UAZip0510

Hester is indeed eligible starting January 2019.

Really? That's odd...he is listed on Twitter as Loren Jackson - his ID is even @Little_Loren3 Thanks for clarifying!

I've never seen Riak play personally. My guess on him starting was because of his size and Groce raving about his defensive ability when he initially signed on.

I'd love to see Neftali Alvarez get that final scholarship. True PG, highly touted, seems like he'd fit perfectly.

I too thought about flipping Sayles for Olojakpoke (or even Riak). I think Jaden has a really bright future here. I would assume E will need to go through a battery of tests before he's cleared, but I've heard he's expected back. I think a transfer is likely because of what you said - the team is so young. We'll have one senior, three juniors, SEVEN sophomores, and one freshman. The addition could depend on current players leaving, as you suggested.

I've heard from several that he will play starting in January '19. I haven't seen it confirmed anywhere, but just going off of what I heard. Hope that's bad info. As far as position, Rivals and 24/7 listed him as a PG coming out of HS. He's a combo guard, so I think he can play the 1 or 2. They could easily start Cotton or Jackson as well, I just tossed out my guess.

Here's an older scouting report on Riak: Deng Riak ESPN Analyst - Updated 05/28/2015 Strengths: Riak is an extra long, lean and active power forward that runs the floor extremely well. Also is skill is impressive as well. He can handle the ball extremely well for his size and has excellent touch and body control around the basket where he can score over his left shoulder and straight line drive to the rim. Riak can knock down the open three off the catch and in when and pop situations when he can get his feet set. He rebounds pretty well and blocks shots on the ball or coming to the aid of a teammate from the weak side. Weaknesses: Riak will need continue to add strength and gain valuable playing experience which will help him continue to build upon his already productive game. Bottom Line: Riak is a skilled power forward with length and athleticism with allows him to be match up problem and a high major prospect with excellent upside.

I can understand those who don't want to look ahead yet, but I wanted to open a thread for discussion of our team next year. We have one scholarship still available, so an incoming freshman or, more likely, a transfer will also be added. Projected Starters 6'8", 190 - Emmaanuel Olojakpoke 6'6", 215 - Daniel Utomi 6'10", 225 - Deng Riak 6'5", 200 - Jimond Ivey 6'3", 170 - Eric Hester Bench 6'9", 235 - Jaden Sayles 6'6", 195 - Eric Parrish 6'11", 250 - Mark Kostelac 6'4", 195 - Torrey Patton 5'8", 160 - Loren Jackson 6'6", 200 - LePear Toles Hester isn't expected to play until midseason, so either Cotton or Jackson will start at PG early on. Around the conference, Buffalo should remain a power, only losing Wes Clark to graduation. They also have two highly-touted recruits coming in. Toledo loses it's top scorer and four other seniors, but returns quite a bit of talent as well. And, because its our rival, Kent State will lose Kevin Zabo but will bring back most of their major pieces.

It'll be interesting to see if any MAC teams get caught up in this.

Oh no, I went to it all! I brought up Saturday just to highlight the successes. I hope you're right. I just think, if we're being honest, that most successful coaches, including Groce, won't want to stay here. It'd have to be someone with ties here, as KD had. I've been around long enough not to get any hopes up for a new arena.

To me the hardest part of this transition is knowing that we're unlikely to have the same stability we had for 13 years. I believe Groce will rebuild and that he'll get us a Tourney win, and then I think he'll jump at his first shot at redemption with a P5 job. And that will be a cycle that we'll go through every 3-4 years, with the coach either leaving for a bigger job or being let go for poor performance. That uncertainty is scary to me as a fan. As far as the KD era goes, I enjoyed knowing that in most conference games, we were going to leave happy. I also enjoyed clearing my schedule every 2nd Saturday in March for a game at The Q. We never got over the hump, but it was a helluva 13 year ride.

Or that might be a real reason...

Back to game discussion - one rivalry cliche that has somehow always rung true with this game is the current records of both teams haven't mattered much. I expect Saturday to be the same.

I literally just posted an example of a Duquesne recruit saying KD's Akron streak factored into their decision. Dylan Swingle mentioned it as well.

Good god, did KD hit your car in the parking lot or something?

This will happen. Next year you're probably starting Loren Jackson, Eric Hester, Jimond Ivey, Daniel Utomi, and either Olojakpoke or Deng Riak. Then Olojakpoke/Riak, Cotton, Parrish, Patton, Sayles as a likely second unit. You could even see Toles push his way in depending on their long-term plan with him. I don't expect Kostelac to play much next year.

It is, and it would have been nice to use both moving forward.

We're at 11 wins with 5 regular season games left and potentially 4 MAC Tournament games. One more loss will pretty much clinch the end of the streak.

Yawn

Duquesne in the final four for Brandon Stone, a 7 footer out of North Carolina. Stone's reasoning: “Coach Dambrot is one of the best coaches out there as well. He had 13 consecutive seasons of 20+ wins at Akron and he’s going to make Duquesne a winning program too. Also, he’s had a staff that’s been with him a long time and that’s important. They’re also a very young team and have a lot of good players sitting out yet they’re still winning games.” I know some grew tired of the 20 win season streak, but I really wish we could have kept it going. It's not everything, but it's a nice pitch to recruits.

All of the players you listed were originally recruited by Dambrot's staff while he was at Akron. When he moved to Duquesne, most of, if not all of the current recruits were then offered by the Dukes. This makes sense, as KD and staff obviously like these players and have invested time in scouting them and getting to know them. It also makes sense for Groce to keep the offers open in hopes that the Zips program or his style of play is more attractive. With that said, I don't anticipate Akron and Duquesne going to war very often, primarily because I think Groce anf Dambrot recruit/attract different types of players.

In all due respect, these are poor comparisons. Akron and Ohio are conference rivals. Akron and Ohio State share the same state and compete for attention. (and paying fans). The only thing Akron and Duquesne have in common is their coaching staff used to be ours. Dylan Swingle is the only recruit I recall both going after and even that was just Groce keeping the offer open once he arrived. Maybe you can share these other recruiting battles between the Zips and Dukes I must have missed? I'm also not sure how it isn't a better job. The Atlantic 10 has been getting multiple bids in the NCAA Tournament most years. If we're being honest, we'd be doing cartwheels if Akron's basketball program was ever invited to that conference. It's a definite move up. I also think some don't truly understand the motivation in going. Money didn't hurt, but it was far from the primary reason he's with the Dukes now. If we ever play Duquesne, I hope we kick their asses. If we're going after the same recruit, I hope Groce beats KD out for the kid every time. Anytime else, I'm hoping KD does well. He and his staff made Akron basketball what it is today, and I'll be forever grateful for that.

It's fine if you choose not to, but it's not at all weird to wish success to the most successful coach in our program's history in his new job.

Some of you taking joy in Duquesne losses is one of the weirder subplots of the 17-18 season.

FWIW We're 5th right now in the MAC in attendance behind Ohio, Toledo, Ball State, and Buffalo. We have Ball State, Miami, and Kent left at home.