, Miami on a 9-0 run

[Quickzips]

This game is actually making me miss the old Miami games when Charlie Coles was on the sidelines for the Redhawks. This has been just a brutal game to watch.

[cjapsu]

Boy... an 'L' tonight really puts the pressure on the team if they want to avoid playing a MAC tournament game at the JAR...

[zipsrule]

This has been a brutal game to watch.

[Balsy]

Sooooooooooooo glad I went to the game tonight.

Anyone want to talk dying attendance again?

[zippy_ua_00]

I am sooooo pissed. Niu emu, OU, now Miami. I hope we are a low seed bc we can't seem to be the bottom dwellers.now we've lost 3 in a row and 2 in a row at home. Ugh

[clarkwgriswold]

I was unable to make tonight's game. Thank goodness. Looking at the box score, it appears that it must have painful to watch.

I expected much more of Jake and Reggie this year. I love that they are good kids and students, but their lack of production is becoming most frustrating.

[1981 grad]

The wheels have come off the bus. Three losses in a row in the MAC and two in the row at home. Now we travel to Buffalo.

A recurring theme of this team is that we cannot score at the end of the game. We probably scored less then 10 points in the last 5 minutes of the game and the last 5 minutes of overtime. We just do not have a go to guy at the end of the game. Antino was 2 of 10, Reggie and Kretzer were a combined 1 of 8 for a total of two points. These guys are juniors and suppose to be leaders of this team. Big Dog missed an easy shot in the last 5 minutes. Kwan missed a wide open three that would have won the game.

You could tell that Robotham was not 100%. He had 5 turnovers and just did not seem to be able to feed the ball to the big guys the way he has in the past.

KD used a lot of different combinations but offensively we really never clicked. At one point he used Kretzer as a second guard and it was a disaster when we kept turning the ball over on the press. We had 20 turnovers.

This offense seems to be built on feeding the ball inside or shooting 3 pointers. Well, our offense is not clicking. Hopefully we can turn it around in Buffalo.

[akronzips71]

It is obvious that this years team was built around Tree and we don't have anyone to replace him.

What I am really concerned about is next year. We lose two of our best producers this year, where is that going to leave us?

[K92]

Went to the game tonight. Witnessed first hand why students don't go to games. End of story.

[Valpo Zip]

The same scenario happens time after time after time: it's tied at the end of the game, the team has the last possession, and only need two points (or one) to win... they call a time out and draw a play for a high chance shot. Not in Akron!!!!! in Akron we will just take another three.

[Dave in Green]

I come home to this? If this Zips team has good chemistry then team chemistry is overrated.