Confidence

[MsProudSooner]

The biggest intangible ingredient in putting a successful team together is confidence. At the same time you practice offense and defense, you have to built a team that has confidence in themselves and each other. This team has lost some confidence in themselves, probably as a result of the Texas game.

This team is trying to become the first OU NCAA tournament team after 3 losing seasons. When Kruger got here, he had to start from scratch with these guys. Remember how they played defense before Kruger arrived? They have come a long way, but their confidence in themselves could probably be described as fragile. The Texas game put some doubt in their minds and every time things don't go well, that doubt raises it's ugly head. It's another obstacle that they have to learn to overcome.

 

[opsooner]

You need skilled and quick guards for games like this one and in the NCAA tourney. We are not quite there yet.

 

[DenverSooner]

You need skilled and quick guards for games like this one and in the NCAA tourney. We are not quite there yet.

OU has skilled and quick gaurds, espeically in Hield Hornbeak and Cousins. What OU lacks is experience at the guard postiion and that is 100% the fault of Fenton. He left the team with Blair, Pledger and Newell. Newell didn't want to be coached. He missed listening to Jay Z with his friend and couldn't handle a real coach, so he quit.

Kruger landed Grooms. Capel was after Ceasar and that kid left OSU so he would probably be gone from OU too.

 

[garyeb2]

OU has skilled and quick gaurds, espeically in Hield Hornbeak and Cousins. What OU lacks is experience at the guard postiion and that is 100% the fault of Fenton. He left the team with Blair, Pledger and Newell. Newell didn't want to be coached. He missed listening to Jay Z with his friend and couldn't handle a real coach, so he quit.

Kruger landed Grooms. Capel was after Ceasar and that kid left OSU so he would probably be gone from OU too.

I think that is an acuurate and fair observation. Especially on Calvin. Grooms was a Capel recruit and I thought Kruger did a good job when he came in of holding Grooms together.

 

[NickZepp]

We are probably a couple more good guards away from being real good and our young guys need to be real good. Anyone that thought this team was a great team is kidding themselves. They have played some great ball and competed in almost every game. There was some issues earlier in the year, but this team has pretty much exceeded expectations.

 

[SuperHoops]

Cousins has been in free fall for the last 12 or 15 games. It's sad to see him get out there and play poorly every time and hang his head and mope around.

 

[ousooners1baby]

There are more reasons than one. For one, this is why I think Mbaye is not playing in second half. He is not very smart, basketball wise. Gifted and can defend. Decides to take ill-advised shots and forgets his man in second half. Pledge is essentially the same. We only have one guard who can actually pass inside and if the other team actually starts playing D, our guards stand around more. I have no idea why but in the first half of games we are spaced out better and take better shots.