Is it time for Big 12 conference play?

[boomer411]

Anyone else ready for conference play to start? Now that we've pretty much played our toughest non-conference foes, I'm ready for conference play to start so we can see how the Big 12 teams are really stacking up.

As of right now it looks like the contenders are in the top half of the overall record standings. All are ranked or receiving votes.

*Iowa State (9-0)
*Oklahoma State (8-0)
*Baylor (8-1)
*West Virginia (8-1)
*OKLAHOMA (7-3)
*Texas (7-3)

Iowa State and Oklahoma State will likely go into conference play undefeated, though Oklahoma State's toughest games (Michigan State and Georgia Tech) are still to come. Baylor and West Virginia both have 1 loss and don't appear to be challenged until conference play begins. Oklahoma and Texas do have 3 losses, but have clearly played to toughest schedules out of all Big 12 teams, losing to primarily Top 5 teams.

It seems that most teams actually step up their level of play once conference play begins, so there should certainly be many tough games that are exciting to watch.

 

[Mac]

I think the big 12 is down over all this year and might only get 3 or 4 teams in the big dance... well have to see.

 

[Soonercuda]

I think the big 12 is down over all this year and might only get 3 or 4 teams in the big dance... well have to see.

Check out the other leagues and it is just hard to get to 64 without at least 5 Big 12 teams.

 

[badger]

Yeah, I'd say the only one down is Baylor, tee hee @ them.

Texas is stronger (not saying much I know), WV will still be worth a mention, ISU is always Sherri's nemesis, and why does OSU get to still be undefeated?! We must end this winning streak of theirs asap

 

[soonermom1000]

If we played OSU's schedule, we would be undefeated, too.... I like that Sherri plays "Somebody" in her non-conference schedule. The "cream" will rise to the top, once conference play begins.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I know most do not agree with me but I believe in playing a soft preseason schedule for the following reasons:

1. The girls play against guys every day during practice. The guys should be able to beat any girls team in the country. If that doesn't toughen up the girls, nothing will.

2. A soft schedule allows the coach to develop young players and strengthen depth.

3. They can play without pressure and work on different schemes, player combinations, and maintain fresh legs during preseason.

4. I have not seen any evidence a tough schedule makes us any better prepared than a weak schedule.

 

[boomer411]

I see the upsides and downsides of both. I agree Soonernorm that you are able to develop players with a softer schedule, but I also see the importance in challenging yourself before you get into conference and post season play.Playing against male practice players in practice settings is very different than playing against females, in front of a crowd, in live game situations.

Overall, I've come to think that it can be best to start slow but eventually lead into a tougher non-conference schedule. If you are in a conference that doesn't have a Top 3 team (Big 12 this year), then non-conference games become an opportunity to play these teams before the postseason, where you become "one-and-done." The things that our ladies can learn from the Duke game will definitely help them to make corrections moving forward.

In my opinion, confidence is one of the most underrated aspects of the game right now. Notre Dame was able to defeat UConn last year 3/4 times because Skylar Diggins convinced her team that they could play with them. What often happens in games when teams are playing against a superior team, is the greater team goes on a run that weakens the confidence of the opposing team and they are never able to recover from that deficit. This happened at the end of the first half when we played Duke. Once we came out in the second half and started making some shots and got the crowd behind us, we started getting our confidence back. We were able to chip into the lead that they built up but not quite recover.

However, I do think that knowing that we can come back from a deficit against a team like Duke will be useful in the future. If we get down later in the season, we know that we have to ability to come back the way we did against Duke. Even if you look at Baylor playing against Kentucky. Baylor should have gained a lot of confidence because they learned that they can play with a Top5/Top10 team this year. That game also really helped to legitimize the Big 12 this season this season. If Baylor would have been blown out, then losing to them in conference play would have made Big 12 teams a lot weaker.

Also, let's say Duke plays UConn tough or even pulls off an upset tonight. This would send a message to other teams the UConn isn't invincible, and that you can play with them. It is really an important game for the scope of Women's College Basketball this year. And it's a non-conference game.

 

[rocjunkie]

I'm not going to debate for or against a tough or weak schedule. Norm an I have talked about this in the past and we respectfully disagree on the issue, but it doesn't mean I'm right or Norm is. However what I will debate is this, If I am a Division 1 athlete playing in one of the top conferences in the country, then I want to play against the best teams to challenge my self against the best players. You don't get that by playing a soft schedule. I think Sherri does a good job of mixing quality teams,and against "cannon fodder" to get her kids prepared for the up coming season. As a fan, I don't want to see a non-conference schedule made up of weak cream puffs, I'd just as soon stay at home and watch my dogs play and then go to the conference games. Just one fan's opinion.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I'm not going to debate for or against a tough or weak schedule. Norm an I have talked about this in the past and we respectfully disagree on the issue, but it doesn't mean I'm right or Norm is. However what I will debate is this, If I am a Division 1 athlete playing in one of the top conferences in the country, then I want to play against the best teams to challenge my self against the best players. You don't get that by playing a soft schedule. I think Sherri does a good job of mixing quality teams,and against "cannon fodder" to get her kids prepared for the up coming season. As a fan, I don't want to see a non-conference schedule made up of weak cream puffs, I'd just as soon stay at home and watch my dogs play and then go to the conference games. Just one fan's opinion.

I think that is the best argument for not playing a soft schedule.

 

[tycat947]

I'm not going to debate for or against a tough or weak schedule. Norm an I have talked about this in the past and we respectfully disagree on the issue, but it doesn't mean I'm right or Norm is. However what I will debate is this, If I am a Division 1 athlete playing in one of the top conferences in the country, then I want to play against the best teams to challenge my self against the best players. You don't get that by playing a soft schedule. I think Sherri does a good job of mixing quality teams,and against "cannon fodder" to get her kids prepared for the up coming season. As a fan, I don't want to see a non-conference schedule made up of weak cream puffs, I'd just as soon stay at home and watch my dogs play and then go to the conference games. Just one fan's opinion.

+1. You're not going to be playing 12-15 players a game during conference or NCAA tourney games. So, you need to prepare the 8-10 players you WILL play during those games and preparing against strong non-conference opponents (at home and on the road) will best have you ready.

 

[SoonerNorm]

If Sherri didn't think it was important to play reserves she probably wouldn't play them.

 

[SoonerShamrock]

As I have heard Sherri say (or words to this effect), if all you play pre-conference is "upside down western Arkansas," how do you know what you've got? I'll wager she has a pretty good idea.

 

[j2d2]

Sherri has always and consistently maintained that playing some good competition early was good preparation for the Big XII and the rest of the season.