clarkwgriswold

I really thought PCCC could have a leg up next year with Sullinger, Davis and Hornbeak. Lots of rebuilding in the MAC last year. Now I am thinking OU has a possible leg up, but it's early.

Yep, I never saw kids with their hands on their knees or otherwise struggling, so I don't think it was conditioning. I think it had to do with an inconsistent offense and a lack of killer instinct. The large number of quality players and portal entries from the MAC has me more encouraged for next year.

Amen Captain. You not only have to recruit a kid to get him there but then you essentially have to re-recruit him every year to keep him. It's a mess.

They had some losses I didn't like or expect and didn't win the regular season MAC title as I expected, but the final result was what I expected- winning the MAC tournament and going to the NCAA tournament where they would likely be a low seed underdog and lose.

Nice work. I was hoping for someone to do this.

That Creighton performance certainly took away the argument that his successes were a result of the level of competition.

Two kids I'd like to find a clone for on the portal are Tyler Cheese and Xeryius Williams. Cheese could play the point or off guard, facilitate or go get a bucket. X could play inside and work as a backup 5 and go out on the floor and hit the outside shot. That kind of flexibility goes a long way.

Whoever Groce brings in, I will be confident that they are good kids. As pointed out in the Pluto article today (which has since been paywalled, grrrrrrrr), a player at Akron has to be unselfish and not have their own agenda. That's what made this team so special, they were not only talented but seemed to just be good kids. We all like to look at kids who can score or jump out of the gym but I want no piece of them if they're going to come in here and not put the team first. PCCC can have the Reggie Basses of the portal who change teams like underwear and are more concerned with their stats than the team. For the Zips, I'll take the Greg Tribbles of the basketball world that will put their body on the line for their teammates.

Scott Van Pelt had KD on SportsCenter last night.

Lots of MAC talent in the portal, but if I was Groce I'd be contacting the Swedish Embassy and imploring them to help bring Konan Niederhauser from Northern Illinois to Akron!

I'm exhausted, but some quick points: I'd be surprised if Lyles is back. I think Tavari is 50/50. Groce will bring in some help. They're already probing the portal. Also, that help will be in the form of unselfish kids who can be good teammates and play Groce ball, not merely kids with nice stats. At Akron, it's about fit, not strictly numbers. Shammah was very good in the last 3 weeks. I don't at all consider him a waste and Groce clearly doesn't either with the way he used him in the last month.

Tom Izzo too, and the horse he rode in on.

Proud of our Zips. Thanks for the ride.

Davis can't be far behind. I figured with guys like Sullinger and Davis they were off to a good start for next year but the exodus has started.

Sullinger, Bass and Hayes. Bass went to 4 high schools and is now on his way to his 3rd college in 3 years. That's the kind of guy you want on a team. I thought PCCC had a lock on Sullinger with his uncle on the staff.

Zack Halligan's day played for Creighton!- https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2024/03/19/ncaa-tournament-akron-zips-mens-basketball-ali-ali-enrique-freeman-greg-tribble-creighton-pittsburgh/73016334007/

The Clarkie collective will rent the U-haul and drive him to Akron!

Ohio.com article on Ali- https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2024/03/19/ncaa-tournament-akron-zips-mens-basketball-ali-ali-enrique-freeman-greg-tribble-creighton-pittsburgh/73016334007/

I've really been pleased with Shammah Scott's play over the last couple of weeks and you can see he is gaining Groce's confidence. He's playing great defense, has been making good decisions and has made some shots. I'm encouraged with his role for next year.

Me too, but it would have been by horse and buggy I'm so old.

It was Brett! I was too busy hustling for tickets!

I suspect that the US allotment being exhausted will increase demand and prices so I would buy quickly.

Good for KD. Well deserved. I'm curious to see where Duquesne goes in hiring his replacement.

SeatGeek has tickets as low as $49 in the rafters. No freebies from the Macedonia Verizon. LOL.

No MAC teams in the NIT or CBI. Cleveland State is headed to the CBI. Do you old timers remember when Creighton came to the JAR in 2011? A big Zips win, 76-67 led by Brett McKnight and Nikola Cvetinovic over the Blue Jays led by Doug McDermott who went on to the NBA.