ZipsFan31

As a paying fan, I am disappointed with the pace and names of the teams. It is bunched up with the tournament 😔 but I go to games to watch our team play and see how the guys develop. hope we get quality games and not blowouts. Better clear your schedule the week before thanksgiving.

Do you guys see season tickets are on sale now! Sad there has not been a marquee opponent announced yet.

Anyone going to the open practice tomorrow? Deciding if I should call off work or not in the afternoon…

I totally agree Young is probably not going to get the start At the start of the season. What I am excited to see is: is he as good as social media has hyped him up to be. starting line up Gray Wilson Nate Johnson Harris Okonkwo with Young battling Travi for back up PG

Who is everyone most excited player to watch? Also who do you think will be the fan favorite by the end of the season for me I am most excited to Sharron Young. I think the fan favorite will be Nate Johnson

That’s a big one. I hope we get a return trip to Akron. I would take a 2 for 1 if we have to. It’s all about Quad 1 games

I think the ceiling next season is a MAC Championship with a chance at a March tournament win. (13 seed) but the floor is a frustrating 17-14 season where we as fans feel like this team has no chemistry and we just can never put it together. I think the keys to the ceiling season is: James Okonkwo: being a power 4 big in the MAC (Aka domination) The guys who “should” be good shooters actually being good shooters Sharron Young blossoms into the clutch killer he was in highschool and takes over games in crunch time. Making young kids everywhere in Akron pretending to be him in their driveways. I believe in John Groce to Gel the team and lead us into March excited to cut the nets in Cleveland.

I think when you evaluate Groce. How can you not be happy. He has found a way to make it to the NCAA tournament 2 out of 3 years. Since joining the MAC Akron has made it 5 times. That is 5 in 32 year we are in the good times! The core of Ali Ali and Freeman was unstoppable. Sure you would have wished to capitalize on those 2 elite players and win a tournament game. But I’m just glad to have my team get called on selection Sunday. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-American_Conference_men's_basketball_tournament#Tournament_champions

I got him going 39 to Memphis grizzlies so excited to see what he can do, and hope he gets in a situation where he is given a chance

I would love to schedule more A10 teams… I think we can beat them and pad the resume

This^^^^ might be the perfect solution to fixing the JAR

building a new stadium is not the answer, but I do wish the food option would be better. also putting new seats in would really make it feel new and vibrant.

I totally agree Josiah Harris will be playing the 4 and we will be guard oriented. affer watching a mixtape from Hardman highschool days he is a spot up shooter not a shot creator. Think Kyle korver not Luka Dončić. Good depth add but I would not assume he starts. It is never a bad thing to have a sniper in your arsenal as a coach. Let’s hope the few bigs we have can keep us afloat down low.

Have not done a ton of research, but this add is a bit of head scratcher for me. the need for a big was more important. From 3 last season Tavari shot 45% Nate shot 32% Scott shot 30% Harris shot 32% wilson shot 38% gray shot 24% Young shot over 40% in highschool. we have shooters but only have 1 proven big. I would love to see Hardman highschool tape. If he is more then spot up shooter then I LOVE the add… as he has 2 years of eligibility

Both the recent transfers feel like a coach making space for instant contributors. Only worry is we will become a team that reloads every year. Is that a good thing… maybe… maybe not. I think this is just the future of college basketball and JG is on the train, and not getting pasted by. as for our new roster opening. Stretch 4 is #1 need but I would take a 7 footer who bangs. I actually think we have a decent amount of shooters

Here is my way too early line up Starters Sharron Young 20 minutes Seth Wilson 25 minutes Nate Johnson 25 minutes Josiah Harris 35 minutes James Okonkwo 30 minutes Bench Shammah Scott: 20 minutes Tavari Johnson 15 minutes Ryan Prather 20 minutes Darrian Baker 10 minutes Get minutes only due to injury or fouls Amani Lyles MMK

Freeman>Okonkwo but the supporting case has a chance to be better. It’s going to come down to 3 point shooting as last year that was our weak spot

I was talking to my buddy yesterday about who will be the big shot taker on this team. It tends to be a guard since they handle rock come crunch time. I think the top 3 candidates right now in April are: Seth Wilson, Nate Johnson, Josiah Harris. 2 years ago it was Castaneda. this past year it was Ali Ali. Am I Crazy it might be Sharron Young, he seems to have big shot Maker DNA based on Highschool career. I think this is Vital to any successful basketball team, and I am excited to see who steps up. could make or break if we don't have a crunch time scorer.

I like to pod them up: Seth Wilson, Shammah Scott, Tarvi Johnson, and Sharron Young split time in the PG and SG role. The ability to hit shots will drive who plays more. I give my nod to the Seniors starting and Young and Johnson coming off the bench, this will change as all will play and whoever is hot will play more. Nate Johnson, Ryan Prather, Amani Lyles, and Marvin Musiime-kamali split time in the SF and PF role. The Match up and team need will determine who plays here. give me Nate and Prather to play a bulk of minutes. unless we need size. James Okonkwo gets most of the minutes at Center. but the Redshirt Freshman Darrian Baker helps out when needed. I am not well versed if Eric Mahaffey or Rich Brisco are instant impact or Redshirt type players. we have one scholarship left. I would love a 6'7 or 6'8 guy to play stretch 4. or a 7'0 footer. would also just take a DAWG at guard who would have take over the game abilities.

I know the roster is not finished up. My big questions who do you think gets the nod for starting point guard. Tarvi, Scott, Wilson, or Young… I think you can play all of those 4 guards at the 2 as well. my guess is Tarvi, but I’m hoping Young comes in and is special.

I think we need a shooter. Can never have enough of 3 shooters i would love a stretch 4 that would fill 2 needs. Give me another Sammy hunter and I am pumped for the season!

Anyone have a pulse if we are in the mix for Bronny… I would love to see him come home and it would be great PR but it would become a circus… probably not Coach Groce’s culture lol still would make a rebuild season super fun to let bronny shoot 25+ shots a game

I might be proven wrong. But I think Sharon Young is a game changer. All MAC player. So excited to see him in a Zips uniform! 3 straight state titles and Gatorade player of the year in the state of WV

Something I would love Groce to look for is the power 5 bench player transfers. I have seen other schools do that and it gives you talent immediately. if you are sitting on the bench at a school like Illinois and get recuiter over. You can come to Akron hoping to be a star. NIL doesn’t matter since at Illinois you did get any money anyway and you are not a proven commodity sitting on the bench.

1st off. Thank you to the seniors… what a fun year. We got to the mountain top! a Mac tournament title. looking to next year I think we have a future superstar: Sharon Young. He won 3 straight class 4 titles in WV and also won Gatorade player of the year. He is a power 5 talent coming here! you have a gap year and let him grow and by sophomore year we will be ready to hand him the keys. Zips will be just fine if we keep Groce