Game 2- Ohio U

[clarkwgriswold]

Athens awaits the Zips Friday for am 8:00 p.m. game with the 11-9 Bobcats.

 

The Bobcats are led by 6'2" senior guard Jackson Pavaletzke who leads the team in scoring (17.4 ppg) and assist (4 apg).  6'8" senior forward Aiden Hadaway is second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding at 14.1 ppg and 7.6 rpg.  The natives are restless in Athens with Boals given the up and down nature of their season. 

 

The Zips have lost their last three games in the Convocation Center.

 

There's also a watch party at the Barley House.

[Reslife4Life]

The watch party at barley house is interesting. I wonder if that is a Goodrich thing or who decided to have that. I think it’s great to have a watch party for a big road game, but the barley house should not host another zips basketball watch party 😂

[kreed5120]

33 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

The watch party at barley house is interesting. I wonder if that is a Goodrich thing or who decided to have that. I think it’s great to have a watch party for a big road game, but the barley house should not host another zips basketball watch party 😂

 

Well it's on a Friday night and you can count on it otherwise being empty. Places like The Score, Euro, and Manny's probably will attract more catering to the youth and blasting whatever music they're listening to these days. Not sure where else you can really have it.

 

Edit: I wouldn't attend regardless.

Edited Wednesday at 03:09 AM by kreed5120

[Blue & Gold]

9 hours ago, Reslife4Life said:

The watch party at barley house is interesting. I wonder if that is a Goodrich thing or who decided to have that. I think it’s great to have a watch party for a big road game, but the barley house should not host another zips basketball watch party 😂

Why do you say that?

[csims0917]

I think hopping frog would a cool host. They have great beer 

[Reslife4Life]

1 hour ago, Blue & Gold said:

Why do you say that?

The watch party for the Arizona game was terrible, they have grown accustomed to the place being half empty or less since covid probably. Our group got sat at a table with a view of only 1 TV and it wasn't even on. They are severely understaffed and so many items on the menu are sold out, the waitress even said "yeah we always are out of a bunch of things on the menu". I hate to be so critical of a downtown business, I think downtown Akron needs places like this, but in its current state it isn't helping. I'd say it would be better off having this at lockview and they have a capacity of maybe 100. 

And also, any college cup match or march madness game should have a watch party in the JAR. The ones in 2018 were awesome and I wish they'd do it again. That's my rant for the day, looking forward to the game on Friday

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, Reslife4Life said:

The watch party for the Arizona game was terrible, they have grown accustomed to the place being half empty or less since covid probably. Our group got sat at a table with a view of only 1 TV and it wasn't even on. They are severely understaffed and so many items on the menu are sold out, the waitress even said "yeah we always are out of a bunch of things on the menu". I hate to be so critical of a downtown business, I think downtown Akron needs places like this, but in its current state it isn't helping. I'd say it would be better off having this at lockview and they have a capacity of maybe 100. 

And also, any college cup match or march madness game should have a watch party in the JAR. The ones in 2018 were awesome and I wish they'd do it again. That's my rant for the day, looking forward to the game on Friday

 

Barley House, at least the last time I was there, isn't really setup to be a sports bar. There are TVs hung around, but there are tons of blind spots and its challenging to watch multiple games at once if you wanted to do that. I don't know why they they don't put a huge projector screen on the stage with the game on. IMO that would greatly improve the viewing experience.

 

I agree that business has been horrible for a number of years. I'm surprised they're still surviving after the corporate offices like Huntington and other went remote/hybrid. Lunch rush seem to be what kept them alive before. The rent and facilities on a place that size can't be cheap.

 

In reality something like a scaled down pins or Wild Eagle Saloon would be good for the area as then maybe it could attract people downtown. There really is no incentive to stop into Barley House unless you're in the immediate downtown area. Even then there are better options (Lockview, Luigi's, Spaghetti Warehouse, etc.).

[tolbob]

Is there a streaming option to watch the game other than ESPN U?

[Zips1991]

10 minutes ago, tolbob said:

Is there a streaming option to watch the game other than ESPN U?

If it's on ESPNU, you can watch it on the ESPN app with a TV provider login, or if you have the new ESPN Unlimited.

[Zips1991]

On 1/20/2026 at 9:19 PM, clarkwgriswold said:

Athens awaits the Zips Friday for am 8:00 p.m. game with the 11-9 Bobcats.

 

The Bobcats are led by 6'2" senior guard Jackson Pavaletzke who leads the team in scoring (17.4 ppg) and assist (4 apg).  6'8" senior forward Aiden Hadaway is second on the team in scoring and first in rebounding at 14.1 ppg and 7.6 rpg.  The natives are restless in Athens with Boals given the up and down nature of their season. 

 

The Zips have lost their last three games in the Convocation Center.

 

There's also a watch party at the Barley House.

I know Athens is a tough place to play and we've lost the last 3 games there, as you said. But Ohio is also #223 in the NET Rankings (9th in the MAC), so it really should be and needs to be a win.

As for the betting odds, the opening spread and O/U are exactly the same as the Buffalo game...Zips favored by 8.5 with an O/U of 169.5

Edited 19 hours ago by Zips1991

[Zips1991]

It's also worth noting that OU was without Javan Simmons (former Toledo player) in the last game and postgame Boals said "not sure if he'll be able to go" when referring to the Akron game.

Also, guard Elijah Elliott has been out since earlier this month. Sounds like he may be back for this game but it's hard to tell. He averages 22 per game.

[csims0917]

Really should be a win but just screams a trap game. Going to Athens has always felt a bit cursed to me 

[NWAkron]

4 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

It's also worth noting that OU was without Javan Simmons (former Toledo player) in the last game and postgame Boals said "not sure if he'll be able to go" when referring to the Akron game.
 

Do NOT trust @ClarkGriswold's friend Jeff Boals.

[AkronAlumnus]

I’m in Columbus for work later today and planning to make the quick hour-and-15 drive southeast.  First game at OU, catch me behind the UA bench

[egregiousbob]

17 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

It's also worth noting that OU was without Javan Simmons (former Toledo player) in the last game and postgame Boals said "not sure if he'll be able to go" when referring to the Akron game.

Also, guard Elijah Elliott has been out since earlier this month. Sounds like he may be back for this game but it's hard to tell. He averages 22 per game.

Maybe 22 minutes; not 22 points.  He's a slashing guard who struggles to score.

[Zips1991]

5 minutes ago, egregiousbob said:

Maybe 22 minutes; not 22 points.  He's a slashing guard who struggles to score.

Oops, yeah I missed the word "minutes". Thanks for clarifying!

[WeRise225]

On 1/21/2026 at 11:11 AM, kreed5120 said:

 

Barley House, at least the last time I was there, isn't really setup to be a sports bar. There are TVs hung around, but there are tons of blind spots and its challenging to watch multiple games at once if you wanted to do that. I don't know why they they don't put a huge projector screen on the stage with the game on. IMO that would greatly improve the viewing experience.

 

I agree that business has been horrible for a number of years. I'm surprised they're still surviving after the corporate offices like Huntington and other went remote/hybrid. Lunch rush seem to be what kept them alive before. The rent and facilities on a place that size can't be cheap.

 

In reality something like a scaled down pins or Wild Eagle Saloon would be good for the area as then maybe it could attract people downtown. There really is no incentive to stop into Barley House unless you're in the immediate downtown area. Even then there are better options (Lockview, Luigi's, Spaghetti Warehouse, etc.).

Spaghetti Warehouse is garbage, even though it's one of the coolest places inside. 

[kreed5120]

13 minutes ago, WeRise225 said:

Spaghetti Warehouse is garbage, even though it's one of the coolest places inside. 

 

I admittedly haven't been there in ~15 years. Normally if I'm downtown I go to Luigi's, Lockview, or one of the craft breweries.

[Zips1991]

26 minutes ago, WeRise225 said:

Spaghetti Warehouse is garbage, even though it's one of the coolest places inside. 

The food is very average. Plus, I don't remember there being TVs other than at the bar, which is a small area. So, it wouldn't be a great watch party location. If they had TVs in the dining area, it could be because there's lots of room.