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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Official Game 19 Thread: Akron
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Ted Thompson
1/21/2024 3:57 PM

Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we may have a separate travel thread.

Date: Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 7:00 PM

Opponent: Akron  (14-4, 6-0 MAC)

Site: James A. Rhodes Areno

TV/Streaming: ESPN+

Radio: Ohio Radio, The Varsity Network App (free)

Akron statistics and roster 

Akron message board:  ZipsNation.org

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FearLeon
1/21/2024 4:33 PM
Have to think Freeman goes for 28 points and 14 rebounds in this one.
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person
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
1/21/2024 4:51 PM
The next 7 games are basically our season.

@Akron
@Kent
Buffalo
Miami
@Ball State
@Toledo
Kent

Very tough stretch. 1-6 is on the table. We really, really need to defend the home court vs. Miami and Kent to stay around.500.
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person
Urban Bobcat
1/21/2024 8:07 PM
Somebody has to beat Akron.
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FearLeon
1/21/2024 8:41 PM
If Groce goes back to the NCAA Tourney this year, I think we’ve seen the last of him in the MAC. Perfect time for him to get a second chance at a power 6 job with Freeman off to pro ball somewhere.
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Bobcat Debate 73
1/21/2024 11:33 PM
Will be in Akron for the game. Have an Akron donor’s seats. Hoping for the underdog Bobcats to take down Groce’s Zipps.
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person
WxM
1/21/2024 11:56 PM
As a fan, I enjoy these types of games. Nothing to lose. Either they do what's expected of them or pick up a bonus win.
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M.D.W.S.T
1/22/2024 9:06 AM
WxM wrote:expand_more
As a fan, I enjoy these types of games. Nothing to lose. Either they do what's expected of them or pick up a bonus win.
I hope the game against EMU was a turning point for them. Obviously, Akron is a heavy favorite, but like you said - nothing to lose. They're playing with house money this season. Expectations are zilch. Your two best players are injured. You're playing .500 ball. Go out and just run dudes off the floor. Try to score 100 every night. Even if you lose 130-100, make a run. Mix it up. Have a little fun. Your back is against the wall... lets see whatcha got. Get creative.
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person
SBH
1/22/2024 9:22 AM
Bobcat Debate 73 wrote:expand_more
Will be in Akron for the game. Have an Akron donor’s seats. Hoping for the underdog Bobcats to take down Groce’s Zipps.
Does that mean you've scored the Leaf Filter seats? (Matt Kaulig)
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Andrew Ruck
1/22/2024 10:16 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
The next 7 games are basically our season.

@Akron
@Kent
Buffalo
Miami
@Ball State
@Toledo
Kent

Very tough stretch. 1-6 is on the table. We really, really need to defend the home court vs. Miami and Kent to stay around.500.
I guess I see what you're saying, but we will be favored in 4 of those 7 games.
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person
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
1/22/2024 10:37 AM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
The next 7 games are basically our season.

@Akron
@Kent
Buffalo
Miami
@Ball State
@Toledo
Kent

Very tough stretch. 1-6 is on the table. We really, really need to defend the home court vs. Miami and Kent to stay around.500.
I guess I see what you're saying, but we will be favored in 4 of those 7 games.
We're going to be favored vs. Buffalo, for sure. Miami at home, and Ball State on the road. Maybe Kent at home? Is that the fourth you're seeing?

Ball State has played everybody tight, including Akron. We haven't won a true road game in a long time. We have a shot of course, but it's gonna be a tough win.

Kent just seems more talented than us, even though they've struggled.

Id be ecstatic with 4-3. Think we'd have to get pretty lucky to get there.
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greencat
1/22/2024 11:09 AM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
The next 7 games are basically our season.

@Akron
@Kent
Buffalo
Miami
@Ball State
@Toledo
Kent

Very tough stretch. 1-6 is on the table. We really, really need to defend the home court vs. Miami and Kent to stay around.500.
I guess I see what you're saying, but we will be favored in 4 of those 7 games.
We're going to be favored vs. Buffalo, for sure. Miami at home, and Ball State on the road. Maybe Kent at home? Is that the fourth you're seeing?

Ball State has played everybody tight, including Akron. We haven't won a true road game in a long time. We have a shot of course, but it's gonna be a tough win.

Kent just seems more talented than us, even though they've struggled.

Id be ecstatic with 4-3. Think we'd have to get pretty lucky to get there.
I really really really want us to beat Fiami. Their two big guys worry me...both the fat one and the skinny one. Some BigTen school needs to pony up and buy that skinny one after this season.
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FearLeon
1/22/2024 11:21 AM
greencat wrote:expand_more
The next 7 games are basically our season.

@Akron
@Kent
Buffalo
Miami
@Ball State
@Toledo
Kent

Very tough stretch. 1-6 is on the table. We really, really need to defend the home court vs. Miami and Kent to stay around.500.
I guess I see what you're saying, but we will be favored in 4 of those 7 games.
We're going to be favored vs. Buffalo, for sure. Miami at home, and Ball State on the road. Maybe Kent at home? Is that the fourth you're seeing?

Ball State has played everybody tight, including Akron. We haven't won a true road game in a long time. We have a shot of course, but it's gonna be a tough win.

Kent just seems more talented than us, even though they've struggled.

Id be ecstatic with 4-3. Think we'd have to get pretty lucky to get there.
I really really really want us to beat Fiami. Their two big guys worry me...both the fat one and the skinny one. Some BigTen school needs to pony up and buy that skinny one after this season.
Chubbs is a baller. Wish we had him too.
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M.D.W.S.T
1/22/2024 11:24 AM
greencat wrote:expand_more
The next 7 games are basically our season.

@Akron
@Kent
Buffalo
Miami
@Ball State
@Toledo
Kent

Very tough stretch. 1-6 is on the table. We really, really need to defend the home court vs. Miami and Kent to stay around.500.
I guess I see what you're saying, but we will be favored in 4 of those 7 games.
We're going to be favored vs. Buffalo, for sure. Miami at home, and Ball State on the road. Maybe Kent at home? Is that the fourth you're seeing?

Ball State has played everybody tight, including Akron. We haven't won a true road game in a long time. We have a shot of course, but it's gonna be a tough win.

Kent just seems more talented than us, even though they've struggled.

Id be ecstatic with 4-3. Think we'd have to get pretty lucky to get there.
I really really really want us to beat Fiami. Their two big guys worry me...both the fat one and the skinny one. Some BigTen school needs to pony up and buy that skinny one after this season.
Best hope to mitigate the fat one is just keep moving on offense - which we don't do very well - keep him out of the paint, keep him tired and running after Hadaway and AJC.

On the defensive side...

Hope he misses a lot of shots?

Hadaway weighs about 100 pounds less, AJC I wouldn't say is known for his staunch D. Might be a long night of Wiz.

Shoot them out of the gym. Don't let him get set and get position down low.

The rest of their team is certainly beatable. That dude is so girthy though, he could have the whole team in foul trouble immediately.
Last Edited: 1/22/2024 11:26:33 AM by M.D.W.S.T
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shabamon
1/22/2024 11:31 AM
Chance to take the MAC's only bit of land on the imperialism map.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CollegeBasketball/comments/19ch2... /
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person
MonroeClassmate
1/22/2024 12:22 PM
FearLeon wrote:expand_more
If Groce goes back to the NCAA Tourney this year, I think we’ve seen the last of him in the MAC. Perfect time for him to get a second chance at a power 6 job with Freeman off to pro ball somewhere.
I guess anything could happen. BUT, having Freeman FALL into his lap when Freeman just as easily could have matriculated to Kent or CSU and the NCAA allowing Ali Ali a weird exemption does a big time program go for him as coach? Akron likely has two MAC loses by now if Ali not allowed to play. Groce could say he developed a big but could not say he has recruited great players in a while.

When is the last time in NCAA history that a walk on has reached the level of success that Zips Freeman has achieved?
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person
FJC31
1/22/2024 12:34 PM
MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
If Groce goes back to the NCAA Tourney this year, I think we’ve seen the last of him in the MAC. Perfect time for him to get a second chance at a power 6 job with Freeman off to pro ball somewhere.
I guess anything could happen. BUT, having Freeman FALL into his lap when Freeman just as easily could have matriculated to Kent or CSU and the NCAA allowing Ali Ali a weird exemption does a big time program go for him as coach? Akron likely has two MAC loses by now if Ali not allowed to play. Groce could say he developed a big but could not say he has recruited great players in a while.

When is the last time in NCAA history that a walk on has reached the level of success that Zips Freeman has achieved?
Xavier Castenada, Loren Jackson, Tyler Cheese, Xeryius Williams, and Aziz Bandaogo (even though he transferred) to name a few.

I also can’t tell if your last statement/question is intended to go against Groce because it most certainly works in his favor.
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M.D.W.S.T
1/22/2024 12:50 PM
MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
When is the last time in NCAA history that a walk on has reached the level of success that Zips Freeman has achieved?
Scottie Pippen was a team manager.
Jeff Hornacek.
Duncan Robinson.
Andre Drummond.
Dennis Rodman was a janitor at the airport or something wasn't he? Though I guess they probably didn't have scholarships anyway at that level.

I can't recall any other big names, but those are some real big ones.
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person
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
1/22/2024 1:17 PM
MonroeClassmate wrote:expand_more
When is the last time in NCAA history that a walk on has reached the level of success that Zips Freeman has achieved?
Freeman will be the second best walk on in this game. See: Corna, Quinn.
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Andrew Ruck
1/22/2024 1:23 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
The next 7 games are basically our season.

@Akron
@Kent
Buffalo
Miami
@Ball State
@Toledo
Kent

Very tough stretch. 1-6 is on the table. We really, really need to defend the home court vs. Miami and Kent to stay around.500.
I guess I see what you're saying, but we will be favored in 4 of those 7 games.
We're going to be favored vs. Buffalo, for sure. Miami at home, and Ball State on the road. Maybe Kent at home? Is that the fourth you're seeing?

Ball State has played everybody tight, including Akron. We haven't won a true road game in a long time. We have a shot of course, but it's gonna be a tough win.

Kent just seems more talented than us, even though they've struggled.

Id be ecstatic with 4-3. Think we'd have to get pretty lucky to get there.
Yes, a lot of time between now and then but if we played at Kent today we would no question be favored. But yes, of those 4 games as favorites, 3 of them will be small lines and toss ups while the 3 underdog games will not be.
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GraffZ06
1/22/2024 1:56 PM
Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:expand_more
When is the last time in NCAA history that a walk on has reached the level of success that Zips Freeman has achieved?
Freeman will be the second best walk on in this game. See: Corna, Quinn.
QFT.

You know it!

He's still leading the MAC in points per minute. Just wait...
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M.D.W.S.T
1/22/2024 2:27 PM
GraffZ06 wrote:expand_more
When is the last time in NCAA history that a walk on has reached the level of success that Zips Freeman has achieved?
Freeman will be the second best walk on in this game. See: Corna, Quinn.
QFT.

You know it!

He's still leading the MAC in points per minute. Just wait...
I didn't feel like cross-referencing the other teams, but surprisingly this is true as far as OU goes. LOL.

You know who is last... The Wizard of Moving Screens.
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/ohio/men/202...
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person
ohiocatfan1
1/22/2024 2:51 PM
Can't see this being anything but a blowout loss.....hope I'm wrong.
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greencat
1/22/2024 5:15 PM
M.D.W.S.T wrote:expand_more
When is the last time in NCAA history that a walk on has reached the level of success that Zips Freeman has achieved?
Scottie Pippen was a team manager.
Jeff Hornacek.
Duncan Robinson.
Andre Drummond.
Dennis Rodman was a janitor at the airport or something wasn't he? Though I guess they probably didn't have scholarships anyway at that level.

I can't recall any other big names, but those are some real big ones.
Jim Boeheim actually walked on as a guard at Syracuse and averaged 15ppg one year

Lots in football:
Stetson Bennett, Baker Mayfield, Hunter Renfrow, JJ Watt, Clay Matthews, Santana Moss; plus a number of good kickers and punters.

Top NCAA baseball walk-ons include:
Ozzie Smith
Shane Bieber
David Eckstein
Ryan Howard
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person
bobcatsquared
1/22/2024 5:20 PM
There's only one name (if including football): Rudy Ruettiger.
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