###Oklahoma [16-6, 6-4 ] vs. West Virginia [17-6, 6-4] Game Thread###

[Max Power]

Probably a little of both. Overall talent on this team could sure use an upgrade (outside of Trae) and the regression of key players in their sophomore year is an absolute mystery (Doo, McGusty, and James last year).

McGusty can't be ball dominant like he was last year because of Trae.

Doo has regressed because right now for him it is late November while the rest of the team is in February. That's on him and nobody else.

I have no answers for what happened to Christian last year but glad he is out of the funk this year.

 

[152219]

"Just going by the play-by-play, Oklahoma missed 18 layups and dunks tonight.

Related: Trae Young only had 1 assist tonight."

Saw this tweet just now. 18 missed shots at the rim. Our "bigs" were terrified of Konate.

18 missed shots at the rim has been this team's story the entire year. Young should be averaging 15 assists/game if the other players could catch the ball and finish.

Even Young's only assist last night. He lays a perfect pass to Lattin, who doesn't catch it smoothly and almost has the shot blocked. If he catches that smoothly he finishes easily.

 

[steverocks35]

Honestly, I would rather see Polla in the game than Lattin. At least he can put a body on someone and maybe grab a rebound. How many offensive rebounds did we give up because Lattin got pushed under the basket? At least 5, maybe more. Konate just had his way the entire night. Lattin is just a terrible defender and rebounder. If he's not able to contribute on offense, why is he out there? I think McNeace should start and get the bulk of the minutes at this point.

 

[TINY]

Lattin had like 12 or 13 boards. He had a really solid game. He was not good offensively but he was very solid defensively which is most important. McGusty, Doolittle and multiple sick players are the reasons why we lost.

 

[steverocks35]

Lattin had like 12 or 13 boards. He had a really solid game. He was not good offensively but he was very solid defensively which is most important. McGusty, Doolittle and multiple sick players are the reasons why we lost.

I was at the game, he got abused and was a liability on offense. West Virginia had 15 offensive rebounds. It killed us.

 

[inoref]

I might be the only one but IMO wvu just might be the better team overall. The OU men are what they are..pretty good when the shots are falling pretty avg when they are not. Not enough talent on this team to over come off nights when playing good teams. I said I thought the Sweet 16 was possible for this team even after some of their losses but now we may see some players/player push on the brakes a little

 

[TINY]

I was at the game, he got abused and was a liability on offense. West Virginia had 15 offensive rebounds. It killed us.

Ok, I watched the game, too, and I looked up his stats and you are incorrect. He had 13 rebounds, 6 points on 4 shots, 4 blocks, 2 steals, 1 assists and no turnovers in 25 minutes. Konate had 14 points on 15 shots and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes played.

 

[skyvue]

Lattin had like 12 or 13 boards. He had a really solid game.

And his previous two games were outstanding. He is this year's player on whom scorn must be heaped. There's one (sometimes two, but usually one) every year.

 

[AdaSooner]

Honestly, I would rather see Polla in the game than Lattin. At least he can put a body on someone and maybe grab a rebound. How many offensive rebounds did we give up because Lattin got pushed under the basket? At least 5, maybe more. Konate just had his way the entire night. Lattin is just a terrible defender and rebounder. If he's not able to contribute on offense, why is he out there? I think McNeace should start and get the bulk of the minutes at this point.

Polla would not be pushed around like Lattin and McNeace, I’ll give you that. But, he is not ready for a team with WVU’s speed and quickness, and I’m not sure he’ll ever be. He moves like he’s playing in combat boots. Given time and with more experience, I can see him as a low post anchor in our offense, playing a high-low game with someone like Manek.

While it would be interesting to see what he can do with more playing time, I have my doubts if he’ll get that chance. Since every game is key to our post season hopes, we can’t afford to take that chance.

 

[steverocks35]

Ok, I watched the game, too, and I looked up his stats and you are incorrect. He had 13 rebounds, 6 points on 4 shots, 4 blocks, 2 steals, 1 assists and no turnovers in 25 minutes. Konate had 14 points on 15 shots and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes played.

Stats don’t tell the tale. Yes he had 13 rebounds, but he also got pushed around all over the court and played bad defense. I’ll give you an example. In the 2nd half Ahmad got the ball at the top of the key. Lattin didn’t get anywhere near him, so he shot an uncontested shot and made it. So what happened the next time Ahmad got the ball at the top of the key? Does our senior Lattin get closer to him and make him shoot over him with a hand in his face? Nope, Lattin closed out on him like Ahmad was Larry Bird. Ahmad calmly went right by him and posterized him. Terrible defense all around but that was a glaring example and all the more frustrating when you lose by 2 points.

 

[ousooners1baby]

I really think OU wins big at home but more than the win I hope that we start to put together good play home and away. I really do look at Saturdays Texas game as flukish. Manek and Trae missing those open 3's should not happen again. We hit those and win big. Our D wasn't great and it resembled our other games where we get up big and have to hold on because of our slip-ups on D down the stretch.

I was wrong.

 

[chuckb]

I was at the game, he got abused and was a liability on offense. West Virginia had 15 offensive rebounds. It killed us.

Comments like this are simply unmoored from reality.

:facepalm

 

[hoopsaustin]

Ok, I watched the game, too, and I looked up his stats and you are incorrect. He had 13 rebounds, 6 points on 4 shots, 4 blocks, 2 steals, 1 assists and no turnovers in 25 minutes. Konate had 14 points on 15 shots and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes played.

Lattin could have 30 pts and 30 rbs. Doesn't also mean that lattin couldn't have gotten worked..

 

[skyvue]

Lattin could have 30 pts and 30 rbs. Doesn't also mean that lattin couldn't have gotten worked..

He could have 100 points and 50 rebounds. Doesn't mean some posters wouldn't rag on him.

 

[hoopsaustin]

He could have 100 points and 50 rebounds. Doesn't mean some posters wouldn't rag on him.

Sure..

But more likely when he has 13 and 3 times when he hands the ball to the other team

Its not just him. They all suck at defending and blocking out

 

[Soonermarty]

Its not just him. They all suck at defending and blocking out

This sums up our team right here. Pretty simple as to why we are an average team.