2025-26 Post Mortem and Looking Ahead to 2026-27

[Zippy87]

Another fun season in the books which saw Akron make history as the first team to win three straight MAC Tournament titles. 

 

Now comes a pivotal offseason for the program. Does Groce stay? Which players stay/go? Can Akron rebuild on the fly and contend again next year?

 

 

 

 

[clarkwgriswold]

You beat me to it @Zippy87!

 

I think the big school vultures may come for Evan and Sharron.  I have to hope that the way the Zips have treated the Mahaffeys this season will get him to stay.  Sharron will be a junior and has been shown a lot of love and you have to hope that sways him.  They're certainly the top returners (with Bowen if he gets another year).

 

As for exits, I don't see a role going forward for Briscoe.  I could also see Oggie being disenchanted with his role and moving on.  Cody Head and the red-shirt freshman should contribute next year.

 

Groce had a negative big school experience and I have to hope his very positive experience here and  being the king of his kingdom is enough for him to resist approaches from other schools.

 

They'll contend.  They have the best staff and the best financial support in the MAC.  Those alone will keep them in the mix.

[LZIp]

I definitely think Sharron and Eric have the capability of getting offers, but would be shocked if they get something we can’t compete with. They are primed to be focal points of the team next year and we’re just role players this season. Good at times, ok at other times. The time to be concerned about them will be after next season IMO.

 

I have high hopes for Oggie and hope he doesn’t leave. To me he looked the part in his limited playing time. Probably time for Briscoe to move on.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Everything hinges on if Groce stays or leaves. Assuming he stays, Sharron and Eric are the obvious top retention targets. 

 

What's unique is Groce & Co. will essentially have a blank slate to work with. If Eric and Sharron return, that doesn't lock the program into any specific style of play. If they want to return to a slower style, they can get Portal guys to fit. If they want to maintain a faster style, they can get Portal guys to fit. It's a very malleable roster right now and that's exciting. 

[Zippy87]

25 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Everything hinges on if Groce stays or leaves. Assuming he stays, Sharron and Eric are the obvious top retention targets. 

 

What's unique is Groce & Co. will essentially have a blank slate to work with. If Eric and Sharron return, that doesn't lock the program into any specific style of play. If they want to return to a slower style, they can get Portal guys to fit. If they want to maintain a faster style, they can get Portal guys to fit. It's a very malleable roster right now and that's exciting. 

 

What is interesting is that Groce seems to prefer the fast pace style, but our closest shot at winning an NCAA Tournament game was playing at a slower pace - the final score of the UCLA game was 57-53. But maybe that was our closest shot because we had a future NBA player on the roster. 

[Westie]

In the postgame yesterday, the radio guys said they may petition for one more year for Bowen. I didn’t realize that might be a thing.

[clarkwgriswold]

19 minutes ago, Westie said:

In the postgame yesterday, the radio guys said they may petition for one more year for Bowen. I didn’t realize that might be a thing.

 

He had a year at OSU where he played 17 minutes.  That's the year they're trying to get disregarded.

[AkronAlumnus]

23 minutes ago, Westie said:

In the postgame yesterday, the radio guys said they may petition for one more year for Bowen. I didn’t realize that might be a thing.

Huge, if so!!