kreed5120 Posted April 6, 2023 Report Share Posted April 6, 2023 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said: I wonder if he could become a "Mitch Cronin" and blossom with a bigger conference and budget? He's been a D1 coach for 21 years and has never made an NCAA Tournament. One would think by dumb chance he would have at least lucked into one by now. He just seems like a good regular season coach who just doesn't know how to win in March. I think some just don't realize what it takes to win in January or February is different than what it takes to win in March. Let's take that Big Dog and Cheatham team as a prime example. In a scenario where you only need to play 2 games a week and there are 3-4 days off between games, that Akron team was clearly the best in the MAC. We won the MAC regular season title by 3 full games. When you're asked to win 3 games in 3 days and your best player is north of 300lbs, that becomes a lot more challenging. Tod IMO has ridden his starters too hard over the years and just hasn't had the depth to keep players fresh. Also, his style of play doesn't really preach giving 100% effort on defense every possession. You can mask those things in the regular season. They catch up to you come March. Edited April 6, 2023 by kreed5120 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWAkron Posted April 6, 2023 Report Share Posted April 6, 2023 4 hours ago, kreed5120 said: Tod IMO has ridden his starters too hard over the years and just hasn't had the depth to keep players fresh. Also, his style of play doesn't really preach giving 100% effort on defense every possession. You can mask those things in the regular season. They catch up to you come March. Have we all seen enough of Shumate and Milner? Those guys gave it all for the Rockets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted April 7, 2023 Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 22 hours ago, Captain Kangaroo said: I wonder if he could become a "Mitch Cronin" and blossom with a bigger conference and budget? Or he could become a "John Groce" (technically maybe that would be a John Groce.2) and wither with a bigger conference and budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted April 7, 2023 Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 Just now, Zipmeister said: Or he could become a "John Groce" (technically maybe that would be a John Groce.2) and wither with a bigger conference and budget. It looks like Utah State is hiring Danny Sprinkle from Montana State. I didn't really see Tod mentioned in any articles so I'm not sure how serious of a candidate he even was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted April 7, 2023 Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 On 4/6/2023 at 2:18 PM, LoyalZIP said: Could be a KD-like move in trying to get to a multi-bid league... ... and bring it down to a 1-bid league. FIFY. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyalBlu Posted April 13, 2023 Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 Copy-Cats .... Anyone notice the pattern of once Akron gets a MAC transfer player from the Portal ... Kent gets a MAC transfer player from the portal. It has happened again. CMU's Reggie Bass headed down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted April 13, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 16 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said: Copy-Cats .... Anyone notice the pattern of once Akron gets a MAC transfer player from the Portal ... Kent gets a MAC transfer player from the portal. It has happened again. CMU's Reggie Bass headed down the road. How about that! I wasn't too high on Bass as compared to most. Tremendously inefficient offensively on a really bad team. That said, he will fill a hole over there. Interesting move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted April 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2023 https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-2024-march-madness-men-field-predictions Kent lands a huge transfer who shot 32% from the floor for a sub-300 MAC team, and it propels them into the projected 2024 tournament field, booting the Zips. How will we ever recover? I've had about enough of this John Groce character. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted April 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2023 Emoni Bates to the draft. Stan Heath's nightmare may be over at last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 10 hours ago, LoyalZIP said: Emoni Bates to the draft. Stan Heath's nightmare may be over at last. Addition by subtraction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X got robbed of POY Posted April 25, 2023 Report Share Posted April 25, 2023 Joe Dunn reported that a few NBA scouts were at the JAR when we hosted Eastern Michigan this season. Wasn't a good look for Emoni especially after he got benched for the final 10 minutes and threw a fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted June 23, 2023 Report Share Posted June 23, 2023 On 4/24/2023 at 10:52 AM, LoyalZIP said: Emoni Bates to the draft. Stan Heath's nightmare may be over at last. And the Cavaliers drafted him. Did they not have any scouts to send 30 miles down the road? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted June 23, 2023 Report Share Posted June 23, 2023 2 minutes ago, MDZip said: And the Cavaliers drafted him. Did they not have any scouts to send 30 miles down the road? Yeah waste of a pick by them. Then again many NBA 2nd round picks are wastes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted June 23, 2023 Report Share Posted June 23, 2023 21 minutes ago, LZIp said: Yeah waste of a pick by them. Then again many NBA 2nd round picks are wastes. They could have at least read what seems to be a pretty accurate pre-draft review. March 9, 2023 Bates wasn't able to get Eastern Michigan into the MAC tournament, as his team went 5-13 in conference play and 8-23 overall, meaning his season ended March 3. Bates had some moments, dropping a combined 66 points against South Carolina and Michigan, but was more or less a net negative in conference play He posted a paltry 49% true shooting percentage with far more turnovers than assists and while being a sieve defensively, often looking like he was barely trying while playing selfish basketball. This probably wasn't what NBA scouts or Bates envisioned when he elected to transfer from Memphis last spring, and he has work ahead of him now to be a sure-fire draft pick if he enters. Standing 6-9 and having just turned 19 years old in late January, Bates' tough shot-making prowess and overall scoring instincts hold some appeal, but he plays such a losing brand of basketball on both ends of the floor, making him a relatively tough sell. -- Jonathan Givony 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akzipper Posted June 23, 2023 Report Share Posted June 23, 2023 44 minutes ago, MDZip said: And the Cavaliers drafted him. Did they not have any scouts to send 30 miles down the road? I'd be shocked if the Cavs didn't have any scouts in attendance for his 3 point clunker at the JAR. They watched that trainwreck and still picked him? Cavs fans seem so excited about it for some reason but this makes zero sense to me. It's like everyone is going on high school hype alone, while ignoring his play on the court and character off the court. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted June 23, 2023 Report Share Posted June 23, 2023 (edited) 59 minutes ago, LZIp said: Yeah waste of a pick by them. Then again many NBA 2nd round picks are wastes. They could've at least gotten someone without a criminal background and a net positive contribution on the court/in society. Edited June 23, 2023 by Let'sGoZips94 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtyolcrowe Posted June 23, 2023 Report Share Posted June 23, 2023 Upside. They will stash him away in the D league. He’ll have to mature and work on his game. They have an idea on what to do with him. But the clock is ticking on this regime. But then again Bates has been put in shitty positions. Now he’s a pro. He has to deal and overcome it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHT50 Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 For what it's worth, CollegeHoopsTop50.com has Akron winning the MAC this year. With other league powers facing the task of replacing proven stars and the outstanding duo of Enrique Freeman and Ali Ali joining forces for one more run, the Zips are going to be too much to handle. If Tribble can knock down a few jumpers this year, he and Thornton will be a terrific duo to keep Freeman fed, and Sammy Hunter & Tavari Johnson are poised to take big steps forward. If you'd like to hear almost 3,000 more words about why we think the Zips will be the class of the conference, check out the full-length preview here: https://collegehoopstop50.com/2023/09/23/92-akron-zips/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDZip Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 4 hours ago, CHT50 said: For what it's worth, CollegeHoopsTop50.com has Akron winning the MAC this year. With other league powers facing the task of replacing proven stars and the outstanding duo of Enrique Freeman and Ali Ali joining forces for one more run, the Zips are going to be too much to handle. If Tribble can knock down a few jumpers this year, he and Thornton will be a terrific duo to keep Freeman fed, and Sammy Hunter & Tavari Johnson are poised to take big steps forward. If you'd like to hear almost 3,000 more words about why we think the Zips will be the class of the conference, check out the full-length preview here: https://collegehoopstop50.com/2023/09/23/92-akron-zips/ Wow really impressive in-depth, accurate review. Somebody did their homework. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted September 23, 2023 Report Share Posted September 23, 2023 So who are we playing in the Sweet 16? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrelegazna Posted September 24, 2023 Report Share Posted September 24, 2023 The "Field of 68" puts out an incredible comprehensive preview almanac. I'm probably biased since they are very high on the Zips, but it seems like, somehow, they put in the homework on all 360+ D1 teams. Best $20 I spent this year. They have Akron winning the MAC too. They have the Zips #4 in their preseason mid-major top 25. No other MAC team is in it. They have Enrique Freeman as their #4 Mid-Major player to watch. Again, no other MAC players made the cut. Some snippets from their Akron review: "The 2022 NCAA Tournament appearance is still fresh in the minds of Zip nation. Usually, it’s a stretch to draw parallels between teams two years apart. However, there are some déjà vu vibes brewing with this 2024 rendition." "As a coach, it’s not always wise to look backwards and fixate on what worked in the past. Today, competitors adapt, players change and the game itself continuously evolves. For John Groce, however, a stroll down the 2022 memory lane may illuminate a proven path back to the NCAA Tournament in 2024." "The boomerang transfer return of Ali Ali will light the way, as will the impending return of Mikal Dawson, a quasi-starter on the 2022 squad who missed last season with injury. The reunion of Ali and Dawson is a storybook backdrop to what could be a special season for the Zips. " "Don’t let Sammy Hunter get lost in the frontline shuffle, especially after his coming-out party in March." "Rookie Darrion Baker is a man-child in the middle and may be plugged in to bigger bully lineups. If he played anywhere else in the league, Baker could be a fringe starter." "In short, Akron’s combination of depth, talent and experience is second to none in this league." "In the team’s foreign tour this summer, Freeman displayed a newfound comfort zone along the perimeter, including shooting 3s off movement. That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the league, assuming he can convert at a high clip. The same goes for Dawson, who must regain his shooting stroke and shake off a year’s worth of rust." "Don’t dismiss this perimeter nucleus. There are question marks, sure, but Groce’s hit rate with freshmen and transfers deserves the benefit of the doubt. " "The bedrock of the backcourt is Greg Tribble, a defensive specialist who sets the tone for Akron’s coverage. Tribble’s offensive limitations can be frustrating, but his defensive value more than outweighs those flaws. He’ll be asked to run point in spurts this year, though his upside as a lead creator is limited by his rim-or-bust shot diet." "Another guard on deck is Ryan Prather Jr., a former three-star recruit who redshirted last season. It’s not often three-star prospects are slapped with the redshirt tag in this conference, further proof of Akron’s depth and robust internal competition. Groce said Prather was still nursing an injury over the summer, so he may not be cleared to play until fall." "The rocketship that is Hunter, coupled with the return of Dawson, gives Groce an endless supply of wings and forwards to play with." "The roster imbalance, however, portrays the perimeter as the Zips’ weakness. Whether that’s actually true or just a misnomer, comes down to Thornton, Scott, Tribble, Nate Johnson and Tavari Johnson. Collectively, this quintet runs the gamut of prototypes — but none is a bona fide scorer." "'Guys like Xavier Castaneda, and (Loren) Cristian Jackson — those guys were scorers,' Groce said. 'Our scoring this year will be carried from the frontline. We need the point guards to make open shots, but their primary job will be facilitating for others and defending.' On that note, role acceptance will also be pivotal this season." 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted September 24, 2023 Report Share Posted September 24, 2023 25 minutes ago, mrelegazna said: The "Field of 68" puts out an incredible comprehensive preview almanac. Fantastic preview. They know the Zips better than most Zips fans 😳 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted September 24, 2023 Report Share Posted September 24, 2023 On 9/23/2023 at 1:12 PM, CHT50 said: For what it's worth, CollegeHoopsTop50.com has Akron winning the MAC this year. With other league powers facing the task of replacing proven stars and the outstanding duo of Enrique Freeman and Ali Ali joining forces for one more run, the Zips are going to be too much to handle. If Tribble can knock down a few jumpers this year, he and Thornton will be a terrific duo to keep Freeman fed, and Sammy Hunter & Tavari Johnson are poised to take big steps forward. If you'd like to hear almost 3,000 more words about why we think the Zips will be the class of the conference, check out the full-length preview here: https://collegehoopstop50.com/2023/09/23/92-akron-zips/ Great review! Thank you for posting! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyalBlu Posted October 16, 2023 Report Share Posted October 16, 2023 Less than a month before games begin. With no MAC media day to trigger conversation/debate here is one pre-season MAC prediction. 1. Akron - All the pieces in play with or w/o Ali Ali. 2. Toledo - Until proven otherwise, still a power. Is TK changing offense with a pair of 6-10 post players? 3. Ohio - Not much interior size, but tons of guards and wings that can score. 4. Kent - Maybe not the best, but teams will have to go through them to win it all. 5. B. Green - A proven new head coach with proven transfer talent coming in. 6. NIU - Quietly building a solid program that could tickle 20-wins. 7. Ball St. - Lost a lot of top tier talent to the portal. Lots of unknowns 8. Miami - Rebuilding program should be tough at home. 9. Buffalo - How the mighty have fallen. 10. Eastern Michigan - Like BSU, lost a lot to portal/NBA. 11. Central Michigan - Chips always have talent, but just can't seem to keep them around. 12. Western Michigan - Some veteran players of interest but lacking much depth. Overall: If the top six teams all become 20-game winners - and the bottom three are good for 10 or 12 wins - the league should be fairly strong overall. If 2/3 teams at the top can somehow break out that would be special as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted October 17, 2023 Report Share Posted October 17, 2023 https://niuhuskies.com/news/2023/10/16/general-new-niu-convocation-center-court-unveiled.aspx NIU will no longer play in Batman's Cave. They redid their floor and it's normal now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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