Back next year?

[bob the nailer]

I need someone to talk me back from the ledge. Right now I am not sure I can renew my tickets for next year. I am a long time football(25 yrs) and mens and women's(20 years) season ticket holder, as well as OKC Thunder have 50% of two seats. In basketball season we drive from Edmond at least once and often twice a week between men and women. I look at our team and see what we have coming back, and the new recruits, looks like more of the same. 3 girls coming in no lone over 6 ft. Llanusa is good, the new point guard will be a junior before she sees any significant time as long as ortiz is here and a 6ft forward? That doesn't get it done
Probably I'm a bad fan, and probably when push comes to shove I'll pony up for the tickets but its a good thing I don't have to make that decision in the next two days.

 

[soonerstar]

Same starting lineup next year, except Little is gone and maybe Llanusa in her place. Do not see anything changing . Same ol same o.

 

[sybarite]

First, I've seen Mandy Simpson listed at 6-0 to 6-2. Osahor isn't a bad rebounder, and she is only 6-3. Nina Davis is only 5-11 (I think), and she is pretty good. It's about attitude, and what Sherri indicated was that she goes to the boards.

Secondly, I would not be at all surprised to see Shaina as our starting point guard late next year if she is, as Sherri said, as quick or quicker than DRob. The Youtube stuff I've seen show that she is very, very quick, and she is a much better offensive scorer than DRob was. Gabbi is a senior next year.

Thirdly, Ana is listed from 6-0 to 6-2, usually around 6-1. She played post at times. She is probably the best shooter that we have recruited in ten years. If she hadn't committed as a freshman, she would probably have been a top one or two guard. guard.

We had four people in double figures tonight. One was a freshman guard who was 6 of 12 from the field and looked like she belonged in such a game, Chelsea.

We'll be competitive.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Same starting lineup next year, except Little is gone and maybe Llanusa in her place. Do not see anything changing . Same ol same o.

You mean the same starting lineup as the last two games with Llanusa replacing Little.

 

[Hoopdreams79]

I agree Peyton wasn't as good as she has been but she gave it all every second she played Ana will do the same. Depth with be an issue Carter was a big piece not many speak about and I think pellington will be a much better version of tt maybe a Carter Tt combination type of kid. Not sure about the pg position she can play it but mostly as a scorer don't really see her making players better she was substituted for a lot in the Canadian national game by a much less talented player but one who made the most of other team members. But she's an athlete I think more than the offensive end shaina will bring a step up on the defenseive end immediately that is something this team desperately needs. She can handle the ball in transition but I still believe gabbi is the pg. the next season once gabbi is gone will bring OU its next pg whoever that may be. I do agree other than a true pg size is much needed but skilled size. No projects.

 

[soonerstar]

You mean the same starting lineup as the last two games with Llanusa replacing Little.

That is what I meant. Dungee started 18 games this year, not just the last 2. VPL started 14 of 33 games, but that is only because Mulkey started to get the tip and was out in a couple minutes. That is the only reasin I could think of why she started.

 

[Mac]

First, I've seen Mandy Simpson listed at 6-0 to 6-2. Osahor isn't a bad rebounder, and she is only 6-3. Nina Davis is only 5-11 (I think), and she is pretty good. It's about attitude, and what Sherri indicated was that she goes to the boards.

Secondly, I would not be at all surprised to see Shaina as our starting point guard late next year if she is, as Sherri said, as quick or quicker than DRob. The Youtube stuff I've seen show that she is very, very quick, and she is a much better offensive scorer than DRob was. Gabbi is a senior next year.

Thirdly, Ana is listed from 6-0 to 6-2, usually around 6-1. She played post at times. She is probably the best shooter that we have recruited in ten years. If she hadn't committed as a freshman, she would probably have been a top one or two guard. guard.

We had four people in double figures tonight. One was a freshman guard who was 6 of 12 from the field and looked like she belonged in such a game, Chelsea.

We'll be competitive.

Normally kids don't improve much at OU, Stevenson is the only kid I can think of because she worked herself into a 3 point specialist... you look at players like Thompson, Courtney Paris, Drob, all pretty much stayed the same while at OU... so when you get a kid like a Simpson you don't expect her to improve much.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

That is what I meant. Dungee started 18 games this year, not just the last 2. VPL started 14 of 33 games, but that is only because Mulkey started to get the tip and was out in a couple minutes. That is the only reasin I could think of why she started.

Agreed. I never really considered Nancy the starter except in a kind of technical way. Vivi was effectively our starting center.

 

[Soonercuda]

Normally kids don't improve much at OU, Stevenson is the only kid I can think of because she worked herself into a 3 point specialist... you look at players like Thompson, Courtney Paris, Drob, all pretty much stayed the same while at OU... so when you get a kid like a Simpson you don't expect her to improve much.

If OU doesn't develop players and OU doesn't recruit well how do we keep making the tournament and winning 20+ games with a tough schedule. I think we do a good job of both...we just don't do the great job you need to do to be a top 10 program. I agree with the group that believe the primary improvement we need to being a top 10 program is to make the leap in recruiting. We have to get more top 25 type kids to be competitive with Baylor. Ana Llanusa is a good start but we need 2 or 3 Ana or close to Ana level recruits in every class.

 

[sybarite]

Normally kids don't improve much at OU, Stevenson is the only kid I can think of because she worked herself into a 3 point specialist... you look at players like Thompson, Courtney Paris, Drob, all pretty much stayed the same while at OU... so when you get a kid like a Simpson you don't expect her to improve much.

Did you see DRob as a freshman?

 

[soonermike22]

We may not get the returning 4 + Ana. We have Morgan Rich on the bench, who was a highly recruited player-no idea why she didn't play, but IF she is a player and was slowed down with injury, maybe she will make a move. McKenna Treece had a bad hip,-Can she get healthy? Will Nancy Mulkey live in the weight room, the gym, and the malt shop and get the heft and confidence to vastly improve. Gisella Penzo has the basketball savvy to play, but has looked slow-Is it injury related, and can she use the off-season to improve enough to earn a spot?
And I don't think any (YES ANY) of the returning starters have shown enough to have a spot sewn up. ViVi is bad against bigger centers. Maddie disappears at times, and can't stay in from of majority of opponents one on one. Gabbi started this year poorly, and got better, but not to her potential. Chelsea as a freshman is the closest IMO to locking down a spot next year.
My hope is that we have lost the inability to be consistent, and that depth pushes starters to get better, rather than remain up and down.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Did you see DRob as a freshman?

DRob as a freshman and as a senior were definitely two different players. As a senior she shot 46% from the field, 84% from the line and 18.3 points but she did still average nearly 4 turnovers per game. She did nothing close to that as a freshman. But she may be one of a low percentage of players that make significant improvements in their game while at OU.

 

[bob the nailer]

No way drob and amanda didn't improve. Courtney didn't but mostly her fault because she wouldn't get in shape. Look at the difference in Ashley Paris freshman to senior. Other than turnovers I don't have any issues with the way sherri coaches. It's the recruiting or lack thereof thats the problem

 

[tooney]

No way drob and amanda didn't improve. Courtney didn't but mostly her fault because she wouldn't get in shape. Look at the difference in Ashley Paris freshman to senior. Other than turnovers I don't have any issues with the way sherri coaches. It's the recruiting or lack thereof thats the problem

Was that Courtney's fault.....or the coaches??? Sometimes players need a little persuasive motivation.

I wonder about some of this years players. How good is the strength and conditioning coach???

:OU-logo:

 

[Soonerbay]

No way drob and amanda didn't improve. Courtney didn't but mostly her fault because she wouldn't get in shape. Look at the difference in Ashley Paris freshman to senior. Other than turnovers I don't have any issues with the way sherri coaches. It's the recruiting or lack thereof thats the problem

Nailer, you are so far off base until it's not even funny. IMHO...ALL of the guards "should" have made some improvement considering the HC/SC played the position; experience is always the best teacher. But overall and generally speaking, skill development appears to be lacking in Norman...for years!

You like many others (and too many men) judge CParis on her body type. She may not look how you want her to look while she's on the court kicking arses and taking names after the fact and helping to bring OU women's basketball national exposure. She may not look like you'd like when her OU, B12 and NCAA records are being set. But who has done it better at 100 pounds or 300? What more could she do for the program? AParis lost some weight her senior year but it had nothing to do with development. She was very successful her last two years without any continued development after high school. If she had been given the opportunity to play more/start her freshman and sophomore years...such as Georgia Coach Andy Landers stated after she put a whooping on his post players...she would be further up the list in stats and productivity at OU. She did in two years what most do not accomplish in four. And it is still my opinion (and many others in hoops circles) that OU would have at least one NC if AParis remained on the court during the Stanford Sweet 16 game. The bracket was made for OU that year!

CParis has been doing a great job in the WNBA and an even better job where they know how to use her skills in Europe. She plays nearly the entire game in the WNBA and Europe. What kind of "shape" do you want her to be? OR...do you want her looking like a Khardashian model when she's doing it? And clearly, CParis obviously does not care what you and others think about her body type (see article below).

There are lots of skinny well-conditioned athletes that have not accomplished squat for their college team. The last person you as an OU fan should have anything negative to say are the Paris twins; specifically CParis. I know it's been a long time, but remember when sponsors were glad to advertise, when season tickets took up the entire lower level except students, when LNC was packed out every game, when all of the games were nationally televised, when national media was in tune to what happens with OU WBB, money was pouring into the program....remember? It was 2005-2010...and now completely off the radar. When was the last time the NY Times wrote about anything in Norman that is positive?

Nailer, gain some knowledge before you speak/type. Here are a few pieces of information that might help you:

"Courtney Paris is averaging a phenomenal season double-double of 16.3 points and 13.7 boards per game across EuroLeague and EuroCup Women."
http://www.fiba.com/europe/eurocupw...emi-finals-first-leg-preview-tuesday-21-march

"Paris, a 19-year-old sophomore, said she did not generally care if people asked about her weight, saying, “It’s not like I can hide who I am.” She said she was proud and glad to be in game shape, but “being in shape and being conditioned well are things I really have to work on.”

"If Paris lost weight, “she might not be as strong or she might be distracted by trying to maintain the weight loss and might not perform as well,” said Thompson, an Oklahoma graduate who said he did not know Paris."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/sports/ncaabasketball/08weight.html

Obviously they (Paris twins) did it right. And if it makes you feel better...SC said as much.
"If you do it right, there’s supposed to be some residual impact.”

"The Paris sisters might not have convinced Olajuwon to become a Sooner, but they opened her eyes to the possibility.

Ditto for Danielle Robinson.

Growing up in Northern California, she played for the same summer basketball program as the Paris twins. Even though Robinson was never on the same age-group team with them, she knew what kind of talent they had.

"To see them leave California and come to the Big 12 made me realize there’s bigger and better things away from home,” she said. "Once I stepped on campus, I knew this is where I wanted to be.”

http://newsok.com/article/3449751

...drop the mic!

 

[Soonerbay]

Was that Courtney's fault.....or the coaches??? Sometimes players need a little persuasive motivation.

I wonder about some of this years players. How good is the strength and conditioning coach???

:OU-logo:

Not anyone's 'fault". "Fault" cannot deliver the productivity that she delivered. Critics want to say, "Well, imagine what she could have done if she lost weight." Ok...maybe she would not have accomplished what she did. It surely was not going to bring a NC if she lost weight. IMHO...they needed some X and O strategy improvement from the coaching staff and player skill development. It had nothing to do with her weight. Just like coaches can't take care of the ball or score from the bench...players can't (and should not have to) do what coaches are paid to do.

 

[Mac]

Nailer, you are so far off base until it's not even funny. IMHO...ALL of the guards "should" have made some improvement considering the HC/SC played the position; experience is always the best teacher. But overall and generally speaking, skill development appears to be lacking in Norman...for years!

You like many others (and too many men) judge CParis on her body type. She may not look how you want her to look while she's on the court kicking arses and taking names after the fact and helping to bring OU women's basketball national exposure. She may not look like you'd like when her OU, B12 and NCAA records are being set. But who has done it better at 100 pounds or 300? What more could she do for the program? AParis lost some weight her senior year but it had nothing to do with development. She was very successful her last two years without any continued development after high school. If she had been given the opportunity to play more/start her freshman and sophomore years...such as Georgia Coach Andy Landers stated after she put a whooping on his post players...she would be further up the list in stats and productivity at OU. She did in two years what most do not accomplish in four. And it is still my opinion (and many others in hoops circles) that OU would have at least one NC if AParis remained on the court during the Stanford Sweet 16 game. The bracket was made for OU that year!

CParis has been doing a great job in the WNBA and an even better job where they know how to use her skills in Europe. She plays nearly the entire game in the WNBA and Europe. What kind of "shape" do you want her to be? OR...do you want her looking like a Khardashian model when she's doing it? And clearly, CParis obviously does not care what you and others think about her body type (see article below).

There are lots of skinny well-conditioned athletes that have not accomplished squat for their college team. The last person you as an OU fan should have anything negative to say are the Paris twins; specifically CParis. I know it's been a long time, but remember when sponsors were glad to advertise, when season tickets took up the entire lower level except students, when LNC was packed out every game, when all of the games were nationally televised, when national media was in tune to what happens with OU WBB, money was pouring into the program....remember? It was 2005-2010...and now completely off the radar. When was the last time the NY Times wrote about anything in Norman that is positive?

Nailer, gain some knowledge before you speak/type. Here are a few pieces of information that might help you:

"Courtney Paris is averaging a phenomenal season double-double of 16.3 points and 13.7 boards per game across EuroLeague and EuroCup Women."
http://www.fiba.com/europe/eurocupw...emi-finals-first-leg-preview-tuesday-21-march

"Paris, a 19-year-old sophomore, said she did not generally care if people asked about her weight, saying, “It’s not like I can hide who I am.” She said she was proud and glad to be in game shape, but “being in shape and being conditioned well are things I really have to work on.”

"If Paris lost weight, “she might not be as strong or she might be distracted by trying to maintain the weight loss and might not perform as well,” said Thompson, an Oklahoma graduate who said he did not know Paris."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/sports/ncaabasketball/08weight.html

Obviously they (Paris twins) did it right. And if it makes you feel better...SC said as much.
"If you do it right, there’s supposed to be some residual impact.”

"The Paris sisters might not have convinced Olajuwon to become a Sooner, but they opened her eyes to the possibility.

Ditto for Danielle Robinson.

Growing up in Northern California, she played for the same summer basketball program as the Paris twins. Even though Robinson was never on the same age-group team with them, she knew what kind of talent they had.

"To see them leave California and come to the Big 12 made me realize there’s bigger and better things away from home,” she said. "Once I stepped on campus, I knew this is where I wanted to be.”

http://newsok.com/article/3449751

...drop the mic!

Not sure I could have said it any better +1...

drob never became a 3 point shooter... compare that to a player like Moriah Jefferson who played at uconn, Kay Kay would continue to foul all the way up to her senior year, looks like vivi is the same... the stuff Ashley did in her senior year is the same stuff she could do in high school, being forced to sit behind Rush for 2 years just didn't allow her to show what she could do... I think it was more a lack of confidence.

 

[Soonerbay]

Not sure I could have said it any better +1...

drob never became a 3 point shooter... compare that to a player like Moriah Jefferson who played at uconn, Kay Kay would continue to foul all the way up to her senior year, looks like vivi is the same... the stuff Ashley did in her senior year is the same stuff she could do in high school, being forced to sit behind Rush for 2 years just didn't allow her to show what she could do... I think it was more a lack of confidence.

I think you're right. AParis was a very confident player prior to OU. She was primarily used as her sister's backup...something she had never ever done... during their frosh and soph years at OU, after playing all of their lives as a 1-2 punch. Chemistry is one of the greatest strengths in the game of hoops. If AParis had gone most anywhere else as the #3 player in the country that year, and the #2 post player (only behind her sister, a different kind of post)...who knows. But IMHO...OU never took advantage of the opportunity to have both on the team. There was a reason every coach in the NCAA wanted both.

All of this is just chatter for a forum such as this, but one can't help but to wonder how much more successful OU WBB would be if...take your pick from the list of many. JMHO and a nickel.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Courtney is the greatest player to ever play Women's basketball at OU - and perhaps in the country. There is a reason why she became the first woman to be a 4 time All American.

Ashley did - without any doubt - become a better player as a senior than she had been before - while easily and happily admitting that she was a wonderful player all 4 years. She spent the summer in California - apparently under the mentoring of a coach out there. She did lose a bit of weight - or at least came back in September in terrific shape and more athletic appearing. There were articles in which she joked about trying to get Courtney to work a bit on conditioning. It was never unkind sounding, just two sisters teasing around.

The fact we didn't win a NC was not because of Courtney or Ashley. It was because we never had strong enough guard play those years to support what the twins could do. They were generally our main/only weapons.

It is almost impossible to win a NC without great guards and without excellent inside play. That is part of the reason (plus questionable coaching/stripping at times) why BU found it so hard to win a NC with Griner. They even struggle to get to the final four some years when measured by player accolades they should apparantly never lose.

 

[Soonerbay]

Courtney is the greatest player to ever play Women's basketball at OU - and perhaps in the country. There is a reason why she became the first woman to be a 4 time All American.

Ashley did - without any doubt - become a better player as a senior than she had been before - while easily and happily admitting that she was a wonderful player all 4 years. She spent the summer in California - apparently under the mentoring of a coach out there. She did lose a bit of weight - or at least came back in September in terrific shape and more athletic appearing. There were articles in which she joked about trying to get Courtney to work a bit on conditioning. It was never unkind sounding, just two sisters teasing around.

The fact we didn't win a NC was not because of Courtney or Ashley. It was because we never had strong enough guard play those years to support what the twins could do. They were generally our main/only weapons.

It is almost impossible to win a NC without great guards and without excellent inside play. That is part of the reason (plus questionable coaching/stripping at times) why BU found it so hard to win a NC with Griner. They even struggle to get to the final four some years when measured by player accolades they should apparantly never lose.

Agreed...I guess it's just been somewhat disappointing that a program with all the potential in the world, has not gone beyond their comfort zone and achieved the most from their resources.