#13 OU vs #12 Kentucky 3pm 2/2

[Soonercuda]

 

[cowboysooner]

The ladies game is a below the rim game. Shots around the rim are a lot tougher and a lower percentage of those are made. Conversely, the size of the ball and closer 3 point line make 3 point shots much easier. I didn't watch the UK game, but I have thought that Jennie's defense paid way too much attention to stopping dribble penetration and came off of 3 point shooters.

Maybe our players are athletic enough to guard on the perimeter but not where they play too far off shooters and come off shooters to stop dribble penetration. Running at a 3 point shooter amounts to not defending it. You have to be "up into" the player such that they can't get the shot off. The only real defense to a shooter is to make them dribble.

Plus, just like in football and men's basketball, there really is something to going through the SEC the first time where the size, athletes and officiating is just different. There will be an adjustment period for us in every sport, and women's basketball is no different. Hopefully, we will adjust some as the year goes but usually it takes an off season to digest what you need to do to be more competitive. Whatever happens this year, I am betting we are much better next year. IMO, you really have to value the possessions much more than we do, as lost possessions, really kill a team where the margins are as small as they are in the SEC. From an officiating standpoint, very plainly you can play much more physically, at least in the post, without fouling. If you are the team playing consistent with the rules, you will be and are at a distinct disadvantage.

 

[Soonercuda]

Cowboysooner I think you have made a good analysis of our struggles. We need taller, stronger and quicker defenders particularly on the perimeter…Zya did the best job of defending Amoore and I think a lot of that was she had the quickness to stay tighter to her than anyone else. Zya can use another year of strength training so she can be more physical while defending.

 

[cowboysooner]

Your making my points soonercuda in a lot clearer way and in a lot fewer words.

We were a lot more physical in the lsu game in the post than we had been earlier in the year. Don’t think it was an accident. More likely that sees this issue and is working on it. Sometimes it is hard on kids to sort of change their normal nature and play with greater controlled physicality. I thought beers and bea both gave lsu all they wanted and more. So good on them.
And liz breathes physicality. Lov her as a player

one the biggest reasons for optimism about our program is jennie’s ability to see weaknesses and work on addressing them. It just takes recruiting and time. Jmo, but when i see kids like sahara and zya it tells me jennie gets what we need on the perimeter. Understanding the problem is indispensable to ever solving it.

I get frustrated with the turnovers and have said that several times on this board but i think jennie is great and don’t make statement to suggest jennie is a bad coach. I have the exact opposite opinion.

 

[Soonercuda]

Here is what has blunted the advantage of having Beers post play:

Oklahoma is ranked No. 12 out of the 16 SEC teams in shooting from behind the arc. Overall we are shooting 32.3% from 3 and in conference play we are shooting 29.3%. So teams just sag off us and play tough post defense and let us shoot from outside.

This late in the season you have to say we are just below average in 3 point shooting...hopefully we hit a hot streak in the tournament. But in the off season it will be imperative for next year to get a couple of experienced athletic 3 point shooters.

 

[cowboysooner]

Hadn't seen those 3 point stats and they are surprising to me. You would think we would be pretty good from the 3, with Verholst, keys, Vann and tot. did we shoot the 3 at this pace last year? This sort of explains some of our w/Ls for me.

 

[Soonercuda]

In conference play it is everyone (except Beers who is 4-9) that is struggling. For the year Verhulst is at 35% and Lexy is at 40%…but our other main outside shooters are mostly below 30%. Easy to say…hard to execute but we need better recruits.

 

[Soonerguy06]

I'm still holding out hope that this team has not yet peaked and will do so before it's too late. If we don't win-out these next 7 games I believe we will suffer for it in the SEC tourney seeding-wise and draw a tough matchup and in return possibly draw a lower seed in the NCAAs. Although it's somewhat encouraging that the recent ESPN power rankings and national rankings haven't punished us too much for going 0-2 last week and being 4-5 in SEC play. Definitely a BIG step up from Big 12 play, IMO, and we just lack the guards to be productive right now night in and night out against these defenses.

 

[soonerstar]

As I posted on another thread, we have had 3 years to get ready for the SEC. Well known that it would be considerably tougher than the Big 12. Better athletes in SEC.

 

[TheMont]

It is so embarrassing that James Hale asked Jennie if Liz is going to be out long. Local reporting for OU basketball is such a joke.