Are We the Best Team in America Right Now?

[furge]

I think it's a fair question to ask!

We just boatraced two teams who went to the Final Four last year in the span of two weeks, pulled out a win against a salty Memphis squad, haven't faced a credible challenge outside that game all year. Our talent isn't MCDAA at any position, but the way this program develops its talent, our upperclassmen all should scare the crap out of any reasonable opponent. Buddy and Isaiah could wind up in the League at any rate. We have legitimate depth at all five positions; Dinjyl especially looks improved, and our post gang is long and disruptive
The youngsters have earned run and can put up D1 numbers. Taken as a whole, the way the squad is playing and its parts fitting together like this -- we may be watching the best college basketball in the country at this moment.

 

[BigTime]

It's us and MSU through the first quarter of the season.

Charles Tapper thinks so! (see Twitter)

 

[opsooner]

No way to know who is really best at this point and it doesn't matter anyway.

 

[geeoh]

Villanova did not make the Final Four last season; they were upset in the round of 32 by NC State. However, we have beaten two 1 seeds from last year's tournament by an average of 20 points!

 

[campbest]

There are a handful of teams in that discussion, but OU has certainly done everything they can as of right now to stake that claim. Top 10 is a worthy distinction IMO.

OU is really good, and having a backcourt like that makes pretty much every game winnable. But, the narrative this year compared to last year's team really isn't much different, if OU makes jump shots, they will win a lot of games. Go cold at the wrong time, could be very problematic. Shooting 50% from 3 as a team isn't sustainable. I'm still worried about Spangler's minutes and the ongoing maturation of our other post players.

As awesome as last night was, any coach will tell you OU isn't 23pts better than Villanova, they played right into our hands. Give credit to the guys for not messing around and putting the Wildcats away.

 

[campbest]

No way to know who is really best at this point and it doesn't matter anyway.

Exactly.

 

[usedtobe1]

No, not in my opinion. Our post players can be exploited. We need to be stronger physically and play better post defense. Spangler can't do it by himself. The 3 centers are often out of position and don't give good help. They're getting pushed around.

JMHO

 

[CoachTalk]

beating a last years final 4 wiscy team isnt the same, not even close.

Its hard to tell, we are up there but we've got a lot to prove.

 

[stormspencer]

There are a handful of teams in that discussion, but OU has certainly done everything they can as of right now to stake that claim. Top 5 is a worthy distinction IMO.

OU is really good, and having a backcourt like that makes pretty much every game winnable. But, the narrative this year compared to last year's team really isn't much different, if OU makes jump shots, they will win a lot of games. Go cold at the wrong time, could be very problematic. Shooting 50% from 3 as a team isn't sustainable. I'm still worried about Spangler's minutes and the ongoing maturation of our other post players.

As awesome as last night was, any coach will tell you OU isn't 23pts better than Villanova, they played right into our hands. Give credit to the guys for not messing around and putting the Wildcats away.

This right here.

 

[Crimson King]

Should be ranked higher for sure. Not that it matters now, but don't like one-loss teams ahead of us.

 

[sperry]

Right now yes. The one and done teams have a lot more growth potential though.

That being said, our veteran backcourt is going to be an extremely tough out in March. If the big men, especially AK, develop to where they can hold their own against the teams with the best frontcourts, we have as good a shot as anyone to take home the title.

 

[stormspencer]

I will be interested to see how Villanova plays the season out. They were thought to be a prohibitive favorite in the Big East, but both Xavier and Butler appear to be better than forecasted and Georgetown will be in the mix as well. When I watched the game yesterday and having not seen them all season, they seemed to lack athleticism and skill that some of their recent teams had. Part of that was OU made them look bad, but I think Nova might be a little overrated at this point. I still think they are a top-15ish team, but seeing how they fare at Virginia next Saturday will tell us more about what type of team they are (and can be).

 

[MNsooner]

It's one thing to shoot 50% from 3 and win a close game. It's another to shot 50% from the 3 and win in a total blowout. If we shot significantly worse, we probably still win that game.

 

[DenverSooner]

OU's top four three point shooters are shooting a combined 50% on the season.

Heild is 17-35 for .486
Cousins is 14-26 for .538
Spangler is 5-11 for .455
Woodard is 13-25 for .520

that is a combined 49-97 for .505

Additionally, James is 3-6 for .500, Odomes is 1-3 for .333, Walker is 4-13 for .308 and Buford is 2-4 for .500. The bench is a combined 10-26 for .384. (I did not count Mankin, Cole, Alade and Harper taking trees in garbage time).

That is insane three point shooting. I guaranty opposing coaches notice this. The point production from three point shooting by the starter is the equivalent of 75.75% shooting from inside the arc.

If someone can learn to play with his back to the basket before the season is over and this shooting continues, OU is darn near unbeatable. (And I don't mean 50%, if all four starters are above 40% on the season, good luck defending that)

 

[campbest]

It's one thing to shoot 50% from 3 and win a close game. It's another to shot 50% from the 3 and win in a total blowout. If we shot significantly worse, we probably still win that game.

Agreed, but if we are talking consistent production, highly doubt Villanova's splits are going to be 31/12/68. That's downright terrible.

 

[skyvue]

There's little doubt Villanova had a bad game shooting the ball. We had something to do with that, but it wasn't entirely due to our defense.

But they'd have had to shoot a heckuva lot better to make up a 23-point deficit. There really aren't any what-ifs associated with that game. Yes, Villanova will shoot better, but it wasn't only poor shooting that did them in yesterday.

 

[DenverSooner]

Exactly, OU beat them on the boards and had more assists. The only thing Villanova did better was have less turn overs and more steals. OU dominated that team.

 

[MisterF]

That's a hard question. But I would rather focus on how far this program has progressed in the last four years. Boys we are good and nobody is going to want to play OU.

 

[TINY]

Right now yes. The one and done teams have a lot more growth potential though.

That being said, our veteran backcourt is going to be an extremely tough out in March. If the big men, especially AK, develop to where they can hold their own against the teams with the best frontcourts, we have as good a shot as anyone to take home the title.

+1.

 

[MNsooner]

There's little doubt Villanova had a bad game shooting the ball. We had something to do with that, but it wasn't entirely due to our defense.

But they'd have had to shoot a heckuva lot better to make up a 23-point deficit. There really aren't any what-ifs associated with that game. Yes, Villanova will shoot better, but it wasn't only poor shooting that did them in yesterday.

Exactly! When you beat a team that badly, it's almost always because you played well and they played poorly. It's also almost always because you're the better team.

:dance005: