2025-26 season in process

[kreed5120]

46 minutes ago, lance99 said:

They would have to win the Perdue Game AND hope they go deep in the Big Ten(being Ranked at the time) Torment AND The Zips make it to the Title Game AND run the table being ranked in the process getting there.....

While I agree beating Purdue would be a big boost, I penciled it in as a loss because beating them is unrealistic. Then again so is going 30-3.

[clarkwgriswold]

Notes from the Tip-off Reception:

*  Evan Mahaffey is the real deal.  He could be one of Akron's best ever by the time he is done here.

*  Cody Head is better than expected.

*  The Serbian will get some minutes.

*  The team is fully healthy as of a week ago.

*  Barre is a good fit as he can get up and down the floor.

*  Nate had 9 serious high money NIL offers.

*  The entire team looks like they've spent a lot of time with the strength and conditioning coach.  

*  They beat Wright State in an exhibition.

*  Every player that has completed their eligibility at UA in the last 9 year left with a degree.

*  Every scholarship player who has completed his eligibility at UA in the last nine years has played professionally.

*  26 practices so far.

*  They are going to play fast again this year.

*  The emphasis in practice all pre-season has been on defense.

*  The JMU Game will include the ring presentation and raising the banner.

*  There will be two fan experiences- trips to Vegas and New Orleans.

*  This group is really tight on and off the court.

*  The proceeds of the YSU scrimmage are being split between the schools' collectives.

Edited yesterday at 01:05 AM by clarkwgriswold

[zvillezip]

I think you mean Eric Mahaffey instead of Evan in your first point.

[Let'sGoZips94]

4 minutes ago, zvillezip said:

I think you mean Eric Mahaffey instead of Evan in your first point.

 

I was wondering the same thing.

 

40 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Notes from the Tip-off Reception:

*  Evan Mahaffey is the real deal.  He could be one of Akron's best ever by the time he is done here.

*  Cody Head is better than expected.

*  The Serbian will get some minutes.

*  The team is fully healthy as of a week ago.

*  Barre is a good fit as he can get up and down the floor.

*  Nate had 9 serious high money NIL offers.

*  The entire team looks like they've spent a lot of time with the strength and conditioning coach.  

*  They beat Wright State in an exhibition.

*  Every player that has completed their eligibility at UA in the last 9 year left with a degree.

*  Every scholarship player who has completed his eligibility at UA in the last nine years has played professionally.

*  26 practices so far.

*  They are going to play fast again this year.

*  The emphasis in practice all pre-season has been on defense.

*  The JMU Game will include the ring presentation and raising the banner.

*  There will be two fan experiences- trips to Vegas and New Orleans.

*  This group is really tight on and off the court.

*  The proceeds of the YSU scrimmage are being split between the schools' collectives.

 

- What were your expectations for Head that he is exceeding in practice? 

- I think our front court is going to surprise some teams. We're larger on average and more athletic. 

- This team, theoretically, should play faster than last year's squad. We're a few guys deeper at each spot and healthy (knock on wood).

- Love this. The $20 ticket price has been validated with this information. Good for both programs.

[NWAkron]

1 hour ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Notes from the Tip-off Reception:

*  Evan Mahaffey is the real deal.  He could be one of Akron's best ever by the time he is done here.

*  Cody Head is better than expected.

 

That seems to be the company line, depending on whose company you keep.

[csims0917]

36 minutes ago, zvillezip said:

I think you mean Eric Mahaffey instead of Evan in your first point.

Why not both! Lol

[Z.I.P.]

7 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Notes from the Tip-off 

*  The Serbian will get some minutes.

 

If THAT's all that happens with Oggi, then either this team is so packed with talent it's headed to the Top 25 or, I fear the coaches are giving too much deference to the returning (and veteran transfer) players.  Have you SEEN the film??  Ogg (as in "Oh, GEE!" I'm still working on how to refer to him if we meet outside a locker room) competed and scored and rebounded strongly against all-European youth competition.  IF he stays more than a year or two, he could be the guy who does what you predicted one of the Mahaffey brothers would do.  I really hope he gets time to show his ability vs US college kids on the floor at Beeghley Center coming up shortly.  And, I was wondering if coach Weigand has taken him to eat at Belgrade Gardens or any of the other Serbian chicken palaces in the municipality of Barberton... 🐔 🤔 

[clarkwgriswold]

Yes, I mixed up my Mahaffeys!  

[kreed5120]

4 hours ago, Z.I.P. said:

If THAT's all that happens with Oggi, then either this team is so packed with talent it's headed to the Top 25 or, I fear the coaches are giving too much deference to the returning (and veteran transfer) players.  Have you SEEN the film??  Ogg (as in "Oh, GEE!" I'm still working on how to refer to him if we meet outside a locker room) competed and scored and rebounded strongly against all-European youth competition.  IF he stays more than a year or two, he could be the guy who does what you predicted one of the Mahaffey brothers would do.  I really hope he gets time to show his ability vs US college kids on the floor at Beeghley Center coming up shortly.  And, I was wondering if coach Weigand has taken him to eat at Belgrade Gardens or any of the other Serbian chicken palaces in the municipality of Barberton... 🐔 🤔 

 

I feel part of the issue with highlight reels is that you only ever see the good, not the flaws.

 

The league he played in I frankly never heard of. I'm sure it's a higher level of competition than the MAC, but from my own ignorance I'm not sure how it compares to college basketball as a whole. He was an 8th or 9th man on his team.

 

He's coming to Akron, which already has a lot of guard depth. He also joined the team late so he has just maybe 2 months now to learn the system. Compared to ~5 months to years for the other guys he'll be fighting for minutes. He can certainly earn playing time, but I see his minutes ramping up as the season progresses.

 

 

[Z.I.P.]

5 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I feel part of the issue with highlight reels is that you only ever see the good, not the flaws.

 

The league he played in I frankly never heard of. I'm sure it's a higher level of competition than the MAC, but from my own ignorance I'm not sure how it compares to college basketball as a whole. He was an 8th or 9th man on his team.

 

He's coming to Akron, which already has a lot of guard depth. He also joined the team late so he has just maybe 2 months now to learn the system. Compared to ~5 months to years for the other guys he'll be fighting for minutes. He can certainly earn playing time, but I see his minutes ramping up as the season progresses.

 

 

The FIBA websites are currently inoperable, but I thought Oggi was shown getting major minutes for Serbia's either U-20 team or earlier at U-17 in international comp.  Besides the team in Bosnia he played for last season, he earlier was part of Partizan Belgrade, a major well known Euro sporting club, probably on their youth team.  I also found a SI story pointing to the interest Kansas coach Bill Self (among many ranked programs) had in the Yugo.  His height is listed as either 6-5 or 6-6 in all the sites I saw, but that could have been 17/18 y.o.

 

Kansas Could Pivot to New European Recruit Following Dame Sarr Miss https://www.si.com/college/kansas/basketball/kansas-could-pivot-to-new-european-recruit-ognjen-stankovic-following-dame-sarr-miss

[zippy5]

Great to hear that Head is exceeding expectations. Hopefully it lasts

[Blue & Gold]

On 10/28/2025 at 9:04 PM, clarkwgriswold said:

 

*  Cody Head is better than expected.

 

Did one of the assistant coaches mention this? I was surprised he wasn't dressed to play vs. YSU tonight.

[clarkwgriswold]

8 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Did one of the assistant coaches mention this? I was surprised he wasn't dressed to play vs. YSU tonight.

It's puzzling.  Could be any number of reasons.

[NWAkron]

4 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

It's puzzling.  Could be any number of reasons.

really could use Kobe Mitchell about now.  

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, NWAkron said:

really could use Kobe Mitchell about now.  

...or Taylor Currie.