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

[Blue & Gold]

Makes me more surprised & disappointed by Eric's departure.

[kreed5120]

12 hours ago, 1981 grad said:

I thought he was a senior.  How is he back?

 

Pretty much the class before them got an extra year because of covid and the class after them get the 5 years to play 5. From what I understand they're pushing for the 5 years to play 5 to start effective immediately instead of waiting until after next season. Under said scenario Evan would have 1 year left because he played as a true freshman. 

Edited Saturday at 02:28 PM by kreed5120

[clarkwgriswold]

The paperwork on Evan is ready to go if he's granted the ability to play by the NCAA or the court.

[1981 grad]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

 

Pretty much the class before them got an extra year because of covid and the class after them get the 5 years to play 5. From what I understand they're pushing for the 5 years to play 5 to start effective immediately instead of waiting until after next season. Under said scenario Evan would have 1 year left because he played as a true freshman. 

Thanks for the explanation.  I would love to see him play one more year.  One of my favorite Zips from last year.  Always played hard and one of the more physical players for the Zips.  I guess he gets  a double second senior night.  (LOL)

[Let'sGoZips94]

16 hours ago, Blue & Gold said:

Makes me more surprised & disappointed by Eric's departure.

 

Eric got paid big $$$. No surprise, no hard feelings. 

[Zippy87]

Evan would be pretty huge to have for his leadership in transitioning from Groce to Ford. I think MMK and Halligan will be, too, but Evan seems like he'd be in a better position to lead. His defense and energy on the court would set the tone for the rest of the team. I really hope this happens. 

[zippy5]

23 minutes ago, Zippy87 said:

Evan would be pretty huge to have for his leadership in transitioning from Groce to Ford. I think MMK and Halligan will be, too, but Evan seems like he'd be in a better position to lead. His defense and energy on the court would set the tone for the rest of the team. I really hope this happens. 

Yes, this. Most of my worries with Groce leaving, and Evan and Sharron was not having that link to the previous groups. Like I feel it's been passed down from LCJ to Ali Ali, X, Enrique etc to Tavari and Sharron and then.. who's the "leader" this year? I think Evan playing this year answers that question. Not so worried about talent in and out in the portal day and age but leadership and culture is very important, imo.

[exit322]

On 7/12/2026 at 1:15 AM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Eric got paid big $$$. No surprise, no hard feelings. 

 

Yeah, good on him.

[1981 grad]

57 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

Yeah, good on him.

Maybe if Evan come back Eric can always change his mind and play one more year with big brother.  Blood is thicker than money.

[Captain Kangaroo]

21 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

Blood is thicker than money.

Mahaffey-Akron Fantasy Camp was 2025-26.

 

At UC, Eric is likely pulling in a minimum of $400,000 more than the Zips best offer. 

 

Eric and his fat wallet can hook up with big bro' at mom and dad's at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

[HoopsFan03]

10 minutes ago, Captain Kangaroo said:

Mahaffey-Akron Fantasy Camp was 2025-26.

 

At UC, Eric is likely pulling in a minimum of $400,000 more than the Zips best offer. 

 

Eric and his fat wallet can hook up with big bro' at mom and dad's at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Eric can sit with his parents and watch Evan play in March Madness. Cincinnati season will be over by then. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

5 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

Evan would be pretty huge to have for his leadership in transitioning from Groce to Ford. I think MMK and Halligan will be, too, but Evan seems like he'd be in a better position to lead. His defense and energy on the court would set the tone for the rest of the team. I really hope this happens. 

 

Akron posted some photos showcasing Evan practicing. Awesome to see him out there. Wonder what the "experts" think of Akron now that he's back and there's familiar experience on the roster. Are we still middle of the road in the preseason rankings or did we jump up?

 

5 hours ago, zippy5 said:

Yes, this. Most of my worries with Groce leaving, and Evan and Sharron was not having that link to the previous groups. Like I feel it's been passed down from LCJ to Ali Ali, X, Enrique etc to Tavari and Sharron and then.. who's the "leader" this year? I think Evan playing this year answers that question. Not so worried about talent in and out in the portal day and age but leadership and culture is very important, imo.

 

I think we would've been ok in terms of leadership/culture without Evan because the HC was promoted from the existing culture, but having Evan certainly completely fills - if not overfills - the culture/leadership bucket. The MAC has to be pissed.

 

47 minutes ago, 1981 grad said:

Maybe if Evan come back Eric can always change his mind and play one more year with big brother.  Blood is thicker than money.

 

Hopefully blood isn't thicker than intelligence. Turning down the type of money Eric got would be Kent level stupid. 

[kreed5120]

10 minutes ago, HoopsFan03 said:

Eric can sit with his parents and watch Evan play in March Madness. Cincinnati season will be over by then. 

 

You say that as though Cincy is a bottom feeder P4 program like Boston College. Cincy is adequately funded for basketball and Calhoun has exceeded expectations everywhere he's been. There's a very good chance Cincy makes the tournament. Possibly makes it past the first round as well.

Edited 13 hours ago by kreed5120

[Zips1991]

57 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Akron posted some photos showcasing Evan practicing. Awesome to see him out there. Wonder what the "experts" think of Akron now that he's back and there's familiar experience on the roster. Are we still middle of the road in the preseason rankings or did we jump up?

Did someone have Akron middle of the road in the MAC? I think we have to be top in preseason rankings by default based on the last 3 years. 🤣 

[kreed5120]

12 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

Did someone have Akron middle of the road in the MAC? I think we have to be top in preseason rankings by default based on the last 3 years. 🤣 

 

I don't think many, outside of top 25, have rankings out for college basketball yet. Bart Torvik is probably one of the few reputable ones that has their rankings out currently and he has Akron at #114. That would place them 2nd in the MAC behind Miami, who sits at #101. Toledo is 3rd at #135. 

 

Either way I wouldn't put much weight into preseason rankings. With roster turnover it becomes nearly impossible to project once you get past the top dozen or so teams. Preseason rankings were always kind of dumb, but in this day and age of teams turning over entire rosters in 1 offseason they're pretty pointless. Not going to lose sleep over them.

Edited 12 hours ago by kreed5120

[Let'sGoZips94]

26 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

Did someone have Akron middle of the road in the MAC? I think we have to be top in preseason rankings by default based on the last 3 years. 🤣 

 

I'm only guessing that's where they have us based on drawing Louisiana in the first MAC/SBC game. 

[Zippy87]

27 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

 

I don't think many, outside of top 25, have rankings out for college basketball yet. Bart Torvik is probably one of the few reputable ones that has their rankings out currently and he has Akron at #114. That would place them 2nd in the MAC behind Miami, who sits at #101. Toledo is 3rd at #135. 

 

Either way I wouldn't put much weight into preseason rankings. With roster turnover it becomes nearly impossible to project once you get past the top dozen or so teams. Preseason rankings were always kind of dumb, but in this day and age of teams turning over entire rosters in 1 offseason they're pretty pointless. Not going to lose sleep over them.

 

This is especially true in the MAC, where pretty much every team will be rolling out a rotation with mostly new players. 

[csims0917]

On 7/12/2026 at 1:15 AM, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Eric got paid big $$$. No surprise, no hard feelings. 

Plus even Eric is probably surprised Evan had a chance to play another year lol

[clarkwgriswold]

Heeeeeeee's baaaaaaccckkkk!!!!!

 

Go check out the Akron Men's bb X pictures from today.

Edited 9 hours ago by clarkwgriswold

[Zips1991]

33 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Heeeeeeee's baaaaaaccckkkk!!!!!

 

Go check out the Akron Men's bb X pictures from today.

Also, FTR Collective on X posted that he was back. 

 

 

 

[clarkwgriswold]

https://x.com/i/status/2076755239848333820