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We could fix all the things people here mostly complain about and attendance would probably go from 3,000 to maybe 3,200 over the long run. Apathy surrounding the program is very real. College basketball has never really seemed to be a big deal in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area. At least not compared to hot beds like the northeast or Kentucky/SW Ohio/Indiana. It has further been hurt by a generation of fans being taught by ESPN and other outlets that if you aren't first you're last. There used to be a lot more community in sports.

Frankly, the people of this community and some on here don't deserve this team or coach. Deflating loss? Seriously? Isn't there a 28 home winning streak? All anyone does is complain. We don't have good concessions, no halftime entertainment (which they wouldn't be able to see if they are in line for those good hot dogs), oh wait, we need more concession stands, so I can get my hot dog quickly and get back to my very uncomfortable seat to watch the halftime show which I can't see because of the glass railing, and every game should be at 7pm but not on certain Saturdays and not opposite an Ohio State game or the Olympic pairs free skate and don't expect people to come to an Akron game after they lose on the road unless the game is against Kent. And one more thing they lose every important game other than those pesky 3 games in March when all the players run out on the floor and hug each other and cut down the nets.

Probably not much worse than the 6PM start time we had for Kent. If someone works an 8-5 it's a nightmare or even logistically impossible to drive home from work, gather the family, and then make it to the JAR before tipoff. The 9PM tipoff is kind of only bad for those with kids ~<10. That's a much smaller amount of people impacted. Heck, even my fiancé who works a 10 hour shift this Saturday and has to be up at 6AM is planning to make the game. I don't think the JAR will be packed, especially coming off a deflating loss. I don't think it's as much about the start time and more about the casual fans who are the difference between 3k in attendance vs. 5k really only get excited about Kent and the MAC tourney.

I feel bad for Big Dog that they moved his jersey retirement to 9:00. I've been looking forward to this game but if I come to this one I'm going to be flying solo 😕

A 9:00 game is inconsistent with the challenge to fill the JAR.

Speaking of tickets, does anyone need a ticket? I won't be able to make this one.

You can't be serious. I criticize them for choosing to not challenge themselves wirh their non-conference schedule. Nobody ever said it was easy to do what they've done. It's impressive even with a cupcake schedule. My main point is that they wouldn't have beat any of Purdue, Murray State, or Yale. (Being favored means nothing, especially when it's by 3-4 points)

I also saw they're doing $28 lower level tickets for the 28 game home winning streak.

The MAC won the first round 9-4 when they were all home games. They go 3-10 when the games are all on the road and the matchups were probably closer. Not that surprising.

Miamapologist. 😉

Yes.

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

Is this the transcript from the video?

I don't really know enough about him to weigh in, but I hope his scheme is similar to what the Browns have been running.

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

helluva lot better than 6pm or Noon on a Saturday.

Another former Zip in the mix. He was our DB coach in 2019. I've lost count at this point, but it seems like almost every hire by the Browns has had some connection to Akron. Who would have thought we'd be a coaching powerhouse? Not me...

They won at Marshall while we beat Kent at home so that's a significant difference. Our best OOC road win is at Tulane so that's a ~70 spot difference compared to their Marshall win. In conference it would be at BGSU who just got boat raced by a SBC team that is worse than Marshall. You seem hyper focused on our losses. What I've said repeatedly is Miami has better wins as well. It doesn't matter if you schedule tougher if every top 200 team you schedule you lose to. You criticize them for having 2 top 200 OOC wins. We meanwhile sit with a goose egg. I don't want anything I've said to be misconstrued that I feel we can't beat Miami. I think if the season restarted today and Miami was to replay all their games again they would have 2-3 losses right now. They have had a number of bounces go their way and are fortunate to be where they're at. My main point is it's not as easy as it appears to win every night that you and others try to make it out to be. I'll say it again we were favored in 4 out of our 5 losses. That means we scheduled teams that were perceived to be weaker than us, but still lost those games. Tons of great MAC teams over the years have gone through MAC play (forget even OOC play) and aren't where Miami is right now.

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

+6 in the +/-. 😊

From what I have seen is that the payouts for the MWC is very unbalanced. I have no clue what North Dakota State is getting if they are in, but NIU is probably getting shafted in the long run just to get out of Weeknight Football Games and take a major Downgrade to the Horizon League for everything else. Even if they got a Second 'Get out of the MAC Jail' Free Card.....

2 rebounds in 4 minutes. Good to see him get in there.

He just entered with 4 minutes left!