Games 5, 6 & 7- The Paradise Jam

[csims0917]

The scary part about this game is it felt like we haven’t even played at top gear today. Never felt like we were playing with emotion or adrenaline. Just pure systematic dominance 

[Reslife4Life]

Let’s go beat 25% of the Ivy League tomorrow

[Let'sGoZips94]

Akron is top 25 caliber. They are absolutely murdering their competition. 

 

Yale, Milwaukee, Tulane, and Murray State. Legitimate top 25 ranking and at large conversations surrounding the results of those games. 

Edited 10 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[1981 grad]

This team shares the ball well and plays well together.  I can only remember one really bad turnover.  And their defense has forced numerous turnovers.  Love watching this team.

[clarkwgriswold]

You guys are inviting a 35 point comeback!

[Reslife4Life]

Refs getting their money’s worth for the day

[Reslife4Life]

“Here comes Conner groce. Head coach John groce’s dad”

[Illini Zip]

I think the refs are just trying to keep tempers from flying and Clark here wants more hustle!! Ha!!

[Illini Zip]

We want free tacos!!

[clarkwgriswold]

The Zips move on to the championship game of the Paradise Jam against Yale.  Yale was unanimously selected as the preseason favorite to win the Ivy League.  They are currently 5-1 with wins over Navy, Quinnipiac, Stony Brook,  Green Bay and Charleston and a loss to Rhode Island. 

 

1st team all-Ivy League 6’7” senior forward Nick Townsend leads Yale with 19.5 ppg and 7.7 rpg.  6’6” sophomore forward Riley Fox contributes 12.7 ppg.  6’6” sophomore forward Isaac Celiscar averages 11.8 ppg and 5.2  rpg.  As you might imagine, these are not transfers or guys on their 7th year of college basketball.
 

[clarkwgriswold]

3 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

“Here comes Conner groce. Head coach John groce’s dad”

He's the hinges of the Groce family bus.

[csims0917]

The revenge tour has a new member added. We came out so flat against them last year. Would love to pay it back 

[clarkwgriswold]

Eric has grown up a lot this weekend.  Starting to get confident.

[Illini Zip]

It took a while to figure them out, but once we did, good night. 

[Illini Zip]

26 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

Hardman is in the zone.  He is not forcing it but just taking what the defense is giving him.  Would love to see him play like this the rest of the season.

💯 

[zippy5]

6 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

The Zips move on to the championship game of the Paradise Jam against Yale.  Yale was unanimously selected as the preseason favorite to win the Ivy League.  They are currently 5-1 with wins over Navy, Quinnipiac, Stony Brook,  Green Bay and Charleston and a loss to Rhode Island. 

 

1st team all-Ivy League 6’7” senior forward Nick Townsend leads Yale with 19.5 ppg and 7.7 rpg.  6’6” sophomore forward Riley Fox contributes 12.7 ppg.  6’6” sophomore forward Isaac Celiscar averages 11.8 ppg and 5.2  rpg.  As you might imagine, these are not transfers or guys on their 7th year of college basketball.
 

Not that I've seen much Yale hoops this year, but judging by heights I think this looks like a good matchup for us.

[Illini Zip]

Townsend really carried the load for Yale today. He’s good. 

[Illini Zip]

Turnbull didn’t play much for Evansville tonight, but Hughes did. Yet Barre didn’t get much playing time again. This seemed like the perfect matchup for him.
 

Also, I hate to say it, but when Brisco doesn’t see the floor at all, even for the garbage minutes it leads me to think he might not be here next year. Just not a good sign. 

[kreed5120]

2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

The Zips move on to the championship game of the Paradise Jam against Yale.  Yale was unanimously selected as the preseason favorite to win the Ivy League.  They are currently 5-1 with wins over Navy, Quinnipiac, Stony Brook,  Green Bay and Charleston and a loss to Rhode Island. 

 

1st team all-Ivy League 6’7” senior forward Nick Townsend leads Yale with 19.5 ppg and 7.7 rpg.  6’6” sophomore forward Riley Fox contributes 12.7 ppg.  6’6” sophomore forward Isaac Celiscar averages 11.8 ppg and 5.2  rpg.  As you might imagine, these are not transfers or guys on their 7th year of college basketball.

 

I will say it's nice for us that our best defender is likely Evan and I assume he will have the assignment of limiting Townsend. Keeping the ball out of Townsends hands and forcing someone else to generate the offense for Yale will go a long way towards securing a Zips victory.

Edited 8 hours ago by kreed5120

[clarkwgriswold]

6 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I will say it's nice for us that our best defender is likely Evan and I assume he will have the assignment of limiting Townsend. Keeping the ball out of Townsends hands and forcing someone else to generate the offense for Yale will go a long way towards securing a Zips victory.

That's what I'd expect.

 

The line right now is Yale -1.5.

[ZipsFan31]

7 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I will say it's nice for us that our best defender is likely Evan and I assume he will have the assignment of limiting Townsend. Keeping the ball out of Townsends hands and forcing someone else to generate the offense for Yale will go a long way towards securing a Zips victory.

This is why we got Evan! I think groce saw what happened vs Peter Suder and said I have to get a guy who will shut him down. Townsend is an another great player with a similar matchup problem. 
I am excited for the foreshadowing and opportunity at revenge! 

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

The line right now is Yale -1.5.

 

That's a bit surprising to hear. Putting any Akron bias aside we've looked like the most dominate in the first two rounds of the tournament.  I would have thought we'd be ~2.5 point favorites.

[csims0917]

ESPN analytics have us as a 61% favorite. So it’s expected to be a nail biter