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clarkwgriswold

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37 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Barbee canned at CMU. It seems a bit odd that they waited until now to fire him. I'm not sure why they decided to wait until 3 weeks after the season to do it. 

 

https://cmuchippewas.com/news/2025/4/3/cmu-athletics-announces-leadership-change-in-mens-basketball-program

 

Wow,  in 2023-24 he was 18-14, finished fourth in the MAC and was named the MAC coach of the year.

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23 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

Wow,  in 2023-24 he was 18-14, finished fourth in the MAC and was named the MAC coach of the year.

 

I still didn't think CMU was all that good that year. They went 12-6, but that was in large part because the MAC was very bad. When 2 cupcakes face-off someone has to win. They finished that season #277 in Kenpom and I imagine NET was similar. 

 

Personally, I think it's a positive for CMU. They could have continued riding it out with a coach that was below average (.417 winning percentage in MAC games), but not dumpster fire horrendous. By firing him they're saying they think they can do better. Maybe that means they plan to invest more in their program. Time will tell.

Edited by kreed5120
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13 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I still didn't think CMU was all that good that year. They went 12-6, but that was in large part because the MAC was very bad. When 2 cupcakes face-off someone has to win. They finished that season #277 in Kenpom and I imagine NET was similar. 

 

Personally, I think it's a positive for CMU. They could have continued riding it out with a coach that was below average (.417 winning percentage in MAC games), but not dumpster fire horrendous. By firing him they're saying they think they can do better. Maybe that means they plan to invest more in their program. Time will tell.

 

They had a better record in the MAC that year than Kent did this year - and Kent doubled Pinky's salary. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

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11 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I still didn't think CMU was all that good that year. They went 12-6, but that was in large part because the MAC was very bad. When 2 cupcakes face-off someone has to win. They finished that season #277 in Kenpom and I imagine NET was similar. 

 

Personally, I think it's a positive for CMU. They could have continued riding it out with a coach that was below average (.417 winning percentage in MAC games), but not dumpster fire horrendous. By firing him they're saying they think they can do better. Maybe that means they plan to invest more in their program. Time will tell.

 

Agreed.  He had that season then everybody pretty much bailed other than Pritchard.  

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2 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

They had a better record in the MAC that year than Kent did this year - and Kent doubled Pinky's salary. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Half empty? Half full? Kent went to MAC Tournament title game with a .500, 8th place MAC team last year, and to the NIT Elite 8 with a barely third place MAC team this year.

 

You can use numbers to justify just about anything.

 

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16 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said:

Half empty? Half full? Kent went to MAC Tournament title game with a .500, 8th place MAC team last year, and to the NIT Elite 8 with a barely third place MAC team this year.

 

You can use numbers to justify just about anything.

 

 

Oh my gosh it's an AKRON forum. If I want to make fun of Kent for loving & rewarding mediocre success, I'm going to make fun of Kent for loving & rewarding mediocre success. What is with the defensiveness when it comes to Kent on this forum recently? 

 

frustrated-stitch.gif

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4 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Oh my gosh it's an AKRON forum. If I want to make fun of Kent for loving & rewarding mediocre success, I'm going to make fun of Kent for loving & rewarding mediocre success. What is with the defensiveness when it comes to Kent on this forum recently? 

 

frustrated-stitch.gif

defensive much?

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12 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Oh my gosh it's an AKRON forum. If I want to make fun of Kent for loving & rewarding mediocre success, I'm going to make fun of Kent for loving & rewarding mediocre success. What is with the defensiveness when it comes to Kent on this forum recently? 

 

frustrated-stitch.gif

As mentioned somewhere before ... It's a MAC Thread, indicating topics/comments about OTHER TEAMS from around THE MAC, - both to make fun of or not -  are supposedly ok here.

 

If this is strictly for bashing the rest of the league, ... then let's make that clear for all.

 

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5 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

As mentioned somewhere before ... It's a MAC Thread, indicating topics/comments about OTHER TEAMS from around THE MAC, - both to make fun of or not -  are supposedly ok here.

 

If this is strictly for bashing the rest of the league, ... then let's make that clear for all.

 

 

I have nothing positive, and will never have anything positive to say about Kent or Ohio U.

Edited by akzipper
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5 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

As mentioned somewhere before ... It's a MAC Thread, indicating topics/comments about OTHER TEAMS from around THE MAC, - both to make fun of or not -  are supposedly ok here.

 

If this is strictly for bashing the rest of the league, ... then let's make that clear for all.

 

 

It's not strictly for bashing the rest of the league, but there doesn't need to be a concerted effort to constantly defend Kent like there has been on this board for the past 2-3 months; propping them up when they don't deserve it, defending their mediocre success, etc. I'm well aware of their undeserved NIT run this year and the historical differences between them and CMU. However, the MAC last year was the same exact rating as the MAC this year despite Akron & Miami OH being much much better. The last two years, CMU is 19-17 in the MAC. Kent is also 19-17 in the MAC. Kent had an opportunity at a NIT run this year because of LOSSES to UC Irvine, Auburn, and Bama. Otherwise, they've ultimately had the same success these last two seasons. CMU fired their coach. Kent extended theirs and doubled his salary (none of this even touches on the character problems that have been a constant at Kent under Sendy, or that Sendy allegedly doesn't even want to be at Kent but is too crappy to get hired by Fordham). That's funny, you're allowed to laugh, and it doesn't need explained away. Kent being an utter failure is the only positive in the existence of Kent; otherwise, they do nothing but harm the University of Akron by siphoning enrollment and funding in an already lesser-populated area. 

Edited by Let'sGoZips94
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4 hours ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

It's not strictly for bashing the rest of the league, but there doesn't need to be a concerted effort to constantly defend Kent like there has been on this board for the past 2-3 months; propping them up when they don't deserve it, defending their mediocre success, etc. I'm well aware of their undeserved NIT run this year and the historical differences between them and CMU. However, the MAC last year was the same exact rating as the MAC this year despite Akron & Miami OH being much much better. The last two years, CMU is 19-17 in the MAC. Kent is also 19-17 in the MAC. Kent had an opportunity at a NIT run this year because of LOSSES to UC Irvine, Auburn, and Bama. Otherwise, they've ultimately had the same success these last two seasons. CMU fired their coach. Kent extended theirs and doubled his salary (none of this even touches on the character problems that have been a constant at Kent under Sendy, or that Sendy allegedly doesn't even want to be at Kent but is too crappy to get hired by Fordham). That's funny, you're allowed to laugh, and it doesn't need explained away. Kent being an utter failure is the only positive in the existence of Kent; otherwise, they do nothing but harm the University of Akron by siphoning enrollment and funding in an already lesser-populated area. 

 

Let's establish a couple of things. (1) For the last five years the Akron Zips have pretty much owned MAC basketball, from Kent State on down. No contest, and the numbers and banners bear that out. (2) Groce, by virtue of No. 1, is arguably the best MBB coach in the league.

 

Kent State is a rival, not an enemy, just like every other team in the MAC. You are only as tall as the shoulders you stand on. When a rival does well, it reflects positively on Akron, the best team/program in the league.

 

As for your 19-17 argument, it reflects more positively on Kent than negatively on CMU. Kent advanced to two MAC Tournaments, CMU only one. Kent advanced to one MAC title game, CMU lost its opening game. Those early season loses to a pair of Top 10 Kenpom teams and a Top 65 team were translated into NIT at-large invitation, then road wins at a pair of Top 100 teams (St. Bonaventure, 96 at the time, and 86 Stanford). CMU was not invited to a post season tournament. Senderoff was rewarded, Bruno was fired.

 

Finally, like most on this thread, don't take Kent's failures, shortcomings or success personally. It's a rivalry that Akron sits at the top of. It sounds personal to you - (did somebody from Kent steal your hubcaps) -  but just a game to most.

 

Edited by RoyalBlu
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3 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

Finally, like most on this thread, don't take Kent's failures, shortcomings or success personally. It's a rivalry that Akron sits at the top of. It sounds personal to you - (did somebody from Kent steal your hubcaps) -  but just a game to most.

I think you might have had some people on your side, until the Akron-Kent is “just a game” comment. Then the wheels came off.

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10 hours ago, RoyalBlu said:

 

Kent State is a rival, not an enemy, just like every other team in the MAC. You are only as tall as the shoulders you stand on. When a rival does well, it reflects positively on Akron, the best team/program in the league.

 

No.  UA is in a cold war and KSUcks is the enemy.  

 

KSUcks has and continues to drain billions of potential dollars from central city Akron (and, frankly, Youngstown); two legacy but aging Ohio anchor cities which could certainly use the money. While Toledo, Ohio, and Miami are fun rivalries, KSUcks should not even exist (and NEOMED should reside @ UA as The University of Akron School of Medicine but good grief don't get me started on that).  Drive them into the dust and scatter their ashes till no one remembers their name.

 

Go Zips.

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51 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Any summary for those of us who can't read due to paywall

Shucks.  It came through on my phone through my Google news feed.

 

Summary:  The article quoted KD quite a bit.  He talks about how he didn't get to know Senderoff well until after he left PCCC and he speaks highly of him in the article.  He also spoke of the advantages Akron has in NIL and how the athletic department, including Guthrie, has made a commitment to the program.  He acted as a go between between Guthrie and Senderoff in getting them together.  The article compared KD leaving Akron to go to Duquesne, a program with which he had a connection, and Senderoff having a connection to Fordham.  It spoke of how PCCC, its AD and administration stepped up and supported him to keep him there (though not matching Fordham's $1M offer).

 

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10 minutes ago, RoyalBlu said:

 

Interesting. Thank you for resharing this. 

 

Making half a million base salary is a nice fall back after being rejected by Fordham. 

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