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I plead complete naivety on this one, I’ve been to the JAR countless times, but is the state of the JAR really a deal breaker for Groce? Or is this primarily a fan issue. Groce doesn’t care about the seating and bleachers does he? If he wins we come, when he plays Kent we come. It has nothing to do with recruiting as he’s proven already with the retention he’s had and the portal guys he’s brought in, many coming from places with top notch facilities. Sure a refurbished or brand new facility shows a deep level of commitment but it could also drain resources from elsewhere. I would think, in no particular order, salaries for his asst pool, NIL, funding for travel/tournaments, nutrition and perks for the athletes, and commitment from the University on things Bud has been paying for e.g. marketing AND ongoing operational support at the highest levels of the MAC are the things that would be much more relevant to him staying or going.

He did it once and he took a lot of abuse and got canned. Why put yourself and your family through that again. Nothing good came of it. Correction: Something good did come of it: This board gained Illini Zip.

New AP Poll. Two votes for the Zips!

Everything about the seating areas in the JAR feels rickety. Reduce capacity to make it all chair back. Newer, more solid (even perhaps cushioned?) chair back seats because even the current chair backs feel rickety. Don't mention the rickety GA bleachers. The older I get the harder the bleachers feel. There aren't even railings to hold on to as you climb the GA bleachers (even rickety railings would be better than no railings at all). I generally try to take guys to the games & I've had at least 3 comments this year alone about how they were expecting a nicer facility for D1 basketball (that's putting their verbalized sentiments graciously). 4 of my guys are getting older & aren't as mobile as they used to be. They simply can't navigate the rickety GA bleachers (which are an accident & a lawsuit just waiting to happen when they begin to fill) so always just sit in the front row of GA. Then, of course, they can't usually see the action on the floor due to the infamous railing & people constantly walking (or even just standing 😡) on the track. The JAR needs some very real TLC.

Embarrassing is probably the best way to describe the JAR. It's not the worst in D1 or even the MAC, but it's not something to be proud of. For as much success as the basketball program has seen over the past 20 years we definitely deserve better.

As for Groce's son, the word is he is on his way to a smaller program next season. This year was a chance to play for his dad and get some practice experience against solid competition before heading off to somewhere he can play.

Groce has mentioned Evan wants to get into coaching and speaks very highly of him. As my kids yell anytime the Zips are up by 10 or more, “WE WANT WILSON!” He’s been a fantastic teammate and has to be All American in the bench bunch category.

This statement is why Groce should not leave and will not be successful at the next level. Listen to our student athletes during the post game interviews. They are smart, articulate and will graduate with a degree. As a Zip fan, I appreciate how well our basketball team represents the U both on and off the court. Further, we have all seen how hard they have worked to improve their game from last year. However, this team would not do well at the Big Ten level. If Groce leaves, he will have to lower his standards to find those players that can excel at the Big Ten level. I think Groce loves working with scholar athletes. If it is between money and enjoying your job, I think Groce is smart enough to stay at Akron.

The JAR is a ****hole, but it's our ****hole. I'd love to see a new facility or a revamped facility but a school that is budgetary trouble and cutting staff has bigger concerns than throwing money at an adequate facility and doesn't much care about the comfort of the stalwarts that go to the games.

That JAR is really holding this team back. 25-6 and 17-1 and UNDEFEATED AT HOME. What a hell scape.

NC State is a graveyard of coaches for any meaningful sport. That pack of rednecks has no idea how to win. The Final Four run last year was a fluke. Once Steve Forbes completes another late season collapse at Wake Forest, they should can him. Wake Forest is a better job than NC State. JG could actually get the support he would need there and have a longer runway to get the team in the condition he would want. The problem JG has is he is a good person. It takes a certain high level of sleaze to win with NIL at the P4 level and I don't think he has it. My money is on him staying.

They just fired a coach who went to the Final Four the year before … yikes! That has run the other way written all over it.

Sometimes when you hire an under qualified guy, you get an Eddie George, and other times, you get a Tom Arth.

Rivals listed him as a JUCO 3rd team All-American.

Key word, was. Even with the sustained success of soccer for the last 20+ years, the atmosphere isn't the same as it was. And its not even a covid thing, attendance dropped off before that even. I don't really know what has caused that decline, but it has to be said that winning isn't the end all be all for attendance

Evan is the ML Carr of the MAC. If you get this, you are officially old.

The new car smell always fades. Build it and they will come is only relevant in cinema. What drives attendance more than anything is success. Let me put it this way, do you think the football program would be in a better state like it is currently or if it played in a dumpy, paid off stadium, but had an additional $4+ million in its operating budget to pay for assistants, equipment, and NIL? Resources are finite. New facilities are nice, but are excessively expensive. You can stretch your dollar more by focusing on spending on things that provide the greatest ROI.

My thoughts exactly. Putting a little lipstick on a pig won't move the needle. Potential recruits aren't going to care if the blue hairs have bleachers or chair backs. Akron would have to invest $80+ million in a new facility to get a wow factor from recruits. The University doesn't have that to spend and boosters, like Wentz, money is better spend on NIL. You get more bang for the buck. The low hanging fruit that entices players, like lockerroom and practice facility, has already been done.

I took about 8 people to the kent game, most of which never went to akron or the jar before. We sat about at half court half way up in the GA bleachers. It is embarrassing that there is no middle aisle in those bleachers. If anyone had to get out, they had to either go across at least 15 people to the steps, or go in a maze path up and down rows to find the little space there was to move. And one guy is a ball state alum and was extremely unimpressed with how the Jar compared to Worthen Arena (I don't blame him)

Ohio.com/Beacon article on the Zips as they enter the MAC tournament- https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/10/akron-zips-mens-college-basketball-mac-tournament-cleveland-bowling-green-falcons-march-madness/82058121007/?tbref=hp

KD was still here 13 years, and there was the very unique situation of Duquesne's tie to his father. He had received offers many times before and, while he did consider 1 or 2 others, always turned them down. That's just to say that I also think it would take a unique circumstance for Groce to leave. This is a snippet from Terry Pluto's recent article about him: But after what happened at Illinois and then reviving his career at Akron, Groce sees life differently. “One of the things I’m most proud of is how the players who completed his eligibility here have also graduated,” said Groce. “We’ve had good guys in the program. One of my goals is to make sure they are better people for having played here.” The Zips have a 3.0 grade point average. Groce said after coming to the Zips, he changed his recruiting approach. He takes fewer chances with players when it comes to character issues. At Illinois, he had some players arrested during his tenure. “Obviously, who has to have physical talent to play at this level,” said Groce. “But talent isn’t enough. We are careful to bring in guys who fit our team and our culture. We are careful of red flags. We want guys with the right work ethic and attitudes.” Groce signed a contract extension in 2022 that carries him through the 2029-30 season. His base salary is $650,000. John and Allison Groce have three children and have been married 22 years. Living in Akron for eight years is their longest stay during their marriage. With his success, it’s possible Groce can be romanced by a major program. In his last four years, his record is 95-38. The 53-year-old Groce doesn’t seem in a hurry to go anywhere. “Faith and family are important to us,” said Groce. “I’ve always lived and coached in the Midwest. I love coaching at Akron.” I also found this interesting: “It used to be that you just had to recruit players,” said Dambrot. “Now, you have to recruit people in your community to back your program (financially). John has immersed himself in Akron. People know him and like him.” Dambrot said Akron has “one of the best” NIL programs in the MAC, which helps in the recruitment of players. “Then you add John, an experienced coach and a good one,” said Dambrot. “He’s also a good person. He has them set up to be successful for a long time.”

I think Evan Wilson would be an A+ hire for a high school or to be on a college teams staff. Super excited for his future. Super down to earth guy and treats his fans like equals. You can tell he’s grateful for the experiences he’s had. Love him

This right here is my biggest concern: "Defense has been an uphill challenge for the Zips all year. In a cavernous NBA arena, sometimes the only thing that travels is defense. A cold shooting night by the team immediately makes any game for this Akron team much more difficult." Only three players of the ten in the rotation - Tavari Johnson, Nate Johnson, and Shammah Scott - have played in a game at Rocket Arena before (Lyles did not log any minutes in last year's tournament). Last year's team was built on defense, and they had to grind out wins in both the semifinals and final. This year's team is the exact opposite - built on offense. The two couldn't be more different: 2023-24 ORtg: 109.6 (108th of 362) DRtg: 98.5 (47th of 362) 2024-25 ORtg: 115.1 (35th of 364) DRtg: 101.8 (107th of 364) Taking it a step further, here's Groce's other MAC Champion teams: 2021-22 Akron Zips ORtg: 109.8 (36th of 358) DRtg: 97.3 (97th of 358) 2011-12 Ohio Bobcats ORtg: 104.4 (116th of 344) DRtg: 92.9 (27th of 344) 2009-2010 Ohio Bobcats ORtg: 105.7 (96th of 347) DRtg: 98.3 (114th of 347) As Zipped Up says, defense travels anywhere, while offense doesn't always follow suit. But the Zips team that came closest to winning a tournament game is the one that most closely resembles this year's group. Let's hope they can lock in defensively and that the shots fall for us en route to a Saturday celebration.

Ryan Andrick cold cocked Dan Hipsher on the sidelines during a game.

I know it’s been mentioned already, but kudos to Groce & Co. for green lighting the Evan Wilson start. Very nice.

That is information that is privileged due to the donors requesting anonymity. I will honor my commitment to the source and not go into specifics. Regardless, there is a concerted effort to do something, anything about the JAR.

Weren't the locker rooms just renovated a few years ago? I would say that's an example.

I went to a game there around 2009 or 10 when Charlie Coles was still there. They had a big black curtain up hiding a whole side of the arena and there couldn't have been more than 200 people at the game. They didn't even really have people working and we just walked back towards the locker rooms after the game and got to see a fun interaction with Charlie telling KD the MAC was his now.

Attendance has dfinitely dropped off for soccer. You write about sustained success for the last 20+ years. However, Akron did not win an NCAA soccer game for a 5 year period. (2019 to 2023). Also, there has been very little done to promote Akron soccer to the students or the Northeast Ohio soccer community.

It definitely sounds like that is their plan.

ICYMI, Miami is building a new arena.

I think that to win over the average student/fan, you have to achieve results that are being the norm. For basketball, the norm is a top 3 team in the MAC and contending in Cleveland each season. We are lucky that is the norm, but people start to get complacent after awhile if that norm doesn't change. I think part of what drew fans to Enrique Freeman - beyond his greatness and how amazing of a young person he is, of course - is he went beyond our norm in getting drafted and playing in the NBA. For Akron basketball to go beyond their norm, the next step is needing to win a tournament game. That will get the community's attention because it's a level of success they haven't seen before.

What does this even mean? I can understand that UA probably doesn't have the budget for it, but "I wish several local high schools didn't have nicer seating than my D1 college" means I have problems?

When I was at UA I always heard my friends say "Man I wish every basketball game was like that." It drove me crazy because every game WOULD be like that if people showed up more than once a season. Judging by the average crowds you would think the Zips won 5 games a year, not 20+. Every soccer game was like that regardless of opponent or weather. People would literally stand the entire game and didn't care. It was always fun.

I know the College of Wooster was recruiting him last year. He would be a good fit in a winning program.

No I don't think the state of the arena has that much to do with Groce's decision to stay or leave. But with some renovation it might be able to raise the bar on support from fans that aren't like us on here. I could be wrong, but we have seen what the bar looks like on games like Tuesday night vs Central Michigan, could a renovation help get more fans which would make a better environment for the team to play in? I believe so. Would that really have an effect on what goes on with the state of the team? I don't believe so And we have had this conversation on here so many times now. I don't think its bad to say we have a fantastic coach, great team culture, growing marketing/social media presence, AND we have a facility that doesn't match what the team deserves. Obviously being a public university that has declining enrollment for ~10 years any kind of money spent anywhere will have people arguing whether it is warranted. But if people like Bud Wentz are trying to model the Zips after Gonzaga, I am all for it, I'll support the team in a dated arena or wherever. I would just like to sit in a comfortable seat every once in a while

I loved Ryan Andrick. He was a former Manchester Panther 💪 Those were my first favorite Zips teams w/ so much local flavor. Ryan Andrick - Manchester Nate Shindenwolf (sp?) - Manchester Jamie Bosley - Jackson Jimmal Ball - Canton Timken George Phillips from Chicagoland I was not a huge Dan Hipsher fan. I would have never wanted to play for a coach like him. Seemed like the team despised him.

The legend has grown over the years 😀…he shoved him. Still pretty shocking to see a player forcibly shove his coach. My favorite exchange- at the end of an Akron-Kent game Kyrim Massey clocked Jami Bosley with an elbow at mid court as a ball was being inbounded. Bosley was laid out on the center court logo, and no referee saw it. The next season Massey went up for a 3 on his first shot of the game and Andrick “accidentally” rammed his fingers into Massey’s eyes. An 8-month delayed payback. Ahh the good old days..,now you get T’d up for saying “You can’t guard me” as you jog down the floor after a made shot.

Personally, I'm glad you're staying. 😉

I get that it's a business, but I'd be stunned to see Groce leave with 6 seniors expected back next year from a really good team.

That's outstanding! Thanks for being ZipsNation's historian!

My mother always taught me if you don't have something good to say, don't say anything at all. I hope UA provides him with the support he needs to continue to run a successful MAC program. I personally hope he stays.

Says a lot about the program that Ali would come back to the game and do this.

Someone told me that the $10k putting contest was for the dance team so they can travel to nationals. So students benefited all around!

Last night everybody was a winner thanks to Bud Wentz. In the putting contest, a new target sign was revealed that was 50% larger and had no target hole. The announcers said all that was required to win the $10,000 prize was to hit the sign. The young lady contestant took aim and sent a straight putt right at it. Just as the ball got there, the helpers lifted the sign and the ball passed underneath. The contestant started to walk away but was informed she had indeed won $10,000! Bud was waiting with the check at the other end of the court. The shot for tuition contest took a similar twist. A student was selected as always who could win a semester of tuition by sinking a layup, a foul shot, a three point shot and a half court shot in 30 seconds. It was then announced there would be a substitute celebrity shooter. Ali Ali! He calmly sank the first three shots on his first attempt. After about 10 attempts he banked in the halfcourt shot and the crowd went wild! Kudos to Bud for thinking outside the box to make senior night special.

An RA started a tradition a couple years ago of a “Johnny Appleseed game” and this year he morphed it into a fundraiser for cancer research

Also Shammah Young - Reghi in tournament season form.