2026-27 Season

[Zippy87]

The season is near and there's a lot of excitement around the program. There's a lot of questions, too, as we officially enter the Dustin Ford era. 

 

1. Will Evan Mahaffey and/or Kamrin Oriol be eligible?

 

It doesn't look good for Evan IMO. Unless the NCAA allows a blanket waiver for players from his class (unlikely) or the Ohio Supreme Court reverses course (also unlikely), he will probably run out of options to play. Oriol seems like a more optimistic case, although that could change quickly based on continued legal action from the NCAA. 

 

2. How does the program transition fron Groce to Ford?

 

Groce was here nine seasons and clearly had a ton of success, especially the last few years. Ford has been here the whole time, too, and was regarded as one of the top assistants around. He loses a lot in Johnson, Scott, Lyles, Hardman Eric Mahaffey (and maybe Evan Mahaffey), but brought in some good talent in the portal. With so much roster transition everywhere in the MAC, coaching may be the ultimately separater.

 

3. What does the rotation look like? 

 

It's impossible to predict until we know if Mahaffey and/or Oriol can play. Staveskie and Pence will play big roles. Burton and Barre will patrol the paint. Beyond that, there's a lot that we'll have to wait and see shake out once the team gets going. 

[csims0917]

I'm very intrigued to see our pace of play. I think we will look a lot closer to the slower more physical side based on Ford's preference and the bigger lineup.

[Hilltopper]

Run and gun. Think hockey type line changes.

[Let'sGoZips94]

10 hours ago, Zippy87 said:

The season is near and there's a lot of excitement around the program. There's a lot of questions, too, as we officially enter the Dustin Ford era. 

 

1. Will Evan Mahaffey and/or Kamrin Oriol be eligible?

 

It doesn't look good for Evan IMO. Unless the NCAA allows a blanket waiver for players from his class (unlikely) or the Ohio Supreme Court reverses course (also unlikely), he will probably run out of options to play. Oriol seems like a more optimistic case, although that could change quickly based on continued legal action from the NCAA. 

 

2. How does the program transition fron Groce to Ford?

 

Groce was here nine seasons and clearly had a ton of success, especially the last few years. Ford has been here the whole time, too, and was regarded as one of the top assistants around. He loses a lot in Johnson, Scott, Lyles, Hardman Eric Mahaffey (and maybe Evan Mahaffey), but brought in some good talent in the portal. With so much roster transition everywhere in the MAC, coaching may be the ultimately separater.

 

3. What does the rotation look like? 

 

It's impossible to predict until we know if Mahaffey and/or Oriol can play. Staveskie and Pence will play big roles. Burton and Barre will patrol the paint. Beyond that, there's a lot that we'll have to wait and see shake out once the team gets going. 

 

1) If it's a state by state situation, couldn't athletes/schools take additional action because of the unfair nature that would pose? 

 

2) You're already seeing the personnel transition with the size increase on the roster. The system shouldn't change much considering how much of a hand I'd imagine Ford had in Groce's system. 

 

3) We're as deep and as talented as we've ever been. Love what @Hilltopper said above - run teams out of the gym. 

[clarkwgriswold]

Interesting opening ESPN Leonardi Bracketology has this year's Zips as a 14 seed in the East region, playing Michigan in Minneapolis.

[Zips1991]

14 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said:

Interesting opening ESPN Leonardi Bracketology has this year's Zips as a 14 seed in the East region, playing Michigan in Minneapolis.

Yeah, it will be hard to get much higher than 14 seed with the horrible OOC schedule.

[kreed5120]

10 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

Yeah, it will be hard to get much higher than 14 seed with the horrible OOC schedule.

 

I mean it depends on what the record is. Our OOC schedule I don't think is any worse than Miami's was last year.

 

The 14 seed I think has more to do with them expecting Akron/Miami to not be as good as last year. You also have to remember the expanded tournament this year moved the bubble line down. A 14 seed this year is probably an equivalent to a 13 seed under last years format.

[Let'sGoZips94]

Let's be honest as well - Lunardi isn't exactly doing deep dives into the MAC in September/October. "Who won the MAC last year? Akron? 14 seed it is."

[kreed5120]

I bought 2 season tickets, but it appears it only came with 1 ticket to the YSU exhibition game. Not that I'm going to lose sleep over it. Not even certain if I'll attend. I just found it strange. Not sure if others experienced something similar.

 

Edit: I only had 1 season ticket last year and split it up since my wife worked during a lot of the games and there were a few I had no desire to attend anyway. Nothing really changed from last year, but I just decided to get 2 to step up my support. Not sure if maybe the YSU exhibition only came as a perk for those who renewed.

Edited October 7 by kreed5120

[Zips1991]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

I bought 2 season tickets, but it appears it only came with 1 ticket to the YSU exhibition game. Not that I'm going to lose sleep over it. Not even certain if I'll attend. I just found it strange. Not sure if others experienced something similar.

 

Edit: I only had 1 season ticket last year and split it up since my wife worked during a lot of the games and there were a few I had no desire to attend anyway. Nothing really changed from last year, but I just decided to get 2 to step up my support. Not sure if maybe the YSU exhibition only came as a perk for those who renewed.

Were your tickets available for download? Mine are in my account but when I click on each, it says the ticket is not available for download. Probably too soon yet, as I usually get an email when they're available and haven't gotten that email yet. I was curious if the YSU game would be included since it's designed to raise money through ticket sales. 

[kreed5120]

4 minutes ago, Zips1991 said:

Were your tickets available for download? Mine are in my account but when I click on each, it says the ticket is not available for download. Probably too soon yet, as I usually get an email when they're available and haven't gotten that email yet. I was curious if the YSU game would be included since it's designed to raise money through ticket sales. 

No, I can't download them yet. I was only in the account today because I decided to add the 2nd season ticket. I renewed my previous one a few months back. I was measuring the number of tickets based off the ticket symbol 🎟 

Edited October 7 by kreed5120

[kreed5120]

Tipoff reception October 30th at 6PM, doors open at 5PM. I can't attend, but anyone who does I would be interested in hearing how it goes.

 

https://twitter.com/ZipsMBB/status/2109736119738782146

Edited Monday at 10:25 PM by kreed5120

[Hilltopper]

Behind the scenes. 

 

[Zips1991]

41 minutes ago, Hilltopper said:

Behind the scenes. 

 

I didn't see Evan in any of the photos posted on social media. Was he involved in the photo shoots? Is he still practicing with the team despite being ineligible at the moment?

[Hilltopper]

2 hours ago, Zips1991 said:

I didn't see Evan in any of the photos posted on social media. Was he involved in the photo shoots? Is he still practicing with the team despite being ineligible at the moment?

He was here today.

[kreed5120]

Not to get political, but Jeff Goodman has said Mike Dewine has issued an executive order to give all Ohio class of 2022 a fifth year. This makes Evan eligible.

 

https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/2110119117642776577

Edited Tuesday at 09:34 PM by kreed5120

[clarkwgriswold]

1 hour ago, kreed5120 said:

Not to get political, but Jeff Goodman has said Mike Dewine has issued an executive order to give all Ohio class of 2022 a fifth year. This makes Evan eligible.

 

https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/2110119117642776577

Here's the summary and the order.  I suspect it allows the universities to play the kids but I don't see how it could limit the NCAA from excluding  them from the tournament, etc.  Seems like an overstep by DeWine.

 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today signed Executive Order 2026-04D which gives Ohio’s public and private colleges and universities the option to allow all otherwise eligible student-athletes from the high school class of 2022 to compete despite the NCAA’s current interpretation of its new eligibility rule.

 

https://governor.ohio.gov/media/news-and-media/governor-dewine-signs-executive-order-addressing-college-athlete-eligibility

[Let'sGoZips94]

NCAA's statement.

 

And yet the NCAA has governed for years to protect its own interests (money). 

 

[clarkwgriswold]

15 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

NCAA's statement.

 

And yet the NCAA has governed for years to protect its own interests (money). 

 

 

Unfortunately, I think the NCAA is right.  I don't see how DeWine has the power to impose this on the NCAA.

[zippy5]

 

 

 

[kreed5120]

40 minutes ago, clarkwgriswold said:

 

Unfortunately, I think the NCAA is right.  I don't see how DeWine has the power to impose this on the NCAA.

I can't argue your logic, but if it helps my basketball team win games I'm okay with the over stepping.

 

On a serious note, if the NCAA was proactive, reached an agreement in early April, and grandfathered in the class it would have avoided all this headache. I have defended the NCAA more than most as I mentioned they were neutered and lost most authority when it came to policing NIL/transfers, hence why congress got involved. This they just botched and clearly got wrong. I see no harm in giving the class of 2022 a 5th year and it would have been an easy win for them from a PR standpoint.

Edited yesterday at 12:31 AM by kreed5120

[Let'sGoZips94]

29 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

I can't argue your logic, but if it helps my basketball team win games I'm okay with the over stepping.

 

On a serious note, if the NCAA was proactive, reached an agreement in early April, and grandfathered in the class it would have avoided all this headache. I have defended the NCAA more than most as I mentioned they were neutered and lost most authority when it came to policing NIL/transfers, hence why congress got involved. This they just botched and clearly got wrong. I see no harm in giving the class of 2022 a 5th year and it would have been an easy win for them from a PR standpoint.

 

This. 

 

The argument doesn't start with whether or not DeWine/other governors have any ruling authority over the NCAA. It starts with did the NCAA make the right call in barring this class from the eligibility rule change. The answer is no which is why politicians like DeWine are in a position to try and win brownie points with the public by sticking their nose in this mess. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

Interesting interpretation/explanation. Per the comments, apparently there is precedent, too, which would strengthen the action of the order. 

 

Based on what @zippy5 posted above, I'd imagine this is a pretty strong foundation for Oriol and Mahaffey to play.

Edited 16 hours ago by Let'sGoZips94

[Let'sGoZips94]

 

 

[Zips1991]

34 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

Interesting interpretation/explanation. Per the comments, apparently there is precedent, too, which would strengthen the action of the order. 

 

Based on what @zippy5 posted above, I'd imagine this is a pretty strong foundation for Oriole and Mahaffey to play.

Oriol was already eligible via a Florida ruling, wasn't he?