1981 grad

One of my favorite Zips. Good inside player. He loved to shoot the 3 ball although he rarely made one. One game was really close and he started his shooting motion for a 3 ball and everyone in the crowd yelled no. He smiled and then drove to the basket. One of the funnier moments in the jar.

I like the 3 day format with no bye but I think the winner of the MAC should get some recognition. If the team does not get a NIT bid, the MAC should pay for the team to play in another tournament such as CBI.

You are correct. Conditioning was not one of Big Dog's strengths. KD strength was finding great big guys such as Big Dog and Zeke. Groce strength was finding impact guards such as LCJ and X. (And you know who from O U) However, this year he did not develop or bring in an impact guard or an impact shooter and this team has struggled on offense even with what is arguably the best player and big man to wear an Akron Uniform. (Not a Groce recruit). I thought Tavari had the potential to be that player and in Cleveland the offense looked its best at times when he was on the floor but his small stature and inability to get through screens kept him off the floor in the Kent game.

Thanks!! I just do not remember him being that good to cost us a MAC championship. I do remember one player who always seemed to underachieve in Cleveland and that seemed to hurt us in his last couple of years.

I really hopes he wins a game in the tourney so if he retires he will have at least one win in the NCAA tourney.

I watched the replay again and it looked like a 1-2-2 zone so I stand corrected. It did work and Sullinger was forced to take a shot over Freeman.

Pat Forsyth was a West Virginia transfer that everyone was very excited about and had a couple of decent years as a backup. Something happened where he dropped off the team. I remember seeing his at the Mac playoffs in street clothes and not with the team. I cannot remember what happened.

I agree! If we win, genius, if we lose, dumbest decision ever.

And then he had our slowest guy, Hunter, guard their quickest guard, Sullinger.

I remember last year they had a terrible season and somebody put up a link to their board and most of the people on the board wanted KD to be fired at the end of the season. (Obviously, their board in not as nice and tolerant as our board) I wonder what they are saying now?

No way. He just said that to take the blame. He was a class act in that situation.

Congrats to KD. They were up 18 and VCU cut it to 1 but the Dukes held on. To put Tribble's free throws in perspective, with a minute left a Duke player who shot 95% from the line missed a free throw on a one and one. Tribble has nerves of steel.

Just picked up the print edition of the Beacon and no coverage of the Akron Kent game. With all this modern technology, could not figure out how to cover a game that ended at 9 at get it into print the next day.

For those that are interested, the vcu- Dukes game is at 1 on CBS. I will be rooting for the Dukes. Ironic that KD get a 2nd chance at VCU, as they literally ran us out of the NCAA tourney. I was at that game and VCU was fast and pressured everything. Harney was not a great ball handler to start and he was forced to play point because of injuries and whatever and what followed was not pleasant.

Actually, Sullinger did something similar at the Bowling Green game. Time was winding down and Kent had the ball. Nobody was playing defense and as the time clock was about to expire Sullinger shot a very deep 3. I could see the Bowling Green coach was pissed and said something to Senderoff when they were shaking hand and it seemed like he defended Sullinger by putting up one finger indicating that there was a difference between the time clock and time expiring. Sullinger missed the shot but it it went in I could see things getting out of hand.

I watched the replay of the Ali foul and it was a good call. Ali set the screen and then moved in the same direction of the ball handler preventing the defender from defending. Just a bad play by Ali. However, Freeman did get fouled when he made a move to the basket in the last minute. Finally, they let Freeman play when in the last minute he went up to block a ball and the Kent player missed and got his own rebound and then Freeman had the block of the game and came down with the ball. There was some contact and the refs did not blow the whistle.

The Dukes have not made the NCAA tournament in 47 years. If they win tomorrow, I would call that overachieving. Good luck to the Dukes. Maybe they can join Akron in the NCAA tourney.

The Zips did not play their best but played good enough to win. Freeman came up with some great rebounds and Tribble made the clutch free throws. Congrats to Groce and the Zips. Go Zips!!!!!

I remember we were really bad under Coleman Crawford. I wondered what happened to him and he never had another head coaching position. Out of basketball in 2006.

I am just glad we got to the championship. I had my doubts based on the end of the season but Freeman has been a beast and last night we finally made some 3 pointers in the 2nd half. If Freeman has gas left in the tank I like our chances. We just need somebody to step up besides our big 3 whether it Hunter with some threes, Tavari with some baskets and some passes or maybe Dawson, Nate, or somebody else adds some points. Nate had a nice drive and finish yesterday. Go Zips!!!

Parked in the stadium garage on Thursday and Friday for $10. Easy out both days. Wonder if they jack up the price tonight.

I throw in Jamie Bosley as a poor guess.

I do feel like his advocate for Tavari since Groce seems to be his worst critic. If the Zips had any flow on offense and Dawson, Nate, Thornton and Scott were producing I would keep my thoughts to myself. However, having to watch them struggle game after game and then watching Ali, Freeman, and Tribble press and try to do too much because they are getting no help is more than I can stomach as a Zip fan. Tavari has the talent and give him a chance. Thus far it has worked out.

I just heard the Groce's comments and glad to see him indicate how well Tavari is playing. Note to coach: he cannot play well if you don't have him in the game. In the 2 games he is a plus 27 while on the court. When the team has overcome 10 point deficits in each game, he has been on the court. He has outplayed every sub on the team and Nate Johnson. I hope that he gets the court time he deserves and Groce does not pull him if he makes a mistake on D like he did at the last Kent game.

My apologies, captain, much better than Thornton who took one wide open 3 and did not hit the rim. And yes, Scott had a wide open breakaway but missed the layup when he slowed up and let the defender catch him and poke the ball away. Scott might be 1 for 10 in layups. That is not easy. Dawson played 10 minutes on Thursday went 0 for 3, all 3 pointers, played 12 minutes against Ohio, went 0 for 4, all 3 pointers. I expect Groce will play him 15 minutes tomorrow. (LOL?)