Can this team play better?

[SoonerNorm]

Some have said this team will continue to get better. Obviously, that is the goal with every team. But, when I look at the high level that Peyton, Kaylon, and Gioya are at right now, is it realistic to expect them to get even better?

If your answer is yes, please describe the improvement you expect to see.

 

[YCN]

Some have said this team will continue to get better. Obviously, that is the goal with every team. But, when I look at the high level that Peyton, Kaylon, and Gioya are at right now, is it realistic to expect them to get even better?

If your answer is yes, please describe the improvement you expect to see.

That's a hard question to answer, but I'll give it a try.

Once the players on a team have bought into the whole-team concept, which this team clearly has, then most further improvement will only be incremental. Players will learn what to do under what situations, and the right decisions to make. They won't always be "off-the-charts" spectacular, but the purpose is to win and not necessarily to wow. Leave that to the UConns of the world.

There are two areas that I see that OU should improve in the upcoming months. One is rebounding, and one is reducing turnovers. Rebounds are more about will and placement than anything else, so expect that to happen. Turnovers are a more curious phenomenon in that a lot of turnovers occur because a team wants to reach for a higher level before they are ready to be there. If OU really works on both those issues, I think their ceiling is pretty much unlimited. Statistically, they are on the upside of most of the rest of the game.

 

[sybarite]

Them? Or the team?

I see this as a series of steps, none of which developed last year.

We needed to open up some scoring that did not depend upon post layups or threes. We have had problems with mid-range jumpers.

Enter Gioya. She began to shoot by driving into the middle. This opened up the posts where they could find themselves alone under the basket. Gioya could get the open, if she could just work out the passing. It wasn't Giioya's threes that opened up the offense. It was the drives to the middle that broke down the defenses.

That led to the improvement of Kay Kay. Even Vivi can take advantage of being wide open, although she is still inclined to miss a few layups. Gioya opened up Kay Kay.

Now, Peyton, who was to be the scorer, had been acting rather tight with her shooting. Now, she began to relax and get to the middle. But, she was doing it in transition where they weren't blocking her shots. Now, she was both hitting shots and rebounding, along with getting steals. Now that the team is beginning to flow, we see Peyton hit three threes.

But, Gabbi is still playing like a freshman. Suddenly, Maddie is inserted with instructions to take over the game. Gabbi has this aspect removed, and she relaxes into what she does smoothly, defense and creating shots. She is now beginning to flow.

Now, what can improve?

1. Maddie, who has the ability to score from anywhere, could actually begin to score from anywhere.

2. Gabb, known for her three point game winners in HS, can actually begin to work for her own shot, more like she did in HS.

3. With the pressure not on her to score, Kornet can now come off the bench relaxed. She has the ability to score from anywhere. But, she has needed to relax. She has also seen, finally, how important defense is to scoring as Peyton gets four to six points per game off steals.

4. Vivi, in her learning curve, can realize that she is primarily there to get rebounds, and that she only has to take the shot if it is open. Don't force it.

5. The others now know that the team can survive their mistakes. They don't have to force the game any more. They can simply find what they do best and fit that into the flow of the game.

6. Now that we know what we can do, the entire team can simply work on avoiding the shots that don't have a high probability of success and do those things that do. Now that we CAN, we simply have to make it a part of a flow.

We now know that we don't have to make the spectacular play. The weight of the world is not on our shoulders on this possession. We don't need to do anything stupid. We can now let the attributes that we have operate in the flow that we have created.

The difficulty was in creating the river. It will become wider step by step as it erodes those limitations on the banks.

 

[sybarite]

That's a hard question to answer, but I'll give it a try.

Once the players on a team have bought into the whole-team concept, which this team clearly has, then most further improvement will only be incremental. Players will learn what to do under what situations, and the right decisions to make. They won't always be "off-the-charts" spectacular, but the purpose is to win and not necessarily to wow. Leave that to the UConns of the world.

There are two areas that I see that OU should improve in the upcoming months. One is rebounding, and one is reducing turnovers. Rebounds are more about will and placement than anything else, so expect that to happen. Turnovers are a more curious phenomenon in that a lot of turnovers occur because a team wants to reach for a higher level before they are ready to be there. If OU really works on both those issues, I think their ceiling is pretty much unlimited. Statistically, they are on the upside of most of the rest of the game.

Good response.

 

[YCN]

Good response.

As was your's syb. I'm a passionate fan of OU women's basketball, and I'm ridiculously excited at their potential for this year. Some poster at rebkell dismissed OU for losing to two teams from Arkansas, but I think I took care of that. You don't end up at 23 in the RPI with the 5th toughest schedule by accident. Nor do you win all your six Big 12 games by more than 10 points.

 

[YCN]

Good response.

As was your's syb. I'm a passionate fan of OU women's basketball, and I'm ridiculously excited at their potential for this year. Some poster at rebkell dismissed OU for losing to two teams from Arkansas, but I think I took care of that. You don't end up at 23 in the RPI with the 5th toughest schedule by accident. Nor do you win all your six Big 12 games by more than 10 points by accident.

 

[BigT14]

Even the most perfect teams can improve. Rebounds can improve. Turnovers can improve. I am sure leadership can improve. It looks like to me Peyton is doing a lot of leading.

 

[j2d2]

After so many years, I dont expect turnovers to improve. I would be most happy for the rebounding to improve a lot. The improved defense has contributed somuch to the teams scoring and morale that I hope it continues to improve.

 

[rocjunkie]

We have already learned to go long stretches with few turnovers, the problem is when the girls will lose focus and get comfortable with a double digit lead. They have stretches where they will rush or go too fast. Its when they slow down and get into a rhythm that they become deadly. They are getting close, I can see it. As they work as a team and see no one player has to be the hero or take the team on their shoulders, that is when they play the best. Because to be quite honest, we really have seven kids that have the ability to shoulder the load if need be, and that is dangerous to the defense when they have to stop five and not one.

Rebounding can be better and its getting there, sloppy passes and forced entries are better too, it is all a transition and the kids are embracing it. Work on finishing at the rim and the sky is the limit for this team.

 

[womenssports]

To be redundant, am a Kay Kay fan, but think she is the player that should and needs to improve the most for the success of the team. Certainly believe she can.

Rebounding, free throw shooting, turnovers and dumb fouls are all areas in which we can improve and if just improve a little, it could make a big difference in the season.

It seems to me that more often than not when an ou player shoots, everyone heads to the other end instead of going towards the basket for a rebound. If they are already under the basket then maybe this does not happen but if away from the basket it appears to.

Of course, a team should improve as they play and the coaches should probably direct and focus on the areas that most need improvement, but individually players can focus on their free throws, general shooting. I will be very disappointed if Vivi does not start hitting free throws towards the end of conference play.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Obviously, anyone can see some areas that could use some improvement. Geno would say the same thing. A coach cannot correct everything. But, my original question involved "realistic" expectation to improve. To that I would say it isn't likely we will improve overall. We might get a bit better in some area while dropping off a little in another area. That's the nature of sports and coaching. I don't recall a Sherri Coale team that has ever played better with the talent she has had than this one over the last few games. She should be very proud and so should every fan as well as the team. This team is a lot of fun to watch!

That brings me to the point of this thread. Have we peaked? If so, can we maintain this level of play through the season?

 

[sybarite]

Have we peaked?

No.

Can we sustain this for the entire season?

Yes, .... but. I think we may have a game or two in which we don't play well. Right now, we are playing well in every game, or at least well enough. I could see a slip-up on the road to Iowa State, Texas, or West Virginia. There may be a game in which we are a bit flat at the beginning of a game or half, in which nobody is hitting much of anything. There are off shooting nights. I don't think we are so dominant that we can survive an off night against a good team.

Actually, we haven't played as well in the past two games. I'm glad we were playing TCU and OSU rather than Texas, Iowa State, or Baylor. We expected to win the last two.

 

[Three toe]

Frankly, I don't know. As many have said - who knew they would ever get as good as they are now?

The question that can be answered, however, is if we as a "fan base" will support them regardless of what the future holds. Every one loves them now. The boo birds are quiet and even our chief closet antagonist is saying good things about what is happening with this team. I suspect that there are bumps in the road - maybe a game with a loss of focus - hopefully not but even the best of teams have moments of weakness.

I have always admired the character of the OU WBB team from players to coaches and beyond. I admire their character. I love their enthusiasm. I love that this year they have arisen far above our expectations even with the most fickle of fan support. I would not have, however, felt any differently about their character, enthusiasm and their ability to represent the U of O whatever the record might have been.

For any who question my use of the term "fickle", go back and read the posts from Nov and Dec. At that time, everyone wanted to bench Gioya, Peyton was not doing well, Kaylon was a terrible disappointment, Gabbi was lost, etc., etc. . Coach Coale could no longer coach effectively. Some were saying that Coach Coale needed to dump one or more assistants - maybe even coach Coale herself. Don't hear that now!! Coach Coale obviously knew what this team's potential was if they could just play together. They came together and now we are all tickled pink!

There are a few true fans that post on this board regularly. I know that the team truly appreciates your support. I admire and value your posts. You have been labeled "sunshine pumpers". What you are are true fans who love and appreciate what the ladies of the WBB team due each year without regard to W-L record.

I am not nearly as smart as all of you when it comes to offenses, defenses, tactics and finer points of the game. I just know I like this team, I like the coaches and I like the administration for bringing this program to supporters of Oklahoma athletics.

 

[tycat947]

Frankly, I don't know. As many have said - who knew they would ever get as good as they are now?

The question that can be answered, however, is if we as a "fan base" will support them regardless of what the future holds. Every one loves them now. The boo birds are quiet and even our chief closet antagonist is saying good things about what is happening with this team. I suspect that there are bumps in the road - maybe a game with a loss of focus - hopefully not but even the best of teams have moments of weakness.

I have always admired the character of the OU WBB team from players to coaches and beyond. I admire their character. I love their enthusiasm. I love that this year they have arisen far above our expectations even with the most fickle of fan support. I would not have, however, felt any differently about their character, enthusiasm and their ability to represent the U of O whatever the record might have been.

For any who question my use of the term "fickle", go back and read the posts from Nov and Dec. At that time, everyone wanted to bench Gioya, Peyton was not doing well, Kaylon was a terrible disappointment, Gabbi was lost, etc., etc. . Coach Coale could no longer coach effectively. Some were saying that Coach Coale needed to dump one or more assistants - maybe even coach Coale herself. Don't hear that now!! Coach Coale obviously knew what this team's potential was if they could just play together. They came together and now we are all tickled pink!

There are a few true fans that post on this board regularly. I know that the team truly appreciates your support. I admire and value your posts. You have been labeled "sunshine pumpers". What you are are true fans who love and appreciate what the ladies of the WBB team due each year without regard to W-L record.

I am not nearly as smart as all of you when it comes to offenses, defenses, tactics and finer points of the game. I just know I like this team, I like the coaches and I like the administration for bringing this program to supporters of Oklahoma athletics.

Excellent post! Very observant!

 

[badger]

I haven't seen this team as much as previous Sherri teams due to decreased TV or me being a bad fan, but stapes of previous losing efforts are usually...

- Turnovers
- Missed free throws (or worse, missed threes)
- Foul trouble

Losing teams usually suffer the same issues, but Sherri teams seem to play those three off each other to the detriment of our W-L column...

In game context: Oh noes I missed a free throw/three or lost the ball, I must quickly get a steal to make up for my mistake *TWEET!* Oh noes now I have both a turnover/missed shot AND a foul

I've seen that play out waaaaay too many times over the years and it doesn't matter if it's a freshman or a senior. Sherri players seem to have the mentality that mistakes must be remedied immediately, but alas, mistakes beget more mistakes

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

I have really enjoyed reading the board lately, although I admit I'm not quite as certain as some of us that we will not find a tough streak as the season progresses.

Norm, I think we probably have not peaked yet in terms of how well the girls may play at times, but at the same time all teams go through difficult periods in any season. For our team it usually happens in the middle of the conference season and I won't be surprised if we see that this year at some point.

My guess is we end the season with a conference mark between 12-6 and 14-4. Could we do better? It's not unreasonable to hope for that. I will be surprised if we finish worse than 12-6, something I thought was about the best we could hope for at the start of January.

These girls are lots of fun to watch and have a strength that most teams do not have: They can win and look very good even if particular players have bad games. No one seems to be indispensable on a given night - someone else seems to pick up the slack. That is a terrific charactistic for a team to possess.

 

[scrybe]

No one has a higher opinion of this team than I, and, yes, I do expect to see improvements in various parts of the game – hopefully, rebounding is one.

However, I'll echo the comments of several others: The Sooners are likely to stub their toe at some point. Let's just hope they'll keep it to a minimum and not let one loss lead to another, and to another, and so on.

I'd also like to add that not "everyone" on the board wanted to see Gioya Carter benched. But with the rough stretch she was going through early in the season, I can certainly understand why many felt that way.

 

[badger]

I am probably the most pessimist of those that aren't actually other-team fans pretending to be OU fans, and I suspect more ACLs than toe stubbing.

BUT it is very awesome to see us divebombing every conference opponent we meet and I'd love to do another undefeated run like we did during a CP3 year*

*No I'd actually rather win a national title or at least go beyond the opening two rounds of the tourney tee hee**

**Seriously, just show improvement over last year's travesty and show promise leading into near year and please don't let Sharane's senior year be without something to hang your hat on.

yeah i think that's about right

 

[scrybe]

I'm sure you did not think that I meant that the girls would literally stub their toes (LOL).

And, please, let's not even talk about possible ACLs. I think we've seen enough of those to do us for at least 10 more seasons.

 

[womenssports]

I don't believe they have peaked. I guess that means have we seen their best level of basketball for this year. I don't think they should have peaked as yet nor have played their best level of basketball. I think they will still have some games where they slump a little, hopefully, that will be against teams that they can still beat. I believe they can play the way they have in conference and still improve in rebounding, silly fouls and post play...I think it goes without saying that they can improve in those areas. What will keep them playing as well as they have is their bench, the fact that they are not counting on five players or even two or three players to take over a game.