Game 24- UMASS

[clarkwgriswold]

The Zips are off until Friday when UMASS comes into the JAR for the first time.  UMASS comes in at 15-10 overall and 6-6 in the MAC.  They are coming off a 3 point loss to Coastal Carolina in the MAC/Sun Belt Challenge.  The game is at 9:00 (yawn) on CBS Sports Network

 

6'9" grad student forward Leonardo Bettiol leads UMASS in scoring and rebounding at 17.6 ppg and 7.6 rpg.   6'3" grad student guard Marcus Banks is second in scoring at 16.8 ppg.   They are 6th in standings, 6th in team offense and seventh in defense in the MAC.

[Blue & Gold]

It's Big Dog jersey retirement night.

9:oo start time kinda sucks.

[clarkwgriswold]

The bye comes at a good time.  It gives them a chance to regroup, get their feet under them and find their shots.

[NWAkron]

On 2/7/2026 at 8:18 PM, Blue & Gold said:

It's Big Dog jersey retirement night.

9:oo start time kinda sucks.

helluva lot better than 6pm or Noon on a Saturday.

[clarkwgriswold]

Today's email from the Athletic Department-

 

Zips Nation,

 

This is Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Groce, and I felt compelled to express our gratitude and share three takeaways with you today.

 

First of all, we want to THANK YOU for what you've done this season. We are extremely grateful for the attendance and the electric environment that has been created in the JAR for our home games, especially against Kent State. You were certainly a big part of the win that night. It was a sellout crowd and amazing basketball environment.

 

Secondly, we have three home games remaining, starting with UMass on Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 p.m. on national television. As I'm out in the community, I have multiple people approach me and say...

 

“Coach, as good as your program is and has been over the last 6 plus years, we need to get that place filled up more often, like we do it for the Kent State game.”

 

So, The Challenge is on!

 

That is why I was compelled to express my thoughts on the three remaining home games, starting with the UMass game on the 13th. We want to see this place PACKED. Zips Nation deserves it, our players deserve it, the city deserves it, the community deserves it and the University deserves it. We're all in this together.

 

Let's take on the challenge and Pack the JAR for the three remaining home games!

 

Lastly, at the UMass game, we are honoring one of our all-time greats in Isaiah “Big Dog” Johnson by hanging his No. 23 jersey in the rafters prior to the game. He was a former All-American, MAC Player of the Year and MAC Sixth man of the Year. He made long lasting memories for Zips Nation as a great player and a great person. We are looking forward to having Isaiah and his family back here at the JAR, and we need to give them a warm welcome and an unbelievable Akron Zips response that night with great excitement, passion, energy, and attendance.

 

Thanks Again for all that you do. This is a special place and it really is because of Zips Nation.

 

John Groce

Akron Head Men’s Basketball Coach

[Westie]

Is this the transcript from the video? 

[clarkwgriswold]

11 minutes ago, Westie said:

Is this the transcript from the video? 

Text from an email.  There may be a video but I haven't seen it.

Edited 14 hours ago by clarkwgriswold

[Illini Zip]

22 minutes ago, Westie said:

Is this the transcript from the video? 

Yes. 

[Blue & Gold]

 

[Zips1991]

I also saw they're doing $28 lower level tickets for the 28 game home winning streak. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Speaking of tickets, does anyone need a ticket? I won't be able to make this one. 

[clarkwgriswold]

A 9:00 game is inconsistent with the challenge to fill the JAR.

[Blue & Gold]

12 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

A 9:00 game is inconsistent with the challenge to fill the JAR.

I feel bad for Big Dog that they moved his jersey retirement to 9:00. I've been looking forward to this game but if I come to this one I'm going to be flying solo 😕

[kreed5120]

8 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

A 9:00 game is inconsistent with the challenge to fill the JAR.

 

Probably not much worse than the 6PM start time we had for Kent. If someone works an 8-5 it's a nightmare or even logistically impossible to drive home from work, gather the family, and then make it to the JAR before tipoff. The 9PM tipoff is kind of only bad for those with kids ~<10. That's a much smaller amount of people impacted. Heck, even my fiancé who works a 10 hour shift this Saturday and has to be up at 6AM is planning to make the game.

 

I don't think the JAR will be packed, especially coming off a deflating loss. I don't think it's as much about the start time and more about the casual fans who are the difference between 3k in attendance vs. 5k really only get excited about Kent and the MAC tourney.

[NWAkron]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Probably not much worse than the 6PM start time we had for Kent. If someone works an 8-5 it's a nightmare or even logistically impossible to drive home from work, gather the family, and then make it to the JAR before tipoff. The 9PM tipoff is kind of only bad for those with kids ~<10. That's a much smaller amount of people impacted. Heck, even my fiancé who works a 10 hour shift this Saturday and has to be up at 6AM is planning to make the game.

 

I don't think the JAR will be packed, especially coming off a deflating loss. I don't think it's as much about the start time and more about the casual fans who are the difference between 3k in attendance vs. 5k really only get excited about Kent and the MAC tourney.

Frankly, the people of this community and some on here don't deserve this team or coach.  Deflating loss?  Seriously?  Isn't there a 28 home winning streak?  All anyone does is complain.  We don't have good concessions, no halftime entertainment (which they wouldn't be able to see if they are in line for those good hot dogs), oh wait, we need more concession stands, so I can get my hot dog quickly and get back to my very uncomfortable seat to watch the halftime show which I can't see because of the glass railing, and every game should be at 7pm but not on certain Saturdays and not opposite an Ohio State game or the Olympic pairs free skate and don't expect people to come to an Akron game after they lose on the road unless the game is against Kent.  And one more thing they lose every important game other than those pesky 3 games in March when all the players run out on the floor and hug each other and cut down the nets.

Edited 21 minutes ago by NWAkron

[kreed5120]

3 minutes ago, NWAkron said:

Frankly, the people of this community and some on here don't deserve this team or coach.  Deflating loss?  Seriously?  Isn't there a 28 home winning streak?  All anyone does is complain.  We don't have good concessions, no halftime entertainment (which they wouldn't be able to see if they are in line for those good hot dogs), oh wait, we need more concession stands, so I can get my hot dog quickly and get back to my very uncomfortable seat to watch the halftime show which I can't see because of the glass railing, and every game should be at 7pm but not on certain Saturdays and not opposite an Ohio State game or the Olympic pairs free skate and don't expect people to come to an Akron game after they lose on the road unless the game is against Kent and they lose every important game other than those pesky 3 games in March.

 

We could fix all the things people here mostly complain about and attendance would probably go from 3,000 to maybe 3,200 over the long run. Apathy surrounding the program is very real.

 

College basketball has never really seemed to be a big deal in the Cleveland/Akron/Canton area. At least not compared to hot beds like the northeast or Kentucky/SW Ohio/Indiana. It has further been hurt by a generation of fans being taught by ESPN and other outlets that if you aren't first you're last. There used to be a lot more community in sports.