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2025 NCAA Tournament


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Arizona is going to pound the ball inside either by their guards attacking the rim or their post players backing us down. They have formidable bigs and I think we'll be eaten alive if we just allow them to back down our smaller defenders.

 

For this reason I expect Groce to send guard help to force Arizona players to pick up their dribble. This will lead to them getting some open looks beyond 3. They aren't a good 3-point shooting so our best bet is to force them to shoot over us. If they're able to score in the paint it will be a long night. At the same time, I think the Zips will need to make 13-14 3's while shooting it at a 45%+ clip. We also must limit turnovers and secure defensive rebounds. This is probably a game we lose 4 out of 5 times. Let's play our a$$ off and make this that 1 out of 5 time that we win.

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I will add that a lot of times in these 14vs3 or 13vs4 games you see the underdog come out with lots of intensity, but then loses steam in the final 10 minutes or so as they get gassed. Akron is different in the way that given our 10 man rotation, we can play at a high level of intensity for the full 40 minutes.

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37 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Arizona is going to pound the ball inside either by their guards attacking the rim or their post players backing us down. They have formidable bigs and I think we'll be eaten alive if we just allow them to back down our smaller defenders.

 

For this reason I expect Groce to send guard help to force Arizona players to pick up their dribble. This will lead to them getting some open looks beyond 3. They aren't a good 3-point shooting so our best bet is to force them to shoot over us. If they're able to score in the paint it will be a long night. At the same time, I think the Zips will need to make 13-14 3's while shooting it at a 45%+ clip. We also must limit turnovers and secure defensive rebounds. This is probably a game we lose 4 out of 5 times. Let's play our a$$ off and make this that 1 out of 5 time that we win.

 

If were shooting the 3-ball at a 45% clip, I think we reverse cover and absolutely blow Arizona out. 

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27 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

If were shooting the 3-ball at a 45% clip, I think we reverse cover and absolutely blow Arizona out. 

 

The amount of quality looks we're able to generate will matter a lot. I'm sure Arizona's plan is going to be running us off the 3-point line.

 

The difference between shooting 35% and 45% on 18 attempts (like we had against Toledo in tournament) is about 2 3PM or 6 points. Now when you take those same percentages to account for the 39 3PA we put up against BG its about a 4 3PM difference.

 

Edit: Finding ways to create open looks is going to be key.

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4 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:


I think this is a great advertisement for any recruit, but especially for potential transfers. 

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Great article on the transfer players.  Love the quote from Okonkwo:

 

Per a change in NCAA rules, Okonkwo has one year of eligibility left and said, "I plan on staying here for as long as I possibly can. I love it here. I have no reason to leave. The coaching staff here, the atmosphere, it is everything you could want in a place. I am so thankful I came to Akron."

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41 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

The amount of quality looks we're able to generate will matter a lot. I'm sure Arizona's plan is going to be running us off the 3-point line.

 

The difference between shooting 35% and 45% on 18 attempts (like we had against Toledo in tournament) is about 2 3PM or 6 points. Now when you take those same percentages to account for the 39 3PA we put up against BG its about a 4 3PM difference.

 

Edit: Finding ways to create open looks is going to be key.

 

They will be fish out of water if they do this. They have not pressed the perimeter all season and if they choose to do so, they'll be expending energy on the defensive side that they've typically saved for the offensive end. It is a very fascinating matchup.

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Two more Beacon articles on the Zips-

 

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/20/coach-john-groce-ncaa-tournament-upset-history-akron-vs-arizona-march-madness/82559868007/?tbref=hp

 

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/college/zips/2025/03/20/akron-zips-seth-wilson-ric-flair-pregame-speech-ncaa-tournament-march-madness-arizona-wildcats/82559794007/?tbref=hp

 

The second article is on Seth Wilson's Ric Flair ritual used pregame to pump up the team.  In the words of Flair, "to be the man, you gotta beat the man.  Wooooooooo""  Tonight, the Zips beat the man.

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11 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Recycling a 15 year old commercial is certainly a choice. 

 

Meanwhile, the Jason Bateman "Bate-man vs. Batman" State Farm commercial is top tier. Best commercial I've seen in a long long long time.

I liked it at first, but why are they only replaying one commercial. Geico has a legendary lineup of old commercials, use more than just one

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