Just got home for the JAR and some random thoughts from an evening of OHIO Hoops, albeit a bit negative in nature coming off a loss:

IN GENERAL:
*Electric atmosphere, but everything just felt small and tight.  Actually probably the perfect size MAC Arena based on average attendance figures, but I bet the dimensions of playing in there made the players feel claustrophobic. 

*I went hoping to win, but expected a loss.  Never like a loss, but now that the OOC results have determined it's all an exhibition season, it was part of the process.  We lost there last year and we lost this year.  With us having ruined Akron's seasons in years past,, the sell out and the way they appear to have approached this game--result wasn't that big of a surprise.  And in the grand scheme of things, a meaningless game big picture even though no true fan or competitor wants to think this way.  That's just reality.  

*Tonight was a contrast in sytles and attitude.  Finesse vs. Physical.  Blue Collar vs. White Collar.  Black/Blue Uniforms vs. White/Green.  Something tells me OHIO will look more like Akron 2-4 years from now when JC gets his recruits and his stule of play installed.  Not saying which I prefer, just thinking JC probably likes Akrons style more than his own teams?

PLAYER THOUGHTS
Now for a bit of negativity, but these were thoughts I was thinking sitting there tonight:

*If they kept a stat for highest percentage of a shooters shots being blocked, would Walt not be amongst the nations leaders?  Also, lowest FG percentage from 2 feet in?  (assuming it's just the results of a 6'3" guy going to the rim alot).
*Speaking of crazy stats, if they kept one called, "Who Gets the Highest Percentage of Shots Made on Them When They're Defending and are right in their Offensive Players Face?"  Nick would be in the Top 10. 
*Ivo just struggles mightly against bigger, physical players--hence his wanting to go European Style Big Man.  He had the corner to drive numerous times and just didn't.  And when he did drive, he drove at such an angle to where he couldn't make an offensive move and had to pass out.  Didn't appear the defenders forced him to change his angle, he just drove with no intent to score the ball.  Showed 0% confidence to even try anything aggressively towards the basket in an attempt to score.
*Reggie got schooled in the paint like I had never seen tonight.  
*JC shows a total lack of non-confidence in his back up point guard (or to phrase it positively, a total  sense of confidence in DJ).  I mean when DJ comes out it's hurry up and get a drink, towel off and get to the scores table.  Not that I don't like this, just seems that rotation is measured in blinks of the eye and not minutes or possessions.  At one point he even called timeout to just get DJ back in.  Interested to see what next year looks like confidence wise at that position.
*Kellog is my favorite player and his stat line looked nice tonight--but I bet JC would like to have a more athletic all around player at that position.  Whether it be helping bring up the ball; handling pressure; guarding--Nick still remains a spot shooter who makes the best of the other phases of the game through being fundamentally sound and hustling.  But being a natural in areas outside of the spot up shot....he's not.

BOTTOM LINE:
Akron is good.  But for some reason I think that if we meet them on a neutral court in March--we'll squeeze one out again.  Just a hunch.  Zeke won't go 6-6 from the floor and Abreu won't go 7-10 away from the JAR. And if Akron keeps rolling, they'll have their typical great record, be listed as a Bubble Team and unless they win in Cleveland, will be on the list of "Last 5-10 left out" and onto the NIT for a first round loss due to discouragement.

I take OHIO loses pretty hard, but for some reason I didn't tonight.  Not sure why?

 

I decided not to post last night and gave myself some time to think about it. 

• I disagree the effort was there, especially in the second half (save TJ).  After DJ got knocked down on the three, no one got back on D and gave Treadwell a wide open look on D.  It was a complete lack of hustle and effort.  I can't remember when I’ve seen a Bobcat team give up like that.
  
• As for Zeke, I was disappointed we didn't take it right at him more, specifically right after the ref pulled him aside after almost giving him a T post dunk.  I thought Kadeem using a few fouls on him would have helped keep him out of his game.  I was surprised he got away with as much as he did when "getting position".  JC was obviously complaining about the elbows he was throwing as well.  He may have been perfect from the field tonight, but I am still not impressed.  I saw one, maybe two good offensive moves tonight.  Maybe I missed more, but I still think he’s a soft player.
• Treadwell is one player of theirs whose game I really like.
  
• Abreu played the best game I've ever seen him play tonight.  He deserves the game ball IMO.  I will be interested to see if it was an anomaly, or he will return to his averages against us outside of the JAR.
• Does anyone else think TJ needs to start over Ivo right now?
• Thank you Ozone for making the trip and being respectful to the Akron fans behind you, even if some of their fans didn’t return the favor.  Also, I’d be embarrassed if anyone in the Ozone, especially centered in the front row, came out looking like that Akron student in the Speedo.
• For the first time at the JAR (including non-Ohio games) all of the Akron fans around me were very nice.  This is why I don’t judge a fan base by the worst they have to offer.

Overall, Akron as a team just played better last night.  I am not a fan of their coach, but I respect them as a quality team.  All in all not surprising that we lost, just disappointed in the way we responded at times.

Did something I rarely do today--watched recording of game--and boy do you pick up a lot of things you may not have watching live.  Few different takes from my notes yesterday:
*I have confidence DJ will be fine, Nick will hit his shots and even Reggie will provide his inside contribution.  But we have to have Walt and even Ivo helping a little.  If Walt doesn't play big in Cleveland, we're done.  Ivo tried on defense, but offensively he wasn't even a consideration.  Totally not in the game.
*While Akron had a host of people contributing inside, Reggie was a one man inside show for us on offense.  As  I watched again, he was simply oversized on defense, but really played ok on offense.  Bottom line, we really have to have our 4 man (Ivo or whomever) helping inside a lot more than they did Saturday.  It was Reggie/Jon and nobody else.
*At literally every critical moment when the game was in the balance we jacked up quick 3 point bombs without running much of an offensive set.  If they go in they're fine, when they don't, they're illadvised.  We really appeared to panic and wanted to get it all back too quick at some key moments.  Many of those "critical moment shots" were well beyond the 3 point line too.  DJ, Walt and Nick just weren't on their games from long range.
*On several occassions I watched off the ball when shots were in the air and boy does Akron do a lot of 2 handed shoving under the basket, often times allowing them to get rebounds. Speaking of rebounds, lots of time we had position and either got shoved out of the way, or didn't keep our butts on them along them to slide around us for a rebound.  Need more toughness and fundamentals to compete on the boards with these guys.  They got 75% of the 50/50 balls.
*The officiating was fine and didn't determine outcome.  Would've helped if they had called some of the shoving underneath when shots were in the air, but otherwise..not a game changer IMO.
*Surprised their pressing full court and speeding up the game didn't hurt them as I thought they'd prefer a slower, half-court type game.  Instead, it got us a bit out of rhythmn and caused us to take some hurried shots. 
*Final score was not indicative of the game.  Their not missing and our not hitting late, made this look more lopsided than it was.  This was a 5-7 point contest and tight most of the way.

Utlimately, I stil think that on a neutral court if our top guns play their best and their top guns play their best--we win.  Just happens on this night Zeke/Abreu played their best, while DJ & Walt didn't (and Ivo didn't show up at all).