2025-26 season in process

[Illini Zip]

Yale’s Celiscar hits free throws with .5 seconds in OT to win at Harvard. Nick Townsend left the game with an injury at some point. Didn’t see it or him in the second half. 

[UAZipster0305]

5 minutes ago, Illini Zip said:

Yale’s Celiscar hits free throws with .5 seconds in OT to win at Harvard. Nick Townsend left the game with an injury at some point. Didn’t see it or him in the second half. 

It was a solidly entertaining game. Mrs. Zipster even thought so on Valentine's Day.

Edited Sunday at 01:49 AM by UAZipster0305

[ZipForNow]

Is anyone up on how much Groce relies on analytics? Just curious as it is a huge strength in the College of Business.

[kreed5120]

2 hours ago, ZipForNow said:

Is anyone up on how much Groce relies on analytics? Just curious as it is a huge strength in the College of Business.

 

I would say quite considerably. I know the practice gym is outfitted with equipment that allows it to track player performance with advanced analytics. It even provides numbers on what lineups provide the most optimization. Groce has said in the past that some of those lineups he has been surprised by in the past. Add in the Zips are one of the heaviest volume shooting from 3 teams in NCAA. 

 

I know many gray hairs are against it, but I feel it's something that if you aren't utilizing, you're falling behind.

Edited Sunday at 05:59 PM by kreed5120

[clarkwgriswold]

7 hours ago, ZipForNow said:

Is anyone up on how much Groce relies on analytics? Just curious as it is a huge strength in the College of Business.

he makes comments in pre-games and post-games that indicate to me that he relies on them quite a bit.

[Illini Zip]

Groce is a former math teacher, so yes. There will be times at the very end of a close game where he will simply run a motion to get the ball into his best scorers hands. Then live or die by what he can create on his own. Because even though it’s not clever, it has the highest probability of success. Right now that would be Tavari. 

[Reslife4Life]

4 hours ago, Illini Zip said:

Groce is a former math teacher, so yes. There will be times at the very end of a close game where he will simply run a motion to get the ball into his best scorers hands. Then live or die by what he can create on his own. Because even though it’s not clever, it has the highest probability of success. Right now that would be Tavari. 

When that option was Ali, that drove me nuts. Even when it did work out against WMU at the jar I still didn’t trust it

[Illini Zip]

22 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

When that option was Ali, that drove me nuts. Even when it did work out against WMU at the jar I still didn’t trust it

I wasn’t crazy about the idea at first either. Going back to Illinois. Watching your point guard dribbling down the clock to make sure there is only time for his last shot and maybe a quick tip-in is nerve wrecking. I have seen his point guards pass out of double teams and not take that last shot themselves, but it’s often not a drawn up play coming out of a time out. Other than maybe spreading everyone out, etc. 

[1981 grad]

When I looked at the stats this morning, I noticed that in the last 6 games the Zips have not shot 40% from the 3 point line.  In our lost to Troy and  our narrow win st Eastern Michigan we shot the 3 point ball around 27% for those games.  Earlier in the season against good out of conference teams including Perdue we were averaging well over 40% from 3.  I even commented that this might be Groce's best 3 point shooting team.  I hate that our three point shooting in trending downward at the end of the season.  Not sure what is the cause except the grind of a long season.  Also, Groce has been playing some  players long minutes and there has been a greater emphasis on defense.  In our loss to Miami we only shot 25% from 3.  Hoping that we can regain our outside shooting touch in the remaining games.

Edited 4 hours ago by 1981 grad

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, 1981 grad said:

When I looked at the stats this morning, I noticed that in the last 6 games the Zips have not shot 40% from the 3 point line.  In our lost to Troy and  our narrow win st Eastern Michigan we shot the 3 point ball around 27% for those games.  Earlier in the season against good out of conference teams including Perdue we were averaging well over 40% from 3.  I even commented that this might be Groce's best 3 point shooting team.  I hate that our three point shooting in trending downward at the end of the season.  Not sure what is the cause except the grind of a long season.  Also, Groce has been playing some  players long minutes and there has been a greater emphasis on defense.  In our loss to Miami we only shot 25% from 3.  Hoping that we can regain our outside shooting touch in the remaining games.

 

I feel teams have been more physical against us, which has in part thrown off our rhythm. Also, I feel teams have done a better job of limiting open court turnovers creating fewer fast breaks and making us play a more half court offense.

 

The video game numbers we were putting up earlier in the were never going to be sustainable.

[Captain Kangaroo]

You'd have expected Sharrone Young to be an assassin from the 3-line this season, and he's shooting 21.6% in conference play. He should be around 40%.

[1981 grad]

6 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

You'd have expected Sharrone Young to be an assassin from the 3-line this season, and he's shooting 21.6% in conference play. He should be around 40%.

Wow, I knew he had been off but I am surprised by how bad those numbers are in conference play.  Is there such a thing as a sophomore jinx?  I think Tavari also had better numbers as a frosh.  I just remember he did not get in some games as a sophmore but he also had issues on defense.

[UAZipster0305]

2 hours ago, 1981 grad said:

When I looked at the stats this morning, I noticed that in the last 6 games the Zips have not shot 40% from the 3 point line.  In our lost to Troy and  our narrow win st Eastern Michigan we shot the 3 point ball around 27% for those games.  Earlier in the season against good out of conference teams including Perdue we were averaging well over 40% from 3.  I even commented that this might be Groce's best 3 point shooting team.  I hate that our three point shooting in trending downward at the end of the season.  Not sure what is the cause except the grind of a long season.  Also, Groce has been playing some  players long minutes and there has been a greater emphasis on defense.  In our loss to Miami we only shot 25% from 3.  Hoping that we can regain our outside shooting touch in the remaining games.

This is the difference between good and great teams though. Great teams are multi-dimensional and struggling in one area does not doom them to a loss. If we had an alternative way to generate offense against Troy and Miami, we would have won those games, and we would be having a great season, not just a good one.

[1981 grad]

Just now, UAZipster0305 said:

This is the difference between good and great teams though. Great teams are multi-dimensional and struggling in one area does not doom them to a loss. If we had an alternative way to generate offense against Troy and Miami, we would have won those games, and we would be having a great season, not just a good one.

I agree.  I also think it is also harder to win on the road in the grind of a long season.  As much as this board gives Miami grief about their weak schedule, they have won all of their road games.  Something we have not done.

[infofan]

In an unrelated note.  I received an email on December 10th about the introduction of the Zips Fan Council.

"Akron Athletics has announced the creation of the Zips Fan Council! This new council will be paramount in assisting the athletic department with initiatives that will shape our future.

 

The purpose of the Zips Fan Council is to foster dialogue between Fans, Alumni, Donors, Season Ticket Holders, and Akron Students with the Department of Athletics. This dialogue encompasses topics directly related to the fan experience, ticket sales, and other subjects pertinent to intercollegiate athletics events.

 

Council members are chosen with the intent of building a committee that represents the broad spectrum of Zips Fans. The mission of the Zips Fan Council is to represent the voice of the fan in supporting Akron Athletics in initiatives designed to increase the fan base and enhance the experience for the entire Zips Community."

Has anyone been selected for or heard anything about this?? I applied as did several others I spoke with but have not heard anything.  Just wondered

[UAZipster0305]

41 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

I agree.  I also think it is also harder to win on the road in the grind of a long season.  As much as this board gives Miami grief about their weak schedule, they have won all of their road games.  Something we have not done.

Of course it is, but being multi-dimensional provides resilience that makes this easier though.

[UAZipster0305]

16 minutes ago, infofan said:

In an unrelated note.  I received an email on December 10th about the introduction of the Zips Fan Council.

"Akron Athletics has announced the creation of the Zips Fan Council! This new council will be paramount in assisting the athletic department with initiatives that will shape our future.

 

The purpose of the Zips Fan Council is to foster dialogue between Fans, Alumni, Donors, Season Ticket Holders, and Akron Students with the Department of Athletics. This dialogue encompasses topics directly related to the fan experience, ticket sales, and other subjects pertinent to intercollegiate athletics events.

 

Council members are chosen with the intent of building a committee that represents the broad spectrum of Zips Fans. The mission of the Zips Fan Council is to represent the voice of the fan in supporting Akron Athletics in initiatives designed to increase the fan base and enhance the experience for the entire Zips Community."

Has anyone been selected for or heard anything about this?? I applied as did several others I spoke with but have not heard anything.  Just wondered

This seems archaic. All the Athletics Department has to do is take ZNO content and summarize it through AI. Bam. Done.

[ZippyRulz]

19 minutes ago, UAZipster0305 said:

This seems archaic. All the Athletics Department has to do is take ZNO content and summarize it through AI. Bam. Done.

 

Right? If only the hundreds of fans who attend games had an online community where they could discuss Zips sports, the athletic dept., fan experiences, the university, etc. and form a virtual fan council...

 

 

[Zippy87]

45 minutes ago, infofan said:

In an unrelated note.  I received an email on December 10th about the introduction of the Zips Fan Council.

"Akron Athletics has announced the creation of the Zips Fan Council! This new council will be paramount in assisting the athletic department with initiatives that will shape our future.

 

The purpose of the Zips Fan Council is to foster dialogue between Fans, Alumni, Donors, Season Ticket Holders, and Akron Students with the Department of Athletics. This dialogue encompasses topics directly related to the fan experience, ticket sales, and other subjects pertinent to intercollegiate athletics events.

 

Council members are chosen with the intent of building a committee that represents the broad spectrum of Zips Fans. The mission of the Zips Fan Council is to represent the voice of the fan in supporting Akron Athletics in initiatives designed to increase the fan base and enhance the experience for the entire Zips Community."

Has anyone been selected for or heard anything about this?? I applied as did several others I spoke with but have not heard anything.  Just wondered

 

I also applied and didn't hear anything. 

[kreed5120]

I assumed the fans most likely to be selected were the ones who already hold influence through being large donors or long-term connections. 

[UAZipster0305]

25 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

I assumed the fans most likely to be selected were the ones who already hold influence through being large donors or long-term connections. 

Which defeats the whole puurpose of having a fan council because money talks, and as a result, those voices are already loudly heard.

[UAZipster0305]

1 hour ago, 1981 grad said:

I agree.  I also think it is also harder to win on the road in the grind of a long season.  As much as this board gives Miami grief about their weak schedule, they have won all of their road games.  Something we have not done.

To be fair, if Miami played Purdue or Troy on the road, they'd likely have more than one loss in those games alone.

 

Miami got lucky in getting us at home when we were having an off shooting night too. That's another likely loss.

Edited 10 minutes ago by UAZipster0305