1981 grad

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.

The one thing I have learned about Groce's teams is that defense, physical play and toughness gets you on the floor. Sharron looks great offensively but he looks like a frosh on a team that is mainly junior and seniors. The physical play of division one basketball is something that may keep him from being a starter this early in his career.

I enjoyed watching this game. The battling bishops were a very well coached team and shot the ball well from three. They are 2 divisions below the Zips and none of these guys are as athletic as the Zips but they played very hard and boxed out well keeping the rebounding edge very close. KJ really stood out on defense and had at least 4 steals and missed a dunk and the ball went up into the rafters. Okonkwo is a great rebounder but really surprised at his limited offense. This guy played at West Virginia and North Carolina and reminds me of Freeman in his 2nd year offensively. Hardman has a quick shot and seems to be a 3 point specialist. He shot 5 of 10 from 3 point land. TJ had a tough shooting night and missed his first 4 or 5 shots and he hit 2 threes in succession in the 2nd half. I think this team has potential. We will not be getting a great deal of inside points from our center like last year so hitting the outside shot will probably be key.

Am I the only one to see the irony of this discussion. In the football forum, we complain that the football team plays 3 of its first 4 games against power conferences. In the basketball forum, we complain that we do not play enough games against power conferences. I am going to make one prediction about tonight's game, we will not fall behind 17-0 like we did against Colgate in football.

After watching the first game, how can anyone get excited about this game?

Lyles is not used to being in the game when the game is on the line. Nice drive, terrible finish.

The announcers are pretty good for homers. Like that they had the stats on nba players drafted out of Akron.

Can anyone tell me when a true frosh led the team in scoring in his first game?

Thanks Griswold, I just won my fanduel bet, A Zip fan would complain about the refs before the 15 minute mark of the second half. (LOL)

We are losing the rebounding war and not shooting the ball well but we have a lot of talent on this team. Really see improvement with Lyles, looks quicker and leaner. Tavari looks good and Young has played well. If we shoot better in the 2nd half we should make this a close game.

Tavari has already made 4 great passes pushing the ball up the floor along with one turnover. I really hope he is our point guard this year who can lead this team.

Weird day. Got to the game late and as I am approaching stadium heard them announce Zips touchdown. It looked like we were dominating on d and moving the ball on offense and then 3 turnovers in 5 minutes on consecutive possessions and a turnover on downs. Stayed till end of 3rd quarter and finally gave up and left. Never thought Akron could come back. As I am walking to my car heard touchdown zips. Got home and watched the game and thought I missed fantastic finish. Too good to be true and then saw the muffed punt. Amazing how Akron finds new ways to give games away each week.

It has been 8 years since we have won 2 games in a row. Could this be the day?