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 20 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 5 hours 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. 

[Reslife4Life]

47 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 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.

I am definitely guilty of complaining about most of this stuff, but this does make everything we complain about sound so silly. This team has great players led by a great coach who has built something here when most coaches would just take another job offer after having this much success this decade. The Zips deserve people to show up for them and not everything else

[kreed5120]

22 minutes ago, Reslife4Life said:

I am definitely guilty of complaining about most of this stuff, but this does make everything we complain about sound so silly. This team has great players led by a great coach who has built something here when most coaches would just take another job offer after having this much success this decade. The Zips deserve people to show up for them and not everything else

 

Some of the things have more merit than others. Expecting Red Panda is too much considering she has made it big time. Expecting something more than a random 3vs3 pickup game for the biggest game of the year is reasonable. Expecting a new arena or $20+ million renovation unreasonable. Wanting to simply replace some of the bleachers with more chair backs much more feasible.

 

Either way I don't think any of the things that get complained about would get an extra 2k people to games on a nightly basis.

 

Edit: Maybe a new arena would, at least in the short term, but that would be the most costly option and the University would never see a ROI. The new car smell would wear off after a season or two anyway.

Edited 4 hours ago by kreed5120

[Illini Zip]

2 hours 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 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.

Good rant @NWAkron  I do think most criticisms are coming from a place of sincerely wanting to see this program continue to flourish (Some just want to see Akron win an NCAA game before they die), but it’s right to be reminded that we should be thankful for what we have. And the Zips absolutely deserve to be supported by the Akron community and play in front of a packed house. 

[Illini Zip]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

Either way I don't think any of the things that get complained about would get an extra 2k people to games on a nightly basis.

My point about focusing on event management earlier this week might not draw that many more people on a given night, but you want them to leave thinking that they want to come back again. Growing your fan base can be done incrementally. 

[Illini Zip]

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

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.

This is absolutely a thing. I am not this way, but I have friends who are. 
 

 

 

2 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

There used to be a lot more community in sports. 

 

Especially at the high school level. 

 

[Zippy87]

You can love and appreciate a program while also wanting it to push itself to be better. Over the last 12 months, I believe we have seen that play out with Akron Basketball. It is a different program than it was a year ago in terms of investment in fans and the gameday experience. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that we had our starting lineup introduced in the dark. Wanting that momentum to keep going doesn't mean you don't deserve the team or coach. 

 

 

[UAZipster0305]

3 hours ago, kreed5120 said:

 

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. 

The difference is that IU and UK have won many national championships and always make deep post-season runs AND they have traditionally been poor in football.

 

Meanwhile, an Ohio school has not won a national championship in 60+ years and Ohio State sucks up all the interest for dominant football.

 

Cleveland State, Can't, and Ohio all garnered national attention when they made NCAAT runs. Apathy is expected when we lose every major OOC game and post-season game outside of the MAC. To Joe Akron, we are a good team in a terrible conference, and that is supported every time we play external to the MAC.

 

KD always said that all that mattered was winning the MAC. I think he had it completely backwards. Win outside the MAC, then people will start to care.

Edited 2 hours ago by UAZipster0305

[kreed5120]

13 minutes ago, UAZipster0305 said:

The difference is that IU and UK have won many national championships and always make deep post-season runs AND they have traditionally been poor in football.

 

Meanwhile, an Ohio school has not won a national championship in 60+ years and Ohio State sucks up all the interest for dominant football.

 

Cleveland State, Can't, and Ohio all garnered national attention when they made NCAAT runs. I'd expect apathy when we lose every major OOC and post-season game outside of the MAC. To Joe Akron, we are a good team in a terrible conference, and that is supported every time we play external to the MAC.

 

KD always said that all that mattered was winning the MAC. I think he had it completely backwards. Win outside the MAC, then people will start to care.

 

I think you're mistaken about what I was talking about. I'm not talking about just the flagship schools of those states. Dayton and Xavier (even before Big East) have drawn well historically. WKU and Murray State draw well in Kentucky. There is a long list of mid-majors in Indiana/Illinois area that are all well represented, particularly in the MVC. Heck, even Ball State last I saw draws fairly well compared to other MAC teams despite being irrelevant for several decades.

 

Some regions of the country basketball is a big deal. Other parts of the country not so much.

 

Edit: Not just at the collegiate level either. If I went to a McKinley basketball game, which has had a ton of basketball success, it will feel small time compared to those high school powerhouses in Indiana and Kentucky.

Edited 2 hours ago by kreed5120

[UAZipster0305]

13 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I think you're mistaken about what I was talking about. I'm not talking about just the flagship schools of those states. Dayton and Xavier (even before Big East) have drawn well historically. WKU and Murray State draw well in Kentucky. There is a long list of mid-majors in Indiana/Illinois area that are all well represented, particularly in the MVC. Heck, even Ball State last I saw draws fairly well compared to other MAC teams despite being irrelevant for several decades.

 

Some regions of the country basketball is a big deal. Other parts of the country not so much.

 

Edit: Not just at the collegiate level either. If I went to a McKinley basketball game, which has had a ton of basketball success, it will feel small time compared to those high school powerhouses in Indiana and Kentucky.

 

Solid perspective.