Zips Basketball- Looking Back to 22-23/Looking Forward to 23-24

[clarkwgriswold]

Tribble's ability to bring the ball up and play the point also allowed X to move over to more of a shooting guard and run off of picks, etc. to get loose and get off shots.

[NWAkron]

Just now, clarkwgriswold said:

Tribble's ability to bring the ball up and play the point also allowed X to move over to more of a shooting guard and run off of picks, etc. to get loose and get off shots.

And the Coach loves him...and, I'm guessing here, that's probably what matters most.

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, NWAkron said:

And the Coach loves him...and, I'm guessing here, that's probably what matters most.

And nobody knows the kid better as a basketball player than John Groce.

[zippy5]

2 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

And nobody knows the kid better as a basketball player than John Groce.

Emoni Bates got to know him pretty well 

[monrowe]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Tribble's ability to bring the ball up and play the point also allowed X to move over to more of a shooting guard and run off of picks, etc. to get loose and get off shots.

Tribble,  also fouled out of the last two KSU games. The Tribble bring the ball up philosophy didn’t work against KSU or UT.X and Freeman needed scoring help Tribble couldn’t provide it he starts.

[gozips19]

22 hours ago, monrowe said:

Tribble can not dribble and he plays like a six foot one power forward.I think he should tryout for the zips football team that would free up a scholarship.Tribble is a liability too many turnovers with him.

Funny you should mention that as an outsider. I often think to myself how much of a beast he'd be as a SS. 

 

This team a year ago was elite defensively. Once they lost the length of Ali and Dawson they were simply just good. 

They need a transfer who can create on his own. Tavari and N Johnson should take a big step next year. Especially encouraged by Nate. 

Clarke reminds me of Carmelo Benacourt. You can't continue to play him and Tribble at the same time. 

[clarkwgriswold]

I love the end of a Zips basketball season in how it brings out people we never otherwise see on ZipsNation-  people that come to p!$$, moan and b!+ch after a loss and those who come to celebrate and bask in success.  The most amusing are those who  are actually in both groups. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

[Jkobe03]

Just now, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Sammy posted one as well

[NWAkron]

8 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

And Freeman "liked" Sammy's Instagram post...so that's a message, right?

[Zippy87]

Freeman, Hunter, Tribble locked in. Guessing we should hear soon on at least 1 or 2 leaving.  Need to be aggressive in the transfer portal.

[zippy5]

Dawson 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CpyeXXtOquE/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

[ZIPS96]

Dawson will be an upgrade over Hankerson, both Johnson’s should improve and hopefully we see late season Sammy most of next year.  Lyles should develop to give more minutes.  Just need some scoring from the portal and we are in Cleveland with a chance

[Illini Zip]

I find that encouraging pertaining to Dawson’s health. 

[Blue & Gold]

 

[LoyalZIP]

13 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

I find that encouraging pertaining to Dawson’s health. 

 

Coach said a few weeks ago that the trainer and doctors have been blown away by the speed at which Dawson has been recovering. He got back to shooting ahead of schedule--this is huge for getting back into game shape and having a good summer. That is a hard injury to recover from in many ways, including mentally. @Illini Zip wasn't around for Noah Robotham's ACL injury and recovery, it took him a while to get comfortable playing on that leg. Hopefully Dawson comes out as if he hasn't missed a beat.

[LoyalZIP]

I'm curious as to how Groce and the coaching staff are approaching this process. Last year, everything was mute until Ali's announcement, and then Aziz after that. Ali entered on March 30, Aziz March 31. I still expect at least one or two on the current roster to enter.

 

These graphics/edits they're sending out point to this being a new strategy they're trying out with their exit interview process. I would love to hear how it works. Is the coaching staff utilizing some sort of NIL contract to lock the players in? Is it simply their commitment to wanting to play at Akron and finish what they started? 

 

Again, this is all speculation, I'm just very curious. I was hoping and expecting for all of the guys that have "committed" to return, but the season just ended 5 days ago. Coach must have used that bad taste that's still in their mouth to fuel them to stay here. I'm also wondering how much that Ali and Aziz transfers may have to do with this new strategy. It has been reported that the staff was blindsided by both. Maybe now they're making sure everyone's concerns are laid out on the table early in this process before the players all go away for the spring. Again, Ali's announcement last year came 2+ weeks after this point.

 

Another possible theory is selling the program to portal recruits. He wants these guys' word that they'll be back. Anything helps when you're trying to sell the product of winning and success. They could tell anyone that walks in that Freeman, Dawson, Hunter, Tribble are probably coming back, now they can definitively point to these things and say "look how badly these guys want to finish the job." 

 

Any other theories? I just think this is really damn cool. A job well done by this coaching staff and program. I was pretty dejected these last few days, seeing all the coverage of the MAC's NCAA tournament representative. I think it should be us. It looks like these guys do too. I enjoyed this season thoroughly, but it's great to see a solid core of guys aren't satisfied with how it ended either. Just like that, my excitement level for Zips basketball is back!

[clarkwgriswold]

56 minutes ago, LoyalZIP said:

 

Coach said a few weeks ago that the trainer and doctors have been blown away by the speed at which Dawson has been recovering. He got back to shooting ahead of schedule--this is huge for getting back into game shape and having a good summer. That is a hard injury to recover from in many ways, including mentally. @Illini Zip wasn't around for Noah Robotham's ACL injury and recovery, it took him a while to get comfortable playing on that leg. Hopefully Dawson comes out as if he hasn't missed a beat.

 

I always got the sense with Noah that his recovery was as much mental as physical.  He looked to be back on the floor with regard to speed, movement, etc. but seemed hesitant/reluctant and unaggressive after this return and for the rest of his tenure with the Zips.  Great kid. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Just now, LoyalZIP said:

I'm curious as to how Groce and the coaching staff are approaching this process. Last year, everything was mute until Ali's announcement, and then Aziz after that. Ali entered on March 30, Aziz March 31. I still expect at least one or two on the current roster to enter.

 

These graphics/edits they're sending out point to this being a new strategy they're trying out with their exit interview process. I would love to hear how it works. Is the coaching staff utilizing some sort of NIL contract to lock the players in? Is it simply their commitment to wanting to play at Akron and finish what they started? 

 

Again, this is all speculation, I'm just very curious. I was hoping and expecting for all of the guys that have "committed" to return, but the season just ended 5 days ago. Coach must have used that bad taste that's still in their mouth to fuel them to stay here. I'm also wondering how much that Ali and Aziz transfers may have to do with this new strategy. It has been reported that the staff was blindsided by both. Maybe now they're making sure everyone's concerns are laid out on the table early in this process before the players all go away for the spring. Again, Ali's announcement last year came 2+ weeks after this point.

 

Another possible theory is selling the program to portal recruits. He wants these guys' word that they'll be back. Anything helps when you're trying to sell the product of winning and success. They could tell anyone that walks in that Freeman, Dawson, Hunter, Tribble are probably coming back, now they can definitively point to these things and say "look how badly these guys want to finish the job." 

 

Any other theories? I just think this is really damn cool. A job well done by this coaching staff and program. I was pretty dejected these last few days, seeing all the coverage of the MAC's NCAA tournament representative. I think it should be us. It looks like these guys do too. I enjoyed this season thoroughly, but it's great to see a solid core of guys aren't satisfied with how it ended either. Just like that, my excitement level for Zips basketball is back!

 

All great points. 

 

Is the graphics team the same team that does them for football? If so, those people are earning their paychecks/experience. Both programs have really stepped up their social media game. 

 

Tribble, Dawson, and Hunter aren't surprising returns. Hunter would have to sit out a year if he left, Tribble is basically an Akron lifer with a limited skill set that only Groce can get the most out of, and Dawson is coming off an injury with limited transfer potential I'd assume; he also has the connection from Huntington Prep with Fulford. Freeman is the key to all of this. Him returning creates the stability this program needed after multiple offseasons of roster turnover. I'd be fascinated to hear the behind the scenes with him staying. He seems so genuine and simple, it could be that he just loves being at Akron, with Groce who gave him his big shot. It could be the program found some NIL money for him. It could be a combination. Would be interesting to hear the details. 

 

Everyone else on the roster is fair game to stay or leave. I don't believe there's a restriction on any of them, so we'll see which ones share a "Run It Back" graphic and which ones enter the Portal. Opening a spot on this roster for a veteran guard to replace X has to be the hope for anyone who watched this team last year. Ideally, I'd like 2 open slots on the roster for veteran pieces, since we have quite a bit of youth from the 2022 and 2023 classes. 

[NWAkron]

Just now, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

All great points. 

 

Is the graphics team the same team that does them for football? If so, those people are earning their paychecks/experience. Both programs have really stepped up their social media game. 

 

Tribble, Dawson, and Hunter aren't surprising returns. Hunter would have to sit out a year if he left, Tribble is basically an Akron lifer with a limited skill set that only Groce can get the most out of, and Dawson is coming off an injury with limited transfer potential I'd assume; he also has the connection from Huntington Prep with Fulford. Freeman is the key to all of this. Him returning creates the stability this program needed after multiple offseasons of roster turnover. I'd be fascinated to hear the behind the scenes with him staying. He seems so genuine and simple, it could be that he just loves being at Akron, with Groce who gave him his big shot. It could be the program found some NIL money for him. It could be a combination. Would be interesting to hear the details. 

 

Everyone else on the roster is fair game to stay or leave. I don't believe there's a restriction on any of them, so we'll see which ones share a "Run It Back" graphic and which ones enter the Portal. Opening a spot on this roster for a veteran guard to replace X has to be the hope for anyone who watched this team last year. Ideally, I'd like 2 open slots on the roster for veteran pieces, since we have quite a bit of youth from the 2022 and 2023 classes. 

Incredibly important in selling this program to recruits to have the core men locked in.  

[Zippy87]

To me, the great unknown for 23-24 is what the young players on the roster can produce.

 

The Zips only played 7 guys most big games and we're losing 2 of them, so while we need to add some instant impact with the portal, we also need some internal options to produce.

 

I think/hope Nate Johnson can be a productive rotation player, possibly more. The game sped up on him at times but he also showed flashes of being a really good player. Amani Lyles should be fine as a rotation big with upside. I think it's fair to say both Johnson/Lyles will at least be playable next season.

 

Is Garvin Clarke a D1 guard? Is Kobe Mitchell good enough to play?  Is Ryan Prather Jr capable of stepping in and providing outside shooting help we so desperately need? Do the coaches believe in Tavari? Can Mosengo help Freeman down low? Will Baker contribute right away?

 

[Zippy87]

I looked back to see what Groce said about Ryan Prather Jr when he signed, and he sure does sound like what we need next year:

 

"Ryan is an extremely talented versatile guard with great size, length and toughness," Groce said. "He is an elite shooter that can create opportunities for himself and his teammates with his playmaking skills. Ryan is also a high-level defender that plays with motor and physicality."

 

 

[roopride]

Zippy 87 - that is what I was trying to get at a few days ago.  

 

Assuming no one left and the 13 guys on scholarship..... are what we have........ Does anyone have a feel for whether we have an improved roster next year.   Not asking wins/loses, but is the roster better.   We loose 2 and add 4.   Do we have the right pieces?

 

Wins/looses will be determined by how Groce makes the pieces fit and how the players respond.

 

If those on here that know more about the players (the new 4) and believe the roster is not better and there is a gap then someone has to go and Groce has to fill the gap.

 

I just don't know what these 4 bring. Certainly we lack shooting.

 

 

[Illini Zip]

1 hour ago, LoyalZIP said:

 

Coach said a few weeks ago that the trainer and doctors have been blown away by the speed at which Dawson has been recovering. He got back to shooting ahead of schedule--this is huge for getting back into game shape and having a good summer. That is a hard injury to recover from in many ways, including mentally. @Illini Zip wasn't around for Noah Robotham's ACL injury and recovery, it took him a while to get comfortable playing on that leg. Hopefully Dawson comes out as if he hasn't missed a beat.

I agree. Call me cautiously optimistic. Groce had a point guard at Illinois named Tracy Abrams who was never quite the same after rehab. 

[Zippy87]

Just now, roopride said:

Zippy 87 - that is what I was trying to get at a few days ago.  

 

Assuming no one left and the 13 guys on scholarship..... are what we have........ Does anyone have a feel for whether we have an improved roster next year.   Not asking wins/loses, but is the roster better.   We loose 2 and add 4.   Do we have the right pieces?

 

Wins/looses will be determined by how Groce makes the pieces fit and how the players respond.

 

If those on here that know more about the players (the new 4) and believe the roster is not better and there is a gap then someone has to go and Groce has to fill the gap.

 

I just don't know what these 4 bring. Certainly we lack shooting.

 

 

 

I'd be stunned if Kobe Mitchell is back. He seemed to get a shot to play in the first half of the year then fell out of the rotation.

 

I also think either Garvin or Tavari leave. Neither did enough to be a starting guard next season and only one will play as backup.

 

That would open two scholarships - one for a starting guard, the other (IMO) for another big.