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

[exit322]

Just now, NWAkron said:

anyway.

Yeah you get this victory lap

[Illini Zip]

11 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

Hopefully our next coach can finally get us over the hump neither KD or Groce could. 

This might be Akron’s best shot if they do go with Ford. I imagine Ford’s salary will be less than Groce’s as a first time head coach. Which means more resources for other things, mainly players. Ford would have a learning curve, but he is knowledgeable, experienced and has a culture already in place. Plus he knows the MAC and the Midwest like the back of his hand.

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Illini Zip

[72 Roo]

Groce did hit a ceiling with us. But Goodrich and Pottorff and Wentz wanted to help bust thru it. Going to C of C still does not make sense to me. I do not believe that in the long run it is a better job. No way! Groce has wanted the challenge of a P4 job, that's why he took Illinois. C of C does not get him back there. At his age he will be at the mid major level for a long time. He could have leveraged Akron for a P4 job which makes sense. This does not.  

[kreed5120]

14 minutes ago, UAZipster0305 said:

I am hoping this turns out to be a Ken Lolla to Caleb Porter type situation for us.

 

I think we already got that with Dambrot to Groce.

[mrelegazna]

5 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

anyway.

Guys, I know this feels like big news, but can we please concentrate on what's really important? That NWAkron called this and was laughed at?

[Zips1991]

1 minute ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I think we already got that with Dambrot to Groce.

Yeah, we can't ask for a better transition than we had last time.

[Illini Zip]

We could be barking up the wrong tree. Groce’s wife might have said enough. I‘m picking the next destination. 

[csims0917]

I feel sick

[UAZipster0305]

It's sad that our coaches leave for destinations like Duquesne and College of Charleston. That says everything there is to need to know about the difficulties of taking the next step(s).

[Zippy87]

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I think we already got that with Dambrot to Groce.

 

Did we? What did Groce accomplish that KD didn't? 

[NWAkron]

6 minutes ago, csims0917 said:

I feel sick

Don't be.  this is the natural course of things.  It will all work out.  First big decision for the new A.D. and his staff.

[zippy5]

12 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

This might be Akron’s best shot if they do go with Ford. I imagine Ford’s salary will be less than Groce’s as a first time head coach. Which means more resources for other things, mainly players. Ford would have a learning curve, but he is knowledgeable, experienced and has a culture already in place. Plus he knows the MAC and the Midwest like the back of his hand.

 

We need him to keep Sharron and Eric, or I don't know if I like this move. He isn't bringing his own "guys" - he has the same connections as Groce, and was recruiting the same guys. If we lose these guys, it may be a bit of a rebuild

[kreed5120]

At least when Dambrot left he went to a school in indisputable better conference and had a close, personal connection to the school. I would have preferred Groce get the Butler job as that would make a ton of sense. This feels like a swift kick in the nuts and is a humbling experience for the state of the program.

 

I will cheer for Groce if he returns to the JAR to have his name retired, but I will be actively rooting against CoC.

[1981 grad]

This is a lateral move and it just tells me that Groce wanted out of Akron.  I am sure he had his reasons.  Mayber he is getting more money or more money for players.  Lets hope that Dustin Ford or whoever turns out to be the next Akron coach continues our succes.  My only concern is that Groce will take some players with him or that our recruits now decide to head for another program.  KD took several players and it took Groce several years to recover from late recruiting.

[UAZipster0305]

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I think we already got that with Dambrot to Groce.

I don't think so. Both won many MACC and had great players and teams. Groce was a bit more consistent, especially in the past several years. For that to be true, Groce would have needed to win at least one NCAAT game, likely more. Let's see if the next guy can get us there.

 

Lolla had us undefeated and a #1 national ranking and took us to the Elite 8. Porter won us a Natty and had several more College Cup appearances and multiple Hermann Trophy winners.

 

There is definitely not an analogy between Dambrot-Groce and Lolla-Porter.

 

 

[Let'sGoZips94]

5 minutes ago, UAZipster0305 said:

It's sad that our coaches leave for destinations like Duquesne and College of Charleston. That says everything there is to need to know about the difficulties of taking the next step(s).

4 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

At least when Dambrot left he went to a school in indisputable better conference and had a close, personal connection to the school. I would have preferred Groce get the Butler job as that would make a ton of sense. This feels like a swift kick in the nuts and is a humbling experience for the state of the program.

 

I will cheer for Groce if he returns to the JAR to have his name retired, but I will be actively rooting against CoC.

 

I'm telling you, lifestyle matters. Charleston is beautiful. Dambrot left for DUQ for family legacy. Neither move should be shameful. 

 

5 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Did we? What did Groce accomplish that KD didn't? 

 

Absolute dominance in the MAC, especially over Kent State. 

 

4 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

We need him to keep Sharron and Eric, or I don't know if I like this move. He isn't bringing his own "guys" - he has the same connections as Groce, and was recruiting the same guys. If we lose these guys, it may be a bit of a rebuild

 

We don't know Ford's style and how it differs from Groce. A lot of people of putting the cart before the horse with this situation. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[zippy5]

Just now, UAZipster0305 said:

I don't think so. Both won many MACC and had great players and teams. Groce was a bit more consistent, especially in the past several years. For that to be true, Groce would have needed to win at least one NCAAT game, likely more. Let's see if the next guy can get us there.

 

Lolla had us undefeated and a #1 national ranking and took us to the Elite 8. Porter won us a Natty and had several more College Cup appearances and multiple Hermann Trophy winners.

 

There is definitely not an analogy between Dambrot-Groce and Lolla-Porter.

 

 

Groce was 4-0 in MAC championship games and COVID took away his 5th. KD was 3-6 or something like that. Grateful for both but not even close imo

[a-zip]

1 hour ago, 1981 grad said:

I brought up the attendance issue because this board is wondering why Groce is making a lateral move.  The only time I have heard him express his frustration is with the attendance so I checked the attendance for the college of Charleston.  I understand Groce's frustration is that the Zips had their highest win total, the longest home winning streak, and three out of four years we went to the NCAA tourney and he is playing in a half empty jar.  I would also be frustrated.  Every person likes to know that there hard work is appreciated and Akron fans just do not show up to support this team.  I really hope that Groce stays but I could also understand why he would want to leave and play in front of 4900 fans instead of 2200 fans.

I agree with you but most on here don't think attendance is the issue.  They say we have the NIL $$ and facilities and that is what players/coaches care about.  While I think that is important, I think support, attendance and excitement are what players and coaches like.  Look at the enthusiasm Miami O stirred up in the last couple months.  The swim team with the bathing suits was played over and over.  I guarantee their applications and enrollment will go up.  

    

When we have the attendance argument around football the argument is "we need a history of winning first".....Well, that is not the case with basketball.

[LZIp]

Damn 

[zippy5]

1 minute ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

We don't know Ford's style and how it differs from Groce. A lot of people of putting the cart before the horse with this situation. 

I was speaking on recruiting - he's been with Groce for 12+ years or something, he doesn't have a recruiting connection that hasn't already been of use to us. He will have a chance to add to that with his assistant hire(s)

[Let'sGoZips94]

Just now, zippy5 said:

I was speaking on recruiting - he's been with Groce for 12+ years or something, he doesn't have a recruiting connection that hasn't already been of use to us. He will have a chance to add to that with his assistant hire(s)

 

He's been recruiting for Groce's system, though. Who knows what kind of connections he has maintained with the thought of his own system someday. 

[LZIp]

11 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Did we? What did Groce accomplish that KD didn't? 

3 straight championships, 4 out of the last 5. Best conference record in  MAC history over 2 seasons.  I didn’t think there was a “level” between what KD did and winning a NCAA tourney game, but Groce showed there apparently was.

Edited 4 hours ago by LZIp

[Reslife4Life]

3 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

At least when Dambrot left he went to a school in indisputable better conference and had a close, personal connection to the school. I would have preferred Groce get the Butler job as that would make a ton of sense. This feels like a swift kick in the nuts and is a humbling experience for the state of the program.

 

I will cheer for Groce if he returns to the JAR to have his name retired, but I will be actively rooting against CoC.

Agreed. And with Charleston at the same level I wouldn’t be surprised to see either Sharron or Eric transfer over and fit right in

[kreed5120]

1 minute ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

He's been recruiting for Groce's system, though. Who knows what kind of connections he has maintained with the thought of his own system someday. 

 

Groce didn't really have a set system. We went from one of the slowest paces in the country a few years ago to one of the fastest paces the last 1-2 years. Groce best attribute was probably adjusting his strategy to his teams strengths instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Based off that Ford has experience recruiting all kinds of different style of players.

[zippy5]

I was speaking of geographical areas and connections.