1981 grad

This game was great with lots of offense and some great blocks and great passing. We really had problems on defense keeping guys in front of us and we were outmuscled in the block several times. We also had the problem of getting around screens. Kevin Johnson had some outstanding moves around the basket. Tavari finally found the 3 ball and had some great passes with 9 great assists. Okonkwo was good on the boards and made a couple of shots around the basket. I thought Grey had his best game making some tough shot muscling his way to the basket. Reminds me of Jamie Bosley, a smaller guy who just seem to be able to play big and get to the hoop. Lyles was good offensively but I wish we had a big guy who could clog up the middle. Hardman was 4 of 10 from three and had some wide open looks. Zips continually pass the ball well and seem to create openings on their offensive set. Harris, Wilson and Scott were really not big factors. I hope we can repeat this offense Sunday with better defense.

Am I dreaming, please pinch me as it is a great week to be Zip fan. Tuesday we beat Kent in football, Thursday we won our first NCAA soccer game in 6 years by beating Princeton, and Friday we beat powerhouse Lamar in basketball. (And our corporate partner, the Browns also beat the Steelers on Thursday) Lets keep this party rolling with victories in basketball on Sat. and Sunday, a win in Indiana in soccer on Sunday, and a beat down of Toledo in football in Tuesday. Do you believe in Miracles? Lets run the table.

Tavari and Young are both good but Tavari will probably continue to start and get more playing time because he has more time in the Groce system. Heard Lyles on the post game and very smart and articulate guy. He indicated he worked in the gym shooting threes and it shows. Never thought he would be an outside threat but having Freeman as a mentor was great for him. Okonkwo has almost no offensive skills and Lyles got the start tonight. I thought we did a much better job rebounding the ball. In a way this game was boring. We could not expand the lead past 15 and they could rarely get it below 10. There really was never a shift in momentum. It seemed like we were trading baskets the whole night. Good to see the Zips scoring in the paint but surprised how poorly we shot the 3 ball. Almost felt like staying to watch the 2nd game to see how empty the Jar would be.

On Wed against Houston Freeman played 14 minutes and scored a career high 6 points and had a really nice assist that made the highlight clip. Indiana has a lot of injuries and he is getting more playing time.

Considering we have not won back to back games in 8 years and I have seen some really bad Akron football teams in that time period I am not sure we have any room to talk about bad Kent teams.

Thanks for affirming my memory. I might have been at that game but cannot remember. I just remember the coach complaining. I might have just read that in the paper. I do remember the game at Northwestern and watching it on TV and remembering how windy it was. When the goal kicks were against the wind it went almost nowhere.

That is the game they moved to Northwestern instead of playing in Akron. I believe it was really windy that day in Chicago when we lost.

I have a very vague recollection of weather influencing Akron soccer. One I believe was a game against West Virginia where the field was snow covered and we won and their coach was upset that they had to play on a snow covered field. The other was a game where our field was not playable and they moved the game to Chicago, Northwestern? where we lost. I remember that we wanted to move the game to the St. V. field and felt like we got screwed by the NCAA. If anyone can fill it these games it would be appreciated. (Assuming my memory is correct)

My recollection of the Santa Clara game is that we dominated and they came from behind and scored on their only scoring opportunities. I remember leaving the stadium shocked and disappointed.

I hope your analysis holds true since Princeton is our first game. I cannot remember the last time we won an NCAA game. I remember being at the Santa Clara game and that teams few across the country and still beat us. We need a win!!

I never heard of any of these teams and really was not looking forward to these games but those scores are much better than our score against St. Mary. This might be an interesting weekend. I hope we rebound better than last week.

It is considered a loss. One of the post above indicated a penalty shootout goes down as a tie but an overtime loss is a loss.

Here is an article about how the Pacers have had to rely on 2 way players this season because of injuries and how these players have stepped up. Includes a quote from Freeman. Good stuff!! https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyeast/2024/11/13/indiana-pacers-surviving-while-relying-on-new-two-way-contract-players/

Well, I hope everyone enjoyed our weekend of happiness and welcome back to the reality of being a Zip fan. On Tuesday, Zips basketball took a beating on the boards and in the paint and showed as much toughness as your daughter's favorite Teddy bear. On Wednesday our football team lost and went scoreless in the 2nd half and now are 2 and 8. And then our soccer team took it on the chin on Thursday losing in overtime and now Zips fans will worry the whole weekend whether our record is good enough to get an at large bid in the tourney. Remember our motto, if being a Zips fan was easy, everyone would be one.

I have 2 memories of Gerry Faust: First, at a frozen yogurt store on West markets street when I was with my wife and young child and Gerry Faust comes up to our table and starts talking to us. Afterwards, my wife ask me if that was Gerry Faust. I answered Yes. She then ask me if I knew him. Nope. Never met him before. He was just a super nice guy that would talk to anybody and loved Akron. The second memory was at Kent in a game where Akron blew the game and an Akron fan started yelling at Gerry that he sucked as a coach. One of his children got in the fan's face yelling at him that his dad worked his ass off to make Akron a winner and if the fan did not shut up he was going to shut him up. I thought there was going to be a fight in the stands. Rest in peace Gerry.

Scott: box out!!! If I am Groce I would run a tape of this game and teach these guys to put a body on them to slow them down. The rebounding effort is pathetic. We are short but we can still box out.

We went to Zone and they missed and put the rebound in the basket. The Zips trap zone leads us vulnerable to the offensive rebound.

I thought Lyles would be a presence under the boards but he and James Okonkwo have shown very little offensive skills in the paint. Went from one extreme with Freeman to zip in the paint from our centers.

Has anyone noticed that we have not had any commercials. I think I have died and gone to sports heaven.

Tavari can penetrate but he has missed 4 out of 5 floaters. Nobody can finish at the rim and our center has no offensive skills. Our offense looks really bad. KJ has forced up some bad shots.

One of our players is running down the floor after a St. Mary shot and the ball comes right back to his man and they score 3 points. Groce calls a timeout. You have to rebound the ball. Zips are lucky to be this close. Not good ball movement. They have to play better.

In this game I am looking how tough we are on the boards and on defense. Last year the only players who played well against better competition were the seniors. And they are all gone. I will be curious to see how we shoot against a top tier team. Last year our shooing went down when we faced better teams. Because we have a new group not sure what to expect but would not be shocked if we get blown out. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. This game will give us an idea of where we are this early in the season.

Nope, do not know him. But I was going to mention that Kent State lost in football to Ohio, 41-0, and outgained 407-114 on offense. The Golden Flashes are 0-9 and tack on the nine-game slide to end 2023 and you have an 18-game losing streak overall. However, Zips forum is way to classy to obtain satisfaction from our arch rivals complete collapse in their football program.

I hope everyone is smiling because it was a great weekend to be a Zip fan!!! The Zips won their first home basketball game and I thought Ohio Wesleyan played well and made it an enjoyable game to watch. The next night I went to the Zips soccer game and saw them win their first tourney soccer game in 6 years. I then checked the Pacers box score and Freeman is getting into the game for the Pacers. And the football team did not play this week so no fumbles on that front. Be happy Zip fans!!!!

On the postgame Groce indicated that Harris was day by day and not sure if he would play on Tuesday so it must be an injury or illness.