Illini Zip

These are true statements and I addressed the first one once before. But I am trying to think if I can remember Groce ever pursuing a recruit with a publicly known reputation. And I don't think so. Carlton Bragg and Cliff Alexander had a few issues when they got into college, but I'm going to blame both of those on Kansas. When you recruit the personality Groce likes there will likely be a few who go astray. Also note that not all head-cases have a violent streak. I think only two players had that specific issue and I mentioned them before, Leron "the Savage" Black and Kendrick Nunn. I shared before that Black seemed to have had a come-to-Jesus moment and so far so good. He starts for Illinois and is often our leading scorer, even double-doubles. Nunn transferred to Oakland University, sat out a year and did something bad enough to anger his new coach. From what I read, the coach said to Nunn if you push me, you're gone and if you're gone from Oakland you are likely done playing basketball forever, period. Nunn is currently one of the best shooting guards in the nation. If Groce had him on the roster last year, he is likely still coaching at Illinois. http://www.goldengrizzlies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020618aab.html Oakland's Kendrick Nunn has been selected as one of 10 candidates for the 2018 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award announced by The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tuesday. Nunn, a redshirt senior from Chicago, Ill., is one of the nation's top three-point shooters, leading the NCAA in three-pointers per game (4.64) and NCAA in three-point attempts (256). The shooting guard also ranks second nationally in points per game at 26.0 and total three-pointers made (102).

I don't know anything about the history of Akron basketball so I am not of any use there, but I do know what Groce likes in his players. Watch this video of incoming point guard, Loren Jackson. Groce calls him a water bug because he's like 5'-7". Notice how he is always in attack mode on both offense and defense. These tiny point guards are often a defensive liability, but they are great for breaking down a full court press. I wish Illinois had this guy last year when we played West Virginia. Just in case you haven't seen this one.

On an optimistic note; when I research LePear Toles and Loren Jackson I am hopeful these two guys will bring a winning attitude with them. Grocism of the Day - We want Tiggers at Akron, not Eeyores.

Great summary 1981 Grad and you are correct, they are playing worse. They are not playing team defense and missing their assignments. They didn't follow Clarkswgriswold's scouting report which was obviously on point. On offense there is way too much hero ball and there is no ball movement or a general sense of purpose on the court. Even without a full roster, this team is underachieving. Groce's teams always improved at Illinois, even though some years they collapsed before the post-season due to exhaustion trying to over-come injuries/set backs. This team due to a lack of leadership, competitiveness, pride and coachability has hit a wall early on and now it's spiraling out of control. My guess is there is a cancer in the locker room that will not exist next year. It might be one of our best players. It might be 4 of of our best players. Nobody is safe going into next year and they all had better be prepared to compete against walk-ons for the rest of the season because it's obvious to me that Groce is prioritizing culture over wins at this point.

Somebody might want to guard Dartis. Just a thought.

I hate it when I look past the obvious. Ugh! I swear it's not on the Akron schedule, where I usually look. Thanks guys! Go Zips! Bring the effort!

Is tonight's game televised anywhere? Nothing is posted on the Akron schedule.

Burn the tape of that one and go back to work.

Yes, but there wasn't any blood drawn.

That's it Patton. Battle!

Miami's point guard, Isaiah Coleman-Lands (#4) is the brother of Jalen Coleman-Lands who was recruited by and played for Groce at Illinois. He's going to be a good one for them.

Not only do we need an inside option to limit runs, our guards need to be able to finish through contact when we drive. I wouldn't expect to get a foul called on the road.

And most of them are good looks. They are just not falling.

They are taking advantage of our turnovers too.

Let's go Zips!!

Random observation: The Ball State cardinal logo is just weird.

No doubt Ivey had a great game, but I bet that missed monster dunk off the Cotton feed is eating at him just a little bit.

Damn, I didn't get to see that or any of the 2nd OT. It's a good thing you all type the play by play highlights. I set my Direct TV to record an extra 1/2 hour, but they wasted so much time messing with the game clock and then double OT?! Ugh!! That will learn me.

I'm bummed for you guys. We need to light a fire under them again. I will do my part from over here by singing this classic chant. "R...O...W, D...I...E That's the way we spell Rowdie, Rowdie. Let's get Rowdie! (Boom, Boom, Boom)"

I'm sorry if I hit a sore spot.

Did they graduate? What happened to them?

No truer words have ever been spoken. And they are spoken by every fan base in the nation.

BREAKING NEWS: ILLINOIS FINALLY WINS A CONFERENCE GAME! IT TURNS OUT ILLINOIS CAN'T GIVE A GAME AWAY IF INDIANA ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO TAKE IT.

Oh, I hate to disappoint you NWAkron, but the library of Grocisms is quite large and always open for business. And you will get to know them all by heart. This is the way he chooses to communicate. It's effective, but sometimes a little quirky. Illinois now has a coach who breaks clipboards and kicks garage cans across the locker room to get his point across. Pick your poison I guess. Last year Groce was mocked at Illinois for having an actual ladder in the practice facility with the final 6 or 7 games posted on each step just so the team would focus on that next game. I see why some people thought it was juvenile and gimmicky, even beneath the dignity of a proud program, but I also know that it almost worked. We came a 3-pointer at Rutgers away of getting an NCAA at-large bid and saving his job. The local sports media was just brutal. Only a few games into conference play they were writing off the Illini and packing Groce's boxes. The media actually became a self-fulling prophesy. They decided amongst themselves that it was time for a change and they created a stressful climate which made the team play tight, shoot like crap and lose. Then they would write about how much they suck and Groce sucks and on and on. Groce's stupid ladder idea almost over-came a deficiency at point guard and a media determined to write their own story. (Now that same media gets to write about a team that is 0-8 in the B1G.) But yes, he is worth a few chuckles for sure.

This is the problem I look forward to next year. All of these guys have a big off-season ahead of them in the gym and the weight room. Hopefully, E-man will be cleared in time to participate. I am very impressed with Kostelac's base. For a guy his size he has great balance. He's going to be an earth mover. Riak is an unknown, but I am hoping he can run and jump. If Riak can run the break, rim protect and dunk he will be fine at either the 4 or 5. Anything more than that is a bonus.