RoyalBlu

Did not happen ... not by a long shot. Let's just leave it at that. Ugly!

If I'm not mistaken, this has some LBJ/Dambrot/Nike connection with SVSM getting the $$$. Pretty sure KD would not be scheduling a 'loss' in that game. As it stands, Bradley from the Missouri VAlley, in terms of league quality and name recognition, is probably a step up in terms of opponent. Duquesne should win ... but not a wild upset if they do lose.

I'd say the same, not so much because I believe this is one of the better Akron teams ever (it could be but not now), but because at this point there isn't another MAC team out there that seems to be anywhere as good as the Zips. A large part of this is because no other MAC team has the depth of seniors Akron does. This is a bonus in terms of expectations and execution. The Zips should have no problems handling both. The down side is - execution aside - history says teams like this don't necessarily get better as talent matures, they get better with execution. So looking around the league the two teams, to me, that have the greatest talent growth potential in terms of competing with the Zips are Northern Illinois and Toledo. UT's roster isn't that deep, but they have changed their style of play from chuck-n-duck to grunt and grind. As they get better at it - with the firepower they have. could be a tough tangle by the end of the season. NIU, on the other hand, has arguably (IMO) the most talented roster top to bottom in the league. They may be a year away, after earning the necessary scabs from this season, but who knows what could happen down the stretch. After that, an Akron fan would probably point to Kent state as a threat, just for being a rival. But right now, they seem to have as many issues as most other MAC teams, in terms of finding a consistent starting lineup and developing a team identity. IMO, Akron is ahead of the game vs. all those teams in terms of maturity, (enough) depth, talent (Freeman/Ali lift all others), experience, team identity, and until proven otherwise, coaching. On paper, this is Akron's year. (As an aside, I'd put the (pre-arrest) Abreu team, and the senior-laden Big Dog team - just to name two - as more complete teams (talent wise) than this one, primarily due to guard play.) But as noted above Freeman/Ali are a cut above and lift all others with them.

Once Ali is cleared, who loses minutes? ... I'm guessing Hunter.

In my mind, that guy should be Hunter. But he has no interest in anything other than a 3-pointer. A guy his size w/average to better athleticism should make a killing off Freeman's leftovers, in terms of rebounds and going to the line. Agree w/others who note Zips look very ordinary unless Freeman is dominant.

The question isn't being allowed to transfer ... that's not a problem. The question is being allowed to play. Butler gets to use his scholarship, not skin off their nose. Akron takes all the hits ... scholarship and (loss of) eligibility.

Ali's time at Butler must have truly been a train wreck ... understanding he (apparently) left Akron academically eligible as a junior ... he played his fourth season at Butler (apparently eligible) then returns to Akron for his fifth season and has two (or maybe just one) academic summer session, plus a fall semester, and still needs eight more spring credits to become a grad student??? This points to a very bad academic year at Butler, which is something the NCAA should be taking a hard look at, IMO. Ali basically needs/needed what looks like almost a full year academic load to become eligible at Akron. While his mental health is certainly part of the issue, he was academically eligible to play last year at Butler, and it seems like ... mental health aside ... it's questionable if Ali would be academically eligible now even with NCAA mental health clearance, unless I'm missing something. Something doesn't add up. Butler and the NCAA should clear this mess.

Based on non-conference records, if you believe Ball State (4-1) is the best team in the MAC and Toledo (3-3) is not a MAC Contender, then eggs ain't poultry. Akron, even w/o Ali, remains the class of the MAC until further notice. Maybe by January Ohio, NIU, or Kent might rise up. If and until then, say AKRON.

Just to show you how wacky this all is w/NCAA .... consider Bandaogo's argument. 1) If losing his head coach and mentor (Mark Madson went to Cal) was such a mental hardship, why didn't he follow Madsen to Cal? 2) And I understand this ia a greatly embellished press release https://gouvu.com/news/2023/4/6/mens-basketball-todd-phillips-named-utah-valley-mens-basketball-head-coach.aspx But it reads like the new Utah Valley head coach was the guy who did all the work with Bandaogo, and not Madsen. Anyway, the real power move was getting the Ohio AG to step in. If the Zips can get him to do the same, then there should be a chance for Ali this season.

Ali played his first three seasons at Akron (counting covid year), transferred to Butler for his fourth year. This is into his fifth year, and still not a graduate. I make no comment about his ability as a student, just pointing out his timeline. Next year will be his sixth year. The NCAA waived the covid year (2020-2021) for eligibility giving a great number of players an extra year of eligibility ... but also an extra year to graduate and become a grad student (based on a 4-year graduation clock).

I do wonder ... the tone of Groce's statement and saying 'more to come' when the team returns has me thinking the NCAA was Ali's only chance for this season. No mention of second semester eligibility as a grad student, which hints that academic concerns were more daunting than initially thought. The key now is not let this situation become a team distraction going into the new year. If there is a strong appeal, make it. If not, focus on the challenge at hand. Akron still considered a solid favorite to win the MAC. Tighten the belt and go for it.

I would ask if his mental health issue was documented when he left Akron for Butler ... or was his mental health issue documented after he left Butler to return to Akron?

Sorry ... What I didn't mention is most of those guys (Wilson, Shumate and one other at Toledo, Hall, DeLarosa, Payton) were/are all transfers. So those guys are out there if you can find one that fits what you want. BG, Toledo, WMU, EMU just to name four all have transfer bigs this season.

The MAC has had some interesting big men during Groce's tenure at Akron: The big kid during Buffalo's run was actually a sixth man ... Toledo has had a couple of solid bigs, actually three, who were more face-up post players than bangers ... Ohio had Wilson ... Kent had Jimmy Hall, DeLarosa, Pippen, now Payton and each of those guys is different. Eastern had that real good post guy but not much around him ... I guess the key is to find a guy you can put the right pieces with to be successful. Bandaogo and Freeman did not gel together because, IMO, both were (1) young and (2) both post players. I'm guessing Freeman would much easier be a 4-man now than earlier in his career. Whatever, ..... the portal should make it easier for a coach with Groce's success to find what the Zips need.

All of the above is true ... what is scary is, so far, when Freeman is not a double-double the rest of the team suddenly looks very ordinary. Even w/Ali ... a look into the future shows the Zips not only need a solid post player, but a true PF that can both score and rebound as well as a go-to guard. Groce has proven he can find quality guards, so no problem there. But a ready to play PF and and post man -- both in the same class -- might be a lot to ask, based on recent history. But that's down the road. Get Ali in the mix this season and the Zips probably make a jump no other team in the league can match. Yet based on early-November MAC results I would stack the MAC like this: Toledo Northern Illinois 'Akron Kent Ohio then everybody else. That's based not just on record, but how teams have looked in their WORST games, not just their best. I give Zips the edge over Kent. While Kent has not had a true blowout loss, it has already shown it can give a game away, which might be even worse than a blowout loss.

True ... but when will he make a difference at all ....

I thought so, too .... and still holding out hope. Guessing there's some tough love going on w/the new coach and relatively young team. We'll see what it looks like by Christmas. But not looking great now. On the other hand ... Northern Illinois is looking like a team to watch going forward.

Definitely a good road draw if it happens ... JMU is undefeated, but every game has been decided down the stretch. Will be interesting to see how they hold up in league play, where the opposition knows them better and scouts them better. Also keep an eye on their bench, so far not overly productive.

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.

I thought so too, before the season, but BG not quite what I thought out of the gate. Will evaluate again come Christmas.

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.'

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.

KENPOM this evening is interesting today ... https://kenpom.com/ 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

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.

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.