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

[zippy5]

Well Groce picks up a Cock, but we get Head this year. We'll see how it plays out 

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, LZIp said:

Nearly 9 points as a freshman at a SEC program feels good.

 

He was a very inefficient scorer (.280 from 3 and .386 from the field) on a bad SEC team. Considering he's going to have an extra year to develop and will be facing a lower level of competition it's possible he takes a step forward. I can't imagine many, if any, P5 programs were competing with CoC for his services.

[blueandgold]

So, of course Groce manages to get a 7 footer at his new job. https://247sports.com/player/braden-pierce-46118228/college-346132/

[kreed5120]

2 minutes ago, blueandgold said:

So, of course Groce manages to get a 7 footer at his new job. https://247sports.com/player/braden-pierce-46118228/college-346132/

 

Helps when you have 2x-3x the amount to spend on players.

[blueandgold]

I know, it just sucks.

[Let'sGoZips94]

7 footer who averaged 1/1 as a sophomore and probably getting paid high 6, low 7 figures. He would've been a good chunk of Akron's budget and likely not worth the $$$. Akron 3-peated in the MAC with nobody over 6'8"/6'9" - our money was well spent on legitimate production, not a measuring tape. 

[kreed5120]

5 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

7 footer who averaged 1/1 as a sophomore and probably getting paid high 6, low 7 figures. He would've been a good chunk of Akron's budget and likely not worth the $$$. Akron 3-peated in the MAC with nobody over 6'8"/6'9" - our money was well spent on legitimate production, not a measuring tape. 

 

Bettiol was probably the best back to the basket traditional big in the MAC last season. UMass paid him a good amount of money. All that got UMass was an 8th place finish in the MAC and 2nd round finish in MAC tournament.

 

As you said, money is better spent elsewhere, especially since Ford has shown the ability of developing raw bigs.

[Let'sGoZips94]

12 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Bettiol was probably the best back to the basket traditional big in the MAC last season. UMass paid him a good amount of money. All that got UMass was an 8th place finish in the MAC and 2nd round finish in MAC tournament.

 

As you said, money is better spent elsewhere, especially since Ford has shown the ability of developing raw bigs.

 

Hey, it also got them a 1st round upset of Miami OH in Cleveland, and for that we thank them haha!

 

Here's another factor - height is only useful if it's in the game. 6'10" Chabi Barre would've been useful at many points last season; for whatever reason, Groce didn't play him. 

 

If Pierce at 7' ultimately doesn't fit the system CofC ends up playing next season, he'll be an Akron Zip in 2027-28.