mrelegazna Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 I'm more bullish on the state of the program overall than I'm seeing from other posters, but there are some concerns, and the biggest one to me is this: Going into the season, the book on the Zips was that their deep frontcourt would carry the team offensively; with the backcourt being thinner, and our best guard being both ineffective and uninterested in shooting behind the arc, this would be a team that bullies teams inside. Instead, this team finished in the uppermost quartile in 3-pointers taken as a percentage of total field goal attempts (41.5%) despite ending up 274th in the country in 3PT%. This makes me worried that Groce is not going to meaningfully adjust his approach to the game based on the personnel he has. We still won that MAC largely because we had a generational talent in Freeman during a very down year for the MAC. We backed into the championship and the tournament, and while we have never won in the tourney, this was our worst loss in it. The was supposed to be one of the greatest Akron teams of all time. So, if my complaint about Groce is fair, and endures...sure hope he finds some shooters! But that gets me to the good news. I do think Groce is a good recruiter and a good motivator, and for these reasons I'd be willing to wager that, whatever the consensus is on how Akron will fare next year once we have an idea of what our roster looks like, we will exceed those expectations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipsrule Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 14 minutes ago, mrelegazna said: and while we have never won in the tourney, this was our worst loss in it. Not even close. In 2013, we lost to VCU 88-42. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZipsFan31 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 Something I would love Groce to look for is the power 5 bench player transfers. I have seen other schools do that and it gives you talent immediately. if you are sitting on the bench at a school like Illinois and get recuiter over. You can come to Akron hoping to be a star. NIL doesn’t matter since at Illinois you did get any money anyway and you are not a proven commodity sitting on the bench. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reslife4Life Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 3 minutes ago, ZipsFan31 said: Something I would love Groce to look for is the power 5 bench player transfers. I have seen other schools do that and it gives you talent immediately. if you are sitting on the bench at a school like Illinois and get recuiter over. You can come to Akron hoping to be a star. NIL doesn’t matter since at Illinois you did get any money anyway and you are not a proven commodity sitting on the bench. Very similar to Sammy, I like that approach. I would also like to see us back to looking in the JUCO portal like how we did with Banks, Cheese, Jermaine Marshall. Since we have so many openings, I want us to find a guy with 3 years of eligibility and solid tools and let them grow here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 (edited) Our frontcourt next year is currently Amani Lyles, two redshirt freshmen in Baker and MMK, and a true freshman in Rich Brisco. I have to imagine we'll want to add at least one player to that mix (and Lyles may even be a portal candidate IMO). I also think they pretty clearly need a guard who can create and score. The staff swung and missed on the two guards we added last year and can't afford to do that again this summer. Edited March 21 by Zippy87 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZipsFan31 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 I might be proven wrong. But I think Sharon Young is a game changer. All MAC player. So excited to see him in a Zips uniform! 3 straight state titles and Gatorade player of the year in the state of WV 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 (edited) I don't think anyone is being overly critical. They're just acknowledging that Groce went all in with this team and now we have no pieces to really build around for next year. I don't have a problem that Groce went all in, but at the same time I'm not eagerly looking forward to next year. Edit: that's not to say we can't compete in the future. Edited March 21 by kreed5120 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 I'm very bullish on next year. On paper, we have the following... Mikal Dawson - SR - G Shammah Scott - SR - G Nate Johnson - JR - G Tavari Johnson - JR - G Ryan Prather - SO - G Sharron Young - FR - G Eric Mahafey - FR - G Amani Lyles - JR - F Marvin Musiime-Kamali - RFR - F Darrian Baker - RFR - F Rich Brisco - FR - F Admittedly, I know very little about Brisco and Marvin. I'm going to echo an earlier sentiment, though, and say that Sharron Young is a future star. He is potentially Mark Sears/RayJ Dennis caliber. Baker has star potential as well. Dawson needs to find his game again. Scott needs to improve his crap to be a mid-30s for 3P%. Nate Johnson needs to take the next step. Tavari needs to improve everything. Prather needs to figure out whatever will get him on the floor more. The Transfer Portal needs to bring us a true big and a true shooter. Those are my wishes. Based on who we've been connected to this far, we're looking in the direction of a shooter at least. This is a very pivotal off-season to keep the momentum of this program moving forward. I trust Groce and his staff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrelegazna Posted March 21 Author Report Share Posted March 21 57 minutes ago, zipsrule said: Not even close. In 2013, we lost to VCU 88-42. Holy hell, how did I forget about that one? Must've blocked it out. 7 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: Scott needs to improve his crap to be a mid-30s for 3P%. A+ typo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomzip Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 59 minutes ago, zipsrule said: Not even close. In 2013, we lost to VCU 88-42. I was there and may never recover. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 4 minutes ago, mrelegazna said: Holy hell, how did I forget about that one? Must've blocked it out. A+ typo. The only explanation I can think of is shot turned into $#!@ and the board's censor correction changed $#@! to crap. 😂 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 Do we think we lose anyone to the portal? I don't know that I think Lyles is a D1 rotation player, but he's probably back because the depth there is so poor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 1 hour ago, ZipsFan31 said: Something I would love Groce to look for is the power 5 bench player transfers. I have seen other schools do that and it gives you talent immediately. if you are sitting on the bench at a school like Illinois and get recuiter over. You can come to Akron hoping to be a star. NIL doesn’t matter since at Illinois you did get any money anyway and you are not a proven commodity sitting on the bench. How quickly we forget Michael Wynn, Maishe Dailey and Bryan Trimble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 Hey it sucks we're losing Freeman and Ali. But who else in the MAC is bringing anyone decent back? We'll be fine, we have the best coach in the conference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 6 minutes ago, Zippy87 said: Do we think we lose anyone to the portal? I don't know that I think Lyles is a D1 rotation player, but he's probably back because the depth there is so poor. Lyles is a mystery. He has the body to bang down low but hasn't put it all together yet. The DI game might be a bit fast for him. Tavari, Prather, and Lyles are the likely transfers IMO. However, I'm sure we'll have a surprise or 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrelegazna Posted March 21 Author Report Share Posted March 21 8 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: The only explanation I can think of is shot turned into $#!@ and the board's censor correction changed $#@! to crap. 😂 Reminds me of an anecdote from one of the memoirs of Lewis Grizzard, a syndicated columnist in the 80s. I'm paraphrasing because I can't find it online, but he was the sports editor of a paper that ran a story about a HS girls basketball star. "What's amazing about Mary Jo Sue Ellen," said her coach, "is that she's made 18 of 20 of her free throw shots this year." Except the o in shots got turned into an i and went to press like that. "You idiot," said my boss. "I'm suing," said Mary Jo Sue Ellen's dad. "What about the other 2?" asked one guy who called in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 9 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: Lyles is a mystery. He has the body to bang down low but hasn't put it all together yet. The DI game might be a bit fast for him. Tavari, Prather, and Lyles are the likely transfers IMO. However, I'm sure we'll have a surprise or 2. I think Prather can play at this level. Tavari may come down to the team's plans for him next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 19 minutes ago, Zippy87 said: I think Prather can play at this level. Tavari may come down to the team's plans for him next season. I agree on Prather. The question is does he want to play at this level for the Zips? I hope so, but his lack of usage when we needed scoring was puzzling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 21 Report Share Posted March 21 Between graduating seniors and players already in the portal, every top MAC team is losing quite a bit. Toledo is losing Cochran and Moss, the #2 and #3 scorers. Kent is losing Sullinger, Santiago, Bass, Payton, and Freeman, so 4 of their top 5 scorers. Ohio loses Hunter, Brown, Wiznitzer, and Mitchell, so 3 of their top 4 scorers. BG loses Agee, Spurgin, Towns, Phillip, Thomas and Humphrey, so 5 of their top 6 scorers this year. It will come down to who does the best in the portal and Coach Groce can start every conversation with 2 of the last 3 MAC Championships, so I like our chances. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csims0917 Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 Waiting til the transfer portal to calm to judge. It’ll be a new era in Akron we will see if this current one got enough attention for Groce to run it back with new players Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 37 minutes ago, Zippy87 said: Between graduating seniors and players already in the portal, every top MAC team is losing quite a bit. Toledo is losing Cochran and Moss, the #2 and #3 scorers. Kent is losing Sullinger, Santiago, Bass, Payton, and Freeman, so 4 of their top 5 scorers. Ohio loses Hunter, Brown, Wiznitzer, and Mitchell, so 3 of their top 4 scorers. BG loses Agee, Spurgin, Towns, Phillip, Thomas and Humphrey, so 5 of their top 6 scorers this year. It will come down to who does the best in the portal and Coach Groce can start every conversation with 2 of the last 3 MAC Championships, so I like our chances. This is spot on. And depending on who stays, Akron has a good chance to have the best core returning. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZippyRulz Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 42 minutes ago, Zippy87 said: It will come down to who does the best in the portal and Coach Groce can start every conversation with 2 of the last 3 MAC Championships, so I like our chances. I don't think it's out of the question that groce could still be sought for a job in a multi bid league. And we barely got the 1 MAC bid this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 16 minutes ago, ZippyRulz said: I don't think it's out of the question that groce could still be sought for a job in a multi bid league. And we barely got the 1 MAC bid this year. Anytime you have a good coach at the mid-major level you have to worry about that. But given his father's health and where his kids are at in school, I don't think he's going to make another move right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 I'm exhausted, but some quick points: I'd be surprised if Lyles is back. I think Tavari is 50/50. Groce will bring in some help. They're already probing the portal. Also, that help will be in the form of unselfish kids who can be good teammates and play Groce ball, not merely kids with nice stats. At Akron, it's about fit, not strictly numbers. Shammah was very good in the last 3 weeks. I don't at all consider him a waste and Groce clearly doesn't either with the way he used him in the last month. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy87 Posted March 22 Report Share Posted March 22 27 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said: This is spot on. And depending on who stays, Akron has a good chance to have the best core returning. To me the big unknowns are how much Baker and possibly Young can contribute next year. As of right now I'm penciling in Baker as a starter but Young could theoretically redshirt as Baker did this year. Assuming nobody leaves, here's your pre-portal roster: MMK/Lyles Dawson/Prather Jr. Baker N. Johnson Scott/T. Johnson At least one experienced big is an absolute must IMO. You cant go into the season with Lyles and two RS freshmen. I also think they need a scoring guard and pushing Scott to a bench role. Transfer/MMK Dawson/Prather Jr. Baker/Lyles N. Johnson/Scott Transfer/T. Johnson Maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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