I said this after the Creighton game ...

[pnkranger]

...but as a program, we just cannot get over the hump yet. The transformation under Kruger is astounding, but every time we have a chance to make a statement that OU is back -- a top 15 type program that can compete in March, we fall just short.

This year we've had three opportunities: big early season game at Creighton, title game against Wisconsin, and again against top 15 Washington. We lose all three ... Now our resume is back to 7-8 seed range with wins over a 3 loss Butler team and a UCLA team that just got ruined by Kentucky. Add in a bad loss at Creighton, and we went from great opportunity to blah middle of the road resume.

I am NOT a negative nancy, and those who have been around long enough will back me up on that ... but I just want for us so bad to announce that we're back. In four seasons, we have lost every big game, with no post season victories and no regular season big wins to crow about.

 

[garyeb2]

All I can say that we have only played just less than one third of our games this season. My guess is that the hump is still yet to come.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

...but as a program, we just cannot get over the hump yet. The transformation under Kruger is astounding, but every time we have a chance to make a statement that OU is back -- a top 15 type program that can compete in March, we fall just short.

This year we've had three opportunities: big early season game at Creighton, title game against Wisconsin, and again against top 15 Washington. We lose all three ... Now our resume is back to 7-8 seed range with wins over a 3 loss Butler team and a UCLA team that just got ruined by Kentucky. Add in a bad loss at Creighton, and we went from great opportunity to blah middle of the road resume.

I am NOT a negative nancy, and those who have been around long enough will back me up on that ... but I just want for us so bad to announce that we're back. In four seasons, we have lost every big game, with no post season victories and no regular season big wins to crow about.

KU at home two years ago was big, but I understand your point. Need to win 12 BIG 12 games again, but that's a lot tougher this year

 

[pnkranger]

All I can say that we have only played just less than one third of our games this season. My guess is that the hump is still yet to come.

The hump isn't truly until the big 12 tournament, but I guess what I'm saying is that good teams don't go 0-3 in these games.

It will take 11 wins in the toughest conference in America to get to 20 wins on the season.

 

[tsou89]

...but as a program, we just cannot get over the hump yet. The transformation under Kruger is astounding, but every time we have a chance to make a statement that OU is back -- a top 15 type program that can compete in March, we fall just short.

This year we've had three opportunities: big early season game at Creighton, title game against Wisconsin, and again against top 15 Washington. We lose all three ... Now our resume is back to 7-8 seed range with wins over a 3 loss Butler team and a UCLA team that just got ruined by Kentucky. Add in a bad loss at Creighton, and we went from great opportunity to blah middle of the road resume.

I am NOT a negative nancy, and those who have been around long enough will back me up on that ... but I just want for us so bad to announce that we're back. In four seasons, we have lost every big game, with no post season victories and no regular season big wins to crow about.

Unfortunately I think this is spot on. If something doesn't change were a 5th place B12 team and a thur/fri exit team.

 

[garyeb2]

The hump isn't truly until the big 12 tournament, but I guess what I'm saying is that good teams don't go 0-3 in these games.

It will take 11 wins in the toughest conference in America to get to 20 wins on the season.

Well it depends who the opponent is. Washington has the size and horses and may be legit. Wisconsin certainly is.

 

[usedtobe1]

We're a better team this year than we were last year. Still, we're not going to challenge a Kentucky but I think we will continue to get better every game.

 

[MisterF]

Boys this is a work in progress. Anybody that thought this team was a finished product was kidding them self. Every year has been a step for OU with LK. And it will continue this year and the next. Ou is good. Getting better. Still finding their self this season offensively. But has got better the last few games. Relax and enjoy the progress.

 

[campbest]

...but as a program, we just cannot get over the hump yet. The transformation under Kruger is astounding, but every time we have a chance to make a statement that OU is back -- a top 15 type program that can compete in March, we fall just short.

This year we've had three opportunities: big early season game at Creighton, title game against Wisconsin, and again against top 15 Washington. We lose all three ... Now our resume is back to 7-8 seed range with wins over a 3 loss Butler team and a UCLA team that just got ruined by Kentucky. Add in a bad loss at Creighton, and we went from great opportunity to blah middle of the road resume.

I am NOT a negative nancy, and those who have been around long enough will back me up on that ... but I just want for us so bad to announce that we're back. In four seasons, we have lost every big game, with no post season victories and no regular season big wins to crow about.

7-8 seed...come on.

 

[pnkranger]

7-8 seed...come on.

Not talking about our skill level, but just looking at our resume. 7-3 with no rpi top 50 wins and 1 loss over 150. 3-3 road neutral record.

 

[OUHoops]

I'm right there with you, pnkranger. It's frustrating.

There are juniors on this team who continue to make some very low "Basketball IQ" plays offensively over and over.

And now we've got Spangler's newfound love for the jumper, and that's great that he makes some, but it also takes away his offensive rebounding prowess that is much needed when the other guys are chucking as many 3's as they do. I dunno what to think.

Like someone said about we've still got 2/3 of this season left to play, but the Big 12 is tougher top to bottom than it was last year. I find myself lowering expectations and just hoping to win one game rather than hoping for a Sweet 16 run.

Hope I'm wrong. I'd love to eat crow. I'm probably overreacting. Flame me up. LOL.

 

[sdcloud9]

I totally agree about the program needing to win games like this to ge to over the hump but OU played a terrible first 15 minutes against a top 15 team, got down by 20 and could have easily won the game in the end.

It isn't football, teams can lose games and it not be a season killer. This team has plenty of room to grow and I believe it will.

There is no question that Lon's record at OU in tournament games has been awful but there is time to find those little distinctions that win games against teams in March.

I saw OU as a legitimate Sweet 16 team before tonight and that didn't change.

 

[MercedeSooner]

There are juniors on this team who continue to make some very low "Basketball IQ" plays offensively over and over.

This is the part that just kills me - our guards still don't play with poise, turn the ball over in critical moments and shy away from big points in games. There really is no excuse at this point and unless they suddenly mature and step up we're not going to come close to our pre season goals this year. I know Nigel Goss is a better player then anyone on our team (damn you Lon for not bringing him in) but I'm kinda shocked not 1 of our guys has stepped up as an alpha dog yet.

Expectations aren't just to make the tourney but to actually win more then 1 game in the tourney this year, long way to go but man we need some guys to grow up quickly.

 

[sybarite]

We didn't show up for parts of the Washington and Creighton games. I suspect that a more seasoned team would not have fallen behind by twenty or blown an eighteen point lead. With Thomas arriving late, I don't know that we have that type of maturity yet. We may be a great deal better by tournament time.

 

[OKUman]

This team just has very little margin of error. Just about good, just a couple of players away.

 

[Speedy17]

You have to show up for 40 minutes every game every night. If you don't then you will lose games against teams like Creighton and Washington. I agree that OU should have given the ball to Cousins to start the last play. I was disappointed that they planned completely away from Cousins in the last couple of minutes - I don't think he touched the ball in the last 4 minutes. Bottomline, if this team shows up every night for 40 minutes they are a tough out - if they don't then they can't beat really good teams.

 

[Speedy17]

I also wish Lon would use a timeout every once in a while to stop the bleeding and momentum. He never used a TO in the first half even with the huge UW run.

 

[campbest]

Not talking about our skill level, but just looking at our resume. 7-3 with no rpi top 50 wins and 1 loss over 150. 3-3 road neutral record.

Would make a hefty wager we don't fall to that line.

 

[bgrch1350]

Washington is undefeated. Wisconsin is top 5. Losing to creighton sucks but not a terrible loss.

One thing stands out in our losses. We play one great half and one really bad half. Surprisingly it's not consistent on which half it's going to be. Creighton and Wisconsin we lay an egg in the 2nd and Washington we lay an egg in the first.

This is going to be a long season. Big 12 play, we lay eggs in any half....good chance we don't win.

 

[AdaSooner]

I'm right there with you, pnkranger. It's frustrating.

There are juniors on this team who continue to make some very low "Basketball IQ" plays offensively over and over.
And now we've got Spangler's newfound love for the jumper, and that's great that he makes some, but it also takes away his offensive rebounding prowess that is much needed when the other guys are chucking as many 3's as they do. I dunno what to think.

Like someone said about we've still got 2/3 of this season left to play, but the Big 12 is tougher top to bottom than it was last year. I find myself lowering expectations and just hoping to win one game rather than hoping for a Sweet 16 run.

Hope I'm wrong. I'd love to eat crow. I'm probably overreacting. Flame me up. LOL.

I think your concerns are legitimate. The thing that worries me more than anything is the part in bold print. I found myself shaking my head in disbelief by the mistakes I saw throughout the game, unforced turnovers for example. And, like you said, they were being committed by veteran players who can't be excused by the old standby, "they're still young and inexperienced."

If this team is to compete for the conference title and make a deep run in March, they need to clean up the miscues and play solid defense in both halves, not just when they have fallen behind and go in the catch up mode.