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My inclination is to root against Miami but at the same time Miami's success would be good for the MAC, and what's good for the MAC would have some benefit to Akron. The MAC teams doing well on the "Big Stage" would help the conference in being taken seriously on a national level.

I'm as disappointed as anyone that the Zips season has come to an end. That disappointment is enhanced by the current state of college basketball and its impact on programs like the Zips. That being said, I couldn't be more proud of the Zips program for reasons beyond their on court success. Every player that's exhausted their eligibility in Groce's nine year tenure has left with at least one degree. Every scholarship player except one who finished his career with the Zips has become a professional basketball player for at least one year. Arizona, Duke, Michigan or another major conference team is likely to continue winning and add a National Championship trophy to its trophy case but I'd challenge any of them to match the above accomplishments.

Know all the attention today, and appropriately so, is on our incredible men's basketball team and the opportunity they have on Friday, but today was another great day to be a Zip. Our 2025 Mac champion women's lacrosse team moved to a 2026 season record of 7-2 by taking down PCCC 10-6 at their field! Another Wagon Wheel point and a dominant performance by the Zips! Cant Read, Cant Write, Cant State couldn't hang with our Zips who literally played on another level. Look forward to the same on Friday. Go Zips!

Speaking of rewatching - I went back and watched the last five minutes. Evans block with a couple minutes left is my unheralded play of the game. Unreal hustle and athleticism on that one

Unlike the Cincinnati job, this one makes a lot of sense for a younger version of John Groce. Today, I just don’t think so. I’m picturing the bear-hug embrace between Groce and Wentz after the MAC Tourney win. Add to that Travis is in the conference and the MAC has shown growth. I think he stays put. Maybe it’s my Zippy colored glasses.

Congrats to Miami. Good for the MAC. And hopefully that bodes well for Akron.

I was excited when Groce came to Akron, but if I'm to be honest I had doubts he would live up to Dambrot. Not because I didn't think he would do well, but because it's hard to expect anyone to make 9 MAC finals and then win 3 of those. Not only has Groce lived up to those standards, he has surpassed them by making the tournament 4 times in 5 years.

I looped Shammah's game winner to easily show just how many Akron fans were in the crowd. Normally you can see a definitive line where Akron's fans are vs. the opponent's fans. Not Saturday night; Akron fans wrapped all the way around. 11k in attendance and probably ~9k were Zips fans. Previous MAC title games - including vs. Kent - only saw 7-8k total attendance. What an incredible showing by Zips Nation!

I have no insight. I am just an alum and a fan who enjoys basketball. I will say that until a MAC team wins consistently 1 or 2 games in the tournament, I don’t believe the conference will be taken seriously. I have friends who point to the one and done MAC tournament teams and the often-lopsided losses as prove the conference is second rate. Having said that, my wife and I are season ticket holders for many years and love attending games and following the team. Coach Groce and his staff are outstanding! I hope he stays for many more years.

I have a whole new appreciation for this guy.

This was a solid team that blew out most of its competition all year. Another team that has already won an NCAAT game can't even say that. We just struggled to bring our A game down the stretch. We can win and not play our best in the MACT, but not in the NCAAT. Except for a few players, we've looked burned out the past four games.

Please let today be our day. We are so due.

Shammah Scott's game-winner vs Toledo (2026) Watched it at least 10 times this week. Gets better each time.

It will be deemed a forfeit therefore the Zips awarded the 3 points. Information second hand from an athlete on the team.

I'm glad Miami won last night and Suder looked like s#*t. In my opinion he is the fifth best player for Miami behind Skaljac, Byers, Elmer and Woolfolk. Considering that the coaches voted Suder Player of the Year tells me there is jealousy or bitterness towards Groce and/or Akron when they deliberately snubbed the true POY Tavari Johnson.

Miami is very hateable. 🙂 That said, I was pulling for them last night, and was impressed at their execution and poise. Every time SMU made a little run and pulled within a couple points, Miami pushed it back to 8 or 10.

Stick to walk on big men

Elmer is their best player and I don't think it is especially close.

Surprisingly, my hatred of a team and coach can overcome what is "good for the MAC."

Groce was on 92.3 with Baskin and Phelps today. As always, he said all of the right things. He is such a professional. We are so blessed to have him.

💯

I think Groce is the best coach in program history. The culture, the MAC Tournament success, all of it. With that said, he doesn't take the job in the first place if KD - who I also consider an all-time great - doesn't build it into a program with a winning tradition. Sometimes I take a step back and think about how fortunate we have been to have 13 seasons of KD followed by 9 seasons of Groce.

I found out when I went to the game in Pittsburgh a couple years back, that you can buy the gear they sell at the Tournament games online through the company that handles the sales. For example, you can get the March Madness shirt that will be sold at the arena here: https://www.event1teamstore.com/d-i-m-basketball-single-team-shirt-champion-jersey-short-sleeve-tee-fgdca151467a-fw1001024-fgdca151467a.html#color=187 They also have shirts for each site (e.g., there will be a shirt specific to the Tampa site) but they don't all seem to be added yet: https://www.event1teamstore.com/basketball-0/division-i-9/mens-44/1st-2nd-rounds.html Plus, they appear to offer free shipping! EDIT: They appear to have now added the Tampa site shirts but don't have the actual artwork yet, just conceptual artwork. Maybe check back tomorrow.

I enjoyed this blurb at the end.

From The Athletic

"I don't know that it's lucky when you do it 4 times in 5 years.". Groce's response to Tod's comments at the selection show party.

One thing to consider is John continues to have the chance to coach his son at UA - now what, only two years away from celebrating senior night with him at UA which you have to think would be incredibly meaningful. Another son in high school here. A lot of factors behind decision like this. Not to mention, his name could be floated around, certainly he’s established his reputation as one of the best mid-major coaches in the country, but competition for all of these jobs is fierce out there, no guarantee he gets any opportunity to leave.

I had a chance to talk to the Mahaffeys' mom before the PCCC tournament game. She and the whole family were there in UA/Mahaffey gear. I told her how much we enjoyed having her kids and what a fine job they did in raising them. I spoke to both of them at the Tip-off Reception and could not have been more impressed. She indicated they couldn't be happier. Here's hoping that carries over to transfer "silly season."

You say that as though you can't run a shooter off the 3-point line. There are two sides of a basketball game. You can impact a game defensively despite what you may think. Edit: Go look at the boxscore. Tavari attempted 0 3PA. They ran him off the line and then forced him to drive where they had defensive help. Great defensive teams can take away what you do best.

I don’t think Akron is going to sneak up on anyone in the NCAAT. We are a respected mid-major and the pundits amplify it. We are going to have to show up, play great and take it.

Yup. And I don't want to hear squat about Akron's 3P defense not being good enough. None of these power conference teams are playing super tight on the 3P line - teams either make their shots or they don't. Unfortunately against Akron this year, a lot of our opponents OOC made their shots.

We're witnessing why Ohio State won't play Akron, Miami OH, etc.

Tavari's story isn't even finished. Friday could truly cement his legacy.

It is absurd that people don't think Elmer is Miami OH's best player.

It's a really cool space. I have been there for some university functions, awards and such. I have no idea how they will set it up for the Watch Party, but I imagine they have thought this through.

Tonight's a win/win. Either Miami wins and the MAC gets $2.1 million or Miami loses and they're forced to eat humble pie.

I saw JD Brookhart and a couple other FB coaches in Cleveland supporting the basketball team last weekend. Talking to one, he was impressed with Goodrich thus far. Having the Zips FB program on the same page as the AD will be refreshing.

With UMBC’s loss tonight, they now have a better record against 1 seeds (1-0) than 16 seeds (0-1).

Maybe your mailman is wearing it.

We haven't won a tourney game before - I'm all for mixing it up.

When looking back at the Zips season, they had 5 losses and three of those losses were away losses to teams that made the NCAA tourney including Purdue, Miami, and Troy. The Yale loss was on a neutral court and one of the best games all season and that game went back and forth till the very end. Yale is in the NIT and lost out on an NCAA bid in overtime. The away loss to Murray State was our only bad loss of the season.

Bud Wentz.

Another great website for merch is: https://1870market.uakron.edu/. Last year they had some cool tourney exclusive stuff, I'll keep my eye out to see if they do anything unique this year again. Each purchase includes a donation to a UA Alumni Assoc. Scholarship.

I made the mistake of buying tickets early for the Creighton game in Pittsburgh a few years back. I think they were ~$200 a piece +/-. The day before the game or the day of, they were $30 each. Outside of Florida, I'm not sure you're going to get a huge draw from many other fan bases. Heck, even Florida fans might not be interested in the spending the money to see them play Lehigh or PVAMU. Clemon & Bama might bring some, but the Pittsburgh location a few years ago had Kentucky playing later that day and prices still plummeted. Be patient and keep an eye on ticket prices.

If your employer offered you 2 options which are you taking? 1) Build new office with on-site gym, nice green space, and insert a few other amenities but have a pay freeze on all employees for 5 years to help fund. 2) 25% immediate pay bump with 10% annual pay increase, but you have to keep working in your functional ~40 year office building. I don't think people realize the players have a nice locker room and practice facility. In fact, in an article in the Toledo Blade multiple coaches on other MAC teams said they were envious of Akron's facilities. The wooden bleachers is a fan problem, not a player or coach one.