clarkwgriswold

Text from an email. There may be a video but I haven't seen it.

Today's email from the Athletic Department- Zips Nation, This is Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Groce, and I felt compelled to express our gratitude and share three takeaways with you today. First of all, we want to THANK YOU for what you've done this season. We are extremely grateful for the attendance and the electric environment that has been created in the JAR for our home games, especially against Kent State. You were certainly a big part of the win that night. It was a sellout crowd and amazing basketball environment. Secondly, we have three home games remaining, starting with UMass on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. on national television. As I'm out in the community, I have multiple people approach me and say... “Coach, as good as your program is and has been over the last 6 plus years, we need to get that place filled up more often, like we do it for the Kent State game.” So, The Challenge is on! That is why I was compelled to express my thoughts on the three remaining home games, starting with the UMass game on the 13th. We want to see this place PACKED. Zips Nation deserves it, our players deserve it, the city deserves it, the community deserves it and the University deserves it. We're all in this together. Let's take on the challenge and Pack the JAR for the three remaining home games! Lastly, at the UMass game, we are honoring one of our all-time greats in Isaiah “Big Dog” Johnson by hanging his No. 23 jersey in the rafters prior to the game. He was a former All-American, MAC Player of the Year and MAC Sixth man of the Year. He made long lasting memories for Zips Nation as a great player and a great person. We are looking forward to having Isaiah and his family back here at the JAR, and we need to give them a warm welcome and an unbelievable Akron Zips response that night with great excitement, passion, energy, and attendance. Thanks Again for all that you do. This is a special place and it really is because of Zips Nation. John Groce Akron Head Men’s Basketball Coach

The bye comes at a good time. It gives them a chance to regroup, get their feet under them and find their shots.

Young gives a great deal of effort on defense and is the Zips best smaller defender but can be taken advantage of on switches due to his size.

I think Sharron is a very good defender. Zack's decent. However, those two are contributing little else at this point. I sure wish Sharron would break out of his shooting slump. This year his FG% was 40% and he's shooting 30% from 3. Last year he 46% and 40%.

Sharron seems to have lost his offensive game.

The Zips are off until Friday when UMASS comes into the JAR for the first time. UMASS comes in at 15-10 overall and 6-6 in the MAC. They are coming off a 3 point loss to Coastal Carolina in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge. The game is at 9:00 (yawn) on CBS Sports Network 6'9" grad student forward Leonardo Bettiol leads UMASS in scoring and rebounding at 17.6 ppg and 7.6 rpg. 6'3" grad student guard Marcus Banks is second in scoring at 16.8 ppg. They are 6th in standings, 6th in team offense and seventh in defense in the MAC.

Rough shooting for 3 games in a row now.

6:05 tip per ESPN

I like YSU's arena and would be content with that type of upgrade. Seat backs on the sides, bring the top seats forward, bleachers on the ends, ditch the glass rail, give Clarkie front row seats for his input...

I'd be content with a solution that involved upgrading the seating and getting rid of the track.

Don't forget guys, the game is at 6:00.

Turning the corner?

The MAC/Sun Belt Challenge resumes this Saturday with the Zips heading to Troy for a 6:00 matchup on ESPN2. Troy is 15-8 going into Wednesday’s game against Georgia State. They are in first place in conference the Sun Belt at 8-3. They are first in scoring offense at 83.7 ppg and ninth in defense 75.7 ppg. 6’8” junior forward Thomas Dowd leads the Sun Belt in rebounding at 10.4 rpg and is second on the team in scoring at 14.9 ppg. 6’7” junior forward Victor Valdes leads Trojans scoring at 16 ppg.

Habnab appears to employ Michael Phelps' cupper.

Lucky.

30 points under their basketball IQ average.

Senior leaders letting the team down tonight.

We have some guys that are just not good defenders.

Stan Heath's offense looks like a team of transfers in their first practice together. The Zips haven't looked much better.

Maybe his worst game of the season.

The top, bottom and side edges are in play.

Yep, need some energy and momentum plays.

Eastern is bad and the Zips are playing down to them. The Zips seem to have one of these WTF games every year and I was afraid today that this could be the one.

Sloppy half. Post-rivalry hangover.