Perception of OU basketball

[CanRiv12]

With these types of lists its all about the criteria. Whether it be total wins, conference ships, ncaa success, consistency, coaching greats, nba players, or just the overall support that program receives. Biggest thing is probably time frame and how much do you credit (or discredit) recent success.

Ultimately, most national people would probably put us in the 20-25 range. Not too shabby.

 

[NickZepp]

Lost in the National Title a year later.

The won it one year over Duke, lost to UCLA the next year.

 

[NickZepp]

Agree, and Michigan should be in there somewhere as well.

Certainly OU is Top 20, but also certainly outside of the Top 10. I'm thinking 13-17 range is fair.

I don't know about an exact area but I'm in the same neighborhood with you. I think I would have to research it more. The thing about OU and OSU is that OSU has the national title from the 40s but they were basically out of the national picture from about the 50s till Eddie Sutton in the 90s. But OU was not in any type of picture from the Drake era which is around
the 50s till the 80s really. So both are really similar. OU does have the big series lead.

I would have to look at other teams resumes to give OU an exact spot but it would be in the 15-20 neighborhood no doubt. The teams that may hurt us are the ones that aren't as consistent as we've been since the early 80s but they've got NCs like Arkansas, Nova is another one. I don't know if I put OU above those but they may be close enough to OU where their NC gives them a lead. Florida is in that boat too. Of course it really helps they won 2 NCs.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I don't know about an exact area but I'm in the same neighborhood with you. I think I would have to research it more. The thing about OU and OSU is that OSU has the national title from the 40s but they were basically out of the national picture from about the 50s till Eddie Sutton in the 90s. But OU was not in any type of picture from the Drake era which is around
the 50s till the 80s really. So both are really similar. OU does have the big series lead.

I would have to look at other teams resumes to give OU an exact spot but it would be in the 15-20 neighborhood no doubt. The teams that may hurt us are the ones that aren't as consistent as we've been since the early 80s but they've got NCs like Arkansas, Nova is another one. I don't know if I put OU above those but they may be close enough to OU where their NC gives them a lead. Florida is in that boat too. Of course it really helps they won 2 NCs.

Remember, OP said last 30 years. oSu does not hold a candle to OU over last 30 years, and strengthens Florida and Michigan position IMHO. Surprise might be if you included Magic's MSU team in the debate.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I don't know about an exact area but I'm in the same neighborhood with you. I think I would have to research it more. The thing about OU and OSU is that OSU has the national title from the 40s but they were basically out of the national picture from about the 50s till Eddie Sutton in the 90s. But OU was not in any type of picture from the Drake era which is around
the 50s till the 80s really. So both are really similar. OU does have the big series lead.

I would have to look at other teams resumes to give OU an exact spot but it would be in the 15-20 neighborhood no doubt. The teams that may hurt us are the ones that aren't as consistent as we've been since the early 80s but they've got NCs like Arkansas, Nova is another one. I don't know if I put OU above those but they may be close enough to OU where their NC gives them a lead. Florida is in that boat too. Of course it really helps they won 2 NCs.

Not many teams have been to final 4's in 3 different decades. Also, the 60's are by far the worst decade for OU basketball. Other than this, OU has always been pretty good if not great. The problem is back then, the NCAA only invited 1 team from the conference for the post season tournament and that was usually KU.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Remember, OP said last 30 years. oSu does not hold a candle to OU over last 30 years, and strengthens Florida and Michigan position IMHO. Surprise might be if you included Magic's MSU team in the debate.

I don't see where he mentions "last 30 years". if that is the case, then my list can be revised a little...

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Musberger is a very astute television commentator. He knows that one bad season does not define a program like OU. Despite our poor showing this year, we would still rank in the top fifteen (maybe top ten) of the nation's best hoops programs over the past three decades..

My bad, not OP.

 

[NickZepp]

I'm not an OSU defender in any way. But I wouldn't say OU is by far better than OSU in the last 30 years, OSU is slightly behind because they don't lead the series and OU has a bit of a head start but we both have very similar tournament success. But it's not as big as you would think.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I'm not an OSU defender in any way. But I wouldn't say OU is by far better than OSU in the last 30 years, OSU is slightly behind because they don't lead the series and OU has a bit of a head start but we both have very similar tournament success. But it's not as big as you would think.

Certainly the first 5 years of that and the last five years favors us considerably. In between 20 years is a push.

 

[StatGeek]

if I remember correctly ESPN had OU as the 11th most prestigous program since the tourney went to 64 teams. OSU was around 30th right in front of Tulsa.

 

[StatGeek]

went ahead and looked it up OU was 12th. Tulsa 39th OSU 32nd

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3493766

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3491747

back when they first published these rankings I combined the football and basketball rankings @ 50/50 weight and OU was number 1 combined football/basketball school in the country. 1st in FB 12th BB 1st combined.

 

[skyvue]

How is anyone comparing oswho to OU over the past thirty years? Stop and think, folks (or do your homework)!

The last two decades have been pretty even, but the '80s are not even close. I mean, not even close.

 

[NickZepp]

Certainly the first 5 years of that and the last five years favors us considerably. In between 20 years is a push.

1980-1984 first 5 years Oklahoma State won conference tournament in 1983

Oklahoma won regular season in 1984.

NCAA Tournament record for those years 1-2 for OU 0-1 for OSU so it's slightly better for OU there.

2005-2009

Oklahoma split 2005 conference regular season. Oklahoma State won the Tournament championship. Oklahoma lost in the 2nd round to Utah that year. Oklahoma State lost in the Sweet 16 to Arizona by 1 point.

Oklahoma went to the 2nd round in 2008, Elite 8 last year. And Oklahoma State got a win in their only other tournament appearance last year and gave Pitt all they wanted.

Overall record OU 5-3 OSU 2-2

Again OU is better but not WAY better in both areas.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Keep in mind, some on here are actually buying into Jeff hasn't proved anything without Blake (a player he recruited to OU) argument.

 

[NickZepp]

How is anyone comparing oswho to OU over the past thirty years? Stop and think, folks (or do your homework)!

The last two decades have been pretty even, but the '80s are not even close. I mean, not even close.

About 84-90 is not even close OU is way ahead. But about 90-95 OSU is way ahead. From about 95-00 it was probably about even. Then 00-03 it was OU, 04-06 it was OSU, 07-08 it was us, then this year we stunk OSU was okay.

 

[Cheno]

Certainly OU is Top 20, but also certainly outside of the Top 10. I'm thinking 13-17 range is fair.

That's kind of what I was thinking as well.
And like Ada said one bad year doesn't change anything in this regard.
Especially after a great season last year.

 

[thecynic]

Every once in awhile a thread pops up about how the local media tries to paint OU basketball as inferior to OSU. I loved hearing Musberger make this comment in discussing the troubles of some major basketball powers during the KU/KSU game:

"When you think of the blue-bloods who have struggled this year. I'm thinking of UCLA, and I'm thinking of Oklahoma, and I'm thinking of Connecticut, and I'm thinking of North Carolina."

I don't want to discuss our issues from this year at all - just encouraged to hear Musberger give this program the credit it deserves: to be talked about in the same light as UCLA and UNC and UConn. That speaks volumes about the level this program has consistently been at. This year is not indicative of OU basketball as a whole. We'll be back.

I heard him say that as well and it did bring a smile to my face. I don't know if we qualify as a "blue blood" but what are the qualifications exactly?
It's nice to know someone outside the state recognizes where we should be.
I also couldn't help wondering what Knight was thinking as he made that statement.

 

[Krugerfan52]

1. UNC
2. UConn
3. UCLA
3. Duke
5. Kansas
5. Michigan State
7. Florida
8. Georgetown
9. Syracuse
10. Kentucky

That'd be my Top 10....might have to throw Arkansas in there somewhere.

I would switch Kentucky and GTown and I think that list is perfect. I think OU would be at about #20.

 

[AdaSooner]

Certainly OU is Top 20, but also certainly outside of the Top 10. I'm thinking 13-17 range is fair.

I think your 13-17 range is a good place to be. It fits very well with what I said at the beginning to trigger this debate:

"Despite our poor showing this year, we would still rank in the top fifteen (maybe top ten) of the nation's best hoops programs over the past three decades."

My mistake was to include a "maybe" in parenthesis that hinted we might be in the top ten. I knew that was a stretch. But I'm comfortable with my top fifteen placement.

 

[sdcloud9]

Many on this board believe (myself included) that OU has a better reputation nationally than it does in the state.

Some of that is because OSU has a quality program and the two programs share the media. Also, OSU has had better basketball fan support.

I also believe the media has portrayed OSU in a more positive light to keep the coverage balanced due to OU's total dominance in football.