Illini Zip

Sounds like something the coach of Louisville would say after barely escaping 82-76 back in 2019.

Still makes me all warm inside. https://x.com/MACSports/status/1901084000845762665?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1901096441008869771|twgr^7081e24e91602c2b0a0a3384f9941b8429ee5373|twcon^s3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fzipsnation.org%2Fforums%2Findex.php%3Fapp%3Dcoremodule%3Dsystemcontroller%3Dembedurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fmegdonovan44%2Fstatus%2F1901096441008869771%3Ft%3DM4QSVLZsvgxX4neyp47Eew26s%3D19

He did. A year ago on a podcast that @Blue & Gold posted. I don’t remember the teams he mentioned.

…and then I saw the photo towards the bottom of the article. 😡

Just reading the headline has me fuming.

We finished the season with a 91 net rating. I would think if we can just get into the top 75 consistently there will be teams like Cincy and Xavier who might want a road test game that can’t hurt them. Worst case is it would be a Quad 1 loss for them. We are not far off.

After reading @clarkwgriswold Beacon Journal piece I don’t think it’s complicated. Groce and his family like it there and he has a vision to incrementally take Akron to the next level. He talks about what they’re building all of the time. As long as he is supported by the University and local community he is likely to stay put. The best thing fans can do is fill the JAR on a regular basis.

I can’t speak of his time at Ohio U, but I know that wasn’t the case at Illinois. Actually, the combination of point guard injury and too many lost point guard recruiting battles (for a host of reasons) was in my opinion the main reason Groce failed to make the NCAAT 4 of his 5 seasons and was let go. We will have a 15 man roster this year. We could use a big, mature wing and a big bodied guard. If the staff choose’s to fill all of those positions with transfers I predict Perkins will redshirt. There would be just too many players ahead of him. If one of the acquisitions is a high school recruit (likely to redshirt) I predict Perkins will play some. There’s benefit in having him go through early growing pains next year when Tavari and Young will be anchoring the ship.

The family discount, but for us. I like it. 👍

I could see him filling the JoJo Harris void at small forward. It would take some pressure off of MMK.

You’re being rational. I respect that. But I’m still refreshing my phone. 😀

During this period I turn into a little kid, constantly refreshing my phone hoping to see what Santa Wentz brought us.

Very disappointing. I really thought he was going to be one of our better players going into this past year. Now he’s leaving???

Strange, no official word on JoJo Harris either way?

I see MMK playing the wing going forward.

Brisco??

The whole team is back??? How do we know???

💯💯💯

Nice, thank you!! Any of the proceeds make it’s way to the university?

I would buy a nice blue polo with gold stitching with “Akron Basketball” on the chest. Where do I find one of those?

Here is a question for anyone. If we could afford to play a few extra OOC games is it permitted by the NCAA?

This is fair. Here’s another great idea that won’t get funded. Sorry, but seriously. I wonder if it would be beneficial to have a crowdfunding page on Fear the Roo where we could all see the basketball program’s wish list with their set priorities and goals. I think visualizing each line item might give perspective and motivation. I know a new stadium costs tens of millions, but I have no idea how much a Thanksgiving tournament costs. People feel their $50 - $100 is a drop in the bucket, but if they see a line item slowly progress towards 100% maybe there would be more involvement. Edit: I just want to add that I would like one of the line items to be a general fund specifically giving Bud Wentz permission to use his financial talents to invest and grow a nest egg for the long term.

I have just shared my frustrations with the state of the MAC and college basketball in general. But I too want to thank the guys for an entertaining and successful year. And even though we the fan base are dying to get this NCAA monkey off of our back, this year was another step in the right direction. And every player who contributes along the way is appreciated and deserves to be celebrated. So thank you to Seth, Isaiah and Evan. You all seem like great dudes and it’s been a pleasure watching from afar. And now, Tavari, back in the weight room with you. Marvin and Amani improve your driving and shooting and Okonkwo, free throws and finishing around the rim. Because we know Groce & Company with the help of Bud Wentz are not quitting. And I’m not going anywhere either. I have a scholarship chart that apparently needs a couple more spots added to it. Go Zips!!

I agree with that, but doing nothing is not an option either. The smaller conferences are losing badly in this arrangement and I sense no push back. If a university is going to be used as a farm system, that farm system needs to somehow be compensated. As an example, something should be in a players contract that if he leaves and accepts another deal, the original school is reimbursed for services rendered unless a player has been simply dismissed. I should make clear that I despise all of this. I don’t mind players having some mobility and getting some compensation, but college sports is off the rails.

This is above my pay grade. But I would consider contract language that limit a player’s mobility once they sign with a MAC school. It will definitely discourage some players at first, but retention will eventually lead to a much stronger league in the long run. And second, we are getting closer each year to a monopoly scenario with the Power 6 (Eventually we could be down to just the Big 10 and SEC) The Commissioners of the lesser conferences should be joining forces and considering legal action. It’s my opinion that Akron lost to Arizona in the board room long before we lost on the court. Everything from NIL, the portal, transfer rules and now increased roster size has increased the gap between the haves and have-nots. It sure would have been nice having Bandaogo out there rim protecting. You think we are demoralized after getting dominated? How do you think the MAC players we just beat this season felt watching us get crushed? That’s a problem leadership had better be addressing now before it gets any worse or the recent parity that has made March Madness special will be gone forever.