Leaderboard

Please let today be our day. We are so due.

Shammah Scott's game-winner vs Toledo (2026) Watched it at least 10 times this week. Gets better each time.

I feel more nervous today than I have any of the previous tourney games. Maybe it's seeing a single-digit point spread. Maybe it's knowing how much we are losing next year. Maybe it's the outside noise about Groce getting offers to go elsewhere. But this feels like a pretty gigantic game for our program and its future.

Akron shot 75% overall from the free throw line this season. However, they have struggled at the line in March: CMU - 6/11 (54%) NIU - 8/12 (66%) Buffalo - 11/18 (61%) Kent - 17/27 (63%) Toledo - 3/9 (33%) Overall - 45/77 (58%) Definitely something to watch tomorrow.

Is it just me or is the officiating exceptionally one-sided?

Tavari=liability again. Groce needs some big adjustments as this is out of hand

Who kidnapped Tavari and replaced him with Suder?

I said last weekend Tavari looked off. He still does.

Only 1 TO so far, we need to capitalize now

This is disturbing...a Troy and Murray State level shooting performance so far for Texas Tech. And how many bunny layups are we going to miss? Come on!...TT isn't even that big!

Eventually TTU is going to have to adjust and their adjustment should open up the perimeter. Then it comes down to who has the better shooting performance - Akron or TTU.

Scott with the hot hand! It is a great sign that we are getting to the rim.

Wow they can shoot

But they are getting good shots. The lid will come off of the basket.

This is brutal. Has any team ever won a tourney game missing every shot?

Clark Kellogg picked Akron. He has a lot of familiarity with Groce, so I'm not surprised.

I was pretty angry when Dambrot left. Somehow we landed a better coach. It will be hard to replace Groce. But I like to think we are strong enough as a program that the culture can continue going forward.

Need to add: MAC Addition NIU to the Horizon League

Pretty good showing if Zips fans at the pregame.

NCAA March Madness app shows a condensed game replay…around 10 minutes long or so

With Toppin out I don't feel their bigs are particularly skilled and they have plenty of warm bodies to run out there if 1 gets in foul trouble. It's going to come down to limiting Atwell and Anderson. They seem very thin at guard as both only get a couple minutes of rest each game. If Anderson gets in foul trouble or aggravates his groin injury that would be a massive boost. He's more important to Texas Tech's offense (post Toppin) than Tavari is to ours.

Somebody needs to get hot. Bowen, Tavari, Shammah, Sharron idc. Just someone needs 30 and someone else needs 20+. Make your free throws. Get Texas techs bigs in foul trouble. And our bigs need to avoid foul trouble. (I still remember freeman getting fouled out against ucla to this day). Under 10 turnovers. Disciplined ball with some hot shooting. And even then still might need more. To quote Optimus Prime “Now all we need a little bit of energon, and a lot of luck”

All of this history is probably why Groce is underrated nationally. Still, given UA’s status as a MAC dynasty, it would come as no surprise if Groce were to receive another shot to lead a major program. Speculation has already been swirling about Groce, whose contract with Akron is scheduled to run until June 30, 2035, becoming a candidate at Cincinnati, Butler and Boston College. Groce called his Akron predecessor Keith Dambrot “a legend” when Dambrot announced his retirement as Duquesne’s coach in 2024. Groce inherited an excellent program from Dambrot. Since then, Groce has elevated it and surpassed Dambrot’s three trips to the NCAA Tournament with the Zips. If this iteration of March Madness proves to be Groce’s last hurrah with Akron, it’s been a great run, one worthy of love from Zips fans.

High Point coach: "High Point and Miami (Ohio) are 2-1 in Quad 1 games. We couldn't get games. They couldn't get games," Clayman said. "Akron, UNC Wilmington, Belmont couldn't get games. We won 22 of our last 23 games and we didn't move up one spot in the metrics. Not one. We won 22 of our 23. We've won 25 games by double-digits.“

Today has got to be the day…and please make your free throws! Go Zips!

Game day

#11) Zippy87 produces a top 10 list of fantastic finishes over the past 20 years, would be my choice 😂

Highlights. First goal build up starts at ~38 seconds 2nd goal build up starts at ~3:39

Took me way too long to realize they were not from NYC

https://open.substack.com/pub/akronzippedup/p/game-preview-akron-faces-off-with?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email Excellent preview of tomorrow's game with all the relevant stats...from ZippedUp.

Flint City gets the Cupset 2-0. 🤩

Vote to beat Toledo again

Great experience for all three guys!

Artwork is now available for the shirts and sweatshirts specific to the Tampa site: https://www.event1teamstore.com/basketball-0/division-i-9/mens-44.html?p=5

I think both are true. Our defense did improve greatly along the way, but teams sure came to play us this year. Some teams just didn’t miss.

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.

Suder is the epitome of a Miami bro. Was pulling for them but seeing him lose would have also been enjoyable

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.

Grey haired ref not calling anything when we are getting banged down low and then blows a quick whistle to benefit the Raiders when offense initiated the contact.