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Just for fun I was looking back at recent Akron successes in the MAC tournament. Akron was first eligible for the MAC tournament in 1993, it didn't even qualify for the tournament at all until 1998 and won only three games total until 2007 when it made the final (although the previous year the Zips were seeded third and their one win put them into the semifinal a streak that would continue for 12 years, then two years of not making the semifinal, then making at least the semis every year since it has been played). Despite the Zips never making a championship until 2007, and not winning one until 2009, they are 6-6 overall now (only one behind the three all-time leaders Ball St, Ohio and Kent (all of whom have made at least 32 appearances). Zips have 17. Despite the Zips having won only three games by 2007, they have the highest winning percentage in MAC tournament history at .607. Zips have as many wins as they have missed championship appearances since 2007. Just wanted to put in a little thanks to Keith Dambrot and John Groce for making these last 20 years so enjoyable. Now go win an NCAA tournament game (for us!). 🤣

JMU Preview here- https://jmusportsnews.com/2025/10/30/jmu-mens-womens-basketball-season-preview-guide/

Amen. I hate to give anyone from PCCC credit, but that guy has earned the full time job by winning with a flaming bag of poo that was left on his porch.

I'm sure Akron led at halftime that night. About 56-50. Couldn't keep up with the hot shooting. Dan Hipsher's final season I believe.

Alright, research finds that Ron Blackshear Sr was the dude I watched torch the JAR the last time I visited in February 2003. He made 14 3-pointers in the game and 11 straight at one point. About 3 4-point plays as he was fouled and threw up balls that fell magically through the hoop. Seem to recall 48 points scored that night for the Herd.

I believe he played for Marshall and started a game off against the Zips going 11-11 from the three point line at the JAR?! My memory is fading, but still accurate on this one.

$5k for each school's collective.

For those old enough to remember like myself, there was a Ron Blackshear who played at Marshall, possibly during their time in the MAC. He might have had a brief NBA tilt. This must be his son.

Here's the box score, since the one above (Gametracker I think) didn't have any filler. 502 paid the $20! 😅 Men's Basketball vs Akron on 10/29/2025 - Box Score - Youngstown State University https://share.google/BxL7HVUzziQe3pnnQ

If he inherited the sack of crap team that he did, and beat BG last week, I'd sign him up too. That's Saint-level, verified miracle work there.

https://www.footballscoop.com/2025/10/30/kent-state-removing-interim-tag-mark-carney-head-coach Tue. 11/11 at Infocision

...or Taylor Currie.

I don't know that I'd want this Zips team to go to a bowl game? We've improved from last year...we're better than the dregs of 1-A and even mediocre 1-AA teams...but if we were matched up against a decent G5 team I think we'd get smoked like Bowden's 6-6 team did against Lane Kiffin's FAU squad. Something like 50-3. A 5-7 or even 6-6 season would make me happy.

really could use Kobe Mitchell about now.

My understanding is that he can be called up at any time. I am sure if one of the Timberwolves bigs suffers an injury he can be added to the roster. The Iowa Wolves are probably starting their practice this week and the season opens I believe on the 8th. It will be interesting how much he has improved as a 2nd year pro.

"Joe Akron" doesn't even know we're ineligible

Bummer, no more Head

Point shaving scandal incoming?

My comment was more about I'm not sure they would be willing to lax academic standards. An Alabama, Miami (FL), Auburn, etc will admit a kid with an 16 ACT score if they thought it could help win them ballgames. Stanford prides itself too much on academics for that to be the case (I don't fault them. Just speaking the reality). The same with schools like a Northwestern or Vanderbilt That's not to say you can't win at these schools. Vanderbilt is currently in the top 10. Stanford was nationally relevant ~15 years ago. Its just that those higher academic standards are going to handicap them so they can't really be a perennial contender. They can have windows of being really good, but they will soon later fall back to irrelevance.

A bronze Arby's A?

YSU was a basketball desert for a half century. I spoke to the late Dan Peters (former YSU HC and Zips assistant) and he said it was virtually impossible to win there. It was a football school in the hood, and any decent players went to MAC schools. Low and behold YSU has won some games lately? They've cleaned up their campus and actually recruited some talent. And, their arena is basically a "red JAR". It gives me hope that someone could one day turn the Zips football program around. Our FB is nowhere near the loser program that YSU basketball was for 50 years. They even lost a serviceable big (7' 3" center) to USC, and apparently haven't skipped a beat. Having mob money to pay NIL doesn't hurt, I'm sure. 🙃

Side note: Pretty sure every Zips opponent that has had a "Blackshear" on their team has had said Blackshear absolutely destroy the Zips.

I think they will be "ok" also. Solid 5-7 wins a season.

The only conclusion I can draw from this is that Groce didn't want James Madison to collect any film on this team. #3DimensionalChess