Does this have to be The Year?

[Westie]

Freeman, Ali, Tribble, Dawson all seniors. This is a super solid team. Can’t predict the future but what happens in 2024 and beyond? 
 

Feels like an all or nothing year.

[RoyalBlu]

I'd say the same, not so much because I believe this is one of the better Akron teams ever (it could be but not now), but because at this point there isn't another MAC team out there that seems to be anywhere as good as the Zips.

 

A large part of this is because no other MAC team has the depth of seniors Akron does. This is a bonus in terms of expectations and execution. The Zips should have no problems handling both. The down side is - execution aside - history says teams like this don't necessarily get better as talent matures, they get better with execution.

 

So looking around the league the two teams, to me, that have the greatest talent growth potential in terms of competing with the Zips are Northern Illinois and Toledo. UT's roster isn't that deep, but they have changed their style of play from chuck-n-duck to grunt and grind. As they get better at it - with the firepower they have. could be a tough tangle by the end of the season.

 

NIU, on the other hand, has arguably (IMO) the most talented roster top to bottom in the league. They may be a year away, after earning the necessary scabs from this season, but who knows what could happen down the stretch.

 

After that, an Akron fan would probably point to Kent state as a threat, just for being a rival. But right now, they seem to have as many issues as most other MAC teams, in terms of finding a consistent starting lineup and developing a team identity.

 

IMO, Akron is ahead of the game vs. all those teams in terms of maturity, (enough) depth, talent (Freeman/Ali lift all others), experience, team identity, and until proven otherwise, coaching.

 

On paper, this is Akron's year.

 

(As an aside, I'd put the (pre-arrest) Abreu team, and the senior-laden Big Dog team - just to name two - as more complete teams (talent wise) than this one, primarily due to guard play.) But as noted above Freeman/Ali are a cut above and lift all others with them.

 

 

[NWAkron]

No.

[LoyalZIP]

BG’s league this year. They’re legit.

[Illini Zip]

Groce, I believe has mentioned this. Due to the extra Covid year this is the oldest/experienced team you may ever see in a Zips uniform. I know the whole country went through Covid, but not all teams have a roster that takes full advantage of that additional eligibility. I would call this season a unique and special opportunity for sure. But not all or nothing. 

[clarkwgriswold]

Looking to next year, conceivably they return Scott, Prather, Baker, Lyles, Tavari, Kamali and Nate.  That's an okay core to which they'll add Briscoe, Mahaffey and Young.  Next year a dropoff is likely but I don't think it will be a rebuild type of year.  At the same time, this year is a great chance for them to take the MAC and go to the tournament but I can't conclude it has to be "the year."

[Reslife4Life]

I mean, what constitutes as “the year”? I don’t think we are going to make the Final Four or anything like that. Winning a game in March Madness? Barring a moving screen call that should’ve happened on a team with no seniors on the roster. This team has the potential to be really special, but what does the year even mean

[Illini Zip]

36 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Looking to next year, conceivably they return Scott, Prather, Baker, Lyles, Tavari, Kamali and Nate.  That's an okay core to which they'll add Briscoe, Mahaffey and Young.  Next year a dropoff is likely but I don't think it will be a rebuild type of year.  At the same time, this year is a great chance for them to take the MAC and go to the tournament but I can't conclude it has to be "the year."

 

Let me add that there are 2 scholarships left that could be used by 5th year Seniors off the portal. And I haven't given up hope on Dawson for next year either.

 

 

[kreed5120]

8 hours ago, Westie said:

Freeman, Ali, Tribble, Dawson all seniors. This is a super solid team. Can’t predict the future but what happens in 2024 and beyond? 
 

Feels like an all or nothing year.

I would say this is Akron's last best chance of making noise.

 

With the transfer porter, as long as Groce stays around, I think we will be fine. We will just reload with transfers. Will we be the favorites to win the MAC next year? I'd say that's unlikely, but I'd still expect a competitive team that should finish in the top half of the MAC.

[Blue & Gold]

9 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

 

And I haven't given up hope on Dawson for next year either.

 

That's what I was thinking. In fact I thought it was a foregone conclusion that Dawson was coming back next year, no?

 

 

[NWAkron]

My issue is with the framing of this thread.  It's fatalistic.  Do or die.  If not now, never.

As long as the Zips have Groce or another quality coach (not a Jim Whitesel), the Zips will continue to contend.

 

 

[UAZippers]

All I can comment on this topic is that we were having this exact same conversation last season. X was graduating, Scott, Ali, and Thornton hadn't signed, and a lot of people thought this season would be a rebuilding year. I remember people commenting that Groce would maybe try to leave for a better job while he had the chance.

Now people are commenting that this season is the great team that is going to fall off. Just goes to show that you never know what the future will bring. 

[Westie]

Didn't mean to frame this as win the MAC, snag a win in the dance or the program drifts into oblivion. More along the lines of this is a really good team and it would be disappointing not to win the trophy in Cleveland and get to the NCAA Tournament. I guess it's the curse of the mid-major. Gotta be primed and ready those three days in March or the season turns to dust. 

 

That said, I do believe Groce will always find a way to keep UA competitive in the MAC. But this team has already shown it can grind out some tough wins. High hopes the rest of the way

[csims0917]

I say its do or die because for these players because I want to see these guys go on a Cinderella run. I do think if Groce stays in Akron he will continue to recruit and a new core will develop the next 2 years. I believe in Groce to make this team not feel like a fluke. 

[Blue & Gold]

Just wanted to say I'm just trying to enjoy these players for one final go-round.  

 

Last year was actually our year to make noise in the dance - we were primed to return a starting 5 who punked KSUcks in Cleveland and then took Sweet 16 UCLA to the limit.  But then Ali Ali transferred out and Mike Dawson was injured and our potentially epic season was derailed before it even started.  

 

This year it's obvious we haven't been able to fill X's shoes... hell, we're not close to anyone filling even one of X's shoes.

 

So it is what it is.

 

Let's win the MAC, beat KSUcks, and then hope maybe Dawson (if not Dawson, who?) gets hot from behind the 3-point arc in an NCAA game or two.

[Zippy87]

I have to be honest and say it's crossed my mind that next year may be a retooling year. Of the 8 who play now, only Dawson, Scott, and Nate Johnson are due back.

 

Tavari Johnson, Ryan Prather, and Amani Lyles could be transfer candidates.

 

A lot of turnover could take place. We'll need a few guys to really step up, Baker to be pretty good right away, and for the staff to hit a few home runs (or at least triples) in the portal.