Let'sGoZips94

How Hawkins still has a job is beyond me.

I actually found that data doing a quick search to confirm that this indeed will be Buffalo's third trip to the NCAAs in the last four seasons. It was sitting on the Wikipedia page. I'm not sure what other factors you want to look at. Just thought it was interesting that they seem to be more competitive on that stage than we were during our great run. A jab a Dambrot? Maybe. But hey, facts are facts, right? What's wrong about comparing this particular team against themselves, to previous years against themselves? If this team, with its decimated roster and all, was playing its best basketball at the end of the season, and previous teams weren't playing their best basketball at the end of the season, wouldn't that suggest that this team had a stronger finish? I'm not saying this team would beat those teams, but this team was playing its best basketball in the final month or so of the season. That's a fact.

Bingo.

What I see from this... Anthony Grant build a solid program, and left the program in a decent condition. Shaka took over and built a very strong program. Eventually left for Texas, but left VCU with a presumably strong program still. Will Wade took over, riding the wave that Shaka's success created. He progressively got worse (NCAA 2nd Round in his first year, NCAA 1st Round in his second year), but quickly jumped ship for LSU, leaving behind a bit of a mess for Mike Rhoades, who failed to make any post-season tournament (declining the CBI/CIT, correct?) in his first year. So what you're saying is the drop off occurs when the previous coach leaves the program a bit of a mess? Thank you for drawing that comparison to the '17-18 Akron program. Also, thank you for bringing up VCU as a comparison. One of Dambrot's assistants left to coach VCU, and made his own luck/success at VCU, taking that school to the next level and into the A10. Did the CAA win those NCAA tournament games? Nope. Did the CAA beat those high-caliber schools? Nope. Shaka and VCU did. They didn't need the CAA's help. And that's why I'm optimistic about next year and the future in general. I think we have a guy at the helm of our basketball program that isn't going to look for others to help him become successful. He's going to build the success on his own.

See, you take all of my comments as shots at KD. Some of them are, some of them are strictly comparisons. This is the thread for thoughts on the season that just ended. Some of the board members have a positive, optimistic outlook after the season. Others believe it was quite a disappointing season. Our most recent history has been used to come to both conclusions. Zip44 insinuated that nobody can duplicate what Dambrot accomplished during his time here. I simply used Buffalo's current run as a rebuttal. I find it funny that arguably the best marketing slogan during Dambrot's time at Akron was "Think Bigger" yet I and others are constantly ridiculed for thinking bigger.

+1

Buffalo is making their 3rd NCAA tournament appearance in 4 years. It's being duplicated and possibly bested right before our eyes. Side note: both of their previous appearances were single digit losses. Still losses, but much more competitive on that stage.

I'm not saying what Akron has accomplished was easy. The reason for their success wasn't strictly based on the MAC's overall weak field. I also never said the players didn't play hard (not saying they did, but it wasn't good basketball, that much I know). The OSUcks loss was inexcusable considering OSUcks SUCKED that year, and all we had to do was shoot better than 40% from the free throw line to win that game in regulation; the FT problems in that game are magnified by the overall poor free throw shooting by Akron during Dambrot's time here. I'm not giving Groce any breaks that I didn't afford to KD. My issues with KD came in second half of his 13 years as head coach of the Zips. Actually, I will be grading Groce much tougher in years 3 and 4 due to the overall higher level of the program that KD took it to. Groce doesn't have 13 years in my book to accomplish what Dambrot did in his 13 years. Groce has 3-4 years to get me to the next level that Dambrot wasn't able to accomplish in 13 seasons.

100% agree.

The greed and corruption involved in the tournament bids and seeding is what it is. It's wrong, but I doubt it changes. Not beating anyone worth a damn to post 25+ in the wins column, combined with head-scratching slip ups against teams like YSU, doesn't lead to at-large bids. It's not about how many wins you have, it's about who have you beaten and who have you lost to. The only inexcusable snubs recently (IIRC) have been Illinois State and Monmouth, both of which I believe had impressive resumes. I don't remember looking at any resumes of MAC schools over the past decade and thinking, "Wow. How did they not get an at-large bid?"

Don't forget 2014 - a semi-finals loss to WMU. Here's my point of view. The '13-14 season was his 10th season at the helm of the program. To me, there should not be lulls when you're in your 10th season as the head coach of a program. We had 8 straight tournament finals appearances. What was missed in recruiting/coaching to not maintain that? I know that's a heck of a run, but when you have that kind of run, typically you take the next step with continued dominance. We didn't. We took 2 steps back. '13-14 & '14-15 ended with losses in the conference semis; I won't cut Dambrot much slack for the roster issues (I only remember Robotham?) because in your 11th season as HC, you should have better depth/talent to cover an injury or two. '15-16 ended with a disappointing loss to Buffalo in the MAC finals, and an even more disappointing loss to OSUcks in the NIT (inexcusable). '16-17 ended with a horrific loss to KSUcks in the MAC finals, and a blowout loss to UT Arlington (that Houston win does look better with them making the tourney this year). The basketball that ended those seasons, it wasn't fun to watch. We never finished strong. Those back-to-back finals appearances in '16 & '17, those were aided by the MAC being the MAC more than by us playing some of our best ball at the time. We struggled this year from early January to early/mid February, but ended up playing some excellent, inspired ball the final few weeks of the season. THAT is finishing strong. Like I said, the lack of depth/overall talent/experience was the difference in the W/L record, not the basketball that was being played. Nobody is applauding a last-place season. People are, however, choosing to watch the games instead of strictly basing the future on a W/L record and stat sheets. I saw zone being played this year; encouraging that we can mix it up with different defensive schemes. I saw terrific on & off the ball movement, especially as the season went on; encouraging considering the lack of time to build chemistry with a bunch of freshman mainly. I saw fight from a team that had every reason to pack it in with 2 big-man injuries and only 2 upperclassmen (not counting Smith) on the roster; encouraging when it comes to building the right culture to take that next step as a program. I saw us beat both of our rivals this year; encouraging considering both programs are multiple years into their respective coach's tenure. I saw us go toe-to-toe with the 3 seed in the quarters of the MAC tourney; encouraging that we can still hang with the upper echelon of the MAC in year one of Groce/the rebuild. Am I happy with a last-place record and a losing season? Heck no. Am I encouraged that the future is bright from what I saw? Heck yes. Get your eyes off the stat sheets and watch the games. The positives are there, I promise you. Don't be like the Braves talent executive from Trouble With the Curve that based a player's talent and outlook strictly off what he saw on his computer stat wise. The pillars and foundation were established this year. Now bring in the talent for phase two of the rebuild.

We haven't made the NCAA tournament since 2013. The comment regarding finishing strong is very true, as the team this year was playing its best basketball at the end, despite the W/L record not exactly reflecting that. Clearly we haven't finished strong the previous 4 seasons because those rosters - more complete - should have won the MAC at least once. Quite frankly, the end-of-season basketball that was played the previous 4 seasons was uninspiring. The difference in the W/L record is strictly roster-based, and that will change next year I presume.

Wow.

Speaking of coach's contracts, sounds like Nate Oats got a 5 year extension.

The real losers: the shooting contestants that will continue to go against President Wilson during the timeout promotion.

Yes, and this will be an interesting off-season.

He absolutely should hold the players accountable. He's trying to build a culture. But he ultimately accepted full responsibility.

Classy. Coach is literally admitting this one is on him and isn't accepting the blame for anyone else.

@dre22era Not Groce's best coached second half, but you have a 5th year grad senior turn the ball over how many times? Groce didn't do that. Very disappointing loss, but don't come in here when you hardly post, looking to start crap. I have no problem with critiquing coaches/players, but your statement was childish.

Shut up.

Finally start driving and we can't buy a foul. No I'm not blaming the refs, but this is ridiculous.

With our graduate senior playing like a freshman, too.

This is ridiculous.

The refs have lost control of this game due to their inconsistency.

THAT'S 4! HE'S DIRTY!