Kruger blames Baylor meltdown on fatigue

[OUHoops]

http://www.oudaily.com/sports/oklah...cle_f9ffa772-e03d-11e5-98fa-3b909b43c2ec.html

 

[AdaSooner]

Finally, an admission that this team may be tired mentally and physically.

Some of us have been saying for weeks that our starters are playing too many minutes. That's not a big deal in the early portion of the season. But, not getting enough rest, combined with mental fatigue, will begin to wear on you as the season progresses.

Bill Self said last week that one of KU's practices consisted of watching game film for that very reason. I have no idea if Coach Kruger gives our players a day off from the wear and tear of a practice session? If not, maybe he should.

I realize not everyone will agree with me on this topic. Some will say, these kids are young and in shape, so they'll be fine. I also know that physical and mental fatigue was not the only culprit in the meltdown we saw last night.

All I'm saying is that it could have played a bigger role than some of you may be willing to admit. One thing is certain. The team we saw in the second half was not the same as the one we watched finish the first half with a 21 point lead.

 

[152219]

I wouldn't be surprised if the team is mentally fatigued. They have gone thru the meat grinder and had a bullseye on their back pretty much the entire season, something they have never had to deal with before. Hopefully they use this experience in the NCAA tourney.

 

[Sooner-Bred]

They'll be fine!

Playing in this conference is such a grind, everyone knows everyone else, and unlike the Big 10, ACC, etc., we don't have many "off nights".

Michigan State gets a load of easy wins in the Big 10 against the likes of: Minnesota, Rutgers, Illinois, Penn State, Nebraska, Northwestern, etc.

We get: TCU.

And that's pretty much it. K-State, Texas Tech, and even OSU are better than almost all of those teams.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I wouldn't be surprised if the team is mentally fatigued. They have gone thru the meat grinder and had a bullseye on their back pretty much the entire season, something they have never had to deal with before. Hopefully they use this experience in the NCAA tourney.

I agree completely. When we started having problems in the second half it energized Baylor and drained us.

 

[ocugolfsooner]

This team has had no break this year due to the LSU game in the middle of the conference season where we would have usually gotten a full week off, and it was a hostile road game no less. These kids can be in incredible shape, but it's not just physical fatigue, mental fatigue is just as problematic. Guys may be getting burned out on b-ball. They don't look as loose or like they are having as much fun as earlier this year.

 

[scrybe]

This team has had no break this year due to the LSU game in the middle of the conference season where we would have usually gotten a full week off, and it was a hostile road game no less. These kids can be in incredible shape, but it's not just physical fatigue, mental fatigue is just as problematic. Guys may be getting burned out on b-ball. They don't look as loose or like they are having as much fun as earlier this year.

I don't necessarily disagree, but they sure looked like they were loose and having fun in the first half of last night's game. What happened (or could have happened) in the second half was troubling, but the way the Sooners came out and dominated the first half does show, at least, that they're still capable of playing the kind of basketball we saw from them earlier in the season.

 

[MsProudSooner]

This team has had no break this year due to the LSU game in the middle of the conference season where we would have usually gotten a full week off, and it was a hostile road game no less. These kids can be in incredible shape, but it's not just physical fatigue, mental fatigue is just as problematic. Guys may be getting burned out on b-ball. They don't look as loose or like they are having as much fun as earlier this year.

I think the Big XII and the SEC need to tell the networks that the Big XII/SEC Challenge games need to be played in the preseason in the future.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I'm not so sure that Kruger was meaning we are worn down from the season. Just that we got tired in THIS game b/c of the emotions of the game. We expended A LOT of energy in that first half on defense alone. Then add in the emotion of senior day and the adreniline, we fell off that high.

I think it is a stretch to use Krugers words in this article to mean that the team is tired and worn down overall.

 

[ocugolfsooner]

I don't necessarily disagree, but they sure looked like they were loose and having fun in the first half of last night's game. What happened (or could have happened) in the second half was troubling, but the way the Sooners came out and dominated the first half does show, at least, that they're still capable of playing the kind of basketball we saw from them earlier in the season.

Could've been riding adrenaline from senior night, etc? Whatever it was, they were not able to sustain it or even come close. The defensive intensity was incredible the first 5-10 minutes.

 

[WichitaSooner]

It seems like Lon was saying that the team was emotionally drained, mainly because of the energy they expended early in the game due to the excitement of Senior Night. In no way do I read his comments to be a general statement about physical fatigue from having played too many minutes through the season.

I didn't play basketball at a high enough level to know from personal experience, but after hearing enough former college players discuss it, I think way too much is being made of this concern. If you noticed the stat shown during the game last night, our starters average only two more minutes per game than KU's. KU has won 10 games in a row and I have yet to hear anyone question whether they are tired. NBA teams play an average of nearly 4 games per week, it isn't uncommon for them to play 4 games in 5 nights, and they play 48-minute games. College teams play 2 games a week, never have to play back-to-back, and usually have three days off between games.

I have heard Lon say that he shortens practices as the season goes along, and I think this is something that just about every coach does. I would love to have better bench production because it would help if we are in foul trouble or if a starter is injured or not playing well, but I don't think fatigue is a major issue. Just my two cents because I see this topic come up a lot.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I wouldn't be surprised if the team is mentally fatigued. They have gone thru the meat grinder and had a bullseye on their back pretty much the entire season, something they have never had to deal with before. Hopefully they use this experience in the NCAA tourney.

Great post. I agree.

 

[Big Old Booger]

This team has had no break this year due to the LSU game in the middle of the conference season where we would have usually gotten a full week off, and it was a hostile road game no less. These kids can be in incredible shape, but it's not just physical fatigue, mental fatigue is just as problematic. Guys may be getting burned out on b-ball. They don't look as loose or like they are having as much fun as earlier this year.

I mentioned this a few weeks back and a few posters took offense. I don't need to mention names but they know who they are. May the force be with you. :ez-laugh:

 

[scrybe]

I mentioned this a few weeks back and a few posters took offense. I don't need to mention names but they know who they are. May the force be with you. :ez-laugh:

I don't recall that discussion, Booger. Could I have been one of those who took offense? :ez-laugh:

 

[Capel's Mustache]

I'm not so sure that Kruger was meaning we are worn down from the season. Just that we got tired in THIS game b/c of the emotions of the game. We expended A LOT of energy in that first half on defense alone. Then add in the emotion of senior day and the adreniline, we fell off that high.

I think it is a stretch to use Krugers words in this article to mean that the team is tired and worn down overall.

Totally agree. That's the way I took it too.

 

[opsooner]

Hmmmm. Those guys who do come in off the bench might also be very fatigued.

 

[Mookie]

They'll be fine!

Playing in this conference is such a grind, everyone knows everyone else, and unlike the Big 10, ACC, etc., we don't have many "off nights".

Michigan State gets a load of easy wins in the Big 10 against the likes of: Minnesota, Rutgers, Illinois, Penn State, Nebraska, Northwestern, etc.

We get: TCU.

And that's pretty much it. K-State, Texas Tech, and even OSU are better than almost all of those teams.

we need more people like you to post on the board. We used to until jackson sooner came alone and ran away a few.

smart,well thought out post.

OU

 

[SoonerinNC]

I think I saw a screen during the broadcast that showed that the OU starters led the NCAA or Big 12 in average minutes played per game.

I had the sound off so I am not sure. But our bench is an issue. We had 35 minutes and 13 points off the bench last night. Baylor had 50 minutes and 35 points. It looks like Kruger is force feeding McNease to try to get more rest for the starters. Suprised that James didn't play more last night.

The high number of close games we have had is also and issue here.

 

[WTSooner]

I think I saw a screen during the broadcast that showed that the OU starters led the NCAA or Big 12 in average minutes played per game.

I had the sound off so I am not sure. But our bench is an issue. We had 35 minutes and 13 points off the bench last night. Baylor had 50 minutes and 35 points. It looks like Kruger is force feeding McNease to try to get more rest for the starters. Suprised that James didn't play more last night.

The high number of close games we have had is also and issue here.

Agreed. And that is on LK. Either he didn't develop those guys enough earlier this season and in practice, or he recruited a bunch of guys that simply can't offer much help (mostly looking at Manyang here, but McNeace fits too).

Not the best job of roster construction when you know you have a very talented starting 5 full of seniors.

 

[TheMont]

Is James hurt? I know he tweaked an ankle/leg a couple of weeks back, and that could still be bothering him. I thought he was giving us very quality minutes there for awhile, but he didn't play at all yesterday.