Zippy87

You're calling my take a bad take but you don't want to be realistic about the limitations of this year's team. If they truly had the talent to beat a top team, they would've done it at least once, and not lost to all but one of them by double-digits. We can love our team and be proud of them while staying realistic.

Not a bad take at all, a realistic one. The MAC had two very good teams - us and Miami - and we both beat up on inferior competition. Those other teams you mentioned had excellent shooting performances because we play poor perimeter defense, not because of bad luck. I'm not trying to rip on our guys - I love them all and am proud of this year. But this team didn't beat a single top team the entire season. It is what it is.

The only teams we blew out were inferior MAC teams. Lost by 10 to Troy, lost by 15 to Murray State, lost by 18 to Purdue. Again, we were a really good MAC team. I'm proud of what they accomplished this year. But this team just wasn't talented enough to beat top-level competition.

And seeing if Groce stays or leaves.

This was a good but not great team all year. We struggled to put away Buffalo, we struggled to put away Kent, we beat Toledo by 3. Unfortunately, we get probably our best draw of any of the three years with probably our worst team.

The offensive gameplan was fine. This was a 4 point game with 8 minutes left. Our offensive players just aren't good enough.

We just haven't been good enough.

Too many guys playing scared or timid.

Can't let the 5th best 3-point shooting team in the nation continually take wide-open threes.

Amani has 2 fouls. Tech went on a big run when he was out. He has to stay out of foul trouble.

Shammah and Amani have accounted for 25 of our 35 points.

Tavari better bring it in the 2nd half or there's no chance.

They're one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the country and we're allowing way too many good looks.

I feel more nervous today than I have any of the previous tourney games. Maybe it's seeing a single-digit point spread. Maybe it's knowing how much we are losing next year. Maybe it's the outside noise about Groce getting offers to go elsewhere. But this feels like a pretty gigantic game for our program and its future.

All of this history is probably why Groce is underrated nationally. Still, given UA’s status as a MAC dynasty, it would come as no surprise if Groce were to receive another shot to lead a major program. Speculation has already been swirling about Groce, whose contract with Akron is scheduled to run until June 30, 2035, becoming a candidate at Cincinnati, Butler and Boston College. Groce called his Akron predecessor Keith Dambrot “a legend” when Dambrot announced his retirement as Duquesne’s coach in 2024. Groce inherited an excellent program from Dambrot. Since then, Groce has elevated it and surpassed Dambrot’s three trips to the NCAA Tournament with the Zips. If this iteration of March Madness proves to be Groce’s last hurrah with Akron, it’s been a great run, one worthy of love from Zips fans.

https://www.ideastream.org/sports/2026-03-18/mac-teams-are-dancing-in-march-but-butler-opportunity-looms-for-akron-miami-coaches Will those strong connections make both men candidates for the Butler job? "I don't think you can go wrong with either one of them," Pluto said. "John has told me ... he's been very content at Akron."

https://chicago.suntimes.com/college-sports/2026/03/19/akron-zips-john-groce-crushing-it-illinois-texas-tech-ncaa-tournament-march-madness As Groce’s Illinois successor, Brad Underwood, continues to make the school look good for hiring him in 2017, Groce has become a rumored candidate for higher-level jobs, including at Butler and Cincinnati. “You can’t ever say never,” he said. “That’s just not how this deal works. I’m always open-minded.”

Christian Anderson not listed on Tech's injury report. https://x.com/i/status/2034825537747619977

Akron shot 75% overall from the free throw line this season. However, they have struggled at the line in March: CMU - 6/11 (54%) NIU - 8/12 (66%) Buffalo - 11/18 (61%) Kent - 17/27 (63%) Toledo - 3/9 (33%) Overall - 45/77 (58%) Definitely something to watch tomorrow.

I can't imagine Groce leaving a really good situation for a gig where they aren't fully invested in the program.

I'm hoping our gameplan is to attack the hoop like we did in the 2nd half against Toledo. It helps create a more efficient offense and opens up better looks on the perimeter.

Understanding the Advanced Statistics Behind the Texas Tech and Akron first-round Matchup https://share.google/Vo4bGxWdCKmulP4Va Really good preview here.

Ohio will look very different next season. https://x.com/i/status/2034663924998484474

What do you think? 1) Shammah Scott's game-winner vs Toledo (2026) 2) Akron beats Kent in OT on Marshall/McNees blocks, wins MAC Title (2011) 3) Nate Johnson's game-winner vs Miami (2025) 4) Akron beats Kent by 1 after Tribble hits FTs following KSU mental mistake (2024) 5) Short-handed Zips destroy OU in MAC Title game (2013) 6) Akron beats Kent by 20, wins first MAC Title under Groce (2022) 7) Akron beats Buffalo for first MAC Title (2009) 8) Akron beats Kent in regular season finale, wins MAC regular season title (2020) 9) Akron beats Toledo in OT on last-second alley-oop in MAC Tournament 10) Akron beats EMU in 2OT after McNees hits a buzzer-beating 3 to send it to OT Honorable Mention: Jimond Ivey sets the school’s single-game scoring record with 48 points against Ball State (2018)

If Isaiah Johnson is the new precedent, there's a solid case for Tavari to have #5 hanging in the JAR at some point.