Final Four

[Sooners4Life0101]

I feel like there is an abundance of really good teams this year? And about 10 or so has a legitimate chance at the final four- And its a bold statement, but I think if we got a good draw we could do it this year too- We were the youngest team in the tournament last year and the inexperience flared up a lot. But when we were good, we were great I thought. Its probably a race for second anyway- but I think we could do it this year if we got a good draw.


-- Not saying we're a top 4 team this season. I think it will end up Uconn. Tennessee. Baylor. and Notre Dame. but I think theres definitely a shot.

Thoughts?

 

[sybarite]

I think this team can make the Elite Eight by simply playing good basketball. But, the Final Four would take someone taking us to that level, probably a scorer that had some advantage over defenders. The only player that we have that might have that potential is Maddie.

She has shown that she can drive, drive and dish, and handle the ball under pressure. We have seen flashes in which she can rise above the defender to get off a shot. In general, the only person who can guard Maddie is Maddie's uncertainty. If she comes out firing, who can defend her? She can outjump guards and outquick forwards. If we make the Final Four, it will be because Maddie has overcome her fear.

 

[j2d2]

I think this team can make the Elite Eight by simply playing good basketball. But, the Final Four would take someone taking us to that level, probably a scorer that had some advantage over defenders. The only player that we have that might have that potential is Maddie.

She has shown that she can drive, drive and dish, and handle the ball under pressure. We have seen flashes in which she can rise above the defender to get off a shot. In general, the only person who can guard Maddie is Maddie's uncertainty. If she comes out firing, who can defend her? She can outjump guards and outquick forwards. If we make the Final Four, it will be because Maddie has overcome her fear.

True, true.

 

[Sooners4Life0101]

I think this team can make the Elite Eight by simply playing good basketball. But, the Final Four would take someone taking us to that level, probably a scorer that had some advantage over defenders. The only player that we have that might have that potential is Maddie.

She has shown that she can drive, drive and dish, and handle the ball under pressure. We have seen flashes in which she can rise above the defender to get off a shot. In general, the only person who can guard Maddie is Maddie's uncertainty. If she comes out firing, who can defend her? She can outjump guards and outquick forwards. If we make the Final Four, it will be because Maddie has overcome her fear.

I agree. Maddie has to become what she can be for my statement to hold any weight. IF she does. I think we have a legitimate chance. Every player should atleast grow some from last year... The real issue is that there are a TON of good teams this year compared to recent years at least. Its almost a shame that Uconn is maybe the best they ever been because it could be one the best seasons is women's college basketball history I feel like.

 

[rocjunkie]

True, true.

Agreed.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I don't think this team has a snowball chance of making the final four. If they make the sweet sixteen that will be all I'm hoping for.

 

[womenssports]

For us to have a very remote chance of making the final four huge improvements in play (of which they are capable) would have to come from Kay Kay, Gioya, Vivi, Maddie, and with EJ being a really good defender and rebounder and Gily being unexpectedly good.

Actually, I believe we need that to have a shot at the elite 8. I think the first 4 I mentioned have the skills but do not know if they will have developed them along with a very good mental game. Just have a feeling that EJ and Gily could give the team a lot of good minutes. Of course, there are still others who could have developed their games. I expect a sweet sixteen and will be grateful for anything else.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I have said that Kaylon is the key to this teams success and I'm sticking by that. Realistically, I don't expect her to improve much from last year. The one player whom I believe almost certainly will elevate her game is Gabbi. I also think Gioya will surprise some people.

 

[sybarite]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=210349694

 

[tycat947]

http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=210349694

Sherri said on radio on Saturday that Maddie would look more like the pre-injured Maddie based on her work this summer. Would love to see that!

 

[sybarite]

Sherri said on radio on Saturday that Maddie would look more like the pre-injured Maddie based on her work this summer. Would love to see that!

What else did she have to say?

 

[SoonerNorm]

For OU to be better than last year, one thing they must avoid is for players to regress. Last year, Sharane and Kornet did not play up to their potential. Gioya struggled toward the end. I think most expected more out of Maddie. Every player needs to be better as I expect both Baylor and Texas to be improved.

 

[sybarite]

Were people really disappointed in Maddie or Gioya. I didn't expect as much as we got out of either. I had seen nothing from Gioya as a freshman that made me think that she would be a good spot up three-point shooter who could drive to the middle and score. Neither of those were really demonstrated as a freshman. I think she suffered a little loss of confidence when she couldn't do it late in the year after they began to watch her more closely. We needed another option. She also grew up defensively, if she can only remember not to have reach-in fouls.

I had no idea that Maddie would be healthy enough to play as much as she did. I certainly did not expect that she would be our best dribbler under pressure and the one that we usually ended up using to break the press. She showed flashes of superiority last year, doing things that nobody else on the floor, perhaps in the Big Twelve, could do. Those blocked shots against TCU out front were spectacular as she just stole the ball off a three-point attempt and passed it to Peyton for a breakaway layup (neither of which Maddie got credit for on the score sheet). I'm not really all that surprised that the scorekeeper didn't give her credit for a blocked shot and steal. Nobody else in the Big Twelve could have made that play.

We saw flashes of that from Maddie in the last twenty games. She wasn't consistent, but she made a play that nobody else could make if you gave them ten tries. Just the turnovers that she saved by having long arms that reached out to grab poorly-thrown passes should have offset her non-existent propensity for turnovers. Then, there was that pass to Maddie on the baseline which should have gone out of bounds, only to have Maddie dive after it, throw it out front to Peyton who was wide open for a back-breaking three on what looked like a turnover. Once again, Maddie didn't get credit for saving a bad pass or an assist. She showed a little of what she can do, and she saved some games for us, like the first game against Texas, or the WV game in the Big Twelve. If she is healthy enough to do that consistently, she is our best recruit as well as the best recruit in the Big Twelve.

 

[tycat947]

What else did she have to say?

That was pretty much it. I think she also said Maddie would start out at the 4 even though point guard is her best position. She wasn't on too long. I think it was pre-football game Sat morning and she was there for a couple of comments. Talked about Gabbi's play with Team USA over the summer and how that would help her to grow.

 

[sybarite]

So, we will have a point power forward? I am encouraged by the statements that have been made about Derica by Sherri and, now, Gioya. She surprised me with her ball-handling skills as a freshman. But, she kind of disappeared a lot as a sophomore.

 

[atlantasooner]

A Final Four projection for this team sight unseen since the tourney is really tough to make.

What would it take for OU to get there?
The 4 headed inside monster of Kaylon, Vivi, Treece, and EJ giving OU depth and athleticism at the 4/5 position not since the Paris Twins and Amanda.
Manning the ultimate play any spot position reaches her top 30 ranking out of HS potential. She fills the gaps at PG, SF, SG, stretch 4.
Peyton to keep playing at an all conference level.
Gioya to stabilize her game closer to the Gioya of the first dozen or so conference games.
Gabbi to take that great leap forward as a sophomore.
Laneisia to become that points spark off the bench.

 

[sybarite]

A Final Four projection for this team sight unseen since the tourney is really tough to make.

What would it take for OU to get there?
The 4 headed inside monster of Kaylon, Vivi, Treece, and EJ giving OU depth and athleticism at the 4/5 position not since the Paris Twins and Amanda.
Manning the ultimate play any spot position reaches her top 30 ranking out of HS potential. She fills the gaps at PG, SF, SG, stretch 4.
Peyton to keep playing at an all conference level.
Gioya to stabilize her game closer to the Gioya of the first dozen or so conference games.
Gabbi to take that great leap forward as a sophomore.
Laneisia to become that points spark off the bench.

I can understand your hesitation. But, let's examine the possibilities.

Last year, we were to have been nothing. Instead, we finished a solid second in the Big Twelve, well ahead of the teams tied for third at 9-9. There is a lot of difference between 13-5 and 9-9. With all of the problems that we had, we finished well ahead of some teams that were highly-regarded prior to the season.

We lost one starter and a reserve whose playing time diminished late in the year. We're all back. Vivi has had a year to get over her ACL, and she wasn't all that bad while recovering. We won two or three games because we had Vivi. We just need for two of the four interior players to rebound effectively.

Gioya and Peyton have had a year to learn their roles. They weren't all that bad last year. They were good enough that we finished #2. Keep that 13-5 in the back of your mind. It is so much better than 9-9.

We saw glimpses of what Maddie could do, and she says she is more confident this year. If Maddie steps up, I don't see Maddie as a good player. I see her as the most significant player in the Big Twelve, more versatile than Davis who is the other star. Maddie can be that player that we have always lacked since 2002, a versatile player who can play all over the floor, who can be a force on offense and defense. She, like Amanda sometimes did, can use her unique athleticism to take over a game.

Rocjunkie and I made the same comparisons as to what we saw in Maddie---Magic Johnson. Magic could take any team and make it difficult to beat.

I think we will see a more solid Gabbi, one who showed up late in the year. Late in the year, we simply didn't have turnovers. The press didn't work against us because we had Gabbi and Maddie. It just meant free throws.

I think we may anticipate some help this year from Derica. T'Ona stepped up at her role. It would be nice if EJ, LaNesia, or McKenna stepped up. It would be magical if Gileysa were healthy. With the improving health of Maddie and Vivi, and the return of Penzo with the addition of EJ really gives us four good performers that we didn't have last year.

Did I mention that we were the team that was 13-5 and #2 in the Big Twelve? We beat every team in the conference last year, and none were flukes. We beat Baylor. Texas needed a four players to foul out to beat us at all, in OT. We beat them solidly when we didn't have four players foul out. We have everyone back. Texas lost its best player.

What happens if we are better than 13-5 with all of the experience that we have returning?

I see us as a legitimate top ten team. If one or two step up, the Final Four is a very real possibility. I see UConn, ND, and S. Carolina as the teams to beat. But, we can beat Baylor. We did it. We're about as good as anyone left.