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Akron has received a vote in the AP Poll. Poll Tracker hasn't updated yet, so I don't know who voted for us.

Toledo has dropped to 241 in net as of their last loss, making this game a Q4 game. We are currently 16-0 in Q4 games this year, the only one in the MAC without a Q4 loss. Also Yale, High Point, and Chattanooga (3 other teams projected at a 13 seed with us) all have multiple Q4 losses Hopefully we can pull this one out and keep that column all Ws

Toledo fan checking in. They’re a mess right now and it looks like they just want the season to be over. Anything other than an Akron win going away would be fairly surprising, as Toledo hasn’t shot, defended or handled any intangibles well for the past 3 weeks.

he think's we are exactly #25 - hence 1 vote. A #1 vote is worth 25 and so on down the line

They should give him a second try. This time he wins the tax money he will need for his new car.

I am glad we were able to be part of Omaha's meteoric rise to the top of the Summit (the summit of the summit, one might say). This trash can celebration they've been doing all year is amazing. Good for that coach and program - just a bunch of dudes having fun.

3 of the 4 being traditional HS recruits is a good recruiting tool imo

Shammah Scott should get more than a handful of votes.

Just feels like there is no team cohesion. You’ve got a PG who isn’t pass first. Numerous times there’s a good pass to be had (by any number of the guys on the team), and they pass it up to dribble drive and force a bad shot or pass to a covered teammate. defensively, I’m not sure I’ve seen a more lost group. Everyone shoots the 3 well against them and they are easy to beat off the dribble. They’ll switch into bad mismatches constantly. K seems to have accepted his fate this year as he even seems checked out on the sideline where in years past he would get on guys. I think he just knows this group doesn’t have it. First brush of adversity and it’s game over. Wish I was overstating this, but the last 3 weeks even the offense isn’t producing. First half of the year you could at least count on them to score 70-80 most games.

Only way it improves is if he wins a game in the Big Dance.

My vote goes to Amani. With tavari, Nate, and somewhat from shammah, we have seen glimpses of greatness from each of them before. With Amani I can’t really think of any time besides a non D1 game where he made an impact either of the last 2 seasons. Amani comes in now as an offensive threat and our leading shot blocker

Amani is my vote. He was just a body last year used to get some size when freeman needed to rest. His layup ability has dramatically improved and his ability to hit 3s was a shocking but so needed development and it really sold me on his potential

I don't really follow swimming and diving much but 11 titles in 12 years is unreal. Congrats yet again.

UT's always a tough game. And being a road trip immediately following the Kent game, when the schedule came out I had this one down as an almost certain L. But UT's been imploding. A 40-point loss to KSUcks followed up by losing to Buffalo?! I hope we go in there and hammer 'em. Scatter their ashes all over Savage Arena.

ESPN has a article listing who will win each of the 31 conference tournaments. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/insider/story/_/id/44058613/picks-analysis-31-mens-college-basketball-champ-week-conference-tournaments-2025 For those who don't have ESPN+, here is the snippet for the MAC.

Since we are near the end of the season, like to hear your opinion of which Zip has improved the most from last year. In this remarkable season, I think you can make an argument for every returning Zip so no right or wrong answer. I am going with Nate just because when I look at the stats he has led the team in different games in assists, rebounding and scoring. He also plays the most minutes and plays the best defense. I also think that in several games when we have needed a basket, he scores with that short jumper. Last year he suffered an injury and had a good season but this year he has been outstanding.

Did not expect to have coach Groce and Ford in this conversation but if we are going in that direction, I will give an honorable mention to Evan Wilson for being the quickest off the bench to congratulate the team and the only player to pick up a T when averaging less than a minute a game.

Armani

Trading NIU for UMass will certainly help this going forward. I'd also be surprised if, going forward, Buffalo remains this bad. Improve Buffalo, dump NIU with UMass as the replacement, and the MAC automatically climbs into the high teens range again, and could trend upward.

Ok, if we're giving Groce kudos we have to show some love to Dustin Ford. Dustin is in charge of the defense and despite playing at such a fast pace this year, which results in giving up more points, the Zips have been at or near the top of the conference defense standings (currently 4th in average points surrendered). I could see Dustin getting a head coaching job in the near future if he wants one.

I honestly don't think this year is that much worse than last year. The MAC has progressively just gotten worse year over year the last 4 seasons. Unless the trend bucks, being the 20-25 best conference is just the new normal.

Proof it can be done!

Excellent post with relevant information. Thank you.

You'd be right but T&F is by far the most female head coaches for men's teams but still under 12%. Heck of an accomplishment after the Akron track and field teams were effectively gutted a few years ago.

Could make an argument for Amani, Nate, Tavari, and Scott. Great problem to have.

It can't be too common to have a female as head Men's T&F coach, can it? I would think that'd be a bit of a handicap in the recruiting game. Good for her!!! Go Zips!

Something to keep in mind with Amani is that ideally this should be his Sophomore year. Either he chose not to redshirt or we needed him early on because we lacked depth at the position. I believe it was the latter due to the loss of Aziz Bandaogo and Ali Ali (for a season). It’s unfortunate.

I have been critical of the state of our track program, but winning an indoor championship proves me wrong. Congratulations to coach Kendra Reimer-Gonzales for capping a good season with a championship trophy. Well done.

Yeah, probably need adequate staffing to coordinate an event like that. Worked out for us though.

The one standout performance was Remi Agunbiade, and not just because he scored two ugly goals. His skills are raw and underdeveloped, but his work rate is just tremendous. No lack of effort from this guy! Well done, Remi!

Sullinger caught an OVI in Portage County very early in his time at PCCC.

I have been concerned about Young for a while now. I guess it was the South Alabama game that he hurt his knee. He is back to playing extremely hard on defense so I guess he’s good to go. But he’s also a true freshman and his body is adjusting to a much longer and physical season.

🎶One is a genius, the other's insane🎶 😄

Bowen Hartman had his best game as a Zip last night. Timely 3’s, drove in for an open layup, pretty pocket pass to Nate, and was adequate on defense. Be nice if that kind of impact became a trend. That’s the Bowen we’ll need in Cleveland!

One area the Zips need to work on is when Amani draws defenders cutting to the basket. With the emphasis on stopping the Zips threes, teams are trapping our guards with the guard and the big man on the screens out top. This is allowing Amani to cut to the basket without the big following and getting an open pass while he cuts. Kent did a nice job of help defense in collapsing other defenders to stop Amani and last night he occasionally unsuccessfully went at the defenders. In those situations, there will be at least one open guy on the baseline, corner or on the wing. One more pass would bring easy uncovered shots.

Great job by Associate AD Samantha Maxwell!

I hope you get a shirt. Last time I went when they were giving away jerseys to the first 250 or so, they ran out early and there weren't even 250 people there.