Games 10 and 11- The WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational

[clarkwgriswold]

The Zips head to El Paso for the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on December 20th and 21st.

In the first game of the tournament, the Zips face the 5-5 Yale Bulldogs.  The Bulldogs have beaten Vermont, Fairfield, Stony Brook, Quinnipiac and Emerson, while losing to UIC, Purdue, Minnesota, Delaware and Rhode Island.  They are led by 6’6” senior guard Poulakidas at 21.1 ppg.  6’7” junior forward Nick Townsend is the Bulldogs second leading scorer at 13.1 ppg while leading rebounding at 6.1 rpg.

 

The other teams in the tournament are Jackson State and UTEP.  Jackson State is 0-10 but their schedule has been brutal, with losses to Iowa State, Houston and Kentucky.  They lost to common opponent Arkansas State by only two points.   UTEP stands at 6-3 with a very pedestrian schedule, but one of the three losses was a 3 point loss to Louisville.
 

[Reslife4Life]

According to the ESPN app, the game will be streamed on YouTube!

[Illini Zip]

Do we know if James Okonkwo was awarded an additional year?

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

[clarkwgriswold]

16 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

 

That's outstanding.  I love Groce and Nate's headgear.

[Captain Kangaroo]

I think the 5 pm in the release is 7 pm EST?

[AkronAlumnus]

Link?

[Blue & Gold]

7 minutes ago, AkronAlumnus said:

Link?

https://www.youtube.com/@SunBowlAssociation/streams

[AkronAlumnus]

1 minute ago, Blue & Gold said:

https://www.youtube.com/@SunBowlAssociation/streams

Thanks big dawg!

[1981 grad]

I think there might be 50 people in the stands.  Yikes!!  We all the offense we have been seeing, I thought we were done with slow starts.  Surprised to see Hardman get the start.  Not a great defender and was 1 of 5 from 3 in last game.

[ewbrooman1]

Another fine production with no clock or score. 🤨

[AkronAlumnus]

LOL

[1981 grad]

Just now, ewbrooman1 said:

Another fine production with no clock or score. 🤨

I am watching on my tv and the faces are a little blurry but otherwise the camera angles are decent and no replay after every basket.   I will take it.

[pdt1420]

I enjoyed the “oh shoot are these mics hot?” moment at the TV timeout

[1981 grad]

We are taking a lot of 3 point attempts.  Scott just made a long one.  Hardman, our 3 point specialist, is now 0 for 2.  

[LZIp]

1 minute ago, 1981 grad said:

We are taking a lot of 3 point attempts.  Scott just made a long one.  Hardman, our 3 point specialist, is now 0 for 2.  

He made one that was called off for a moving screen. Also has a block and a steal. He is far from an issue IMO.

[AkronAlumnus]

I got in when it was Akron +400

[LZIp]

Tavari might be our best player. Real happy to see him take the next step.

 

Not pleased at all with our bigs, especially Okonkwo. Expect more out of transfer from UNC.

 

Also, would like to see Nate Johnson make one his dunk attempts every now and then.

[LZIp]

Yale has 28 rebounds compared to our 13. What’s keeping us in the game is their 10 turnovers compared to our 3.

[pdt1420]

Box the F out!

 

God, I miss Enrique. 

[AkronAlumnus]

1 minute ago, LZIp said:

Yale has 28 rebounds compared to our 13. What’s keeping us in the game is their 10 turnovers compared to our 3.

Sheesh.. I wouldn't think Yale would be overly physical

[Illini Zip]

When was the last time Nate Johnson successfully hammered home a fast break dunk? I'm to the point where I'm hoping he just lays it up and takes the points.

[1981 grad]

Yale have missed a lot of shots around the basket and then picked up the offensive rebound for a layup.  Not sure what is going on but we are getting killed on the offensive boards.  Very little flow to the offense.  Scott hit 2 long threes but very few easy baskets.  Grey has not done much and Hardman has gotten more playing time.

[Reslife4Life]

We are forcing it too much

[LZIp]

Let’s burn Briscoe’s redshirt. Can’t be any worse than this.