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None of what I'm saying below is to dispute anything you've said. It's just an observation. A lot of those games were part of those November exempt tournaments. That's why I was very vocal back in November/December criticizing the changes that have made it so most of those tournaments are now segregated into fields of mid-majors or power schools. Playing a Penn State or Oklahoma State on a neutral court provided the best opportunities to pick up those P5 (I guess P6 back then) wins that mid-major resumes desperately need.

Nearly the entire point of the halftime entertainment, high five tunnel, tip off kid, national anthem singers, etc. Is to get people to buy group tickets to see their kids and friends performing. That's why we see these gigantic adult dance groups during the games against Concord in December. They don't really need to sell a lot of group tickets for the kent game. If we were to spend money on a halftime entertainer that would be taking money away from something else, like maybe fixing the seats. Was that frat boy basketball stupid, yes, but I don't blame them for having it at the kent game

If Groce and Steele stay for a bit more, and UMass can get up to a top 100 team, we will have a very nice mid major conference.

Frankly, the people of this community and some on here don't deserve this team or coach. Deflating loss? Seriously? Isn't there a 28 home winning streak? All anyone does is complain. We don't have good concessions, no halftime entertainment (which they wouldn't be able to see if they are in line for those good hot dogs), oh wait, we need more concession stands, so I can get my hot dog quickly and get back to my very uncomfortable seat to watch the halftime show which I can't see because of the glass railing, and every game should be at 7pm but not on certain Saturdays and not opposite an Ohio State game or the Olympic pairs free skate and don't expect people to come to an Akron game after they lose on the road unless the game is against Kent. And one more thing they lose every important game other than those pesky 3 games in March when all the players run out on the floor and hug each other and cut down the nets.

Amen. I would also add that was the best era for parity in college basketball. The power conferences didn’t like it and every change since has made it more difficult for mid-majors. God bless Wentz for giving us a fighting chance.

There is absolutely no basis for this whatsoever. If he didn't think OOC mattered, he wouldn't have worked to schedule any of those games. They had six OOC P5 wins over his last 5 seasons: Arkansas (15-16), South Carolina (14-15), USC (14-15), Oregon State (13-14), Penn State (12-13), Mississippi State (11-12) They also beat Florida State (07-08) and Houston (16-17) in postseason play.

I didn't say we didn't play anybody in the OOC. I said, we didn't win in the OOC, and why would we when there is a defeatist attitude from the beginning? Of all the games you listed, I think the only ones we won was one against Penn State and another versus Mississippi State. That makes it 2-22 in the games you listed, if I counted right.

I do think a strong UMass would be good for the MAC. As a fan of the game, the more compelling match-ups the better. If the MAC consistently had 3 or 4 top 100 programs it would make the season feel more must see. I just saw Miami @ WMU was selected as one of the ESPNU games. Akron/Kent was the other game selected that week. I see why they picked Miami since they're ranked, but on the surface that looks like a terrible game. At the same time I guess the only other possible game they could have picked over it would have been Toledo @ Ohio, but who would want to watch that?

All the program building talk aside, relative to this game, UMass would be a very nice, relatively big name program to get a win against, even if they are in the MAC.

I think you're mistaken about what I was talking about. I'm not talking about just the flagship schools of those states. Dayton and Xavier (even before Big East) have drawn well historically. WKU and Murray State draw well in Kentucky. There is a long list of mid-majors in Indiana/Illinois area that are all well represented, particularly in the MVC. Heck, even Ball State last I saw draws fairly well compared to other MAC teams despite being irrelevant for several decades. Some regions of the country basketball is a big deal. Other parts of the country not so much. Edit: Not just at the collegiate level either. If I went to a McKinley basketball game, which has had a ton of basketball success, it will feel small time compared to those high school powerhouses in Indiana and Kentucky.

The difference is that IU and UK have won many national championships and always make deep post-season runs AND they have traditionally been poor in football. Meanwhile, an Ohio school has not won a national championship in 60+ years and Ohio State sucks up all the interest for dominant football. Cleveland State, Can't, and Ohio all garnered national attention when they made NCAAT runs. Apathy is expected when we lose every major OOC game and post-season game outside of the MAC. To Joe Akron, we are a good team in a terrible conference, and that is supported every time we play external to the MAC. KD always said that all that mattered was winning the MAC. I think he had it completely backwards. Win outside the MAC, then people will start to care.

My point about focusing on event management earlier this week might not draw that many more people on a given night, but you want them to leave thinking that they want to come back again. Growing your fan base can be done incrementally.

Good rant @NWAkron I do think most criticisms are coming from a place of sincerely wanting to see this program continue to flourish (Some just want to see Akron win an NCAA game before they die), but it’s right to be reminded that we should be thankful for what we have. And the Zips absolutely deserve to be supported by the Akron community and play in front of a packed house.

Some of the things have more merit than others. Expecting Red Panda is too much considering she has made it big time. Expecting something more than a random 3vs3 pickup game for the biggest game of the year is reasonable. Expecting a new arena or $20+ million renovation unreasonable. Wanting to simply replace some of the bleachers with more chair backs much more feasible. Either way I don't think any of the things that get complained about would get an extra 2k people to games on a nightly basis. Edit: Maybe a new arena would, at least in the short term, but that would be the most costly option and the University would never see a ROI. The new car smell would wear off after a season or two anyway.

We could fix all the things people here mostly complain about and attendance would probably go from 3,000 to maybe 3,200 over the long run. Apathy surrounding the program is very real. College basketball has never really seemed to be a big deal in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area. At least not compared to hot beds like the northeast or Kentucky/SW Ohio/Indiana. It has further been hurt by a generation of fans being taught by ESPN and other outlets that if you aren't first you're last. There used to be a lot more community in sports.

Probably not much worse than the 6PM start time we had for Kent. If someone works an 8-5 it's a nightmare or even logistically impossible to drive home from work, gather the family, and then make it to the JAR before tipoff. The 9PM tipoff is kind of only bad for those with kids ~<10. That's a much smaller amount of people impacted. Heck, even my fiancé who works a 10 hour shift this Saturday and has to be up at 6AM is planning to make the game. I don't think the JAR will be packed, especially coming off a deflating loss. I don't think it's as much about the start time and more about the casual fans who are the difference between 3k in attendance vs. 5k really only get excited about Kent and the MAC tourney.

A 9:00 game is inconsistent with the challenge to fill the JAR.

Today's email from the Athletic Department- Zips Nation, This is Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Groce, and I felt compelled to express our gratitude and share three takeaways with you today. First of all, we want to THANK YOU for what you've done this season. We are extremely grateful for the attendance and the electric environment that has been created in the JAR for our home games, especially against Kent State. You were certainly a big part of the win that night. It was a sellout crowd and amazing basketball environment. Secondly, we have three home games remaining, starting with UMass on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. on national television. As I'm out in the community, I have multiple people approach me and say... “Coach, as good as your program is and has been over the last 6 plus years, we need to get that place filled up more often, like we do it for the Kent State game.” So, The Challenge is on! That is why I was compelled to express my thoughts on the three remaining home games, starting with the UMass game on the 13th. We want to see this place PACKED. Zips Nation deserves it, our players deserve it, the city deserves it, the community deserves it and the University deserves it. We're all in this together. Let's take on the challenge and Pack the JAR for the three remaining home games! Lastly, at the UMass game, we are honoring one of our all-time greats in Isaiah “Big Dog” Johnson by hanging his No. 23 jersey in the rafters prior to the game. He was a former All-American, MAC Player of the Year and MAC Sixth man of the Year. He made long lasting memories for Zips Nation as a great player and a great person. We are looking forward to having Isaiah and his family back here at the JAR, and we need to give them a warm welcome and an unbelievable Akron Zips response that night with great excitement, passion, energy, and attendance. Thanks Again for all that you do. This is a special place and it really is because of Zips Nation. John Groce Akron Head Men’s Basketball Coach

I'm afraid our attempts to improve defensively have been outweighed by the regression in offense that caused

All true, but it's better than nothing and what would happen if the Federal government legislates it.

When pay to play was being bandied about years ago one of the things schools and the NCAA were wary of was unionization of the athletes....ALL athletes. I am ALL in favor of unions! But think about all of the issues that come with collective bargaining and unionization. If any of you were/are in a union you realize there are issues above and beyond pay. We will see.

Former Akron Zip Konata Mumpfield was drafted by the Rams in the 7th round

As I understand it, it’s a three-pronged approach. 1. Permanently implement daylight savings time nationwide. 2. Require all stadium ladies rooms to provide free sanitary napkins. 3. Eliminate the transfer portal.

The math isn't mathing. Rutgers’ athletics deficit is up to $516.9 million since joining the Big Ten. https://x.com/KSargeantNJ/status/2015809664303202531?s=20

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