Bill Self on Oklahoma

[OUHoops]

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2014/feb/24/jayhawks-aim-clinch-10th-straight-big-12-title-ton/

Last year, KU shared the title with Kansas State after losing its league finale at Baylor.

“We’ve been fortunate here the last several years ... not every day you can clinch at least a piece of the championship at home,” Self said. “I think our guys will put forth the concentration to give us the best chance to do that. We will not take it for granted. It won’t be easy. OU will spread you and drive you. It’s what we have the hardest time guarding.”

Coach Lon Kruger’s Sooners have a 4-3 record in Big 12 road games this year, second in the league to KU’s 5-2 mark. The Sooners rank second to Iowa State in scoring offense (82.8 ppg), but are last in scoring defense (76.8). KU is fourth in scoring offense (79.7) and fourth in defense (69.1). In league-only games, KU is first in scoring offense (81.5 ppg) and OU third (78.6). The Jayhawks are tied for second in scoring defense (69.9); OU is tied for seventh (75.9).

“The way Oklahoma plays I think is a great way to play on the road,” Self said. “There’s a lot of isolation, going one on one. If a couple guys are having good nights ... Lon is so good at moving guys around and getting guys the ball with an unused dribble in certain areas.”

KU won the first meeting, 90-83, on Jan. 8 in Norman. OU’s Cameron Clark led all scorers with 32 points, while Buddy Hield had 18. KU was led by Wayne Selden, who scored 24 points. Perry Ellis had 22 and Tharpe 17.

“We were fortunate the first time we played. We played well,” Self said. “They also missed some shots (OU was 6-of-19 from three). We’ve got to do a good job defending the three and guarding the ball.”

OU, which has the league’s top rebounder in Ryan Spangler (9.6 rpg), downed K-State, 86-73, on Saturday in Norman, for its third win in four games. OU led, 41-22, at halftime.

“They are coming off a big win,” KU senior center Tarik Black said. “They beat a team that beat us (KSU). I watched the beginning of that game. They were shooting well. We better be ready because this team (OU) is dangerous.”

 

[SoonerTraveler]

“The way Oklahoma plays I think is a great way to play on the road,” Self said. “There’s a lot of isolation, going one on one. If a couple guys are having good nights ... Lon is so good at moving guys around and getting guys the ball with an unused dribble in certain areas.”

Self makes a very interesting observation here that makes a lot of sense. Playing a free-flowing offense like the one Lon is encouraging this season takes a lot of mental pressure off players on the road. The team works for good shots, but everyone has the green light when they are open.

 

[pnkranger]

We are tied with Iowa State for the best Road+Neutral record at 8-4. In Big 12 play, only KU and OU have winning road records -- and we are yet to face TCU on the road.

That W. Virginia game really makes me want to puke the more I think about it. And Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech. Those three games are the difference between where we are and:

a solid top 15 ranking
a solid 4 seed
a chance to win the Big 12

Water under the bridge, right?

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Yes, it is water under the bridge. The Sooner also won their share of games that went down to the wire. The game in Waco comes to mind.

But yes, it is frustrating to look back on those games you mention. We can hope that the Sooner sophomores and freshmen learned valuable lessons from those games that will pay off in wins over the upcoming seasons.

 

[BoulderSooner]

We are tied with Iowa State for the best Road+Neutral record at 8-4. In Big 12 play, only KU and OU have winning road records -- and we are yet to face TCU on the road.

That W. Virginia game really makes me want to puke the more I think about it. And Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech. Those three games are the difference between where we are and:

a solid top 15 ranking
a solid 4 seed
a chance to win the Big 12

Water under the bridge, right?

if we had won those 3 games we would be 23-4 with losses to ISU KU MSU and KSU we would be very close to the top 10 with an RPI in the top 5 ... and we would be looking at a 2 or 3 seed at worst ..