1981 grad

Just saw the ABJ article about the game. Adds absolutley nothing about the game. Not even a quote from Groce. Just a narrative of the game that could have been phoned in from any of us that watched the game. Shameful to not cover a great game.

"Virtually the only fault of Groce this offseason was not finding a true big to backfill Okonkwo's spot." I had the same thought last night in that we really needed somebody to match up with Towsend. However, we gave up speed with Okonkwo on the court. If we had a better science program we could have cloned Freeman when we had the chance.

I agree. Marvin did not look confortable when playing the 5. I thought Groce tried just about everything to stop their offense including zone, double teaming and playing man. Nothing seemed to work.

Great game. The guys played very well and just could not get over the hump. We will win most games if we play like this every night.

Tevari having one of his best games of his career!!! The veterans Scott, Tevari and Lyles are keeping this close.. We need to close out on the 3 point shooters and make our foul shots down the stretch.

I know we are losing but really good game. We just need to get some stops on defense and get some turnovers like we got in the first half. I also wish the refs would let them play. Big difference in free throws and Yale has not missed.

We need Amani Lyles to step up his game. Just has not been producing. He has had the opportunities but just cannot finish.

This team shares the ball well and plays well together. I can only remember one really bad turnover. And their defense has forced numerous turnovers. Love watching this team.

Hardman is in the zone. He is not forcing it but just taking what the defense is giving him. Would love to see him play like this the rest of the season.

Thanks to the Capt and Zips 1991. I just had a vague snapshot in my head of the Zips holding up trophys of some kind in a preseason tourney and it must have been the Sun Bowl in 2016. https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2016/12/23/akron-wins-sun-bowl-basketball-invitational/95760162/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114120d00----v114120b0041xxd004165&gca-ft=136&gca-ds=sophi

I know the Zips have never one an NCAA game. I do know they have won an NIT game and I believe their first NIT win was against Temple in Philly when their long time coach was retiring. However, I know in recent times they have not won a preseason tourney even though they have played in some beatable fields. I did a quick search and AI indicated they have never won a major preseason tourney. But I do have a vague memory of them winning a preseseason tourney in the past. (wishful thinking?) Does anyone with a better memory than me and a more in depth knowledge of this team (Capt Kangaroo?) know if I am correct and if they did win a preseason tourney with the year and location?

Nate Johnson played 35 minutes for K state in their 1 point victory over Tulsa. He only scored 5 points but had 4 assists and 9 rebounds. Glad to see he is doing well playing at the next level.

I also yelled at Bowen for the turnovers and once on defense when a Purdue guy was driving the lane and he backed away giving him an uncontested layup. Groce then called a timeout.

I agree, that was a terrible call but one of many.

I thought we could have boxed out a little better against their height. Need to put a butt in their gut to keep them off the boards. However, I still thought we played great and if we play this well against other teams we should be very good this year.

That is one of the weakest calls all night. Perdue has been pushing off all night to create a shot.

He was yelling at the refs: You are better than that. A polite way of saying we are getting homered and almost every call has gone against the Zips.

I think we played as well as we can and we are down 13 points. I just do not know if we can play that well in the 2nd half so prepared to be blown out.

We got 2 foul shots!!! We got 2 foul shots!!! We got 2 foul shots!!!!

This is the best Akron team I have seen against a quality opponent. Groce has them ready to play. Only down by 5. I am not sure we can play this well for 40 minutes but really impressed with the ball movement, hustle, and breakouts. Tevari looks like he can play with these guys and Scott has hit some great shots.

I hope I am not banned from this board but you have to give Kent State credit. They have been absolutely terrible the last few years and they are a decent team. This was a battle of 2 evenly matched teams and Kent executed in overtime and we did not. They scored on their first play in overtime and we lost 4 yards and started behind the chains. After Akron came back from that large deficit in the 4th quarter it was a gut punch to lose this game. However, it was an entertaining game.

That targeting call is big because with can pooch it and try to recover on nail it to the end zone and force them to march the field.

As well as we have been running the ball, I am suprised we could not score a touchdown on the ground. Did not like that pass on 3rd down.

I still say this game is not over. We need a three and out. I do not understand why we did not punt the ball before the end of the quarter when we had the win. The special teams miscue set up the last Kent touchdown. We finally got some calls from the refs on the roughing the passer and the pass interference. We need the d to step up. How about a turnover?

That no call on the obvious pass interference and then the missed field goal just changed the momentum of the game. However, the Zips have dominated and can come back. Turnovers have really helped Kent.