Jump to content

2024 Post Mortem and Looking Ahead to 2025.


Recommended Posts

3 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

 

@Hilltopper would be a great name for someone from West Virginia. Coach Fulford is that you? Have you been lurking the whole time? Inquiring minds want to know.

I do have some WVA roots, but my moniker harkens back to the days when Akronites reffered to UA as Hilltop High. After you graduated from highschool you went to 13th grade at Buchtel College on the hill.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, zippy5 said:

As long as he doesn't take Sharron Young

My thought precisely. How long is it before Sharon decides he can play for the coach who recruited him, in his hometown, at a university in a better conference than the MAC? Are we looking at one season as a Zip and then out to Marshall?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's up to Groce, his current staff, and the players to create a culture worth sticking around for. That goes for any player that enters the program from here on out given the 24/7 door that is the Portal. 

 

If Young wanted to play for his hometown team or even just stay in the state of WV, he could've. Akron offers a very strong foundation to get him where he wants to be in his basketball career. WVU and Marshall both have new staffs with a TBD label for their success. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, 72 Roo said:

My thought precisely. How long is it before Sharon decides he can play for the coach who recruited him, in his hometown, at a university in a better conference than the MAC? Are we looking at one season as a Zip and then out to Marshall?

 

That's the current state of college sports regardless of where a player calls home. It's getting rarer and rarer for athletes to stick around for 4 years at the same school. If they succeed in year 1, they'll jump to a bigger school. If they struggle they might jump for more playing time. We just have to take it one season at a time and hope for the best. 

 

1 hour ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

It's up to Groce, his current staff, and the players to create a culture worth sticking around for. That goes for any player that enters the program from here on out given the 24/7 door that is the Portal. 

 

If Young wanted to play for his hometown team or even just stay in the state of WV, he could've. Akron offers a very strong foundation to get him where he wants to be in his basketball career. WVU and Marshall both have new staffs with a TBD label for their success. 

 

I think fans need to understand how important we are to building a culture as well. To say the crowds at the JAR have been disappointing is an understatement. Nobody wants to join a program that draws a few thousand a game. The arena problem is the elephant in the room, but that's not getting fixed. Improving the gameday atmosphere starts with fans and students showing up, being loud and giving this team a real home court advantage. It shouldn't matter who the visiting opponent is. People need to pack the JAR regardless.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Build it and they will come just doesn't work in practice. A new arena wouldn't fix our attendance issues. Even if it provides a small boost at first, the new car smell will soon fade. 

For evidence of that, just ask Infocision Stadium.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My point was that a new arena will never happen. So fans need to create an atmosphere that transcends an outdated, small facility. That's the only way to improve the gameday experience for players and want them to be part of the Zips basketball program. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The JAR is not too small as it only sells out for the Can't game.  Most games it is half full. My suggestion is to make it more intimate and comfortable for the spectators.  Sacrifice some seating capacity to make it an even better environment.  The bleachers are bad. Remove them and put chairs in and upgrade the seating in the lower stands to make them better. Put the students behind the baskets with several hundred at each end.  They will go nuts.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, akzipper said:

My point was that a new arena will never happen. So fans need to create an atmosphere that transcends an outdated, small facility. That's the only way to improve the gameday experience for players and want them to be part of the Zips basketball program. 

never is a strong word

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 5/2/2024 at 1:11 PM, akzipper said:

I think fans need to understand how important we are to building a culture as well. To say the crowds at the JAR have been disappointing is an understatement. Nobody wants to join a program that draws a few thousand a game. The arena problem is the elephant in the room, but that's not getting fixed. Improving the gameday atmosphere starts with fans and students showing up, being loud and giving this team a real home court advantage. It shouldn't matter who the visiting opponent is. People need to pack the JAR regardless.  

 

It's on Athletics first. Marketing, ticketing, promotions, student engagement, game day experience (concessions, team store, in-game entertainment). It all has to be better. They had a generational Zips athlete in Freeman and did almost nothing to capitalize on it. Little things like concessions closing with 10 minutes left in a game. the team shop being closed on multiple game days, players being introduced in the freaking dark. You can't do things like that and expect to be seen as a serious athletic department. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...