NWAkron

With a really awful team Groce got Zips to Cleveland. He did it again with a slightly better team the next year. Third year he had a great team and the clear MAC Conference Champions. We can imagine Zips would have won the tourney and a game in the NCAA but it's just that...imagining. This year with a good team but not a great team he got the Zips to the semis. I see that as real progress. This is going to be a fun Summer for everyone and I'm sure the players who make the cut will be sharing a lot of quality time with Groce and his staff.

Was clear that Groce, throughout the game, was looking for deliberative possessions with no quick releases and high % shots. Essentially, he was burning the clock and keeping game under 70. May have been 6 or 7 minutes left and Akron was up by 4 or 5 with the ball after making a defensive stop. LCJ was bringing the ball down and I saw the coaching staff with their hands up, telling LCJ and the guys to slow it down. LCJ ignored that and went in for a runner. He missed and Bulls got a quick 3 on the other end. The guys left everything on the floor. I will miss being up there for a final, but I was highly skeptical that the Zips, looking as burnt out as they are, were going to win against Ohio, who won two easy games (ugh...thank you Danny Pippen for your parting gift). And heading into a first round NCAA game with only a 5'7" guard to carry us was going to be ugly. The Zips ended up where they should have. A top 3 team in the MAC.

From what I saw from my seat in the arena, it looked like that. the team was spent. When they went into OT, I thought, ugh, these guys aren't. going to hold up for a game Saturday night, especially when all they have is LCJ to carry them to the finish line. So relieved that the COVID season is over.

Oh. I guess that's that.

#1. Incredibly proud that this team, after crashing the last 3 or 4 games, came back and won their biggest game of the year so far. #2. I watched some of the Buffalo game yesterday. They aren't the unstoppable team of the past. They miss some bunnies and can shoot some dud 3 pointers. Also, they aren't great from the foul line. However, like the Zips, they can turn it on and wear you down, especially if they are getting offensive rebounds and keeping our defense on their end of the floor. #3. These tournament games are won by intangibles or one aspect of the game that is really sharp. Zips only had 7 turnovers yesterday but their shooting wasn't great. Tonight something or someone else may pull them over the finish line.

https://ubfan.com/bb/index.php?/topic/1368-vs-3-akron-312-cleveland/ Lots of respect for the Zips and LCJ from the Canadians.

There's that obvious potential of an OU/Zips final. That would be effed up, and I don't think my heart could take it.

2500....I think.

I miss the March ritual. I marked those days on my calendar. Sadly, most of those trips home were miserable.

+1

Go back to Kitten Attack and lick your paws.

Hopefully, our old pal Jeff Boals and his team will meet a similar fate.

Ball Stare had a chance. Missed 2 open 3s to tie. This will push the Akron game back to 7 or so.

That wasn't a foul.

That's why! Toledo didn't have a chance to set up. We got OT!

Rockets have the best 3 point % and FT %, but are tanking on that today and keeping the Cardinals alive. Ugh...down to a 2 point game

I want Toledo to lose, but I would also hate to see an opening emerge for Hocking State or PCCC to sneak into the finals.

Toledo reminds me a lot of the Zips last year. When things get tough, they have a few guys who can put the dagger in from the 3 point line and can turn it on in crunch time.

Toledo's already up 10-0 on Ball State.

careful what you wish for. In 2010, I thought Zips had it in the bag when Groce and the #9 seed Kittens took out #1 seed PCCC in the quarterfinals...

I think losing those games caused the collapse.

I guess the line moved to -1 in favor of the Zips. Whatever. Zips are the underdogs for this tournament. Hopefully, they catch everyone by surprise. Glad it's not the 11am game.

The NIT is only inviting 16 teams. Runner up may not get the call even if it is Toledo.

Blah, blah, blah....not to you, Z.O. but Terry B.

Odds for the game: It's a toss up! Bowling Green (14-10, 10-8 MAC) Akron (14-7, 12-6 MAC) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland, OH Line: EVEN O/U: 153