2026 Big Dance Round 1 - Texas Tech

[Let'sGoZips94]

Just now, exit322 said:

 

Or maybe we're overrating the MAC.  Kent got smoked by a 21-12 MVC team, so it seems maybe our 5-loss team is at the same level of a 12-loss MVC team.

 

I'm not overrating the MAC - I'm literally going on metrics. They are in the top half of conferences for the first time this decade. Not sure what point you're trying to make - MVC is rated higher than the MAC anyways. 

[Reslife4Life]

This team won the most games in program history. People always bring up that 2013 dambrot team as one of the best. 2020 was also up there. But this team won 29 games. If the only thing that matters is winning in the round of 64 has the program ever been good at the d1 level? The football team could go 6-6 and lose in a bowl game and people would say it’s a great season. This zips basketball team represented this school well and was something to be proud of

[Let'sGoZips94]

3 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Not a bad take at all, a realistic one. The MAC had two very good teams - us and Miami - and we both beat up on inferior competition. Those other teams you mentioned had excellent shooting performances because we play poor perimeter defense, not because of bad luck. I'm not trying to rip on our guys - I love them all and am proud of this year. But this team didn't beat a single top team the entire season. It is what it is. 

 

Poor perimeter defense doesn't = automatic shot making. I watched SMU the other night miss some wide open 3s, and they're a VERY good 3P shooting team. 

 

Your take was based on a lack of talent, and that's why I said it was a bad take. Akron didn't beat the top teams on their schedule - that's accurate and will need remedied in the future. However, this team had the talent to do so. The ball didn't always bounce our way. So be it, we move on. Go Zips.

[dirtyolcrowe]

Bad 6-7 minutes in the game???   That’s close to 20%!!!   Not what I expected from a Sr laden team with 2 previous tournament experience.  
 

its always about guard play in march madness and our star guy didn’t show up!!

[tomzip]

6 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

Not happening unless the Zips get substantially better.  This was a banged up Texas Tech team that was probably overseeded anyways.

Will never break the ceiling, face it. MAC champs is all we can get. Not bad, but not great as MAC is lower mid major conference

[exit322]

1 minute ago, tomzip said:

Will never break the ceiling, face it. MAC champs is all we can get. Not bad, but not great as MAC is lower mid major conference

 

Oh you're not wrong.  This is as good as it gets.  Just gotta hope they play hard for all 40 minutes so it's a 5-8 point loss and not a 20 point one.

[Zippy87]

2 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Poor perimeter defense doesn't = automatic shot making. I watched SMU the other night miss some wide open 3s, and they're a VERY good 3P shooting team. 

 

Your take was based on a lack of talent, and that's why I said it was a bad take. Akron didn't beat the top teams on their schedule - that's accurate and will need remedied in the future. However, this team had the talent to do so. The ball didn't always bounce our way. So be it, we move on. Go Zips.

 

You're calling my take a bad take but you don't want to be realistic about the limitations of this year's team. If they truly had the talent to beat a top team, they would've done it at least once, and not lost to all but one of them by double-digits. We can love our team and be proud of them while staying realistic. 

[zippy5]

1 minute ago, Zippy87 said:

 

You're calling my take a bad take but you don't want to be realistic about the limitations of this year's team. If they truly had the talent to beat a top team, they would've done it at least once, and not lost to all but one of them by double-digits. We can love our team and be proud of them while staying realistic. 

We're too small. We're athletic enough to overwhelm MAC teams but we can't do that vs P5 competition. It is what it is. Just have to keep building and increase the level of player we are bringing in

[kreed5120]

5 minutes ago, zippy5 said:

We're too small. We're athletic enough to overwhelm MAC teams but we can't do that vs P5 competition. It is what it is. Just have to keep building and increase the level of player we are bringing in

 

This is based.

 

At least that's what I believe the youth call it.

[tpsjugglerdude]

Great season, Zips. Tough way to end it with our worst game of the year.
 

Add Texas Tech (64% FG, 55% from three) to the list of teams that had outlier shooting nights against us: Yale (64% FG, 47% 3pt), Murray State (58% FG, 56% 3pt), and Troy (52% 3pt).

Credit to Tech’s coaching staff. Their game plan was clear. They pushed us off the three-point line and funneled everything to the rim, where we struggled to finish over their length.

This felt like a rare game where Groce got out-coached. Would have liked to see a few early set plays to get Hardman going. Overall, we came out a bit tentative and never really found our rhythm.

We will reload. We will be back. 

[Reslife4Life]

7 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

Oh you're not wrong.  This is as good as it gets.  Just gotta hope they play hard for all 40 minutes so it's a 5-8 point loss and not a 20 point one.

Thats ridiculous thing to say, I don’t think a program like Yale, St. Peter’s, ORU is just gonna accept the fact that they will never do anything in the tournament. You can play hard all season and you get one game where you are the underdog to prove yourself. There’s a reason for the seeding in the tournament

[ZippyRulz]

33 minutes ago, Rufus said:

The final score isn't going to show how competitive you guys were today. Good fight, Akron. Tech was white hot this second half. I thought when Watts fouled out that might have been the break Akron needed. Still nothing to be ashamed of for your fan base.

 

i don't watch much P4 hoops but i would certainly think TT could give Alabama a lot of trouble assuming they win their first game.

[Illini Zip]

I don’t think Akron is going to sneak up on anyone in the NCAAT. We are a respected mid-major and the pundits amplify it. We are going to have to show up, play great and take it. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

31 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

You're calling my take a bad take but you don't want to be realistic about the limitations of this year's team. If they truly had the talent to beat a top team, they would've done it at least once, and not lost to all but one of them by double-digits. We can love our team and be proud of them while staying realistic. 

 

You would think they would've done it at least once; you would also think any of those 5 OOC losses would've had average or even below average shooting nights at least once. Realistically - Akron didn't do enough in any of their OOC losses to overcome unprecedented shooting performances by their opponents. Whether or not defense was a factor is irrelevant because the opponent made their shots at absurd rates. THAT'S being realistic. Akron was talented enough to compete with all of their OOC opponents. THAT'S being realistic.

 

3 pt loss to Yale: Shot 64% FG and 47% 3P; on the season, 49.6% FG and 40% 3P

15 pt loss to Murray State: 58% FG and 56% 3P; on the season, 46% FG and 34.8% 3P

10 pt loss to Troy: 43% FG and 52% 3P; on the season, 44.9% FG and 33.5% 3P

20 pt loss to Texas Tech: 64% FG and 55% 3P; on the season, 46.7% and 39.3% 3P

Purdue pretty much shot their season averages; the difference in that game was our inability to do anything around the rim.

 

Akron had to be damn near perfect to win any of those OOC games and even then (great offensive performances vs. Yale & Murray State) it wasn't enough to overcome the hot shooting. Those shooting percentages are outside the norm of what most defenses can affect. 

 

On the flip side, they blew out Tulane (18-15 on the year and middle of the pack in the American) on their court, dominated Princeton, and handled James Madison. They didn't drop any headscratchers to teams like Evansville, Iona, Milwaukee, Bucknell, etc., which is something we've seen other teams do. This team was much more than just "MAC good."

 

This team had the talent - that wasn't the issue. Luck wasn't on our side in some of those games and execution certainly wasn't, especially vs. Miami OH, Troy, and Texas Tech. Did we have the size? Probably not, and that's likely where the team will look to improve in the off-season. 

 

I'm realistic, not pessimistic. 

Edited 3 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[akzipper]

Siena gave Duke a run

McNees and Kennesaw St kept it close

Santa Clara should have beaten Kentucky

Hofstra is up 10 over Bama

Miami will probably beat Tennessee

 

High Point beat Wisconsin

 

I don't mind losing. I just want a chance. We end up getting blown out almost every single time. Aside from the UCLA game, we never really even have a shot. 

 

[Reslife4Life]

To win in a game like this you have to be talented, really well prepared, and a little fortunate. I’m sure prep wasn’t an issue, talent is always going to favor the power conference team, and the luck swung all towards Texas tech in the last 8 minutes of the game. Amani had an open look to cut the lead to 2 in the final fourth of the game. It doesn’t go down and Texas tech scores on almost every possession for the rest of the game. The defense down the stretch couldn’t force misses we got at other points in the game

[clarkwgriswold]

Tough day.

 

Great season.

 

Thanks for the memories boys.

[Zippy87]

27 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

You would think they would've done it at least once; you would also think any of those 5 OOC losses would've had average or even below average shooting nights at least once. Realistically - Akron didn't do enough in any of their OOC losses to overcome unprecedented shooting performances by their opponents. Whether or not defense was a factor is irrelevant because the opponent made their shots at absurd rates. THAT'S being realistic. Akron was talented enough to compete with all of their OOC opponents. THAT'S being realistic.

 

3 pt loss to Yale: Shot 64% FG and 47% 3P; on the season, 49.6% FG and 40% 3P

15 pt loss to Murray State: 58% FG and 56% 3P; on the season, 46% FG and 34.8% 3P

10 pt loss to Troy: 43% FG and 52% 3P; on the season, 44.9% FG and 33.5% 3P

20 pt loss to Texas Tech: 64% FG and 55% 3P; on the season, 46.7% and 39.3% 3P

Purdue pretty much shot their season averages; the difference in that game was our inability to do anything around the rim.

 

Akron had to be damn near perfect to win any of those OOC games and even then (great offensive performances vs. Yale & Murray State) it wasn't enough to overcome the hot shooting. Those shooting percentages are outside the norm of what most defenses can affect. 

 

On the flip side, they blew out Tulane (18-15 on the year and middle of the pack in the American) on their court, dominated Princeton, and handled James Madison. They didn't drop any headscratchers to teams like Evansville, Iona, Milwaukee, Bucknell, etc., which is something we've seen other teams do. This team was much more than just "MAC good."

 

This team had the talent - that wasn't the issue. Luck wasn't on our side in some of those games and execution certainly wasn't, especially vs. Miami OH, Troy, and Texas Tech. Did we have the size? Probably not, and that's likely where the team will look to improve in the off-season. 

 

I'm realistic, not pessimistic. 

 

Akron ranked 259th in the country in 3-point defense. Perimeter defense was a weakness most of the year. Bad or average teams couldn't take advantage of that. Better teams could, which is why we didn't beat any of them. They made shots at absurd rates because we consistently gave opponents great looks...we saw it throughout the game today. That's not bad luck for us or good luck for them, that's a team's weakness getting exposed. 

 

[Westie]

12 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Tough day.

 

Great season.

 

Thanks for the memories boys.

Tough day for sure. But the memories of last Saturday night will never disappear. Can’t take that away.

Edited 2 hours ago by Westie

[Let'sGoZips94]

3 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

 

Akron ranked 259th in the country in 3-point defense. Perimeter defense was a weakness most of the year. Bad or average teams couldn't take advantage of that. Better teams could, which is why we didn't beat any of them. They made shots at absurd rates because we consistently gave opponents great looks...we saw it throughout the game today. That's not bad luck for us or good luck for them, that's a team's weakness getting exposed. 

 

 

The % margin that separates most teams on that list is miniscule. 

 

Toledo is in the 200s for 3P defense and only .6% better than Akron. Troy shot 18% from 3P vs. Toledo in a loss. Cornell is 349th in 3P defense - Yale shot 35% vs. them in a loss. 

 

The best teams in the country shoot the 3-ball at 40% at best on average. Ultimately, teams either make their shots or they don't. Akron had a couple wide open 3s today that they missed. Open isn't automatic. 

[Zippy87]

6 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

The % margin that separates most teams on that list is miniscule. 

 

Toledo is in the 200s for 3P defense and only .6% better than Akron. Troy shot 18% from 3P vs. Toledo in a loss. Cornell is 349th in 3P defense - Yale shot 35% vs. them in a loss. 

 

The best teams in the country shoot the 3-ball at 40% at best on average. Ultimately, teams either make their shots or they don't. Akron had a couple wide open 3s today that they missed. Open isn't automatic. 

 

The bottom line is perimeter defense was a problem all season. Bad teams will have trouble exposing that, good teams will not. The 5th best 3-point shooting offense in the country certainly will not. 

[kreed5120]

Regardless of how you feel about perimeter defense I don't think there is no denying the fact that leaving someone who shoots 8.5 3s a game and knocks them down at 45%+ clip wide open isn't a winning strategy.

[Let'sGoZips94]

2 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Regardless of how you feel about perimeter defense I don't think there is no denying the fact that leaving someone who shoots 8.5 3s a game and knocks them down at 45%+ clip wide open isn't a winning strategy.

 

And yet despite that, we were in that game for 80% of it. If we make our shots, we possibly win. Way too much focus on what we can't control as much.

[kreed5120]

10 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

And yet despite that, we were in that game for 80% of it. If we make our shots, we possibly win. Way too much focus on what we can't control as much.

 

You say that as though you can't run a shooter off the 3-point line. There are two sides of a basketball game. You can impact a game defensively despite what you may think.

 

Edit: Go look at the boxscore. Tavari attempted 0 3PA. They ran him off the line and then forced him to drive where they had defensive help. Great defensive teams can take away what you do best. 

Edited 2 hours ago by kreed5120

[Let'sGoZips94]

9 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

You say that as though you can't run a shooter off the 3-point line. There are two sides of a basketball game. You can impact a game defensively despite what you may think.

 

I'm not saying you can't impact the game defensively, nor am I saying Akron's 3P defense is anything to be proud of. Akron's key to success this year was shot making. We weren't built to play the lockdown defensive style you, Zippy87, and some others wanted us to play. Miami OH was shooting borderline logo 3s the other night and making them. High Point's #99 hit a logo 3 to get them back in the game vs. Wisconsin yesterday. You either make your shots or you don't and Akron didn't make enough; the opponents did. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94