OU popular choice to fall as a 5 seed

[DenverSooner]

Who said that there was no chance OU loses? If you would think in terms of probabilities instead of possibilities, you wouldn't fret so much.

Some of these guys would be great for a weekly poker game. I love people that chase hands. It is why some people consistently win at poker and others consistently lose.

 

[WaymanFan]

You'd be making a valid point, except I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that few, if any, of the talking heads making these predictions are able to cite those numbers -- or are even aware that of our general lack of success as a 4 seed or higher over the past 22 years.

You're giving them way too much credit.

Then there's the fact that how we performed as a 4 or higher seed under Kelvin or Capel means less than nothing in predicting how we'll do in this (or any other) tourney under Coach Kruger. You might as well do some research on how we perform on sunny days vs. cloudy days or in odd-numbered years vs. even.

Skyvue, few outside of our fan base know the exact details of our first-round struggles through the years. However, most have a pretty good idea that we've had our share of issues. Because of that, we have to expect a lot of these analysts to pick against us. I would have been shocked if even half those ESPN or CBS guys picked OU to win. As I said in my previous post, winning cures all. Let's get the W...period.

 

[WTSooner]

Who said that there was no chance OU loses? If you would think in terms of probabilities instead of possibilities, you wouldn't fret so much.

I wouldn't say I'm fretting.

Just find it interesting to discuss HOW they could beat us.

Worse or equal teams beat equal or better teams than OU multiple times in every tournament. That is a fact. And like somebody said in another thread, there is usually very little rhyme or reason to it.

 

[garyeb2]

I wouldn't say I'm fretting.

Just find it interesting to discuss HOW they could beat us.

Worse or equal teams beat equal or better teams than OU multiple times in every tournament. That is a fact. And like somebody said in another thread, there is usually very little rhyme or reason to it.

Sure, upsets happen. On average, over time, two double digit seeds in every region will win a 1st round game. That occurrence is predictable. Which double digit seeds that win is not.

 

[WTSooner]

Prediction from Myron Medcalf of ESPN:

North Dakota State advances -- Taylor Braun is the best player that many haven’t heard of … yet. Check out the North Dakota State star’s numbers: 18.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.6 SPG and a 44 percent clip from the 3-point line. Last season, the college basketball world was smitten by former Summit League star and current NBA guard Nate Wolters. Well, it will happen again. Meet Mr. Braun, who will lead the Bison to an upset of Oklahoma in the second round of the Big Dance.

 

[skyvue]

I think everybody agrees that OU should win this game. But I don't understand those of you that think it should and will be easy, and that there is no way OU loses.

Like gary, I have no idea who you could be referring to. I haven't seen anyone say it'll be easy, and I darned sure haven't read a single claim that there is no way OU loses.

 

[Sid]

http://statsheet.com/mcb/coaches/lon-kruger/career_record


“Ultimately, coaches are measured based on wins and losses. Below is the win/loss record for Coach Kruger over his career including his record in conference games, NCAA tournament games, close games, blowout games, and overtime games. To see season-by-season win/loss numbers, click on the "Chart It" link beside the type of game you are interested in. Then click on the blue arrow icon to view games for a particular season.”

 

[WTSooner]

Like gary, I have no idea who you could be referring to. I haven't seen anyone say it'll be easy, and I darned sure haven't read a single claim that there is no way OU loses.

I would say those predicting double digit wins, and saying we'll pull away from them early are expecting an easy win. There have been some "I'm not worried" comments. Somebody said we didn't even have to play good to win.

 

[Chaser728]

Prediction from Myron Medcalf of ESPN:

He calls if his "10 Bold Picks"... Please, it's not very bold to pick against OU when everyone is doing the same... Being bold would have had NDSU in the sweet 16...

 

[POBR25]

I don't know who us is but you have 7 posts so I question whether you are one of us.

I don't know a lot about NDSU but I am wondering which player keeps Woodard out of the lane? Who out rebounds Spangler? Who keeps Cam Clark from going off for huge points like he did against Michigan State and Kansas? Who shuts down Buddy Hield, Who shuts down Cousins?

Lets assume, for the sake of argument, that NDSU's starters can hang with OU's starters. Now you get to the bench. Which bench player on NDSU is more athletic than Booker, Neal, Hornbeak or Bennett? I am pretty confident the answer is no one.

I don't mean any disrespect to the guys that play for NDSU. Everyone of them is a far better athlete than I ever was but they are not guys that had opportunities to play in the Big XII, Big Ten, SEC, Pac 12, etc. There is a reason they signed with NDSU. Perhaps a couple of them could make a major conference team but most of them couldn't.

If OU plays a solid game, OU wins. It is as simple as that.

You're right, I'm a North Dakota State troll who's been a member of this site for 6 years waiting for that one moment where these two programs will finally meet in the NCAA tournament!

But seriously, I do believe that we (us, The University of Oklahoma) should win this game. The Sooners are a better basketball team and I believe they've proven that based off who they've played and beaten over the course of the season. I was merely trying to point out that we're not playing TCU. NDSU is legitimately good and they have good players who are certainly capable of beating us.

But you are right, if we play well, we will win. It really is that simple. I just think the way we play will depend on which tempo is being played. We won't play well if this game is at the Bison's pace.

I still don't know who will guard Taylor Braun (Cousins, I would assume) and I'm also concerned that Spangler hasn't played as well as he was a month ago. I just think that makes me realistic, not a troll.

Can't wait for Thursday, I'm just glad our program is back to being a perennial NCAA Tournament team. In Lon We Trust. Boomer.

 

[JBaker]

I don't think any of the teams you mentioned would win the Summit. They would probably all finish in the top 4. You're underestimating NDSU. Whether or not anyone wants to admit, they present pretty glaring matchup problems for us. I have no clue who is going to guard Braun. I'm assuming these matchup problems will force us to play zone, thus forcing them to make jumpshots, which they're pretty good at doing (51%, #1 in the country from the field). Don't let the brand fool you, this is a top 50 team in the country. If they force us to play their brand of basketball (slow, halfcourt sets), we will not win. Think our game at K-State earlier this year. I hope we get out and run, I have faith in Lon and the coaching staff.

There is a 0% chance we will play zone because of this Braun guy.
He's good, sure. But to alter our entire season of defensive strategy for a Summit League player when we didn't for Ejim or Wiggins or any other much higher level competition is ridiculous.

He has comparable stats and size to Cameron Clark, who was third team all Big 12.

 

[Zimwillett]

I would say those predicting double digit wins, and saying we'll pull away from them early are expecting an easy win. There have been some "I'm not worried" comments. Somebody said we didn't even have to play good to win.

I don't think it's unreasonable to predict a double digit win. I'd even agree that OU can win this game if they don't play their best game. I won't address a fan's level of "worry" since that's entirely subjective.

 

[sdcloud9]

I'm leery of everyone, I remember OU losing to Manhattan, Indiana State, and UM-Milwaukee in the first round.

Nothing is for granted in this tournament.

If both teams bring their "A" game, OU wins. If OU brings less than a "B", then it won't be pretty.

 

[Zimwillett]

I'm leery of everyone, I remember OU losing to Manhattan, Indiana State, and UM-Milwaukee in the first round.

Nothing is for granted in this tournament.

If both teams bring their "A" game, OU wins. If OU brings less than a "B", then it won't be pretty.

I have no idea why everyone is so hung up on OU's tournament history. I mean Manhattan? Seriously? That was 1995. Woodard and Booker probably weren't even born then. It's time to move past it.

To contrast, why doesn't anyone mention that NDSU is 0-3 all time in D1 post season play? They're 0-1 in the NCAA tournament and they lost in the first round of the freaking CBI the last two seasons. I think that's at least as relevant as OU's 10+ year old NCAA tournament upsets.

 

[DenverSooner]

Some of you guys crack me up. Braun is the second coming with his 18.8 per game and 5.5 rebounds in the Summit. North Dakota's starting line up is from Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa. Do you think (with the possible exception of the kid from Minnesota) that these kids dreamed of playing for NDSU in Fargo as they were high school stars? Or could it be that they dreamed of playing college basketball and NDSU was the best offer they received.

What do you think Cam Clark's numbers would be in the Summit?

 

[mict085]

I have no idea why everyone is so hung up on OU's tournament history. I mean Manhattan? Seriously? That was 1995. Woodard and Booker probably weren't even born then. It's time to move past it.

To contrast, why doesn't anyone mention that NDSU is 0-3 all time in D1 post season play? They're 0-1 in the NCAA tournament and they lost in the first round of the freaking CBI the last two seasons. I think that's at least as relevant as OU's 10+ year old NCAA tournament upsets.

Because we've seen it time and time again. It's familiar. No, past failures have nothing to do with this years tournament. But when you see it happen many times, as fans it's always in your mind.

There are some tourney axioms and one of them is OU loses prematurely more often than not.

 

[Dr Sleep]

Well if we play well, we in by 15+ and run them out of the gym and or get them i foul trouble. If we play mediocre, we probably still win. If we play bad, and they slow the game down to a 60 point type game, our shooters could get hot in the last 2 minutes and rally back after a game of putrid play. NDSU has to slow the game down and beat us and be able to finish us off.

 

[skyvue]

when you see it happen many times, as fans it's always in your mind.

There are some tourney axioms and one of them is OU loses prematurely more often than not.

Speak for yourself -- what's in my mind is the great season we had, how we won game after game as underdogs, and how many teams we beat that NDSU would get smoked by.

I'm not giving a thought (except when I read your posts) to twenty-year-old tourney losses. Let it go and enjoy the ride!

 

[DenverSooner]

Because we've seen it time and time again. It's familiar. No, past failures have nothing to do with this years tournament. But when you see it happen many times, as fans it's always in your mind.

There are some tourney axioms and one of them is OU loses prematurely more often than not.

OU has a couple of upsets but most of the other losses were games OU was supposed to lose. I really doubt OU has been upset more often than average.

 

[BisoNation]

OU opened as a 2 1/2 pt. favorite and quickly jumped to 4 1/2. The talking heads may see an upset. But, the betting public likes the Sooners.

I will give you a $50 free roll if you can find me someone who got Oklahoma -2.5 or -3 or -3.5
I live in Vegas and was constantly checking http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-basketball/odds/las-vegas/for lines. Their consensus that I first saw was -4 and 152. It opened across the board at that number except Wynn and William Hill which opened at -4.5
I dont understand why they are listing it at -2.5 on their site, I will send an email to a couple guys I know and see if I can get an answer.

Speaking of Vegas, I lived here through the entire Lon Krueger era. He really reminds me of our former football coach Craig Bohl. There are some things really awesome about them and some things that seem really fake. They both know how to put a competitive product on the floor but in order to achieve the ultimate dream the team has to buy in 100%. I'm not sure I see that with your young team quite yet

FYI NDSU is much longer than you think. Braun is the stud everyone talks about but TrayVonn Wright and Marshall Bjorklund have the potential to give your guys fits on both ends of the floor. Wright is just as athletic as anyone OU has and Bjorklund has low post moves that Kevin McHale would pay to watch. If Spangler gets in foul trouble in any key moments in the game it could snowball the wrong way for you guys.

The keys for NDSU will be slow the pace, defend the 3 and score in the paint. The faster this game is played, the tougher it will be for the Bison

Really excited to meet some Sooner fans in Spokane and somebody get NDSU in into the Big 12 for wrestling please.