Practice 10/13

[skyvue]

In 1988, Bell played 4.4 minutes a game, Martin averaged 8.6 minutes, Wylie chipped in with 9 minutes a game, Jones went 10.3 per, and Mullins added 10.5 minutes.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

In 1988, Bell played 4.4 minutes a game, Martin averaged 8.6 minutes, Wylie chipped in with 9 minutes a game, Jones went 10.3 per, and Mullins added 10.5 minutes.

http://www.soonerstats.com/basketball/men/seasons/teamstats.cfm?seasonid=1988#.Ul4PfhUo45s


Some of the “averages” for the reserves can be misleading as Bell only played in 23 of 39 games, and Jones only played in 24 of 39 games. Looking at TOTAL MINUTES PLAYED for the 1987-88 season, it looks like this:

Minutes Played (1987-88)

1,347 ..... Blaylock, Mookie
1,339 ..... Grant, Harvey
1,301 ..... Grace, Ricky
1,212 ..... King, Stacey
1,198 ..... Sieger, Dave

.. 390 ..... Mullins, Terrence
.. 310 ..... Martin, Tony
.. 270 ..... Wiley, Andre
.. 246 ..... Jones, Tyrone
.. 102 ..... Bell, Mike

http://www.soonerstats.com/basketball/men/seasons/teamstats.cfm?seasonid=1988#.Ul4PfhUo45s

In any event, the 5 starters all averaged more than 30 minutes per game

 

[DenverSooner]

I agree. The average per game is very misleading because guys were held out of several games, particularly Bell and Wylie.

Soonerstats is the best webpage. I love that page. Anyone know whose website that is?

 

[AdaSooner]

http://www.soonerstats.com/basketball/men/seasons/teamstats.cfm?seasonid=1988#.Ul4PfhUo45s


Some of the “averages” for the reserves can be misleading as Bell only played in 23 of 39 games, and Jones only played in 24 of 39 games. Looking at TOTAL MINUTES PLAYED for the 1987-88 season, it looks like this:

Minutes Played (1987-88)

1,347 ..... Blaylock, Mookie
1,339 ..... Grant, Harvey
1,301 ..... Grace, Ricky
1,212 ..... King, Stacey
1,198 ..... Sieger, Dave

.. 390 ..... Mullins, Terrence
.. 310 ..... Martin, Tony
.. 270 ..... Wiley, Andre
.. 246 ..... Jones, Tyrone
.. 102 ..... Bell, Mike

http://www.soonerstats.com/basketball/men/seasons/teamstats.cfm?seasonid=1988#.Ul4PfhUo45s

In any event, the 5 starters all averaged more than 30 minutes per game

No doubt about it, the '88 team was one of the best-conditioned group of athletes ever to wear the C & C. The fact that our starters averaged 30 or more minutes per game is even more remarkable when you factor in the pace of play. Billy Ball back then was kick it out and run on every possession, and then press full court on defense. Opportunities to slow the pace to a half court game were rare.

Question for anyone who remembers that era. Didn't Billy bring in an aerobics instructor to work with the team? I seem to recall that he gave the new form of exercise he introduced much of the credit for the team's conditioning that season. Anyone know what I'm talking about, or is my memory so flawed I'm imagining things now?

 

[skyvue]

Soonerstats is indeed a great site (that's why I got the sites I posted above), though Traveler makes a good point that total minutes and games played impact the numbers.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Question for anyone who remembers that era. Didn't Billy bring in an aerobics instructor to work with the team? I seem to recall that he gave the new form of exercise he introduced much of the credit for the team's conditioning that season. Anyone know what I'm talking about, or is my memory so flawed I'm imagining things now?

Your memory is spot on. Billy did bring in an aerobics instructor to work with the team. It seemed that they could run all day.

***

I don't know who put together the SoonerStats site, but they did a wonderful job.

 

[AdaSooner]

Your memory is spot on. Billy did bring in an aerobics instructor to work with the team. It seemed that they could run all day.

Thanks, Trav! It's good to know that my long term memory is still okay. Wish I could say that about my short term memory. lol

Given the success of the '88 team, I have often wondered why more coaches haven't added aerobics to their conditioning program? As I recall, Billy was certainly impressed with the difference it made.

 

[WTSooner]

They days of 5 guys playing minutes like that, especially in an up-tempo system, are long gone.

Kind of like how starting pitchers in MLB hardly ever go on short rest, or throw much over 100 pitches per game, yet back in earlier baseball, they did just that.

It'll be interesting to see how LK uses his bench this year.

 

[Max Power]

They days of 5 guys playing minutes like that, especially in an up-tempo system, are long gone.

Kind of like how starting pitchers in MLB hardly ever go on short rest, or throw much over 100 pitches per game, yet back in earlier baseball, they did just that.

It'll be interesting to see how LK uses his bench this year.

Kids, these days are soft.

 

[AdaSooner]

They days of 5 guys playing minutes like that, especially in an up-tempo system, are long gone.

Kind of like how starting pitchers in MLB hardly ever go on short rest, or throw much over 100 pitches per game, yet back in earlier baseball, they did just that.

It'll be interesting to see how LK uses his bench this year.

Agreed. OU's starting five in '88 proved it can be done, though. You can't get anymore up-tempo than Billy Ball. His players didn't just push the ball on offense, they pressured the other team on defense from end line to end line on nearly every possession.

Having said all of that, Blalock, Grant, Grace, King and Sieger were truly special players. Heck, even our subs were pretty darned good. We may never see an OU team like that again.

 

[cowboysooner]

Loved tubbs. However, I thought at the time and have heard billy say several times that his decision to call off the full court press in the second half of the championship game cost us the game. Oh the irony of it all, e.g. one of the best full court defenses of all time loses a championship because it doesn't press.

There are lots of things that can be pointed out regarding why we lost, including Seiger never touching the ball in the second half, and the guards refusing to push the ball inside in the second half, gunning brick after brick, which kept us from scoring and bailed KU out of their foul trouble.

The "what ifs" of that game still give me nightmares. We had already beaten KU 3 times that year and would have beaten them 99 out of 100 games. But, they beat us the only time it counted.

 

[WTSooner]

Kids, these days are soft.

Exactly. Pampered.