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Know all the attention today, and appropriately so, is on our incredible men's basketball team and the opportunity they have on Friday, but today was another great day to be a Zip. Our 2025 Mac champion women's lacrosse team moved to a 2026 season record of 7-2 by taking down PCCC 10-6 at their field! Another Wagon Wheel point and a dominant performance by the Zips! Cant Read, Cant Write, Cant State couldn't hang with our Zips who literally played on another level. Look forward to the same on Friday. Go Zips!

Congrats to Miami. Good for the MAC. And hopefully that bodes well for Akron.

It will be deemed a forfeit therefore the Zips awarded the 3 points. Information second hand from an athlete on the team.

Miami is very hateable. 🙂 That said, I was pulling for them last night, and was impressed at their execution and poise. Every time SMU made a little run and pulled within a couple points, Miami pushed it back to 8 or 10.

Stick to walk on big men

Elmer is their best player and I don't think it is especially close.

Yup. And I don't want to hear squat about Akron's 3P defense not being good enough. None of these power conference teams are playing super tight on the 3P line - teams either make their shots or they don't. Unfortunately against Akron this year, a lot of our opponents OOC made their shots.

We're witnessing why Ohio State won't play Akron, Miami OH, etc.

Tavari's story isn't even finished. Friday could truly cement his legacy.

I'm glad Miami won last night and Suder looked like s#*t. In my opinion he is the fifth best player for Miami behind Skaljac, Byers, Elmer and Woolfolk. Considering that the coaches voted Suder Player of the Year tells me there is jealousy or bitterness towards Groce and/or Akron when they deliberately snubbed the true POY Tavari Johnson.

It is absurd that people don't think Elmer is Miami OH's best player.

Worthwhile to track all Akron and MAC related off-season news. Conference Changes Departures: NIU to the Horizon League. SEE YA Coaching Changes EMU hired Billy Donlon (Clemson asst) WMU hired Kahil Fennell (UTRGV HC) Balls hired Chris Capko (SMU asst) Transfer Portal Balls Arrivals: Balls Departures: Preston Copeland, Kayden Fish, Armoni Ziegler, Davion Hill BUGS Arrivals BUGS Departures: Johnea Donahue Ohio Arrivals Ohio Departures: Elijah Elliott, Ayden Evans, Jordan Fisher Toledo Arrivals Toledo Departures: London Praytor WMU Arrivals WMU Departures: Brady Swartz

All 3 Zips are starting for Flint City!

I vote for #2.

SMU generally looked like they didn't want to be there. Their shooting and tactics were horrible, and there was little hustle or intensity overall. Several Akron teams of the past would have smoked that version of SMU. I was hoping Miami would lose, but seeing how terrible SMU was, I'm fine with Miami picking up a few million dollars for the MAC. SMU obviously didn't want it. Besides, Miami's first true test against top competition comes on Friday. There is now way Tennessee let's them shoot uncontested three's, so I expect Miami to struggle. And hey, if Miami wins, that's another few million dollars for the MAC: win-win.

Updated to include Tavari. I'll update it again once the season is over.

It's not hating to point out that Miami OH played quite possibly the worst bubble team imaginable without their 3rd highest scorer and potentially 2nd best player. A 37% 3P shooting team shot 24% despite limited defense from Miami OH, especially in that first half. Enfield might be the worst coach in the country, which is saying something because Rob Senderoff exists. Legitimately not sure they watched any tape on Miami OH in preparation for the game. The Redhawks shot their season average on 41 3PA which is absurd and proof that SMU didn't do anything to run them off the 3P line (Woolfolk was 0-3 to boot). They refused to attack Elmer or Byers and let both players light them up all night. SMU was a nightmare matchup for Miami OH and SMU didn't use any of the advantages they had. Again, props to Miami OH for seizing the opportunity, but there are MANY mid majors that would've beaten SMU last night, especially in front of a home crowd.

"We proved the doubters wrong" by beating the 11th best team in the ACC.

Any MAC team win is a plus for all MAC teams

Thank you SMU, Enfield, and the Selection Committee for gifting Miami OH a win and Akron/the MAC a nice payday (to Miami OH's credit, they took it). Go take care of business on Friday, Zips.

Okay that last play before the TO was awesome

Hammer Dahn (Pat McAfee's betting show) just had a full show pick of Akron +7.5. Complimented Akron and said even if Akron goes down big early, don't worry; they have fight in them like the MAC title game.

What do you think? 1) Shammah Scott's game-winner vs Toledo (2026) 2) Akron beats Kent in OT on Marshall/McNees blocks, wins MAC Title (2011) 3) Nate Johnson's game-winner vs Miami (2025) 4) Akron beats Kent by 1 after Tribble hits FTs following KSU mental mistake (2024) 5) Short-handed Zips destroy OU in MAC Title game (2013) 6) Akron beats Kent by 20, wins first MAC Title under Groce (2022) 7) Akron beats Buffalo for first MAC Title (2009) 8) Akron beats Kent in regular season finale, wins MAC regular season title (2020) 9) Akron beats Toledo in OT on last-second alley-oop in MAC Tournament 10) Akron beats EMU in 2OT after McNees hits a buzzer-beating 3 to send it to OT Honorable Mention: Jimond Ivey sets the school’s single-game scoring record with 48 points against Ball State (2018)

Great experience for all three guys!

Jack Roman with a burner that results in a deflection/own goal. Flint City up 1-0.

Interesting article for us analytics guys. Points out two factors that may favor Zips (and a few that don't). 1, Advantage Zips in bench points. I discount that somewhat. NIce to bring in fresh bodies but bench points depends on who starts and who plays the most minutes. 2. Advantage Zips in more points in the paint because TT relies on more on 3's. I can understand TT reliance on 3's more due to the Big 12 conference and playing Houston, etc. I suspect they will attempt more in the paint shots that usual. I'm sure Groce will be ready for that as well. GO ZIPS1

#8 is underrated. Just the fact that the next week the world shut down gives it extra aura. Honorable mention for me is 2022 regular season against WMU at the Jar, 10 point comeback in final 2 minutes

#3 for me. Give Lyles credit for that play though. I think I was there for 5 of these. One of my favorite moments was senior night for Ivey. He got a steal at half court that led to a wide open dunk.

#5

I would gladly take an 8/9 seed if it means I get to play teams like Ohio State and TCU round 1. I'll worry about the next round when I get there.

I feel our defense improved considerably from earlier in the year. We were around ~#250 in defense per Kenpom when MAC play started. We currently stand at #114. If we played defense in November/December like we played in February/March we would have won those games. I feel inserting both Young and Halligan into the starting lineup played a part in that. They helped set the tone early defensively. Edit: Look at opening play by Halligan against Kent as a prime example. Those are the plays that energize a team.

The Red Mamba, Cooper Campbell, was amazing.

Everyone says Miami OH got every team's best shot - no, Akron did. The performances Yale and Murray State had against us were unbelievable.

This "tournamemt win" should be enough to get Steele a ron of offers. I think he is gone as soon as their run ends Friday.

Miami OH's game on Friday should be the last time we see any of these guys play or coach for Miami OH. Steele just earned himself any job he wants, including his Alma Mater Butler.

You can add Steele to that list too.

Good stuff Miami. Great execution tonight

The MAC is rolling in the money now. With Sac State joining, Miami making the tournament and winning a game, they are making a significant amount more than they thought a year ago when they were doing the budget

https://x.com/KvngJordan24_/status/2034422526718124300 Jordan Fisher leaving OU

Miami is actually now tied with SMU in rebounds. If they can stay within reach they can win this.

Can we shoot this well Thursday please

Hilarious to see them not get every call like they're used to.

I have been updating MAC transfers in the recruiting subforum, I believe I have them all so far.

https://x.com/i/status/2034397514581897262

Good question to which I’ve not yet seen any info.

It's happening!

My inclination is to root against Miami but at the same time Miami's success would be good for the MAC, and what's good for the MAC would have some benefit to Akron. The MAC teams doing well on the "Big Stage" would help the conference in being taken seriously on a national level.

I enjoyed this blurb at the end.

John Groce never takes the Akron job if KD doesn't first build it into a perennial MAC power. I get people that were ready to move on, but I also can tell the people who don't remember (or choose not to remember) Zips basketball pre-KD. I'll never understand hating on him.