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I received mine yesterday as well. I plan to get a case and display it in my home office. There have been some talks here about how the success of the program warrants our attention, but it's also great seeing Ford, Bud, and the assistants engage the fan base. In a day and age where college athletics has become more transactional, it's great to still see the sense of community they're trying to instill in the program. They genuinely seem to want to be here and do great things.

Okonkwo couldn't stay out of foul trouble against the better MAC teams. He would have fouled out in 6 minutes of PT against Tech. Eric is the one that hurts . He is going to be so much better than his brother and it sucks we won't get three more years of watching him just keep getting better and better. That makes the Freeman run even more amazing.

This is so cool.

Was just about to post this to call that out. First hint we've seen at the style. Looks like we'll be getting a bigger, more physical version of All Gas No Brakes?

I donate every year and have a named scholarship in my parents name. I expect nothing in return. It's not an investment. It's a charity.

Tbh I don't have unlimited money. Would be nice. Football could use it more, but basketball has earned it and deserves it imo. Hopefully I can say that about football soon too

The difference IMO is that simply making the NCAA Tournament is bigger than anything the football team will ever realistically be able to do. I'd imagine a lot more people watch Match Madness (especially the first two days) than the Snoop Dogg Bowl, the Potato Bowl, or whatever other meaningless bowl game Akron would make.

"Our up-tempo style"

Investment or charity, I am much more likely to invest in a program where I see positive results.

I also think as the playoffs expand more and more of those bowl games will be eliminated. Two bowls were eliminated last year and the Detroit bowl was just eliminated. In full transparency 1 was added so it was a net decline of two. Many existing bowls are barely surviving.

Correct, it wasn't just Hardman, but we saw first-hand why his metrics from @kreed5120's site were so unfavorable. Nate wouldn't have required a double team. He wasn't overly athletic, quick, or threatening from deep. Okonkwo maybe down low but I think that's a stretch, too, considering he only averaged 2.9 ppg as a fully developed 5th or 6th year "senior" at Utah. Young will be missed for his energy, not his height, and we're seeing the future for Akron guards - taller. Tavari and Young got completely covered up by longer TTU players. We have now gone from 2 sub-6ft guards to 6'1" being our shortest (expected) key ball handler (Perkins at 6ft-even would technically be shorter but I'm not expecting a redshirt freshman to be relied on heavily, especially with Tahj/Wilson/Head on the roster). Eric is good and has a ridiculously high ceiling but he isn't the answer at this stage in his career. His game is still raw and his decision making is questionable at times. Not so sure Ty Pence will be much of a downgrade, if any at all. Athletically I'm sure there will be a little bit of a difference, but experience/decision making/etc. should all be upgraded with Pence given his experience. White is also a similar type player but with more physicality.

Bowen's greatest moment as a Zip was in Ypsilanti.