1981 grad

I agree with many who indicated it is way too early to judge this team. However, this is what I saw yesterday that bothered me, uncontested layups by the other team. Groce always stressed defense and I think I saw at least 12 uncontested layups. Without a big man, Riak, as a rim protector we got exposed big time. LCJ got beat repeatedly and there was nobody to protect the rim. Also, rebounding is a team effort and it just did not look like a priority to the zips. The first half saw a lot of Zip turnovers. It just looked like we were dribbling way to much. The good news is that Ali Ali looked very aggressive on the offensive end. I think he will get much more playing time this year. As everyone mentioned, Freeman looked good. Although everyone commented he needs to get stronger, he looks much stronger than last year. I did not expect him to contribute since he was a walk on but I was clearly wrong. The Zips could not hit the 3 ball but we saw that the last 2 years where they have just been a very streaky team. I thought several of the 3 balls were rushed. Although LCJ had 20 points I did not think he had a great game. I am looking forward to Kent. Considering Covid, I am just glad to be watching Zips basketball!!

I just got done watching the last dance and it was great getting insight into the competitiveness of Michael Jordan. The man was driven to be a great basketball player and had the tools to get there. Although LCJ is not Michael Jackson, I see that same drive to get better and willingness to put the time into the gym to get to your goals. I have been watching Akron basketball for a long time and I cannot remember a player who improved as much as LCJ in one year. Our biggest complaint on this board was that we never had a dominant point guard, a guy who could control the game. I think LCJ was that player last year. Unfortunately, we never got to see him in the tournament. I just wonder whether this year we will see even more improvement and whether he spent another off season in the gym improving his game.

With fall sports being cancelled today by the MAC and winter sports including basketball being in limbo with no end in sight to this pandemic, how many fans are going to renew their season tickets. My buddy just told me he is not renewing because of the pandemic. It is time for our Athletics Dept to send out a letter asking basketball season ticket holders to put down a minimal refundable deposit ($50?) to hold their season tickets until we know whether the season will take place.

I do not believe it was a technical. He made the first and then missed the second. We had a double digit lead that game and just blew it. I remember that Patton had picked off several offensive rebounds that year off of missed foul shots and thought it was a bad move to take him out at that point in the game for Klac.

I talked about that game and it was close at the 2 minute mark when Utomi missed the free throw: "Duvivier ended the 14-0 Eastern Michigan surge with a free throw at the 1:59 mark to bring the Zips within two, 60-58." I did not know that Cotton applauded when Utomi missed the free throw. I was upset when Groce took out Patton for Klac. The Hurons scored the last 7 points of the game.

I agree that Sayles should have a great senior year. Akron had a talented team last year and won the MAC. Sayles was our third center and usually saw limited minutes or no minutes. The problem with being the 3rd center is that there is little room for error. Toward the latter part of the season he was playing well and getting minutes. During one of the last games a player beat his man and Sayles was under the basket and never made a move to block the shot or contest the layup. Groce yanked him. I don't think I saw him in the lineup after that play. However, even with limited minutes he was always cheering his teammates and seemed to have a great attitude. He got recruited as a back to the basket center. However, Groce wanted faster play and used the center to set screens and cut the basket. Sayles lost weight and tried to play the up tempo even though he seemed to struggle finishing at the basket. (our starting center also struggled to finish around the basket but played great defense)

I usually trust Groce's judgment on player situations but in Groce's first year in our first playoff game in Cleveland we were down a few points in the last minute and we had a free throw. Groce substituted Klac for Patton. I went crazy. Patton was a hustler and had come up with several offensive rebounds off of missed free throws. In the last minute we needed that rebound if there was a miss. Our player missed the rebound and Klac was running down the floor to play defense and did not go for the offensive rebound. The next offensive possession we threw the ball to Klac and it went threw his hands and game was over. I do not blame Klac. Groce should never had made the substitution. I just did not feel like Klac had great instincts for basketball and that is why he was always a step slow at division 1 basketball. I wish him the best next year and hope he is a starter for Walsh.

I saw this topic and wondered what type of year he had at Walsh. Did not start any games and only averaged 10 minutes per game. I thought he would play better in a lower division. Maybe next year he will improve.

Wow!!!!!

In hindsight, the decision to cancel the tournament was the right decision and probably saved lives. I am healthy sitting at the computer and thankful for my health and the health of my family. I hope all Zip fans stay healthy to cheer for the Zips next year.

I wish Jaden the best wherever he lands. I thought he was always a great cheerleader on the bench. He slimmed down and played with more intensity during the season. He had some great minutes and was scoring on some nice assists by Jackson. He also worked hard on defense and pulled down some nice rebounds. However, I think it was in the Ohio game where a player drove the lane and Jaden did not move to block his shot and the guy had a layup. Groce pulled him and I don't think he saw the court again. I felt bad for him but when you are at the end of the bench there is just no room for error. I was looking forward to seeing how much he progressed next season.

I would like to give a shout out and well done to the above and also Clark Griswold who predicted the 3 guard starting rotation of Jackson Banks and Cheese along with Riak and Williams. I was always concerned about the number of transfers but you were correct that Groce was just getting players who wanted to be in his system and would work within his system. Nobody predicted that Groce would be coach of the year or that Jackson would be player of the year. The Zips finished the season strong and beat Buffalo in Buffalo. I cannot remember the last time that happened. We had a great season!!! It just ended too soon.

I believe that you would have to do that for all sports that were affected by the cancellations. It would be very costly but I think it would be a great idea to give student athletes the option.

Bizarre, just saw a trailer for "A quiet place, part 2"

I am not happy with the decision but I respect it considering there is a national emergency. We can watch the game on ESPN plus or the CBS sports network. “The best way to prevent a catastrophic explosion of new cases in the next few weeks, many experts think, is to break potential chains of transmission by preventing sick people from coming in close contact with healthy ones, whether it means canceling conferences or relying on individual decisions to avoid crowded public transportation or postpone weddings,”

So basically, our basketball game will look like a Tuesday night Akron home football game from this past season.

The Ivy League Cancels Conference Basketball Tournaments- I know that this may be the correct thing to do but I feel bad for all the seniors who will never get to play their last game. I think holding the tournament without fans may be the best compromise if they go in that direction. What about the Cavs? How do you justify canceling the MAC tournament only to have the Cavs fill the arena next week?

I also purchased my tickets on Travel Zoo. I am a season ticket holder in the lower bowl and have been for many years and I am always upset when I buy tickets from Akron I always get sent to the upper level of the Q. I have complained and my season ticket agent indicates that the seating is made by Akron and the big donors get the lower level seats near the floor.

Tribbles second dunk was one of the best dunks I have seen from an Akron Guard. He was fearless going over the defender and to the hoop. Also, I was curious how bad the refs were and reviewed LCJ's first blocking foul that looked like a charge and Williams last foul that looked like a flop. Both calls were good calls. On the blocking foul Jackson did not move parallel but moved his leg forward causing the contact. On Williams last foul he hit the shooter on the arm as he was shooting and it had nothing to do with the flop or sticking the leg out.

Travel Zoo also has discounted tickets.

I think this is a great bracket for the Zips. We had 4 losses and the only team that we lost to on our side of the bracket are the bulls and we just beat them at their place.

Great game by the Zips. Nice to see Williams make some 3 balls and lead the team in scoring. Kent killed us on the offensive boards but some of the rebounds were deep rebound and Akron had position but went to the Kent player. The refs were bad both ways. They let the teams play and then called some stupid fouls. The Jackson blocking foul was pure crap but the same ref made the same call against Kent so it even out. With all of the turnaround from last season I did not think we would win the MAC. LCJ kept saying "trust the process" He was right. Congrats to the team and to Groce for a great regular season. Let's finish the job and get back to NCAA.

I believe if we end up in a tie with Bowling Green we are considered co-conference champions. They just get the higher seed because of the tie breaker and probably the automatic NIT bid. (I remember this nugget of information from a prior year when we tied for conference regular season)

As a Zips fan I always wondered what it would be like to have the best guard in the league. Now I know. LCJ for MAC player of the year.

Williams hit a 3!!!! It looks like he put a lot more arc on the shot. I like the way he is driving to the basket and passing on the long range shot.