Leaderboard

I'll be rooting for Garvin wherever he ends up. I get it, and he wasn't my first choice to take the reins next year at PG, but he seemed to be a good kid that worked hard and represented our school well

Its like this board thinks just like the coaching staff. Refreshing for sure. I like Garvin, but probably not a complete and consistent enough player for a program like Akron. Thanks for his contributions and hope he finds success as his new home. At this point, I personally hope we don't lose anyone else. If I had to pick 3 from the roster to look for a better fit, the three who are leaving are it.

West Virginia Wesleyan?

My post earlier was worded the way it was because I originally was going to post them then but found some information on one that I decided I needed to check on the rest of them. I probably should have just deleted that post instead of wording it the way I did 🤐 I narrowed my list from 20 names to 12 names due to recent changes (Example: I had Michigan State associate head coach, Dean Lockwood, on my list but he was just named interim head coach as their head coach just retired). I decided to get rid of some other names that may not be as realistic (Notre Dame's Carol Owens, Maryland's Karen Blair, and some others). Some of these below might not be realistic, but I could see any of them (Gandy is the biggest long shot probably, but I decided to keep him on here). Below are names based on three levels of coaching at the moment: - D2/D3/NAIA head coaches that have excelled with their program. - D1 head coach that may consider Akron as not a lateral move and/or has a connection to Guthrie - D1 assistant coach that may consider taking a head coaching position Below I added some highlights from their Bio Profile (I have a link to it under their name) in case you want to read more about any of them. Division II Head Coach Kim Stephens, Glenville State (West Virginia) - Seventh year as the Head Coach at Glenville State. 190-23 overall as the Head Coach of the Lady Pioneers. In her seven seasons at Glenville, the Lady Pioneers have gone (132-12) in conference play - Last season they finished (35-1) overall, (22-0) in the league, and won the 2022 NCAA Division II Championship.. It marked the second time they finished conference play undefeated during her tenure. Stephens was named the WBCA National Coach of the year, MEC Women’s Sports Coach of the Year, and earned the Furfari Award for the State’s top College Coach. - During her first season (2016-17) at the helm of the Lady Pioneers, Stephens led the team to the MEC Regular Season Championship with a (24-6) (18-4) record and a berth in the NCAA DII Tournament. She was named to the WBCA Coaches Thirty Under 30 presented by Marriott Rewards® honorees for the 2016-17 season. - In 2019-20, she and the Lady Pioneers claimed their fourth straight MEC Regular Season Championship and their third straight MEC Tournament Championship as they finished with a 26-5 overall record and went 19-3 in conference play. They also punched their fourth straight ticket to the NCAA Tournament however it would end up being canceled due to COVID-19. - A native of Parkersburg, W.Va., Stephens graduated from Glenville State in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management with a minor in psychology. She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Ohio Valley University in 2012 and is also a certified personal trainer through the International Sports Science Association. Before her previous stint as an Assistant Coach for the Lady Pioneers, she also spent three seasons at Sacramento State from 2013 to 2016. Kari Pickens, Ashland (Ohio) - Has guided Ashland to a 139-15 record, four conference tournament titles, three conference regular-season championships and five NCAA Division II tournament berths in her first five seasons as head coach. - In her first season leading the Eagles in 2018-19, Pickens went 29-3 overall and 18-2 in the GLIAC, and AU won its fourth consecutive GLIAC Tournament championship and made its fifth consecutive NCAA Division II postseason appearance. - The 2019-20 season saw Ashland finish 31-0 overall and 20-0 in the GLIAC, as the Eagles won both the GLIAC regular-season and tournament championships. Pickens was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year, and Ashland qualified for the NCAA Division II postseason, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. - At River View High School, Pickens was a two-time first-team all-Ohio selection. In 2009, she was the Ohio co-Player of the Year. Pickens was a member of two state-championship teams (2006-07) and a state runner-up (2009). - She succeeded Robyn Fralick, the current Bowling Green head coach. She was an assistant under Fralick for the three seasons Fralick was the head coach at Ashland. NAIA Head Coach Jeff Hans, Thomas More (Kentucky) - 12th season as the head women's basketball coach at Thomas More University with a 320-30 record (.914), eight conference regular season titles, eight conference tournament titles, 11 national tournament berths, including two NCAA Division III National Championships, one NAIA National Championship, and one NAIA National Runner-up. - In his first season (2011-12) on the Thomas More sidelines, Hans led the Saints to a 25-5 overall record and a 17-1 record in the PAC. Along the way, the Saints won their seventh straight PAC regular season title, sixth straight PAC Championship Tournament title and made their sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, where they advanced to the second round. - In his fifth season (2015-16), Hans who guided the Saints to an undefeated season (33-0) and won National Championship as the team defeated No. 7-ranked Tufts University, 63-51, in the title game in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was named the Division III National Coach of the Year by D3hoops.com and DIII News. - Hans guided the Saints to a 33-0 record his eighth season (2018-19). The team won the American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) Conference Tournament and won 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship as it defeated third-ranked Bowdoin College, 81-67, in the championship game played in Salem, Virginia. - In his ninth season (2019-20), Hans led the Saints to a 22-10 overall record, including a 9-7 record in Mid-South Conference play, in Thomas More's first season competing in NAIA. The Saints were runners-up in the Mid-South Conference Tournament and received an at-large bid to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championships prior to the cancellation of the tournament. Thomas More was one of the best-shooting teams in the nation, ranking eighth in three-point percentage (36.3) and ninth in field goal percentage (44.6). The Saints defeated three teams that were ranked in the NAIA Division I Top 25, including a 69-58 victory over No. 2 Campbellsville in the semifinals of the Mid-South Conference Tournament. - In his tenth season (2020-2021), Hans led the Saints to a 32-2 overall record and 19-1 in the conference and was named Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year. The Saints were champions in the Mid-South Conference regular season and the tournament. They were also NAIA National Championship tournament runners-up. Hans led the team to a No. 1 spot in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' poll two times during the season. - In his 11th season (2021-2022), Hans led the Saints to a 32-4 overall record and 19-2 in the conference and was named Mid-South Conference Women's Basketball Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year, NAIA Women's Basketball National Coach of the Year, and WhoopDirt.com Coach of the Year. The Saints won their first ever NAIA National Tournament Championship and were the first ever Mid-South Conference Women's Basketball Team to win the title. - Hans came to Thomas More from Northern Kentucky University, where he was the top assistant on Nancy Winstel's women's basketball staff for the past three seasons. He assisted in all areas of coaching, scouting and recruiting for the Norse. He spent four years as a head girls basketball coach in Kentucky as he was at Lexington Catholic from 2006-2008 and St. Henry from 2004-2006. In his four years as a high school head coach, he had an 89-34 record and won two district titles and finished as regional runner-up twice. Prior to his four years at the high school level, Hans spent five years as an assistant at the college level. He was an assistant at Division I Indiana State University from 2002-2004, graduate assistant at NKU from 2001-2002 and an assistant at Wilmington College from 1999-2001. Hans, a 1999 graduate from Wilmington College helped his teams go a combined 168-67 (.714) in his eight years as an assistant at the collegiate level. Division I Head Coach Megan Griffith, Columbia - Seventh season as head coach of the Columbia women's basketball program. Her six-year tenure as head coach have combined to be the winningest six-year stretch in the NCAA Division I history of the program. Over that time, the Lions have earned seven power-conference wins, including their first victories over opponents from the ACC and Big East. Columbia has also qualified for the Ivy League Tournament in each of its last two seasons, playing in the championship game in 2021-22 before accepting the program's first bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). - The 2021-22 season was a landmark year for Griffith and the Lions. Griffith coached Columbia to its winningest season in program history, going 25-7 overall with a 12-2 Ivy League record. The Lions shattered several team records and accomplished many program firsts throughout the season, which included starting the season 5-0, defeating an ACC opponent on the road (Clemson), winning a program-record eight consecutive games, starting Ivy League play 7-0, competing in and winning its first postseason game in 36 years, competing in its first Ivy League Tournament, advancing to the tournament championship game, and advancing to the quarterfinals of its first WNIT. Columbia’s run to the WNIT quarterfinals is the deepest by any team and Ivy League history, and included victories over Patriot League champion Holy Cross, Old Dominion and Boston College. The Lions came back from as many as 17 points down to defeat the Eagles on March 24 at Levien Gymnasium, marking the largest comeback to win a game in program history. - At the Women's Final Four in Minneapolis, Griffith was named the 2021-22 CBB Analytics Women's Basketball Coach of the Year by the Asian Coaches Association. Griffith was honored with the award at the Association's Women's Basketball Coaches Conference. - Prior to her return to Columbia, Griffith spent six seasons at Princeton, including her last four as an assistant coach and the team’s recruiting coordinator. She also served as the Tigers’ director of basketball operations from 2010-12. The last two years, Griffith has helped Princeton make back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament. During that span, the Tigers posted a 54-7 overall record, including an undefeated 30-0 regular season in 2014-15, and a 26-2 mark in Ivy League play. Kevin Borseth, UW-Green Bay - 36th season as a head coach in 2022-23, and 20th overall with the Green Bay Phoenix. He owns one of the best records in all of college basketball at 778-306. Borseth ranks 16th all-time among NCAA women's basketball coaches in total wins and sixth among active coaches. - Borseth's overall record at Green Bay stands at 466-136 and 264-39 in the Horizon League. In 25 seasons as a Division I head coach with stops at Green Bay and the University of Michigan, Borseth is 553-209. - He returned to Green Bay in the spring of 2012 after spending five seasons as the head coach at the University of Michigan, where he compiled an 87-73 record in five seasons. He took over a program that had won just 21 games in the prior three seasons combined, and led the Wolverines to 19 wins and a postseason berth in his first season in 2007-08. Borseth led the Wolverines to three postseasons, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2012, the program's first since 2000-01. - In Borseth's second stint with Green Bay, they had six regular season championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in five of its seven postseason appearances. All told, the 36-year head coaching veteran has an impressive record of 776-306 in his stints at Michigan Tech (1987-1998), Green Bay (1998-2007, 2012-pres.), and Michigan (2007-2012). During his time at Green Bay, Borseth was named the conference coach of the year seven times and led the program to its first two NCAA Tournament victories with wins over Washington in 2003 and New Mexico in 2007. Ayla Guzzardo, SE Louisiana - In her five seasons at the helm of the Southeastern program, the Lady Lions have increased their overall winning percentage each season. Guzzardo led SLU to back-to-back winning seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22 - the first time the program has accomplished that feat since the 1994-95 and 1995-96 campaigns. - In her first season as the head coach at Southeastern, the Lady Lions posted their highest win total in both overall games and conference games since the 2013-14 season. The Lady Lions topped their overall win total again in 2018-19. - In 2019-20, Guzzardo led her squad back to the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season. The 2020-21 Lady Lions enjoyed their best season under Guzzardo, posting an 11-8 overall record and a 10-5 mark in Southland Conference play - the program's best marks in both overall and in league action since 2008-09. SLU earned a best-ever second-place finish in the Southland standings and earned a berth in the Southland Conference Tournament semifinals. - The 2021-22 Southeastern squad took a further step forward, finishing 16-11 overall and 10-4 in conference play. SLU picked up their first two wins in Southland Conference Tournament play since the 2001-02 season and advanced to the SLC Tournament championship game for the first time in school history. - The Hammond, Louisiana native began representing her hometown university after spending four seasons on the staff at Akron. During her time with the Zips, Guzzardo worked with the point guards and coached Kasie Cassell, who led the nation with 7.8 assists per game in 2012-13. Guzzardo also worked with four 1,000-point career scorers during her time in Akron. In her last season with Akron, Guzzardo was a member of head coach Jodi Kest's staff that helped the team to its first-ever MAC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2013-14 Zips ranked among the national leaders in scoring offense (13th) and assists (7th), while Hanna Luburgh (22.2 ppg) and Rachel Tecca (22.1 ppg) was the nation's top scoring tandem. Tracy Sanders, Southern Utah - Fifth year as head coach of the Southern Utah University women's basketball team with 78-66 overall record and 51-38 conference record. Southern Utah was 3-27 overall, 2-16 in conference play the year prior to being hired. Their records since then have been 8-23 (4-16), 18-13 (11-9), 11-9 (6-5), 18-12 (14-6), and currently 23-9 (16-2) with an NCAA Tournament berth. - During her first season at the helm of the program the team won eight games, improving their previous season total by more than double. Their eight total wins and four conference wins were the most the team had had since 2014-15. They picked up huge wins over BYU, the University of San Diego, and Utah Valley during their non-conference schedule and also won their first Big Sky Championship Tournament game since 2013-14 taking down Montana in the first round - The 2019-20 team saw major improvements and put together one of the best seasons in recent memory. They won 18 total games and 11 conference games, the most since the 2013-14 season when they won a share of the Big Sky title. They also had their second-best all-time scoring season with 2,186 points scored, and set a new record for three-pointers made in a season with 197.They also finished the 2019-20 academic year with a team GPA of 3.742, good enough for No. 5 in the country. - The 2021-22 season was one of the best in Southern Utah's Division I history. Sanders led SUU to an 18-12 overall record and 14-6 mark in Big Sky play. The 14 conference victories were the second most in SUU program history, as they claimed a second-place finish in the regular season conference standings. The conclusion of the 2021-22 season marked the first time since 1993-96 that Southern Utah compiled three consecutive winning seasons. Division I Assistant Coach Justine Raterman, Marquette - The 2022-23 campaign marks the fourth year at Marquette University for Justine Raterman, who joined head coach Megan Duffy's staff in April of 2019. She serves as recruiting coordinator for the Golden Eagles and excels in post player development - Before coming to Marquette, Raterman served as an assistant coach for the Miami Redhawks in the 2018-2019 campaign. She was on the sidelines as Miami posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since the 1980’s, earning two WNIT berths along the way. The Redhawks reached the MAC Tournament semifinals in two consecutive years, while a 44-20 record over the span was the winningest record in the MAC. In her first year as an assistant coach for Miami, Raterman saw a trio of players selected to the All-MAC squad. With the RedHawks, Justine’s responsibilities included guard and post player development, recruiting, scouting, and liaison with academic services. - Before arriving at Miami, Raterman spent the previous three years as an operations research analyst at Booz Allen Hamilton where she worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory as part of the modeling, simulation and analysis team. She helped create files that formed tools that parse, organize and visualize large data sets so clients were better able to use the data. Calamity McEntire, Illinois - Calamity McEntire enters her first season as associate head coach for the Fighting Illini women's basketball program in 2022-23. - McEntire, who brings more than 16 years of Division I coaching experience, most recently served as an assistant coach at the University of Texas. At Illinois, she will serve her second stint alongside Green after previously working as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator on her staff for four seasons at Dayton - During the 2021-22 season at Texas, McEntire’s impact was immediately felt as the Longhorns posted a 29-7 record and claimed the Big 12 Tournament Championship en route to an appearance in the NCAA Elite Eight. UT reached as high as No. 6 in the national rankings and the program’s 29 victories marked its most in six seasons, while the team’s championship run was the first for the Longhorns since 2003. - Prior to her time at Dayton, McEntire spent one season at Hawai’i (2016-17) and four seasons at Arizona (2012-16) where she served as the Wildcats’ recruiting coordinator. There, she helped the Wildcats sign a top-25 class in 2014, the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history at the time. - She also gained a wealth of knowledge from legendary coach Pat Summit while she worked as a manager at Tennessee from 2001-03. Glenn Box, Indiana - Glenn Box begins his seventh season and third as associate head coach with Indiana Women’s Basketball in 2022-23. - He helped the Hoosiers to a historic season during his first year in 2016-17, advancing to the WNIT quarterfinals and a program-record 23 wins. It marked the first time in school history that IU has posted back-to-back 20-win seasons and the first back-to-back winning seasons since 2007-08 and 2008-09 - Box was instrumental in the Hoosiers success in 2020-21, helping to lead the program to an NCAA Elite Eight appearance for the first time in school history and in the process knocking off top seeded North Carolina State. Indiana went on to finish 21-6 overall for its sixth-consecutive 20-win season and won a program record 16 games in Big Ten play to earn its highest finish in school history with a No. 2 seed. The program also spent every week of the regular season in the Top 25 and finished a program-high No. 12 in the AP poll and No. 10 in the coaches poll. - The 2021-22 Hoosiers continued its upward trajectory as it finished with an overall record of 24-9 and second-straight NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance. The Hoosiers advanced to its first Big Ten Tournament championship game in 20 years and earned its highest ever seed in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed while hosting first and second games in Bloomington. Indiana also spent the entire 2021-22 season ranked in the Top 25 national polls rising as high as No. 4 in the Associated Press and No. 5 in the USA Today/WBCA coaches poll. - In 2015-16, Box helped SLU set program records for overall wins (26-8), conference wins (13-3), overall winning percentage (.765), conference winning percentage (.813), home wins (24) and road victories (10) as the Billikens won a share of the program’s first ever Atlantic 10 Conference championship. Saint Louis was the No. 2 seed for the A-10 Championship, its highest seed ever, and SLU reached the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time in school history. - Prior to his second stint at Saint Louis, Box coached two years at Akron in 2012-13 and 2013-14. During his tenure, the Zips played in the 2014 NCAA Tournament after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship in 2014. In 2012-13, Akron won the East Division of the MAC going 14-4 in conference play. Carla Morrow, Ohio State - Morrow began her Ohio State coaching career in September of 2019 following a three-year run as an assistant coach for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. She was promoted to associate head coach in August of 2021. - The 2019-20 season was a good first season for Morrow and the Buckeyes from a development standpoint. The team welcomed in seven new players to the roster, and while there were ups and downs, the team was playing its best basketball down the stretch. The Buckeyes won six in-a-row in February, 10 out of their final 13 overall and made a run to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game. They were projected as anywhere from a five, six or seven seed in the NCAA Tournament before the COVID-19 outbreak put a halt to the sports world. Overall, they were 21-12 and finished fifth in the Big Ten at 11-7. - The Buckeyes won a share of the Big Ten regular season championship in 2021-22, finishing the conference schedule with a 14-4 record. Ohio State did not lose to an unranked team during Big Ten play. OSU went on to earn a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2017. OSU earned three ranked wins during the 2021-22 season, first beating No. 12/11 Maryland at home before taking care of business at No. 21/24 Iowa. The Buckeyes' most convincing ranked win came in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at No. 8/9 LSU by a 79-64 margin. - Morrow also served as an assistant coach for McGuff for four seasons at Xavier from 2007-11. They captured six A-10 Championships (regular season & tournament) and advanced to four NCAA Tournaments highlighted by an Elite Eight appearance with McGuff in 2010. Winston Gandy, Duke - Joined the Duke women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach in July of 2020. He was elevated to associate head coach on July 1, 2022. - Before arriving in Durham, Gandy spent three years on the Rice University women’s basketball staff, helping guide the Owls to three straight 20-win seasons, including one NCAA Tournament appearance and one Conference USA Championship. - Part of one of the best stretches in Rice women’s basketball history, Gandy helped the Owls to a 72-22 overall record and a 42-8 mark in Conference USA action over that three-year period. In 2018-19, the Owls won a school single-season record 28 games that featured an appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the school’s first Conference USA Tournament title. - Prior to his coaching stint at Rice, Gandy spent three years in the NBA - one season as an assistant coach and two years as the coordinator of player development with the Washington Wizards.

Zips 11 Wolverweenies 10 You each should contact the author of the attached article and congratulate him on Michigan's "tune-up" game. not good to count your chickens before they are hatched

I think Boals was enjoying his St. Patrick’s Day a little too much

I couldn't stop laughing at their coach drawing up a play on his board with just over a second left, down 5. What play are you calling there? Nothing makes me happier than seeing these big schools get knocked off by underdogs. Except for Indiana tonight, go Hoosiers.

Two schollys open so far. With several MAC rivals losing key players to graduation or the portal, this is a huge opportunity for the Zips. A scoring guard who can create his own shot and be a playmaker for others is a must. A big who can rebound and block/change shots would be #2 on my wishlist. If you can't find that, get me another wing who can shoot. Both players have to be immediate impact...no HS players.

Scott's career numbers: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/5106652/shammah-scott Xavier Castaneda's career numbers: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4396641/xavier-castaneda As I said last week, recruiting the portal for schools like Akron is not quite as easy as a P5 school. Any player that puts up significant numbers at a mid major, or even high major, will land at a big school. That's just the way it is. The one exception in the MAC has been Sincere Carry, who was not even being recruited by Pink Fraud until he gave Pinky a call one day and said he wanted to play where his girlfriend plays. Reality is, sometimes you'll get a Maishe Dailey, sometimes you'll get a Xeyrius Williams, sometimes an LCJ, sometimes a Trimble. I like this pickup, I think it's got a lot of potential. And the connection makes sense. My biggest question now is what kind of piece will the staff go after next?

His stat line was 15 pts (4/9 field, 7/10 foul line), 12 boards, 4 blocks and 2 assists to only 1 turnover in a 6-point win over Cincy. I knew he would get better, but I had no idea he would be this good, this quick. It's amazing he's still playing two weeks after the entire MAC is done for the season. Good for him but I wish he was still in the blue and gold.

Quick reaction to the question: Point Guard: Cricket Shooting Guard: Brown SF: Linhart PF: Wood (Zips D-1 MVP) Center: Johnson 6th Man: Senior year Conyers (guard 4 spots) Halftime Show: Red Panda after the McNees explosion vs. Miami Next Up: Point: McNees, LCJ Shooter: Diggs, Ivey SF: Hipsher (before the back injury), Harney PF: Travis, Cvetinovic, Treadwell Center: Freeman, Marshall Haven't seen a ton of the team in person the past few years, so I'm not able to judge much past LCJ and Freeman, who both are exceptional and appear to really love the game. I struggled with the SG spot, maybe because of clarity of roles. I'm going with both Cricket and Brown as my starting back court, even though I think they were both PG's. McNees was everywhere and had a hand in lots of big moments. Big Dog vs. Marshall vs. Freeman was my toughest decision. I'm just not sure Marshall really wanted it in the end. Freeman probably ends up on top in the end. Championships matter. Other guys who came to mind that occurred to me, but I guess not at this level: The McKnight brothers were great. Middleton changed the program. Utomi and Jackson left. Dials was gritty. I'm sure there are others. It speaks to the high quality of the program over the last 20 years that this isn't easier. Prior to his back injury, Andy Hipsher was the only player we had that I thought had a real shot at an NBA career. He was dynamic, competitive and clutch. Go Zips!

I can't believe Mark Kostelac has been left out of the discussion. He got some serious love on ZipsNation back in the day.

I'm really hoping for 3 immediate impact players - one immediate impact front court player in addition to 2 guards As we currently sit I'm apprehensive about our bigs: Freeman - an all-time Zips great Sammy - stretch 4 who really likes to hang out around the 3-point arc Amani - nice potential but only averaged 2 PPG & 1 RPG (GoZips.com a mess. It took me 5 minutes to find the stats.) Baker - will be a true freshman Marvin - will be a true freshman On the other hand, Enrique is probably going to average as many minutes as he wants next year, so maybe relying on Amani is sufficient to simply fill in while Enrique catches his breath?

These are only players I've seen personally (I didn't really start paying attention to Zips b-ball till '95 - Coleman Crawford's last season). PG - LCJIII Honorable Mentions: Dru Joyce II, Jimmal "Spider Man" Ball, Xavier Castenada, Alex Abreu, Noah Robatham, Antino Jackson, Darryl Roberts, Humpty Hitchens 2G/W - Quincy Diggs Honorable Mentions: Derrick Tarver, Jamie Bosley, Tron Jenkins, Tyler Cheese, Nick Dials, Jimmond Ivey, Steve McNees, Scotty Gooden SF/W - *Jimmy Conyers Honorable Mentions: Ali Ali, Darryl Peterson, Brett McKnight, Dan Hipsher, Nate Linhart, Jawanza Moore, Daniel Utomi PF/P - Enrique Freeman Honorable Mentions: Romeo Travis, Demetrius "Tree" Treadwell, Xerius Williams, George Phillips, Kwan Cheatham C/P - Zeke Marshall Honorable Mentions: Jeremiah "Big Daddy" Wood, Isaiah "Big Dog" Johnson *Jimmy Conyers only had one good year... his senior season... but man was it special.

I’m going back through the position groups and adding “star rating take” for all the players. Using Rivals formula I’m re-rating the players to what they should have been according to their college production.

I would also add Eric "Cricket" McLaughlin as an excellent option at G.

Kowalchoke watching the Toledo women's team have success in March...

Hoban junior guard Jonas Nichols has been offered by Akron. That's it as far as I know. Hoban senior guard Will Scott may be someone the Zips should invite to walk on. Buchtel has 2 future D1 players in PG Khoi Thurmon (IUPUI IIRC LOL) and 2G Amire Robinson (Nevada). Khoi is built like a bull & Amire is a physical specimen but neither have great outside shots; they're just more athletic than anyone trying to guard them. So I don't know how their games are going to translate to the next level but I'm not losing any sleep over them not being offered by Akron. Buchtel's hottest player will be playing FCS football as a WR next season at Wayne State. His name is Marcel Boyce, Jr. & is the son of former Zip Marcel Boyce, Sr. He's been on fire & has been Buchtel's leading scorer since the tournament began. Buchtel has a 6'3" sophomore in the starting lineup named Stevie Diamond. He's Buchtel's starting QB. He's also an athlete to keep an eye on. Hoban's Jonas Nichols is the player I'm keeping my fingers crossed for. He's smooth as silk, has great handles, is 6'3" & has a sweet mid-range fadeaway jumper. Extremely smooth now... I can only imagine how good he's going to be a few years from now. Hopeful he'll be a Zip.

This is the white board in the Purdue locker room. Looks like an artistic interpretation of one of their 3 point attempts.

Little bit of a throwback here for one of the recruits I was incredibly excited for...that never played a minute for the Zips: https://fmuathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1986 Eric Hester ended his career last year at NAIA Florida Memorial University averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

Our #1 priority is finding a guard who can create his own shot off the dribble.

The only candidates we are considering are existing D-1 head coaches or assistants from P-5 programs. Expect an annoucement soon.

He finishes lay ups and shoots 3's better than Clarke, so I'm sold.

The fact that he was recruited previously tells me the coaching staff has known him for quite some time. This wasn't a situation where they saw some guy named Shammah pop up in the portal and a GA googled him. As soon as he entered, I'm positive Ford, Fulford, or Pridgen sent him a text.

My thought if that the middle aged guy who recruited you can bail and move without restriction (and actually financially benefit) the 20-year kid player should be able to immediately transfer and play. I'm not at all a fan of the transient nature of today's athletes, but I think it's only fair to give the kids the benefit that the coaches have.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt at this point. 16 or 17 year old kid playing a rival in a charged environment. Plus, a year of not being the guy tends to humble one a bit. Also, having seen the type of kids Groce has generally recruited to UA outside of that first season, I'm going to trust he's gotten to know this kid.

Definitely looks like the talent is there. Not real crazy about the attitude being exhibited. I associate that more with our primary rival. Hopefully there has been growth in terms of maturity since the time this video was taken.

Thinking back recently to some of our past teams/players and I'm curious to hear thoughts on this. Who is your all-time Zips starting five? To keep it simple, I'm only looking at Division 1 Era. Here's mine: F-Enrique Freeman Already an all-time leading rebounder and 8th all-time in blocks, he will rise into the top 10 all-time leading scoring list next season as well. He has the highest PER of any Zip over the past 20 years. F-Romeo Travis Total package. Most win shares of any Zip over the past 20 years. Bonus points for being one of a couple players who really helped elevate Akron's program near the beginning of the KD Era. C-Zeke Marshall Didn't develop the offensive game of other great Zips bigs, but the rim protection he provided was something special. #1 all-time in blocks at Akron and #31 among all collegiate players since 1985. I'll never forget his block against Kent in OT in Cleveland. G-Joe Jakubick I never had the pleasure of watching him play, but the stats don't lie here - dude was a walking bucket. Two-time OVC POY. From 1980-2023, only 6 D1 players have averaged more points per game in a season than Joe did in 1983-84 (30.1 ppg). G-Loren Cristian Jackson Ball, Dru, XC, McNees, Dials, Abreu...we've had some really good point guards. I'll go with one of the best scorers in school history (especially knowing the defense I have behind him).

Nothing against Canal Park (I wish we needed it's capacity) but IMO your closer to the game at Skeels Field. The bleachers are right over the action. Or you can move around, stand along the fence or take along a folding chair. If it's not damp I don't drag a chair around I sit in the grass along the "grassy knolls". And there's just something about being on campus...

I'm watching a replay of the semifinals of this tournament. The energy is almost noticable.

Let’s go zips! At least one Ohio team can beat Xichigan. This squad is only going to get better. We got an ace, a couple experienced guys and a guy with the most Akron name ever who rakes in Jack Firestone. I’m excited to go to canal park and see them

Congratulations to Richie Laryea for being selected to the MLS best 11...for the matches last week https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/team-of-the-matchday-argentine-wonderkid-concacaf-stars-lead-the-way

Looks like we are still looking for immediate help along the OL. New offer out to JUCO IOL Que McBroom. Honestly, I’m surprised it took us this long to offer. He’s a guy I’ve been watching for a while now. 3 years to play 3. HUDL FILM

2/3 years Pistol Pete LSU teams had a losing record in conference play. 4/5 years Davis team had a losing record in conference play. Perhaps having a dad that's a coach who encourages their son to put up >50% of the shots a game isn't really a winning formula in the long run.

There's only one thing that would look worse than inviting Detroit Mercy to play in some crappy post-season tournament to allow Davis to fraudulently break Maravich's record. It's him whining like a little bitch that they didn't give him and his lousy sub . 500 team a chance. https://sports.yahoo.com/antoine-davis-ends-chase-maravichs-211745938.html

A bit strange that Garvin Clarke helped recruit Sammy Hunter with the Bahamas connection and now Garvin is leaving.

Wikipedia has this: 1. Fred Golding - 1,360 2. Don Williams - 1,218 3. Ray Pryear - 1,213 4. Bill Turner - 1,171 5. Len Paul - 1,021 6. Frank Thompson - 996 7. Enrique Freeman - 952 8. Alex Adams - 872 9. Harvey Glover - 801 10. Romeo Travis - 783 So Freeman is not the all-time leader overall but all-time leader in the D1 Era. He had 370 rebounds this past season, so he has a shot at the all-time mark with a big senior year.

Garvin experienced a conference tournament championship and a trip to March Madness. During the MAC tourney he made some solid contributions. However, for the level the coaching staff wants to achieve he wasn't on par with his teammates.

Funny story. I just met Jamie Bosley last week. Had a long conversation. He was fun to speak with and still super pumped about Akron basketball.

Big Dog won MPOY. I'd have to think he'd at least be deserving of an honorable mention.

And Michigan State will be the only Big Ten team in the Sweet Sixteen out of 8 teams sent. Worse than I predicted.

He had a fantastic season. He's a 3-point deadeye. Luke was on the short list of Mr. Basketball candidates. Would love to see Luke in the blue & gold!

Great job by Atkins in a complete game win. 3-2 in the MAC going into Sunday game 3!

I would really like to root for MAC teams in the NCAA'S, when the Zips are not in it. But sorry Kent fans, when you have some, not all, cocky big mouths , it is not going to happen. If sincere makes it to the pros, he better change his attitude or basketball burgers will be shoved down his throat!!!

Sincere, driving to the hoop, missing, laying on the court complaining to the ref he was fouled, leads to a 5 on 4 at the other end and an open 3 for Indiana.

Sometimes less is more.

FWIW

Well done! Thank you @mes102 I’m completely in the dark about who’s being interviewed. What I do know is that Borseth would be a Joe Moorhead level hire. If I were in charge, the two names at the top of my list would be Megan Vogel, Borseth’s associate HC at Green Bay, and Pickens. Guzzardo would be an interesting name. I’m excited to hear this news, hopefully soon.

I hope this post sets the ZN.o record for likes.