LoyalZIP Posted February 27, 2023 Report Posted February 27, 2023 1 hour ago, LZIp said: Don't forget about Dawson. He might have been here the year before Tribble, honestly can't remember. This is Tribble, Dawson, and Freeman's 4th season with the program. They can all come back for their COVID year next year. I also think Dawson has another year after that, as this one would be his red shirt. As far as whether all these guys will stay, that's a conversation we are not capable of having. I think once guys like Ali and Aziz dipped out, it's safe to say that nobody is safe and anyone can see the grass as greener. However, a guy like Tribble would probably have a hard time transferring up if he wanted to be a starter. If he were to transfer up, he would be a nice 7-9 spot off the bench as a backup guard. Maybe he would want to go back home to Cincy and be a spot starter. His grass may be at its greenest here in Akron. Quote
LoyalZIP Posted February 27, 2023 Report Posted February 27, 2023 Akron "playing down to competition" is something previously mentioned in this thread. It caught me by surprise, and the poster who wrote it didn't accuse this team of doing so regularly, but it did get me to thinking. In the Groce Era, specifically the contending years, how often does Akron play down to lower competition? By this, I mean losing these games. Many times they can be close, but you can't blow everyone out every night. I based the determination of bad losses on the team's KenPom ranking. The "Contending Era" of John Groce at Akron started in 2020. That team lost 4 conference games. vs. Toledo, vs. Buffalo, @ Kent, @ BG. Technically, the blowout loss at BG was the worst of the losses as they were 168, but the UB and Toledo games were at home. While the Zips did technically play down in those games, I don't consider them to be really bad losses. In the wacky 2021, Akron went 12-6 in MAC play, losing their final 3. Two really bad losses in the early stages of MAC play had us reeling. @EMU and @NIU back to back, with EMU being 289 and NIU 337. Last year, @WMU was 329 and home vs. NIU was 297. Both really bad losses This year, the worst MAC loss by the numbers is @ Ball State, and that is without X. You could say that the Toledo loss at home was one they should have won, same for @ Ohio. But as far as this year's team goes, they have been really good about being consistent and winning when they are supposed to win. What does this all mean? Nothing really, I just find it interesting. In the regular season, this team hasn't really left a whole lot on the table. They were alone at the top of the MAC after 5 weeks and if they come out on top tomorrow, they will finish the season without any head-scratcher losses in MAC play. More numbers for funsies: Groce's final KenPom rankings by year at Akron, ranked: 1. 2020 (82) 2. 2019 (108) 3. 2021 (112) 4. 2022 (126) 5. 2018 (255) Akron currently sits at 104, and was as high as 95 after beating Kent at home. Again, these numbers are largely meaningless, but tell an interesting story about the program, and the conference as a whole. Remember, the 2019 team lost tons of close games, and tended to play good teams really close. The MAC was pretty loaded that year. Close losses at CMU, at Kent, home vs. Buffalo, at Ball State, and at Bowling Green were absolute killers. LCJ shot <30% from three that season, which really is hard to believe. 3 1 Quote
NWAkron Posted February 27, 2023 Report Posted February 27, 2023 I read over this thread and the Buffalo game. Most posts are about Ali dribbling, dribbling, dribbling. However, ultimately was a team effort to get by Buffalo with Dawson, Wynn, X (with late 3 to tie at half), Tribble all making big contributions. 1 Quote
kreed5120 Posted February 27, 2023 Report Posted February 27, 2023 6 hours ago, NWAkron said: Not sure of a guaranteed loss Friday night. However, a win tomorrow night, makes Friday's game meaningless in a few ways. Kent, with two wins at home, can lock down a tie for regular season championship and the #1 seed. And all that depends on Toledo losing at Muncie. but does that mean much? first round against say Western Michigan or Buffalo? Tomorrow is about who plays Ohio and who plays Northern Illinois in the first round. The coaches contracts likely have some nice bonuses for beating rival teams and winning regular season championships. Personally, I'd rather Toledo just stay the one seed as I'd like to avoid having to face Toledo as long as possible. Perhaps hope someone like Ball State upsets them in the semis 3 Quote
NWAkron Posted February 27, 2023 Report Posted February 27, 2023 1 hour ago, kreed5120 said: Personally, I'd rather Toledo just stay the one seed as I'd like to avoid having to face Toledo as long as possible. Perhaps hope someone like Ball State upsets them in the semis Have to face the music eventually I guess. Toledo won the first MAC tournament in 1980....43 years, hence, and here we are. Quote
Blue & Gold Posted February 27, 2023 Report Posted February 27, 2023 (edited) Edited February 27, 2023 by Blue & Gold 1 Quote
LZIp Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 20 hours ago, LZIp said: Senior night, right? Does Enrique walk? Looks like we have our answer. 4 Quote
NWAkron Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 I'm loathe to weigh into transfer speculation but would a top player announce he or she is entering the transfer portal before the season is over? Quote
Captain Kangaroo Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 1 hour ago, NWAkron said: I'm loathe to weigh into transfer speculation but would a top player announce he or she is entering the transfer portal before the season is over? If they didn’t want to play any longer, or their team was eliminated from post season competition, sure. Quote
NWAkron Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 4 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said: If they didn’t want to play any longer, or their team was eliminated from post season competition, sure. I think BVP at OU announced after the tournament Quote
NWAkron Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 Noticed Sparks dressed and warming up. As I suspected, he's not ad injured as they made him out to be 1 Quote
NWAkron Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 Tribble and all Zips appear to be accounted for. Yeah, Sparks isn't all that injured. Quote
NWAkron Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 And the "double foul" ref returning to the scene of the crime. Cardinals shooting well in warm up...dread setting in. 1 Quote
Blue & Gold Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 Sparks is warming up. a few Rowdies dressed like Coach, along w/ Bud Wentz 🤣🤣🔥🔥🔥 Quote
Blue & Gold Posted February 28, 2023 Report Posted February 28, 2023 Sparks just windmill dunked. He doesn’t look the least bit injured 😂 Quote
NWAkron Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 20 minutes ago, Blue & Gold said: Sparks just windmill dunked. He doesn’t look the least bit injured 😂 Ball State good warm up carrying over. X missed 2 open 3s. Nate Johnson in. Quote
zipsrule Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 Ball State hitting every open three. 1 Quote
NWAkron Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 Just now, zipsrule said: Ball State hitting every open three. Can't blame the refs on this one. Like Toledo, Ball State was hitting all their 3s in warm up. Quote
NWAkron Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 Just now, LoyalZIP said: I don’t like this at all Looks like a date with Ohio in first round. Quote
NWAkron Posted March 1, 2023 Report Posted March 1, 2023 (edited) Ball State so much better. Rebounding big problem at moment. Edited March 1, 2023 by NWAkron Quote
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