Let'sGoZips94

Subtle flex that you do indeed live in paradise. 😂

This is EXACTLY what we've been wanting to see. All gas, no brakes. Carry this through Friday, rest for a week, and go kick ass in Cleveland.

True, but we match up better shooting wise this year. He ate us alive last year and we still could've won if we had better shooters. Lunardi and the ESPN honks would still find a way to put Syracuse ahead of us. 😂

Trading NIU for UMass will certainly help this going forward. I'd also be surprised if, going forward, Buffalo remains this bad. Improve Buffalo, dump NIU with UMass as the replacement, and the MAC automatically climbs into the high teens range again, and could trend upward.

Akron has received a vote in the AP Poll. Poll Tracker hasn't updated yet, so I don't know who voted for us.

Only way it improves is if he wins a game in the Big Dance.

Groce made the MAC tournament last year with legitimately 1.5 shooters on the entire team and a 6'7" center, in an era when you typically need shooters or trees down low to win. He has always been a high tier coach.

I am glad we were able to be part of Omaha's meteoric rise to the top of the Summit (the summit of the summit, one might say). This trash can celebration they've been doing all year is amazing. Good for that coach and program - just a bunch of dudes having fun.

Shammah and Lyles would have my vote.

Wasn't Tod involved in a recruiting scandal 10+ years ago? I vaguely recall there being some sort of violation under his leadership.

I'm sure that's being duly investigated without any bias, just like Bates' scratched out serial number handgun case.

It truly is the ultimate regular season sacrifice by Kowalchoke. He's all in on pleasing the basketball gods in Cleveland. He never had success in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, so maybe the combination of sucking during the regular season and arena name change to Rocket Arena will bring him the success he's looking for (probably not). Utah State fans have to be ecstatic they passed on him. Big week for the MAC to nail down the seeding. - Miami is locked into either the 2 or 3 (not quite sure how the tiebreaker would work if they fell into a tie with OU) - Ohio has a one game lead for the 3 seed which would put them on the Miami side of the bracket; with how they're playing and we're playing right now, this is best case scenario for us - Kent is currently the 4 seed, but tied record wise with Toledo; Toledo has Akron and Ohio while Kent has WMU and EMU - EMU and WMU are right on their tails at 8-8, one game back of Kent/Toledo; they do not play each other and both face Kent, so it would be amazing if they could knock Kent down to the 6 seed somehow (Miami's side of the bracket) - Akron's 1st round matchup is still up in the air with Balls & BUGS both at 7-9 (tiebreaker to Balls somehow); CMU is right there at 6-10 Thank goodness we don't have to worry about these final two games and can simply focus on getting right in every facet of the game before Cleveland.

Yeah, the fan experience is so much better with blown calls that alter games/results. Tavari has a horrible habit of dribbling backwards when he faces pressure, especially double teams or any sort of help defense. I wish he would use his size advantage and push through the cracks to penetrate the defense. He's slippery and quick; pushing through the press would break that defense and make teams think twice about employing that tactic. Add this to the number of reasons he was my MVP.

Go Oxford (OH) University!

Allegedly, around 10% of the student population was at the game. Amazing stuff from the students. If this support were to continue, there needs to be a legitimate conversation about flipping the seating in the JAR. Move the students to the other side of the court so they're always on camera, and move the benches/lower bowl regulars to the near side. Keep winning, showcase Akron as a place that's fun, and the University could really start turning enrollment around.

Regarding Kent, by the way, this is why I called them a low IQ team @NWAkron. They were up 9 and went completely away from what got them there; Akron didn't do a whole lot that was special, and Kent let us right back in the game. Kent will always lose more games than they actually win under Senderoff. Even if the result ends up being in their favor, it has largely been because their opponent gives them the game. His teams are never poised and he recruits really poor personalities. Kent recently published a video that talked about the "loyalty" on their team with VCD, Sullinger, and Hornbeak all returning. In the video, they interviewed Hornbeak and he literally admitted he stayed because he didn't really get much interest from other teams. If you think it sounds bad, his demeanor in the video solidified how much he settled for staying at Kent. Sullinger left and couldn't make it at Furman for whatever reason. VCD never got the money he was looking for in the portal despite having some solid offers (allegedly). Senderoff truly is the ringleader of a very poor circus. Their fans are currently bitching about the refs and our financial advantage (thank you Bud Wentz). Only 1-2 posts are actually about their collapse being self-inflicted (credit to those posters that have a few brain cells left).

March 10, 2023 was the last time Akron lost to Kent in football or basketball. The MAC tourney doesn't start until March 13th this year, so it will be at least 2 full calendar years since we've lost to Kent in those sports. Incredibly dominant run. Seth Wilson was the MVP for me tonight with Shammah a close 2nd. Seth hit some 3s that really kept the train on the tracks, while Shammah continued to be the steady, veteran presence we've needed and seen from him for all of MAC play. Tavari dribbled the air out of the ball a lot during the middle portion of the game, but came in clutch with some nice takes and big shot makes. Credit to Hardman as well; he's not shooting the ball the best right now, but he's playing his ass off. It might not always look pretty, but he had his hand in some big defensive plays and had a great dish to Amani late in the game. The best part about this team is they always look to contribute, even if it's not a box score contribution. I still hate this newish offense we've been playing, but we still beat Kent at their own game. MAC Regular Season Champions (means something again with the NIT in our back pocket should be stay within whatever their ranking threshold is) and now we can focus on Cleveland. As a memorable QB of ours once said after leading a comeback vs. Kent himself... Go f'n Zips baby!

That ecosystem dangling from his head has special powers vs the Zips.

I hate our offense recently. Way too much iso ball.

Northwest Ohio Cornfield State University is in shambles.

IT'S 7:35AM AND...

All part of the plan. Kowalchoke is sacrificing the regular season in exchange for (hopeful) success in Cleveland.

Kent hasn't beaten us in football or basketball since March 10th, 2023. Would love to keep that statement true.

I would like to see a minimum of 25-30 3PA tonight. They are in a slump, they're playing timid, and it looks like we've reverted back to our December play. I don't know if Groce is intentionally have them play a half court style to work out the kinks as this is what we'll see teams try to do all of March, but I want to see the confidence and swagger return.