Kentucky, 12/1, Thursday

[Oliver Hardy]

Maddie is having a terrible game. That first half was the best half of basketball the women have played in quite some time.

Missed free throws, cooling down have just killed us.


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[inoref]

UCONN up on #15 DePaul 42-6. :billy

Am I the only one that would put Maddie on Epps and let someone else beat us?

Geno earns his money made!

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Why does it seem like during every single important game a critical part ofbour game just disappears.

Shooting. Or rebounding.
Or free throws. Very frustrating.


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[inoref]

Why does it seem like during every single important game a critical part ofbour game just disappears.

Shooting. Or rebounding.
Or free throws. Very frustrating.


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I think we all know the biggest problem with the women program so no need to repeat it over and over.

 

[OKUman]

Why does it seem like during every single important game a critical part ofbour game just disappears.

Shooting. Or rebounding.
Or free throws. Very frustrating.


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Because we are not very skilled at any of those things.

 

[sybarite]

Sometimes, points can be deceiving. I think Vivi had 15, but it was a bad game. When we set her up under the basket, she missed cripple after cripple when the score was close. Also missed free throws. Not like her.

Maddie had her worst game of the year. I wasn''t as concerned about her shooting as about her decisions. She passed up some short shots that would have taken the pressure off of Vivi and EJ, passing it to them, only to have them miss cripples. Decisions and passing not sharp. She didn't even look like Maddie.

Peyton, Chelsea, and Gioya had good games.

We got a couple of bad calls when the score was close that allowed Kentucky to get on a run. Gabbi was called for a charge when Akafor's feet were both clearly on the line, just as they had been in the first half when she fouled Vivi (the announcers didn't notice it then). Then, Akafor got a charge on Vivi when she was moving into Vivi's space. Interesting that they called a touch foul out front giving Epps some free throws late. They hadn't called it that close..

We aren't quite as good as we looked shooting in the first half. But, we are better inside, which we didn't show. We aren't as bad as we looked in the third and fourth quarters. Senior-dominated teams shouldn't come apart. Actually, Gioya and Peyton didn't. Maddie just appeared to be in her own world tonight.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Kentucky will go as far as Epps can carry them. She's very good.

Don't know what was wrong with Maddie tonight but she wasn't herself. Vivi's stat line looks good but she missed several shots she would usually make. Offensively, we didn't get much of anything from either PG.

 

[sybarite]

Get over it.

We lost to a top twenty team on the road. Lot of that going around this year.

I think tonight was about the first win over a top twenty team on the road:

#3 South Carolina 76
#14 Texas 67

#5 Maryland 78
#7 Louisville 72

#18 Miami 94
#5 Ohio State 89 OT

These are about the first road wins against top twenty teams of the year.

 

[Sooner Cal]

I think we have to acknowledge this team's biggest problem is the attitude. So many unforced mistakes. I expect they'll be making the same ones after 20 games. Tonight they stayed close for 25 minutes despitehe mistakes because they hit 3s. Kentucky just had to be patient, play their game and wait for our typical dry spell. We could have had a substantial lead at half if not for unforced errors and poor foul shooting.

A close loss on the road was to be expected, but not a drubbing. And not to a team that had so much off season turmoil.

I'd like to see, just once, a leader (if we had one) get in someone'/ face when they make a stupid unforced error, like passing the ball to the opponent because she didn't look first.

On the plus side, Chelsea shows confidence and toughness.

 

[Sooners4Life0101]

The problem was were we are not good against a zone. It slows us down, we don't play good at a slow pace, we are not comfortable.

We need to get out in transition against teams like that- saw none of that.

My take is we have 4 players that can really score against anybody, and they all seem to be fighting each other for taking over our identity. That forces all of them to take looks that are ill-advised, or not get enough looks to get themselves going- and its impossible to say what the most logical solution is because at times they all look like they could be stars. But, we need an identity ASAP- and by identity, I mean one of those 4 players need to step up and score 17-18 a game and the others need to assume a secondary role.

 

[soonerstar]

I can't really judge OU right now but from what I seen so far they look like OU the last few years. Don't see any talent upgrade much, on the slow side. They seem to be playing harder right now, dunno know how many wins they get this year. If I was to say...I would say avg team.

Very True!

 

[Oliver Hardy]

I was really disappointed in Maddie tonight. She disappeared, which he did a LOT last year. She can't do it and she needs to step up as many games as humanly possible.

It was a tale two halves. Tonight we exhibited a lack of a killer instinct.

There's plenty of season left. Let's hope they can pull it together.


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[Sweetest OU Girl]

What are you guys talking about?

This is what it shows on the Big-12 website right now:

Dec 01
Women’s Basketball
Oklahoma 82
Kentucky 68

And it shows us 6 - 0 in the standings. So I am just going to take that as gospel and pay no attention to what I saw on the TV. :ez-roll:

Now back to reality.

I do not think we can consistently win against good teams with our present inside play. As happened so much last year, Vivi sort of disappeared tonight. The announcers even mentioned at one point that she seemed really tired. We all know it always looks that way. Plus she is inconsistent - much like last year. Some games excellent, but then sometimes misses crip shots - and even free throws. Tonight she should have dominated against such short inside play by KU. But she is too slow (and gets rattled) to make that happen. Last year she got pretty good at free throws toward the end of the year. Perhaps that will happen again. In my opinion, Nancy must develop if we want the year to go like we all hope.

Chelsea looked excellent I thought. Steady, shot pretty well - including from the 3 pt. line.

I also do not think we will win consistently if TT plays as much as tonight. Just too many lapses and bad plays - all over the court. We need her to fill in, but not be counted on as the main guard.

Now for my main complaint. Why has the Big-12 forced us to keep playing all the SEC/Big-12 Challenge games away from home? For 3 straight years we have played in this series - and have not yet had a home game. That is crazy. That means we have to play at home for the next 3 straight years to just get back to even. I can guarantee the Big-12 will never let that happen. It will not surprise me if we play away in this series for the next 10 years straight. Very, very weak support by our AD for our teams.

Did you notice the SEC teams that played at home this year? Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas. The teams that consistemtly have clout in their conference. I assign much of that to ADs who fight for their teams.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

I think Vivi had a solid game. 13 rebounds. 15 points. When we went cold in the second half Kentucky sagged and doubled her and she still played well. Yeah, she got tired, but it's early in the season.

I've been surprised at how Gabbi hasn't gotten any better and has lost her starting position.


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[Sooners4Life0101]

It is worth noting.That will probably be Epp's best game of the year too. She hit some crazy shots. Great player who probably played her best game of the year... Macy Morris also, might have had her best game at the same time. If you look at the stats, we out rebounded them, shot 41%, had more shot attempts despite 6 turnovers- they just definitely shot really really well- 49%. Some of that is Defense, they had some easy- easy looks. Some of it was they just went off at the end. It Happens. Also that stadium is tough- probably more so on the refs than the kids, they always get the calls late in games as was the case in the the tourney. We need to get that home court advantage at the end of the year, that is so crucial. Hopefully this doesn't kills us.

also- Maddie i think is used as bascially the 4th option when teams plays zone against us, and I can't really figure that out. She needs to be put in better positions to score.

This is why Sherri schedule tough games tho, to find out what we need to work on. It will definitely make us better.

 

[sybarite]

Despite her numbers, I was not impressed with Vivi tonight at all. Yes, she scored, some of it after the game was decided. When the game was on the line, such as the beginning of the third quarter, and both teams were trying to establish themselves, Vivi missed about four easy cripples in a row. It allowed Kentucky to gain an advantage. They weren't missing. We were getting exactly what we had probably drawn up in the halftime locker room. We were getting it inside. Vivi wasn't converting, nor was EJ tonight. It forced us into shots we didn't really need to be taking. She has also been a good free throw shooter, until the last two games. I think it is the pressure of being the go-to player in a big game. She has to learn that. Oh. The rebounds? She wasn't fighting anyone for rebounds. We were blocking out well enough that she was usually the only one under the rim. They just fell down to her.

Gabbi and TT are a problem. Right now, neither is a solid scorer, and they both have decision problems

Peyton is doing OK, better than OK.

Maddie had an off game. She just didn't look like Maddie tonight. It was like she wasn't emotionally in sync with what was going on. But, Sherri is right. This team takes on Maddie's personality, and she didn't come to play tonight. If I were to tell Maddie one thing it would be that leaders don't defer.

Gioya shot well tonight. But, I think it is time for us to look at Chelsea replacing Gioya. Gioya makes too many mistakes, and she doesn't pass well. When she is on the floor, it is about her.

Next game----what will Morgan Rich bring?

 

[Sooners4Life0101]

Despite her numbers, I was not impressed with Vivi tonight at all. Yes, she scored, some of it after the game was decided. When the game was on the line, such as the beginning of the third quarter, and both teams were trying to establish themselves, Vivi missed about four easy cripples in a row. It allowed Kentucky to gain an advantage. They weren't missing. We were getting exactly what we had probably drawn up in the halftime locker room. We were getting it inside. Vivi wasn't converting, nor was EJ tonight. It forced us into shots we didn't really need to be taking. She has also been a good free throw shooter, until the last two games. I think it is the pressure of being the go-to player in a big game. She has to learn that. Oh. The rebounds? She wasn't fighting anyone for rebounds. We were blocking out well enough that she was usually the only one under the rim. They just fell down to her.

Gabbi and TT are a problem. Right now, neither is a solid scorer, and they both have decision problems

Peyton is doing OK, better than OK.

Maddie had an off game. She just didn't look like Maddie tonight. It was like she wasn't emotionally in sync with what was going on. But, Sherri is right. This team takes on Maddie's personality, and she didn't come to play tonight. If I were to tell Maddie one thing it would be that leaders don't defer.

Gioya shot well tonight. But, I think it is time for us to look at Chelsea replacing Gioya. Gioya makes too many mistakes, and she doesn't pass well. When she is on the floor, it is about her.

Next game----what will Morgan Rich bring?

I normally agree w you syb. but not here..

Gioya is bigger faster stronger than dungee w/ more exp. She is the better player right now. Though Gioya does have a tendency to make some mistakes...

What i have noticed is though, some of Gioyas better games really take the ball out of Maddies hands. And while we need Gioya to be there to score and hit big shots, while being a very physical attacker- Maddie makes the right play almost all the time. Who is more valuable offensively? I am still not sure, and that is a problem. Maddie opens the door for Gioya because she can be so passive, otherwise I would say her ability to make everybody better while also having the ability, the skill set, and versatility to be one the top scorers is as valuable as any player around. Gioya on the other hand is physical and aggressive, and can shoot when she's hot, we have also seen her dominate the conference w/ pure scoring ability and a extreme confidence- but She definitely makes bad decisions, shoots really early in shot clocks, not looking to involve others most of the time and it definitely feels like its more her taking away from others, than anyone ever taking away from her. So the only answer I have is, who is ready to step up and be that player that can average 15-18 a game consistently, while cutting down on mistakes? We need that or were not going anywhere.

Peyton fits seamlessly w/ ether of the two, she happily takes wide open kicks, and also catches defenders off guard for a layup, I hardly even notice when she scores most of the time.
Vivi obviouly relies on whoever will throw her the ball as well as playing against a defense that won't completely pack the middle.

Its the Maddie-Gioya clashing (of skill sets) that might hold us back from finding our identity in the near future. But we shall see. Maybe if Maddie can get more aggressive at all times and Gioya looks to slow down and involve others more we can hit a nice happy medium that involves both and because then we could really take off. We shall see.

 

[61sooner]

How much playing time is Nancy going to get this year? Her skill set looks good. She does appear to be frail looking but seems to try and compensate with movement and positioning on the court.
Not many women teams in the USA have a 6'9 center who is a real player. If Sherri and her staff can develop Nancy into a force on the court that I think is the key to OUs future success. It could compensate for the lack of depth of top players like the UConns, Stanford, Notre Dame have. Most teams aren't going to have someone who can match up to a skilled, really tall inside force.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Look, I'v never thought Maddie was going to be the savior some on her have. However, she can be a tremendous player, when she doesn't retreat into a shell. Let's give her a couple of more games. Let's see if she plays like she did before Kentucky or at Kentucky. Then, make our final opinions known.

Right now, I think I'd go to a true 4-guard lineup (I know, this is a big departure for me). I'd go Vivi, Dungee, Little, Edwards and Rich when she gets integrated. My second unit would be EJ, Manning, Ortiz, Carter and Williams. Rotate as you go, stay with the hot players. Fit Mulkey in for rest for Vivi and EJ.

Maybe, like Gabbi, Maddie would be better coming off the bench.

I think we have a chance to be better than we've been in a long time. I do think our choir girls need to toughen up, show some attitude and be dashing and swashbuckling.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I recorded the game and am going to look at it to verify some of the things I believe I saw.

Kentucky pretty well shut down our inside game but we didn't try very hard. Thirty three point shots and you know the saying; you live with the trey you will often die with the trey.

We shoot bad shots, make bad passes. What do I mean. The forced shots inside and the 25 foot 3 point shots. We just take a lot of low percentage shots and by the way a lot of low percentage passes. Both of their centers on the bench with fouls and ViVi didn't touch the ball while we were jacking up 25 footers. And instead of ViVi or EJ in the game we had Mulkey in the game the last three minutes of the period. The only time the ball went inside ViVi hit an open shooter for a trey from reasonable range.

I think we are better than last year and probably will make the NCAA for the umpteenth time in a row. We could go pretty deep but we have to get together as a team and play smarter. We look brilliant at times and at other time just a bunch of one on one players. We can't have Maddie and Ortiz with only one point in about 50 minutes of play.

Unfortunately the bad stretches that cost us the game last night are the same that we have been too good to lose from in our previous 6 games. By the way Kentucky is better than their 17th ranking.