NWAkron

Big Soccer, football, and basketball games within 24 hour time period. May be too much for me.

I really HATED the all black with the Z. And we always seemed to lose when we wore them. These gray ones are modern and have our colors. Thumbs up.

Agree with everything here. I think it was Kostelac who had the really touchy foul at the end after UTC inbounded. I love the 2 point jump shots. When a team is making those pull up and shoot 2 pointers, you know they are playing well. Was a bit disappointed with the missed front end of one and ones at the end, but they weren't critical. Only having 2 fouls coming into the final minute bit UTC. I, too, thought this game was awesome for fans and players because it was tense, scrappy (Scrappy the Mockingbird in their mascot), physical, fast-paced. Parrish was looking a little winded. Ivey forgot he had to call the time out not the coach. I saw Groce order Kostelac across to run over and set a screen and he did. You can tell how Groce is taking care of Jimond...keeping him calm and treating like a leader. Ivey did the post game with French. If I were opposing team and sensed Malcolm was getting hot I would immediately call time out. Malcolm needs a rhythm. Groce wants that ball down the court fast. Love it. Fun to watch .

13 steals! That's a change. Listening to Groce on the way home...he's pushing that diet and fitness. I think they have a nutritionist on speed dial they called call when they are reaching for a pizza slice. Also, I think being fit and caring about that gives them loads of confidence. Tonight's team at the end reminded me of the old Ohio U team...whacking at the ball and getting steals. That was an exciting game. I think the team needed something close and tough.

UTOMI!!!

Giving us bad karma.

These refs... seriously...and Jimond...call time out!

That last one on Malcolm was really touchy. Don't recognize that one ref. UTC only has 2 fouls to our 10.

Groce just chewed out Parrish for not getting his ass down the floor after he made a 3

Ok...enough of this Zips...I'm having PTSD flashbacks.

Yuck. That was a bad stretch.

Just saw some individual stats during time out.

Groce running the guys in and out. This aggressive play certainly brings the fouls.

I know we were 75% from floor but don't know how many points Malcolm has. Ok with that. Whoa...a lot going on. T on Lamont and Kostelac in.

New uniforms? Gray/blue...hint of gold?

Go Zips! Kill the Mockingbirds!

We have hijacked this thread but it's painfully obvious that the NCAA doesn't want a final four consisting of a Cinderella. The fans at home might like it but they aren't the ones filling up the seats in a football arena obnoxiously converted into a basketball court. And Akron team coming out of an East region facing a St Mary's out of the West region would be a tragedy for the NCAA based on their out-dated thinking. These schools are now seeded to maximize the elimination of mid and low majors.

At-Large!

Right. I only hope that Northern Illinois becomes massively successful.

Kreed5120 wins the prize for first using the dreaded "at large" in 2017-2018 basketball thread.

Yeah, don't want to have another player who makes me cringe each time he shoots.

Ugh. Remember the drama a few years ago when Akron thought it was going and some players didn't have passports or couldn't get them.

If Malcolm had gotten hot, it would have lessened the pressure on JImond. Jimond seemed to fall back into what the Zips would do last year. As we've seen before in our teams and our opponents, when you only have one player hot from 3, the others have to press to make something happen. (I have a firm grasp of the obvious) They posted that "21+wins" graphic last night. I don't think hitting that is a Groce priority this year.

My cousin is head of graphic design and marketing (or something like that) at UT Chattanooga, so he has to work with Scrappy the Mockingbird quite a bit.

The Mocs...short for the Mockingbirds. Scrappy the Mockingbird is the mascot. But I like Choo Choo, too.