Reslife4Life Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 (edited) 4 minutes ago, zippy5 said: That MAC championship team was tough to watch huh? Up until mid-February when they figured it out, yes Not being a hater, just want us to run the right offense, the one that finished the '22 season, not the one that started it Edited May 4, 2023 by Reslife4Life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigzip1 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 I called it 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Desperately what we needed to help absorb the loss of Castaneda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 5 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said: Up until mid-February when they figured it out, yes Not being a hater, just want us to run the right offense, the one that finished the '22 season, not the one that started it I'm gonna guess Groce might also want that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X got robbed of POY Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 7 seniors next year. This team is loaded with depth. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 From GoZips.com: https://gozips.com/news/2023/4/28/mens-basketball-akron-basketball-welcomes-ali-scott-and-thornton 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips4824 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 I think it is safe to say that we have asserted ourselves as the preseason team to beat in the MAC. This team has absolutely insane depth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWAkron Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 From our friend in the Hocking Hills: "RE: 2023 Transfer Portal Posted: 5/4/2023 10:54:23 AM It’s official, Ali Ali back to Akron *sighs*.https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/16541351678820802..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X got robbed of POY Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Everyone sleeping on the fact that Kaleb Thornton is top 30 in assists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWAkron Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 2 minutes ago, X got robbed of POY said: Everyone sleeping on the fact that Kaleb Thornton is top 30 in assists. Greg Tribble is NOT questionable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Kaleb Thornton, Shammah Scott, Greg Tribble, Nate Johnson, Mikal Dawson, Ali Ali, Darrion Baker, Ryan Prather, Tavari Johnson, Sammy Hunter, Enrique Freeman, Amani Lyles, Marvin Kamali. Plus Pat Mayfield and Evan Wilson. WOW. Get to work, fellas!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X got robbed of POY Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Does this mean possible redshirt for any of our incoming freshman since we have 15 players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Woo hoo! I think we’re a lock to win the ultimate prize- 20 games next year! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 (edited) 8 minutes ago, X got robbed of POY said: Does this mean possible redshirt for any of our incoming freshman since we have 15 players. We have 13 scholarship guys. IMO, Kamali is the only redshirt candidate. Even then, I wouldn't redshirt anyone. Transfer Portal eliminates the redshirt potential for me. Ali Ali coming back only works if he is as efficient as he was in 2021-22 - and that's his outlier year by far as a D1 basketball player. Edited May 4, 2023 by Let'sGoZips94 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 It seems like Groce is going all-in this year, which makes sense when you have a talent like Freeman on the roster. The following year is likely going to be a rebuild unless we see someone like a Tavari or Dawson emerge as all-MAC caliber players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 4 minutes ago, kreed5120 said: It seems like Groce is going all-in this year, which makes sense when you have a talent like Freeman on the roster. The following year is likely going to be a rebuild unless we see someone like a Tavari or Dawson emerge as all-MAC caliber players. This is the Portal Era. We could pick up seven 2024-25 seniors to replace them. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 20 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: Ali Ali coming back only works if he is as efficient as he was in 2021-22 - and that's his outlier year by far as a D1 basketball player. Outlier as in he progressively got significantly better each year he was at Akron? Like X in 2022-2023? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyalBlu Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 20 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: We have 13 scholarship guys. IMO, Kamali is the only redshirt candidate. Even then, I wouldn't redshirt anyone. Transfer Portal eliminates the redshirt potential for me. Ali Ali coming back only works if he is as efficient as he was in 2021-22 - and that's his outlier year by far as a D1 basketball player. I think this is a very sober opinion that has to be factored into projections for the coming season. Which Ali will be back with the Zips??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 (edited) 9 minutes ago, LoyalZIP said: Outlier as in he progressively got significantly better each year he was at Akron? Like X in 2022-2023? X was a 13 ppg player in 2021-22 with 2 other 13+ ppg guys on the team. I don't think X took a significant leap in 2022-23 - he just had a more prominent role thrust upon him. He largely answered the bell. Ali Ali, for as big of a step he took in 2021-22, regressed mightily in 2022-23. Whatever the circumstances may have been, he only has 1 year out of 4 of being a prominent DI basketball player. That's a fact. We need another year from him like 2021-22. That's all I'm saying. Edited May 4, 2023 by Let'sGoZips94 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyalBlu Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 In alphabetical order, early projections for Top 4 teams in the MAC 2023-24: Akron - Senior leadership Bowling Green -- (pay attention people!!!!) Quality transfers galore Kent State -- They usually figure something out Ohio -- Good coach, still in the portal looking Toledo -- Rockets always have firepower everybody else .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWAkron Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 7 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said: I think this is a very sober opinion that has to be factored into projections for the coming season. Which Ali will be back with the Zips??? Concern noted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Nice to see someone come to the realization that the grass isn't always greener. As I have mentioned before I have my concerns, however, my concerns are outweighed by my faith in John Groce. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X got robbed of POY Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 (edited) 3 starters above 6'7 isn't something you have often in mid majors. Edited May 4, 2023 by X got robbed of POY 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 Just now, LoyalZIP said: Outlier as in he progressively got significantly better each year he was at Akron? Like X in 2022-2023? Yes, even the 20-21 season Ali's efficiency numbers were solid. They just weren't elite like 21-22. He was also a good enough defender to receive consistent playing time as a true freshman on what was a really talented Akron roster. Having a 6'8 G/F that can switch and defend anyone on the floor is a luxury very few mid-majors have. With Ali and Dawson back in the line-up and the depth of the roster, I think you'll see Groce play more aggressive defensively, which should help generate more turnovers and transition baskets. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted May 4, 2023 Report Share Posted May 4, 2023 1 minute ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: X was a 13 ppg player in 2021-22 with 2 other 13+ ppg guys on the team. I don't think X took a significant leap in 2022-23 - he just had a more prominent role thrust upon him. Ali Ali, for as big of a step he took in 2021-22, regressed mightily in 2022-23. Whatever the circumstances may have been, he only has 1 year out of 4 of being a prominent DI basketball player. That's a fact. We need another year from him like 2021-22. That's all I'm saying. I can think of some circumstances last year that prevented him from having a great year for Akron basketball, just a couple. As a true freshman, he was a spot starter for the best team in the MAC. Barely scored, but was a rotation player--as a true freshman--on what many consider to be one of the best Akron teams to ever take the floor. As a sophomore, he played far more meaningful minutes on a team that was tasked with replacing one of the best starting lineups the program has ever seen. In 13 more minutes per game, his FG% saw a 6% increase, 3PT% saw an 11% increase, and he scored 131 more points than he did as a freshman. In a short season. As a junior, he led the team in scoring (the team that went 14-6 in MAC play and beat Kent by 20 in the MAC Championship). He averaged 10 more minutes per game than the previous year, bumped his FG% up 2%, bumped his 3PT% up 6%, and missed 37 free throws in 133 trips to the line. He scored 308 more points than the previous season. I'm all for the idea of him not being as good as he once was in the Akron uniform. My guess as to his production will be somewhere between the 21 and 22 seasons. Lots of cooks in the kitchen this year. But calling that one season an outlier is entirely misleading. There is a graph of usage and production that suggests a trend. Had he never left Akron, who knows how good a year he would've had in 22-23. My main point in this entire business transaction is this. Would you rather bring back Ali to give it another shot with him, or take a shot on a random and increase your risk of another Maishe Dailey, Trimble, Currie, or KJ Walton while you try to land a Xeyrius Williams or even a Xavier Castaneda, who was anything but special for most of his first year at Akron? Or maybe we just go for another Prince Mosengo. Risk vs. Reward. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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