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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.

So far UMass football and mens basketball are a combined 0-12 against MAC competition. Welcome back. 🙂

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.

Agreed. Being 2-2 would feel so strange after going 17-1 last year but the conference is much improved this year and we'd have two of the most difficult games behind us.

The problem is the NCAA has no power. Whenever they try to enforce something the courts step in and tell them they can't. While many of the suggestions that try to establish order would be good for the sport. None of them would likely be enforceable without the players forming a union and a collective bargaining agreement being reached. The players have no incentive to do that though.

If I had tuned into this game I would think Akron is good, but nothing special. 19 TO's is enough to explode over. Groce said in his radio comments that a lot of them were due to CMU's pressure. That is not true. They were due to laziness, lack of discipline and lack of patience. Players were trying to make things happen that were not there. Many times trying to penetrate when a fellow player was open in the backcourt. This is on Groce. He is tolerating it and it is time to use playing time to get his message across. The 15 TO's were had against Miami cost us the game. Cut those in half and we win going away. I love John, but it is on him to fix this because it can be worse against the better teams. Everything we do from here on out is preparation for the MAC tourney and the NCAA's. We have to get better.

GP1 gonna be pissed

By my count this currently gives us 14 signings. 10 offense: 6 OL 1 QB 3 WR 4 defense: 2 LB 2 DB We still need some DL and an upperclassman QB. Ps. Zips' OL coach Joel Rodriguez is one hell of a recruiter.

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.

BG right now has the best defense in the MAC per Groce. If their defense results in a low Zips 3 point percentage, the Zips continue to turn the ball over and the perimeter defense drops off again, it could be a long night in Stroh Center.

R.I.P. A good guy and solid coach by all accounts.

Thanks for getting this thread up. It has been a crazy morning.

Gonna be a tough one.

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.

But their women's team is 2-0 and beat Kent. Lol

Russell Beichly from the 40s and 50s.

I believe he has at least 1 opportunity.. (unless it has now dissipated)

Right now, the primary issue for the Zips seems to be depth. Sharron Young and Bowen Hardman haven't shot the ball well this season. Eric Mahaffey started the season well but has been up-and-down since (as one would expect from him in his first year). Oggie has basically fallen out of the rotation. It doesn't sound like Barre is close to returning. It's basically Tavari, Shammah, and Amani, with Evan occasionally having a decent scoring game. For us to win the MAC and possibly get a win in March, we're going to need one or more of Young/Hardman/Ev. Mahaffey to get going with more consistency.

Tavari is having a great season. He had put his name in the transfer portal and then decided to stay with Akron Does anyone know the story behind the reason he stayed. Did Akron give him more money? Was there a lack of interest in the portal? I am so glad he stayed. Having an amazing season.

No matter what happens the rest of the game, Shammah gets player of the game.

Zips have had some really bad passes tonight. At least one landing in the 3rd row. Lyles was jinxed by the Phelps when he talked about how well he has been playing the last 8 games. I cannot remember the last time I heard a 3 second call at a game. I thought they did away with that violation. (LOL) Scott is really playing well. We must have at least 10 points on fast breaks. Love Scott's reverse layup.

It would be impossible for Lyles to play any worse.

I laugh every time I hear Phat Phat Brooks. I'm 12.

Shammah on fire

Zips used to do that with Zeke Marshall. Drove me crazy. 🙂

It's worth noting that 1 game will get flexed to a 6PM start time and air on ESPN2. The game in all likelihood will either be Miami @ Marshall or Akron @ Troy. If the decision was to be made today it would probably be Miami @ Marshall just because Miami is still undefeated. We'll see how the next few weeks play out.

This is the biggest issue with the portal right now, in my opinion. We have all these players that we're identifying and developing, then they leave and we get nothing in return. The transfer fees would help build parity in college sports. But I think that's probably also why it's not gonna happen, because the big conferences won't let it.

Evan is doing great. 4th in scoring average #1 offensive rebounds #1 steals My eye test thinks big Stank should play more.

We're facing Troy on Feb. 7 in the 2nd round of the MAC-SBC. They're currently 10-5 (3-0) and are 125 in the NET. They beat Kent but lost to Toledo (in a holiday tournament). https://gozips.com/news/2026/1/6/mens-basketball-second-round-of-the-mac-sbc-challenge-announced-zips-set-to-travel-to-troy

Zips legend Jim Dennsion has passed. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2026/01/05/jim-dennison-died-obit-akron-zips-football-coach-walsh/77733069007/ https://medina-gazette.com/news/453612/college-football-wadsworth-native-jim-dennison-dies-at-87/ https://gozips.com/news/2026/1/5/general-akron-athletics-mourns-loss-of-hall-of-fame-football-coach-and-athletics-director-jim-dennison https://www.beaconjournal.com/obituaries/pwoo1374962

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.

Not looking too promising for Cheatom.