Let'sGoZips94

The Sac State board says they are foregoing their eligibility to play professionally. I take that as "If I don't make it to the NBA, I will have made enough connections throughout the process to play overseas." Not sure why those two would return to the Titanic. What was once a great ship hired an iceberg as their head coach.

I apologize for missing a couple of updates. I'll make a standings update post later today heading into the Final Four this weekend.

Not surprised. I wish him luck!

I'd like to see KSUcks get more "best efforts" from their opponents. Luckiest team this season.

Interesting article liked by Charles Guthrie on LinkedIn. This is smart business. I'm surprised to see the MAC at the forefront of this. The revenue should only grow as more and more states legalize sports betting. Sports betting and media deals - that's where the money is in sports. Whatever we do to capitalize on that should greatly improve our financial situation. Look at Pat McAfee's FanDuel deal if you need an example of the kind of money being thrown around in the sports betting world.

St. Peter's is us, but in the Elite 8. In your face defense (our D is better), methodical offense, and solid free throw shooting. Groce has the winning formula. Time to execute.

Bowl games don't matter. Day of a Sweet Sixteen game does.

They announced the hiring of an assistant that is still coaching in the NCAA Tourney? Odd. Can he recruit without the UCLA name?

You missed out. There is nary a more satisfying feeling than having Zippy stiff-arm the teeth out of the PCCC chicken.

Not sure why, but I just had a flashback to playing NCAA Football 2005. They had this Mascot mode where you're entire team was the respective school's mascot. I always had a team full of Zippy's vs whomever - Brutus, whatever the hell they named the bird with teeth to the east, etc. - in the Rubber Bowl. That 2005 Snow Bowl vs KSUcks was my favorite Rubber Bowl memory. Little did we know 2 years after that game came out, Zippy would literally beat all the mascots nationwide to win the 2007 Capital One Mascot Challenge.

Yep. Only John V and Luke T have their champions remaining. Brutal night for many.

That's a real kick to the Balls.

This is why success in the NCAA Tournament is so key. I see that list, and unless you're an Akron fan or hardcore MAC fan, I doubt you would have any idea of the general success of Akron's program. Buffalo, OU, and KSUcks (reputation from 2002) are who the average college basketball fan would probably guess has been the most successful MAC programs in the last 18 years. Dambrot laid the foundation. Groce is building Akron Culture, and it's a blast to be a part of.

Heck of a hire if they can make it happen.

When JoeMo was hired, gas was $1 cheaper. That could effect everyone differently. I'm not in the business of spending other people's money. We have a great community on ZipsNation and there is tangible excitement with Zips athletics. Attendance will be just fine.

100% agree. Akron basketball has an identity again - defense and teamism. It's so much fun to get behind. How cool. I hope he gets it.

I'd be ok with Marshall & Wright State being perennial opponents. Interested to see how Groce beefs the schedule up. I doubt Ohio State schedules us again after we gave them quite the scare (along with UCLA). I'd love to see Guthrie's Alma Mater (Syracuse) on the schedule, along with more A10 & Big East opponents due to geographical relevance. Pitt & West Virginia are always desirable matchups, and add Cincy to that as they prepare to join the Big 12. Mid Major wise, give me more OVC & MVC teams.

How much would this make college a more attractive option than going "pro" (or whatever the right term is) out of high school?

STANDINGS AFTER Round 2 Robert G. 193 Mike Spi. 162 John E. 159 Brian G. 157 John C. 154 Mike Sw. 154 David M. 153 Jeff H. 150 Eric M. 145 Luke T. 145 Nick K. 141 Rob C. 140 Mark Spa. 128 Kyle M. 127 Andy V. 126 SKY'S THE LIMIT CLUB Top 3 Potential Points David M. 295 John E. 287 John C. 281 Mark Spa. 281 SHAME CLUB Those who had UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen John C. David M. Mark Spa. (Dis)Honorable Mention: @NWAkron(allegedly & probably) BUSTED BRACKET CLUB Champion Pick Eliminated Robert G. (Auburn) Mike Spi. (Baylor) Brian G. (Kentucky) Andy V. (Auburn) Good luck everyone in the Sweet Sixteen!

That 6 seed was based off another ranking system - RPI - which we were higher than OSUcks in. They then created NET rankings, which seem to favor P5s. Why was the First Four in Dayton created? To eliminate 2 lesser schools and provide 4 money game opportunities. It made room for more P5s/better programs. The elimination of some of the seeds is crooked, but it's college athletics. They're as clean as a Mechanic's hands.

This isn't new. Akron played at Ohio State when Akron was the better team.

Interesting...

Agreed. I would like to see teams like Wright State and CSU on our schedule more. The MAC is a notch above them, but I'd rather these schools with geographical relevance than Coppin State or a second DIII school.

That squad was talented and went through Hell this year with 3(?) close relative deaths on the team/staff. Scott Nagy is a heck of a coach. I wonder if this means Nagy is on the move, or if Grant is simply looking to move into the P6 ranks.