Good Article

[SoonerNorm]

http://www.news9.com/story/27371270/oklahoma-womens-basketball-looking-for-bounce-back-season

 

[rocjunkie]

Thanks for posting, let's see if the gals can get off to a "running start" to the season. Looking forward to the Kentucky game in a couple of weeks to see where the kids are at in the early season.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I believe a win tonight is very important for this team. It is a young team and a win would give them confidence going forward. Sherri talks about having a swagger. A win would help in that regard whereas a loss could cause them to start doubting themselves.

I realize this team will get beat at some point but, I hope that happens later rather than sooner as a great start would mean a lot for a team that is trying to figure out just how good they are.

 

[scrybe]

Like sybarite said in another thread, tonight will provide a tough test for a Sooner team that is very young and has virtually no experience playing together.

I have no doubt that given a little time, this team would beat Washington at home, maybe even on the road. But this Washington team has some very talented scorers and are likely a much better team than the so-called experts are predicting. I still think we can win tonight, but the Sooners will have to execute their offense and shoot better than they did in the exhibition outing to come out victorious.

I love OU's talent and potential; just hoping they can start putting it all together early – then build on it from there.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Like sybarite said in another thread, tonight will provide a tough test for a Sooner team that is very young and has virtually no experience playing together.

I have no doubt that given a little time, this team would beat Washington at home, maybe even on the road. But this Washington team has some very talented scorers and are likely a much better team than the so-called experts are predicting. I still think we can win tonight, but the Sooners will have to execute their offense and shoot better than they did in the exhibition outing to come out victorious.

I love OU's talent and potential; just hoping they can start putting it all together early – then build on it from there.

I believe our scorers will find ways to score. As we have discussed several times, it will likely come down to defense and rebounding.

 

[scrybe]

I believe our scorers will find ways to score. As we have discussed several times, it will likely come down to defense and rebounding.

I may be proven wrong, Norm, but I really don't think rebounding will be as big an issue for us as it was a year ago. I agree about the defense, though. We've got to stop allowing those open lanes to the basket.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Looks like Washington has a lot of offense. Wonder if defensive shortcomings is the reason they are ranked 8th in the Pac-10.

Could be a game like the Oregon game a few seasons ago when they had a lot of offense but we could score at will against them.

If not, we will be very hard pressed to win.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I may be proven wrong, Norm, but I really don't think rebounding will be as big an issue for us as it was a year ago. I agree about the defense, though. We've got to stop allowing those open lanes to the basket.

You could be right. IF Kaylon can stay in the games longer than 10 minutes it will certainly help in the rebounding department.

 

[j2d2]

I believe our scorers will find ways to score. As we have discussed several times, it will likely come down to defense and rebounding.

It usually does and never more than now.

It may be that a loss would do for this team what the loss to Louisiana Lafayette did for the softball team last year. I'd rather not find out, though.

 

[Soonerbay]

They will play the game and we'll see what happens, but it doesn't help that a former OU WBB staff member is on the Washington bench.

 

[SoonerNorm]

They will play the game and we'll see what happens, but it doesn't help that a former OU WBB staff member is on the Washington bench.

I don't really think that matters. Their staff may know Sherri's general tendencies and philosophies but coaches adjust every year depending on their personnel so I don't think that gives Washington an advantage. I'm sure our coaches have watched film of what they do as well. Knowing what a team likes to do is one thing, being able to stop it is another.

 

[soonermike22]

We will rebound ok, since so many different players are good rebounders. We just have to hope we don't give up offensive rebounds too often.
Scoring will be ok, but come in bunches, followed by dry spells.
Defense, especially driving lanes, will win or lose this game for us, as we are talented, but young, and probably going to play lots of players.
I think we will have too many turnovers, but acceptable for a young team early in the year.
I talk like I actually know something, but the above is just my guess.

 

[rocjunkie]

We will rebound ok, since so many different players are good rebounders. We just have to hope we don't give up offensive rebounds too often.
Scoring will be ok, but come in bunches, followed by dry spells.
Defense, especially driving lanes, will win or lose this game for us, as we are talented, but young, and probably going to play lots of players.
I think we will have too many turnovers, but acceptable for a young team early in the year.
I talk like I actually know something, but the above is just my guess.

I have to agree with your points, being the optimist, I think these kids will find a way to win tonight. Sherri will use different combinations to find the right fit for this game, and the kids will come through. It will be a very good test for the gals this early.

 

[sybarite]

I will be beyond elated if our youth beats this more experienced and quite good team. Last year, Washington was the young team, starting a couple of freshmen, and they were slow getting out of the gates, only to beat Stanford later in the year.

 

[gosooner2]

Win = good season
close loss=decent season
blowout loss= long year
IMHO

 

[BanjoCharley]

I watched the OU men get blown out by a traveling Russian team in our first game many years ago. Fans left pretty down on the team. Think it was the 80's (anyone help me out on what year?) We ended up with a really good season that year.