A question about our "slump"

[coolm]

do you think that was

- just a shooting % thing (percentages balance in streaks so if you shoot off the wall for awhile then you're due to slip by the %'s)?

- or was it teams catching up to and getting past us?

- or was it just a bad defensive spell?

- or was (is) it our ceiling?

 

[Zimwillett]

do you think that was

- just a shooting % thing (percentages balance in streaks so if you shoot off the wall for awhile then you're due to slip by the %'s)?

- or was it teams catching up to and getting past us?

- or was it just a bad defensive spell?

- or was (is) it our ceiling?

I think some of it was just a little cold shooting, which happens. I also don't think it was any accident that it coincided, for the most part, with Big 12 teams getting a second look at OU and figuring out some ways to defend them.

Lastly, I think the refs have predictably gotten a little lax in enforcing the physicality/freedom of movement directives as the conference season has worn on. Buddy, in particular, has been subject to a lot of grabbing, bumping, and hand checking that's not getting called. Based on some comments by J.D. Collins (NCAA Coordinator of Officiating), I fully expect a lot of that to get cleaned up in the tournament.

 

[WTSooner]

Regression to the mean.

 

[AdaSooner]

I don't think there is any question that we had reached our ceiling on shooting from behind the arc. It's almost impossible for three members of a team to continue to shoot 50% or better from three, even if no one is guarding them. Ryan was also shooting a high percentage from the perimeter during our peak.

So, to answer your question about shooting, the hot streak was bound to end at some point. I also believe our opponents in the Big 12 were better prepared to take us out of our comfort zone. For example, they started to make sure someone stuck with Buddy like a shadow and never let him get an open look, or work a lot harder if he did.

But, to me, our so-called "slump" was more about doing a mediocre to poor job on defense than anything we were doing or not doing on offense. I'm hoping the performance we saw at WVU is a sign that we're over our "defensive slump." I don't think anyone will disagree that was a lot more like the OU team we had grown accustomed to for most of the season. The only difference that I could see was a vastly improved Khadeem Lattin, particularly on the defensive end. That's a huge plus in my book.

 

[campbest]

On the shooting...it's unrealistic to expect the hot start to continue over the course of an entire season. Unsustainable output.

 

[MsProudSooner]

And, when the slump hit, we didn't make the adjustments we needed to make quickly.

And I agree about the officials allowing too much contact on Buddy. It seems that every time we have a POY candidate, it's open season on them and the officials turn a blind eye. I remember the same thing happening to Wayman and Blake. Courtney Paris shot many layups with defensive players hanging off of her arms with no foul being called.

 

[WTSooner]

On the shooting...it's unrealistic to expect the hot start to continue over the course of an entire season. Unsustainable output.

And in some of our earlier games, if our shooting had been at a more "normal" level, we'd have had some closer games and maybe even a few losses.

This team has potential to sneak into a FF, but in some ways, I think their resume/record is probably a little better than we actually are. JMO.

 

[Escape Goat]

And in some of our earlier games, if our shooting had been at a more "normal" level, we'd have had some closer games and maybe even a few losses.



This team has potential to sneak into a FF, but in some ways, I think their resume/record is probably a little better than we actually are. JMO.

I think that too but when looking at the quality W's, in particular the win versus current number one, maybe this OU team is the ceiling for the great teams in 2015-16. If that's the case they have every chance to cut down the nets.


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[skyvue]

I think it was a falloff in shooting, first and foremost. Defense plays a role in that, of course, but we missed plenty of open shots to have allowed us to win virtually all of the games we lost.

I'm not a member of the we're-not-that-good camp that's formed in recent days in one corner of our fanbase. We had two many big wins over too long a time. It's telling how in the eyes of some of our fans, four or five subpar games outweigh so many terrific ones.

The national press doesn't see it that way, but many of our fans do.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I think it was a falloff in shooting, first and foremost. Defense plays a role in that, of course, but we missed plenty of open shots to have allowed us to win virtually all of the games we lost.

I'm not a member of the we're-not-that-good camp that's formed in recent days in one corner of our fanbase. We had two many big wins over too long a time. It's telling how in the eyes of some of our fans, four or five subpar games outweigh so many terrific ones.

The national press doesn't see it that way, but many of our fans do.

Agreed.

The fact we played so poorly vs KU and according to Self that's about as good of defense as KU can play and we still had a great shot to win, should have won actually. Not to mention their 4th or 5th best scorer on KU had a career day against us.

 

[oudna]

Shooting 47% from 3 as a team, 20 games in, was unsustainable.

But so is our poor shooting of the last 6 games.

True talent is somewhere in between.

 

[oudna]

I also don't think it was any accident that it coincided, for the most part, with Big 12 teams getting a second look at OU and figuring out some ways to defend them.

Everyone besides Buddy is getting countless open looks from 3. Especially the last two games (Tech/WVU). Combination of going cold and lacking confidence to keep shooting.

 

[Zimwillett]

I think it was a falloff in shooting, first and foremost. Defense plays a role in that, of course, but we missed plenty of open shots to have allowed us to win virtually all of the games we lost.

I'm not a member of the we're-not-that-good camp that's formed in recent days in one corner of our fanbase. We had two many big wins over too long a time. It's telling how in the eyes of some of our fans, four or five subpar games outweigh so many terrific ones.

The national press doesn't see it that way, but many of our fans do.

I think it's partially a general lack of perspective. KU was seen to be in a "slump" through most of January (lost @ WVU, only beat TCU by 7 in Lawrence, got blown out at OSU, jittery win vs. UT, loss at ISU). Virginia lost 3 of 4 to some bad teams (Va. Tech, Ga. Tech, and FSU). UNC fans were freaking out when they lost back to back at Louisville and Notre Dame. Michigan State lost 3 in a row (partially because Valentine was hurt). Maryland lost back to back (home to Wisconsin and @ awful Minnesota). Texas A&M went from top 5 to out of the top 25 in less than two weeks. Etc. Etc. Etc.

The point is a "slump" isn't unique to OU (especially this season). It happens to good teams across the country. Once you appreciate that fact, it's much easier to not freak out when OU hits a little rough patch.

 

[skyvue]

The point is a "slump" isn't unique to OU (especially this season). It happens to good teams across the country. Once you appreciate that fact, it's much easier to not freak out when OU hits a little rough patch.

That's right. And while A&M quickly dropped out of the Top 25, OU's been top 3 in one or both polls for what, 11 consecutive weeks? That says that nationally, our accomplishments are recognized. And most OU fans appreciate them, too, but some of our fans are too quick to downgrade us. This has been one of the best seasons in OU hoops history.

 

[sperry]

Everyone besides Buddy is getting countless open looks from 3. Especially the last two games (Tech/WVU). Combination of going cold and lacking confidence to keep shooting.

Yep, Buddy and Cousins are well defended, but everyone else is WIDE open to shoot 3s. They just haven't been falling over the last 5 or 6.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Yep, Buddy and Cousins are well defended, but everyone else is WIDE open to shoot 3s. They just haven't been falling over the last 5 or 6.

We played a number of games in a row where Woodard was covered like a blanket usually by a taller player: LSU, KSU, and Texas specifically.

 

[coolm]

like Sky said at least OU has been getting excellent press.

Actually we really couldnt ask for them to treat OU much better in the media. Buddy has been all over the screen and the team has been shown a wider latitude in the polls.

I think Kruger has a lot to do with that.

 

[IndySooner]

I think all teams go through swoons. Hopefully, ours is over and we're ready for a tournament run.

 

[sperry]

We played a number of games in a row where Woodard was covered like a blanket usually by a taller player: LSU, KSU, and Texas specifically.

Cousins was left open in those ones. In the past three games, Woodard has been left open. He made his shots in the Tech game, didn't in the KU/WVU games.