Slow Starts

[ZipsGuy9]

Bleacher Bum...you hit on an excellent point. Even though we are even with Can't in the standings, they have an edge on us right now in that they have already played Western, and already played their road game at OU. So, needless to say, this game at Western is necessary for us to keep pace. But, after the way we played at Central last weekend, I'm not liking our chances against a team that is better than Central, on the road. I'm glad someone finally brought up our slow starts over the last few games. I'm not the coach of this team, but certainly feel like we should play our regulars early, build a lead, and then substitute the 2nd team guys. Instead, we seem to be playing some newer guys early, and then substituting in the regulars to mount a comeback. It's created a couple of close calls, and I don't want to see that again.

This response by skip-zip was in another topic ... and I thought it was worthy of a whole new topic because the slow starts are certainly a problem for the Zips. I have also had some concern over the slow starts, especially against Toledo, when it looked like it wasn't our night and we would drop 3 in a row. Here's my thoughts ...It has become apparent that Middleton isn't nearly as effective as he can be due to injury. Not only has he not started and has only seen limited action in the last few games, he also wasn't nearly as effective as we have seen in the past for quite a few games now. That's fine. KD knows this, and has made changes accordingly. Injuries happen.Here's what I wonder ...I think the Zips might be better off starting McNees at PG and Dials at 2, rather than Dials at PG and Roberts at the 2. Roberts has played very, very well for the Zips, but it seems that Zips go when McNees goes. They pounded Miami when McNees scored 20 and came back from 14 against Toledo with McNees seeing a bulk of the minutes during the comeback and scoring 16. Also, the one game that McNees just didn't have it (Can't) and had 8 turnovers, we lost. The Zips also lost to Portland State in a game that McNees did not play in, because he was "punished" for poor defense in previous games...When McNees is in, he is bringing the ball up the court. Not Roberts, not Dials, not Middleton. It is obvious that McNees is being bred to be the PG next year. So my question is, why is Roberts starting? Sure, McNees is young, but Roberts is YOUNGER and hasn't seen action in a year and a half. He does have a lot of talent, and according to a lot of guys we haven't seen anything yet. But if McNees is going to be the guy, why hold him back? Throw him into the fire. It will only help out in the long run because a PG benefits from experience much more than a 2 guard (Roberts).Sure, when you look at it, Roberts and McNees are getting similar minutes each game ... However, a PG is a leader. It would be a statement to the team that "this is our guy, this is our leader", if McNees would start. Dials is a natural shooting guard anyways, so this move just makes so much more sense to me. Let me know what you all think ...

[Valpo Zip]

The word is neither Mcneese nor Roberts will be our PG next year. Therefore KD has no intent to make a point that McNeese is the guy. I think that Ronnie steward and one of the true freshmen next year (Humpty or Sullivan) will play PG while McNeese and Roberts will play the 2 Guard.