Another good post... we lack any answers to Zeek and Treadwell. Need some toughness in the paint  bigtime

I thought losing Cvetinovic would be a net positive for them.

OK...I've been staying away from BA for too long. Been reading the board, watching every game, and enjoying myself completely.

HOWEVER...the coach in me has got to say something.

1. JC can only do one thing. Prepare. Personally, I think he does a good job. His team doesn't help him a bit by rushing. Seriously...slow down. How many times have I seen JC throw his hands in the air after a poor, quick shot or a poor defensive effort or a poor box out? I'd guess over 50...tonight he was completely exasperated. During the timeout prior to OT JC told his team (I read his lips on the TV feed). "What else do you want?" Brilliant. You know why? Because the kids have to want it. The best lesson that was ever given to me as a coach was to learn to let go. Prepare the team, motivate the team, but you can't hold your breath. Sometimes the kids have to want it..and they need to want it more than anyone in the building. Wanting it isn't overplaying (which is what gets JC slumping), but understanding what the team does best (Personally, Ohio is best when they dribble penetrate and find bigs from basket to 12 feet...working inside out...the 3s will be there later). Notice that after most timeouts and at the beginning, there are moves to do exactly this...but the minute...the second...it breaks down and the young men go into panic mode. They overplay. We saw this during the OT.

DJ chucking up 3s isn't "wanting it". Nick Kellogg dribbilng the length of the floor and knocking the ball off his leg isn't "wanting it", and RK missing one of the most naked defensive boxouts isn't "wanting it". 

This is the problem with the term "full effort". The idea of full effort must include the team aspect. This team got beat as a team tonight. Akron is a better team right now. I'm not convinced Dambrot is a better coach...but his team beat the other team because "wanting it" was a team effort. A very self-less effort from Akron tonight. I don't think Akron can do it 3 times...but if they do...tip the cap, they deserve it.

2. I will defend DJ on the screen and roll. We hedge soooooo hard in our half court defensive sets. Almost to the point of ridiculousness. RK is good at hedging and has a real feel for the concept (and it is a feel...one of those uncoachable moments in a game)...Smith is so jacked up while hedging. He sees the ball handler back up (as a ball handler should do in a hedge to provide himself space) and he chases. Once he figures out he is chasing (I'm guessing someone yells "stop chasing") he peels off, but this sets a moving ball screen on DJ. Smith can't find his man and...layup. This is not on DJ. Teams have done a good job of exploiting our hedge for the past month. Again, this is so tough to teach. The funny thing is that we were never very good at this concept last season. Our on the ball defense has always been touch and go.
     
Anyway...

Akron isn't beating Ohio three times. We are also not going to beat Kent three times. Therefore, whichever happens first will be the determining factor in Cleveland. Akron is good...real good...and they are super motivated. However, I strongly believe they played their best tonight. I really do. Lots of average players played extraordinarily well tonight.      
I also am calm because I gave up a few years ago on allowing the exploits of 18-22 year olds determine my mood. It was a good game. Enjoyed it. 

I'm grasping at straws.

Whatever it is...Akron is amazingly motivated by everything. There is little to no let up in that team. I keep wondering "Can they keep this up for another 2 weeks?"

I'm betting the odds that they cannot.

Agree with Medler and GroverBall sentiments.

Good game, fun to watch.

Akron played great, deserved to win.

We had a good looking 3 to win at the end.

I think OU played well, B+, A-...just not as well as Akron.

I hope we can play them again in championship game.

Starting five at BG should be DJ, Reg, Walt, Wilkins and Smith.  I like TJ but he's usually in foul trouble.  And Nick has lost his shot, although I like that he's not pumping threes when they're not going down.  Wilkins has problems when double-teamed, but he has good floor sense to find the open, makeable shot.  Smith is just a monster underneath for 6-6 and seems to find the ball.  I think he can handle Cameron Black this week.  Still pulling for Ivo and Nick to turn it around, but til that happens we should start the guys who can do the most good.

Wilkins scares the hell out of me. The guy has good floor sense, but he's a classic press break killer. What's his upside as the 3 guard in a press break? Yikes! I think it forces more teams to run at DJ on the half court.

Personally? I think Ohio throw more guards at them. 4 guards. Just quick the other team out of the gym. Wilkins can start as the 4th. This puts less pressure on him to have to bring the ball up. However, in that 2-2-1 press break Ohio sometimes runs, Wilkins could be a nice forward...working himself as a weak side from the ball. Inbounds seem to go left...Wilkins is always on the left and can run to either wing and be opposite the ball.

But NK and Ivo are just struggling. 

Watch out...the "Positives" will tell you you're wrong for "ruining Nick's confidence." Screw that. He's getting a full scholarship and college paid for. He's Clark's kid. Grow a pair and use it as motivation. You're right, let's go with T-Wilk or Rico. Both have outplayed Nick. Wouldn't we be dangerous with a "usually 40 percent 3 shooter" coming off our bench?!

I say we fire Schaus, he hired the clowns that make all the decisions.

Although the call was bad, the charge that was called a block a few minutes before against us was worse.

I have always preferred guys with ideas and huge balls.

Nice job Coach.

Yea, but IMO Coop might have waited too long.  My son and I discussed it immediately afterward and it seemed to me Coop had his chance to draw the foul when the guy went up, but he waited until he came back down and THEN leaned in to initiate the contact and that's why he didn't get the call?