Zips vs. Western Michigan- 1/6/17

[clarkwgriswold]

Another slow start against a bad team...

[ZachTheZip]

We can't buy a 3-pointer right now.

[ZachTheZip]

3-14 from 3-point land and only one FT attempted. Maybe it's time to switch offensive strategies.

[Zipgrad01]

10 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

I feel this Akron team has the ability to be as good, if not better, than any of the Akron teams that I've witnessed. When they're moving the ball around, their offense looks unguardedable unless you have a guy big enough and strong enough to guard Big Dog 1 on 1. In order to reach this potential we need to improve our perimeter defense and need 1, preferably 2, guys to step up to provide us more quality minutes off the bench in the post.

 

Not bad for a team that many deemed the "worst Dambrot team ever" after the YSU game.

Now you see why people made those comments. 

[clarkwgriswold]

32-32 @ half. Ugh.

[NWAkron]

That was a life-sucking first half.   With my usual caveat of not knowing the game that well, it seems like they want the game to come to them, that working hard is only necessary when they are forced to do so.    

[kreed5120]

3 minutes ago, Zipgrad01 said:

Now you see why people made those comments. 

 

What I saw was we were 3/14 from 3 on mostly good looks and had quite a few turnovers and we are still tied.

 

Still doesn't change the fact that I feel this team has a really high ceiling. It just hasn't reached it's full potential. Hopefully its there come March.

[Zipgrad01]

19 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

What I saw was we were 3/14 from 3 on mostly good looks and had quite a few turnovers and we are still tied.

 

Still doesn't change the fact that I feel this team has a really high ceiling. It just hasn't reached it's full potential. Hopefully its there come March.

I hope you are right. I don't see it. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

3 minutes ago, Zipgrad01 said:

I hope you are right. I don't see it. 

Agreed. And the #1 reason I agree: I don't see the heart on this team. There is no Kretzer or McAdams to pick up the energy/hustle. There is no Cedrick Middleton to slap the floor to play D, or Dials to pick up the tempo and energy. This team might be the most naturally talented team Dambrot has ever had, but they lack the heart and desire to go out there every game with the goal to leave it all out there and win. 

[NWAkron]

Downward spiral this game and last.  Not seeing this one getting any better.

[ZachTheZip]

Somebody take the ball away from our 3-point shooters. Kwan, Josh, and Aaron Jackson are a combined 2-14 from 3 and it's absolutely killing us.

[Zipgrad01]

42 minutes ago, lilroodude said:

Agreed. And the #1 reason I agree: I don't see the heart on this team. There is no Kretzer or McAdams to pick up the energy/hustle. There is no Cedrick Middleton to slap the floor to play D, or Dials to pick up the tempo and energy. This team might be the most naturally talented team Dambrot has ever had, but they lack the heart and desire to go out there every game with the goal to leave it all out there and win. 

Naturally talented? Do you remember the team with Zeke, tree, Harney and Abreu??? They would wax this team. 

Edited January 7, 2017 by Zipgrad01

[kreed5120]

Akron shot under 25% from 3 and still escaped with the win. Finding ways to win when you're having a poor shooting night is what good teams do.

[Let'sGoZips94]

3 minutes ago, Zipgrad01 said:

Naturally talented? Do you remember the team with Zeke, tree, Harney and Abreau??? They would wax this team. 

Tree wasn't exceptionally talented; he just out-hustled and out-desired everyone. 

Zeke was good, but he was more tall than naturally talented. Busted his butt to get better and put together an impressive senior year. Also played with a lot of heart.

Harney... pretty talented but kind of went through the motions.

Abreu was ok. Very streaky player. Played with fire, which I liked. 

 

I'd take this team, talent wise, over that team all day every day. I'd take Tree & Zeke's heart and desire, and Abreu's fire over this team's. I'd take a combination of the best attributes from both teams, though. 

[Zipgrad01]

11 minutes ago, lilroodude said:

Tree wasn't exceptionally talented; he just out-hustled and out-desired everyone. 

Zeke was good, but he was more tall than naturally talented. Busted his butt to get better and put together an impressive senior year. Also played with a lot of heart.

Harney... pretty talented but kind of went through the motions.

Abreu was ok. Very streaky player. Played with fire, which I liked. 

 

I'd take this team, talent wise, over that team all day every day. I'd take Tree & Zeke's heart and desire, and Abreu's fire over this team's. I'd take a combination of the best attributes from both teams, though. 

Lol....ok... smh 

 

i cant even have a conversation about those comments. 

Edited January 7, 2017 by Zipgrad01

[K92]

Who's naturally talented on this team?  I'll give you Ivey.  Who else?

[Zipgrad01]

11 minutes ago, K92 said:

Who's naturally talented on this team?  I'll give you Ivey.  Who else?

Ding ding 

[clarkwgriswold]

That was AWFUL.  Thanks to some atrocious late free throw shooting from WMU, we were able to squeak by a below average team with 8 freshmen on the roster.   Good teams won't allow us to play like that and escape with a win.

 

I can't get my head around this team.  Are they just one of those teams who will play to the competition and just well enough to win...or...are they just not as good as we thought they might be?  

 

I am really missing Antino having the ball in his hands as he did when he was at the point.  They're also looking like another one of those deep Dambrot era teams without a go to guy or strong leader.

Edited January 7, 2017 by clarkwgriswold

[NWAkron]

OU v Kent on ESPNU....decisions, decisions.

[skip-zip]

Well, this was the example that everyone was waiting for.  What happens on a night when we shoot 24% from 3-point range?

 

First of all, I think the size of WMU's perimeter players caused some problems for our Guards shooting the basketball.  But we had to "play ugly" and grind this game out in the paint, and got it done......Thanks to the 11-0 run in the 2nd half that flipped the score from Down 6 to Up 5.   Without that, we probably lose this game.  

 

Down the road, I think this team is just a tough matchup for us.  They have the personnel to guard us at most every position.  Thankfully, we found that Dog could use his girth in the paint to muscle in some baskets against their more "lanky" big guys.  

[Zipgrad01]

35 minutes ago, skip-zip said:

Well, this was the example that everyone was waiting for.  What happens on a night when we shoot 24% from 3-point range?

 

First of all, I think the size of WMU's perimeter players caused some problems for our Guards shooting the basketball.  But we had to "play ugly" and grind this game out in the paint, and got it done......Thanks to the 11-0 run in the 2nd half that flipped the score from Down 6 to Up 5.   Without that, we probably lose this game.  

 

Down the road, I think this team is just a tough matchup for us.  They have the personnel to guard us at most every position.  Thankfully, we found that Dog could use his girth in the paint to muscle in some baskets against their more "lanky" big guys.  

That is a problem that arguably the worst team in the MAC is a matchup problem for us. Thank god our first 2 conference home games were at home. 

[skip-zip]

10 minutes ago, Zipgrad01 said:

That is a problem that arguably the worst team in the MAC is a matchup problem for us. Thank god our first 2 conference home games were at home. 

 

Yes, that's tough to swallow.  But many times, that team that matches up well with you may not be a "good team".  They probably aren't. OU blasted them by 30+ a few night ago.

 

I'm just hoping that we can just shoot a little better the next time we play them.  

[NWAkron]

If any of you are watching that other game, Kent player just got a technical for "flopping."  Pathetic.

 

[kreed5120]

I honestly didn't see a matchup problem. We held WMU to under 60 points playing some great D that final ~10 minutes. Outside of Antino forcing a few shots, I thought we mostly got quality looks. Ivey air balled a 3 with the nearest defender 7-8 feet away. Noah couldn't have possibly been anymore open on 2-3 of the ones he missed.

 

Some nights they just don't fall. We lost to an equally as bad Miami team last year by 13 points on a night we couldn't buy a shot. We should be thankful we had our poor shooting night against a team we could manage to overcome instead of someone that would make us pay for it. We don't normally have bad shooting nights at home, but it was bound to happen at some point.

Edited January 7, 2017 by kreed5120

[1981 grad]

2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

That was AWFUL.  Thanks to some atrocious late free throw shooting from WMU, we were able to squeak by a below average team with 8 freshmen on the roster.   Good teams won't allow us to play like that and escape with a win.

 

I can't get my head around this team.  Are they just one of those teams who will play to the competition and just well enough to win...or...are they just not as good as we thought they might be?  

 

I am really missing Antino having the ball in his hands as he did when he was at the point.  They're also looking like another one of those deep Dambrot era teams without a go to guy or strong leader.

I stated earlier when trying to predict how this team would do I could not find a "go to guy."  But tonight I thought there were a couple of key plays that turned the game around.  One was a steal and dunk by Jimond that started our run to the lead and another was a clutch 3 pointer by Kwan.  Big Dog also had some key baskets down the stretch.  Western Michigan double teamed Big Dog and covered Jimond under the basket leaving our 3 point shooters open and we could not hit the 3 ball.  Antino missed wide open 3 balls, Noah, missed wide open 3 balls, and Josh did not score in 27 minutes of play.  These guys are supposed to be our shooters, they are playing at home, they have open looks, and there is no reason for them to shoot the ball that badly.    Luckily, Western Michigan shot 37% from the line. Kwan has really played smart this year and is having a great senior season.  After he scored he pressured the inbounds play causing a turnover.   He is also giving us some inside scoring. I think if our guards struggle away from the Jar we are going to have a hard time winning on the road.  Hopefully, this will be their worst shooting game.  Looking forward to Tuesday's game.  Go Zips!