Transfer Portal Watch

[Zippy87]

Of course you welcome him back. But would he be able to play next year?

 

Ali/Hunter/MMK

Dawson/Johnson

Freeman/Lyles/Baker

Scott/Tribble/Prather

Thornton/T. Johnson

 

That team could be SPECIAL.

[Blue & Gold]

👀👀

[LZIp]

22 minutes ago, ZIPS96 said:

 

No clue what will happen with Ali. He made his decision to leave Akron so its on him, but its unfortunate it didn't work out for him at a bigger school. Transferring up isn't always the best move, as evidenced here and for many other players.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Is he a grad transfer?

 

I wonder if Balls is a landing spot for him. Stay close to home, their coach saw him first hand in the tourney (even though he no-showed), and he'd get instant PT. 

[X got robbed of POY]

Sounds like a dream come true if Ali would return. This team really could use some perimeter shooting.

[Bigzip1]

He’s coming back 

[Captain Kangaroo]

10 minutes ago, X got robbed of POY said:

Sounds like a dream come true if Ali would return. This team really could use some perimeter shooting.

Until ISO Ali starts crossover dribbling between his legs for 30 seconds and tossing up fadeaway 20 footers or losing the ball off his leg...

 

If he returns, hopefully he's more humble, mature, and buys into the Groce-Teamism thing better than the first time around.

[X got robbed of POY]

Just now, Captain Kangaroo said:

Until ISO Ali starts crossover dribbling between his legs for 30 seconds and tossing up fadeaway 20 footers or losing the ball off his leg...

 

If he returns, hopefully he's more humble, mature, and buys into the Groce-Teamism thing better than the first time around.

I don't think Ali's character was a issue. Seemed like a quiet and chill guy honestly. The exact opposite of a Kent State player.

[Blue & Gold]

9 minutes ago, Bigzip1 said:

He’s coming back 

Do you know something we don't or is this just your gut?

[Blue & Gold]

I've currently got one window open to ZN.o while I'm taking on online American Red Cross course in another.  With the football and basketball transfer portals, this is the most fun ZN.o's been this time of year in... well, forever.

 

Add baseball, softball, and women's basketball... I'd better pay more attention to my Red Cross course 😂

[zippy5]

Ali was a big part of the championship team and specifically the championship game - no issues here if he wanted to return

[Blue & Gold]

A starting 5 of

 

PG - Thornton

W - Dawson

W - Ali

F - Sammy

F - Freeman

 

would be killer.

[LoyalZIP]

14 minutes ago, X got robbed of POY said:

I don't think Ali's character was a issue. Seemed like a quiet and chill guy honestly. The exact opposite of a Kent State player.

Yeah, this is a strange take a few people have had. When he announced he was leaving, there was a feeling of despondence. If he announced a return, I’m sure we’ll see some despondence. In reality, he is the definition of John Groce basketball at Akron. Superb athlete that was completely homegrown. Far from perfect with plenty of flaws, but he was as imperative to the championship run as everyone. Sign me up for an Ali Ali who has had his eyes opened to the horrors of what some other “grass is greener” programs have to offer. Sometimes home is where the heart is. I hope that if he finds home in the MAC, it’s at Akron. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

35 minutes ago, LoyalZIP said:

Yeah, this is a strange take a few people have had. When he announced he was leaving, there was a feeling of despondence. If he announced a return, I’m sure we’ll see some despondence. In reality, he is the definition of John Groce basketball at Akron. Superb athlete that was completely homegrown. Far from perfect with plenty of flaws, but he was as imperative to the championship run as everyone. Sign me up for an Ali Ali who has had his eyes opened to the horrors of what some other “grass is greener” programs have to offer. Sometimes home is where the heart is. I hope that if he finds home in the MAC, it’s at Akron. 

 

We have different definitions of John Groce basketball at Akron. We have had 2 beloved home grown guys - Freeman & Tribble. Otherwise, LCJ, X2.0, X1.0, Cheese, Banks, etc., all came from other programs and finished their careers here.

 

 

@Captain Kangaroo hit the nail on the head. If he is back at Akron next season, he needs to be more mature, humble, a better facilitator, and 1000% bought into Groce Ball. His "hero ball" plays need to be left at Butler. 

[LoyalZIP]

52 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

We have different definitions of John Groce basketball at Akron. We have had 2 beloved home grown guys - Freeman & Tribble. Otherwise, LCJ, X2.0, X1.0, Cheese, Banks, etc., all came from other programs and finished their careers here.

 

 

@Captain Kangaroo hit the nail on the head. If he is back at Akron next season, he needs to be more mature, humble, a better facilitator, and 1000% bought into Groce Ball. His "hero ball" plays need to be left at Butler. 

Were all of those players elite MAC-level basketball players before they got to Akron? Hell to the no. Even in LCJ’s first year, he was not good. Ali was every bit the Akron Zip they were up until he left. 
 

And the questions of attitude and defense just don’t make any sense. Nor does the “hero ball” stuff. It’s almost like that team never won the 2022 MAC title sometimes. He was an elite defender and always played his tail off. And if Groce didn’t want him to do the “hero ball” that he has been accused of, he wouldn’t have done it. 
 

In re-living some of the 2022 postseason threads recently, @Illini Zip explained the Ali back to the basketball strategy as well as anyone. Basically, it wasn’t sexy and didn’t always work, but considering the circumstances that roster was put through, they somehow miraculously went on one of the best runs in program history with Ali Ali as the leading scorer and one of the 3 most impactful players on the roster.

 

His play at the end of the UCLA game was awful. So was the decision to not call a timeout and let it play out like it did. 
 

Had Ali not gone portaling, he would have in all likelihood surpassed 1000 points in his career at Akron, been All-MAC, and been part of one of the best 3-headed monsters to return after winning a championship that the league has seen.

 

I get that he left here and it was a stupid BS move. Easy to see from the moment it happened. But retroactively killing the guy and pretending like we weren’t salivating at the prospect of him being part of the core that was supposed to return for 22-23 is just…weird to read. 

[1981 grad]

I am on the fence on this one.  I still remember the one Butler game I watched where he punched a guy on a break away and was called for a flagrant foul.  I also recall a couple of techs he had when he played for Akron.  I would only take him if he could play immediately, no other recruits have his talent and he really want to come here.

[LZIp]

Just now, 1981 grad said:

I am on the fence on this one.  I still remember the one Butler game I watched where he punched a guy on a break away and was called for a flagrant foul.  I also recall a couple of techs he had when he played for Akron.  I would only take him if he could play immediately, no other recruits have his talent and he really want to come here.

He really wants to come here? Do you know something us peasants don't? Off the fly, I would think he would be a grad transfer at this point, so am assuming immediate eligibility.

 

Side note, I saw Robby Pridgen liked a tweet about wanting Ali to come back on twitter. There might be some real smoke here..

Edited April 18, 2023 by LZIp

[NWAkron]

The high level drama of it all!

Come home, Ali!!

[clarkwgriswold]

I have been as critical as anyone on here relative to Ali's departure and possible return, but if he wants to come back and Groce is good with it then I am good with it.  My concern was that his leaving didn't demonstrate the type of commitment required of a person in Groce's program and that it certainly wasn't a great demonstration of "teamism", but if Groce sees him as having that commitment I will trust his judgment.

[1981 grad]

42 minutes ago, LZIp said:

He really wants to come here? Do you know something us peasants don't? Off the fly, I would think he would be a grad transfer at this point, so am assuming immediate eligibility.

 

Side note, I saw Robby Pridgen liked a tweet about wanting Ali to come back on twitter. There might be some real smoke here..

I have absolutely no clue if he wants to come back here.  

[Blue & Gold]

58 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

I am on the fence on this one.  I still remember the one Butler game I watched where he punched a guy on a break away and was called for a flagrant foul.  I also recall a couple of techs he had when he played for Akron.  I would only take him if he could play immediately, no other recruits have his talent and he really want to come here.

@LZIp, that last sentence is saying:

“I would only take him if:

1. He could play immediately

2. No other recruits have his talent, and

3. He really wants to come here.”

[Hilltopper]

4 hours ago, LoyalZIP said:

 @Illini Zip 

 

His play at the end of the UCLA game was awful. So was the decision to not call a timeout and let it play out like it did. 
 

Groce did call a timeout.  Terry Weimer was standing right in front of him and just chose to ignore it and admitted as much to Groce after the game. I guess he was just too caught up in the moment.

[LoyalZIP]

11 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

Groce did call a timeout.  Terry Weimer was standing right in front of him and just chose to ignore it and admitted as much to Groce after the game. I guess he was just too caught up in the moment.

Thanks for the info, HT. I always liked Wymer. It’s a shame that the last Akron game he ever reffed went the way it did. The block Matt Potter called on Aziz had me through the roof with anger. 

[X got robbed of POY]

LCJ with the retweet

[Hilltopper]