GAME 6 (B4A) - OKLAHOMA (6-0) vs ARIZONA (3-2) 4pm CST on ESPN

[daqman]

I thought Luke wasn't good enough to help this team?

well....he's obviously much better than we thought and if moser wasn't such a sucky coach.....he would have been playing him much earlier.
that's my best wichita impersonation.

 

[CoachTalk]

Louisville-2.5 early line tomorrow

 

[cbertus6]

Was not able to watch the game live due to other obligations but just finished watching the recording. Here’s my general thoughts

Pros

• Having a guy in Fears who can just go get a bucket is something we have not yet had under Moser
• Luke coming out of nowhere to give us great minutes against a quality opponent was welcome, makes you wonder why he wasn’t playing in the first few games
• Free throw shooting was sublime
• Jalon Moore woke up and decided he wanted to have an impact
• We answered all of Arizonas punches, that was a very positive sign for me
• We rebounded with an elite rebounding team, again, very positive

Cons

• Elvis had easily his worst offensive game of the year (but we still overcame that)
• Godwin and Wague were absolute no shows (and we still somehow rebounded with U of A)
• Goodine could not get anything to drop
• Our ability to handle their press was not good. It affected us at the end of both halves and I’m surprised AZ didn’t stick with it a bit more
• We don’t look comfortable closing games out right now. Hopefully that improves over time

All in all that was a very good win with a lot of positives. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Let’s go win ourselves a tourney tomorrow!

 

[WichitaSooner]

Was not able to watch the game live due to other obligations but just finished watching the recording. Here’s my general thoughts

Pros

• Having a guy in Fears who can just go get a bucket is something we have not yet had under Moser
• Luke coming out of nowhere to give us great minutes against a quality opponent was welcome, makes you wonder why he wasn’t playing in the first few games
• Free throw shooting was sublime
• Jalon Moore woke up and decided he wanted to have an impact
• We answered all of Arizonas punches, that was a very positive sign for me
• We rebounded with an elite rebounding team, again, very positive

Cons

• Elvis had easily his worst offensive game of the year (but we still overcame that)
• Godwin and Wague were absolute no shows (and we still somehow rebounded with U of A)
• Goodine could not get anything to drop
• Our ability to handle their press was not good. It affected us at the end of both halves and I’m surprised AZ didn’t stick with it a bit more
• We don’t look comfortable closing games out right now. Hopefully that improves over time

All in all that was a very good win with a lot of positives. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Let’s go win ourselves a tourney tomorrow!

Good synopsis. I think Sam and our turnover issues are the two things that worry me most. Teams that really heat up the ball will give us trouble. We have looked very tentative against pressure. Too many bad decisions, including by our very experienced guards. And it’s hard to envision us continuing to get by if Sam is this ineffective. He can’t keep picking up early fouls, and he can’t be a complete non threat offensively. This is why I’m always skeptical of preseason reports about guys drastically improving certain parts of his games. I don’t see any chance that he will ever shoot a three, let alone make one. I don’t think he has even thought about taking a shot outside the paint. If that’s the case, he needs to absolutely crush it in the areas he is supposed to be good at.

 

[Soonerinkc]

What an ending, Fears is a stud no doubt..

 

[colston15]

this may frustrate some here, but we’ve got ourselves a squad.

 

[NickZepp]

this may frustrate some here, but we’ve got ourselves a squad.

Last year we started 11-0 but I think our guards are overall better than last years right now. Oweh did fall off a cliff after solid non-con play. We could see that happen with Elvis or Miles I guess. But Fears looks different.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Last year we started 11-0 but I think our guards are overall better than last years right now. Oweh did fall off a cliff after solid non-con play. We could see that happen with Elvis or Miles I guess. But Fears looks different.

I think this is a good reminder and it’s not being negative or a pessimist to point it out. People were sky high last Nov and Dec and absolutely no one was expecting Oweh and McCollum to collapse. Los was off to a slow start but when that was discussed, most people were certain he would bounce back quickly. When you’ve only played a few games and have so many new guys, it’s tempting to jump to conclusions about what you have. I didn’t think there was a chance we’d be playing for a championship tomorrow, so I feel much better than I did a couple days ago. But I think you’re right about Elvis and Miles. They’ve both had some very good games and some clunkers. Let’s hope at least one of them is on every game. If Fears cuts down on some of the freshman mistakes as the season goes, he definitely gives us an element we haven’t had in a while.

 

[Maverick008]

I think this is a good reminder and it’s not being negative or a pessimist to point it out. People were sky high last Nov and Dec and absolutely no one was expecting Oweh and McCollum to collapse. Los was off to a slow start but when that was discussed, most people were certain he would bounce back quickly. When you’ve only played a few games and have so many new guys, it’s tempting to jump to conclusions about what you have. I didn’t think there was a chance we’d be playing for a championship tomorrow, so I feel much better than I did a couple days ago. But I think you’re right about Elvis and Miles. They’ve both had some very good games and some clunkers. Let’s hope at least one of them is on every game. If Fears cuts down on some of the freshman mistakes as the season goes, he definitely gives us an element we haven’t had in a while.

Thats where hopefully this team is different from last year though. Last year truly did look like a team that needed 1-2 or at most 3 guards to play well each game or they were doomed.

So far this year, this squad has shown a real depth at the guard position. This group has a lot of guys (5-6 at least) that seem to be able to flat out shoot and are capable of playing good minutes offensively and defensively.

The sample size is small, but when at any time last year could you say you could get a big 3 from 5-6 guys at almost any time?

Keep a couple of things in mind about the Arizona game shooting wise….

Goodine and Elvis were a combined 0-8 from 3 and Jadon Jones didnt play.

Two of those guys (Jones and Goodine) have been labeled multiple times as the best 3 pt shooters on the team by Moser.

We’ve all seen how Elvis can light it up, including against Providence two games ago.

Yet, FIVE other guys hit a 3 against Arizona and the team shot 41% from 3 despite the poor shooting effort from two of the guards.

I keep seeing the concerns about Sam offensively but also keep thinking about how Northweather has now put back to back solid games together against P5 clubs.

To me, he’s just looked different the last two games. He’s played with more fire and confidence. I’ve actually gotten excited to see him come back into the game because he just brings more to the offense than Sam or Wague especially if he plays within the system and takes what the other team gives him.

Again, with so many shooters around him, all he has to do is wait and eventually other 5’s sag off enough to give him a chance to hit 2-3 a game. It’s been fun to watch.

I’ve liked what ive seen to this point in regard to guys taking the ball to the basket along with taking 3’s. I don’t feel like they just settle for 3’s which would be easy to do with so many shooters.

As others have said before, Fears just makes this a completely different team with his ability to get to the rim pretty much at will.

One announcer said last night, ‘he can do pretty much whatever he wants with the ball.’ This wasn't West Texas A&M or Stetson….this is a 17 year old kid putting a team on his back against a team that could/should finish in the top half of one of the top 2 conferences in college basketball and didn't look like he was phased at all. He went from 8 turnovers to 3 in back to back nights and closed this game out hitting big time free throws.

There is a ton to like about this team so far and we’ve yet to really mention the defense. Together, they play a solid defensive game and have shown the knack for steals that really hasnt been a factor under Moser yet.

Overall, it’s a small sample size, but this looks like a team that can continue to grow together and actually become a force to deal with. Hopefully that trend continues against Louisville!

 

[Stikboy]

Was gone all day yesterday, but all I can say is wow... I'm trying hard not to get ahead of my skis with excitement pre conference because we all know what's happened in conference. But wow. Porter always talks about getting old. Well, we are old besides Fears. To me, the thing I can't get over is how smooth the offense runs for a bunch of guys that were seemingly just thrown together again. How well they are playing together. I thought Luke was put out to pasture after he could only get in with the walkons, kudos to him yesterday. We'll see if he can keep it up. But I sure didn't see him tearing it up against a team like Arizona. I honestly thought Arizona would beat us by 12-15.

After 6 games, lotsa fun to follow these guys. They play hard, and I don't have the words for Fears. He is different than anything i've seen in an OU uniform in a long time. Can these guys keep improving into conference? Can Moser finally beat Texas? As good as they looked yesterday, can Moser get the team to look better in Jan/Feb than Nov? That's my big question..

 

[Boom Soon]

Can these guys keep improving into conference? Can Moser finally beat Texas? As good as they looked yesterday, can Moser get the team to look better in Jan/Feb than Nov? That's my big question..

These are the questions to ask. I don’t want a repeat of last year. I think they’ve still got to get to 21 wins to be a lock come March. Gonna be a very tall task! But there is much more hope now.

 

[mict085]

During the providence game I almost posted how good our press break looked and how well we executed. Then we fell apart. We have good ball handlers. We just need to make better decisions and execute better. Hopefully, we can clean that up as the season goes along.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Last year we started 11-0 but I think our guards are overall better than last years right now. Oweh did fall off a cliff after solid non-con play. We could see that happen with Elvis or Miles I guess. But Fears looks different.

Elvis has a couple of things that i will be shocked if they fall off ... his defense and catch and shoot % ..

miles is used to being the man ... and so far he has handled being off ball really well ...

taylor is a dog . that just wants to win .... and he has the size on the wing we need ..(and as a back up 4) .. and he can shoot...... and he has played a ton at this level ..

at the 5 we have 3 guys .. to put together 40 min (or less if it is a team we can go small against) ..

the ? is can goodine get back healthy and give us some min off the bench and hit shots (he should he has been a GREAT shooter over his career) . the good thing is all he has to do is be the 5th guard .. not the 3rd ..

and then if you get jones back .. (who i think was going to be the best defender on the team and a great shooter also (plus more size on the wing) .. that is a bonus. ..


all in all this is a big time upgraded roster ..

 

[BoulderSooner]

moser on the post game was gentle and said he just told moore that he needed to keep bringing his energy after the providence game ... and said of course "mind right game right" ..

moore said on the radio .. that it was all on him his mind wasn't right and he was playing for him not the team (against providence ) . and he needed to get it fixed .. (and he did) ..

and then he also said .. mind right game right .. and he came out and was GREAT against zona ..

 

[Stikboy]

Elvis has a couple of things that i will be shocked if they fall off ... his defense and catch and shoot % ..

miles is used to being the man ... and so far he has handled being off ball really well ...

taylor is a dog . that just wants to win .... and he has the size on the wing we need ..(and as a back up 4) .. and he can shoot...... and he has played a ton at this level ..

at the 5 we have 3 guys .. to put together 40 min (or less if it is a team we can go small against) ..

the ? is can goodine get back healthy and give us some min off the bench and hit shots (he should he has been a GREAT shooter over his career) . the good thing is all he has to do is be the 5th guard .. not the 3rd ..

and then if you get jones back .. (who i think was going to be the best defender on the team and a great shooter also (plus more size on the wing) .. that is a bonus. ..


all in all this is a big time upgraded roster ..

I really like Taylor.

 

[Skeeter1]

Luke, keep shoving me a face full of crow and I’ll keep eating it!!

Don’t choke on it.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Thats where hopefully this team is different from last year though. Last year truly did look like a team that needed 1-2 or at most 3 guards to play well each game or they were doomed.

So far this year, this squad has shown a real depth at the guard position. This group has a lot of guys (5-6 at least) that seem to be able to flat out shoot and are capable of playing good minutes offensively and defensively.

The sample size is small, but when at any time last year could you say you could get a big 3 from 5-6 guys at almost any time?

Keep a couple of things in mind about the Arizona game shooting wise….

Goodine and Elvis were a combined 0-8 from 3 and Jadon Jones didnt play.

Two of those guys (Jones and Goodine) have been labeled multiple times as the best 3 pt shooters on the team by Moser.

We’ve all seen how Elvis can light it up, including against Providence two games ago.

Yet, FIVE other guys hit a 3 against Arizona and the team shot 41% from 3 despite the poor shooting effort from two of the guards.

I keep seeing the concerns about Sam offensively but also keep thinking about how Northweather has now put back to back solid games together against P5 clubs.

To me, he’s just looked different the last two games. He’s played with more fire and confidence. I’ve actually gotten excited to see him come back into the game because he just brings more to the offense than Sam or Wague especially if he plays within the system and takes what the other team gives him.

Again, with so many shooters around him, all he has to do is wait and eventually other 5’s sag off enough to give him a chance to hit 2-3 a game. It’s been fun to watch.

I’ve liked what ive seen to this point in regard to guys taking the ball to the basket along with taking 3’s. I don’t feel like they just settle for 3’s which would be easy to do with so many shooters.

As others have said before, Fears just makes this a completely different team with his ability to get to the rim pretty much at will.

One announcer said last night, ‘he can do pretty much whatever he wants with the ball.’ This wasn't West Texas A&M or Stetson….this is a 17 year old kid putting a team on his back against a team that could/should finish in the top half of one of the top 2 conferences in college basketball and didn't look like he was phased at all. He went from 8 turnovers to 3 in back to back nights and closed this game out hitting big time free throws.

There is a ton to like about this team so far and we’ve yet to really mention the defense. Together, they play a solid defensive game and have shown the knack for steals that really hasnt been a factor under Moser yet.

Overall, it’s a small sample size, but this looks like a team that can continue to grow together and actually become a force to deal with. Hopefully that trend continues against Louisville!

Well, at the start of last season, JM, Oweh, Uzan, Waldo, Darthard, and even Moore were all capable of knocking down threes. Obviously we knew Oweh wouldn’t shoot 50 percent for the season, but there was hope he may at least be able to end up around 35-36 percent, and everyone felt like Los would return to his freshman shooting form. Heck, even Hugley had the game against USC where he looked like a true stretch four. That’s an example of assuming too much from a small sample size. I agree that career numbers suggest this is a better shooting team, but I’d like to see a bigger sample against good competition. We don’t truly know how guys like Jones and Goodine and Miles will do over the long haul against power conference teams on a nightly basis.

 

[CoachTalk]

Well, at the start of last season, JM, Oweh, Uzan, Waldo, Darthard, and even Moore were all capable of knocking down threes. Obviously we knew Oweh wouldn’t shoot 50 percent for the season, but there was hope he may at least be able to end up around 35-36 percent, and everyone felt like Los would return to his freshman shooting form. Heck, even Hugley had the game against USC where he looked like a true stretch four. That’s an example of assuming too much from a small sample size. I agree that career numbers suggest this is a better shooting team, but I’d like to see a bigger sample against good competition. We don’t truly know how guys like Jones and Goodine and Miles will do over the long haul against power conference teams on a nightly basis.

Yeah don’t say anything too nice too soon.

 

[OULad]

I really like Taylor.

The first couple of games I didn't, but he has really grown on me. A nice piece of the puzzle.

 

[skyvue]

I've had a good feeling about Taylor all along. He plays with hustle and grit. I don't know if he'll ever go off, points-wise, in a game, but he'll be a key contributor off the bench.

Northweather was so impressive last night. He contributed against Providence but last night was a whole new level. He seems to have worked on his body in the off-season. He looks quicker and more athletic and seems much more engaged; he in no way resembles the play we saw last season. I don't know if it's a blip--just a brief uptick--or not, but I sure hope it isn't.