Illini Zip

Nate Johnson: https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/nate-johnson/X-dcicsyEeeT-Oz0u-e-FA/default.htm I suggest anyone interested to revisit the "2021 Offers" page under Basketball Recruiting. There might be more there.

Kobi Mitchell:

Not sure if this is going to work, but here is my post on Prather Jr.

It surprises me how close these stat lines are to each other. This team is already closing in on the 2019-2020 gang which had such amazing team chemistry. What I see so far In the highlights, but time will tell; Prather Jr. is a strong bodied guard like Dawson. Will play the wing or 4 spot in a 4 guard line up. Kobi Mitchell is a pure shooting guard, 2 guard like Banks. Not sure what he brings on Z-Fence yet. But he hits his 3 pointers. According to Groce, Nate Johnson is a versatile guard who can play all 3 guard spots. He's a shorter Tyler Cheese in the making.

Thanks guys. I do appreciate the kind words. Do you believe it has been 5 years already? It feels like yesterday that we were watching Duvivier, Ivey, Utomi, Cotton, Patton and JPoke. Groce recently brought up Lucas Smith. I remember joking at the time, somebody hurry back to the rec. center and see who else you can find. I didn't even know where Akron, Ohio was back then. Of course I had heard of it. Now I know Zippy is a girl. I recently read that your motto is "Blue Collar. Gold Standard.", which I really like. I also know that @NWAkron is deathly afraid of the T-shirt cannon. Groce just killed Buffalo. I know you play games in a J.A.R. and everyone hates the running track. I have learned so, so much already. Too much to itemize, but most importantly is that the future is indeed bright in Akron!! It's 8:48 on Sunday morning and...

I have to admit, this does concern me about Tavari. Tavari, Ali and Aziz have to eat nothing but pizza, pasta and protein shakes this Summer. That should do it.

Thank you. @LZIp I'm not happy with Illinois lately, but that is a long boring story. Just as Groce does more with less than any coach I know, Underwood does less with more. Still my Big Ten team, but I spend more time over here these days. You are all my kind of people. Thanks for having me. Go Zips!!

I love it!! The Rowdies need to hold up the Akron "Z" next to a section of white picket fence.

The players might die of hysterics watching me try to chase down balls, but sign me up. I would love that for a day.

Freeman is now on athletic scholarship. As of this year I believe. You might be able to hide a member of your scout team on an academic scholarship, but your Defensive Player of the Year will likely draw attention. Just my guess.

I understand, because of his lack of size and strength. Ali needs to have a big off-season in the weight room because Groce likes to use his wing (SF) as a center on his running line-up.

This is the fun stuff for me. It doesn't mean it's right, just fun. We have seen how much the roster can change depending on a single players development. I personally hope Tavari Johnson is leading the team by the post season next year and that Aziz becomes a starter by conference play. I think the only one that might be a red shirt candidate next year is Prather Jr. And the only one that could lose their position to a transfer upgrade is Wynn. Although Wynn has grown on me and has found himself a niche. For me, the wild card is just how fast does Tavari Johnson develop. Early Season Starting Line Up: 1. X / Clarke / Tavari Johnson 2. Tribble / X / Kobi Mitchell 3. Dawson / Ali / Nate Johnson 4. Ali / Freeman / Wynn / Kalle 5. Freeman / Aziz / Wynn Post Season Starting Line Up: 1. Tavari Johnson / Clarke / X 2. X / Tribble / Clarke / Kobi Mitchell 3. Ali / Dawson / Tribble / Nate Johnson 4. Freeman / Ali / Kalle / Wynn 5. Aziz / Freeman / Kalle / Wynn Alternative Small / Running Line Up: 1. Tavari Johnson / Clarke 2. X / Kobi Mitchell 3. Tribble / Nate Johnson 4. Dawson / Wynn 5. Ali / Freeman

If this last few weeks doesn't motivate our guys to put in the work this off-season to increase their strength and personal skill sets, then nothing will.

The last four minutes leave a bad taste in my mouth for all the stated reasons, but hold your heads high Akron. To the average viewer, we controlled most of the game and looked more like a team destined for the final four. Not UCLA. We will be back with a bigger and better posey. The future is bright!!

I think we have their attention.

How fun is this!! They look good!!

I do think it likely lead to us going this year without a true point guard, but it’s working out alright anyway.

I agree, this applies to the vast, vast majority of coaches and it even applied to Groce the first time around. It could apply this time as well. But he's older and more experienced now. If the Akron community shows him some love and willingness to grow the program under his guidance, I think he would be wise to set up camp and try to build an empire there. Just keep building the brand through media, marketing, events and facilities slowly and methodically. Challenge the MAC to grow as well or bolt. Either way. I bet Groce would be willing to delay financial gratification this time around if Akron truly felt like home to him and his family. But he would also need serious, willing partners in the university and to a lesser degree, city hall. That's my hope anyway.

My first question if someone wants to start a thread; Coach Groce, where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

How about we pool our questions, comments and concerns on an open thread and designate someone as the Zips Nation correspondent to sit in the post-game interviews with Coach Groce and players. Do we have any Communications Majors on here willing to become a member of the press? Just an idea.

I have been waiting for that aspect of this offense the whole time. I thought we finally had our stretch 4 with Taylor Currie. But you're right, X Williams is the closest we have had and he was more of an over-sized wing. That was sure nice though. Hopefully our current bigs develop some kind of shot away from the basket in the off-season. And maybe 2023 is the class we finally land a true stretch 4.

I am now leaning towards Wynn being back next year. He does have a limited role and that's not likely to change, but he seems to be out of the dog house with the staff. He does hustle on defense, rebound and looks to be a glue guy in the locker room. Which has it's value. And maybe he plays a bunch early on knowing he is going to get passed up. If Groce is able to land a great 2-4 year eligible player in the transfer portal then maybe not. But seeing him pour water over Groce after the win makes me wonder why he might be feeling so comfortable. Also, the staff will have their work cut out for themselves next year bringing a full freshman class up to game speed. Having another person around who already knows how things are done and can help instill the culture into the newbies might be a benefit.

I did update the chart last night to the best of my understanding. I will copy it here at the end of the thread.

I agree with @NWAkron sentiment. I'm not going to make any excuses for Kent State's overall culture. You all know better than me and I have heard some of the stories and even watched some past video. So I get it. But it is important to stay just a bit humble on this matter. As much as Groce runs a tight ship with high standards these things flare up on occasion. These are young men who live most of their lives away from the coaching staff. Groce tries to find guys that are warriors inside the lines and gentlemen outside the lines. Players who love to compete and at the same time he would feel comfortable having around his family. That is a hard balance to strike at times. We had comments on this forum earlier in the year that Akron doesn't have any "dogs" on this team. No killer instinct. Groce will often have one or two guys on his roster that are the enforcer types. But understand, that those are the very guys that often create bad headlines and black eyes for the program. What Groce does stress over all else is mental toughness and boy does this Zips team have mental toughness!! Go Zips!!

Take care of yourself @Z.I.P. I wish you a speedy recovery. If Groce keeps to the current projectory you might actually see the Zips in the Maui Invitational in a few years. And you surely wouldn't want to miss that one. Go Zips!!