Zip JD

I don't think the ZNO Board is out to get TJ. Most of this was in defense of the coach when the TJ is a victim of a double standard posts hit. TJ has improved and I think he can be a very solid scoring guard in the MAC. One thing to consider is he has a lot more comp for minutes at this position. We have a lot of ball handlers who can play guard (and even more comp when Nate gets back) and at this point in their careers are better ball handlers, rebounders and defenders than TJ. When Ali or Sammy don't box out (which has been known to happen), Groce cannot be as quick to sit them especially if Freeman is in foul trouble. We don't want Lyles getting 15-18 minutes in crunch time in the 2nd half.

He also knows he needs Tavari to take on a much bigger role next season, so it appears there are expectations Tavari is not meeting (frequently). We have to trust Groce on this. Look back at Ali Ali and Freeman when they arrived. Their development from a buried on the bench frosh and a walk on is amazing. Groce gets as much out of his players as possible. How about Tribble? He couldn't hit the side of the JAR when he arrived. He has become one of my favorite Zips of all time.

Agreed. Give me the 13-14 team every time.

Tavari has blown assignments EVERY time he is on the floor for more than one offensive set. Watch the assistant coaches when he gets pulled. They spend a lot of time going over the rotations with him on the bench. Earlier in the season he got in the doghouse for what appeared to be lack of effort. He is hustling much more now, and he has really improved his defense but he as long way to go. I think it is a point of emphasis more than a double standard. Lyles is in the same boat.

Agreed. This team also misses open looks, a lot of them.

The Zips are not going to win many big games as long as Nate Johnson in street clothes and a cast is as big an offensive threat as Smart, Thorn or Dawson. One of them has to step up. All 3 get open looks all game.

He’s already a much better shooter than Trib was in his second year. If TJ works hard on defense and learns the rotations he will probably get more minutes. He got pulled from several early season games for dogging it and got himself deep in the dog house.

So much for the MAC-SB challenge. MAC went 2-10 and avoided being swept only b/c CMU got 6 win ODU and Buff of all teams beat a 5 win team. Totally embarrassing.

Agreed. Without Nate I thought Dawson would step up. We need one of the guards not named Tribble to contribute offensively.

Thornton and Smart get open looks too and NEVER get hot.

Thornton is MUCH better defensively. Although TJ has worked a lot harder on his D lately.

I saw the school worked with the County and the port authority (it has a new name now that escapes me) to sell about $85 or so million in bonds. Part of that plan is outsourcing the management of the parking lots but I don’t think the U is getting an 8 figure payout from this. If so, the parking deck fee will be a lot more than $10 moving forward. They are planning to raise parking permits prices for the students so I hope the additional revenue outpaces enrollment issues. As to the thread, the increased cost of parking may help the school (I hope it does) but I do think it probably hurts attendance. When I cannot attend a game and give away my tix, the parking pass is always appreciated. The Rubber Ducks offer free parking (or at least used to in the Roetzel deck across from Canal Park) so it is not unheard of. Lastly and unrelated, I love the Bananas and saw them twice when they came to Akron. The dances and pranks are scripted but both the Bananas and Party Animals play to win. The Animals actually won the series last year (and both games in Akron) so do not invoke the Washington Generals when discussing them. Go Zips!

100%. Also, looking at letting people bank tix they can’t use for additional tix to another game. We know we have the available seats.

Agreed but $10 parking probably doesn’t help GA sales. It's been mentioned on this site by several other members in addition to the issues with campus/athletic event parking in general. The deck used to be free then $5 and now $10. When I try to get friends and co-workers to games it is often mentioned as a reason not to go. If you are looking for research data and parking polling numbers, I don't have it but when I go to games and see more and more empty seats each year it is probably part of the problem. When people are griping about ticket prices it is not a stretch to think parking factors into the conversation. I did modify my original post above.

Agreed but $10 parking doesn’t help GA sales.

The lower bowl used to rock at Zips games but now it is mostly blue hairs that don't bring the energy they used to. I'm thankful that they keep coming out to the games and that they put their $$$ into the program but the JAR is nothing like the rocking little band box it used to be. Also, I would love it if some of the lower bowl fans would stop heading out early even when it is a 3-point game with 3 minutes left. The better seats get the closer lots, but a lot of those fans are not going to fight the 1200 fan pandemonium as the JAR empties.

They even run students out of the Zips side upper deck at football games. It does not encourage attendance.

or at least call off the few remaining old guard ushers that chase students out of completely empty upper blue seat sections during the weeknight games. They act like they get a bounty for every student they toss.

Groce said in the postgame that Trib’s T was for talking trash to BG. He said he heard the whole interaction and that if that was a T, there should have been 15 prior T’s on each team. He added that the BG players were yelling at the Zips bench all night so he thought it was an interesting time to call a T (3:30 left in the game). I will add that even by MAC standards the officiating last night was atrocious. Way too many missed calls and way too many touch fouls. Throw in a couple make up calls to round it out with 5 or 6 trips to the video. Worst officials of the year.

Trib did bury two 3's in the first half of the NIU game so who knows?

Spot on as usual Clark; however, I do not anticipate anyone three or four years from now lamenting not having guards playing at the level of Thorn or Scott. We did get spoiled. Hopefully, our PG’s settle in and Dawson and Nate get the confidence and/or consistency we need to make some noise in the MAC Tourney. I will miss Tribble’s hustle, drive and toughness. Just not the Olympic style shot-put jumper.

I agree 100%. First a power 5 team gets nothing out of coming to the JAR. If they win the rest of the sports world thinks they should have and if they lose it hurts them. Also, there is no way we can close to making it worth their while financially. As to the OOC schedule, it was a nice mix of good to very good comp with practice games sprinkled in. Even thought we came up short, I loved the showcase in Cleveland. It’s great to see some new content for newer members like csims. Keep it up.

I disagree 100% with this take in regards to Groce over coaching. The prior seasons under Groce the Zips have had excellent veteran guard play and in crunch time, Coach let them run the offense usually without taking a time out. He knew they would make the right decisions and either take the game winning shot or get the ball to an open teammate. This year the Zips backcourt is mostly brand-new players that have not played well and have not shown any ability to create their own shot or a shot for others hence the timeouts to set up the right play. Unfortunately, the Zips didn't execute out of the timeouts against the Bonnies. Several times this year, they have. See the wins over SDSU, Southern Miss and Bradley. They also have some tough losses as well. It is going to be a season of growth. You may not be aware that Ali Ali had to sit out the first 8 games this year waiting for the NCAA to approve a transfer request that had been in for months which has further hindered the Zips cohesiveness on the court. Enrique dislocated his thumb in the second half which is why the play was probably not drawn up for him giving even more need for a TO.

I agree 100% with the talent being there but he has way too many games where he is a non-factor in every phase of the game. After the SDSU game I thought we found the missing piece. I hope we do before we head back to Cleveland.

It has to be Nate. Dawson has been totally absent.