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Notes from the Tip-off Reception: * Evan Mahaffey is the real deal. He could be one of Akron's best ever by the time he is done here. * Cody Head is better than expected. * The Serbian will get some minutes. * The team is fully healthy as of a week ago. * Barre is a good fit as he can get up and down the floor. * Nate had 9 serious high money NIL offers. * The entire team looks like they've spent a lot of time with the strength and conditioning coach. * They beat Wright State in an exhibition. * Every player that has completed their eligibility at UA in the last 9 year left with a degree. * Every scholarship player who has completed his eligibility at UA in the last nine years has played professionally. * 26 practices so far. * They are going to play fast again this year. * The emphasis in practice all pre-season has been on defense. * The JMU Game will include the ring presentation and raising the banner. * There will be two fan experiences- trips to Vegas and New Orleans. * This group is really tight on and off the court. * The proceeds of the YSU scrimmage are being split between the schools' collectives.

The card shop I work at on the weekends had a Panini redemption for an Enrique Freeman rookie auto. After learning that I PC Freeman, the shop owner gave the redemption to me. The card arrived today from Panini. Love seeing Zips on official sports cards!

The promotion of soccer has been pathetic in recent years. I hoped it would change between Guthrie and Goodrich but it seems to be the same. It is disappointing and the team of the past 2 years, deserves much better. Borneo not playing is a question mark, but it looked like Zips only had 7 subs yesterday and he was in zips attire not dressed to play. My assumption would be injury. Zips miss his skill. It was a must win game, and this team got it done without a bunch of key pieces available. Credit where is due.

Just for fun I was looking back at recent Akron successes in the MAC tournament. Akron was first eligible for the MAC tournament in 1993, it didn't even qualify for the tournament at all until 1998 and won only three games total until 2007 when it made the final (although the previous year the Zips were seeded third and their one win put them into the semifinal a streak that would continue for 12 years, then two years of not making the semifinal, then making at least the semis every year since it has been played). Despite the Zips never making a championship until 2007, and not winning one until 2009, they are 6-6 overall now (only one behind the three all-time leaders Ball St, Ohio and Kent (all of whom have made at least 32 appearances). Zips have 17. Despite the Zips having won only three games by 2007, they have the highest winning percentage in MAC tournament history at .607. Zips have as many wins as they have missed championship appearances since 2007. Just wanted to put in a little thanks to Keith Dambrot and John Groce for making these last 20 years so enjoyable. Now go win an NCAA tournament game (for us!). 🤣

I made the trip. Just a few observations - some already noted by others. Starters: PG - Tavari G - Young W - Eric M. F - Evan M. P - Lyles First subs: Shammah Bowen MMK ...Young moved to PG (though we all know Shammah still handles the ball a lot ... Evan M. moved to P Second round of subs: Stankovic for MMK Lyles back in for Evan M. Tavari back in for Young @ PG YSU was really hot from behind the arc. Kudos to them but definitely something we need to work on defensively. They had a guard named Tae Blackshear that was on fire & kept them in the game in the first half. Shammah was our 6th Man but was easily our best player & someone Groce can't presently afford to take off the floor. We don't look like as much of a shooting team as last year. Neither Stankovic nor Eric M. took a 3. I think we're going to need them to shoot from deep to better space the floor. Basically our offense consisted of Shammah, Tavari, Young, Amani, and/or Bowen launching it from deep. Stankovic is a physical wing. He's certainly tough and I can see he's not going to be punked by anyone. He makes his presence known out there. I'd even go as far as to say he's got some Ryan Andrick in him and may get under opposing players skin from time-to-time. He looks to be a good 6'7" by just comparing his height while on the floor to Evan M., Eric M., and Amani. Speaking of height, Tavari walked past me before the game and he is definitely 6' tall. No exaggeration there. I was a little surprised by how tall he was. Once again no inside game to speak of. Amani tried a few moves but I think only hit one of his patent hook shots (and none of his 3 point shots. Without looking at stats I'd say Amani definitely had a subpar game). Evan M. certainly likes to drive to the hoop... but he doesn't do anything more than that. At least he didn't tonight. Evan M. & MMK played a lot of minutes together & I don't really like them on the floor together as neither is a shooter. I was surprised at the amount of PT MMK received in general, not being much of an offensive threat. He's athletic & energetic but I'd expect his minutes to be cut back against JMU. Barri didn't do much. Looks like he's just going to be an occasional shot blocker/lane filler. Briscoe didn't get any PT. I was curious to see what he's got. Just watching him in warm ups he may be slightly slow-footed for this level. Idk. I probably shouldn't even say that without seeing him in game action. Tonight it looked like our team is a 3-point-or-bust squad. But I guess that's sort of what the game has evolved into. Idk. YSU got a lot of long rebounds & 2nd chance points. Someone else mentioned Head was not dressed along with the two true freshmen, Josh Henderson & Tai Perkins. I guess that's all I've got. It was kind of sloppy and disjointed. What I should have been expecting I suppose.

there goes the at large bid. John's Next endeavor.

Akron moved up to #20 in this week's United Soccer Coaches' poll. https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men/d1/united-soccer-coaches RPI Rank https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men/d1/ncaa-mens-soccer-rpi 14 Akron 107 Marquette 45 Creighton

We may need to relocate the Brass sign. 🤣

The worst thing about BG’s collapse is - they’re going to beat us to Tim Tyrrell.

Smooth. Very smooth.

And yet another perfect inning in relief for Bassitt in an epic World Series game. Bet the Blue Jays wish they had stuck with him a little longer in a game they desperately needed extended pitching moments. He still has a 0.00 ERA in this postseason.

I really think last years team got an unfair shake with injuries they were always competitive the first 2/3s of the game then would just run out of gas. Really hope this can be a breakout year and they can make the mac tourney.

By being in it? 🤔

I think Evan playing the 5 can only work situationally. Like if we're playing Purdue definitely not. If we're playing against an undersized frontcourt and want to pick up the tempo it could work, but not something you'd want to see 10-15 minutes a game. More like 2-4 minutes at best. We really need to get 10-15 solid minutes of Barre/Briscoe.

Not the type of play that will advance us in the playoffs, but it was enough to beat Marquette. This is a curious team. They have the talent to play at the highest level, yet they have not put it all together. Where was Remi? Ferguson cannot play FWD at the level we need. He would be better converted to D so he could get playing time in the future. I also echo another poster: where is Borneo? Is he back in the doghouse? Regardless our MF doesn't have it. They were all world against St L. U. and then fell off the face of the earth. Stefan and Jack Roman are consistent and bring quality. The rest have to show up sometime. As we are playing now we cannot go deep in the tourney. We'll get in, but I'm not expecting a lot.

YSU just wanted it more

If we beat UMass, and Kent continues to play well, I think the Wagon Wheel game at Infocision in 2 weeks will cause Joe's (Akron) left big toe to wiggle. Will there be a ticker tape parade down Exchange Street and tickets being scalped for $1,000 on Stub Hub? No. But there will be a palpable buzz and perhaps a "bigger than just friends and family" weekday crowd. Hopefully UA gives away a bunch of tickets. If the Zips blow a home game November 4th against this shitty UMass team, I'll personally go to Sully's Tool Rental, drive a rented bulldozer up Exchange, flatten Infocision and commence construction of a 40 foot tall bronze tribute to Charles Guthrie.

Starting 5 tonight: TJ, Scott, Evan Mahaffey, Amani and Chabi.

This is very well deserved. Congratulations, Stefan !!!!

Bumping a new thread for the fresh season. So pumped for tomorrow

I am quite nervous for our defense tomorrow night. Hopefully we are hot from 3 and take care of business. who is everyone’s prediction for mvp of the game. I am rolling with Sharron Young

Zips up to #11 in the RPI - the highest RPI in the Big East.

I missed Malik in attendance tonight, would've liked to have seen him! He's making great strides with Toronto.

Nice win with what seemed to be several players unavailable. Great to see Malik Henry in attendance tonight.

Attendance of 1,242 that is very disappointing last regular season home game the zips are number 20 in the coaches rankings the zips are number 12 in RPI. The Zips are competing for a Big East division title. why is attendance so poor?

The University isn't spending ~30 million a year just to provide life lessons to ~400 student athletes (if you even want to call them that anymore). That would be absurd. That might have been its intended purpose 100 years ago, but we've long moved past that. Now it's about enhancing the college experience, keeping alumni engaged, getting your name out there, and building good will in the community.

Cleveland State 2-1 win over IU Indy Ohio State got a very rare win this year…1-0 over the Nittany’s Milwaukee 2-1 over Northern Kentucky in a game not listed above, Western Michigan got a 2-1 win over Drake.

The good news is that Chad Welker will be the announcer. Chad is very knowledgeable about the players and is very passionate about the Zips. Chad always does a good job.

Tuesday night always brings out the best in college football players!

We'll pay them back in the Final Four.

It will be interesting to watch this team grow over the course of the year and see the rotations develop. You're replacing about 37 PPG from last year's rotation (Nate, Gray, Seth, Okonkwo) that is going to have to come from some internal growth from returning players and/or the combo of the Mahaffeys, Head, Stankovic, and Barre. Eric Mahaffey was apparently going to start as a true freshman last year, so that certainly suggests Groce viewing him very highly. I think Evan probably gives you modest offensive production along with elite defense. I know very little of Cody, but @clarkwgriswold mentioned the coaches really like him. He may be an important scorer off the bench. I've heard enough good things about Barre to believe he can be an energy big who chips in a few points around the rim. Stankovic is kind of the wild card to me. His size and skill suggests he could be an offensive mismatch against many teams. I'm excited to see it all unfold. The journey of the season is the most enjoyable part of being a fan, seeing where we start vs where we finish.

I was telling my son on the way home from the Tipoff event how lucky we have been as Zips fans. Most MAC schools would love to have had just one of KD or Groce, and we have been fortunate to have had both. Probably two of best coaches in MAC history.

I don't know that I'd want this Zips team to go to a bowl game? We've improved from last year...we're better than the dregs of 1-A and even mediocre 1-AA teams...but if we were matched up against a decent G5 team I think we'd get smoked like Bowden's 6-6 team did against Lane Kiffin's FAU squad. Something like 50-3. A 5-7 or even 6-6 season would make me happy.

My understanding is that he can be called up at any time. I am sure if one of the Timberwolves bigs suffers an injury he can be added to the roster. The Iowa Wolves are probably starting their practice this week and the season opens I believe on the 8th. It will be interesting how much he has improved as a 2nd year pro.

Bummer, no more Head

A bronze Arby's A?

YSU is a solid team. They played hard, handled the Zips pressure well and made timely shots. They will win a lot of games. The Zips could never sustain a run. They allowed too many open 3s and turned the ball over at inopportune times. Oggie looks like he fits in but his defense needs work. Shammah was the best Zip on the floor. His ability to create space they hit a jumper was on full display. Young continued to show his tenacity on defense. On one switch to a big man he actually muscled him out of the post. The Zips failures last night were clearly not effort related. They played hard and fast but just a little sloppy. They'll be fine.

Stats here: https://ysusports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary;team=home Thanks, Clark, for updates!

Thank you Clark!!

Rotations look like the real thing. Groce isn't visibly pissed so I really think he believes this might be good for them.

Tie game. 7 minutes left.

Thanks for the updates Clark! Keep them coming. Go Zips!!

Just Win Zips. Win. Take care of business.

I would make a guess, but I don't want to risk winning the bobblehead.

Pitched two flawless innings.

Hopefully Akron gets a mention or two during the series 👍🦘

I think you mean Eric Mahaffey instead of Evan in your first point.