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I was speaking to a friend of mine who coaches at the Divsion 1 level regarding the transfer portal. His opinion was - 1.) It sucks. 2.) You combat it with "culture." If the kids like the staff, and like their teammates, they are much less likely to exit your program. Ball State has no culture. They've been floating in mediocrity for over a decade. Maybe Sparks landed there because the extra year of COVID eligibility meant fewer available scholarships at the P5 level? I don't know...but why would you your prime years in Muncie when you are getting scholarship offers from programs guaranteed annual trips to the NCAA's? I see a lot of #2 with Groce. I can't see Enrique ditching Aziz and Ali to chase glory at Xavier, or some other higher-conference program. The Zips players all seem to like each other. They've bought into Groce's culture and system. They're all growing, excelling, having fun and winning. Why leave? You can't bat 1.000 when recruiting 18-22 year old kids. For every Xerius Williams there's inevitably going to be a Trimble. But batting .750 overall is possible if you're consistent in your approach. And not desperate. Groce is too confident in himself and his system, and his contract situation, to be desperate and load up on mercenaries. From the ashes of the Great Dambrot Exodus he's built an OUTSTANDING program. I'll digress for one moment and mention recruiting "stars" as the pertain to the Zips - Ali and Enrique are arguably our most talented players. Neither was recruited by any D1 programs. ZERO! People go gaga over transfers from Florida...St Johns...Wake Forest...Missouri...there's usually a reason these guys are free agents. Groce recognizes talent like few other coaches I've seen. And places that talent in the best positions for team success. Sincere Carry is a tremendous basketball talent, but I really doubt he'd have been anything but a disruption had he played at UA. No player will ever admit they're a "me-first" guy...but it's pretty obvious when a player cares more about playing time, personal statistics and adulation than the good of the team. And, which coaches tolerate those antics. I'm keeping my March calendar clear for 2023. I fully expect the 2022-23 Zips to be dancing. 2024 is promised to no one. If Groce were to be lured away, a lot of the team could follow without penalty. I hope that doesn't happen, because the sky is the limit with Groce captaining our ship, and our "super-sophs"... soon-to-be "super-juniors"... inevitably improving. Enjoy the Zips one-year-at-a-time, as the fan of any successful mid-major should!

Some scheduling info from this. We have Wright State, Marshall, and Cayman Islands so far for next year. I'd guess Wright State and Marshall locations flipped from 2021. In addition, the conference is going back to 18 game schedule so there will be 2 more non-conference games. Groce also said he likes to tailor the non conference schedule based on the team, so I would look forward to that generally being beefed up some.

It is way to soon to discuss Guthrie departing UA. He just got here. His most-visible accomplishments so far are marketing some $7 beers in the JAR and filling a hundred or so otherwise empty JAR seats with students. That's Doctoral-level thinking when compared to Larry Williams or Tom Wistercill, but pales in comparison to the re-branding and stadium construction we saw in the early 2000's under Thomas and Waddell. Those guys accomplished some major stuff, and were ready to move on to bigger and better things. Credit for hiring Joe to coach the football team should be tempered. Joe's agent reached out to UA expressing his interest in the job. I do credit Guthrie for swiftly recognizing his good fortune and sealing the deal. I guarantee if Joe's agent had called Larry Williams, Williams would have hung up the phone and still paid buyout money to secure 3-win Tom. The best recent Akron AD's did something major in order to matriculate to the "next level." For Guthrie to make that leap he needs to fill InfoCision to a reasonable capacity every Saturday (17-20k = "reasonable"). If the football team wins ("wins" = 9+ wins, like Toledo has done 11 times in the past 22 seasons), a 10-12k Tuesday night crowd in November game should also expected. The days of 500 butts-in-seats has to be over. I like Guthrie. He seems hardworking, intelligent, personable and genuine. He's not the typical phony, hand-shaking stuffed shirt. He has great synergy with Gary Miller (another desperately-needed breath of fresh air @ UA). With all due respect to the tasks of keeping Groce happy, and getting soccer back to its deep NCAA tourney runs, rallying the community to support Akron Football and making the corner of Spicer and Exchange rock & roll on fall gamedays is Guthrie's measuring stick for success. I hope he can do it. I'll have a beer on ice waiting for him in Lot 9 when he does.🦘🏉🦾

So what I was afraid of with the NIT is actually playing itself out tonight. St Bonaventure and Virginia are meeting in the third (quarterfinal) round of the tourney. Both of these teams were among the teams the NIT did not release seeds for. When asked to explain why Virginia is going to get to host the Bonnies the NCAA said UVA gets first option because the committee had them seeded better. Here’s the problem, though, in the first round St Bona played the 4 seed and UVA played the 3 seed... therefore SBU saw themselves as the 5 seed because that is who plays 4s. Conventional wisdom would make UVA the 6 seed because they opened at the 3 seed. Yet, the P5 school with the bigger name and larger arena gets to host. It might only be the NIT but it still smells like corruption to coddle to the P5 or the bigger names again. You just know someday this will work against Akron or the MAC. College basketball fans should demand better and more transparency but they won’t because it’s just the NIT and just mid-major schools ( at least non-power conference) getting jobbed.

Happy to see Diogo getting an opportunity

We should sue Russia for copyright infringement and royalties.

STANDINGS AFTER Round 2 Robert G. 193 Mike Spi. 162 John E. 159 Brian G. 157 John C. 154 Mike Sw. 154 David M. 153 Jeff H. 150 Eric M. 145 Luke T. 145 Nick K. 141 Rob C. 140 Mark Spa. 128 Kyle M. 127 Andy V. 126 SKY'S THE LIMIT CLUB Top 3 Potential Points David M. 295 John E. 287 John C. 281 Mark Spa. 281 SHAME CLUB Those who had UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen John C. David M. Mark Spa. (Dis)Honorable Mention: @NWAkron(allegedly & probably) BUSTED BRACKET CLUB Champion Pick Eliminated Robert G. (Auburn) Mike Spi. (Baylor) Brian G. (Kentucky) Andy V. (Auburn) Good luck everyone in the Sweet Sixteen!

The Horizon League has been on a downhill slid ever since Butler left.....Valpo......Loyola....... I believe you are paying them a compliment by referring to them as a bottom-tier mid major.

Spring Ball gets started in a week! Next season starts now! I'm hoping to see a couple in person, but we'll see how my schedule works out. Is @Dr Z planning on taking the camera to any? I haven't been this excited for both Zips football and basketball's upcoming seasons in at least 5-6 years. We've got something special building at UA! GO ZIPS!!!

When JoeMo was hired, gas was $1 cheaper. That could effect everyone differently. I'm not in the business of spending other people's money. We have a great community on ZipsNation and there is tangible excitement with Zips athletics. Attendance will be just fine.

You guys are going to tip thezipcat over the edge 😂

I am.

I'm leaning heavily on coming back into the fold. Waiting and hoping that UA does something for those of us with small children. Would love something similar to the family plans they used to market for basketball. Two adult tickets and two child tickets for the season, for a slight discount over what 4 GA season tickets would cost, especially with a Thursday and Tuesday games representing 40% of the schedule.

I stepped up finally with the news of the Moorhead hire. Don't believe I've heard anything since the initial deposit though. Plan to do the same for the bball program as well actually due to their success. Doubt I'll end up doing anything more than GA for the time being due to it just being tough to make many of the games in person, but I figure at least it shows support 🤷‍♂️ For whatever reason, I feel the university deserves my $$ much more than the Browns, especially after the past week.

I am but haven't re-upped for this season.

I'd be ok with Marshall & Wright State being perennial opponents. Interested to see how Groce beefs the schedule up. I doubt Ohio State schedules us again after we gave them quite the scare (along with UCLA). I'd love to see Guthrie's Alma Mater (Syracuse) on the schedule, along with more A10 & Big East opponents due to geographical relevance. Pitt & West Virginia are always desirable matchups, and add Cincy to that as they prepare to join the Big 12. Mid Major wise, give me more OVC & MVC teams.

Z for Zelenskyy!!! Problem solved 😁 (more sarcasm for ya)

He may be. He runs the floor fairly well and is a decent free throw shooter. Based on his (COVID shortened) 20-21 stats, he probably considers himself a stretch 4. He made 48% of his 42 3-point attempts. However, he was less impressive from beyond the arc in 21-22 when he hoisted up 138 3-point attempts – 3rd most on the team. His 3-point percentage made, however, was less than 30% - 8th on the team. more stats than you can shake a stick at

Having said that, it looks like someone is transferring out if we're offering JUCO's. Jacob Tracey's offer wasn't listed yesterday.

You're right. I jumped the gun. I'm going to delete my post. Thank you.

I am looking at Jacob Tracey's Verbal Commit page. Are you certain this is a commit and not just an offer?

Agreed. I would like to see teams like Wright State and CSU on our schedule more. The MAC is a notch above them, but I'd rather these schools with geographical relevance than Coppin State or a second DIII school.

Young teams take time to develop and mature. That's what we did. Great coaching. Look out next year!!

Even prior to the UCLA game they were silly comments. Akron beat every top team in the MAC going back to their last OU game during the regular season (then the 3 big dogs in the tournament). A 20 pt drubbing of KSUcks was the final nail in the coffin for any argument against Akron being the best in the MAC. I'm glad to hear some common sense clicked finally.

I wonder how Miller will do at Xavier with a decreased player budget. Scumbag. I wonder if our man Dru has any chance at the CSU job. In today's world, I don't think organizations can have much flexibility in situations like Jans (unless they're trading for a top QB).

Forever a Zip

sorry, i phrased that poorly. Also, in the "life comes at you hard" category: Steve Hawkins to small-town Illinois https://www.quincy.edu/quincy-university-announces-new-mens-basketball-coach/

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1 Robert G. 165 Mike Spi. 134 John E. 129 Mike Sw. 128 Jeff H. 123 Brian G. 119 Nick K. 118 Rob C. 111 John C. 108 David M. 107 Luke T. 104 Eric M. 100 Kyle M. 100 Andy V. 91 Mark Spa. 89 SKY'S THE LIMIT CLUB Top 3 Potential Points Robert G. 365 Jeff H. 357 John E. 335 Luke T. 335 SHAME CLUB Those Who Picked UCLA John C. David M. Mark Spa. (Dis)Honorable Mention: @NWAkron (apparently) Good luck to all in Round 2 (except the Shame Club members)!

That;s what I expected. Unfortunately, the mid-majors have become the developmental leagues for the top programs.

Thats 99% my experience as well 🤢