*********OU-Texas A&M Game Thread*********

[NickZepp]

The thing we did that really cost us all game was no covering their 3s and that kept them in it. Seemed like everytime we got up by about 6 or 7 they had a wide open 3 that put them right back in it. We never really covered that up.

 

[OklaSooners]

we will be lucky to win 6 conference games this year.

 

[korgy]

Frustrating game. No boxing out on the free throws and leaving wide open 3's. And Cam Clark cannot shoot to save his life.

 

[BruinSooner]

well crap. We had many opportunities to put them in the rear view mirror, but just don't seem to have guns.

 

[61sooner]

At the end of regulation was there a timeout to set up a play for the last shot?
If you don't need to make a 3 doesn't it make sense to drive to the hoop and try and get a foul even if the ball doesn't fall?

 

[ouboomer]

not lack of effort but getting a winning culture in some of these guys has been going on for 3 years, and some still make too many head scratching plays....

 

[CrimsonandCream14]

Yep. Turner I believe hit a wide open 3 to tie it up with 38 or so seconds left. Some of the least aware defense I have ever seen. Then he gets free again in overtime to put them up 4, and to put the game away. Defense definitely let us down in the end.

 

[WTSooner]

Too many guys not carrying their weight.

Our guards, sans Pledger, just aren't getting it done on offense. Defense was solid a lot of the game, but we gave up open looks at bad times.

<sigh>

Please Lon, go get the best scoring JUCO guard you can find.

 

[OklaSooners]

Frustrating game. No boxing out on the free throws and leaving wide open 3's. And Cam Clark cannot shoot to save his life.

time to start calling Cam Clark a huge bust. He has one of the worst looking shots I've seen in a while. His shot looks very jerky and out of rhythm. Osby should be shooting the ball alot more. His shot is very smooth. The transfer of Newell killed us. Blair and Clark are terrible and because of Newell, they have to play more.

 

[MsProudSooner]

If you have two evenly matched teams, which these are, the visitor has to play nearly perfect to overcome the disadvantages that the home officiating gives the home team. We didn't do that.

 

[Soonerborn03]

Well, home cooking allows aTm to stay in the game, as they had at least 4 putback baskets that were a direct result of a shove in the back. Then OU, craps the bed in overtime, and we're looking at really only one more chance at a conference road win.

This. The announcers only catch one push the entire 2nd half and it occurs with 1 minute to go in regulation. They kept commenting on how A&M had improved on the boards in the second half.

All of those offensive rebounds are on over the backs, push in the backs, and blatant clear-out shoves to the side. The good rebounding position doesn't matter at that point. To the Aggies credit, they adjusted to what the refs were letting them do, and it kept them in this game. It was a rugby match every missed shot in the second half. You've got to get some order down there, and the officiating crew had no intention on cleaning it up.

 

[DenverSooner]

Things that really hurt OU today:

1. Twice Clark had balls that were as far down as possible rim out. If either shot falls OU wins in regulation.

2. With about 3 minutes in the game (maybe a little more) A&M has a moving screen. The guy actually moved twice and then Hibert hits a 3 behind the screen. If they call it, OU wins in regulation.

3. Osby missed a free throw late. If he hits it OU wins in regulation.

4. Neal misses a wide open 3 point shot. I really don't understand why he was in the game down the stretch.

5. Fitzgerald is pushed in the back and A&M gets a put back. Call the foul, OU wins.

6. Offensive rebounds on missed free throws. On one of them Fitzgerald is on the ground. I did not see it but I have to believe he was pushed. I suppose there is a chance he thought he would hit body blocking out and just fell but I doubt that.

In OT Osby was correct. The ball was hit in his hand. Reid was correct, the A&M guy traveled on the rebound. I really felt like the refs gave OU zero breaks.

OU needs Grooms to improve his shooting in the off season. If he can learn to just hit a few open shots a game he could be an All Big XII point. I am not saying first team (although with a little scoring that is not out of the question) just All Big XII including honorable mention.

 

[Soonerborn03]

I'm also disappointed in Clark's off the ball defense today. He gets a lot of credit for his defense on the ball, but how many times did he get picked out of a play to allow an open three today? He's got to work harder to get through screens.

 

[MsProudSooner]

This. The announcers only catch one push the entire 2nd half and it occurs with 1 minute to go in regulation. They kept commenting on how A&M had improved on the boards in the second half.

All of those offensive rebounds are on over the backs, push in the backs, and blatant clear-out shoves to the side. The good rebounding position doesn't matter at that point. To the Aggies credit, they adjusted to what the refs were letting them do, and it kept them in this game. It was a rugby match every missed shot in the second half. You've got to get some order down there, and the officiating crew had no intention on cleaning it up.

When the announcers comment on it, you know it's bad.

 

[WTSooner]

Sam Grooms took as many shots as Romero Osby. That can't happen.

 

[sperry]

Things that really hurt OU today:

1. Twice Clark had balls that were as far down as possible rim out. If either shot falls OU wins in regulation.

2. With about 3 minutes in the game (maybe a little more) A&M has a moving screen. The guy actually moved twice and then Hibert hits a 3 behind the screen. If they call it, OU wins in regulation.

3. Osby missed a free throw late. If he hits it OU wins in regulation.

4. Neal misses a wide open 3 point shot. I really don't understand why he was in the game down the stretch.

5. Fitzgerald is pushed in the back and A&M gets a put back. Call the foul, OU wins.

6. Offensive rebounds on missed free throws. On one of them Fitzgerald is on the ground. I did not see it but I have to believe he was pushed. I suppose there is a chance he thought he would hit body blocking out and just fell but I doubt that.

In OT Osby was correct. The ball was hit in his hand. Reid was correct, the A&M guy traveled on the rebound. I really felt like the refs gave OU zero breaks.

OU needs Grooms to improve his shooting in the off season. If he can learn to just hit a few open shots a game he could be an All Big XII point. I am not saying first team (although with a little scoring that is not out of the question) just All Big XII including honorable mention.

This is Big XII basketball, and it makes it really miserable to watch. Every home team is spotted like 6-10 by blatant home cooking, whcih is the major reason that it's so tough to win on the road in the Big XII.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

On a side note, I will be so glad when Dash Harris graduates, with his 3.0 pts per game, and 2 million dollar celebrations after routine plays.....

 

[korgy]

I loved watching Osby be aggressive. It was hard to stop him and I wish he would do it more.

I agree WT, Osby should be doubling Grooms' shot attempts.

 

[bgrch1350]

This. The announcers only catch one push the entire 2nd half and it occurs with 1 minute to go in regulation. They kept commenting on how A&M had improved on the boards in the second half.

All of those offensive rebounds are on over the backs, push in the backs, and blatant clear-out shoves to the side. The good rebounding position doesn't matter at that point. To the Aggies credit, they adjusted to what the refs were letting them do, and it kept them in this game. It was a rugby match every missed shot in the second half. You've got to get some order down there, and the officiating crew had no intention on cleaning it up.

Maybe if our post players would take their butt and put it in their opponents groin once the shot goes up instead of trying to get rebounds strickly on athleticism then maybe it wouldnt happen every game. Those are fundamental errors in rebounding that comes back to bite them every game.

 

[EufaulaSooner]

time to start calling Cam Clark a huge bust. He has one of the worst looking shots I've seen in a while. His shot looks very jerky and out of rhythm.

If I had a nickel for every time OU message board posters used the term "mid-range shooter" to describe Cam Clark when he was being recruited....