Let'sGoZips94

Buffalo dropped soccer, WVU/GA State/GA Southern/FIU all came and went, etc. If Guthrie is telling Embick that he won't restrict us to the MAC, I'm quite confident - as long as we have a place to go - we can tell the MAC to kiss our butt. Plus, if we leave, the MAC won't have enough members yet again. I can't imagine there being a huge push for outside schools to come to the Akron-less MAC for soccer. They'd probably drop the sport completely - like men's hockey - and WMU/NIU/BUGS would just find a new conference.

Regarding the game, I expect us to be in the game until the end. I have so much faith in Groce Ball - maybe to a fault - that I believe we can shoot below average and compete with anyone in the country outside of Duke, Kansas, etc. Our defense, effort, and free throw shooting will keep us in just about any game. I'd imagine their height advantage will be negated a bit by Freeman's abilities down low and our overall effort on the boards. If we can get a double-double from Freeman, ~17 points from X, 12-15 pts from Hankerson, and double digits from someone like Hankerson or Johnson, I really like our chances. Also, we need to keep the turnovers to ~12 or fewer.

There is some debate on how kid-friendly their broadcast will be. Worst case scenario, you mute the stream and listen to the radio. However, this is a pretty big event for Barstool, so I'd imagine they'll want it to go over well with the public. They were supposed to have a bowl game a few years ago, but COVID cancelled it. This is now their first time hosting/broadcasting an event, and we're going to be the primo game for them. Pretty cool.

The conference does not have final say. Otherwise, Texas & Oklahoma wouldn't be allowed to leave the Big 12.

That kid got wrecked on the celebration. Sheesh.

Lots of new faces in the lineup - Johnson, Hunter, Lyles, Hankerson, etc. What didn't change was the effort on both ends of the floor, on the boards, and at the free throw line. I don't know if SDSU made more than 1 3 pointer in the 2nd half/overtime. They finished 4-15 for the game according to ESPN, and I thought they were over 50% with 5 attempts in the first half. We only missed 2 free throw the entire game - 83.3% for us, 82.4% for them on 5 more attempts (17 to 12). We were out-rebounded by 2. Their entire starting lineup finished with double digit points. I mean this is one of the better wins I've ever seen for Akron, especially from a game script standpoint. We gutted this one out because the team is already buying into Groce ball.

If this is wrong, I don't want to be right. I was following the gamecast, saw OU go up by 2 with 1 second left, almost exited the page, and it refreshed to show the made 3 by Belmont as time expired. Immediately typed in bobcatattack.com and got some popcorn. Also, Belmont apparently lost 7 of their 8 top scorers from last year.

Holy smokes. You rock for this info.

And he made the free throw that mattered. I look to Tribble for defense, rebounds as a guard, and attacking the basket. He stole the ball when it mattered, and at the same time attacked/rebounded when it mattered. Love Tribble and he's been fun to watch in an Akron uniform. He was HUGE tonight.

OU loses on a buzzer beater 3 to Belmont after making a 3 with 1 second left to go up by 2. WOW! O U - O NO!

I watched a lot of garbage calls occur earlier in the game when our guys were playing straight up. 39 minutes to go vs 2 seconds to go. A foul is a foul, and affects the game the same.

To any South Dakota State fans lurking - Thank you Jackrabbits for coming to Akron. Seriously. That was the best non-conference game at the JAR since your neighbors to the north paid a visit. Good luck the rest of the season. Your non-conference schedule is awesome, and I would not be surprised to see y'all make some noise and run the table in your conference. 5 straight weeks with top 25 votes to finish last season, and it showed tonight. Could not ask for a better season-opener. Wow. What a win! Go Zips!

AKRON WINS! AKRON WINS! AKRON WINS! TRIBBLE MADE THE FREE THROW TO WIN IT!

This is potentially poetic.

Somewhere, a UCLA fan is watching this game thinking, "Thank you refs for getting Freeman out of the game against us."

Exactly why he isn't a PG. Your eyes have to be up there looking at the clock. He had a full second, and should've dunked it. Oh well. He stopped a 3 going up with 3 seconds left. Let's get em in OT!

Are you kidding me...

March Madness in November. GREAT season opener.

These refs need to learn what playing straight up means on defense. My goodness.

X FOR THE LEAD!

Freeman is a man among boys.

They left the court sound on during the timeout. TShirt toss. @NWAkronyou ok?

X for 3 and the tie!

6 pt sequence from X!

Welcome aboard. Nice surprise consolation for losing Jackie.