Illini Zip

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.

One year at Illinois we were down so many players Groce had to suit up one of our team managers. The manager was actually honored on Senior night with the other players. So Groce knows how to get the most out of a very short bench. I am hoping he is able to put all of that crap in the rear-view mirror starting next year. Also, it will be nice to get Sayles back here soon.

Big steps tonight for Kostelac.

Cotton, air slaps at the line. Nice.

Groce put Utomi on Block. Great call.

Kostelac...big effort!!!

Okay, I don't like Gavin Block.

Looking good. I am liking the improved movement. And it will get much faster in time. They just need to learn to allow the pick to get set before they take off. Often the blame for a moving pick is the fault of the guy with the ball.

Let's Go Zips!!

Apparently, not. Yes. Four. Top Four. First Round which includes the bottom 8 teams are played at the universities. Rounds 2-4 in Cleveland. Anything else that I'm missing?

Anyone willing to educate a MAC novice? Does every team make the MAC Tourney? How many days/games to win it all? How many get to sit out with a bye? It appears some games are played at the universities and some are played in Cleveland, is that correct?

I like seeing Clark's optimism shine through. The bottom of the middle does sound better than the top of the bottom, right?!

This was my introduction to Groce as the Illinois coach with some fun, wide open, run and gun basketball. These clips against USC are from the same Maui Tourney Akron attended, but back in 2012. Illinois had junior and senior guards, but a very thin front court so talking about living by the three and dying by the three. I wouldn't bother watching too many other clips from Groce's tenure at Illinois because his rosters were always blown up. But the games against Gonzaga and Indiana his first year (2012-2013) were good and can be found on YouTube. The Miami game in the NCAA Tourney was also really good, but unfortunately not on YouTube. Go Zips, the future is bright!

If I'm obnoxious in anyway, please just ignore me. I find you all to be a lot more fun than my other team's fan base and great therapy. The Fighting Illini are brutal to watch and now they are talking about another complete rebuild...idiots! Call me in 4 years. Just when Groce was about to turn the corner from all of those injuries with an awesome recruiting class they fire him. FYI, Illini Nation thinks Groce can't coach himself out of a wet paper bag. My money is on Groce and Akron making a run deep into the tourney before them. The following is what Groce's inside game looks like. I hope Kostelac develops faster than Illinois' Maverick Morgan. Morgan didn't have the luxury of red-shirting either. It took him until halfway through his junior year for things to really start clicking. Maverick Morgan Springboro, Ohio 6'-10" 245 lbs 3 star recruit out of high school and absolutely worthless his Freshman year. Constant foul trouble, sound familiar.

I know nothing about the Dambrot offense, but this conversation about the proper timing and amount of 3 point shooting in an offense is fair and rather common. I will just tell you that if you were coached up like myself to work the ball around until you can get a high percentage shot like a lay up or dunk, this in not that offense. The only times I have seen Groce angry about a 3 point shot attempt is when someone who isn't proven shoots one or when it's a contested shot-clock bail out attempt. Guys like Utomi, Ivey and Duvivier who are strong and capable are free to take shots from NBA range. Jackson, Cotton and Hester have work to do in the weight room, but in time they too will be hurling bombs. This pulls the defense out, creating room to drive the lane. Now this is not in anyway an excuse for players standing around or just passing it back and forth up top then chucking it, which unfortunately happens at times. Our stable is low on horses this season, but if we are healthy next season I expect to see a running Zips team. Groce's offense when at full strength is designed to put stress on the opponent immediately and potentially for the full 30 seconds forcing them to guard the whole court on breaks and then as much of the half-court as possible. All five Zip players who will differ in size, strength and athleticism (for defensive reasons) will ideally be able to shoot and score from all 3 levels and drive on their defender. This includes E-man, Sayles, Riak and Kostelac believe it or not. Bottomline, expect 3 point shots early on during fast breaks. And if a 3 point shooter is open and takes one in stride, that is considered a quality possession at anytime. * * The exception that comes to mind is time and possession considerations at the end of a close game.

Overall a solid game, bring on the kitties.

I am hoping this NIU game is a road game next year for the Zips.

Bring the effort today guys!!

See, that's some good stuff right there!!

Okay...I understand that the Buffalo Bulls are one of our 3 main rivals so it is our duty to mock them at every opportunity. And since they are way up there on the border it's fitting to call them "Canada". I am just curious if there is more to it, like is their coach or players Canadian too? Sorry, but if I am ever going to earn that secret hand-shake I will need to know these things.

I agree fully with the reality you spell out here, but it's only going to go from bad to worse with this potential rule change. So what are the options for the Akrons of the basketball world? I am not quite sure myself, but I do believe the NCAA is more the problem than the solution. Consider that the Loyola University Ramblers of Chicago have a 1962-63 NCAA Championship banner hanging from their rafters. I know because I saw it during my niece's graduation. Even back then, they were not a big state school, from a big conference with a huge alumni base or benefiting from a lucrative TV deal. They just chose to play their black players more than others. I personally would like to see more Loyola stories in the future and this proposed rule change is only going to make the climb harder, if not impossible. Why not Akron?