Captain Kangaroo

Can the women's basketball team make a similar improvement? If so then Guthrie can begin puffing his chest out a little.

No eye-popping Year 1 Stats at EMCC I think he was a HS champ discus thrower?

That one hurts. Such is life in the Portal era...

He’s 6’7”, can jump out of the gym, finishes at the rim, plays great defense, hustles relentlessly, great head on his shoulders, has shown well against P5 competition…what’s not to like for an NBA team? Second round draft picks are like confederate money to NBA teams. I’d spend a late second rounder on Enrique and see how he could develop when he dedicates 100% of his time to hoops rather than 25% to hoops, and 75% to study tables. Fully immersed in basketball, with a professional coaching and training staff, he could develop into an NBA player. He has all the tools.

I wonder if he could become a "Mitch Cronin" and blossom with a bigger conference and budget?

I counted one A-10 team in the tourney this year? Even 25-8 Fordham, and 22-win Dayton were passed-over by the Big Dance committee. When Groce considers departing the Rubber City one day, how much weight will be placed on the fact that it's easier to win the MAC than is it to finish 3rd or 4th in many larger conferences? $600k+ per season, and a 30%+ chance to go dancing at season's end (he's perennially playing on Friday's and/or Saturday's in the MAC Tourney every year)? That's a pretty good gig.

I have to believe they are walk on offers?

Can I start a debate? 😄 To completely overlook the team Groce assembled in the COVID cancellation year because the didn’t make the NCAA tournament unfairly skews the coaching success comparison. That team would have lapped the field at Rocket Mortgage, and had the Zips best chance at a tourney win that we may ever see.

Thanks! They don't have him listed as a Pitt transfer on GoZips.

Who is the player George mentions from Pitt? It's loud in the background and I can't make out the name. Something like Jud Totinder?

Thank you very much for the kind words. I think is was roughly 18 years ago that we began ZipsNation.org. Seven of us met outside Porky's Shop and pitched in some money to get the site started. @Zip Watcher did the original heavy lifting to set up the server and work with Invision. He's also the guy that came up with the "ZipsNation.org" name. Now-a-days "XYZ Nation" is everywhere. Back then is was more novel...and pretty perfect. Although he doesn't post much anymore, he continues to help with the server updates and issues. And keeping the domain name valid. And probably some other stuff I'm unaware of. Beyond participating, @ZZZips helps fund the site, paying for the server. This is greatly appreciated. In addition to his stellar photography skills and posts, @Dr Z has taken over the technical side of things, installing the updates to keep the site modern and running smoothly. This is not his specialty...he has learned this side of the internet on his own and the site would not exist if he hadn't stepped up and volunteered to do this. I pay the bi-yearly Invision fees. And I am the "heavy" when things occasionally get out of control, or improper content gets posted. I'm happy that doesn't happen too often anymore. Which ties into the closing thoughts - At the recent March MAC tournament two different people whom I, at best, casually know approached me to say how much they enjoyed the ZipsNation site. And what a great community of members we have. This is a "community"...with are scores of "regulars" that keep the site fresh, informational and interesting. And there are several hundred "lurkers" who check-in daily. Keeping the discussions on a high/professional level is what I want. No "professional" like everyone should write like Grantland Rice, but that everyone should be civil and respectful. The class exhibited by this site's members allowed me and Dr.Z being able to work with UA on the athletics stories and photography up through the COVID era. Several coaches over the years have told me "I don't read ZipsNation, but I have people that do. And they tell me you run a nice site." Of course, when I asked newly-hired Rob Ianello if I could stop by his office and interview him, he stuck his open hand in my face and stated - "We had FIVE fans sites covering us at Notre Dame...FIVE!" In conclusion - thanks to everyone in this community for making the site fun and informational for 18+ years. Who knows how long it will continue, but those of us that fund and run it are grateful that so many of you enjoy it, and contribute to making it great.

That's the value of a great AD. The AD's that select a coach because he was from Notre Dame (Ianello & Faust)...the son/daughter of a famous coach (Will/Bo Ryan, Bill/Lisa Fitch)...a "NE Ohio" Girl/Guy...those AD's are a dime a dozen. They have no better acumen for selecting a coach that the everyday yutsz that calls sports talk shows all day long. How does Toledo reload year-in-year-out...coach-in-coach-out? Not just in football, but most other sports too. It's because they have high standards and great leadership. At best, that's been hit and miss at UA for the 38 years I've been in Summit County. Professionally - I've sat in on so many group interviews where the job candidate was poorly prepared, or lacked the acumen to do the job for which they were interviewing, and many other interviewers loved the candidate. Because they dressed well...spoke well...were from the same region or college...they never dug deeper than that. And the bums often get the job. AD's are no different. To me the jury's still out on Guthrie. We'll see how this hire goes. If he's a great AD, he asked the right questions in the interviews, called the guy's references and asked them the right questions, and went with a gut feeling based upon those discussions and what he knows are key elements to being a successful head coach at Akron...where your budget isn't big...you have scant NIL potential...and where your fan base is paltry. It seems really simple, but that's pretty much it. You need to be able to identify coaching diamonds in the rough at Akron. Jay Wright or Dawn Staley aren't knocking the door down to coach here. But "The Next Jay Wright or Dawn Staley" is out there and needs his/her break. A great AD will identify them. Then it's lather-rinse-and-repeat when they ultimately get hired away. If your mid-major athletic dept has high standards and great leadership, that's how it goes.

It isn't a discussion thread if someone espouses only their point of view, and won't listen to an alternate thought or perspective.

"A guy raised his hand and asked if I had any advice when it came to coaching women. I gave him a death-ray stare and said, 'Don't worry about coaching women, just go home and coach basketball'." -Pat Summit

Good call. The OL actually game him some holes at the end of the season. I hope Lingard makes an impact. I’ll keep my expectations low…he barely saw the field at RB during his long Florida stint.

I don’t remember him having one decent game. I wish him well, but…meh.

Huskie Fans Thoughts on Kaleb

You're always one step away from an AD decimating your Division 1 program with a horrific hire. Huggins had 4 straight 20-win seasons, including an NCAA and two NIT berths. Enter Coleman Crawford, and a deep dive into the basketball abyss. Our own Charles Guthrie fired a 92-80 coach, replacing him with a "Name" guy...Will Ryan (son of Wisconsin legend Bo Ryan). Willy was a .500 coach at D-2 Wheeling prior to leeching on to his dad's resume like a remora on a shark belly, and bamboozling Guthrie. The apple fell faaaaar from the tree, as son Will went 15-61 before being fired. Names like Ianello and Arth obviously also apply. Enjoy whatcha' got...because tomorrow is promised to no one. Even the Tar Heels.

He was only at the JUCO for one season, and was immediately eligible at NIU, so his HS grades were fine. I'd guess his HS recruitment was light in part due to an injury?

Does Groce need to apologize when the Zips acquire another MAC player? Are we becoming NIU's "Marshall?" Or do the Huskies just figure "He's going to transfer anyhow...might as well be to a MAC program"? Solid, but not spectacular offensive numbers. A 1-ish points less than Hankerson...a couple more assists...35% from behind the arc. Definitely a step or two above Clarke...an overall "wash" as a Hankerson replacement? Gives us some versatility and depth. Wish it were more of a "splash" guy, but I'll take a 5th year baller like him.

I'm awaiting my PWO offer from Houston. Should arrive any minute now.

He finishes lay ups and shoots 3's better than Clarke, so I'm sold.

Big? Ja Morant would brandish a gun if you said that to his face.

The only thing I can speculate is - 6' 9", 330 lbs is tantalizing for some coaches? There aren't many his size out there. Xavior came a long way from topping 400 pounds and being relentlessly heckled as a high schooler. But was never remotely serviceable as a D-1 LT. Could they possibly have offered him a scholarship? His feet are soooo...slooooow.