Even though EMU is mid-pack (and Akron is Zipping along very nicely) Wednesday's game will be a lot more spectacle than many realize.

Sure Akron is on a 15 game win streak but it is more than the streak.

Many have criticized and slept on Da'Shonte Riley but he is now playing like a real 7-footer.

Against UT last night 6 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks.

His game has been blossoming in recent weeks. He has gone from passive to active.

My guess is that if Riley played on a squad with very good PG play he'd be scoring similar to what Marshall did last season.

EMU also has Glenn Bryant III who is really starting to show some high energy games (just ask UB fans).

GB III will go up against, I think, Tree Treadwell in another excellent match up. Tree can be tough. GB III can be tough.

We'll see at least 4 of the best big men in the MAC going head-to-head Wednesday.

This isn't UofM vs. Wisconsin or Indiana vs. OSU, but it is a much better game than most games to be played Wednesday night.

Sorry, I need to see a few more games like that out of Riley before I'll give him that much credit. Over the prior three games he was running steady at about 4 points, 4 rebounds per game. That's a one-game explosion, not "blossoming in recent weeks", and certainly not one of the best big men in the MAC.

(02-10-2013 08:31 AM)cmadler Wrote:  Sorry, I need to see a few more games like that out of Riley before I'll give him that much credit. Over the prior three games he was running steady at about 4 points, 4 rebounds per game. That's a one-game explosion, not "blossoming in recent weeks", and certainly not one of the best big men in the MAC.

I have to admit I frequently disagree with my EMU fans about how to evaluate and rate talent.

The kid in Iowa who scored over 100 points in one game is almost certainly a fluke. He'll never do it again.

Riley has blocked 4 or more shots a number of times this season. Is that a fluke?

I don't think so.

Standing behind the 3 point line and making 18 of 20 ONCE in practice might be a fluke.

But certain things are not flukes.

If a track athlete who normally runs a 4:20 mile runs a 3:55 and say I guess I was lucky and feeling good. Ain't going to happen.

I guess I'm trying to say is when one sees an athlete repeatedly do something it is no longer right to call it a fluke.

Riley has shown more offensive moves, assertiveness, etc.

Maybe it is his coming out party. Just watch!

I'm more interested in predicting the future than reciting the past.

EDIT: I think Riley is ready where a player just starts to come on. The best example I can remember in EMU sports is the way Bronson Hill (EMU-FB) came on during the 2nd half of his sophomore season. Fans were wondering where was he????

Keep talkin EMU Steve. I'm willing to be convinced to change my pick on MAC Pick Em.

(02-10-2013 09:05 AM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  Keep talkin EMU Steve. I'm willing to be convinced to change my pick on MAC Pick Em.

Can't give you advice there, but the game will be well worth watching!!

I like Akron to win it in the final minutes a la @Miami. EMU has won a couple straight at home, right?

EMU-60
Akron-64
Attendance-987

(02-10-2013 10:43 AM)The Optimist Wrote:  I like Akron to win it in the final minutes a la @Miami. EMU has won a couple straight at home, right?

EMU-60
Akron-64
Attendance-987

987?

That should be the number of NBA scouts coming to watch Marshall vs. Riley.

I'd hope that say 1,500 show up but the number should honestly (EMU fans) be twice that number.

I don't know for sure but I believe using the Sagarin rankings it could be the Zips will be an 8 point favorite and 124 sounds about right for total points.

(02-10-2013 11:34 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 10:43 AM)The Optimist Wrote:  I like Akron to win it in the final minutes a la @Miami. EMU has won a couple straight at home, right?

EMU-60
Akron-64
Attendance-987

987?

That should be the number of NBA scouts coming to watch Marshall vs. Riley.

I'd hope that say 1,500 show up but the number should honestly (EMU fans) be twice that number.

I don't know for sure but I believe using the Sagarin rankings it could be the Zips will be an 8 point favorite and 124 sounds about right for total points.

I found two EMU home MAC games on Wednesday.
Buffalo and NIU... The average for those two games was 705.

Akron is a much more exciting game than either of those two teams. I hope you can get 3,000 people like you say you honestly should, but I have my doubts.

(02-10-2013 11:43 AM)The Optimist Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 11:34 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 10:43 AM)The Optimist Wrote:  I like Akron to win it in the final minutes a la @Miami. EMU has won a couple straight at home, right?

EMU-60
Akron-64
Attendance-987

987?

That should be the number of NBA scouts coming to watch Marshall vs. Riley.

I'd hope that say 1,500 show up but the number should honestly (EMU fans) be twice that number.

I don't know for sure but I believe using the Sagarin rankings it could be the Zips will be an 8 point favorite and 124 sounds about right for total points.

I found two EMU home MAC games on Wednesday.
Buffalo and NIU... The average for those two games was 705.

Akron is a much more exciting game than either of those two teams. I hope you can get 3,000 people like you say you honestly should, but I have my doubts.

If there is an over/under line for attendance I'd put it at 999 (where have we heard that before. ).

Hopefully there might be a few hundred Zip fans from SE Michigan and NW Ohio.

(02-10-2013 12:32 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 11:43 AM)The Optimist Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 11:34 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 10:43 AM)The Optimist Wrote:  I like Akron to win it in the final minutes a la @Miami. EMU has won a couple straight at home, right?

EMU-60
Akron-64
Attendance-987

987?

That should be the number of NBA scouts coming to watch Marshall vs. Riley.

I'd hope that say 1,500 show up but the number should honestly (EMU fans) be twice that number.

I don't know for sure but I believe using the Sagarin rankings it could be the Zips will be an 8 point favorite and 124 sounds about right for total points.

I found two EMU home MAC games on Wednesday.
Buffalo and NIU... The average for those two games was 705.

Akron is a much more exciting game than either of those two teams. I hope you can get 3,000 people like you say you honestly should, but I have my doubts.

If there is an over/under line for attendance I'd put it at 999 (where have we heard that before. ).

Hopefully there might be a few hundred Zip fans from SE Michigan and NW Ohio.

Seems like a fair over/under. I stand by my guess of 987, just 12 people under the line.

i'd certainly love to see EMU win this game, but i just don't see it happening.

(02-10-2013 11:34 AM)emu steve Wrote:  I'd hope that say 1,500 show up but...

That is a depressing statement.

(02-10-2013 03:26 PM)bobcat_backer Wrote:  i'd certainly love to see EMU win this game

And take away the buzz from your home game?

Are you so worried that you can't beat out the rest of the MAC and Akron at home for the tie that you need an insurance loss from us?

(02-10-2013 04:14 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 03:26 PM)bobcat_backer Wrote:  i'd certainly love to see EMU win this game

And take away the buzz from your home game?

Are you so worried that you can't beat out the rest of the MAC and Akron at home for the tie that you need an insurance loss from us?

not worried at all. i just don't like your team and would love to see them lose all of their games! :-)

(02-10-2013 04:14 PM)uakronkid Wrote:  

(02-10-2013 03:26 PM)bobcat_backer Wrote:  i'd certainly love to see EMU win this game

Are you so worried that you can't beat out the rest of the MAC and Akron at home for the tie that you need an insurance loss from us?

I am rooting for EMU so that when we beat Akron at home it will give us the outright lead in the MAC, not a tie.

Akron needs to find its focus again. EMU is not a team you want to let dictate a game's terms.

Akron wins 70-64.

672 in attendance.