Now what

[tycat947]

I don't think that not recruiting top players is the problem. What's hurting is that we're not signing the top players we're recruiting.

I think it's kinda obvious now that we're not paying the AAU coaches enough. :facepalm

 

[Soonerbay]

I finally came to the conclusion that OU coaches and the powers that be are content in their given state because they are not doing anything about it. Surely they've heard of strategic planning; especially the part about planning ahead. The writing has been on the wall for at least 8 years. If a program wants to remain highly competitive in their conference and nationally, then they must plan for it. And they can't wait until all of the experienced conference winners, conference tournament winners and FF winners/participants are gone and expect to remain in the top 10 nationally. They needed to continue to recruit and SIGN the DRobs, A&CParis’, AThomas’, WHands, AOlajawons, SDales, LCaufields, etc. When I kept mentioning that "it's going to rain" …as early as 2008-09 season…many on this forum wanted to accuse me of fickle stuff such as “You don’t like SC”! No, I don’t like having a team I support do things not in the best interest of continued success at a high level! It doesn’t require much to be mediocre, but if that’s the goal, Lo que sea sera...!

I kept stating that recruiting top 20 players with at least one top 10 each year should be the continued goal, otherwise…now we’re there and we’ve been there and it does not appear to be changing; each year hoping the new recruits have what it takes to make a difference. If they were not making a nationally recognized difference in high school…it’s highly unlikely that they will in college. It only gets tougher! If they are not on teams (and contributing significantly) that are winning the top April and July tournaments, then it’s highly unlikely that they will in college.

It was exciting to watch the “Neath A Western Sky…” because my family remembers those early days and how the program excelled. But it was also very disappointing to watch the last minutes because there has not been much success to write/video about since 2010. ESPN used to have an office in Norman (it seemed). Now we’re relegated to ticker tape scores. Sad but true. Now what.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

It is unfortunate that our player who works hardest in the actual games is also our player with skill issues. TT is giving everything she has during the games, but she simply cannot do the things she wants to do. I was proud of her and for her yesterday when she shot free throws better than usual and even hit a three. But as we all know she really struggles with that most of the time.

But no one can criticize her effort during the games. It is possible she will improve a lot as time goes along. Assuming she spends as much time in the gym as is humanly possible. repetition can improve your shooting - but it takes enormous personal responsibility and perseverance if it is not a natural skill.

 

[scrybe]

Yes, Edwards gives it her all whenever she's on the floor. And the young lady does have skills when it comes to playing defense. I'm with you, Sweetest; I very much like TT's effort and heart, and I'm hopeful her offensive production will improve.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

It was dramatically obvious yesterday that we are too short. KK and Vivi give up several inches to the top teams. Our point guards are tiny. Unfortunately size has taken over the women's game - just as it did the men's game years ago. You cannot win at the top with posts who are 6' 3" and shorter.

Will Nancy help? That is an open question. My guess is she will get pushed around incessantly by the physical, rough inside players around the league. That is the type play the league has started encouraging. It is the main reason scoring is down so much, and even though the NCAA wants it cleaned up - much like the NBA did years ago - the conference is resisting any change.

I do not expect that to change anytime soon.

I do think Dungee is a tough, strong player. That should help us to play Big-12 style some. She may become the leader we need, but it is likely to take a year or two.

You do have to be careful basing too much on a single game. BU shot as well early as is possible for anyone. Almost 100% the first quarter. That happens occasionally for all teams. We have had one or two games like that this year - even though se are a horrible shooting team on average (except for our posts).

It is highly unlikely BU will shoot 100% and 70% the first quarter and half tonight. Time will tell.

It will be interesting to see if the official who is married to an ex BU player will call tonight's game.

 

[OKUman]

I don't think that not recruiting top players is the problem. What's hurting is that we're not signing the top players we're recruiting.

BINGO! So the coaching staff needs to ask themselves why. Right now probably because a good player would not like to come here and get beat down by good teams. Why did the good recruits stop coming after back to back finale 4's?

 

[Soonerbay]

Yes, Edwards gives it her all whenever she's on the floor. And the young lady does have skills when it comes to playing defense. I'm with you, Sweetest; I very much like TT's effort and heart, and I'm hopeful her offensive production will improve.

Agree as well...an energizer bunny! She also has to work on the realization that she cannot shoot over 6'+ opponents. But someone should be right there with her for her to dish and they make a layup.

 

[atlantasooner]

Okuman,
One issue that snowballed out of control in recruiting was lack of diversity on the coaching staff.
Sherri got negatively attacked again and again on it. It got so bad she made a shift and brought back Pam DeCosta.

The other issue was OU kept finishing 2nd for kids. Big time kids. The staff needs a closer in recruiting.
Finally, All the momentum from the Paris Twins/back to back Final Fours is gone. OU is not viewd as a top ten destination any longer.

I follow HS football recruiting intensely for years. Had a web site before Rivals etc even existed.
I can tell you Bob in the last two years has massively changed his recruiting level of effort.
And it's in response to changes by other top programs. OU got lax and fell behind.
It took a great season on the field and dramatic changes to reverse things.
Sherri's facing the same reality.

 

[Mac]

BINGO! So the coaching staff needs to ask themselves why. Right now probably because a good player would not like to come here and get beat down by good teams. Why did the good recruits stop coming after back to back finale 4's?

Sherri tried to get some of the best kids in the 2009 class, but when OU missed out there wasn't a reliable back up plan...

 

[Mac]

OU needs to go hard after Chasity Patterson top 2017 point guard from Texas...

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Sherri tried to get some of the best kids in the 2009 class, but when OU missed out there wasn't a reliable back up plan...

Mac,

Who were some of the ones we went after that year - and got a bit close on.

Who did we end up signing that year?

 

[Mac]

Mac,

Who were some of the ones we went after that year - and got a bit close on.

Who did we end up signing that year?

Kelsey Bone, OU made her final 6... Also Joslyn Tinkle took an official visit to OU, but went with Stanford, both were high school all Americans... Also Sam Ostarello who was highly rated but not an All American picked Purdue over OU... That year OU signed Joanna McFarland, and once Bone cut her list to 5 schools, OU got a verbal from Lyndsey Cloman...

Tinkle didn't set the world on fire, She played mostly on the wing at Stanford instead of inside, but I think if you add a Bone or Tinkle to a team who had Drob, Hand, and Ellenberg It would have went a long way towards keeping OU at an elite level...
http://www.soonertimesbb.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=4019&forum_id=3&page=2

 

[sybarite]

Skylar Diggins and Taya Reimer were also fans of Sherri.

 

[skilledserv]

It's not like we have been recruiting from a convalescent home, although they seem to end up there soon enough. Kay Kay was a #59. Maddie was a #33. Nicole was a #19. Gabbi was a #12. Vivi was a #79. Peyton was highly-recruited when she went to A&M, a top twenty. Treece was fairly highly-recruited. Penzo was a two-time member of the Puerto Rico national team.

It's just that Gabbi, who looked good last year, didn't seem to improve this year over last. Peyton was not as good as last year. Nicole never matured.

How can this happen? Has anyone noticed how well Duke and North Carolina did this year? Even when you get great recruits, they don't always pan out. Ask Texas.

I think the key is a Stacy Dales type. A point guard is more than just a distributor. She is the emotional leader, the sergeant who governs attitude and productivity on the floor. We really haven't had one other than DRob that was good leader type recently. Wish we had had her during Courtney's freshman year.

At times, we take it to some pretty good teams. We played Baylor pretty well this year, except for the first quarter. We did take it to Texas in Norman. Washington, who we beat in Seattle, beat Stanford in the Pac 12 tournament. BYU is their conference champion by a wide margin. We beat these teams pretty solidly (BYU) or on their own court (Seattle). It's not like we are that far away. We could use someone who could lead by example. That may end up being Gabbi, Maddie, or Gioya next year. Who will emerge? I think someone will. The last ten to twelve games suggest that it would be Maddie.

Texas was second in big 12. Why would you say look at Texas ? Smh

 

[sybarite]

Texas was second in big 12. Why would you say look at Texas ? Smh

Texas was not the second best team this year. When we were second last year, we did beat every team in the conference at least once. Did Texas?

 

[skilledserv]

Texas was not the second best team this year. When we were second last year, we did beat every team in the conference at least once. Did Texas?

So why was Texas the number 2 team in the big 12 tournament this year if they weren't second this year? Please explain this one

 

[sybarite]

Explain last year.

 

[sybarite]

We also came close to getting Vicki Baugh who played well at Tennessee when healthy.

 

[SOONERGRAD]

A lot of the recruiting back then had a lot to do with Hansmeyer. She got in on the likes of Tinkle, Bone, Baugh, Diggins, Reimer, Walker. Why we never closed the deal with these recruits instead of just getting some visits and a final top list I will never know.

We were very lucky to get in on the Paris Twins which helped us get the likes of DROB, AT,Olajuwon etc. Anyone ever stop to think without the Paris Era where would this program be?

 

[sybarite]

A lot of the recruiting back then had a lot to do with Hansmeyer. She got in on the likes of Tinkle, Bone, Baugh, Diggins, Reimer, Walker. Why we never closed the deal with these recruits instead of just getting some visits and a final top list I will never know.

We were very lucky to get in on the Paris Twins which helped us get the likes of DROB, AT,Olajuwon etc. Anyone ever stop to think without the Paris Era where would this program be?

I think it is a harder sell than fans want to believe. We got lucky with the 2002 group. Then, we really recruited one player---Courtney. She attracted the rest.