clarkwgriswold

It sure helped PCCC make the NIT.

The only way to take the next step is more money. We lose in the tournament because we have 2 and 3 star players playing against 4 and 5 star players. We have a top 10% coach and effort is never an issue. In the age of NIL the only way to get those 4 and 5 star kids is to pay them and the Akrons of the world are never going to be able to compete with P4 money. Can Akron outspend the PCCCs and BGs of the world? Yes, as long as they have guys like Bud Wentz. However, it is a completely different era now than it was when teams like George Mason, OU, Florida Gulf Coast and the like made their runs.

We likely would have gone deeper but make a run? I'd rather not have found out.

I don't think it is either. I just find the contrast amusing.

See if they have a BOGO deal. I'll take the free one!

Not stupid, but with respect to athletics he seems to be much more of a fan of the Buckeyes. I think KD not being that involved with the program also may temper his enthusiasm.

Playing in the MAC holds the program down. You're never going to attract the top talent as long as you have to commit the resources across all of the different sports to remain in the MAC. There are certainly across the board benefits to being in the conference but being in the MAC does no great favors for basketball. It's all a balance.

He does have a huge heart playing as the third big many nights.

I naively envisioned NIL to handle situations like a Nate Johnson sitting at a table at a card show or car dealership promotional event and signing photos to make a couple hundred bucks, not open bidding from outsiders for players. Schools need not only administrations to commit funding, they need wealthy alums to step up (like Bud). It's those alums and their businesses that can really drive the NIL funding and put money towards facilities.

The article said Scott and Okonkwo indicated they will be back. I don't see MMK having a big market so I think he's back. Hardman loves it here. I spoke to his mom after the championship and they all feel blessed that he found his way here, so he's back. There are rumors Harris will not be back. Mahaffey had a great camp before he got hurt and had established a clear role and was with the team all through the season so I am encouraged he will return. I have no idea on Brisco.

Random thoughts: I agree that we should only have one Malone/Heidelberg/Concord/Ohio Wesleyan/SUNY Brockport...each season, as a warmup. I find it a little amusing that many on ZipsNation gripe about football's OOC schedule for being too tough and about basketball for being too easy. I think we all like Groce and trust what he tells us to be true. Is he lying to us when he tells us how hard Dustin works on the schedule and how difficult it is to put together the OOC schedule? I don't need to see the Zips play big time P4 teams, but I would like to see more of top mid-majors.

We were all moderately perturbed and disappointed by the end of 2024 but this guard heavy team really turned it on in 2025, dominating the MAC season. Their was a lot of growth in the team with guys like Nate, Tavari, Amani and Shammah making huge steps in their games. There are some critical comments on here occasionally about Gray but that kid came to play every night, often forced to take on the other team's second big. Young looks to have the brightest future of anyone on this team. Hopefully, he won't get stolen away. I'd like to see Okonkwo commit the offseason to building his strength, shooting free throws and working on his hands. I'm really looking forward to seeing Mahaffey. I think he could be the bigger wing this team has missed. On to 2025-26.

We just ended a historic season for Zips basketball. Unless you win the NCAA championship, every team ends the season on a down note. We were all moderately perturbed and disappointed by the end of 2024 but this guard heavy team really turned it on in 2025, dominating the MAC season. Their was a lot of growth in the team with guys like Nate, Tavari, Amani and Shammah making huge steps in their games. There are some critical comments on here occasionally about Gray but that kid came to play every night, often forced to take on the other team's second big. Young looks to have the brightest future of anyone on this team. Hopefully, he won't get stolen away. I'd like to see Okonkwo commit the offseason to building his strength, shooting free throws and working on his hands. I'm really looking forward to seeing Mahaffey. I think he could be the bigger wing this team has missed. On to 2025-26.

The reality is that as a MAC basketball program this is about as good as it is ever going to get. Maybe someday you might pull off an upset and make it to the round of 32. The only way for it to get better would be for the university and athletic program to completely sell out for basketball, abandoning the financial commitment to the other sports in the athletic department (within the limits of Title IX). That then takes you out of the MAC and searching for another conference. I don't see the university doing any of this. It was a wonderful season. It ended on a down note but it sure was fun in 2025. This was a great group of kids and their comradery and fun nature wore off on Zips fans. We'd be blessed to get most of them back next year and with fewer new faces the team should come up to speed much faster next year then they did this year. Go Zips!

He also saw double teams quite often.

That's not very nice! LOL.

Outrebounded by 30 so far. Ugh

Yep, he's a small forward in the body of a guard.

Thanks for a fun season Zips.

It's very simple. An above average P4 team > a very good MAC team. Sigh

TruTV is also on Sling if they have any trial going.

So, what time does the game actually get started? I'm betting Maryland- Grand Canyon goes to quadruple undertime and we start around 9:00.

Two more Beacon articles on the Zips- https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/20/coach-john-groce-ncaa-tournament-upset-history-akron-vs-arizona-march-madness/82559868007/?tbref=hp https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/20/akron-zips-seth-wilson-ric-flair-pregame-speech-ncaa-tournament-march-madness-arizona-wildcats/82559794007/?tbref=hp The second article is on Seth Wilson's Ric Flair ritual used pregame to pump up the team. In the words of Flair, "to be the man, you gotta beat the man. Wooooooooo"" Tonight, the Zips beat the man.

I also think that Creighton team was better than this Arizona squad.

Ohio.com article by Brad Bournival today about Shaka Smart and his love for Akron and Keith Dambrot. No mention about how he poured it on after the VCU/Akron game was long over. I've liked Marquette since the Al McGuire days of my youth but I'll never root for them as long as they're coached by that disingenuous little troll.