Help me break down Bedlam

[pnkranger]

What does everyone think about this game? My thoughts:

Coaching +++OU (No contest)

Point Guard +++OSU (Smart will be the best player on the floor)
Wing +OSU (They are more athletic than us, but are not great in the half-court)
Post +OU (M'Baye and Osby are better/tougher than any two posts OSU can put on the floor. They'll have size, but we've got the edge in match-ups)

If we get into a transition game, I think OSU wins by 10. If we can manage the pace and limit penetration, we should have a decent chance to win at home.

 

[Sooner-Bred]

Not sure they have us out-gunned on the wing.

I think with Clark's improved play, and Buddy beginning to come into a consistent force, and Pledger starting to score big regularly, I think we can more than hold our own at the wing position.

No doubt that Smart will dominate the PG spot.

And I think we have the edge down low.

Lets get it done.

 

[pnkranger]

The wing is maybe closer than I let on, but Brown, Forte, Nash are averaging a combined 40 ppg as compared to Hornbeak, Pledger, and Hield who are averaging between 25 and 30 ppg.

I didn't list depth, but I think the edge in depth goes to OU, who is bringing Fitz and Clark off the bench, who have 3 and 2 years experience starting for a Big 12 team. Throw in Sam Grooms with his 1 year experience starting at PG, and we've got a pretty experienced/deep bench.

We've got 9 players getting significant minutes, i.e. have played every game and are getting 15 or more minutes. Throw in Tyler Neal's 9 mpg (I'd rather not!), and we've got 10 bodies with experience. OSU's got eight guys in the rotation.

 

[WTSooner]

Should be a good game if OU shows up to play, and is physical inside.

OU has the advantage inside. OSU at point guard. What happens at the 2 and 3 spots is probably what will determine the game.

Not sure how to defend Smart. I haven't seen a lot of him, but it appears he take an amazingly high percentage of OSU's shots. Not sure if you play him straight up, let him get his, and defend well everywhere else. Or if you try to slow him down, and make somebody else beat you. That is what LK will have to decide. And who to put on Smart. The way we switch, I don't really have a problem with Hornbeak or Hield ending up on him, but that isn't a good matchup for Pledger.

 

[pnkranger]

Should be a good game if OU shows up to play, and is physical inside.

OU has the advantage inside. OSU at point guard. What happens at the 2 and 3 spots is probably what will determine the game.

Not sure how to defend Smart. I haven't seen a lot of him, but it appears he take an amazingly high percentage of OSU's shots. Not sure if you play him straight up, let him get his, and defend well everywhere else. Or if you try to slow him down, and make somebody else beat you. That is what LK will have to decide. And who to put on Smart. The way we switch, I don't really have a problem with Hornbeak or Hield ending up on him, but that isn't a good matchup for Pledger.

It does help with Smart that all of our guards are big. Smart is big and physical...but Hornbeak, Hield, and Cousins are better equipped physically to deal with him than Sam Grooms.

 

[boutaroust]

Didn't CLK use Cam Clark defensively against some high scoring guard last year and CC shut him down?

I haven't seen OSU/Smart play and know nothing about them, except by reputation. Is Smart's style of play susceptible to someone like CC or is Smart too quick?

 

[opsooner]

We will have to play well to win. OSU definitely has the athletic advantage except for our advantage with Osby. We need to get back on defense and also not let them get open 3s (especially Forte).

Should be a good game. Might come down to a FT shooting contest which will probably also be close.

 

[scrybe]

For some reason, I haven't been home or near a TV when any OSU game was televised, so I haven't seen them play all season. But since they are our in-state rival, I try to follow their progress as much as possible.

To me, the only obvious "advantage" for the Cowboys is having a few players who were more highly rated as high schoolers. I wouldn't necessarily say they are the better team, however. OU traditionally outplays the Cowboys at the LNC, and if the game winds up being a FT shooting contest, I would think the Sooners, who are good FT shooters, would have the advantage as the home team.

It does seem that every OU opponent has some player that literally goes off against us, even when we're at home. So we do need to keep Smart from scoring 25-30 (or more). If he is able to score at will, that could be enough to beat us. Otherwise, I like our chances against OSU and the man that one of our posters calls their "Hillybilly Coach."

 

[badger]

They will have better defense and better shot selection at point guard now that Keiton Page is gone

When we were down to WVU late, I promised my dogs that I'd jog a mile with them after the game if we won. I'd be willing to up that promise to several miles just to see the meltdown at OP.com afterward for a Sooner victory.

 

[campbest]

Get Jurick in early foul trouble, force Markel Brown to rain threes. Smart will get his 20, has the ball in his hands too much to not at least reach that number. Stop the other guys and OU could be ok.

With that said, OSU is a quality team...just short on depth.

 

[SuperHoops]

Nash has been a turd the last 8 games. If he doesn't it get going it'll be a long night for the Pokes. Jurick, Cobbins and Kalamari Murphy give them almost zero offense on their own, so they need points from and attention drawn to Nash for them to be effective on offense.

 

[oSuJeff97]

Nash has been a turd the last 8 games. If he doesn't it get going it'll be a long night for the Pokes.

While I agree that Nash has been a turd lately, I disagree that we need a big game out of him to beat OU.

Nash didn't do anything against a top 10 Gonzaga team and we lost by 1 point. He also didn't do squat against K-State and it took McGruder being unconscious in the second half for them to beat us up there.

However, I do agree that he needs to get it going. If we get anything out of him against Gonzaga or K-State, we would have won both games pretty easily.

If Nash is on, OSU is a top 10-15 team. When he's not on, we're a fringe top 25 team.

 

[TheGimper]

If Nash is on, OSU is a top 10-15 team. When he's not on, we're a fringe top 25 team.

Well, if you lose to OU you're not even a fringe top 25 team.

 

[oSuJeff97]

Well, if you lose to OU you're not even a fringe top 25 team.

Fringe top 25 teams don't lose conference games on the road?

Come on.

OSU finished last season with a losing record, but we beat a top 10 Missouri team at home. Upsets happen on the road in conference play.

OSU should win on Saturday, because we're the better team... but it wouldn't be a big surprise if OU won.

 

[CoachTalk]

While I agree that Nash has been a turd lately, I disagree that we need a big game out of him to beat OU.

Nash didn't do anything against a top 10 Gonzaga team and we lost by 1 point. He also didn't do squat against K-State and it took McGruder being unconscious in the second half for them to beat us up there.

However, I do agree that he needs to get it going. If we get anything out of him against Gonzaga or K-State, we would have won both games pretty easily.

If Nash is on, OSU is a top 10-15 team. When he's not on, we're a fringe top 25 team.

The Zags played pretty avg in the first half. Olynyk showed up in the 2nd half.

Folks will learn to limit Smart and make someone else beat them. And once they do, Nash will sink or swim you.