***Oklahoma vs. Maryland Eastern Shore Game Thread***

[jmizzy4ou]

all right, we are going to win. good way to finish out the game, even if there were some very ugly parts of the game. on to conference play. go sooners

YEP.........:woot:woot

 

[CMSOONER]

Good strong finish. :clap

 

[seniorsooner]

Very encouraging. Great second half. If this team turns up the D like that they will be capable of playing with some teams in conference play.

 

[NickZepp]

I think the biggest keys to this team. Don't turn the ball over and rebound much better. We can't give up that many offensive rebounds and hope to win any Big 12 games.

 

[Dem Coltz]

I'm digging the dunks and alley-oops. We definitely didn't see that early in the season.

 

[seniorsooner]

I think the biggest keys to this team. Don't turn the ball over and rebound much better. We can't give up that many offensive rebounds and hope to win any Big 12 games.

Unfortunately I think rebounding is going to be an issue all year, particularly now that we are heading into conference play. We simply don't have the size, particularly if Fitz keeps picking up fouls at a Jason Yanishesque rate.

 

[goodolesooner]

all right, we are going to win. good way to finish out the game, even if there were some very ugly parts of the game. on to conference play. go sooners

If only we could wait about two more years before we start conference play......

It's gonna be hard to watch, but we must support our Sooners and hope for the best.

 

[AdaSooner]

Unfortunately I think rebounding is going to be an issue all year, particularly now that we are heading into conference play. We simply don't have the size, particularly if Fitz keeps picking up fouls at a Jason Yanishesque rate.

I'm not sure our rebounding would have been any better if Fitz had played foul-free. How does a player with his size and bulk only manage to get 1 board in 22 minutes?

Drew is in a funk right now. His footwork is poor, which makes him slow to loose balls and rebounds, and it continues to put him in early foul trouble. He's not the same player we saw three or four weeks ago.

Having said all of that, though. We knew before the season started that this would not be a good rebounding team. If Cade and Cam had not come through by snagging every loose ball and board within reach, an undersized Maryland Eastern Shore team would have out-rebounded us by double digits. Fitz, Washington and Thompson need to step up and be men or we're going to get killed in conference play.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

I'm not sure our rebounding would have been any better if Fitz had played foul-free. How does a player with his size and bulk only manage to get 1 board in 22 minutes?

Drew is in a funk right now. His footwork is poor, which makes him slow to loose balls and rebounds, and it continues to put him in early foul trouble. He's not the same player we saw three or four weeks ago.

Having said all of that, though. We knew before the season started that this would not be a good rebounding team. If Cade and Cam had not come through by snagging every loose ball and board within reach, an undersized Maryland Eastern Shore team would have out-rebounded us by double digits. Fitz, Washington and Thompson need to step up and be men or we're going to get killed in conference play.

One poster was ranting and raving last week about how Capel was responsible for getting Fitz in foul trouble because we were using a 4 guard line-up. I tried to explain to the poster that Fitz can't guard 4['s, 5's, or 3's because of his physical limitations. The poster accused me of bashing Fitz. I love Fitz, but I also realize that he is a defensive liability in the man or zone defense. Fitz gets caught out of position, usually on the high side every time a team swings the ball around the perimeter. He cannot move his feet fast enough, and he isn't strong enough to fight around his man, so he gets sealed/caught on the high side, meaning a baseline entry pass always catches him out of position, and he must foul to avoid the easy score.

CJ is able to fight around and through the attempted seal, but he also likes to jump at every fake, meaning he is a potential foul problem waiting to happen. That may be the reason why his minutes were in spurts before the last 2 games.

I believe that we are better with CJ and Fitz on the floor together, but we will struggle all year with rebounding and post defense. Making it worse is that our guards can't stop dribble penetration, meaning our bigs are forced to help. All but CJ do a terrible job of helping then recovering.

I hope that we keep getting better, and we should be able to steal a few conference games. I like that not 1 of our guys has quit on us.....

 

[CMSOONER]

I think Capel needs to put Thompson downlow. Start getting physical with him in practice and make him a back to the basket player who can step out to shoot. That is going to be his only chance to log PT, especially next year. He could be a decent big with added strength and technique, IMO.

 

[T Shirt Time!]

Man OU is lucky R. J. didnt play, kids amazing

 

[One More Rebound]

R.J.'s career high in rebounds is one, against Maryland, so yes, OU is lucky R.J. didn't snag that key rebound that would have changed the course of the game...

 

[Boomer]

I was pleased with the teams play in the last 10 minutes of the second half after Eastern Shore had tied the game. MES was very unlucky with their shots. They had tons of shots fall in and out. We also need to do a better job blocking out and letting teams get offensive rebounds.