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Driving up Friday night to see my kids/grandkids and going to this one Saturday after breakfast at The Bomber....son/daughter-in-law haven't been in their arena since their graduations in 2008, 2009. Asked for a sidebet, but they said "Dad, you raised us Zip fans..." awwww ain't it great when the listen ?

Good win for the Zips. Yet another game we wouldn't have won in both of Groce's other seasons. Nice to finish off the OOC on a strong note - on to the MAC!

Happy New Year's Everybody!

Mississippi State 96 Kent State 68

This was the first Zips game I have made in a long while. With covering the Cavs, Charge, and Monsters as a side hustle I haven't had much time. I picked a good game to get hooked on the Zips again!! Nice size crowd who were into the game, exciting play, and of course a W. I even caught a cush ball and have a shot at a nice prize LOL. I can't wait for conference play to start. I covered the Mac Daddy at the Q last March, I get the feeling there's a good shot the Zips will be playing there this year. I saw something in this team I haven't seen in a long time.

Outstanding close to the game by the Zips. High energy, 100% effort, head-down-eyes-up finish. Took care of business against an A10 squad. Way to have the guys ready to play, Groce, after 10 days off. Onto MAC play!

Congrats Zips on the win.

Is John Thompson IV back for his 10,000th year of college ball?

Look what happens when they play someone with a pulse. Who would have guessed?

The Zips put a lid on the Minute Men's attempt to escape the JAR with a win. It was a jarring experience for umASS.

Both players and coaches said how much they appreciated the crowd last night (with students on break, mind you). Akron basketball is back, its time for the fans to be back and get out and support them for the rest of the season.

"Hold on folks." "Book this one to the Akron Zips." Jackie made a point on the UMass technical. She said that 10 foot stretch along the baseline towards center court is only for coaches to communicate with players and not for yelling at refs and they warned McCall in first half. I don't believe there are "make up" calls. Channel deserved his T.

Jackie Windon is top notch. She's insightful and knows her stuff. Reghi drives me to distraction. He always sounds like he's trying to demonstrate how well his last set of Word Power tapes are working for him. Just too many gushing superlatives.

Groce said post-game something to the effect of, "Keep shooting. It's when you quit shooting that I'll bench ya." I believe that was in regards to the 3 pt. lull we went through. Agreed on Tribble. That dude just has it. He has no fear and the game isn't too big for him. Tons of other MAC/mid-major squads get these ready-to-go freshman, and we finally have our own. Agreed on Banks deserving the T, but the UMASS coach apparently also deserved the T. Jackie mentioned in game that he had been warned prior, and apparently was in the extended coach's box, which is strictly meant for coaching, no ref discussions. The timing may have been more coincidental. How about that interview? Super annoying, and quite frankly, I didn't give a crap. I have no idea who Phil Bova even is. Promote your book elsewhere. I want to watch the game. Well, when you play a team from a conference that's as competitive as the A10 is, at home, and are on the rise as a program, I expect nothing less than a "tourney-like atmosphere." I hope the schedule continues to feature teams like UMASS in future seasons, especially at home. The JAR needs filled with more than just North Carolina Alphabet Soup (we need more JAR puns on the board, by the way).

This is evolving as a team we will love to see play. Only the center spot is weak. Love our depth. Banks deserved the T and I hope he learns from it. He got the big basket, no need to jaw at his opponent. Show some class, if you have it. LCJ was a star, but he has got to stop driving the lane when it is packed, jumping up in the air and then trying to decide what to do. That has to stop, it's a turnover in the making. I like Rehgi. He is an Akron Homer, but he has no business interviewing ref Phil Bova during the game. The game comes first, interviews fill in for dead air. That interview really pissed me off. On the other hand I love the commentary of Jackie Windon. She is first class and better than the games she gets. I hope she gets noticed by a network.

We shot well down the stretch - mostly LCJ.

Good luck the rest of the year. And oh ya, we owe a nice welcome when you make the return trip!

Damn, I am slipping. Off by a point. Can't give up 46 points in a half.

And to you guys for covering the spread. Now take your freshly waxed rear ends back to new england.

Nice play call by Groce coming out of the timeout - results in easy layup by LCJ at a pivotal moment.

Reghi just called Dawson "Marco.". Sigh. This game is tough enough to watch without his incessant babbling.

Riak with a solid start on offense.

Cheese starting so I am guessing we see Dawson as the scoring off the bench today. Maybe get him 5-10 minutes today.

The kid may be a great player, but the words "Cleveland State transfer" don't exactly strike fear into an opponent!