Zip JD

Although Pitino did state he didn't want to go to the also-ran tournament, most of the time when this happens its schools that feel they were snubbed by the NCAA and then basically take their ball and going home in protest. That happens almost every year and has for a long time. It's no different than when bigger programs declining bids to lower rung bowl games when the feel they deserved a better bid. It just happens more with hoops. With teams declining NIT bids, it makes it even worse that Toldeo got left out. The MAC has been a one-bid NCAA tourney conference since the late '90's. Now it has gotten so bad we are a one-bid conference for the entire post season.

It sucks that teams in power conferences that finish 9th or 10th (or worse) out of 12 get a nod over teams that win a mid-major conference regular season.

It appears the NIT did away with automatic bids to regular season conference champions, so Toledo is out in the cold. This is just another way to keep the mid-majors out to let in more power conference teams with bigger fan bases and name recognition.

KD took over a program that was on life support not only due to Hipsher's coaching (or the lack of it) but his terrible demeanor and inability to build any type of winning culture for the Zips. KD worked non-stop to build the fan base. He was at community functions and ALWAYS working to get people to games. The Crawford years followed by Hipsher's tenure left a cavernous hole to dig out of and KD did it. Would we have liked a few more wins in his 9 (repeat 9) MACC games? Sure. Would we have liked a NCAA tourney win? Absolutely. But to say he underachieved is nonsense. WITH ALL THE REGULAR SEASON TITLES AND GREAT PLAYERS, TOLDEO HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DANCE SINCE 1980 --- THAT IS UNDERACHIEVING.

Maybe we could start by getting the sound system to the point where you can understand the video interviews.

It would be interesting to see how many of the "I gotta be out of here by the 4:00 minute left mark regardless of the score to beat the crowd" season ticket holders would stay.

It would be nice to see an ex-Husky that kept his shot when arriving in Akron. Didn't Hankerson end up with us via NIU as well?

I felt bad for Thorn getting pulled on Senior Night in crunch time for missing two foul shots, BADLY, but he left Groce no choice. One shot was wide right and the other barely hit the rim. That does not build confidence for Cleveland minutes in a close game. Tavari's defense (or the lack of it) puts him in the same boat. I'm just glad Nate is working his way back in the rotation and Prather is putting himself in the mix.

When the Zips had a shot clock violation that ended with a high and wide pass to Scott on the baseline and the buzzer went off and then Scott shot,,,,,,, anybody else have a feeling of certainty that would be the 3 pointer he would hit. Never fails.

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.