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John Groce coaching vs. brother Travis Steele adds rare layer to Zips' MAC title | Ulrich
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- John Groce coaching vs. brother Travis Steele adds rare layer to Zips' MAC title | Ulrich
CLEVELAND — University of Akron men's basketball coach John Groce tried to ignore the family dynamic as much as possible as he entered Saturday night's Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game .
But immediately after top-seeded Akron's wild 76-74 win over No. 2 Miami , the truth hit Groce as he shook the opposing head coach's hand.
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Groce had just led Akron to an NCAA Tournament berth for the second consecutive year, but the glory of victory came with a cost. His brother, Miami coach Travis Steele , left Rocket Arena experiencing the agony of defeat.
"It's a lot more fun for the outside and the media and all that," Groce said. "It's probably a little more stressful for family.
"It's more challenging probably for us than it is the outside world who enjoys … that storyline a little bit more than maybe we do because knowing Trav, I think, both of us want it to be about our teams and our guys and not so much about us."
Groce and Steele are excellent coaches who oversee elite MAC teams.
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The difference between them, though, is Groce's Zips are historically good. They took haymakers on the chin from the RedHawks, trailed by as many as 18 points and pulled off a comeback victory with guard Nate Johnson making the game-winning, floating layup with 2.3 seconds remaining.
As a result, Akron won back-to-back MAC tourney championships for the first time and established a program record for most wins in a season with 28.
Steele's familiarity with Groce — and an ability to craft a masterful game plan — was on full display during the brothers' first clash in a championship game, which was televised nationally by ESPN2.
Akron basketball score vs. Miami: Zips repeat as MAC Tournament champs in dramatic fashion
Akron Zips coach John Groce, facing, hugs his brother, Miami RedHawks coach Travis Steele, before the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Miami (25-9) played a hard-nosed, physical brand of defense and made life difficult for Akron on the perimeter. On offense, the RedHawks demonstrated stellar shot making, going 28 of 57 (49.1%) from the floor, including 15 of 30 on 3-pointers.
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Akron (28-6) won its first two MAC Tournament games 96-67 over Bowling Green and 100-90 over Toledo, only to find itself dragged into a rock fight with Miami. From 3-point range, UA shot 16 of 39 (41%) in the quarterfinal round against BG, 10 of 18 (55.6%) in its semifinal versus UT and 9 of 27 (33.3%) against Miami.
"In all these tournaments, to win the three games, your defense has got to be good because in one of the three, you're not going to make shots like you do in the other two," Groce said. "... I do think it showed you our resiliency and our toughness. But, in my opinion, your defense has to be good enough to withstand a bad shooting day or two."
Akron Zips coach John Groce celebrates during the first half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland.
The Zips met the defensive requirement, but they will need a good shooting day to pull off an upset against a much higher seed in March Madness. They'll find out during "Selection Sunday," which begins at 6 p.m. on CBS, where the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament will take them, which opponent they'll face and when. Groce and his players will watch the selection show at Rhodes Arena during an event open to the public.
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Akron is 0-6 in Division I NCAA tourney games (1986, 2009, '11, '13, '22 and '24).
Akron basketball news: Zips win MAC title on Nate Johnson's game-winning shot. Watch how it unfolded
Despite the way Miami's run in the MAC Tournament ended, Steele will be rooting for Groce and Akron to advance in the March Madness bracket.
"I want to see the league do well," Steele said. "Obviously, I want to see my brother do well. Listen, as long as we're not playing him, I'm cheering for him. So I want to see him do well, and I think they've got a good team. I think they can make a run in March. There's no question. I think they're built for that, just with their explosiveness, how they can score and shoot and defend and the amount of playmakers they've got out there."
Miami RedHawks coach Travis Steele shouts during the first half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Groce's own flesh and blood would know better than anyone.
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Groce's Zips eliminated Steele's RedHawks from the MAC Tournament last season, too, prevailing 75-63 in the quarterfinal round. Akron went on to win the MAC tourney before losing 77-60 as a No. 14 seed against No. 3 Creighton in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
When Akron and Miami reunited Jan. 25 at UA, the Zips rolled to a 102-75 blowout win.
The next day, Steele concluded the rematch would take place in the MAC tourney title game. He was right.
Miami RedHawks coach Travis Steele reacts during the first half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Steele could not have predicted this, though. His Miami team led the championship game for 35 minutes and 27 seconds, only to lose. Groce's triumphant Akron team led for just 2 minutes and 41 seconds.
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"I'm happy for him, obviously," Steele said. "He's my brother. Nothing's thicker than blood, but at the same time, man, we're playing to win. When that ball's tipped, man, I don't care who's over there.
"We're both very, very competitive, and we're going to try to do everything we can in order to put our team in the best position to win."
There have been many sibling rivalries showcased at the highest levels of sports.
Just to name a few from this century, Scott and Rob Neidermayer played each other in the Stanley Cup Final in 2003, Jim and John Harbaugh coached against each other in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2013, and Jason and Travis Kelce played on opposing teams in the Super Bowl on Feb. 12, 2023.
Akron Zips coach John Groce reacts as his team struggles during the second half of the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Groce and Steele guiding the MAC's top two men's hoops teams is special.
Akron Zips coach John Groce has a moment to himself in an empty Rocket Arena before the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
The brothers get it, even though they tried to bury an extra layer of emotions tied to the experience for the good of their teams.
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"That poise you're asking [your players] to have, you also have to have that as well," Groce said. "Otherwise, it becomes hypocritical."
Zips players never questioned whether Groce's focus would waver. They knew he would prioritize them.
At the same time, they realized the 2025 MAC Tournament championship game included a unique element.
Just ask the tourney's most valuable player who made Akron's game-winning shot.
"You never want to lose to your brother," Johnson said.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron wins title vs Miami as brothers John Groce, Travis Steele coach
