Matchups were good vs. Texas and KSU... how about ISU?

[thebigabd]

G- Tyrese Haliburon (6'5'' 175)
G- Rasir Bolton (6'3'' 183)
G- Prentiss Nixon (6'2'' 190)
F- George Condit (6'10'' 223)
F-Michael Jacobson (6'9'' 240)

These guys are bigger than Texas and KSU, and have a clear "go to" star in Haliburton.

• Bolton averages 15 per game
• Haliburton averages 17 per game
• Nixon averages 10 per game
• Conditt averages 10 points and 6 rebounds per game
• Jacobson averages 8 points and 6 rebounds per game

No dominant post player... but 3 guys who combine to average about 30 points per game between Condit, Jacobson, and Solomon Young.

These guys matchup better with OU than KSU or Texas did, but they are a worse team most likely. They are 7-7 but will be dangerous.

• The have the 2nd most ppg in the Big 12, so they will be able to score.
• They have the worst defense in the Big 12, so they will get scored on.
• They average 10 offensive boards per game, which is #6 in the league. Both KSU and Texas rank below them
• They are last place in the Big 12 in rebounding margin

 

[cowboysooner]

I have seen all of the B12 teams play at least once. I think we match up OK against everyone but Kansas and West Virginia -- overall. We didn't match up very well against Texas on the inside.

Halliburton is a really good player, but the rest of their team is just OK. At home or on a neutral court, I would predict an OU win. Up there, I call it a toss up.

 

[OULad]

IF we can win this it will be huge for our tournament chances. Id love to already have 2 road wins in our back pocket.

 

[Hollisp]

Only won 2 road conference games last year. 2 by mid January would be quite the improvement.

 

[stormspencer]

It's a very interesting matchup. ISU is a very good offensive team, but defense is, at best, optional from their standpoint. And a lot of the matchups (strength vs. strength, weakness vs. weakness) between the two teams seem to cancel each other out (from Kenpom).

• ISU is #302 at giving up offensive rebounds, but we are #316 at getting offensive boards.
• ISU is #41 at creating TOs, but we are #3 in the country at not turning the ball over.
• ISU is #314 in 3-pt FG defense, so we will get some open looks....just need to make a few.
• ISU doesn't really get to the line alot (#257), but they don't tend to foul much either (#14 in putting the other team at the line). OU is #154 at getting to the line, but we are outstanding at not putting other teams at the line (#7)

And ISU likes to play fast....like us. So if the refs let us play, it is going to be an up and down game with both teams likely approaching 80 points.

 

[Darwin]

IF we can win this it will be huge for our tournament chances. Id love to already have 2 road wins in our back pocket.

so true and the momentum can certainly help everyone's confidence

 

[opsooner]

ISU not good by their standards but still a tough game for us. Would be another very nice road win and a fantastic conference start. We have a very good chance.


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[DSMok1]

Here's a preview of the matchup: http://www.barttorvik.com/trank.php?year=2020&t1l=Oklahoma&t2l=Iowa+St.&#

Iowa State is a mirror of OU in a lot of areas.

Both teams are strong on offense, mostly powered by elite ability at avoiding turnovers. On defense, both teams aren't as strong. Neither team fouls much at all.

On defense, OU focuses on rebounding and Iowa State focuses on forcing turnovers. OU focuses on preventing penetration and gives up a lot of 3s (the Milwaukee Bucks approach). Iowa State struggles to get to the rim on offense, so expect them to shoot a ton of jumpers.

Because of that fact, I think the game will mostly hinge on whether Iowa State makes all of those jumpers or not.

 

[steverocks35]

Here's a preview of the matchup: http://www.barttorvik.com/trank.php?year=2020&t1l=Oklahoma&t2l=Iowa+St.&#

Iowa State is a mirror of OU in a lot of areas.

Both teams are strong on offense, mostly powered by elite ability at avoiding turnovers. On defense, both teams aren't as strong. Neither team fouls much at all.

On defense, OU focuses on rebounding and Iowa State focuses on forcing turnovers. OU focuses on preventing penetration and gives up a lot of 3s (the Milwaukee Bucks approach). Iowa State struggles to get to the rim on offense, so expect them to shoot a ton of jumpers.

Because of that fact, I think the game will mostly hinge on whether Iowa State makes all of those jumpers or not.

Wait, we focus on rebounding? lol

 

[stormspencer]

Wait, we focus on rebounding? lol

Believe it or not, OU is #34 in the country in limiting offensive rebounds by the opposition. It may not seem that way, but it is indeed the case. However, OU is #320 is getting offensive rebounds....as we've seen.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Believe it or not, OU is #34 in the country in limiting offensive rebounds by the opposition. It may not seem that way, but it is indeed the case. However, OU is #320 is getting offensive rebounds....as we've seen.

Yep, one of the few good points the announcers made the other night was precisely this -- we are a solid defensive rebounding team. Just like we are good at defending the three. People might not want to believe it, but the stats bear it out.

 

[coolm]

Yep, one of the few good points the announcers made the other night was precisely this -- we are a solid defensive rebounding team. Just like we are good at defending the three. People might not want to believe it, but the stats bear it out.

it actually makes sense. we have good length and speed, but not the experience or booty.

 

[steverocks35]

I'm bored at work so I looked up all our boxscores and checked the rebounding stats:
Team Offensive reb. Total Reb. OU Off Rebounds Total Reb.
UTSA 15 44 8 44
Minn 9 37 9 42
Or. St. 11 37 11 42
W&M 3 40 5 35
MES 5 35 11 42
Stanford 15 51 6 31
Mizzou 4 29 6 34
N. Texas 10 32 8 28
WSU 13 48 6 31
Creighton 9 46 10 41
UCF 15(!) 48 12 42
UTRGV 4 28 10 48
KSU 11 37 10 42
UT 9 37 6 36


I think this stat more than any other gives you an idea of which games we played well in and which games we stunk up the joint.

 

[WichitaSooner]

it actually makes sense. we have good length and speed, but not the experience or booty.

True. And while it is easy to think of rebounding as one skill, I have heard lots of players (including great rebounders) talk about how different offensive and defensive rebounding are. Effort and desire obviously play into both, but they require different skill sets.

 

[BCSooners]

True. And while it is easy to think of rebounding as one skill, I have heard lots of players (including great rebounders) talk about how different offensive and defensive rebounding are. Effort and desire obviously play into both, but they require different skill sets.

Yes defensive is more strength & positioning, offensive is more length & athleticism.

 

[TheGimper]

Just like we are good at defending the three. People might not want to believe it, but the stats bear it out.

OU ranks 163rd in the nation in 3 point defense. That’s not good.

 

[stormspencer]

OU ranks 163rd in the nation in 3 point defense. That’s not good.

It isn't "good", but I would say our 3-pt % defense is slightly above average (kenpom #145).

The problem OU has is that 45% of the total shot attempts against us are from three....which is an extremely high ratio (kenpom #339). So, teams shoot a ton of 3s against us and since our defensive % is about average, on the whole, we give up a few more 3s per game than your average squad.

What this tells me is that we need to guard the perimeter better to reduce the amount of 3-point attempts against us. How we "guard the perimeter" better is a little more complicated given our size/bulk and our deficiencies inside.