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Mark Montgomery can't be long for the NIU HC job. Midway through his 7th season, he sits at 84–123 (.406). It really amazed me how this decimated Zips team, with all it's injuries and defections, thoroughly whipped a healthy MAC team. Kudos to the coaching staff for keeping the guys focused. Cotton has been a revelation. Until 3 or 4 games ago he'd really shown nothing that'd foreshadow the run he's been on. Seems like he suddenly became confident, and it's made all the difference in the world. Patton isn't scoring all that much, but he continues to do a nice job on the boards. It will be fun to watch Kostelac develop. He's such a big strong kid as a true freshman. With an off season to work on a low post game, he should make a big impact as soon as next season. Overall, you have to be happy with the coaching, and subsequent growth of all the players. The young guys show continuous improvement, and the older ones have added a lot to their game. Nice to see the Zips honoring football's Andrew Hauser during the game...but they misspelled his name on the big screen - Houser? C'mon, man... Should be a fun Tuesday night game vs. OU. How this Zips teams has a chance against anyone is beyond me...but they do. Let's see Utomi go for 32 again!

There's just something about OU that makes wins against them that much more special. Not quite to the level of the PCCC Golden Flushes, but the next best thing.

This was my introduction to Groce as the Illinois coach with some fun, wide open, run and gun basketball. These clips against USC are from the same Maui Tourney Akron attended, but back in 2012. Illinois had junior and senior guards, but a very thin front court so talking about living by the three and dying by the three. I wouldn't bother watching too many other clips from Groce's tenure at Illinois because his rosters were always blown up. But the games against Gonzaga and Indiana his first year (2012-2013) were good and can be found on YouTube. The Miami game in the NCAA Tourney was also really good, but unfortunately not on YouTube. Go Zips, the future is bright!

If I'm obnoxious in anyway, please just ignore me. I find you all to be a lot more fun than my other team's fan base and great therapy. The Fighting Illini are brutal to watch and now they are talking about another complete rebuild...idiots! Call me in 4 years. Just when Groce was about to turn the corner from all of those injuries with an awesome recruiting class they fire him. FYI, Illini Nation thinks Groce can't coach himself out of a wet paper bag. My money is on Groce and Akron making a run deep into the tourney before them. The following is what Groce's inside game looks like. I hope Kostelac develops faster than Illinois' Maverick Morgan. Morgan didn't have the luxury of red-shirting either. It took him until halfway through his junior year for things to really start clicking. Maverick Morgan Springboro, Ohio 6'-10" 245 lbs 3 star recruit out of high school and absolutely worthless his Freshman year. Constant foul trouble, sound familiar.

Boo!!!! I put $100 on the Jags to win the Super Bowl midway through the year at 40:1 odds. He just cost me $4k!

Pure speculation....but he doesn't have any other reported offers, so if he doesn't sign you'd have to assume it is due to grades.

@Balsy, could you add Bryce Peterson to your original post #1 of this thread?

Who would have thought the Zips would be a game out of 3rd place in the MAC after the start of conference play. Will be interesting to see how things play out but Buffalo has no losses and Toledo only has one. Then 5 teams are at .500 and the last 5 including us are a game back. Keep taking care of business at home and steal a couple games on the road when Sayles gets back and we will be alright.

That's kinda what happens when you have one forward