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Agree with this except the starters. Since the change for the most part we have started off very well in games, with more defensive intensity. Zack on the opening tip last night is a prime example. Our best 5 usually get the most minutes and play at crunch time, but I like our starting lineup.

A few thoughts: - Slow start for Akron, with 13 points in the first 10 minutes. Their defense kept them ahead, though, which you love to see. - I know some say it doesn't matter who starts, but I do think it can impact the game. Lyles-Mahaffey-Mahaffey-Scott-Johnson is our best five, I wish we would just start out with them. I think Scott has earned a starting role, and think Young, at this point in his career, is better off the bench, too. - To add to that, I love Halligan's effort, but hopefully as the season goes on, we'll see him settle into more of a 10-15 minutes a night type of role. Hate to see MMK and Oggy fall completely out of the rotation, too. - Chabi Barre could be an X factor for this team. He's so active in the paint and was changing a lot of shots on defense. I think he'll get more buckets rolling to the hoop on P+Rs too as he and the guards have more time to gel. Really happy to see him back. - Where would we be without Tavari?

That was one of the Zips better defensive efforts of the season. It was certainly assisted by some awful PCCC shooting, but overall the perimeter defense was solid. The way they got killed on the boards, however, is a little concerning. It was nice to have Chabi back in the mix. I'm very much enjoying watching Eric come into his own. I expect him to give us a few highlights as the season winds down.

I guess the Zips are still the Dodgers or Yankees. Below are links to the Ohio.com/Beacon Journal content in the game. It's like available only to subscribers. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/kent-state/2026/01/31/kent-state-golden-flashes-mens-basketball-team-ncaa-sidebar-from-loss-to-akron-zips/88402021007/ https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2026/01/31/tavari-johnson-bowen-hardman-akron-mens-basketball-kent-state-coach-john-groce/88419830007/ https://www.beaconjournal.com/videos/sports/college/zips/2026/01/31/video-zips-mens-basketball-coach-john-groce-kent-state-jan-30-2026/88446077007/ https://www.beaconjournal.com/videos/sports/college/zips/2026/01/31/video-zips-mens-basketball-players-kent-state-jan-30-2026/88445992007/ https://www.beaconjournal.com/videos/sports/college/kent-state/2026/01/31/video-kent-state-coach-rob-senderoff-missed-3-pointers-akron-zips-jan-30-2026/88445065007/

The Zips head to Ypsilanti Tuesday night for a 6:30 game against Stan Heath’s Eagles. Going into Saturday’s game against UMASS, the Eagles are 9-12. The Zips beat EMU at the JAR on December 19th to open the MAC season. EMU has been wildly inconsistent, beating teams like UMASS and Cincinnati yet losing by 35 to Central Michigan. Last week they lost to PCCC by one in double OT then turned around to lose by 35 to EMU. In that game, CMU scored 62 second-half points while limiting EMU to 29 points in the final 20 minutes! Mohammad Habnab leads EMY in scoring and rebounding at 14.3 ppg and 8.1 rpg. He's second in the MAC in double doubles.

I wish someone would have stuffed one of the white out towels in the mouth of the woman MC on the floor. Jesus Christ was she over-the-top deafeningly loud.

I agree. Didn’t like a couple of the blocking calls that went against Lyles, but overall the refs were invisible tonight. That’s the way a well officiated game should be.

Well right now we have the longest home streak again. 😊 Amazing that we have only two home games in February and only three total left in the season. Still like our chances of getting to 31.

The refs let themplay for the most part. Very physical, a lot of bodies banging with no calls. Not sure who benefited most from this.

Got out in about 5 minutes parking in the outside lot attached to the deck.

I have a different take on the game. While I have to give out defense some credit, we're pretty fortunate Kent couldn't hit the ocean from a boat tonight. They missed a lot of open looks

I learned my lesson in prior years not to park in the deck during the Kent game. Would it kill the U to have a police officer at the exit of the deck to get people out of the deck.

I feel mudding up the game has always kind of been their stick. The physicality throws you off rhythm. I also feel they came out with a decent gameplan defensively. They were daring Evan to try to beat them early and it was working (on that end of the court). I do agree not all the credit can be given to the Zips defensively. A Kent player missed an uncontested dunk in the 2nd half. That shouldn't happen at the mid-major level. I will say overall I felt our defensive intensity was up compared to prior games. It also seemed we trapped less and when we did trap we were quicker to rotate to recover. I think both things could be true. Kent had an off night shooting and Akron played much improved defense.

Imagine how bad traffic restraints would have been had we not witnessed that mass exodus of fans midway through the 2nd half.

In the post game even the Groce agreed this was a strange game in that both teams struggled on offense. Akron got out of their shooting funk courtesy of Hardman but Kent threw up more bricks than I care to remember. They missed short shots, dunks, layups and shot 1 of 23 from distance. Yikes!!! I almost felt sorry for them. If we weren't turning the ball over and struggling ourselves on offense this would have been a blowout by the half. I am not sure our defense was the reason Kent shot the ball so poorly. Maybe the crowd and the excitement of this game was too much for the Kent crew. Kent had a hugh rebounding edge in the first half but it did not grow in the 2nd half. Maybe because Barre got more time in the 2nd half. I think Groce said it best in the post game that teams have to win even when their offense is not clicking. Finally, the game was very physical and I thought the refs did a good job in letting the teams play and allowing the physicality as long as they were basketball plays.

PAC12 is taking a bunch of them for their attempted revival.

That truly set the tone. Akron didn't play all that well, but we didn't get bullied and that torqued Kent off. I know they were missing Whaley, too, but I don't think he helps them vs Akron. An overweight, undersized big man is going to get torched by our athleticism. Making 1 3P all game doesn't leave many options for making a comeback. That was almost as bad as the parking garage traffic in between Rocket Mortgage and Progressive Field.

A lot of Kent's shots just weren't misses. They were well offline. Makes it challenging as a defender because you're fighting for position in one area, but the rebound was going somewhere completely different.

What do you mean by plucked?

I was just saying those leagues already have things in place so they maybe less inclined and if you exclude those 4 mid-major conferences there are very few mid-majors left that are top ~75.

Kent's Griffith had 17 rebounds! wonder how many were off missed 3s.

Why do those leagues having deals reduce the options for a separate, singular game in February? Plus the WCC and MWC are getting plucked after this year. Every mid major needs quality opponents. Somebody needs to make it happen.

I don’t know if Lyles was standing on the circle or what, but that poor guy couldn’t get a charging call to save his life.

In my 8 years I would agree. I was just surprised Kent never really made any big changes to get back in the game

I think Kent came into the JAR looking to play bully ball and in the opening tip wearing a protective mask Halligan says hold my beer and dives on the ball creating a scrum. Game on!!