kreed5120

Look at our budget to see what we're spending on coaches, staff, travel, recruitment, etc. Next look what we're spending relative to our peers in NIL. We quit trying many years ago. You don't need a spring practice to confirm that.

Article on some of the talking points being discussed at Final Four weekend by coaches. Mentions both Groce and Campbell's coach. Also talks about some power conference schools want to institute bird rights to institute policies that would allow them exceed the $20.5M revenue share. https://herosports.com/cbb-john-groce-bird-rights-chatter-mid-major-money-squeeze-ksks/

Dre Jones doesn't have to go far. Looks like he's going to Cleveland State. I think this is the first former MAC player to commit elsewhere.

The shooting percentages look nice, but it doesn't appear to have translated into much team success. It looks like IU Indy went 7-25 last year. I can't say I watched them play to know if he was part of the problem or not.

Yes, he put up 25/9 before fouling out. Would be a get IMO, but might be too expensive unless he gives a hometown discount.

I just gift money to the collective instead in those circumstances. There is no COGS attached to my donation and I don't have extra clothing that I won't wear taking up space. Seems like a win/win. Either way your support is appreciated.

Not really sure what someone like his market would be being a top 100 recruit, but redshirting.

From Cleveland as well. We've seemed to have had a lot of success in the portal when bringing players home.

Akron reportedly has reached out to USC transfer and former Robert Morris player Amarion Dickerson https://x.com/i/status/2041620452099928369

Article on new assistant Todd May. https://hoopdirt.com/official-may-departs-d2-concord-joins-akron-basketball-staff/

I think Young could return. Still more unlikely than likely. It just takes 1 A10, AAC, and P5 programs to make him an offer that prices us out. I would be absolutely stunned if Eric returned. He has the size, athleticism, and well rounded game most teams would desire. He could make the 8-9 man rotation on most of the bottom half of P5 teams IMO.

I mean Prather is in the portal again. Not like we can't offer him. It would have been challenging for Prather to get the minutes here to develop had he stayed. We've had a lot of tremendous guard play. Leaving was probably the correct decision for him.

It wasn't posted. He didn't live up to the hype some gave him. He might develop into a good player, but he looked very raw and perhaps the speed of the game was too fast compared to what he's accustomed. Him going to a low major to get consistent minutes and being able to refine his game is probably what's best.

I'll probably sit this round out as this is the first piece of FTRC gear that I didn't really care for. The front of the shirt I like. I just don't care for the giant logo on the back. I get that's part of their branding. I just wish it was smaller and on the sleeve or something. It reminds me of the countless free Akron t-shirts I already own from giveaways.

I'm sure he's already received Akron's best and final offer and his agent has already received better offers. If anything I appreciate the transparency and not providing false hope. IMO I don't think it's a huge loss. Maybe a bit because he could be a locker room presence, but his only strength was his 3-pt shooting. He was a 1 dimensional scorer who didn't play great defense. I'd have him back, but it's not someone worth spending a significant amount of our NIL to keep. There will be plenty of 3-pt specialists who play spotty defense in the portal who we can likely sign cheaper. We might even have 1 on the roster already. Not sure about our redshirts or incoming freshman. Edit: I view Eric and Young more as the losses. I could have seen either of them make the jump to being All-MAC caliber next year.

I think there is a recruitment dead period until April 10th. I'm sure news will break about some players going some places before then, but I don't think anything official can happen until then anyway.

This is an excellent point. Outside of a few posters that attended practices and had in depth discussion with coaches nobody was really even talking about Eric at this time last year. Now some are trying to make it sound like his departure isn't something we can recover from. There are redshirts or incoming freshman who are on the roster now that will be contributors next season. Most of Akron's success has come from player development. We will likely need to go into the portal and find a few impact players, but it's not like we need to go out there and sign an entirely new 13 player roster. With a new coach that would have been likely.

Sure they would have most likely left. I like my job, but if someone offered to 2x-5x my salary I'd leave tomorrow, no two week notice. There is a reason Groce left for a program that has 3x the NIL of Akron despite on paper not looking like much of a promotion, money talks. Ford's hire wasn't just about player retention. It's about keeping the system that has worked going. Sure, Akron could have reached out and maybe got someone like Hurley, but then you'd have to put up with his antics, which could push people away from the program. I certainly know I would have cancelled my season tickets and quit my contributions to FTC if he was the choice. I'm a small fish though. It's possible someone with his personality pushes someone like Bud or one of the other big donors away and money like it or not drives the sport.

https://x.com/i/status/2041523870822191409

Likely a mutual decision. Wouldn't be surprised if he transfers down to D2 or something like that.

Expected that given the post his agent made ~2 weeks ago.

It won't happen, but I wish they would quit playing Final Four games in NFL stadiums.

Akron will, but I'm not so confident about the vast majority of the teams in the MAC. Time will tell.