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It's a beautiful thing we all have different stories. Some fanbases all have one game, or worse none. Shows how spoiled we have been for great moments

I’ve been saying for ages that Akron Kent should kick off the mac season. Best weather, most hope (nobody is 1-8+) and won’t conflict with big buckeye games

I'd love for the JAR to look like it does in that AI generated graphic 😅

I watched some of the Freeman's game today when the World Cup was not on and Freeman looked good scoring 14 points and 11 rebounds including 6 offensive rebounds. At the end of the game he was a beast on the offensive boards givning Minn multiple offensive possessions.

My kids play NBA 2k and tell me that Freeman is on the roster and they can use him as a player so it makes sense he would get a check.

2009 - Without this one, do the others happen? (yes) got Keith his 1st (I hate Doug Penno and banked shots) 3rd straight MAC Championship game 5th seed (knocked out Miami for some redemption) beat Toledo in OT in the 1st round (freshman Humpty Hitchens forced OT with a 3) Nate Linhart, McKnight brothers, Steve McNees 4th straight 20-win season

I do not believe that anyone has posted about a Belgium defender that will join the Zips in Fall 2026. Sam Bunch, welcome to the zips. Look forward to watching you on the field....starting on August 20th. https://www.instagram.com/p/DYjh4mfgXpY/

The only one I could easily not choose is 2009 because it was very ho-hum. Double digit win vs. Buffalo (meh) and even though it was our first, there were no other storylines. 2011 was one of the greatest championship games in college basketball history IMO. Major rivalry, OT, 2 blocks to win it, fight at the end - it had everything. 2013 was an unexpected beatdown - given the Abreu situation - against a team that was in the Sweet Sixteen the year prior (albeit a different coach). Semi rivalry and a packed house in Cleveland with one of the best teams in Akron basketball history cutting down the nets. 2022 was awesome because of the Diss Track storylines. Major rivalry and an absolute butt whooping of PCCC. 2024 was hilarious given how it ended. Major rivalry, incredible finish, and the start of an on-going 3Peat. 2025 was simply an incredible comeback capped off by a fantastic finish. Semi-rivalry, big bro/little bro storylines, and the beginning of one of the most unlikeable teams in Miami OH. 2026 was 2025 but with an even better finish. Shammah's shot will go down as one of the greatest shots in Akron basketball history. The view I had straight on from behind Shammah made it even better, tracking the ball all the way just praying the distance was right because it could not have been better aligned. Not to mention prevented Toledo from ending their 46+ year drought. I voted 2025 simply because it was the first championship game my daughters were in attendance for and my wife was pregnant with my son so technically he was there, too. That being said, we've been very blessed over the last 20 years with incredible March basketball at Akron. Go Zips!

2024. I was at the game for 2024, 2025 and 2026, all epic, but the sheer improbability of this win against a hated rival in 2024 was my favorite. All three of those games had endings that unleashed absolute euphoria in the Zips section I was in.

I agree. If I remove my Zips colored sunglasses I just don't see him making the NBA at the wing position. Making the NBA is already challenging enough. Only 450 players in the world (which the NBA is a true global game) are on NBA rosters. Now taking away what he does best by moving him away from the basket just further reduces his chances.

The MAC season? They should play the first week or two every year like they used to when 25,000 people would be at games.

I like his enthusiasm/optimism if nothing else.

6’ 8” guard?

TBH in this hypothetical Amani would instantly fill our biggest question mark as we lack a 5 with his proven skill set. I do see potential in Buddy Hammer, but it's no guarantee if we can fully unlock it in 1 season. It might sound weird to hear this but IMO Tahj makes Tavari a bit redundant. We really couldn't play them together. Even though Tavari might be better, I don't think there will be a big drop-off in production between the two. In my honest opinion I would guess at this stage we probably couldn't afford either financially. One would think our cash was mostly spent this offseason and that was before Bud dug deeper into his pockets to bring back Evan. I would think Tavari would command $500K+ and I wouldn't be surprised if a desperate team that lost out on musical chairs for a quality big offered Lyles something in the neighborhood of $800K or more.

if anyone is interested, the 2026 MAC Football Kickoff is live on ESPN right now (12:49 pm). They are doing the coach player interviews now and they have not done the Zips yet.

Hey now, even a poverty program like Toledo has some moments. You just need a 8mm film projector to see them.

Love it. Size, size, athleticism, size, and more athleticism.

Thanks to @Sergeant Zip for finding our first commit of 2027! This kid looks good! 6'8" & apparently often runs the point for his high school team Lima Shawnee. He had 39 points in his first 2 games of the season last year & had 27 vs. Lima Senior. He's a lefty who can hit the three. Welcome Trevick!

2024 felt like redemption to me. I was a freshman for the 21-22 season and got very down on the team cause of the mess with Trimble and losing to weak teams at the end of the regular season, so I worked during the MAC tournament final and regretted it for 2 years because I should've trusted the core more. I was fully locked in. Then we lost in 22-23 and just made me feel like I really missed out on something special. During the 23-24 season I watched all 35 games beginning to end and attended every home game and the MAC championship and the stress and highs and lows of that game were unmatched. I loved the 25 and 26 comebacks but those I felt like we were cold (while Miami was white hot) or underperforming (refusing to go into the paint against toledo) which cause more frustration than stress. 23-24 just felt like the perfect story, Ali coming back, Tribble with the free throws, and Freeman with the craziest rebound I've ever seen live to cap off the best season in modern Akron history. Plus, the Rollins foul and the best Kent meme ever with Sendy. I bawled my eyes out after that 23-24 title win because of how much that team meant to me especially after meeting them all. Idk if I'll ever be as connected with a team than I was with that core. Cinema

Great Poll!!! I am going with Shammah Scott for three because it was the most recent and symobolizes a player who just hit some great buzzer beaters the entire season. He had several amazing shots at the end of the half during the season and if I had to rank them for difficulty they would be a 10. Each year we ask outselves who should get the ball with the game on the line. Last year we had the answer, Shammah Scott.

With the amount of roster turnover every year, I'm not sure how to predict any outcomes.

Along with their history of losing and/or caving.

The NCAA made their bed with the handling of COVID. This should absolutely stick and we'll have Evan Mahaffey for the 4Peat attempt.

Precisely, I'll just be happy if the next TV protects the MAC rivalry games. Even if that means moving those games to October.

I'm not an expert but I would assume the tv contract pays the University more for a Tuesday game with a bad crowd than if it was on a Saturday with slightly less bad crowds.

Never saw this on Amani. Does he have a shot at making a roster? https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/five-interesting-prospects-on-the-4e9

Colin Lyons

Here’s Joe:

Found this - certainly not any earth shattering insight: https://youtu.be/jpv5YkEFwcw?feature=shared

Per Google AI, two-ways are part of the NBAPA and receive the same licensing checks.

The Zips can't afford (and shouldn't waste the money) on a firing. JoeMo only leaves after 2026 if he wants to go back to being a P4 OC or similar.

I hate seeing that we don't play 9th, 11th, or 12th

Not sure if it trickles down to two-ways or if its only for players that make the 15 man. Either way it's great for fringe guys that might not make it past their first NBA rookie deal. Star players, like Lebron, have plenty of other opportunities to cash-in on their likeness.

Enrique Freeman-adjacent info. If this is accurate, good for Freeman haha.

Last year Trevick averaged 18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2.4 blocked shots

was close between 2022 and 2026. 2022 for personal reasons (and that very fortunate win over Buffalo in the quarters) made that the best tournament experience for me. But the Toledo win...geez...just knew Shammas' shot was going in and I'm almost always not that confident of anything a Zip throws up from 3. If I had to rank them all: 2022 2026 2025 2011 2013 2024 2009

went with 2022. minimal stress and a dismantling of Kent.

I don't hate this idea. Not sure how feasible is, but I don't hate it.

You know what, that's a great idea. I'd go as far as yo kick off the whole season with that game.

While we know the MAC schools are just trying to get every last penny immediately without considering long-term growth, one would think having six Saturday games (instead of three) just might be better for developing a fan base and a season ticket base. But that involves work, and we know better than to expect that from this athletic department. Hopefully Toledo and BG have at least started sowing the seeds to get rid of this in at least getting their Tuesday rivalry game moved to a Friday.

Lyles got his first start of the summer and recorded 18 points and 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. Although he did have 5 turnovers.

Two things here 1- at least the games will be fun 2- defense has been the better coached side the entirety of this regime so they should develop well this season

This feels fair

We could not lose to Robert Morris if we tried.

So... Evan Mahaffey is back?

The mailman accidentally delivered my neighbor's College of Charleston alumni magazine to me. There is a small article about Coach G. See below.

I was under the impression that the first round matchups are based off of preseason projections, not last year results. That said, with roster turnover as rampant as it is I'm not even going to dive in to attempt to determine who will be and won't be good in the SunBelt. I follow the MAC more closely than most and I would struggle to rank them 1-12 with any confidence. No chance I could do it with the SB.