We started the game going down low exclusively to Reg with DJ looking to dish, hoping to get Zeke in foul trouble. Unfortunately Zeke didn't commit any fouls but instead Reg scored 10 of our first 12 points and we took a 12-6 lead. 

Walt hit a 3 and had a drive and a put back and we were playing well, up 25-16 half way through 1st, then Akron made some defensive adjustments. They constantly put size on DJ at the top of the key. Some times playing Harney, sometimes Treadwell guarded him and sometimes even Zeke picked him up. That stopped DJ from shooting or passing over them. They also started doubling Reg on the post. Meanwhile Treadwell got them going emotionally (as he always does).

At the half we were up 29-26 but DJ had 0 points and only 1 shot attempt which was a long 3.

2nd half was a continuation of the end of the first half. Akron dominated literally every facet of the game. We had NO answer for Treadwell or Zeke. It didn't help that both Jon Smith and TJ were in foul trouble. Jon picked up his 4th foul with like 15 minutes to go and TJ got his 4th with like 11 or 12 to play. 

The rest of the game can be summed up this way. OU shot 1-20 from the 3 point line. One for TWENTY. That's 5%. DJ Cooper scored 3 points. THREE. He ended 0-8 from the floor, 0-6 from 3 and 3-4 from the FT line. He was visibly frustrated and upset most of the 2nd half. 

No DJ + nobody else hitting 3s + no answer for Treadwell + no answer for Zeke = 20 point loss. Also didn't help that Chauncey Gilliam of all people got rolling in the 2nd half as well once Akron got some confidence. I think he ended up with 13 points and big dagger 3. 

And honestly if it weren't for an amazing first half from Reg we could have lost this one by 40. It was that bad. They outscored us 49-21 from the middle of the 1st half on.

Their strategy was the same one that Belmont used.  Double D.J. up top and dare someone else to beat us.  It didn't work early because Reg and Walt were taking it to the hole.  But for some reason we stopped doing it and played right into their hands.  I still don't know why we didn't press them the whole game especially when Harney was running the point.   Last year we had fives guys on the floor who could hurt you on the offensive end (four when Smith was out there).  Now we have three with Nick and Ivo both having zero confidence most of the year.  That makes a huge difference.

I made mention of this in the topic on DJ and Golden Era of Ohio Sports. The success or lack there of with team sports is chemistry and mental toughness. Some teams have little talent but lots of good chemistry and mental toughness. Some teams have lots of talent but not so much in the categories of chemistry and mental toughness. Sadly for us this year DJ carried us through a lot of dry spots, but when DJ had a dry patch there was little chemistry and mental toughness to carry the day. Oh well, we were blessed with a good run and maybe next year some of the recruits Coach Christian will bring in will have some of that missing team chemistry and mental toughness. 

As mentioned earlier, Reggie inside was working early.  Then we tried launching threes, they weren't dropping so we lost confidence in that.  Walt gallantly tried pounding it inside, but he got pounded without getting calls.

I've seen you say this in multiple threads now so for kicks and giggles I did just that. You know what sticks out like a sore thumb to me...Ivo Baltic. His stat line?

3 games, 55 minutes, 0-4 from the field, 0-1 from 3, 0-0 from FT line, 0 points IN THREE GAMES. He also got a whopping 4 rebounds in 3 games. 

I could post some other stats, but honestly I'll just leave it at Akron dominated us in pretty much every way possible in the 3 games. It honestly wasn't even close.