BobcatAttack.com - For Fans of Ohio University Sports

Welcome Guest!
Create an Account

site search

where to watch

about us

advertise with us

help

BobcatAttack.com Message Board

Ohio Basketball

Topic: Which P5 makes a run at Groce? (NT)

Topic: Which P5 makes a run at Groce? (NT)

Author

Message

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,246

Status: Offline

Which P5 makes a run at Groce? (NT)

Posted: 3/21/2025 10:27:58 PM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
General User

Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,944

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/21/2025 10:30:47 PM

None of them.

GraffZ06
General User

Member Since: 1/5/2005
Location: Dayton, OH
Post Count: 2,227

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/22/2025 2:34:48 PM

He's officially in no man's land.

He's proven he can take a mid-major to the dance consistently. He really has nothing left to prove at this level.

He also proved he wasn't ready for the prime-time at Illinois.

Not sure getting bounced in the first round every year is the stuff of dreams to make P5's think he's grown/corrected/gotten better from his first stint in Champaign.

Maybe a small step up into A-10 or MVC might give him an opportunity to show he can continue to take programs to the dance but with an actual shot to win a game here or there.

100%Cat
General User

Member Since: 1/17/2013
Post Count: 2,604

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/22/2025 4:39:27 PM

GraffZ06 wrote:

This is my thought about him. Would a salary bump at a better mid major league with more of a chance for an at-large berth be enough to lure him away from Akron?

M.D.W.S.T
General User

Member Since: 12/23/2021
Post Count: 2,712

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 10:56:14 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

At the very least, I think he's proven he deserves another shot - and if I was an AD I would be more likely to give him another chance than maybe some sort of flavor of the week, less proven type. But I'm more of a stability guy.

This era, who knows.

With the NIL and the portal, you almost NEED a splash hire just to get the donations flowing and portal eyes looking. Can Groce do that? Maybe. But I think lack of Illinois success would be the first thing on every message board and comment section.

There are worse things than making $1M a year at Akron though. He's still so young its hard to imagine he's in the frame of mind that this is anywhere near his last stop.

I think Dayton would be an ideal marriage.

Last Edited: 3/23/2025 10:57:45 AM by M.D.W.S.T

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
General User

Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,944

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 1:26:52 PM

The job that's open where I could see a fit is VCU. Not P5, but a big step up in pay and a school that's better situated and resourced than Akron. Also a league that can be a multi-bid league.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
General User

Member Since: 2/3/2005
Post Count: 3,016

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 1:38:17 PM

VCU or Dayton sound about right.

But personally, I�d never leave the Dayton job. The size of the market, the arena, the support�it�s the porridge that just right in college athletics.

GraffZ06
General User

Member Since: 1/5/2005
Location: Dayton, OH
Post Count: 2,227

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 4:02:36 PM

Yeah I think Groce would do great at UD, and that could definitely be a stepping stone job back to the P5. But, I don't think Anthony Grant is going anywhere soon.

VCU job is intriguing. If I were him I'd have to at least think about it.

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,246

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 4:08:38 PM

Brian Smith (No, not that one) wrote:

VCU or Dayton sound about right.

But personally, I�d never leave the Dayton job. The size of the market, the arena, the support�it�s the porridge that just right in college athletics.

I think Dayton money people would never agree to a MAC coach.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
General User

Member Since: 2/3/2005
Post Count: 3,016

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 4:27:22 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Brian Smith (No, not that one) wrote:

VCU or Dayton sound about right.

But personally, I�d never leave the Dayton job. The size of the market, the arena, the support�it�s the porridge that just right in college athletics.

I think Dayton money people would never agree to a MAC coach.

Could very well be. I have no insight into their program. I just look at it and wonder why anyone ever leaves.

Being married to a Hoosier, Archie appeared to be in hell every minute in Bloomington.

Last Edited: 3/23/2025 4:28:48 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)

100%Cat
General User

Member Since: 1/17/2013
Post Count: 2,604

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 4:37:29 PM

Xavier just opened up with Sean Miller going to Texas�

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
General User

Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,944

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 8:20:07 PM

100%Cat wrote:

Xavier just opened up with Sean Miller going to Texas�

That seems like a possibility to me, given that Xavier loves that Matta coaching tree.

But my hope is it doesn't happen. I think we're likely to be replacing Boals in a couple of years, and Groce would be choice 1 for me.

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
General User

Member Since: 7/30/2010
Post Count: 3,944

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 8:48:26 PM

Already rumors that it's going to be Mack again.

OUcat
General User

Member Since: 10/13/2011
Post Count: 161

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/23/2025 9:12:45 PM

Listen ... Groce is a mid-major coach, nothing more and nothing less. With the ability of hindsight it's pretty clear his run through South Florida and Michigan in the NCAA Tournament may have been the best draws a MAC team has ever had in NCAA Tournament play.

'Cats were the benefit of not one, but two FIVE-point possessions (off-ball fouls on offensive possessions leading to both scores and getting the ball then scoring again) against a seriously offensive challenged South Florida team, then faced perhaps the least athletic Michigan/Big Ten team ever. Then faced a North Carolina team playing without its one and only point guard, relying on a SF instead.

I'd take my chances with matchups like those as a MAC team every year in the NCAA Tournament.

Groce's strength is preparation and getting teams to 'buy in.' But he was just so-so at Illinois, and while he has been strong in the MAC, his NCAA resume leaves a lot to be desired. The other thing he has learned is not to take chances on ??? players who often in the end leave you hanging.

He's not going anywhere.

M.D.W.S.T
General User

Member Since: 12/23/2021
Post Count: 2,712

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 9:34:45 AM

GraffZ06 wrote:

I don't think Anthony Grant is going anywhere soon.

1 NCAA tournament bid in 8 years. Just 1 conference championship. It might not be his decision to make.

MonroeClassmate
General User

Member Since: 8/31/2010
Post Count: 2,142

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 10:37:22 AM

If all the Zips are back in '25-'26 season the coach should stay too. Perhaps a little better non-conference success and another MAC championship moves the Zips to an 11 or 12 seed. A good draw and the next opponent had upset a high seed and Groce is back to being desired by many with openings. Of course, that would mean the Zips getting the NCAA tourney monkey off their backs and well, never bet into a streak.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,363

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 3:53:51 PM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

100%Cat wrote:

Xavier just opened up with Sean Miller going to Texas�

+1 on this.

All respect to Jeff Boals, but John is the current best coach in the MAC. The tricky thing is, as things stand right now, Jeff probably isn't ever leaving, he's getting fired or having his contract non-extended. Groce is one of those guys who is going to get a bigger offer at some point, leaving us in the same boat we were in pre-Boals. Is that what everyone wants? I'm not sure.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,363

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 3:56:39 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:

GraffZ06 wrote:

I don't think Anthony Grant is going anywhere soon.

1 NCAA tournament bid in 8 years. Just 1 conference championship. It might not be his decision to make.

As a person who follows UD somewhat, I would have to believe that the seat is at least getting warm. They have had constant roster turnover there. One could say that is an NIL problem, or maybe it's a coaching staff problem. I'm not sure, but I do know that being one of the best in the A10, and going to the tournament is the expectation. Grant and his staff aren't meeting that.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,363

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 3:57:54 PM

100%Cat wrote:

GraffZ06 wrote:

This is my thought about him. Would a salary bump at a better mid major league with more of a chance for an at-large berth be enough to lure him away from Akron?

Am I the only one who looks at what they're doing at Akron and thinks that he and his staff are a bit too good for the MAC?

JSF
General User

Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
Post Count: 6,538

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 4:15:52 PM

Groce got huffy at at a reporter for bringing up Akron's non-conference schedule. He tried to argue playing Saint Mary's made up for the rest of the terrible opponents he lined up.

"Loyalty to a hometown or city is fleeting and interchangeable, but college is a stamp of identity."- Kyle Whelliston, One Beautiful Season.

My blog about depression and mental illness: https://bit.ly/3buGXH8

bobcat 2000
General User

Member Since: 1/21/2006
Post Count: 210

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 5:33:10 PM

speaking of multi bid league our team needs to move out of the mac and into one of those. i,m thinking big east,aac or conference usa. conference usa might be best. the conferences mentioned would also help the football team too.

bobcat 2000
General User

Member Since: 1/21/2006
Post Count: 210

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 5:58:14 PM

reading this makes me realize that Larry hunter should not have been fired when he did. Larry brought in strong interior rebounders and scorers like Gary trent,Curtis simmons,Diante flenoral,and patrick flomo among others. he also brought in terrific guards and shooters like gus jhonson, cory reed,and geno ford. he had teams that were in ap 25 and wins against great teams like syracuse,connecticut and virginia and even west virginia. the 95 team had the potential to be in the elite eight. if jeff boals didnt have a season ending injury they likely may have done that. he never made up the we cant get teams to play us excuse. he just got er done. we played tough ohio state teams and xavier. we also played Ucla in their gym. plus we wouldn,t have had to worry about him leaving for some power school that offered more money.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,572

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 6:42:46 PM

bobcat 2000 wrote:

Agree entirely. As I recall, he turned down Kansas State when he was a hot commodity only to have his loyalty rewarded by a premature firing. AD's often make stupid, self-serving decisions about firing coaches.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

Andrew Ruck
General User

Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 5,145

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/24/2025 11:16:23 PM

I took this as a troll post from Billy following Akron's poor showing, mocking people who suggested Groce could draw interest from major programs.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

BillyTheCat
General User

Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,246

Status: Offline

RE: Which P5 makes a run at Groce?

Posted: 3/25/2025 5:44:09 AM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

I took this as a troll post from Billy following Akron's poor showing, mocking people who suggested Groce could draw interest from major programs.

The troll showed up to post at 11:16.

Evidently, people are not allowed to have a civil thread.

OCF, I�d agree 110% with you.

To the Xavier crowd, you�d think being ditched after three years by Miller would sour them on another rehire.

Showing Replies:	1 - 25 of 29 Posts
Jump to Page:	1 \| 2 Next >

View Other 'Ohio Basketball' Topics

There are 343 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com

341 Guests
2 Registered Users:
	Felix, Cat in NH

There are no other users looking at this page.