Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Official Game 29 Thread: Akron
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Ted Thompson
2/23/2022 10:31 AM

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

Date: February 25th, 2022 6:00 PM

Opponent: Akron  (18-9, 11-6 MAC)

Site: Convocation Center

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: Ohio RadioThe Varsity Network App (free) or TuneIn Radio (pay)

Webcast: None

Akron statisticsroster and media guide

Akron Fan Site: ZipsNation.org 

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Bobcat1998
2/23/2022 11:40 AM
Here is the game we've all been waiting for since the last Toledo loss and Kent loss. Can we win a game (at this point of the season) against one of the Big 5 (Toledo, us, Kent, Kron and Beefalo)?
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spongeBOB CATpants
2/23/2022 12:03 PM
I'm assuming this is a CBS doubleheader but the 6pm start sucks all around. Both for TV and fans in attendance. I can understand a midweek 6 o'clock start but on a Friday night?
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Cellis033
2/23/2022 12:08 PM
spongeBOB CATpants wrote:expand_more
I'm assuming this is a CBS doubleheader but the 6pm start sucks all around. Both for TV and fans in attendance. I can understand a midweek 6 o'clock start but on a Friday night?
We are going to make the best of it! Going to be LOUD!
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Andrew Ruck
2/23/2022 12:25 PM
spongeBOB CATpants wrote:expand_more
I'm assuming this is a CBS doubleheader but the 6pm start sucks all around. Both for TV and fans in attendance. I can understand a midweek 6 o'clock start but on a Friday night?
Same as the Toledo game which was the best crowd in years. It's annoying but it is what it is...I'll be there smiling. Looking forward to it.
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cc-cat
2/23/2022 1:09 PM
+5

Can't wait!!!
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spongeBOB CATpants
2/23/2022 1:26 PM
Andrew Ruck wrote:expand_more
I'm assuming this is a CBS doubleheader but the 6pm start sucks all around. Both for TV and fans in attendance. I can understand a midweek 6 o'clock start but on a Friday night?
Same as the Toledo game which was the best crowd in years. It's annoying but it is what it is...I'll be there smiling. Looking forward to it.
Good point regarding the Toledo game. Wish they would push it back, even just 30 min.
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Pataskala
2/23/2022 2:25 PM
spongeBOB CATpants wrote:expand_more
I'm assuming this is a CBS doubleheader but the 6pm start sucks all around. Both for TV and fans in attendance. I can understand a midweek 6 o'clock start but on a Friday night?
We're the warm-up act for the WMU-North Dakota hockey game that starts at 8:00.
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bobcatsquared
2/23/2022 3:04 PM
At least we're not the second game of a doubleheader.

Always dread the slow ending to the first game, with coaches calling time outs, fouls sending players to the free throw line. And the worst - OVERTIME!!!
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Recovering Journalist
2/23/2022 4:12 PM
This is a game Akron probably thinks it can steal. They are playing for seeding and probably need this game to have a chance at avoiding a big first-round hurdle. I think we all know that when they play well they are very dangerous but they are capable of being ridiculously bad too. No team MAC team has shown higher highs and lower lows. The Zips went from deserving to win at Ohio State to doing things like losing at home to NIU and at Western. Who knows what versions of the Zips we'll see on Friday, but aside from a few outlying games, they have been pretty solid all year.
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Pataskala
2/23/2022 4:52 PM
Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
This is a game Akron probably thinks it can steal. They are playing for seeding and probably need this game to have a chance at avoiding a big first-round hurdle. I think we all know that when they play well they are very dangerous but they are capable of being ridiculously bad too. No team MAC team has shown higher highs and lower lows. The Zips went from deserving to win at Ohio State to doing things like losing at home to NIU and at Western. Who knows what versions of the Zips we'll see on Friday, but aside from a few outlying games, they have been pretty solid all year.
At three games behind Ohio and Toledo, Akron mathematically can finish tied for first. Realistically they'll probably finish either fourth or fifth, which would probably pit them against Buffalo, maybe Kent depending on how the Flashes finish. They need to win just one game to clinch a top-five seed, and after Friday they're at BSU (currently #6) and home to CMU (currently #8). So Friday isn't a do-or-die game for them. (BSU's schedule doesn't help Akron -- home to EMU, at WMU.)

With this being our last home game and senior night for several players, plus a chance to make up for last Friday's turd-drop on CBSSN, our guys should be plenty motivated to hand Akron its head.
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SBH
2/24/2022 8:21 AM
One of Akron's starters, Bryan Trimble Jr., has been asked to take a leave of absence from the team. Sounds like an attitude issue. He was good for 10.4 ppg.
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71 BOBCAT
2/24/2022 8:56 AM
This is an interesting development. I was also a starter and is still listed on the Akron web site.
Certainly, we do not know what the issue was, however, it can't be good for the psyche of the team, especially if he was well thought of by his team mates.
I doubt we will get the full story before our game much less ever, unless he leaves Akron and exposes the issue.





GO BOBCATS
Last Edited: 2/24/2022 8:57:47 AM by 71 BOBCAT
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Pataskala
2/24/2022 10:14 AM
Whatever it is with Trimble came to a head recently. He started until the NIU on the 17th, but still got 27 minutes off the bench. Didn't play at all the last two games.

Sometimes even someone who's well-liked can drag a team down. It'll be interesting to see how Akron reacts to this.
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bobcatsquared
2/24/2022 10:56 AM
UA's starting backcourt at the beginning of the year, Trimble and Ball St. transfer KJ Walton, have both been kicked off the team after the recent developments involving Trimble.
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100%Cat
2/24/2022 12:54 PM
You'd think it would negatively impact the team, but I think they are 2-0 since he got booted.
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GroverBall
2/24/2022 1:18 PM
Aren't all these guys now Groce's recruits? This board went nuts fearing losing John, eventually to Illinois, curious how people think of him now.
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spongeBOB CATpants
2/24/2022 2:19 PM
GroverBall wrote:expand_more
Aren't all these guys now Groce's recruits? This board went nuts fearing losing John, eventually to Illinois, curious how people think of him now.
If Boals left I'd welcome Groce back
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SBH
2/24/2022 2:34 PM
I wouldn't. He's on a downward trajectory.
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cc-cat
2/24/2022 2:54 PM
He had a special team. He is no longer a special coach. Since leaving Athens his late February/March record is average at best.
Last Edited: 2/24/2022 3:01:28 PM by cc-cat
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oldkatz
2/24/2022 3:39 PM
None for me, thanks.
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Recovering Journalist
2/24/2022 5:08 PM
cc-cat wrote:expand_more
He had a special team. He is no longer a special coach. Since leaving Athens his late February/March record is average at best.
Groce had some spectacular recruits like Cooper and always aimed high (dude inked Caris LeVert!). He also took risks on transfers like Bassett, who gave us a month of glory and left Athens with a rap sheet and kept adding to it after. Swinging for the fences and taking risks on guys like Bassett can produce dramatic success but it's not without pitfalls and not necessarily a blueprint for a sustainable and strong mid-major program.
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cc-cat
2/24/2022 5:17 PM
Don't question what he did here - however -

Since Groce left Athens his teams are 46-41 (.529) in February/March (including 8-1 in 2020 at Akron when he had them rolling - but also means he's 38-40 in other years), and 7-7 in conference tournaments. He has not played in the NCAA tournament since 2013 when he went 1-1 with his first team (not his players) at Illinois. He did it in Athens (24-16 in Feb/March, 9-2 in Conference Tournaments, 3-2 in NCAAs), but not even close since. Very average....at best. Arguably overrated - since he left.
Last Edited: 2/24/2022 5:18:11 PM by cc-cat
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SBH
2/24/2022 5:33 PM
Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
He had a special team. He is no longer a special coach. Since leaving Athens his late February/March record is average at best.
Groce had some spectacular recruits like Cooper and always aimed high (dude inked Caris LeVert!). He also took risks on transfers like Bassett, who gave us a month of glory and left Athens with a rap sheet and kept adding to it after. Swinging for the fences and taking risks on guys like Bassett can produce dramatic success but it's not without pitfalls and not necessarily a blueprint for a sustainable and strong mid-major program.
He did get some great recruits - don't forget Caris Lavert. But it's easier to attract those recruits when you're perceived as a rising star in the coaching ranks as opposed to being in decline. He's not recruiting fabulous freshman to Akron. His best current player is Freeman, a walk-on who asked for a tryout and was seen as little more than an extra body for practice.
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greencat
2/24/2022 5:58 PM
spongeBOB CATpants wrote:expand_more
I'm assuming this is a CBS doubleheader but the 6pm start sucks all around. Both for TV and fans in attendance. I can understand a midweek 6 o'clock start but on a Friday night?
The program guide on DirectStream says Wagner vs somebody for CBS SportsNet (?)

Wrong day... never mind.
Last Edited: 2/24/2022 6:11:34 PM by greencat
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