Eagles vs Zips @ the Q — March 10th at Noon

[1981 grad]

When Akron was down 10 late in the second half KD call timeout and I saw Big Dog shouting at his teammates who all seemed to have their heads down.  The next play he got the ball and he put the ball in the basket.  This team showed a lot of heart.  I thought the key play was when Antino made a runner with about 4 minutes left.  That was the only time during the game that a guard penetrated the zone.  He then made a three and we were on our way.  I think he went 4 of 11 shooting and all his made baskets came in the last 5 minutes. 

 

We were missing a lot of open three shots.  Hopefully, they will start falling tomorrow.  I saw a replay of the Reggie's last foul and it was a charge and not a foul on Reggie.  It would have been bad if we would have lost this game on a bad call by the ref.  Go Zips.

 

 

[blueandgold]

55 minutes ago, HenryMuto said:

Only 1 free throw was awarded for the technical so this was a very smart play by Eastern Michigan.  This year they changed the rules when calling a timeout when you have none to just 1 technical (same for hanging on the rim) in the past it was 2 shots and the ball so like when Chris Webber did it back in the day Michigan would have still had a shot win the game with the new rules back last year and back then it killed you with 2 shots and the other team getting the ball.

 

So teams would be smart to start using this new loop hole of a rule like EM just did.  In a lot of games when a team is up 1 point with under 3 seconds left with 1 FT they now usually miss the FT on purpose so the other team has to catch the ball and shoot an 80 footer to try and win but it would now be smart of them to call timeout give the team another FT and be down 2 pts and get a 3 point shot to win it at the end.

Yes, it is definitely a loop hole. Once more teams figure it out and abuse it, the rule will get changed again.

[taxpayer]

Honestly, some of you are the most negative "fans" I've been exposed to.  Stop being negative, stop being front runners and enjoy what the KD era has brought to Akron....a

consistent winning program.  Instead of having the teams back some of you are the first to start pointing fingers when things get tough....do us all a favor, keep your insecure,

finger pointing comments to yourself or at least off this board. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

And "March" continues to happen.

 

BUGS knocks off CMU in the last 20 seconds. Incredible.

 

Be careful what I wish for... I know... I know...

[The Hip Zip]

This is setting up nicely. I give Miami a hell of a shot at taking down Buffalo as well. Wonder if Maric will play for NIU tonight?

[Z.I.P.]

I'm not afraid to admit it.  I became a religious man today!  When the time out was called in the second half, when we went down ten (?), I could hear Keith all the way from Honolulu saying to his players, "We don't get a second chance!"  Well, with the good Lord's help -- and a lot of support from Eastern Michigan, we get to keep playing tomorrow!  Those Eagles tried so many times to GIVE away the game, and Akron refused to take it!  But, somehow, some way, we got over the hump on Thursday (they might have played the GEICO commercial, but every ad (on ESPN Xtra) was for ESPN).  I suspect EMU was adopting Akron football's strategy of "Run out the Clock" with six minutes to play, and it blew back on them.  We all need to play like Akron Futbol, and 1.) Never stop working. and 2.) When you DO need to run out the clock on your last possession, "take the ball to the corner", rather than trying to score! 

 

Thoughts:  If Reggie had not bent his knees so deep, he would have received the "Charge" call -- but when a player is bent over like that he will always get a "block" foul.

There's a reason why (I think) four centers made First Team all-MAC.  Thompson, Hall, Campbell and Johnson are all Big Time players, and Akron has fits stopping them!  Take nothing away from Thompson (or Hall for that matter), without them their team(s) would be far worse.

 

EDIT:  ALSO -- with 14:30 to play (I'm watching the replay right now) Reggie took a three from the top left of the basket and got CLOBBERED, but no foul was called -- possibly a make up for the previous 3-point foul that was called and the replay showed a block?

 

Now, I see NO WAY we can play another game as bad as the last two.  Let's take charge of our destiny, Akron!

Edited March 11, 2016 by Z.I.P.

[UAZippers]

 

 

Akron's press conference after the game. Dambrot's very last comment is the most interesting. He thinks that if Big Dog gets in shape, he will be one of the best centers in the COUNTRY next year. That is a lot of hype for any player in the MAC.

 

[akronzips71]

The stars are lining up. We seem to be drawing exactly the opponents we want to have a clear path the the Dance. All we have to do is PLAY WELL.

[The Hip Zip]

Thanks for posting the presser.  Z ball.... I like that.

[smacktalkinZip]

1 hour ago, taxpayer said:

Honestly, some of you are the most negative "fans" I've been exposed to.  Stop being negative, stop being front runners and enjoy what the KD era has brought to Akron....a

consistent winning program.  Instead of having the teams back some of you are the first to start pointing fingers when things get tough....do us all a favor, keep your insecure,

finger pointing comments to yourself or at least off this board. 

Amen brother!  Just got home and I am streaming the game on Roku's ESPN app.  But reading some of the comments is sad.  24-7 going into this game and when there's an off shooting game we act like the team is 7-24.   Dambrot's the best thing that has happened to this program and we're trashing him over a bad ten minute stretch.  Unreal!

Edited March 10, 2016 by smacktalkinZip

[smacktalkinZip]

Oh yeah,  Go Zips!  Beat BUGS!

 

[dirtyolcrowe]

hey!!!  did we win????  moral victory????

Edited March 10, 2016 by dirtyolcrowe

[NWAkron]

Was easy to get negative during that game.  The announcers said that BG or CMU was going to need to really step it up to beat Akron and that our game was like a Championship game.   The draw did fall to our favor.   Free throws killed Central.  

[Z.I.P.]

1 hour ago, NWAkron said:

The announcers said that BG or CMU was going to need to really step it up to beat Akron and that our game was like a Championship game.   The draw did fall to our favor.   Free throws killed Central.

SPEAKING of which...WHERE on Earth did TWC find those two loser commentators??  Totally unprepared and ill-knowledged to call a tournament game!  Was that color guy Steve Mix, the former Chicago Bull?  IAC, when time out was called with Akron down by 10-12 late, he said -- "If I were the coach, I would take Johnson out of the game -- he hasn't done anything on offense or defense".  As soon as Big Dog scored the next two baskets, the guy mischaracterizes his own statement and says "See -- sometimes you have to tell a player, 'either start playing or you're coming out'."   So he took credit for Isaiah's baskets after telling the coach to bench him!

 

Question:  DID EMU take the technical foul INTENTIONALLY??  Did they admit that?  If so (or even if not) I know how the rule can be changed -- Guess who is Chairman of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee?  One Keith Dambrot!

EDIT -- Okay, just watched the replay -- NOT intentional, just stupid!

Edited March 11, 2016 by Z.I.P.

[LZIp]

42 minutes ago, Z.I.P. said:

SPEAKING of which...WHERE on Earth did TWC find those two loser commentators??  Totally unprepared and ill-knowledged to call a tournament game!  Was that color guy Steve Mix, the former Chicago Bull?  IAC, when time out was called with Akron down by 10-12 late, he said -- "If I were the coach, I would take Johnson out of the game -- he hasn't done anything on offense or defense".  As soon as Big Dog scored the next two baskets, the guy mischaracterizes his own statement and says "See -- sometimes you have to tell a player, 'either start playing or you're coming out'."   So he took credit for Isaiah's baskets after telling the coach to bench him!

 

I hardly ever notice commentators, but I have to agree. Those doofus' stuck out like sore thumbs.

[1981 grad]

40 minutes ago, Z.I.P. said:

SPEAKING of which...WHERE on Earth did TWC find those two loser commentators??  Totally unprepared and ill-knowledged to call a tournament game!  Was that color guy Steve Mix, the former Chicago Bull?  IAC, when time out was called with Akron down by 10-12 late, he said -- "If I were the coach, I would take Johnson out of the game -- he hasn't done anything on offense or defense".  As soon as Big Dog scored the next two baskets, the guy mischaracterizes his own statement and says "See -- sometimes you have to tell a player, 'either start playing or you're coming out'."   So he took credit for Isaiah's baskets after telling the coach to bench him!

 

Question:  DID EMU take the technical foul INTENTIONALLY??  Did they admit that?  If so (or even if not) I know how the rule can be changed -- Guess who is Chairman of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee?  One Keith Dambrot!

No way,  I am sure it was instinctive with time running out that players call timeout.  It turned out to be the best thing to do for Eastern Michigan and gave them one last chance to win the game.  Who knew they changed the rule where it one only one T and we did not get possession of the ball.

[Let'sGoZips94]

42 minutes ago, Z.I.P. said:

SPEAKING of which...WHERE on Earth did TWC find those two loser commentators??  Totally unprepared and ill-knowledged to call a tournament game!  Was that color guy Steve Mix, the former Chicago Bull?  IAC, when time out was called with Akron down by 10-12 late, he said -- "If I were the coach, I would take Johnson out of the game -- he hasn't done anything on offense or defense".  As soon as Big Dog scored the next two baskets, the guy mischaracterizes his own statement and says "See -- sometimes you have to tell a player, 'either start playing or you're coming out'."   So he took credit for Isaiah's baskets after telling the coach to bench him!

 

Question:  DID EMU take the technical foul INTENTIONALLY??  Did they admit that?  If so (or even if not) I know how the rule can be changed -- Guess who is Chairman of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee?  One Keith Dambrot!

I'm going to answer your question with a question.

 

Where on Earth did the MAC find TWC to televise their basketball games?

[NWAkron]

On that same note, unintelligible, negative article from Livingston posted in the PD.   

 

 

[Valpo Zip]

I am very thankful that we won this game. Also very thankful that we're playing BG instead of CMU tomorrow. Nevertheless, three things are still bothering me about the game:

1 - why did we give up so many offensive rebounds? What happened to boxing out?

2 - Missing free throws almost killed us.

3 - How on earth can a ref call that 5th foul on Reggie and still have a job? 

[LoyalZIP]

Just read though the game thread...I don't understand how true Akron fans that have been following the program for AT LEAST a couple of years count the team out so early in all these games. They play 40 minutes for a reason. If they played ~30 minutes I would understand some of that, but come on man. 

 

BEAT BG. I'm tired of sitting at the Q on MAC tournament Saturday having to watch other teams play. Get the job done. 

[MDZip]

16 hours ago, Z.I.P. said:

Question:  DID EMU take the technical foul INTENTIONALLY??  Did they admit that?  If so (or even if not) I know how the rule can be changed -- Guess who is Chairman of the NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee?  One Keith Dambrot!

EDIT -- Okay, just watched the replay -- NOT intentional, just stupid!

From the EMU Press Conference Transcript:

 

Coach, I know it didn't really matter, but the timeout you didn't have, was there any

way that final flurry could have turned out?

 

COACH MURPHY: No, not really. They missed a layup and we got the rebound, so even if

he doesn't call the timeout he would have had to shoot a full court shot so try try to make it.

Instinctively he called a timeout. Really probably put us in a better situation for them to get

the extra free throw. So bad plays turned into a positive play because the game pretty much

would have been over.

[Dr Z]

18 hours ago, The Hip Zip said:

Thanks for posting the presser.  Z ball.... I like that.

Me too. Always love hearing KD speak.

 

These quotes stuck out to me the most. 

 

Coach Dambrot "We told our guys, look, we don't want to shoot any ball other than on the break without Big Dog touching it. We were going to play through them. If we weren't going to win, it was going to be because he didn't make free throws or he didn't make the right pass or he didn't make the right play. For me, I just simplified it. I made believe I had LeBron James again and I threw him the ball on every play. I told him it's better for them that way because they'll get more open looks. That was our problem is we tried to do a little bit too much too early and we rushed ourselves a little bit. I always think the first game of the tournament is the most anxiety filled. I think we'll play a little bit better tomorrow, but I think Eastern Michigan had a lot to do with how we played."

 

Coach Dambrot "No excuses, we've won plenty of games without Pat Forsythe, but I've got this guy here that I've got to keep fresh. I tried to do it in the first half. To win the game I've got to keep him fresh. I have two big guys, so I've got to make sure I keep Cheatham and Big Dog out of foul trouble. So that's the bigger issue I think for us is making sure we play our bench, that's key for us. Regardless of whether they play great all the time or not, they're going to try"

 

Coach Dambrot "We call it puck ball, Z ball with puck ball and the puck ball is throw it to that monster right there and play through them. There's two parts to it. This is a new thing we've just started over probably the last four, five games."

 

Coach Dambrot "The one thing about him (Big Dog) is if you don't bring the double team, he can get the ball right in front of the rim and that's what we tried to do. We knew that their rules in the zone is when the ball hits the high post, it's man-to-man, so we knew we had isolation there and it was just a matter of whether he can make enough of them over Thompson to win us the game or not. That's really what it came down to. It beat the alternative of taking our chances at the 3 line, so you've just got to roll with what's working for you and that's the best alternative we had. But he's a good player."

[The Hip Zip]

1 hour ago, MDZip said:

From the EMU Press Conference Transcript:

 

Coach, I know it didn't really matter, but the timeout you didn't have, was there any

way that final flurry could have turned out?

 

COACH MURPHY: No, not really. They missed a layup and we got the rebound, so even if

he doesn't call the timeout he would have had to shoot a full court shot so try try to make it.

Instinctively he called a timeout. Really probably put us in a better situation for them to get

the extra free throw. So bad plays turned into a positive play because the game pretty much

would have been over.

 

Never for a moment  did i think that the called timeout was a ploy to inbound the basketball. The thought of Eastern thinking that one out was improbable at best.

[zippyfan34]

11 hours ago, LoyalZIP said:

BEAT BG. I'm tired of sitting at the Q on MAC tournament Saturday having to watch other teams play. Get the job done. 

Tired?  Wasn't last year the first time in like 7 years we didn't play in the Championship on Saturday?

[NWAkron]

The year before as well.