Our Ceiling

[TheMont]

I'll admit, during our little losing streak, I was in full-on panic mode. I couldn't help think that we hit our peak too early in the season. Other teams knew how to defend us, we cooled off tremendously, we were making stupid mistakes, etc. Another poster said that it seemed like we started the season in mid-season form and everyone either caught up or surpassed us.

But last night, watching the Spangler show, I realized that maybe we haven't hit our peak yet. We haven't had all of our starters individually hit their stride at the same time. The Villanova and Baylor games were close but not quite there (It's nit-picking, of course, but in the Villanova game, Khadeem was pretty non-existent and Buddy & Jordan shot below their averages... at Baylor, our bigs had 6 turnovers and only 6 rebounds between them). Obviously we were dominant in those 2 games, but what if we can be better?

Buddy has been playing out of his mind all year, is completely deserving of POY, and even a "bad" game for him is a great game for most other players.
But could you imagine if Lattin played like he did at WVU?
Spangs played like he did last night?
Cousins played like he did against Villanova?
And Jordan played like he did at Texas Tech?

All at the same time? We'd be untouchable.

Buckle up, my friends. I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun postseason.

 

[pnkranger]

Our ceiling will be determined by our defense. We have proven over the last two seasons that, when we truly defend, we have a top 5 defense in the country. Our offense is efficient enough to beat anyone on any night when we defend well.

 

[hoopsaustin]

True. If we get all 5 going... we win the natty. I don't think the odds of having everyone peak at the same time are very realistic but i got my fingers crossed that it happens.

Here's the deal tho, if we blockout and play defense, then we won't need everyone to peak. It will be up to the players to exert that extra effort and on kruger to make them do it imo

 

[oudna]

Other teams knew how to defend us

Stop it!

 

[oudna]

Board is overreacting in the opposite direction now.

OSU is utterly impotent, offensively. For the majority of last night, and with the exception of Spangler, we didn't play well.

 

[AdaSooner]

Board is overreacting in the opposite direction now.

OSU is utterly impotent, offensively. For the majority of last night, and with the exception of Spangler, we didn't play well.

Yes, but WVU is not impotent, and we best them by 14 on their own floor.

Pnkranger is right. Defense will dictate how far this team goes in the post season. We don't need to worry about our offense. Scoring has not been much of a problem this season. Besides, good offense is often a byproduct of playing with more intensity on defense. Defense is also more reliable than making shots from the perimeter.

The key to any success this team has from this point forward will start on the defensive end of the court. Last night's game was no exception. OU turned up the defensive heat in the second half and won the game going away.

 

[skyvue]

Board is overreacting in the opposite direction now.

OSU is utterly impotent, offensively. For the majority of last night, and with the exception of Spangler, we didn't play well.

For one half we didn't play well offensively. We played well defensively throughout, holding oswho to their lowest point total of the season.

 

[BigTime]

Board is overreacting in the opposite direction now.

OSU is utterly impotent, offensively. For the majority of last night, and with the exception of Spangler, we didn't play well.

What about WVU brah?

 

[oudna]

For one half we didn't play well offensively. We played well defensively throughout, holding oswho to their lowest point total of the season.

Yes, after the 12 min mark of the first half, we played really good defense.

But a large part of it being their lowest point total was Ford's insistence on squatting on the ball for 25 seconds every possession.

 

[soonerjunky]

Board is overreacting in the opposite direction now.

OSU is utterly impotent, offensively. For the majority of last night, and with the exception of Spangler, we didn't play well.

You and I are usually the only two with realistic observation of this team. I have to kind of disagree with you on this one. I do hear what you're saying. This team offensively didn't do much. Woodard only made 1 shot, cousins didn't shoot well, and heild was below average shooting. I was encouraged because of all these factors OU still played GREAT defense and won by 22. I'm hoping the D shows up, Spangler and/or Lattin shows up and the shots fall when it's tournament time.

 

[oudna]

What about WVU brah?

Shot like crap.

Defense/rebounded well!

 

[campbest]

Make 3's, get stops.

Pretty simple formula to determine this team's success.

 

[BigTime]

Shot like crap.

Defense/rebounded well!

I was talking defense...

 

[chuckb]

For one half we didn't play well offensively. We played well defensively throughout, holding oswho to their lowest point total of the season.

I don't think our defense was very good in the first half either. They had a lot of open looks, both from deep and the paint, that didn't fall. Defense was much better in the 2nd half.

 

[chuckb]

You and I are usually the only two with realistic observation of this team. I have to kind of disagree with you on this one. I do hear what you're saying. This team offensively didn't do much. Woodard only made 1 shot, cousins didn't shoot well, and heild was below average shooting. I was encouraged because of all these factors OU still played GREAT defense and won by 22. I'm hoping the D shows up, Spangler and/or Lattin shows up and the shots fall when it's tournament time.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/narcissism ?s=t

 

[califca]

Yes, but WVU is not impotent, and we best them by 14 on their own floor.

Pnkranger is right. Defense will dictate how far this team goes in the post season. We don't need to worry about our offense. Scoring has not been much of a problem this season. Besides, good offense is often a byproduct of playing with more intensity on defense. Defense is also more reliable than making shots from the perimeter.

The key to any success this team has from this point forward will start on the defensive end of the court. Last night's game was no exception. OU turned up the defensive heat in the second half and won the game going away.

Pretty simple. Play defense and limit turnovers. Don't have to be hitting on all cylinders offensively.

 

[j2d2]

Our ceiling will be determined by our defense. We have proven over the last two seasons that, when we truly defend, we have a top 5 defense in the country. Our offense is efficient enough to beat anyone on any night when we defend well.

How can anybody argue with this! It has been demonstrated beyond only the disillusioned to doubt.

 

[WTSooner]

Our ceiling will be determined by our defense. We have proven over the last two seasons that, when we truly defend, we have a top 5 defense in the country. Our offense is efficient enough to beat anyone on any night when we defend well.

We are not a top 5 defense.

 

[pnkranger]

We are not a top 5 defense.

I can amend it to top 10 if that would make you feel better. Last year, we finished with the 8th ranked defense in the country per Ken Pom and are currently sitting at 12 this year.

 

[Chaser728]

Pretty simple. Play defense and limit turnovers. Don't have to be hitting on all cylinders offensively.

I like this... If we are locked in defensively we are tough to beat. Good to great perrineter defense and a very good shot blocker. Our defense fuels us...