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Staying Close to the Vest - Coach Groce-related News and Views

dirtyolcrowe

By dirtyolcrowe
in Akron Zips Basketball

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ZipsBBjunkie
ZipsBBjunkie

I plead complete naivety on this one, I’ve been to the JAR countless times, but is the state of the JAR really a deal breaker for Groce? Or is this primarily a fan issue. Groce doesn’t care about the

Zippy87
Zippy87

I don't think he will leave. He's well-paid, leads the best program in the MAC, has wonderful support from donors, and will have a loaded senior class next year.    I do hope people realize

Illini Zip
Illini Zip

Groce should at least give his brother a good birthday present this year. 

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akzipper Experienced

akzipper

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I'm just going to assume Groce is gone until we are told otherwise.

 

I think he's a perfect fit for Akron and the MAC, but wouldn't blame him if he moved on to a program with more money, better facilities and more prestigious conference. He may have hit his ceiling with the Zips. Not his fault, ours. 

 

I'm assuming the fact that nobody wants Travis Steele proves that he's a fraud?

Edited by akzipper
Let'sGoZips94 Grand Master

Let'sGoZips94

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18 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

I'm still concerned about ripple effects from UNC. Like he's obviously not getting the UNC job, but it could open another downstream opening that could be appealing.

 

UNC and Kansas will be a tsunami on this coaching cycle. The only threat I see for us would be if Schertz moves on from Saint Louis. 

 

12 minutes ago, akzipper said:

I'm assuming the fact that nobody wants Travis Steele proves that he's a fraud?

 

He hasn't signed the extension offer. I'm assuming that extension has restricting language. I'm keeping an eye on him for the domino effect with UNC and Kansas. 

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1981 grad Mentor

1981 grad

Posted
Posted (edited)

My take on Groce is that the only time I feel his disappointment with the Akron program is that no matter how good the team, we play to an arena that is only half full except for the Kent game.  He always encourages fans to show up to the games and considering our home winning streak, we should draw better.  The people on the board know that Akron does little to nothing to promote Akron basketball and the half time show of 3 or 3 frat basketball was dismal considering that was our biggest crowd of the season.  I hope the pressure that he felt at Illinois is fresh on his mind because with a new program comes the pressure to win.  Hoping Groce stays in Akron.  Go Zips.

 

Edited by 1981 grad
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clarkwgriswold Grand Master

clarkwgriswold

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I only see Groce laving for a "prestige job" or in a situation where he's just fed up with the administration and the "ceiling" on the program (not unlike Dambrot).  I never saw Butler as a "prestige" job so that one didn't worry me.  We'll see what happens with the NC and possible Kansas fallout (good call by @kreed5120).

 

 

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Westie Community Regular

Westie

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My understanding is that if Coach leaves, Ford would indeed take over. Not the best case scenario, but clearly would be the best possible outcome in that case

ZippyRulz Mentor

ZippyRulz

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12 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

Is USF a significant step up from Akron? I'll be surprised and disappointed if that happens. 

 

Yes, the AAC is a step up from the MAC. They have a beautiful college arena. Dambrot interviewed there before leaving Akron. They will likely end up in the ACC.

 

It would be quite a move for his family and the grass is not always greener in the heat belt.

 

 

Edited by ZippyRulz
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Zippy87 Veteran

Zippy87

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40 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

My take on Groce is that the only time I feel his disappointment with the Akron program is that no matter how good the team, we play to an arena that is only half full except for the Kent game.  He always encourages fans to show up to the games and considering our home winning streak, we should draw better.  The people on the board know that Akron does little to nothing to promote Akron basketball and the half time show of 3 or 3 frat basketball was dismal considering that was our biggest crowd of the season.  I hope the pressure that he felt at Illinois is fresh on his mind because with a new program comes the pressure to win.  Hoping Groce stays in Akron.  Go Zips.

 

 

I'm going to push back on this and say there has been a noticeable effort over the last two years to improve promotions and gameday experience. The unfortunate truth when it comes to the Zips is that they won't truly break through to the average fan until they take the next step and win a tournament game and/or hold a national ranking for some time. Groce was brought here to do that. He was supposed to do what KD couldn't. 

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kreed5120 Grand Master

kreed5120

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5 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

I'm going to push back on this and say there has been a noticeable effort over the last two years to improve promotions and gameday experience. The unfortunate truth when it comes to the Zips is that they won't truly break through to the average fan until they take the next step and win a tournament game and/or hold a national ranking for some time. Groce was brought here to do that. He was supposed to do what KD couldn't. 

 

I agree, I'm not sure what more they could have realistically done.

 

What's disappointing is we see terrific turnouts in Cleveland every year which makes me wonder where these fans have been all season. I get if they live in Westlake, Bay Village, or Parma it might be a bit of a drive for them to regularly attend games, but even if we could get them to go to 3-4 games a year it would help attendance numbers a lot.

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akzipper Experienced

akzipper

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2 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I agree, I'm not sure what more they could have realistically done.

 

What's disappointing is we see terrific turnouts in Cleveland every year which makes me wonder where these fans have been all season. I get if they live in Westlake, Bay Village, or Parma it might be a bit of a drive for them to regularly attend games, but even if we could get them to go to 3-4 games a year it would help attendance numbers a lot.

 

It's pretty obvious that Zips basketball has a decent fanbase and they show up when it really counts. Which speaks more to the MAC and how spoiled we have been, than anything else really. We all know that the MAC Tournament and Kent games mean something. So people show up. Everything else? Not really. The Zips could have a cupcake OOC schedule like Miami, finish below .500 and still end up making the NCAA tournament if they win in Cleveland. 

 

I try to attend games when I'm in town, but I live 2 hours away and it's not feasible. Even tuning in to ESPN+ to watch is very sporadic because most of the time I'm not invested in the outcome. Fun to watch? Sure. But in the end beating a MAC school by 20+ doesn't do much in the grand scheme of things.

 

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kreed5120 Grand Master

kreed5120

Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

NC State is about to open up. Will Wade to LSU.

 

Not an opening I expect to be a threat, but it does muddy the waters a bit. 

 

It kind of shows how college athletics is shifting. NC State by a small margin has probably been the better program historically and plays what had been known as the basketball conference. 10 years ago you probably wouldn't expect an SEC school not named Kentucky to be able to poach NC State coach. The landscape has shifted.

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dirtyolcrowe Community Regular

dirtyolcrowe

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1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I agree, I'm not sure what more they could have realistically done.

 

What's disappointing is we see terrific turnouts in Cleveland every year which makes me wonder where these fans have been all season. I get if they live in Westlake, Bay Village, or Parma it might be a bit of a drive for them to regularly attend games, but even if we could get them to go to 3-4 games a year it would help attendance numbers a lot.

I live in those areas and I travel to any zips game I can

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clarkwgriswold Grand Master

clarkwgriswold

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Westie said:

My understanding is that if Coach leaves, Ford would indeed take over. Not the best case scenario, but clearly would be the best possible outcome in that case

Depends on how much he wants to be a head coach.  If Groce got a job with the right P4 program, Dustin would like make more there as head assistant.

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