Mid Season Status

[cowboysooner]

We are about midway, and my thoughts on the team are:

1) Sherri overscheduled but it doesn't appear to have made the kids lose their confidence. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger -- right.

2) kids are playing very hard in my view. Enough said.

3) sherri struggled to find a consistent rotation, but it looks like we are getting there. And, JMO, she is getting it right. Love how Carter and Little are playing and their only going to get better.

4) It would be really hard for me not to play Treece. Love how she plays. I believe her to be the smartest and most fundamentally sound freshman since Whitney.

5) Still a little sloppy, but kids are playing really well at the moment and I look forward to the Texas game. I think we will give them all they want.

 

[tycat947]

We are about midway, and my thoughts on the team are:

1) Sherri overscheduled but it doesn't appear to have made the kids lose their confidence. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger -- right.

2) kids are playing very hard in my view. Enough said.

3) sherri struggled to find a consistent rotation, but it looks like we are getting there. And, JMO, she is getting it right. Love how Carter and Little are playing and their only going to get better.

4) It would be really hard for me not to play Treece. Love how she plays. I believe her to be the smartest and most fundamentally sound freshman since Whitney.

5) Still a little sloppy, but kids are playing really well at the moment and I look forward to the Texas game. I think we will give them all they want.

Great post! I believe good progress is being made. I think the "over a month" away from home was a little much as well, but hopefully that is now paying dividends.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I think we need to play teams like Baylor and Texas to know how good we are. Sometimes beating unranked teams can give one a false sense of security.

I think we should compete well Wed against a Texas team that is beatable. Now, we just have to go prove it.

 

[soonerstar]

I think you are correct on all points. I like the opponents we played in the non conference. We played 4 cupcakes and 7 good teams. The bad thing was too many were away from home and there was a 39 day gap between home games. I concur on Treece. Also, I wish Kornet would get at least 18 to 20 minutes a game, subbing in for Carter, Little, and Campbell. Been impressed with Edwards also.

 

[cowboysooner]

Every time I see Kornet play I think of the old billy tubbs quote from his first year at OU, "this year we will run and shoot, next year we will run and make shots" (or something like that). Kornet is really playing well, and I figured that sooner or later it would come together for her. I think it is starting to happen now. She has become a little (and I mean little) more selective in her shots and she is making a few. She is just a lot better player today than she has been. So, I just don't know who you sit. Sherri has so many kids that are about the same or, if different, bring something valuable to the floor. Hard to know who to play.

Until lately, I didn't think Edwards would or could contribute. However, in the last few games, she has been terrific. She and Kornet just have an air of confidence about them when they play. Like Kornet, she needs to play, but who do you sit?

Like I said before, IMO, I think you have to play Little and Carter and rotate our 3 post players. After that, I'm glad I don't have to determine who gets the other minutes. You almost can't go wrong.

 

[BigT14]

Everything is flowing really well right now. The bench is deep with the potential to be deeper. The post depth is awesome. I am happy.

 

[sybarite]

Thus far, I think realtimerpi has picked us to lose every conference game. We have learned a lot about ourselves in the past few games. In the first ten games, we tried to be what we were supposed to be. In the last four, we have let the game come to us, taking the opportunities that were available. It began when Gioya became the energy, and Peyton became the garbage collector. Their emergence has permitted everyone else to redefine their respective roles.

Gabbi had been trying to force the ball, That is no longer necessary. Now that she knows that, her turnovers are down. Sharane had been trying to drive into a crowd, hoping to get the call. She wasn't getting it, and she couldn't shoot over he defense with her height. It wasn't working, primarily because there were no lanes through which to drive. Kay Kay was trying to power the ball to the rim rather than using a quick step to get around the defense, her forte. T'Ona can't shoot, even layups. But, Sherri told her that a point guard has to make layups and free throws. Now, she hits layups and free throws.

It's nice when everyone finds a niche and isn't fighting for the same log. I think during the first three games, we have been the best TEAM in the Big Twelve. We played together well as others struggled more than they should have. The long, tough road trip had prepared us.

We kind of have to wait to see how much more of this develops. I could see us as fifth, or as first. Texas needs their guards back. Baylor did get clobbered by a team that we beat (other than an overzealous official). As the iowa State fan said, there is no CP3/OU or Griner/BU this year. Everyone can be beaten. How will everyone respond to a loss?

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Baylor did get clobbered by a team that we beat (other than an overzealous official).

Syb,

I guess I missed that about Baylor. Could you fill us in on what happened?

 

[rocjunkie]

Syb,

I guess I missed that about Baylor. Could you fill us in on what happened?

I think Syb is referring to The West Virginia game and the excellent officiating that the Mountaineers had to deal with.

 

[rocjunkie]

Though I have to agree that the 38 days without a home game has made these kids resilient, I am more impressed with the way they are playing defense right now. As Sherri has said all season, the girls are young, they have been learning on the job and putting things together. I still want to see Nicole, Maddie, and Derica get more minutes, but beggars can't be choosers.

 

[tycat947]

Syb,

I guess I missed that about Baylor. Could you fill us in on what happened?

Kentucky 74, Hypocrite U 64

 

[sybarite]

Syb,

I guess I missed that about Baylor. Could you fill us in on what happened?

I am referring to the fact that we beat Kentucky, except for an erroneous call by an official that fouled out Kornet and gave another chance to a Kentucky team that was behind. They made a couple of free throws on a technical to "win." On the other hand, Kentucky did take it to Baylor 74-64 in a game in which Baylor had about a ten-point halftime lead. I didn't see the second half of that game, thinking Baylor had it won. Kentucky probably won that with fouls as well. Seems to be their forte.

 

[tycat947]

Though I have to agree that the 38 days without a home game has made these kids resilient, I am more impressed with the way they are playing defense right now. As Sherri has said all season, the girls are young, they have been learning on the job and putting things together. I still want to see Nicole, Maddie, and Derica get more minutes, but beggars can't be choosers.

I think they are intentionally letting Maddie proceed slowly and not pushing her. She seemed more comfortable Saturday than at any time during the season to me. It may take her all season to get fully comfortable on those reconstructed knees but I think she'll get there. Fortunately, with all the depth, we can afford to let her proceed at her own pace.

 

[sybarite]

I think they are intentionally letting Maddie proceed slowly and not pushing her. She seemed more comfortable Saturday than at any time during the season to me. It may take her all season to get fully comfortable on those reconstructed knees but I think she'll get there. Fortunately, with all the depth, we can afford to let her proceed at her own pace.

I have the same impression. I think Sherri intended to work her in more rapidly. But, the night that Maddie went down was a bit of a scare. The emergence of Gioya and T'Ona has made Maddie's development of less immediate concern. But, if you listen to Colton Coale, it is obvious that Maddie is regarded as the one with special athleticism, the great hope. Colton made the comment after her second drive to the basket that she could do that anytime she wished.

But, Maddie is, after all, a freshman, and she has time to heal.

 

[tycat947]

I have the same impression. I think Sherri intended to work her in more rapidly. But, the night that Maddie went down was a bit of a scare. The emergence of Gioya and T'Ona has made Maddie's development of less immediate concern. But, if you listen to Colton Coale, it is obvious that Maddie is regarded as the one with special athleticism, the great hope. Colton made the comment after her second drive to the basket that she could do that anytime she wished.

But, Maddie is, after all, a freshman, and she has time to heal.

Exactly! She's maybe played a total of a half of a season? She doesn't have a lot of D1 court time for a 3rd year player. She's shown enough in that short time (and probably more in practices over that period) to know she can be a very pivotal and special player for the Sooners when she gets her confidence back and gets more playing time. It really may be next year before she gets to that comfort level to just "play" the game.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

The two most amazing things that have occurred so far in early conference play are our defense and the intensity that has picked up through every player.

Many of us have said this before, but it truly is like when the Yale game started someone actually turned the light switch on for the every member of the staff and team. It is an amazing turnaround and I give most of the credit to Sherri. I think she has turned a corner herself on coaching and has gotten back to the Dales/twins era.

We were so young, we all expected growing pains, not to the depths we had them, but expected them we did -- and it was the most horrifying performances I have seen out of an OU squad. Again, however, each and every young woman has stepped up their effort and game and it shows in the big and small things. Yes, there are some players going through a rough patch right now, but I think that will change.

None of us can tell what the next few weeks hold for the program and fans, but it now has the possibility of being a break-through season when two weeks ago I wasn't sure we would win a Big 12-2 game.

Great job OU women's basketball!

 

[SoonerNorm]

I think Sherri wants to see Maddie on the floor more because of her height and length, both if which would cause problems for just about any opponent. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out as she makes too many mistakes. As soon as she starts playing smarter with the basketball in her hands, her minutes will increase. Until then, I believe others like LaNesia, Kornet, and Edwards will get the majority of the minutes coming off the bench.

 

[j2d2]

I agree that Sherri is taking care to protect Maddie. I just think Maddie is a special player and is worth moving slow after two acl tears. Playing confidently will help protect those knees and it takes serious time to create that confidence.

 

[YCN]

Considering that OU managed to (barely) survive a top 10 non-conference schedule, and considering where they are now, I'm absolutely thrilled with how they're looking. Just imagine, this team has only 3 upperclassmen (eligibility-wise), and more freshmen than any other class.

They will only get better. Frosh tend to wilt a bit down the stretch, but this team looks like they are really having a lot of fun right now, and SO AM I!