Game 28—Miami

[skip-zip]

39 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

There were a few questionable coaching decisions

 

Zipfan84 questioned the tendency to "overcoach", in general.  I feel like I've seen that a lot this year as well.   Questioning specific coaching decisions during a game is a separate issue for me.  That's much more difficult to criticize.  You know how that goes.  When things work, those decision look genius.  When they don't work, they look bad.  And neither outcome could have had anything to do with whether a particular decision was actually the best one.  

[1981 grad]

I saw a concerted effort to get Klac the ball in the first half and after mumbled and fumbled the ball several times they did not go back to him.  Lucas Smith and Torrey Patton gave us nothing offensively although they played good defense.  Duvivier hit only 1 of 10 and 8 of his shots were from 3 land.  He did not penetrate or drive to the basket today.  Parrish had a nice game.  Groce indicated that he was happy with his team's defense and coachability.  They have been competitive the last 5 games and this was their best defensive effort.  I hate losing but the guys are at least improving.  It will be interesting to see what happens in Buffalo.  We will be on the road for our first post season game.  I am hoping to play Kent so I can make the game.  

[zipfan84]

53 minutes ago, skip-zip said:

 

Zipfan84 questioned the tendency to "overcoach", in general.  I feel like I've seen that a lot this year as well.   Questioning specific coaching decisions during a game is a separate issue for me.  That's much more difficult to criticize.  You know how that goes.  When things work, those decision look genius.  When they don't work, they look bad.  And neither outcome could have had anything to do with whether a particular decision was actually the best one.  

My comment wasn't meant to be critical. Just an observation.

[skip-zip]

It was a good one.  Thanks for pointing it out.  You may not have meant it to criticize, but I will say that it's appeared to be more disruptive than helpful on many occasions this season. 

 

I can also personally add that when I was an athlete, I tuned it all out unless there was a stop in the action.  Maybe some actually try to process it on-the-go.  All I ever heard was noise.      

[UAZip0510]

This just isn't a good team.  Due to circumstances we've discussed at length already, it's understandable - losing Olojakpoke and Sayles turned what would have been an average team into a pretty bad one.  We'll be on the road in the First Round, and given our road woes it won't be a surprise if we all save money on The Q this year.  

 

The biggest question marks moving forward are if Jimond Ivey and Daniel Utomi are bought into Groce and want to remain committed, how our youngsters work and develop over the summer, who we can land with the open scholarship, and if, with the transfers coming in to a team that SHOULD only lose player, it's enough to get us back to contention in the MAC.  

[Akronfan111]

1 hour ago, 1981 grad said:

I saw a concerted effort to get Klac the ball in the first half and after mumbled and fumbled the ball several times they did not go back to him.  

Great to see them attempt some interior passing today. We need it. But it's a long way down for a big guy to get a bounce pass below the knees. Would love to see those passes higher or maybe a lob next time. Baby steps...  Team is getting better in the nick of time for the tourney.

[clarkwgriswold]

16 minutes ago, UAZip0510 said:

This just isn't a good team.  Due to circumstances we've discussed at length already, it's understandable - losing Olojakpoke and Sayles turned what would have been an average team into a pretty bad one.  We'll be on the road in the First Round, and given our road woes it won't be a surprise if we all save money on The Q this year.  

 

The biggest question marks moving forward are if Jimond Ivey and Daniel Utomi are bought into Groce and want to remain committed, how our youngsters work and develop over the summer, who we can land with the open scholarship, and if, with the transfers coming in to a team that SHOULD only lose player, it's enough to get us back to contention in the MAC.  

 

That pretty well sums it up.  Not a good team + fans being spoiled =  misery.

[72 Roo]

I gotta get this off my chest. This is not a good team. Not because of talent but because of how they play:

• they don't protect the basketball. An example is their often lazy, one -handed passes that are picked off
• they stop running plays and show no movement in the second half. That is not because of fatigue, they lose focus and purpose
• Ivey is a poor ball handler. He has a high dribble that can be stolen. He turns it over trying to penetrate and when tightly defended on penetration he is a terrible passer because he gets himself sealed off.
• Groce tolerates too much poor shot selection

They will be better next year, but they can be better this year. Why wait. Play smarter basketball.

[Phootss]

We have been season ticket holders for years and knew this was going to be a tough year.  That being said the Miami players in the second half wanted the win more than the Zips.  They were hustling for loose balls harder than us and they left with the win.  This team is not horrible as some may think or say but they need to play hard for the entire game.  Malcolm and Jimmond tend to play over their head and they make poor decisions.  Mark - he played better but would've benefitted from a red shirt year as he looks overwhelmed.

In regrds to overcoaching - I heard the same complaints when Dambrot was the coach.  This team needs coaching/teaching as they on average are so young.

Go Zips.....

 

[clarkwgriswold]

8 minutes ago, 72 Roo said:

I gotta get this off my chest. This is not a good team. Not because of talent but because of how they play:

• they don't protect the basketball. An example is their often lazy, one -handed passes that are picked off
• they stop running plays and show no movement in the second half. That is not because of fatigue, they lose focus and purpose
• Ivey is a poor ball handler. He has a high dribble that can be stolen. He turns it over trying to penetrate and when tightly defended on penetration he is a terrible passer because he gets himself sealed off.
• Groce tolerates too much poor shot selection

They will be better next year, but they can be better this year. Why wait. Play smarter basketball.

 

I think it is in part talent.  They're thin, young and inexperienced at key positions and playing kids that would never have seen the floor in prior years.

[Blue & Gold]

11 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

I think it is in part talent.  They're thin, young and inexperienced at key positions and playing kids that would never have seen the floor in prior years.

Especially Patton.  He's scared to shoot the ball.  Wish he'd just let it fly.  He needs to loosen up.

[skip-zip]

1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:

Especially Patton.  He's scared to shoot the ball.  Wish he'd just let it fly.  He needs to loosen up.

 

I'm with you.  

 

I didn't expect him to be a non-factor.  After that big state tourney scoring output he had last year, I really thought he might be a guy who's talent was emerging at the right time, and flew in under the radar as a "steal" for us, and could have an impact as a Freshman.  

 

I can't really say I've seen any of what I thought we might see from him.    

[Hilltopper]

18 hours ago, RowdyZip said:

Cotton was on the bench during Miami's first time out wearing sunglasses.

 

17 hours ago, LZIp said:

Zips playing pretty well. Miami playing pretty bad too.

 

It seems like Cotton may be on his way out. Too bad as he showed some potential earlier in the season.

 

Can't tell if he's wearing sunglasses or some sort of protective goggles.

 

17 hours ago, zipfan84 said:

They are tinted.

 

15 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

I hope to hell this is all eating Virshon up so that he'll think twice before putting himself in the doghouse.  With their thin squad and close games, he could be making a real difference.

 

There was one major positive.  I'm no longer hearing "Fat Bottomed Girls" from the band.

 

15 hours ago, Hilltopper said:

You guys need to get off Cotton's back. His not playing has nothing to do with disciplinary action or lack of effort. 

 

15 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

I hope you're right Hilltopper and I trust you are as you have good info.  It's just odd that it is on the heels of him being held out for disciplinary reasons.

 

15 hours ago, Hilltopper said:

100% right.

 

15 hours ago, Zip JD said:

Can you elaborate?  I've heard it was his not staying composed after he's taken out of games after bad turnovers, etc like the BG game.  Thanks.  

 

14 hours ago, LZIp said:

unfortunately we have no choice but to assume the most likely scenario with no coverage of the team. I hope and believe you're right in that its not as bad as it appears. I'm not sure there is a good way in spinning getting zero minutes when dressed on a team with only 6 other scholarship players, however.

"Freshman guard Virshon Cotton sat out because of pink eye."

 https://www.ohio.com/akron/sports/university-of-akron/university-of-akron-mens-basketball-zips-cant-hold-14-point-second-half-lead-fall-64-62-in-overtime-to-miami

 

This is also the reason he didn't play much at BG on Tuesday night. 

[clarkwgriswold]

25 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Freshman guard Virshon Cotton sat out because of pink eye."

 https://www.ohio.com/akron/sports/university-of-akron/university-of-akron-mens-basketball-zips-cant-hold-14-point-second-half-lead-fall-64-62-in-overtime-to-miami

 

This is also the reason he didn't play much at BG on Tuesday night. 

Saw that this morning and I am glad to hear it.

[Zip JD]

7 hours ago, Hilltopper said:

Thanks for the info on Cotton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 25, 2018 by Zip JD
Didn't post properly first time around.

[Let'sGoZips94]

I know Utomi missed one of his big free throws at the end of regulation, but I want to compliment the team on their commitment to free throw shooting. I'm pretty confident anytime we're at the charity stripe. It's a refreshing feeling. 

[ewbrooman1]

On 2/24/2018 at 2:07 PM, ewbrooman1 said:

He and Scirotto did the OSU-IU game in Bloomington last night.

Boroski is in Madison, WI this afternoon working the MSU-WISC game.

[Z.I.P.]

1 hour ago, ewbrooman1 said:

Boroski is in Madison, WI this afternoon working the MSU-WISC game.

I don't watch much B1G hoops, but I've seen some Twitter traffic talking about how officiating there has gotten worse, and the name Borowski comes up first!

[Hilltopper]

He only made one really bad call in my opinion. 

[akronzips71]

I watched some of the replay.

So here is an observation, do with it as you will.

Klac is getting better every game. This was his best game yet. 7 boards, active hands, altered and blocked shots.

I was surprised that he did not foul out, even with OT.

He needs more touches. He can score inside, they just don't get him the ball. He has nice spin moves, most of his very few shots do go in.

Groce needs to totally turn him lose on offense, I see a ton of potential.

[ZIPS96]

Klac’s hands were active losing the ball!

[akronzips71]

11 hours ago, ZIPS96 said:

Klac’s hands were active losing the ball!

Rookie Zeke fouled out almost every game and scored few points

Rookie Big Dog was a boat anchor

Give it time.

[skip-zip]

17 hours ago, ZIPS96 said:

Klac’s hands were active losing the ball!

 

I know several of this kid's notable issues have been mentioned already, but it should be mind-boggling to anyone when your Center leads the team in turnovers in a game.  

 

I think some people just choose to ignore what doesn't fit with their hopes.  Fortunately, the guys who played in front of him will hopefully be returning next year, with the addition of at least one more capable post player.  

[LZIp]

2 hours ago, skip-zip said:

 

I know several of this kid's notable issues have been mentioned already, but it should be mind-boggling to anyone when your Center leads the team in turnovers in a game.  

 

I think some people just choose to ignore what doesn't fit with their hopes.  Fortunately, the guys who played in front of him will hopefully be returning next year, with the addition of at least one more capable post player.  

Skip chooses to ignore the fact that the MAC POY (also a center and senior) led the team in turnovers last year over an entire season, not just the small sample size of 1 game.

http://gozips.com/documents/2017/6/28//Akron_MBB_Stats_2016_17.pdf?id=12177

 

Writing a kid off in their true freshman season is honestly one of the more ignorant things I've read on this site, let alone when you did it 2 minutes into his career. Confirmation bias at its finest.

Edited February 26, 2018 by LZIp

[kreed5120]

16 minutes ago, LZIp said:

Skip chooses to ignore the fact that the MAC POY (also a center and senior) led the team in turnovers last year over an entire season, not just the small sample size of 1 game.

http://gozips.com/documents/2017/6/28//Akron_MBB_Stats_2016_17.pdf?id=12177

 

Writing a kid off in their true freshman season is honestly one of the more ignorant things I've read on this site, let alone when you did it 2 minutes into his career. Confirmation bias at its finest.

 

I'm not writing K-Lac off, but that's an apples to oranges comparison. The offense last year was ran through Big Dog, who had significantly more touches per game. You fail to mention Big Dog's 103 assists were a team best. He averaged 1.22 assists per turnover. K-Lac is averaging 4.5 turnovers per assist.