RoyalBlu
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Posts posted by RoyalBlu
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7 hours ago, LoyalZIP said:
We're doomed. BG is legit.
I thought so too, before the season, but BG not quite what I thought out of the gate. Will evaluate again come Christmas.
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1 hour ago, UAZippers said:
From my understanding, the last few years, pretty much since Covid, the NCAA has been very lenient on giving out waivers for 2nd transfers. All you had to do was claim some kind of hardship and your waiver would be approved. Earlier this year, they announced that they were going to be a lot more strict, but only after many players transferred assuming they would get the waiver. It is the same issue that affected Aziz in Cincy and the Kent WR that transferred to UNC.
I understand why it is annoying for people who are losing out, but I am happy that the rules seem to be more uniform once again and it doesn't feel like the NCAA is playing favorites.
I'm guessing some grades from Akron did not transfer to Butler ... but it probably didn't matter because it was his first transfer. There's Scuttlebutt Ali was not at his best, academically, at Butler. Am guessing many of his Butler grades did not transfer back to Akron ... HOWEVER ... his old Akron grades are now back in play. The issue could now be two-fold. 1) Ali needed to get grades to be eligible, which was likely accomplished over the summer and first semester. 2) He could also need the hours to qualify as a grad student. IT'S ALL JUST A GUESS ... but what else do we have to work with.
He could be 'eligible' but the NCAA could deny waiver because it is his second transfer. The easiest way to beat the 2nd transfer rule is to be a 'grad student.'
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58 minutes ago, Zipmeister said:
The fact that no Ali Ali decision has been rendered to this point is not good and a favorable decision gets more and more unlikely as time passes.
Believe the last reasonable hope is Ali has picked up enough credits to be a 'grad student' by the semester break and is eligible then. If that's not the issue, I agree NCAA odds are not in his favor. BUT ... with the plethora of on-line courses and available tutors, shame on Akron if that is indeed the issue and this can't get done.
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KENPOM this evening is interesting today ...
No. 78 Duquesne .. 81 Akron ... 85 James Madison ... 108 Ohio ... 113 Toledo .. 114 Kent ... 115 Fresno ... 135 South Dakota State ... 150 Cleveland State ... 159 Southern Mississippi.
Observation: Losing at home (Kent/South Dakota State) is a bummer while winning on the road (Akron/JMU) is a plus ... BUT .. doesn't explain JMU (2 quality road wins) below Akron and Duquesne (only home wins) ahead of Akron ... or Ohio over 40 spots ahead of CSU after head to head road loss.
As I said ... INTERESTING
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1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:
I was referring to the JMU game. A blind squirrel found a nut last night.
Really early in the season for some of this ... as I recall, Zips blew a lead this week as well. We all should wait a couple of weeks before we start pointing fingers. Looking at the other side of the coin, it seems the Zips had their issues with CSU during a recent scrimmage. KSU should have won vs. the early-season Cinderella team, and led a mid-level Mountain West team stem to stern. Both probably better than South Dakota State. Zips chances are coming ... let's focus on that instead of the trials of others.
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1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:
I'm a bit torn. I used to hate CSU but they've been so irrelevant for so long, and have refused to play us for so long that now I just feel nothing about them. But rivalries are fun and I think I kind of miss that rivalry... so maybe I hope they turn their program around?
The old UA-KSUcks-YSU-CSU coaches for cancer(?) thing was a nice event... and so easy to organize. If CSU would schedule us again maybe we could bring it back?
Agree with this. A Thanksgiving-weekend double-header rotation would be great, along with this Sun Belt Challenge would put some spice into the non-con schedule. Add in a strong holiday tournament somewhere and a P5 road by game and the schedule would be pretty solid.
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Really interesting but has the Ali Ali situation been addressed by Groce and/or the media at all??????
I mean, the season has started.
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1 hour ago, csims0917 said:
TOLEDO WINS. THE MAC TAKES THE FIRST HALF OF THE SUN BELT CHALLENGE 7-5! FLY THE FLAG
Should be MAC 8-4 ... but we all know why.
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9 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said:
Two games in and he's already doubled his 3-point count from last year!🤯 🤯😂
But seriously, wouldn't it be great if his defender had to respect his 3-point shot? That'd open a whole new world for Greg.
Simple formula ... win all games at home, split (or better) on the road. Zips are on target.
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23 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:
I thought the offensive foul on Kent was a flop by the JMU player but it worked. The Kent player should have been smarter and not touched the JMU player.
FYI, the Kent player on the pushoff/flop was Sincere Carry's (half) brother. Agree, just get the ball inbounds. That's an aggressive play you try when you're down two late, not up.
Also, agree, thought JMU player not just moved on the screen, but got a pretty good shove into the Kent player to free the guy for the layup. Tough MAC loss, no matter what team. MAC needs to win games like these, especially the top tier teams.
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20 minutes ago, csims0917 said:
Ohio is dominating Troy. 43–28. Ohio isn’t even shooting that great but they are smothering Troy and scoring off of turnovers
Get used to this ... Bobcats are really small w/no real size or presence inside. Loads of guards/wings however which points to a lot of press and trap, at least early in the season. Let's see how long into the season it holds up.
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39 minutes ago, zippy5 said:
Nice W. Just wait til we add Ali Ali
Any word on when he'll be eligible ...
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5 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:
JMU plays PCCC next I believe.
5 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:JMU plays PCCC next I believe.
In Portage County, Thursday night. Interesting.
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Excellent job Zips ... maybe best MAC win of the night.
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Hours before the season opener I'm guessing the best-case scenario for the Zips and Ali Ali is he will be cleared by the NCAA to play starting the second semester. Rumored transfer issues re: academics seems to hold some water at this point as he would have been cleared to play long before now if he was a grad student, either at the time of his transfer or at the end of the summer sessions.
What's not known is if there were any extenuating circumstances that played to Akron/Ali's benefit with the NCAA to grant immediate eligibility with a second transfer. Traditionally this would be transferring back to his home state to be closer to family for any number of reasons. BUT, Ali is transferring away from his home state to be back at Akron. Which is against the norm. Also what's not known is how much or how little Butler is helping this process, although Groce and Butler coach Matta have a long-standing relationship.
Whatever the outcome, overall, typical NCAA foot-dragging that does not seem to happen much further up the D1 totem pole.
Then again, Ali could be cleared to play by game time tonight!!!
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2 hours ago, LZIp said:
Considering expectations this season, its important not to overreact if some games in this more challenging OOC schedule don't go our way. I don't know anything, but am not expecting Ali until after this semester is over based off of information that has been shared on here. Obviously team is going to be a lot better with him on the floor. Unfortunately, this is going to likely mean our season comes down to 3 days in March, but....always has.
Still hoping we can pick up some good wins in the meantime.
Agree this is a 'challenging' schedule with many 'maybe' games. But let's not fool ourselves. Zips will have to run the non-conference table to even get into the conversation out being a potential at-large/Cinderella team. While truly 'challenging' there is no magic bullet (P6) upset opportunity on this schedule this year that would carry any weight into the post season, even for the NIT. As stated many times ... season comes down to three days in March.
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31 minutes ago, roopride said:
If not eligible this year. Is he eligible to play next year?
Absolutely ...
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28 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:
I sense a lot of 'hope' but no explicit confidence from Groce on having Ali Ali this season. Anyone read it differently?
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4 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said:
The MAC is considered a 'guards' league ... but interesting that teams with the best 'proven returning guards' are picked third and fifth by the coaches. ... I believe Akron is a certain title contender, but with talented but unproven guards and still undetermined Ali Ali situation, the closer it gets to the start of the season the more uneasy it all seems.
Interesting: Coaches see Zips as dominant with 11 first place votes and a 17-point spread between first and second place. Next biggest spread is 8-points between No. 5 NIU and No. 6 BG/Miami. Basically a top and bottom league.
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2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:
2023-24 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll (First Place Votes)
1. Akron (11) – 121
2. Kent State – 104
3. Ohio (1) – 102
4. Toledo – 93
5. Northern Illinois – 82
T6. Bowling Green – 64
T6. Miami – 64
8. Ball State – 55
9. Buffalo – 38
10. Western Michigan – 33
11. Eastern Michigan – 22
12. Central Michigan – 14
Tournament Champion: Akron (9), Kent State (1), Ohio (1), Toledo (1)
2023-24 MAC Men’s Basketball Preseason All-MAC Teams
First Team
Ali Ali, Guard, Akron, Sr.
Enrique Freeman, Forward, Akron, Sr.
Chris Payton, Forward, Kent State, Grad.
Jaylin Hunter, Guard, Ohio, Sr.
Dante Maddox Jr., Guard, Toledo, Jr.
Second Team
Tyson Acuff, Guard, Eastern Michigan, Jr.
Jalen Sullinger, Guard, Kent State, Jr.
Anderson Mirambeaux, Center, Miami, Sr.
David Coit, Guard, Northern Illinois, Jr.
AJ Brown, Guard, Ohio, So.
The MAC is considered a 'guards' league ... but interesting that teams with the best 'proven returning guards' are picked third and fifth by the coaches. ... I believe Akron is a certain title contender, but with talented but unproven guards and still undetermined Ali Ali situation, the closer it gets to the start of the season the more uneasy it all seems.
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3 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said:
Would really like to know what the 'secret scrimmage' format was: Was it a 'game scrimmage' w/20-minute halfs and a break in between. Was it officiated? Was the scrimmage 2 20-minute halfs, 1-on-1s, 2-on-2s. Officiated? Was it more structured? 20-min man-to-man, 20-min zone and so forth? Was it fully officiated.
As you can see, these 'secret scrimmages' can have a variety of formats. So the final 'score' may not be really indicative of a true 'game' score. And again, officiating (or none) could make a difference as well.
In the end, not too bummed about the score.
BTW .... who remembers the year Akron blew the doors off Michigan in a 'secret scrimmage.' How did that turn out for Akron and for Michigan???
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1 hour ago, NWAkron said:
YSU wanted that scrimmage more. Bad omen. Fortunately, Groce's teams peak in March...or at least they did in 2022.
Would really like to know what the 'secret scrimmage' format was: Was it a 'game scrimmage' w/20-minute halfs and a break in between. Was it officiated? Was the scrimmage 2 20-minute halfs, 1-on-1s, 2-on-2s. Officiated? Was it more structured? 20-min man-to-man, 20-min zone and so forth? Was it fully officiated.
As you can see, these 'secret scrimmages' can have a variety of formats. So the final 'score' may not be really indicative of a true 'game' score. And again, officiating (or none) could make a difference as well.
In the end, not too bummed about the score.
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38 minutes ago, LZIp said:
Your post reads as you questioning whether Ali is eligible and also that he isn’t. Do you know something?
I know nothing ... (wish I did) ... I am questioning if he is eligible. I haven't seen or heard any official or unofficial word either from this board or from the athletic department. That's why I hedged a bit on Zips being consensus MAC favorites. Like I said ... Zips are certainly MAC favorites w/Ali, but just one of several contenders w/o him.
Hoping for the best ... but just my opinion.
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1 hour ago, zipsrowdy88 said:
One thing:
I’ve now heard on a few accounts that we just got a good ole fashioned ass kicking from YSU. Seems like they simply just wanted it more. Not super worried still, but definitely nervous for this first game. SDSU is LEGIT! We are favored tho, sports books are not dumb.
Thoughts?
The big unknown ... X2. Was Ali Ali a participant in the YSU scrimmage, and has there been any confirmation Ali Ali is eligible for the season?
Having asked those questions I will say the Zips should still be solid contenders to win the MAC, but perhaps not solid favorites as they are now w/o Ali. That said, there truly is no solid MAC favorite, if the Zips aren't it. Ali lifts Akron above Ohio, Toledo and Portage, his loss just puts the Zips beside those three. At that point, the deciding factor is the best coach among the four. Hmmmm. Wouldn't want to put that to a vote (even knowing the answer) to keep from delivering bulletin board material.
2023-24 MAC & CBB Season
in Akron Zips Basketball
Posted
Actually (using Kenpom) the tournaments are pretty comparable. Both teams have relatively easy openers, potential second round matchups are pretty close as well. However, if Zips advance to title game, their potential matchup (Drake 75) is distinctly higher than any team Kent might play in the finals. Overall, Akron (84) and Drake are higher than every team in the Kent tournament. Based on Kenpom, both teams should be favored into the finals.