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This was the best crowd of the season. The Jar was about 70%. I will give a shout out the students who did some cheers during the game that was something new. I heard post game that the players gave out leaflets to students trying get them to attend. I think this team is trending in the rights direction for attendance and trying to get butts in the seats.

Watching the ball movement, cutting, and screening, it's clear that collectively they are really starting to get it. When an offense starts executing and moving with that sort of precision - that's when basketball really becomes such a beautiful dance. The past 3 halves of this offense almost remind me of Groce's DJ Cooper era teams at Ohio during some of those games at the Convo where they just had the Akron defense completely lost. This was the first time I've been fortunate enough to see a game in person this season and holy moly is Sharron Young FAST! All in all, an enjoyable evening at the James A. Rhodes Health & Physical Education Building!

There doesn't have to be a Groce vs. Dambrot debate. Can't we just say we've been lucky to have two good basketball coaches over the last 20+ years?

If this team were to go back and play their OOC schedule with this level of cohesion and consistent scheduling (not 10 days in between games), they'd only have 2 losses right now at most. Surprisingly quite tame down there in northern West Virginia. By the tone of their board, they seemed to expect this type of outcome. Miami OH next Saturday followed by Kent the week after will be one heck of a 2-3 week stretch. This is the second or third game in a row the backdoor cut has been a staple. It's exactly how Groce is planning on countering teams that play us out on the perimeter, and exactly why we struggled so much in the OOC schedule because those types of IQ plays require a certain level of chemistry.

3 of the weakest technicals I can remember in the last 2 games.

Note from a hoophead and neutral observer:

These recaps videos are insanely good.

Maybe it's just me, but it really seems like they made a concentrated effort to market this program in the past couple of weeks. Hopefully it's here to stay

The empty seats weren't very noticable. It's hard to miss the bad look of the empty areas on the floor directly behind the basket. The AD should get on this......oh, wait.

I noticed this also but had to remind myself that OU is a good program. Good programs lose now and then, but rarely allow their necks to be stepped on. The take away for me is Akron soundly beat one of the best teams in the conference and should be able to make some hay with the confidence and momentum from the win.

In the last two games, both convincing wins, the opponents have taken 64 foul shots. The Zips have taken 24. I'm generally not one to gripe about the refs and realize some disparity can come from having a more aggressive defense, but that is ridiculous.

Tonight's attendance was a disgrace. This team is so entertaining. Basketball fans are missing something special. I applaud the students who did turnout. They were loud, exciting and made it fun to be there. There just were too few of them. I don't know what the issues are, but I do know this team and coach deserve better.

That’s definitely technical material.

"You dance like your dad."

I liked: "Not sure if there's a better frosh in the MAC than Akron guard Sharron Young." "He'll be getting some Bud Wentz money next year."

The over is becoming a very solid bet on Zips games.

And without Dambrot I do not believe we would ever have Groce. After many many years of bad Akron basketball feel very fortunate to have had both.

They are well on their way. LOL.

Another fun game. Some of points from Groce's post-game that stuck out. One, they played 25 minutes of good defense and 30 minutes of good offense. The first half was as good of defense as they played all year. Second, they still need to step on the neck of an opponent when they have them down. Another free throw disparity tonight with the OU shooting 33 while the Zips shot 15.

Wins against Toledo and Ohio. That's a good week.

This team is really growing on me.

Amani Lyles continues to impress!

I will say the jar did a great job with mostly everything tonight. But man how on earth do you only have 2 registers at halftime for the main concession stand

Never realized how bad the JAR was till I graduated and sat in the wood seats. The sight lines are awful. The track and the glass need to go.

Could be up 30 if these refs didn't bail OU out every trip

I chickened out and took them +5.

I believe he is.

Kent down by 10 with 4 minutes left and getting outscored by 19 in second half. (Yikes)

I'm right there with you! He's been great lately. The game seems to be slowing down for him finally

The students should get another section along the sideline

I have admittedly been hard on Tavari, and rightfully so. There was never any doubt he has skills, but he wasn’t mature enough to take on the demanding and much needed role when he arrived. He was an asset one minute and a liability the next. To be fair, LCJ took time to develop. And I wasn’t certain Castaneda would ever be more than a shooting guard. But they eventually hit their stride and were great leaders as well as all around competitors. All the more credit to Young for being impactful so early on. I don’t want to jinx Tavari, but it appears the light has gone on for him. If so, and he stays true to the process the next year and a half could be very special for him and the Zips.

Just saw this on X but was posted in November. I see a replica jersey 👀👀 If we each get one maybe it'll help keep Sharron in the 330 for 4 years? 🙏🤞🙏🤞

I think the team needs more community support; there's no excuse for the attendance to be as low as it is when Akron has been good for a long time. Seems like they are actually making an effort to market the team now and attract students. The JAR though I will say is pretty crap. I never noticed till I stopped sitting in the student section after graduation but the sightlines in the upper section, especially the baseline sides, are dreadful. The track and wood benches needs removed.

How many times are we going to have this conversation? -JAR Sucks. -The OU/Akron rivalry isn't what it was 12 years ago. -UA Student body has literally more than halved over the past decade. Why would we expect more?

Give them all to me. I love them all.

The OU game was bizarre especially because we dominated in the paint (and everywhere else). Usually doesn't unfold that way at the line in games like that. Refs might be friends with some EMU fans

And the 3 techs that all have us scratching our heads!!!

Recap is here. Game was on CBSSN. https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20250117_OHIO@AKRON/

What a great team win! I know that Groce typically gets more out of his teams as the season progresses but I did not see this coming defensively. Very impressed with Lyles's ability to finish as a rim runner. It adds another dimension to their sets. I've been waiting for Nate to become the next Jimmy Conyers and we might be seeing that now. I've been critical of Tavari in the past so I have to give him his flowers. He's way more productive when he's looking to facilitate. Opens things up for the team and his game too. This team is fun to watch

💯💯💯

Gray is on fire.

Ball don't lie

Just saw Ali Ali on the concourse

Keith's departure seemed to be a turning point with a substantial portion of the fan base for some reason and it is a damn shame because as much as I like and appreciate Keith, Groce is every bit as good or better.

They have had one hell of a turnaround. Happy for Dru. One of the most genuine people I've met in my lifetime.

I don't know, that UA and Northern Illinois rivalry is pretty intense

Respectfully, no team equals the dislike and disgust I have for Kent. No one is close. That being said OU and Toledo are in the next tier, for me, and they are easy to get fired up over. The rest in the MAC are Meh!

Dru and the Dukes continued their ascent to the top of the A-10, besting a 13-3 George Washington team 73-65 on Wednesday night.

Great article on Kenneth McManus IV - the lone G5 signee at the Under Armour Next All America Game.