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Today's Beacon article on Nate- https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/20/akron-zips-basketball-ncaa-tournament-arizona-nate-johnson-tavari-johnson-john-groce-miami-toledo/82491030007/

NCAA BB Scholarship limit goes up to 15 next season.

A chance at an actual starter big (combined with a lot of the returners we have) might have @NWAkron willing to stand directly in front of the T-shirt cannon.

How can you not love Enrique? Since generally, there's never more than one 13 versus four upset in any single tournament, I'm rooting against all the other 13s. 🤣

I do not want to offend anyone but I was hoping to read comments about our game tomorrow and not guessing who may or may not transfer. Lets enjoy the moment where we can get our first NCAA victory. Go Zips!!!

Kenni Burns probably just needed a runner to place his March Madness bets.

Well, to be fair, PCCC was better prepared for Vegas.

They took a private jet, using that Furman NIL money!

As somebody else pointed out, the only "plus" Kent had over Miami this year was playing (and losing) to Alabama and Auburn, whereas Miami played and lost to Michigan and Indiana, which were good teams as well. Miami had a better overall record, better conference record, and obviously beat Kent 3 teams. If there is that much weight given to who you lose to in these ratings 1) there are clearly some serious flaws in them and 2) why wouldn't you schedule tough as hell in the OOC to game the system? Best case scenario, you *might* give yourself an at-large chance if you pull off a few upsets, you're better prepared for March Madness, and you give yourself a chance at better seed (therefore better matchup) if you win the conference tourney. Worst case scenario, it all comes down to 3 days in Cleveland like it always does, with the potential for getting a better seed due to losing to these good teams..

In 1998, Dennis Rodman skipped out of practice in the NBA Finals to wrestle Hulk Hogan and spend some time with a model in Las Vegas. They still won the championship. Kent did just fine after a couple of guys missed one practice. After 30+ games, how much practice do these guys really need for a Mickey Mouse post season tournament?

It's not a matter of 'standing up for Kent.' It's a MAC thread, first off. And has been pointed out many times before, scheduling is huge for mid-majors, and in this case it paid off for Kent. Auburn-Alabama, Michigan-Indiana aside, check out the Mid-Major Top 25. It gives a solid clue to why Kent over Miami. You will see that Akron and Kent, by a wide margin, played more teams on that list (including others getting votes) than anyone else in the MAC did, including Miami. I doubt Kent went into the season - or even ended the season - thinking they were going to be a NIT team. But the 'lucky' reward was a NIT bid because of their scheduling. It validates what many have complained about MAC Basketball for years. Most MAC teams don't play anybody. It's not just getting a few P5s on the schedule, it's playing 5-6 other teams like yourself. You will likely lose your share. But if you win enough (Akron-Miami aside, Kent was 3-1 vs. other MM T-25+ teams) you could potentially get a reward. BTW - Miami and Kent aside, Akron was 1-3 vs. other MM T25+teams. Other than Akron-Kent, Miami did not play another team on the MM T-25+. Not always about wins and loses. But playing quality games. https://collegeinsider.com/mens-mid-major-top-25

What actually caused the National Debt that we now pay $800-billion in interest on? What actually caused the $1 Trillion deficit we are currently experiencing? 1. The Bush-era Taxcuts 2. Two unfunded wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) 3. Continually increasing military budgets to the level of absurdity over the past 20-years (and no, Military aid to Ukraine doesn't actually count here because most of that was surplus stockpile that was going to cost us $ to decommission anyways). 4. Trump (2016) Taxcuts. The four things are the major contributors to both the Debt AND deficit. And no, it goes much further back than the past 10-years. It goes back to that 2000s era of Taxcuts that turned Bill Clinton's surpluses into deficits. And if you want to play the conspiracy theory game, it's all by design of ONE political party so they could justify cutting Social Security instead of doing the sensible thing, which everyone knew in the 1980s we should do to solve Social Security, which is eliminating the cap on taxable personal income. I'm so sick and tired of people lying about this. It's not a mystery as to where this debt and deficit came from. It's from cutting taxes into oblivion, and running up the charge card on military spending. Period Fullstop. It wasn't spending on education, or food stamps, or national park funding, or NASA, or the EPA (etc...etc...etc). It was taxcuts and military spending. Yes, we should have been able to spend stimulus money in a lifetime of a Pandemic to keep people in homes and to keep the economy from free falling into a depression. You know, basic crap governments are like supposed to do. But no, a segment of this country decided it was better to give free handouts to the wealthiest people in the country at the expense of the future.

The talk in Cleveland by guys who are super closet the program, like Bud, was that a big was headed to Akron. No one would say who, but hey said we are very close to getting him. Stay tuned.

21 minutes per game, 6.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg as a sophomore backup. There's a rumor floating that there's a Big 10 big that could be on the way to the Zips.

You are looking live at CPA! ZipsWin!

This, the Masters theme, Top Gun theme, and the Akron Blue & Gold are all I need in life musically.

This is one I thought was coming. He dominated at JUCO this past season. 42 total tackles and 5 sacks. Really agile for a guy his size and has been well coached. Not sure why he didn’t have more offers.

Although this is the first meeting between Arizona and Akron, Here is a surprising stat that bodes well in our favor: • Arizona is 5-5 all-time against Mid-American Conference opponents Time to make it 5-6

IMG_20250320_161317.heic

Don't hate the playa, hate the game. The only selection process used by the NIT was analytics. They made it clear before the season began.

One thing I love about these Zips is that everyone on the team is involved and having fun. Guys like Gray and Wilson have been here for a short period of time but they are right in the middle of the mix. Seth is leading the team in the huddle before they come out. Seth is putting the Akron name as the winner on the bracket board. No sulking, no outsiders. From Nate Johnson to Connor Groce they're all in and happy for each other. That's TEAMISM.

Did you read this in the press release .... The top teams from each conference will be determined based on the average of the teams’ ESPN Basketball Power Index (BPI), Kevin Pauga Index (KPI), NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET), Ken Pomeroy Rating (KenPom), Strength of Record (SOR), Torvik ranking and Wins Above Bubble (WAB) ranking. All rankings are already included in the “Team Sheets” used by the NIT Committee during the selection process. All teams receiving an exempt bid are guaranteed the opportunity to host a first-round game. In addition to the exempt teams, regular-season conference champions that are not otherwise selected to the NCAA championship can earn an automatic bid to the NIT as long as that regular-season champion has an average of 125 or better across the BPI, KPI, NET, KenPom, SOR, Torvik and WAB rankings. The rest of the 32-team field will be selected as at-large teams by the NIT Committee. It is understood, by most, that the at-large teams will be held to the same criteria as the exempt teams. When other teams back out, the metric average of 125 then became 126, 127, 128 and so on. Kent State was 128. I believe Miami was 147. As for the MM T-25. Speaking for myself, I'm saying these are the kind of teams you want to see more of on all MAC schedules. Akron played St. Mary's, Yale, Milwaukee and Arkansas State off the list, (and South Alabama was likely on the list when the Zips played them) plus 5 games vs. Kent and Miami. The rest of the MAC should do the same. BTW, Akron played Ark. St. as part of the Sun Belt Challenge based on Kenpom comparison. Kent played Ar. St. based on the same thing. One was on the road, one was at home.

We've already been down this road. The NIT clearly stated what the criteria would be before the season even started (I can link you the press release) and they followed through on that. Complain about the NET, Kenpom, and whatever metrics you want, but that's what the NIT committee decided was important. They made that public knowledge, which is more transparency than we've ever seen in the selection process. Pretending to be shocked over something that was common knowledge is a waste of time to discuss.

I'm glad to hear kids are moving and socializing closer to campus. It was my college experience and I had a great experience. I went to a couple Exchange Street bars after a football game last year or the year before and thought they were good college bars. The City is never going to rebound if it can't handle public safety in the downtown area. It's a basic issue that will hold back the City forever if it cannot deal with it. If Fairlawn and Green are offering better living experiences for 23-32 year olds, it shows how far the City needs to go. I lived in Cuyahoga Falls with some buddies after college for two years. When Mrs GP1, the luckiest woman in the world, and I got married, we moved to west Akron on Kenilworth Drive as soon as we could afford a house. The city life was awesome. One bad part of Akron was the 2% income tax. It's up to 2.5% now. That's pretty steep for anywhere. It's not like the City offers premium public services for a premium tax rate. The problems the City has are not unusual or unsolvable. The failure is chronic and habitual. I don't know how to fix that but other cities have.

I completely understand your argument and I'm with you. In a perfect world, the NCAA would focus on competitive balance, balanced revenue, balanced conferences, etc. The NFL has proven that a balanced competitive model creates the most financially lucrative product. Too bad the suits are too focused on lining their own pockets.

Yes, I'm not sure why some think just because this is an Akron forum that we can't engage in intelligent conversation. If I wanted to just troll, I'd go to X or Kent's sorry excuse for a fan forum. I take digs at Kent (see my Kenni Burns comment earlier), but other times I'm just trying to advance a in depth conversation.

Good call, I saw two open spots on @Illini Zip's most recent grid but that was before Scott and Okonkwo were coming back, so you're correct in that we currently have zero open spots.

But we have two high school seniors coming in next year (PG Tai Perkins & W Josh Henderson). So to add the B1G big would require one of the above to transfer out.

And it's actually pretty easy to solve the National Debt. You're going to have to raise taxes to do it, and you're going to have to cut Military spending. All the stuff the current administration is doing is laughable, performative, and not actually the cause of both the National Debt, nor the Deficit. Those are facts. And practically anyone saying otherwise hasn't done the math of the impact of the Bush-Era taxcuts, two unfunded wars, the constantly absurdly increased military budgets over the past 20-years, and the Trump (2016) Taxcuts. That, and the interest serving the deficits created by all of that, is about 70% of the National Debt. But I'm sure you'll have some stupid statistic to pettyfog the issue right? Fixing these issues...like actually fixing them...requires telling the truth. And unfortunately we live in a fact free world in 2025, and it won't get any better with the current war on education and the propaganda filled algorithms.

I'm glad he is staying. It's good for the MAC and mid-major basketball in general.

The apartments you mention exist in the surrounding Akron area, which is where those young professionals live. I was downtown a few months back on a weekend night. The bar and nightlife scene stinks. It was worse than when I was in college 15 years ago, which wasn't even special back then. If I was 24 and fresh out of college, no way would I want to live in downtown Akron. It needs a major overhaul. Edit: I feel a lot of things are working against downtown Akron that have made it less attractive to be over the last 10 years. 1) Covid introducing more work from home and hybrid schedules. There are less people downtown Monday-Friday so businesses have lost that lunch rush and the people meeting up for a drink or dinner after work. 2) Shrinking Akron enrollment. 3) Students preferring to stay near campus instead of going downtown. There are more food and better bar options than we had within walking distance of campus. Businesses have very little reason right now to expand downtown Akron as the ones in the area are already struggling. I don't know how Barley House has survived this long. The last few times I stopped in it was 90% empty. At the same time even if apartments get built, the young professionals have very little reason to want to live downtown without local businesses that make it attractive to live. They can just as easily live in the Fairlawn or Green area, which is nicer and frankly safer. Also, housing in the Akron/Canton area isn't terrible compared to many other parts of the country. Ohio generally is ranked as one of the more affordable states when you factor in both median income and median cost of living. It's not as dire as the west or east coast where they have limited options on where they can live.

TBF Kent likely had no intention of playing in the CBI (it's a scam tournament) and I don't think anyone expected them to make the NIT. I know I certainly didn't. There was no way of predicting they would backdoor their way into the tournament by 2 dozen teams passing on the NIT. I'd say the fact they cut their trips short and flew back says their priorities were in order. I think it more just speaks to how the NIT went from being semi-prestigious to mid overnight.

I can't imagine having a known cheater as a coach. I guess I don't have to imagine it. I just have to ask my PCCC buddy.

Zips watch party literally 100 yards from the main entrance of the arena

KenPom ranks Akron’s roster as the 4th-smallest in the country, with most of the contributors no taller than 6-foot-3. How will it be able to match up with Arizona’s rotation where everyone is at least 6-3? “Not good. Akron has been a program that has struggled with size the last couple of seasons. It caused fits for them last season in a first-round game against a tall Creighton team, losing by 17.” I think this is a bad take. We struggled against Creighton because they had shooters and we didn't. We had actually had the lead late in the first half before we went cold and they started not missing. Freeman had 20+ vs. Kalkbrenner. The only team we've truly struggled against with size was Saint Mary's, and they're an anomaly with 3 guys at least 7 feet tall. Yale had size but that wasn't the reason for the blowout; not making our shots was the cause. If size was everything, Purdue would've won 4 straight national titles with Edey. March is dominated by guards, specifically with shot-making ability. Nick Lorensen, the guy who answered these questions, isn't exactly the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to CBB. It took him a very long time to include Akron in his Mid Major Top 25, and his Top 25s are suspect at best. He has several answers in the article posted above that are very shallow and lack any sort of true understanding of Groce/Akron.

Does any of that fall on the shoulders of the head coach and his staff - IMO it can’t all be blamed on bad luck. Lack of depth going in had to contribute to some extent, no?

The highlights of every Wednesday are a new Zips Weekly and a new episode of Survivor

The same could be said for the Miami coaches as well. There were worst teams that made the field than Kent (using NET & Kenpom rankings). Miami coaches should have been asking why the MAC didn't get multiple bids. Not taking shots at Kent.

I think Kent-Miami basketball just became a rivalry?

Why? Puerto Rico is a country and only a US possession...one of which we provide little care and representation. Ofc, lots of that going around unless you're a billionaire who bought a piece of our government.

Or North Carolina Athletic Association.

Congrats to Beto, but still seems odd that Puerto Rico has a national team.

National Corrupt Athletic Association

Who averaged 5 ppg this year!

I'd love to expand the CFB playoff to include all FBS/D-1A conference champions. As it is, the non-major conferences start the season with no access to earning a national championship. That's not competition, it's bullying from the P5. The other conferences should negotiate an expansion that guarantees their conference champions a place or form their own lower division but that is above I-AA. I have no doubt there are enough schools to make a compelling division that is way more fair and not dominated by the same 10 teams every year.

You clearly haven’t been to Akron in a long time. No one wants your Applebee’s North Carolina crap in a downtown area. We have Montrose and Howe for that, or we could move to Columbus. Like I said, there are plenty of surface parking lots if you want to build more generic apartments with thin walls and floors. We already have some of those with 22 Exchange, 401 Lofts, and the Depot, but we could use more. We need Quaker to go back to what it was before the University ruined it, and that’s what we may be getting. Something for those who live an hour+ away to have a reason to visit for. Yes, when I was a kid, we lived 2 hours away from Akron and visited Quaker Square as something to do. Anyway, we’re going dancing, so go Zips.

Cut first, think second. Seems to be the norm in our nation right now. Wait until Social Security and tax refund checks don't show up in citizen's bank accounts on time. Then the impact of these decisions will begin to hit home.

I'm not sure if I should leave a laughing or crying emote lol