Diamond Head Classic

[IndySooner]

The field in Hawaii seems to be shaping up with good - not great - teams. That's good for us. We will be the clear favorite, but Washington State wont be easy, the UNI/Hawaii winner would present a challenge and really only Harvard on the other side of the bracket has struggled this year.

So....a revenge game against Creighton and a tournament in Hawaii where we will be solid favorites are the only thing standing in the way of 11-0 heading into the Iowa State game.

So much fun, this team.

 

[skyvue]

Harvard's 3-6, but their losses have been competitive (though some of them were to average-at-best teams). And they somehow lost to KU by just six.

 

[scrybe]

Harvard's 3-6, but their losses have been competitive (though some of them were to average-at-best teams). And they somehow lost to KU by just six.

Kansas is a little over-rated, in my opinion. Of course, the chicken hawks always tend to improve as the season progresses.

 

[Escape Goat]

Kansas is a little over-rated, in my opinion. Of course, the chicken hawks always tend to improve as the season progresses.

I agree. OU needs to take advantage of that early game at the Phog on January 4th. The streak has to end! Living in KS and not winning in Lawerence in over 20 years is unbearable. This is the team that can exercise the demons in that 8 on 5 hellhole.


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[MercedeSooner]

I've been waiting for that game at PA Fieldhouse since our loss last year. I am so sick and tired of losing at that place - we are going to spank that ass this year.

 

[NMSooner'80]

I've been waiting for that game at PA Fieldhouse since our loss last year. I am so sick and tired of losing at that place - we are going to spank that ass this year.

OU will have to be 20 points better than KU to win in the Phog by two. The zebras will see to that.

 

[stormspencer]

The field in Hawaii seems to be shaping up with good - not great - teams. That's good for us. We will be the clear favorite, but Washington State wont be easy, the UNI/Hawaii winner would present a challenge and really only Harvard on the other side of the bracket has struggled this year.

So....a revenge game against Creighton and a tournament in Hawaii where we will be solid favorites are the only thing standing in the way of 11-0 heading into the Iowa State game.

So much fun, this team.

You're being more kind than I would be. The field in Hawaii is not very strong. I'm using Kenpom rankings next to each team. New Mexico (50) is probably the 2nd best team in the field. New Mexico is comparable to Memphis is ranking...if that helps. Ironically, NM beat Northern Iowa at home last Saturday by 19. BYU (67) and UNI (69) are a little above average, and I would label them as bubble teams (on the outside looking in) based upon their Kenpom ranking....about like Kansas State/Texas Tech. Hawaii (100) is 7-1, but has beaten no one, and their lone loss is to.....Texas Tech. Harvard (147) isn't very good at all this year and Auburn (136) isn't much better.

I'm not saying OU rolls through this tournament. like a tsunami, but our first two teams we will likely face (Wash State and UNI) are perimeter oriented teams and a very good matchup for us. In the championship, we would likely play BYU or New Mexico. I've seen BYU once or twice....same type of BYU team....tall, not too athletic, but can shoot a little. I don't know much about New Mexico except they are pretty good on the defensive end (Def Efficiency #30), fairly pedestrian on offense (Off Efficiency #100), and play at a fairly good pace (#81).

 

[Stikboy]

Interesting, thanks. Looking forward to the tournament.

 

[tycat947]

OU will have to be 20 points better than KU to win in the Phog by two. The zebras will see to that.

+1

 

[IndySooner]

You're being more kind than I would be. The field in Hawaii is not very strong. I'm using Kenpom rankings next to each team. New Mexico (50) is probably the 2nd best team in the field. New Mexico is comparable to Memphis is ranking...if that helps. Ironically, NM beat Northern Iowa at home last Saturday by 19. BYU (67) and UNI (69) are a little above average, and I would label them as bubble teams (on the outside looking in) based upon their Kenpom ranking....about like Kansas State/Texas Tech. Hawaii (100) is 7-1, but has beaten no one, and their lone loss is to.....Texas Tech. Harvard (147) isn't very good at all this year and Auburn (136) isn't much better.

I'm not saying OU rolls through this tournament. like a tsunami, but our first two teams we will likely face (Wash State and UNI) are perimeter oriented teams and a very good matchup for us. In the championship, we would likely play BYU or New Mexico. I've seen BYU once or twice....same type of BYU team....tall, not too athletic, but can shoot a little. I don't know much about New Mexico except they are pretty good on the defensive end (Def Efficiency #30), fairly pedestrian on offense (Off Efficiency #100), and play at a fairly good pace (#81).

We're actually on the same page. I like it because there are names, decent but not great teams and we should win the tournament if we go out there and play well. It will help our resume much more than staying home and playing Coppin State and Northwestern State.

 

[stormspencer]

We're actually on the same page. I like it because there are names, decent but not great teams and we should win the tournament if we go out there and play well. It will help our resume much more than staying home and playing Coppin State and Northwestern State.

It's definitely our tournament to lose. On a scale of 1-10, I think we can play our "7" game or B+ game and still win it although I wouldn't want to take that chance.

 

[campbest]

I would really be impressed if OU won this thing. It's one thing to sleep walk over opponents at home, but to stay focused and beat some meddling teams looking to knock off #3, that shows this team means business.

 

[Zimwillett]

I would really be impressed if OU won this thing. It's one thing to sleep walk over opponents at home, but to stay focused and beat some meddling teams looking to knock off #3, that shows this team means business.

Great point. I think this tournament will be a decent barometer for how this team has progressed. None of these teams are world-beaters, but OU has dropped games like these in recent years (see e.g. Creighton and Washington last year). If OU truly is a top 3 team, they'll avoid those types of lapses in focus.

 

[pnkranger]

Let's beat Creighton first. They make me nervous after last year.

 

[skyvue]

I'm generally pretty cautious in making predictions and I always try to be happy with even a one-point win, no matter who the opponent is, but I am quite confident that we will beat Creighton by a more than comfortable margin.

 

[pnkranger]

I think it's going to be

Washington State
Northern Iowa
New Mexico

First two games we win comfortably. New Mexico will push us, but I think we pull it out in the end.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Saw part of the Washington State game against UTEP. Their inside guys look like trouble. One of them is their version of Spangler.

 

[NMSooner'80]

I think it's going to be

Washington State
Northern Iowa
New Mexico

First two games we win comfortably. New Mexico will push us, but I think we pull it out in the end.

I haven't seen the Lobos yet (don't live there anymore, though I will retire there eventually). They seem to have really improved since exhibition season.

UNM not only whipped Northern Iowa recently, they also took a 27-point halftime lead over ORU in Albuquerque (but beat them by way less than what OU did).

 

[big-hOUnd]

What makes me feel good about our chances in this tourney is the team has already made that trip to Hawaii and played a great game. Any wow factor about being there for the first time will be over....

 

[BoulderSooner]

northern iowa is a good team .. if we don't play well we could get beat