Are we ever?

Will we ever win a National Championship?

  • Yes

    Votes: 14 45.2%
  • No

    Votes: 18 58.1%

  • Total voters
    31

mystery32

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Going to win a NC? Just curious, and when do you think it will happen?
 
When the pieces fit.

They almost did in 2002, but we didn't quite have the pieces that UConn had. Their pieces fit, too, and they had long pro careers.
 
When the pieces fit.

They almost did in 2002, but we didn't quite have the pieces that UConn had. Their pieces fit, too, and they had long pro careers.

I am the eternal optimist, and I have to agree with this. I really think we are getting close to putting the pieces together of having a team that can certainly compete for one over the next 3 to 4 years. I don't worry about putting points in the basket, if we can shore up our interior defense and rebounding, we are getting close to being tough to beat. It will be interesting what we see on the recruiting front the next couple of years.
 
I have to say no. Sherri is good enough to coach us to a NC but it takes talent. There remains a difference in talent that the elite teams sign vs the girls we sign. We have talked at various times that it is extremely difficult to beat the best without 2 elite players on the roster. Baylor didn't even win it all this year and they had 2 elite players. But, without those two players they would not have won it all last year. We need a couple of Lewis, Stewart, Diggins, etc type players and I don't see that as a likely probability. We sometimes are considered by elite players but they aren't choosing OU. Unless our staff starts recruiting better or unless Sherri changes some staff to add better recruiters, I think we will be good but not able to beat the best teams.

I sure hope I'm wrong.
 
I am the eternal optimist, and I have to agree with this. I really think we are getting close to putting the pieces together of having a team that can certainly compete for one over the next 3 to 4 years. I don't worry about putting points in the basket, if we can shore up our interior defense and rebounding, we are getting close to being tough to beat. It will be interesting what we see on the recruiting front the next couple of years.

I tend to the opposite direction. I think we will always be able to play defense. Sherri teaches the type of defense that takes away good shots and runs the shot clock down. That results in fewer fouls than trying to steal the ball, which some regard as defense.

I think that we had the pieces === almost===when Courtney was a freshman. We had a fairly dominant interior that could score and rebound. What we lacked is something that I don't think we've had in recent years----a couple of scorers. Even one can be enough, if it is the right type.

If you make the Sweet Sixteen, the chances are pretty good that you play outstanding defense. Sweet Sixteen teams tend to be well-coached, have some talent, and play defense. The thing that separates teams from that point is whether they can score. Do they have someone that is particularly difficult to guard, or who can make things happen. Do they have a Sophia, an Angel, a Maya, a Breanna? Teams that win have one thing that the teams that don't win don't have, or they have better, they have someone who can overcome the defense.

We have had some pretty good scorers, but they aren't the type that can take over a game in the Final Four. Indeed, they can disappear.

If we want to, we probably have the talent to make the Final Four next year, assuming that Kaylon and Maddie are healthy by mid-year. If they have had a full recovery by the end of the season, we can do it. Defense is a matter of want to---and Sherri generally has players who want to. Rebounding is a matter of want to. If we have a couple of good rebounders between Nicole Griffin, Nicole Kornet, Kaylon, Portia, Shaya, and Maddie, we will be OK on the boards. A couple of them have to want to.

I look more to what we might see from Maddie, Derica, Gioya, and Sharane as scorers. We know who Aaryn is. What we need is scoers who can make things happen when it is tough, who can hit mid-range shots as well as long range shots. We need an Angel, a Breanna, a Lewis----the kids who want the ball when we can't score and want to make it happen.

My excitement about Maddie is that I saw someone who I think will be like this. I see a little of Breanna in Maddie. Maddie is less polished---right now. But, she also has an attitude. We also need that attitude. I was very excited when I saw the video of Shaya against Miami. I may even be more excited by the shooting skills that I saw from Derica in the finals. I'm looking for that go-to scorer---or two---who can make it happen. I think that is what has kept us from the title.
 
I have to say no. Sherri is good enough to coach us to a NC but it takes talent. There remains a difference in talent that the elite teams sign vs the girls we sign. We have talked at various times that it is extremely difficult to beat the best without 2 elite players on the roster. Baylor didn't even win it all this year and they had 2 elite players. But, without those two players they would not have won it all last year. We need a couple of Lewis, Stewart, Diggins, etc type players and I don't see that as a likely probability. We sometimes are considered by elite players but they aren't choosing OU. Unless our staff starts recruiting better or unless Sherri changes some staff to add better recruiters, I think we will be good but not able to beat the best teams.

I sure hope I'm wrong.


I agree with you Norm. Sherri can get us there if she can get the talent equal to the top schools. Right now it's not happening.
 
No to win you have to have players like Syb talked about for scoring as well as rebounding , those players are not coming to OU.
 
What's important is the journey, not the destination.

When I go to the Grand Canyon, I'm always more interested in the destination. :)

I understand what you mean but I just don't look at it that way. Yes, I like the journey but to me the goal should be a NC. If you don't earn that honor, the season didn't end the way it should have.
 
What's important is the journey, not the destination.

Tango, you are a bad fan who settles for mediocrity, just as I am.

I don't know if we will ever win a National championship or not. Anyone who says they do know, is talking through their hat.

We all know that the team that wins the NC is the team that gets hot, that catches magic in a bottle during the tournament, that has some breaks along the way. Louisville did it against Baylor, but couldn't capture that same magic against UConn. We've seen it with teams like the NC State men's team, the Villanova men and, much to our chagrin, the KU men in 1988. In the women's tournament, we saw it with Baylor when they won their 1st NC. Were the Purdue or the Michigan women dominant teams when they won?

If a team full of McDonald's All American's is required, we might not ever win a NC. If you have to deal with slimy AAU coaches to get good players, we might not ever win a NC. But if putting together a team of good players who have good chemistry is required, we will always have a chance to get hot, to catch magic in a bottle, like other teams have done in the past.
 
what Sherri needs is the state of Oklahoma to produce a female version of Waymon Tisdale. Unless our recruiting improves the talent gap is too big to overcome to expect us to beat teams like Uconn.
 
When I go to the Grand Canyon, I'm always more interested in the destination. :)

I understand what you mean but I just don't look at it that way. Yes, I like the journey but to me the goal should be a NC. If you don't earn that honor, the season didn't end the way it should have.

So by your way of thinking, you just wasted a year following the Sooners because they didn't reach their (or your) goal. That's not the way I see this year. I was inspired and energized by what I saw, and I can't wait for next year's journey.

I guess that's forever the difference between us.
 
The Yankees don't win every year. Even before the draft, they didn't win every year. The lowest paid teams in baseball often win.

UConn, Stanford, and Tennessee don't get all of the good players, just enough to make some people jealous. You can cheat and beat them. Then, there is that opportunity to find the right people who realize that their best is good enough if they will just work on their best.

There is that undiscovered prospect. More often, there is that prospect who wasn't sensational in highschool or AAU, but who matured just a bit later. Maybe, they just got their confidence when they played against others. If Breanna Stewart had not found her confidence, Louisville or Notre Dame would have become the national champions. There is that player who will suddenly develop beyond what was anticipated.

That's what coaching and college is all about. It really isn't about getting the McDonald's All-Americans. What have you achieved if all you do is to get the best and win with them? Does that move the sport forward?

OU will no sooner win the national title than we will put a man on the moon. Wait a minute? Didn't that dream come true?
 
Any thing can Happy just need all the right chips to fall...
 
So by your way of thinking, you just wasted a year following the Sooners because they didn't reach their (or your) goal. That's not the way I see this year. I was inspired and energized by what I saw, and I can't wait for next year's journey.

I guess that's forever the difference between us.

Your analogy is no more accurate than if I said you would be just as happy if we didn't win a single game.
 
The Yankees don't win every year. Even before the draft, they didn't win every year. The lowest paid teams in baseball often win.

UConn, Stanford, and Tennessee don't get all of the good players, just enough to make some people jealous. You can cheat and beat them. Then, there is that opportunity to find the right people who realize that their best is good enough if they will just work on their best.

There is that undiscovered prospect. More often, there is that prospect who wasn't sensational in highschool or AAU, but who matured just a bit later. Maybe, they just got their confidence when they played against others. If Breanna Stewart had not found her confidence, Louisville or Notre Dame would have become the national champions. There is that player who will suddenly develop beyond what was anticipated.

That's what coaching and college is all about. It really isn't about getting the McDonald's All-Americans. What have you achieved if all you do is to get the best and win with them? Does that move tuhe sport forward?

OU will no sooner win the national title than we will put a man on the moon. Wait a minute? Didn't that dream come true?

When you look at the teams that win the national championships, the list would be very short of the teams without 2 or more highly ranked players. Stewart was the highest ranked player last year so it isn't any wonder that she developed the way she did this year. Lewis was a great high school player.

Can a team possibly win without at least one great player? Sure, anything is possible. It's possible one of us on this board will win the lottery this week. But, it's highly unlikely.
 
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When you look at the teams that win the national championships, the list would be very short of the teams without 2 or more highly ranked players. Stewart was the highest ranked player last year so it isn't any wonder that she developed the way she did this year. Lewis was a great high school player.

Can a team possibly win without at least one great player? Sure, anything is possible. It's possible one of us on this board will win the lottery this week. But, it's highly unlikely.

Are all great players highly-ranked by HoopGurlz (or whomever) upon graduation?
 
Are all great players highly-ranked by HoopGurlz (or whomever) upon graduation?

The rankings speak for themselves. If it isn't important to sign highly ranked players, why are virtually all of Geno's players McDonalds AA? Why isn't he taking some unranked kids with the hope they will become clones of McDonalds AA players?
 
The rankings speak for themselves. If it isn't important to sign highly ranked players, why are virtually all of Geno's players McDonalds AA? Why isn't he taking some unranked kids with the hope they will become clones of McDonalds AA players?
Are all of his All-Americans great players?
 
Are all of his All-Americans great players?

Pretty much! He has talent all over the court and his reserves would start at a lot of places. But, as I have said previously, you don't need all 5 starters to be great players, just 2. IF Sherri could land 2 Stewart-Lewis type players to go along with 3 other really good players, we would certainly have a chance of winning it all. Without those type of players, it is unlikely we will ever be able to beat the UCONNs, Notre Dames, Tenn, and Stanfords of the world for the title.

If you disagree with what I've said (and apparently you do) give me a list of the teams which have won a NC in the last 10 years and let's see if they all have some great players or not.
 
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