clarkwgriswold

Out of curiosity, I just checked on Payton Sparks. He's averaging 9 minutes a game at Indiana.

Oh my inner conflict- I am unwashed and a blue hair!

I've done that a number of times with no response. I've given away a few at times but many have received no response. Maybe I need to pitch them as a prize or a "major award."

Lots of Ball State optimism over at Over the Pylon, including referring to their own team as a "dog turd" in Akron's path. LOL. https://overthepylon.boards.net/thread/5411/akron-game-tuesday-january-2023

Jihad's development has really helped. He was merely a bit player last year, averaging 7.1 ppg and 3.6 rpg. This year he's up to 18.5 ppg (4th in the MAC) and 7.4 rpg (5th in the MAC). As a team, they are 8th in offense and 3rd in defense (behind the Zips and BG).

Some points from the BSU Game preview: * Last season, both teams won on their home court, with Ball State prevailing 70-63 on Jan. 6 before Akron claimed an 87-83 decision on Feb. 28 in Northern Ohio. * Jihad leads the Cardinals in scoring (18.5 points per game) and rebounding (7.4) averages. The junior forward out of Detroit has led the Cardinals in scoring eight games so far, scoring in double-figures 13 times, including six games with 20+ points. The big man's total points (259) and scoring average both rank fourth in the Mid-American Conference, while his rebounding average is fifth. * The Cardinals are a young group, as the roster includes only one senior or graduate student (Ethan Brittain-Watts). Ball State returns only 21.5 percent of minutes played and 19.6 percent of points scored from last year's team. * Jihad was named the Mid-American Conference Men's Basketball Co-Player of the Week on both Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.

I think part of the issue lies in the inferiority complex psyche of the area in general that bleeds over to the University. The residents of Summit County never much appreciate what they have here, looking to other areas' cultural attractions and sports. Part of that is an underlying propensity of Joe Akron to think it's "just Akron basketball", not "real" D1 basketball like they have in Columbus and Cincinnati.

Just like we're of rare few that show up regularly the polling numbers tell us we're in the rare few willing to support a levy for a new arena.

Could it be that "Joe Akron" doesn't care about the games of what some consider to be the 15th to 20th ranked NCAA D1 basketball conference? I'm the rare guy that wants to see the Northern Illinois Huskies on a cold Tuesday night in February. We ZipsNation folks are the diehards. I'd like to see this program get the attention it deserves and has earned, but at the same time the grumpy old man in me is content with my $60 ticket and space to spread out at the game.

I don't think that the actual $10 is as much the issue as is way it was handled. There was no head's up that I am aware of until after the GA tickets were ordered and sent out. The deck parking was always a part of the GA season ticket and that was the expectation for many going in. I think a better solution would have been a good head's up with the option to add on a parking pass. With the way it was handled it has become a matter of principle for some rather than a matter of affordability. This position has been further aggravated by the "parking police" being a private entity.

But they have valet parking. 😁

I'm starting this thread to continue the discussion regarding basketball attendance that broke out in the BG game thread. As for the GA seating, the cost of a season GA ticket is $60. $60. Parking for those games- $140.

I'm think I should start a thread on this rather than have it in this BG Game thread.

Let's be frank. When in the history of Akron athletics, other than for Acme Zip games and a rare and brief run of an individual team, ever engaged the average Akron area sports fan? You'll find greater allegiance to the Browns, Indians/Guardians, Buckeyes, Cavs, college alma maters, Notre Dame and high school teams among the average Summit County folk sports fan than you'll find for the Zips. One place I see an improvement that may help a little is the Beacon's new approach to Zips athletics. The basketball coverage this year has been a vast improvement with great coverage. Actually providing the average area fan with relevant info about the team can help spark interest. Is it going to fill the JAR or Infocision, no, but maybe it will get dad to grab his son and head down to the JAR some night to see the good things that are happening.

Watching now. This alone is worth the price of my ESPN+ subscription.

Sounds like we got a 2 for 1 on that this weekend.

Doesn't look like it is available on ESPN+ yet. Well shucks, it was on CBS Sports. Please send me a VHS copy. I think Stan Heath is happy to be rid of Bates. It has been addition by subtraction for them.

While everybody else is losing people we have All-MAC players returning. I think that speaks volumes as to Groce's program culture.

Today's history lesson: The location of today's Ball State University had its start in 1899 as a private university called the Eastern Indiana Normal School. Was there are Eastern Indiana Abnormal School? In the early 1900's, the close relationship between the Ball Brothers, local industrialists (Ball jars) and philanthropists, and the school led to an unofficial moniker "Ball State." a shorthand alternative to its longer, official name. Through many transitions it eventually became Ball State University. Ball State University enrolls approximately 21,500 students. Prominent alum include David Letterman and Jason Whitlock.

I think I just lost post of the year. 😡

The empty blue seats increased for some reason when KD left and has never completely rebounded. It's a damn shame and I don't get it. The Groce teams are every bit as entertaining as the KD teams. I guess they're people who feel some allegiance or loyalty to make the donation but have established no connection with the program. Last night's crowd seemed decent. However, according to the official stats (not that I trust them), it was the second lowest attendance on the year, second only to Heidelberg. Those who were there were very engaged and involved.

They were all over the place. They missed obvious calls while calling a bunch of ticky tack soft stuff. The Tribble technical was a perfect example of how bad it was. On its own, it may have warranted a T but after a game of trash talking and posing, you don't suddenly start enforcing the rules with under 5 minutes to play to foul a kid out.

Dang, how are we already at the 15th game of the season?! The Zips head to Muncie, Indiana Tuesday to play the Ball State Cardinals. The Cards are 8-5 heading into a game against Central Michigan, a likely win. The Cards had a very soft OOC schedule. Ball State was picked to finished eighth in the preseason Mid-American Conference coaches' poll, four spots lower than its fourth-seed placement in the MC tournament. The Cards had a rough off-season, losing former All-MAC athletes Payton Sparks, Jarron Coleman and Jaylin Sellers who transferred to larger programs after the Cards rebounded under Michael Lewis to 20 wins last year. Between that exodus and graduations, the Cards returned only 6 players and one player with any starting experience (Pearson). Five of the new Cardinals are true freshmen. One of the returners, 6’9 junior forward Bashid Jihad leads the team in scoring (18.7 ppg ) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). 6’3” junior guard Jalin Anderson, a Loyola Marymount transfer, kicks in 15.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg. 6’8” junior forward Mickey Pearson averages 11.8 ppg and 4.6 rpg. In a 13 point loss in Brimfield last week, the Cards started : Bashir- 6’9” Bailey- 6’4” Anderson- 6’3” Pearson- 6’8” Hendriks- 6’10” 6’7” freshman forward Mason Jones also played 30+ minutes. I had a chance to watch a little of their game against PCCC last week and was surprised that with their size they now primarily run a five-out, fast-paced offense that focuses on ball movement on the perimeter rather than trying to establish a post game.

Tribble's technical was for chirping at BG. Groce mentioned it in the post-game, saying the entire game had a lot of chirping all night and questioning the sudden decision to penalize Tribble for it.

I just got to it. I parked all of the way down by South Street!