My Take on the KSU Game

[Soonerinkc]

Originally Posted by Soonerinkc View Post
I'm sorry...but Freeman should NOT be playing as much as he did. I HOPE there were some reason (sick, discipline, SOMETHING...) but there is no way he should have that many minutes...just my opinion (which means nada).

My son saw a couple players after the game that said Manek was sick last night

ah...that would explain it.

 

[Soonerinkc]

They always struggle badly in Manhattan. The previous three years in Norman, we beat them by 9, 30, and 9. But it does feel like they have our number.

saw the stat....OU is 1-6 vs ksu when OU is ranked. OUCH~

 

[WichitaSooner]

Unless it's KU or OSU, basketball is always poorly attended. The decision based on television to play a home game at 6pm makes that even worse. Hard to get to Norman by 6 if you live/work anywhere but Norman

I just feel like this is an excuse. If the game starts at 6, people claim it's too early. If if starts at 8, they'll say it's too late for OKC people on a weeknight. A huge portion of KU fans live in the KC area, which is twice as far from Lawrence as OKC is from Norman. They make it to every game because it's a priority.

And I realize KU is an outlier, so maybe this is a better example of what a legit fanbase does. On Wednesday, WSU entered play under .500 and on a four-game skid. They played a 9 pm game against an unranked opponent. Not only was the arena full, but the crowd stood and was loud for pretty much the entire game. This despite the fact that 75 percent of their fans are, uh, not young.

So my bottom line is, there are always a million built-in excuses not to attend games. Too early, too late, bad weather, bad opponent, getting mentally ready for spring football, etc. But fans who actually care about a team and have the financial means to do it will make it a point to go to as many games as possible. Obviously there will be people who can't go because of work, but for most people, it's just a choice.

 

[Soonerinkc]

I just feel like this is an excuse. If the game starts at 6, people claim it's too early. If if starts at 8, they'll say it's too late for OKC people on a weeknight. A huge portion of KU fans live in the KC area, which is twice as far from Lawrence as OKC is from Norman. They make it to every game because it's a priority.

And I realize KU is an outlier, so maybe this is a better example of what a legit fanbase does. On Wednesday, WSU entered play under .500 and on a four-game skid. They played a 9 pm game against an unranked opponent. Not only was the arena full, but the crowd stood and was loud for pretty much the entire game. This despite the fact that 75 percent of their fans are, uh, not young.

So my bottom line is, there are always a million built-in excuses not to attend games. Too early, too late, bad weather, bad opponent, getting mentally ready for spring football, etc. But fans who actually care about a team and have the financial means to do it will make it a point to go to as many games as possible. Obviously there will be people who can't go because of work, but for most people, it's just a choice.

true....BUT...being devil's advocate...wsu basketball is basically the ONLY major athletic event in town.

Sure ya got Friends and Newman...D2 schools but wsu is it. On top of that no fball program...baseball is the next thing for them.

Not sure how we stack up against the other B12 schools...

UT might be a good comparative.

 

[vbdad]

6 is too early. I was going but my cases didn't finish until after 6. No chance to even get down there for the whole second half. I will go to 8 but it hurts me the next day.

We are best with Manek and Doo playing the two post positions but Wade and the other big guy are both big and strong and a bad matchup for us. Most teams that isn't a problem.

Muni's free throw is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. He looks like is trying to reach out put it in the net like a small pop a shot game.

 

[AdaSooner]

6 is too early. I was going but my cases didn't finish until after 6. No chance to even get down there for the whole second half. I will go to 8 but it hurts me the next day.

We are best with Manek and Doo playing the two post positions but Wade and the other big guy are both big and strong and a bad matchup for us. Most teams that isn't a problem.

Muni's free throw is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. He looks like is trying to reach out put it in the net like a small pop a shot game.

Odomes slingshot line drive is no thing of beauty either. He changes his delivery from one shot to the next and from one game to the next.

Shooting free throws is not rocket science. It’s mostly about developing an effective stroke and a routine that eventually become automatic if you put in the practice time.

I don’t get how two seniors can be so bad at shooting free throws? Is it game pressure, a lack of time devoted to practicing on their own, proper attention from coaches? Our best free throw shooters early in the season (Reynolds, James and Calixte) have all had noticeable declines in their averages lately. Any idea what if anything is going on?

My guess is the players aren’t putting in the practice time on their own. If proper technique and routine (or a lack thereof) are factors, that could be coaching. I would like to think this is not a coaching issue. Players need to spend time working on their own to improve, if they want to be good.

 

[SuperHoops]

There was one notably bad free throw shooter, I think it may have been Gottlieb, that his coaches said would shoot 70-80% in practice but couldn't throw it in the ocean during games.

 

[AdaSooner]

There was one notably bad free throw shooter, I think it may have been Gottlieb, that his coaches said would shoot 70-80% in practice but couldn't throw it in the ocean during games.

Had to be Gottlieb. He led the league in assists. He also led the league in awful free throw shooting. Funny thing is, he got progressively worse every season.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/doug-gottlieb-1.html

 

[WichitaSooner]

There was one notably bad free throw shooter, I think it may have been Gottlieb, that his coaches said would shoot 70-80% in practice but couldn't throw it in the ocean during games.

This is actually very common. Lots of guys who can't make them in games shoot a good percentage in practice. Can't remember the exact numbers, but heard Lawson say that in a practice shortly before Doke got hurt, Doke made something like 75 out of 100 as part of a drill Self made him do. There are lots of similar examples. Game pressure does funny things to people. Anyone who can regularly pipe a drive down the middle on the range but never finds the fairway during a round can somewhat relate. It should never get to the extent it has with RO, but unfortunately it happens. In his case, though, it isn't just mental -- he obviously has mechanical flaws with his shot.

As for the other guys, Calixte just hasn't been to the line enough. He shot basically right at 90% each of his first three seasons. I have no doubt he would shoot a very high percentage if he got to the line more for us. Reynolds is harder to figure out. He seems to have gone into a funk after he had the one game where he struggled at the line -- USC, I think it was. James has always been a good, but not great, free throw shooter.

 

[opsooner]

Muni's free throw is the ugliest thing I have ever seen.

Reminds me of Barkley’s golf swing a few years ago. And although Muni has never been a good FT shooter this latest technique (if you want to call it that) attempt is new and even much worse.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AdaSooner]

Reminds me of Barkley’s golf swing a few years ago. And although Muni has never been a good FT shooter this latest technique (if you want to call it that) attempt is new and even much worse.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Whoa there opsooner! Please allow me to refresh your memory about Barkley’s unusual (I’m being kind here), uh, golf swing.

https://makeagif.com/i/E8d-CD

 

[opsooner]

I see similar things . Jerky and a complete lack of form and confidence. I will never understand why terrible FT shooters remain terrible. Teach them how to place the ball in their hand and then practice like crazy. The golf swing is much more difficult!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[coolm]

so much of it is mental. Denny Price would demand they have a routine. this makes it easier to get out of your head and into muscle memory instead.

 

[AdaSooner]

so much of it is mental. Denny Price would demand they have a routine. this makes it easier to get out of your head and into muscle memory instead.

A routine is not just important, it’s absolutely necessary in developing a consistent stroke. The same thing is true of the golf swing and in putting. The pros in both sports go through the same routine before every shot. If it works, nothing could make them change it.

 

[Soonerinkc]

Honestly...i play on Thursday..
Im a frickin 54 yr old ball junkie. Never played in hs...i can prob shoot 65/70% and I never practice.

 

[BCSooners]

Honestly...i play on Thursday..
Im a frickin 54 yr old ball junkie. Never played in hs...i can prob shoot 65/70% and I never practice.

Lol do it in a game that means something, when your tired, & in an arena with a bunch of fans. Completely different, it’s not like these guys don’t work at it.

 

[Soonerinkc]

Lol do it in a game that means something, when your tired, & in an arena with a bunch of fans. Completely different, it’s not like these guys don’t work at it.

I understand that angle...I also don't and haven't done it everyday (most everyday) of my life for the last 4 or 5 years. (depending on their HS career and college).

Not saying they should hit 90 or 100%....but in the 30 or 40%...WITH TERRIBLE FORM...ya got to be kidding me.

Geeze, there is basically 1 "good" way to shoot a frickin basketball.

My point was:
#1 I don't shoot 1/1000 of the shots these guys have.
#2 To shoot below 60% at this level is really a tragedy.
#3 Basic shooting FORM...enough said.
#4 IF you are a slasher (Odomes 33%) then pretty much figure you're going to shoot FT's.

 

[stormspencer]

I understand that angle...I also don't and haven't done it everyday (most everyday) of my life for the last 4 or 5 years. (depending on their HS career and college).

Not saying they should hit 90 or 100%....but in the 30 or 40%...WITH TERRIBLE FORM...ya got to be kidding me.

Geeze, there is basically 1 "good" way to shoot a frickin basketball.

My point was:
#1 I don't shoot 1/1000 of the shots these guys have.
#2 To shoot below 60% at this level is really a tragedy.
#3 Basic shooting FORM...enough said.
#4 IF you are a slasher (Odomes 33%) then pretty much figure you're going to shoot FT's.

I'm with you. There is absolutely no excuse to shoot under 60% from the line if you factor in all the practice time and coaching. When I was in high school and college, I used to practice free throws with my eyes shut.....in order to further strengthen the muscle memory from that distance.

 

[BCSooners]

33% is terrible but imagine having your shot tweaked over & over. Sometimes I wish they’d leave their shot alone if they already shoot it decent.