9 Games left

[Soonermarty]

We have to win 6 of them to get to 20 wins. After these last two games, that looks to be a pretty tall order for this young team. Not saying it can't be done. They better regroup in a hurry, and find there stride again.

 

[garyeb2]

We have to win 6 of them to get to 20 wins. After these last two games, that looks to be a pretty tall order for this young team. Not saying it can't be done. They better regroup in a hurry, and find there stride again.

Winning 20 regular season games was a tall order for this years edition before the 1st game tipped. But, things have come together pretty well for them and and I would think that they still have a good clean shot of getting there.

 

[tycat947]

It will be interesting to see if this was a blip or a trend. Hoping for a blip. There just seemed to be something amiss in that we didn't even play good defense, which I don't think has really happened all season. If we don't get back to the level we played against Hypocrite U/texas/osu, it's going to be real tough to win 6 of 9

 

[schoonerdriver]

Our Feburary record over the last 3 seasons indicates this is a trend.

 

[61sooner]

6-3 with good effort, could slip to 5-4, 4-5 at worst
WINS: Baylor, Texas, WestVA, TexTech,TCU (twice)
LOSE: KU, OSU, I-STATE

 

[Escape Goat]

It will be interesting to see if this was a blip or a trend. Hoping for a blip. There just seemed to be something amiss in that we didn't even play good defense, which I don't think has really happened all season. If we don't get back to the level we played against Hypocrite U/texas/osu, it's going to be real tough to win 6 of 9

I sure hope this is a blip. It's strange as heck to me considering they are coming off the best game they played all season (Baylor) and then possibly the worst they've played in the last two. It's baffling really. Amazing less than one week ago the sky was the limit and now I'm worried they can't even get it across half court and are tinkering with the lineup. Winning 6 games seems daunting to me at this point. Hopefully that feeling will change again after Saturday but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[MercedeSooner]

6 wins is gonna be really difficult, we aren't good enough to just mark down guaranteed W's. If we don't show up we can lose to anybody on our schedule cept maybe TCU.

 

[ouwxman]

Our Feburary record over the last 3 seasons indicates this is a trend.

I think the year-to-year schedule is essentially a coincidence. It's pretty easy to have a bad stretch when you play 3 of the top teams in the conference, and 2 on the road. I suppose if we're going to have a bad stretch, losing games we were likely to lose anyway isn't bad timing. After Kansas, all of the games are winnable (not necessarily easy).

I also wouldn't assume we lose to Iowa State at home. They played great in Ames, but who knows how well they'll play away from Ames. They had a fantastic scoring night, and there's no question we'll make adjustments and be out for revenge.

 

[opsooner]

6 wins is gonna be really difficult, we aren't good enough to just mark down guaranteed W's. If we don't show up we can lose to anybody on our schedule cept maybe TCU.

Agree; and we were blown out by a team with only one win last year. I have no idea what to expect from the team going forward but I just hope we don't see any more efforts like last night.

My preseason goal was the NIT and I will still be OK with that. It will be a step forward for the season. I will be disappointed if we do not make it there at this point though. The NCAA is still not out of the question either but we will really need to finish strong to make it and we might need a win against either KU or @OSU to get recognition back in the minds of the selectors.

 

[tycat947]

I think the year-to-year schedule is essentially a coincidence. It's pretty easy to have a bad stretch when you play 3 of the top teams in the conference, and 2 on the road. I suppose if we're going to have a bad stretch, losing games we were likely to lose anyway isn't bad timing. After Kansas, all of the games are winnable (not necessarily easy).

I also wouldn't assume we lose to Iowa State at home. They played great in Ames, but who knows how well they'll play away from Ames. They had a fantastic scoring night, and there's no question we'll make adjustments and be out for revenge.

I wouldn't assume it either but ISU pretty much played like they did Monday night last year in Norman. IIRC, Royce (their best player) got into foul trouble and spent a lot of time on the bench but the 3 pointers were flying in just like Monday night. I realize these are different teams but if we play (or not play!) defense like we did Monday night, chances are we'll lose to them at home also. They took KU to OT in Lawrence and almost did the same in Stoolwater.

I hope whatever funk they've been in since Saturday will go away quickly. I'll feel better then.

 

[campbest]

6 wins is gonna be really difficult, we aren't good enough to just mark down guaranteed W's. If we don't show up we can lose to anybody on our schedule cept maybe TCU.

This. When you have a team that doesn't do anything exceptionally well to hang your hat on, every night could be a bit of a toss-up.

 

[WTSooner]

This. When you have a team that doesn't do anything exceptionally well to hang your hat on, every night could be a bit of a toss-up.

True.

We gotta get back to playing D like we were earlier in the year. It's really slipped against Big 12 competition. Some of that is going against better teams, but the Big 12 isn't a great offensive conference this year.

 

[ArdmoreSooner]

6-3 with good effort, could slip to 5-4, 4-5 at worst
WINS: Baylor, Texas, WestVA, TexTech,TCU (twice)
LOSE: KU, OSU, I-STATE

These are the same ones that I thought they would win. Maybe a Baylor or ISU switch. Good thing if this happens our last 10 games will be a good record. NCAA can look at RPI, SOS, and last 10 games and be a positive for us.

 

[Krugerfan52]

We have to win 6 of them to get to 20 wins. After these last two games, that looks to be a pretty tall order for this young team. Not saying it can't be done. They better regroup in a hurry, and find there stride again.

Lately I have heard people call this a young team. Why?

Osby - Senior (started last game)
Pledger - Senior (started last game)
Grooms - Senior (started last game)
Fitz -Senior (2 year starter)
Arent -Senior
Clark - Junior (2 year starter)
Neal - Junior
Mbaye - Junior

8 out of our top 11 guys are upper classmen. This is not a young team. Its probably one of the oldest if not the oldest in the big 12.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Lately I have heard people call this a young team. Why?

Osby - Senior (started last game)
Pledger - Senior (started last game)
Grooms - Senior (started last game)
Fitz -Senior (2 year starter)
Arent -Senior
Clark - Junior (2 year starter)
Neal - Junior
Mbaye - Junior

8 out of our top 11 guys are upper classmen. This is not a young team. Its probably one of the oldest if not the oldest in the big 12.

4 of our top 6 are new players ..

 

[Max Power]

4 of our top 6 are new players ..

That should be considered a good thing. 4 of our top 6 are better than all that returning talent outside of Ro and Pledger

 

[luckyc1423]

4 of our top 6 are new players ..

What do you consider top?

Lets assume we play a 7 man rotation and ignore everyone else. Below is my opinion of players I feel we can count on the most in order.

1) osby - senior
2) pledger - senior
3) Mbaye - junior
4) heild - freshman
5) hornbreak - freshman
6) fitz - senior
7) ?? maybe grooms or cam - senior / junior

You could argue that we only have 2 young players in our top 7 and none of them are low post guys.
I dont see many scenarios were we are better next year or the year after unless we bring in someone = to a osby or a mbaye. Because currently I dont see anyone down low that we have signed/committed that would equal them to.

Im pretty confident woodard is better than grooms and might even start. So we could easily see heild, hornbreak, and woodard play alot/start next year which makes us younger. However we have no young low post threat.

 

[garyeb2]

What do you consider top?

Lets assume we play a 7 man rotation and ignore everyone else. Below is my opinion of players I feel we can count on the most in order.

1) osby - senior
2) pledger - senior
3) Mbaye - junior
4) heild - freshman
5) hornbreak - freshman
6) fitz - senior
7) ?? maybe grooms or cam - senior / junior

You could argue that we only have 2 young players in our top 7 and none of them are low post guys.
I dont see many scenarios were we are better next year or the year after unless we bring in someone = to a osby or a mbaye. Because currently I dont see anyone down low that we have signed/committed that would equal them to.

Im pretty confident woodard is better than grooms and might even start. So we could easily see heild, hornbreak, and woodard play alot/start next year which makes us younger. However we have no young low post threat.

But, we don't have a 7 man rotation. Cousins will probably get close to 20 min. per game. He has played pretty good the last couple. I don't have a break down. But, it hasn't been unusual to see all 3 freshmen on the floor at the same time.

As far as Osby. He is our best player. I'm all in on that. But, that is more of a commentary on our current available talent than it is on Osby. He isn't a 1st round draft choice or some kind of a once in a decade talent. He is just a nice player. Nice players come and go and they are easily replaced. A different player will step up or his production will be replaced by committe.

Injuries or unexpected defections are the only thing that could keep us from being much improved next season.

 

[MercedeSooner]

The seniors and juniors that have been here and started games before have been incredibly disappointing, the lack of improvement in their games and the lack of strong leadership by them is frustrating.

Osby is a nice player, problem is on a good team he has to be at best your 2nd best player not your go to guy.