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Take the subway from Station Square to the Steel plaza. Then it's a few minutes walk

Let's hope this is a sign of things to come tomorrow for Sammy!

I'm all in on Tarleton State (24-9). Now I just have to find out who they are.

Gandy Dancer Saloon in Station Square. Sounds like a strip club?

They’re probably waiting on us to quit changing our identity every six months.

https://aviewfrommyseat.com/venue/PPG+Paints+Arena/208/ Note to self: do not buy March Madness tickets night of Selection Sunday.

My pleasure, especially this year. Last year, there was a moral penalty for taking PCCC over Indiana. This year, we don't have to see that adult preschool's name on the bracket and instead have replaced it with that beautiful AKRON name. Even if someone takes Creighton over Akron, it's understandable. There were no valid reasons last year for picking PCCC.

I park here for Penguin games, just don't tell anyone else https://g.co/kgs/1RxW2sj .. Lots are generally $20 for those and this one is 10 and it's a 5 minute walk to the arena. The Chatham Center garage is literally across the street from the arena so it's super convenient but if you get a bad spot you'll be stuck in the garage traffic for a half hour after. Duquesne's main garage is convenient too https://g.co/kgs/saEexPF

So back on the game itself, I am in agreement with most here that the Zips will need to shoot it well (think Kent home game) to have a realistic chance in this one. However, I also wonder whether Ali's prior familiarity with most of the Blue Jay roster from his short Butler stint might account for some, small potential advantage coming in this game. You could argue that they're also familiar with him, but he's only one piece for the Zips, whereas Scheierman, Alexander and Kalkbrenner, being three major cogs for the Jays, are a much bigger portion of their puzzle. Yeah it's a stretch, but if the game stays relatively close, who knows what factors might possibly tip the tide? Ali didn't have his best games in their two matchups last year, but if curious the links to the box scores for both are here (game 1) and here (game 2).

unfortunately the "arena district" if you will is 100% under construction and will be done in a year or two.. so there aren't a ton of options near the arena at the moment. like @3rd&twenty said, the T will get you a couple blocks away and is free in the city

The culture of Resume Building ... Every transient administrator at UA wants to put "University Athletics Rebrand" on their Resume. Who cares if it is actually an effective rebrand or not, they'll be long gone by that point.

No Nick Harney or Zeke Marshall? What the hell? Garvin Clarke was in the Center poll... LCJ, Dru, and X2.0 - in that order for me.

The committee watching this Virginia game, knowing the entire country minus Charlottesville was saying UVA had no business being in this tournament... America...

I agree with this. Once Selection Sunday is done and your school's name is not called out it's time to focus on the next season. Nobody cares to watch games with no real payoff. Well, almost nobody. The die-hard fans like us on this forum, we care. Obviously the coaches care, some of the players and their families care. But that's not enough to run large scale secondary tournaments effectively. This is my thought. Chime in. Maybe this is not an original idea. I would like to see a whole bunch of small tournaments in small venues the weekend of the NCAA semi-finals and final (first week of April). Just like we can attend or stream Thanksgiving Tournaments in small venues we could now have 8 team or even 4 team round-robin tournaments in the Spring..."Spring Break Tournaments". Three games in three days. Make a long weekend out of it somewhere nice (example: Hilton Head, SC). Spend time as a team bonding and reflecting, watching the Championship game together on the following Monday night. But here's the twist, no seniors are allowed to play and any redshirt roster players can play. Seniors can travel with the team and enjoy themselves, but this is an opportunity for the upcoming rosters to start their journey. These players are still hungry and want to play. Coaches can get a head-start on molding the next year's team without the pressure of the games counting. Let's call these competitive scrimmages. (I'm sure there are legal loopholes if it's even possible.) I'm thinking of the trip the Zips took last Summer. I would tune in to watch Tavari run the point most of the game. Let's see if Nate, Dawson or Scott are ready to become leaders. Get to watch more of Lyles and Prather in action. And get a taste of what's in store with Baker and MM-K. Some teams/tournaments would play at a high level due to most of the starters returning. Other teams/tournaments might run basic offense and it could get sloppy at times. But you are selling the hope of next year and I think the people who really care would embrace it.

Example infinity of the grass not always being greener. I'd take him at Akron tho!

Butler was in Cleveland State's conference for 20 years, through 2012. Creighton was in the Missouri Valley through 2013. They moved to the Big East. Garvin Clarke plays the five. I rest my case.

I saw this earlier and had to share it. I keep believing I appreciate Enrique as much as I can, but I still feel like I don't appreciate him enough (if that makes any sense). I'm just excited Enrique and this team has the opportunity again to play on this stage.

I would say a little closer. I think RMF lower level is bigger and the balconies are a bit further back as a result. It's close enough, I wouldn't say it's a material difference tbh

He has 2 games this year with 9 rebounds, and another game with 8.

Interesting tidbit from the article about Freeman. "With 30 double-doubles this season, he’s one away from tying the NCAA record set by David Robinson of Navy in 1986."

The Clarkie collective will rent the U-haul and drive him to Akron!

Yes, the college landscape has changed, and NEO indeed has a high concentration of colleges and universities, both public and private. Still, UA has a lot to offer and must find a way to bring in more students. I wish I had the answer.

I joined too. Thanks for setting this up!

I believe we offered Southerland out of HS. Akron listed as interested

ZipsNation gives history lessons. PCCC is still trying to figure out how to tweet out the final score of the MAC Championship Game after one of their players didn't even know the score during the game. And people wonder who the superior school/fan base is...

I think it's certainly good that the campus has something desireable to offer in terms of housing. However, it's important to increase overall enrollment. We have a campus made for a population of 25 - 30k. UA might not ever get back to that, but certianly getting back to 18-20 would be a benefical across the board.

👀👀 EMU beats UM 14-4

Today's history lesson 😉 "Gandy dancer is a slang term used for early railroad workers in the United States, more formally referred to as section hands, who laid and maintained railroad tracks in the years before the work was done by machines.:

Jeremiah Wood.

I believe they recently transitioned to D1. Within the last year or two.

Damn he’s one double double away from the NCAA record… if he would’ve gotten one more rebound last game 😮‍💨. Would be standing alone

Freeman made honorable me mention AP All-American. Also, of note, former OU stand out Mark Sears made 2nd team All-American https://www.instagram.com/p/C4tlczBOHeO/?igsh=bGFjbm13cjBjdnZj

Where's the pregame party?

Alright folks ... everyday this week I've been drinking coffee out of the ol' ARoo mug from undergrad. Let's hope the positive vibes payoff!

A lot of complaining in this chat comparing to haydays of Akron. I graduated in 23’ and loved all four years. Akron isn’t Harvard, OSU, hell even OU, but its the charm of going to Akron and loving the Akron experiences that make it special. The city is growing and recovering from COVID, a young mayor that seems to care, and a president that has gotten us back to a stable situation. We are seeing positive changes!

The scouting report is out on the Zips. Whoever we face will send double teams at Freeman to force him to pick up his dribble. The Zips supporting cast have to prove they're able to make perimeter shots before teams adjust.

From the Bahamas (Sammy seems to love it here so we've got that going for us). Averaged 17ppg, ~6rpg, and ~3.5apg I had never heard of this school but they played a tough schedule. He scored 23 versus Duke.

my Swenson's key to the game - If Sammy gets hot and hits 4+ threes, we win

come on, Coit

KReed is 100% correct. Someone on the Creighton board wrote simply that the Zips are inconsistent and prone to scoring droughts. Those droughts occurred in all 3 MAC tournament games. I think the 2022 Zips were a better team at this point in the season compared to the 2024 team. Creighton will be tough sledding for these guys. I cleared my calendar for the MAC tournament but not for Thursday. When the Zips make it to Saturday, I will be there.

Although Pitino did state he didn't want to go to the also-ran tournament, most of the time when this happens its schools that feel they were snubbed by the NCAA and then basically take their ball and going home in protest. That happens almost every year and has for a long time. It's no different than when bigger programs declining bids to lower rung bowl games when the feel they deserved a better bid. It just happens more with hoops. With teams declining NIT bids, it makes it even worse that Toldeo got left out. The MAC has been a one-bid NCAA tourney conference since the late '90's. Now it has gotten so bad we are a one-bid conference for the entire post season.

Now that the MAC Tournament is over, I wonder what it's future looks like. Back in May of 2020, they announced the change to only the top 8 teams making it. A quote from the announcement back then: “The plan covers four years and will be evaluated as the economic situation stabilizes and improves. The changes affect scheduling formats, post-season championship formats, and the elimination of post-season championships in select sports. Additionally, reductions will be made in championship operational expenditures,” MAC assistant commissioner Ken Mather said in a statement. With this plan covering four years, the 2025 MAC Tournament would be the last under this plan. UMass will be joining for the 25-26 season, so that all adds up. Personally, I'd like to see at least the top 2 seeds get a bye again. In a one bid league, it gives your better teams over the course of the season a reward. The eight team format really doesn't offer any great advantage to higher seeds.

Echoing @AkronAlumnus's sentiments. I like that you have us Pick 2. Good stuff, @ZipCat 💯

I voted Zeke & Johnson only bc I couldn't vote Freeman