Game 15- Central Michigan

[Blue & Gold]

Watched Groce's post game presser & he's still quite happy with the defense & has obviously made that the team's priority.

But Idk, I still think we should go back to our original starting lineup. I said this in a post yesterday but to me it just doesn't feel like we've been playing with the same moxie we had when Eric & Shammah were starters.

[Zips1991]

Halligan played 19 minutes last night, which was his most this season (tied with the Concord game). I didn't expect that after he played only 9 minutes against Miami. However, Sharron played only 18 minutes which was his lowest since he played 14 minutes against Tulane. I thought he played a little better on offense last night though so maybe that can start to tick back up.

[LZIp]

1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:

Watched Groce's post game presser & he's still quite happy with the defense & has obviously made that the team's priority.

But Idk, I still think we should go back to our original starting lineup. I said this in a post yesterday but to me it just doesn't feel like we've been playing with the same moxie we had when Eric & Shammah were starters.

I think Groce generally deserves the benefit of the doubt, but I agree with you. Whether it’s a starter or not, I don’t think anyone besides the 5 should be taking up valuable minutes for defense unless it’s Tribble-level OR situational. Since the lineup change has been made, we feel more like the same old Zips rather than a dangerous team that can drop 90-100 on you any given night.

 

And i’ve heard Groce’s comments about not getting worked up about starting lineup changes. I agree, but my eyes tell me the team has not looked as good recently with the rotation changes. We’re in conference play now. Our defense should look better by default with some of the bum teams we’re playing. How much is competition vs lineup change? I know our offense has taken a step back.

[Zippy87]

5 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Watched Groce's post game presser & he's still quite happy with the defense & has obviously made that the team's priority.

But Idk, I still think we should go back to our original starting lineup. I said this in a post yesterday but to me it just doesn't feel like we've been playing with the same moxie we had when Eric & Shammah were starters.

 

I agree, and I think a starting lineup matters more than some believe. A team can absolutely set a tone early that dictates the rest of the game, and we saw our squad do that multiple times last season. I think Sharron performs better off the bench at this point in his career, too.

 

Personally, I'd like to see more Stankovic and less Halligan. Nothing against Halligan, who plays really hard, but Oggy's ceiling is just so much higher. 

 

Evan

Eric

Lyles

Scott

Johnson

 

Young

Hardman

MMK

Stankovic 

 

Once Barre returns, he can take minutes back from Stankovic. But right now, I'd love for him to get more court time. 

 

 

[NWAkron]

Realistically, the Staff gave Akron a chance to rack up some good wins that would improve NCAA seeding and maybe, just maybe put them on bubble for an at large bid.  After the loss to Yale and especially after loss to Murray State the goal is now to win in Cleveland.  Groce and staff is figuring out what is going to get them to rope cutting on Saturday.  The kid from Serbia didn't get out of his warm ups last night and has limited limits.  He's not going to start.  And the viable back up big has a bad injury.  Re-set and re-calibrate.

[Reslife4Life]

I don't think its really time to panic, the main problem against CMU was the turnovers. I really hate to say it but when we play these conference games against teams that we are significantly better than, we can play down to the competition. We have said it for years with the neck stepping, in games like this we often see problems like turnovers or lazy shots. I think the team is fine, if we do the same against BG then yes we have a problem, but we have seen this kind of thing year after year

[Illini Zip]

2 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

I don't think its really time to panic, the main problem against CMU was the turnovers. I really hate to say it but when we play these conference games against teams that we are significantly better than, we can play down to the competition. We have said it for years with the neck stepping, in games like this we often see problems like turnovers or lazy shots. I think the team is fine, if we do the same against BG then yes we have a problem, but we have seen this kind of thing year after year

I also think the loss to Miami demoralized some of them and we experienced a hangover effect. Groce won’t put up with that for long. But the Seniors especially know they have squandered a great opportunity. 

[NWAkron]

Today's break-out session topic:  "When a Win is Actually a Loss"