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Rohr takes over at Jackson

Getting the students into the lower bowl was a nice move. The courtside lounge is a flop. Those are at least indicators that those in charge are starting to think ahead. They need more of that.

Dawson is easily my second favorite Zip on this team, and one of my all time favorite Zips. The dude embodies every attribute I look for in a basketball player - hustle, heart, desire, determination, effort, etc.

Al is now 1 for 9 from 3. We don't need Trimble!

Clarke should give his superfluous E to Wynn to help GT. It would also have the benefit of spelling CLARK correctly.

Remaining Schedules (likely result per ESPN BPI ). I don't see a way that we don't end up facing UB in round one. The Toledo/UB game should decide the #2 seed, unless the Zips can pull the upset Friday. Kent also owns the tie breaker with Toledo, so a Zips upset Friday combined with a Rockets loss to Buffalo could potentially give Kent the regular season championship via tiebreakers w/OU and UT. Toledo 24-7 (16-4): vs Miami (W, 93.7%) @ UB (L, 50.5%) vs BGSU (W, 92.6%) Ohio 26-5 (17-3) vs Akron (W, 71.4%) @ BGSU (W, 68%) @ NIU (W, 84.8%) Kent 21-9 (16-4) @ CMU (W, 88.5%) @ NIU (W, 82.7%) vs UB (W, 67.9%) Buffalo 20-9 (14-5) @ NIU (W, 84.3%) vs NIU (W, 95.4%) vs UT (W, 50.5%) @ Kent (L, 67.9%) Akron 20-10 (13-7) @ OU (L, 71.4%) @ BSU (W, 70.2%) vs CMU (W, 95.7%)

Clark and Dawson had their best games of the season. As someone mentioned earlier, the transition 3 from Clark has been a long time coming. We outrebounded BG big time. Great to see everyone looking to rebound. Azziz struggled on defense and did not play a great deal tonight. This is the 2nd game that X fouled out. Weird that X is fouling out and I think Freeman had only one foul. The Zips looked really good the 2nd half on offense and it was fun to watch them making shots. Not sure if BG's defense was that bad or the Zips were playing that good. Freeman was a beast on the boards again. Tribble also had some really nice rebounds. I would still like to see him shoot more. He keeps passing up wide open shots.

His assts are getting testy. One screamed at the guy who mops the floor.

Off game for the 4th best 3 pt % shooter in the MAC. Thankfully he's bringing it in other areas. On a serious note, Mike Dawson is 4-7 from three and is contributing in other areas like usual. We don't need Trimble!

It's the Clark and Wynne Show!

Okay…but Kent is one of the hottest teams in college basketball and had significantly fewer people in their gym for the Akron game, and last night there were less than 1,000 fans at the MACC. This is not a “Groce’s 2022 team is boring people away from the JAR” situation. For the better part of 5 years now, any national TV game at the JAR is littered with empty blue chairbacks in the lower bowl, and that includes two seasons where Akron went 14-4 in the MAC and won the reg. season. As many others have said over the years, the marketing department is nonexistent. There’s no incentive to become a season ticket holder, there’s no incentive as a student to still come to games after graduation, there’s just no excitement generated outside of the team’s success. Even the team’s success isn’t really broadcasted anywhere beyond GoZips.com, which Joe Akron doesn’t even know exists. There’s no media coverage, nothing mentioned on local news. Akron is essentially invisible with the current marketing strategy. The U is guilty of it, athletics is guilty of it, the city is guilty of it, the league is guilty of it, hell the state is guilty of it. I don’t have the answers, I am a die hard trying to put myself in the shoes of Joe Akron. The program is vastly under appreciated by the Akron community, and it’s very disappointing.

This is the way.

From your mouth to the basketball gods' ears Let'sGoZips94!

There's not one thing that will magically transform the game-day experience. It's going to take a combination of things: good team, updated/renovated facility, better marketing, etc.

New/updated does not have to equate to large. Actually, in the MAC and mid-major settings, smaller and more intimate results in a home court advantage. I'd much prefer PCCC to come into a 4,000- 5,000 seat arena where the fans are close and breathing down their necks than into a half empty 10,000 seat arena or a place where the loyal GA fans are far away and separated by a glass rail and a freaking track. I recall many of the very same anti-arena arguments being made against Canal Park in the mid-90's. I think most would agree it has been a success. In any event, anything is going to have to come out of state monies. UA doesn't have it. The citizens won't support a tax. As a result, at best we're left to modifications to the JAR. Fortunately, a plain box should be relatively easy to work with. Also, according to Reghi the JAR is "historic and venerable", and we can't abandon a facility that is equal to the Palestra in Reghi's eyes.

yes, most definitely....trying to get some playing time for the guys 15 to 30 on the depth chart they are doing the same thing on April 10...

...and great hair!

I noticed one of those is against Malone so maybe it’s to get our young players some PT?

Last night's MAC basketball attendance speaks volumes about the lack of need for new/larger facilities: EMU 1,294 WMU 1660 Miami 1,798 Akron 1,830 Kent 2,221 Ohio 5,861

I'd imagine any negatives would mirror that of joint practices in the NFL. To me, those negatives are minimal.

Who does Juwan Howard think he is, Woody Hayes? It’s February 23 – so go throw a chair in honor of Bobby Knight. Football rules: Is the NCAA thinking of changing the distance a member of the kicking team can be off-sides before they call off-sides? Why is a ball carrier deemed to have successfully entered the end zone when any part of the ball carriers body or the football touches a goal line marker which is located completely out of bounds? Why is sideline encroachment the only rule where teams are given a warning before they are penalized? Is it a violation of the rule or not? Why not give a warning for the first violation of roughing the passer or targeting?

I am sad to see my friend George moving on to a new challange. If there was ever someone who bled Blue and Gold it would be George. From his playing days as a pitcher to his time in the athletics department he always had UA and it's athletes as a top priority. You will be sorely missed George. Dear Zips Nation, Since 1994, I have roamed the hilltop affectionately called Akron U. by the locals. In my time as a student-athlete and as an employee, I have come to love working with students, coaches, faculty, administrators, and staff to advance the University. I have been a part of great teams in Advancement and Athletics. We shared in the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Thank you for working with me to make The University of Akron a great public research university with an unsurpassed commitment to the community. In my 24-years on campus as an employee, I have accomplished and learned a lot. I still have much to learn and greater challenges I want to take on. It is bittersweet to tell you that I am leaving UA and will be joining you as donors and season ticket holders rooting our Zips on from the stands. I leave for a great opportunity which will allow me to grow and thrive personally and professionally while keeping my family in the Akron area. I want to thank all of you for your love, support, and friendship over the years. I leave knowing Akron Athletics has a great foundation to continue to achieve championships in the classroom and in competition. Forever a Zip, George

Groce really talking about the "positive vibe they have had the last few days" "Dawson is all about what we are really about, he's always in the same mood: good"

That’s more like it! I liked what I saw from just about everyone, it was a great team effort. Shouts to Garvin Clarke and Mikal Dawson for putting the team on their back in the second half with their best games arguably of their careers. While the drive defense was bad and they didn’t play very good D as a whole, Clarke was all over their guards. If he can continue to play that kind of D off the bench against these guards coming up, we’ll have a chance. It looked to be same old same old with the 7-8 point leads that would be wiped out by terrible defensive possessions, until my man Garv stepped up and buried a transition 3! When was the last time we had one of those? That wasn’t quite the dagger, but it’s something that has been lacked in a big way this year. On to Athens, I’m proud of this team tonight but there’s much more work to do. Go Zips!

Albeit against inferior opponents, that's two games in a row where we've looked our part. Refreshing. Big one Friday....make me a believer Zips!

Keep him away from coach Howard in the hand shake line! 😄

Like Wooster, Ohio: Beall Ave is "Bell." Bever Ave is "Beaver"

Reghi wonders where the Zips would be without Freeman and Ali. Yikes. Yes, we can safely assume the Zips would be in a worse position without their leading scorer and leading rebounder.

Reghi needs to learn that sometimes you should let the game speak for itself.

GUARD. THE. DRIVE.

Ali 1 for 8 from 3? Damn man, go to the hoop.

When you never shut up you tend to make more mistakes than someone who picks their spots.

I liked Mike Wynn before it was cool 😎

Since he's not playing, maybe we'll just call him Trimbl to even it up.

Somebody needs to tell Reghi these teams played each other earlier in the year.

Groce really encouraging Michael Wynn

I believe it's around $92.00 to travel the entire PA Turnpike!

My biggest beef with PA

I think if they really renovated the JAR it could be really great. It's not the worst place to watch a game. Sure, it kind of feels like a glorified gymnasium, but with some money put into it I think a lot could happen to make it feel less like that. Personally, I like the Zips playing directly on campus. EDIT: Can LeBron cut a check? LOL

True, this place is always full of rational thoughts and no knee jerk reactions 😂

That’s not entirely true. From what I have heard, we play the team who finishes the same position in the south that we finish on our side. For example, we win the league, we play the south winner. If we finish 2nd, we play the 2nd team. Etc.

BG falls 91-82 to Ball State. And I thought the Zips were having a tough season.

Great post, @bigjim. Like you, I think I'd give JoMoe & Co.'s recruiting class an A-, considering the late start and only having about a month to pull it together. I'm very excited about our defensive backfield with the additions of KJ Martin and Cam Threatt. If they don't start -v- St. Francis I'll be surprised. They immediately give us a competitive defensive backfield. If Bubba plays next year we're going to be pretty good at linebacker as well with the addition of Tim Terry as well as Boateng and Andrew Behm, whom I was very impressed with as a true freshman. What else I'd like to see: Another transfer OL, obviously. A guy who can come in, along with Max Banes (hope he pans out 🤞) and contribute immediately in Week One -v- St. Francis. I'm psyched about the three HS studs we signed, but more than likely they'll be redshirted next year. I would also like to see another transfer interior DL. I think Syracuse transfer Curtis Harper will be a starter from day one. But Miss. State transfer Devon Robinson is a little bit lighter than I was expecting (260) so I think he'll have some trouble competing on the interior of the DL. His height is outstanding, but given his weight he sounds like he may be a bit of a tweeter - either a very heavy DE or a relatively light DT. I'm expecting HS signee Kiawan Murphy to redshirt as I don't believe I've ever seen a high schooler come right in and contribute meaningfully on the interior of the DL. I'll bet conditioning may be an issue with him as well & wouldn't be surprised to actually see him lose weight during his redshirt season. Kato graduated and Gibson transferred, so I'd also like to see an experienced transfer QB added to the roster before Spring Ball begins. I like DJ Irons, but if he were to go down, none of our backups have had any game PT whatsoever. I think the RB's we signed are good-not-great. I know Kellom really looks like a stud on film and he was D-1 1st Team All-Ohio, but the fact that we were his only D-1 FBS offer has to temper my expectations a bit. And Cam Wiley, while being 6-2 is outstanding, the fact he only weight 185 has me a bit concerned about how durable he'd be. If he were 5-8 & 185 I wouldn't be as concerned but 6-2 at that weight & I'm hoping he doesn't get broken in half (he'd better not be a straight up runner - get down & behind those pads, Wiley!). So, thought our stable of RB's is presently pretty solid and very deep with Jonzell Norrils, Ant Williams, Blake Hester, Cam Wiley, and Charles Kellom, I still wouldn't mind seeing us add one more transfer RB. We lost M&M but we're going to be stacked at WR w/ the tremendous additions of Alex Adams and Jacques-Louis. If they aren't two of the best WR's in the MAC next season I'll be surprised.

This. I actually like the JAR from an atmosphere standpoint. The low ceilings and closer crowd create a LOUD environment when the JAR is hopping. The upper level seats on the sidelines could easily be brought in, connecting them with the lower level seats. I'd be interested to see how they bring the endzone seats closer in the upper level. One of the even bigger questions is how do they work around the support columns in the corners? Is it as simple as not including corner seating? Can the support be re-engineered? Ditching the awful bench seating in the upper level would certainly reduce capacity from 5500. However, how many of those seats can be regained with connecting both levels, especially in the endzones and maybe corners? Can we get to 6-6.5k with the JAR's footprint? I'd love to talk to a stadium engineer to see what they think is possible. Keeping the JAR means the city loses out on some events, similar to what Canton is able to host. But that's the city's problem. Long story short - I like the JAR for a college atmosphere. Just make it better (if possible).

Fat Boy O'Neal schooling Aziz. Up by 8 now 3