Regular Season Recap

[atlantasooner]

With the Sooners NCAA tourney place unknown for about a week, here's my view on the regular season.
Overall
Huge rebound season for Sherri. Last season was a real disappointment, and without Vegas many pundits had this Sherri team again struggling to make the NCAAs.
The chemistry and buzz around the program seems improved.
OU was clearly the second best team in the conference.
OU beat Baylor for the first time in 4 seasons?
OU's been in the top 25 for the better part of the entire conference season.
Best players on the roster are mostly underclassman.
Next two recruiting classes feature 3 top 30 national players and recruiting is
still ongoing.

Best Player
Peyton Little - it took a little while to get going at times, the rust of a full season showed. But Little was a leader on this squad and the best player.
Most Improved
Gioya Carter - there was a ten game stretch where Carter was playing at an all big 12/almost all american level. She cooled off the last ten games, but if she can get close to that level consistently OU has national attention potential.
alt.
Kaylon Williams - there were times this year when not in foul trouble that Kaylon provided the best post play since CP and Abi O.

Freshman of Influence
Gabi was the big 12 freshman of the year. Nuf said.
Vivi coming off an ACL in February provided enough of a inside presence to make Sooners fans excited about her future especially a further year removed from her injury and with a real offseason to work on her game and conditioning.

Questions moving forward?
1. Penzo joins an already crowded roster at shooting guard. She's been successful on Int'l level but wasn't really scouted at all during her US HS play. She's an unknown factor.
2. Ijeoma gives Sherri the most athletic/height depth since CP/AP/AT/Abi. Sherri has the talent to play two bigs.
3. The talent logjam leaves some players with a tough choice. Stay with the team or search out some playing time elsewhere especially upperclassman.
And Dungee and Mulkey are coming.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

The future is bright and getting brighter. Come on Lauren, push us over the top!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

Atlanta,

Gioya fouled out more than anyone else. KK has actually gotten that under control. Gioya has not shown any improvement. She even fouled out today. She must get that under control - just as KK has.

One game (at Texas I think) Gioya fouled out in less than 9 minutes of play.

The huge problem today was lousy, lousy shooting. We had numerous wide open shots and several less than perfectly covered layups that we missed. It happens occasionally. It must not happen in tournament games.

I don't "blame" anyone - coaches or players for that. It is bad luck assuming it doesn't happen too often. Unfortunately it has been happening a lot lately.

 

[Stringmusic]

Sweetest, I couldn't agree more about the shots not going in. Miss after miss after miss. Some days you're the hammer, some days you're the nail.

 

[Sooner Suzie]

I also would NOT be voting for Gioya for most improved. I was soooooo impressed with her athleticism as a Frosh, but her reach-in fouling was a big problem, and it seemed like most of the time she drove the lane, turnovers were common. It seemed like a lot of things she could in HS wasn't adapting well to the quicker defenders in the Big XII. She also would drive the lane, get fronted by an opposing big, and wouldn't have a clue where the other players were on the could so that she could bail out to a 3-pt shooter. Also, she would often abandon her zone post in hopes of a low-chance lane steal (she's not alone on that one). But, hey, she was a Frosh. It's the kind of stuff most Frosh do as they adjust to college ball.

As most college players are supposed to develop the most between their Frosh and Soph seasons, I was really expecting her to hammer out some of those weaknesses. IMO, it just didn't happen anywhere to the degree I was hoping. She still seems to display those same weaknesses she displayed last season. Her positives and skills are so great, but she just seems to have failed to work on her downside probs.

When she can stay in the game and not commit those silly turnovers, she can really give defenses fits. But, that tends to be the exception rather than the norm. I still have high hopes for her tho. Maybe my expectations were too high. Nevertheless, she would be one of the least likely candidates I would vote for most improved on this team.

Guess I'd have to go with KayKay as well for most improved. This year she came into the season in terrific shape and looked strong .. by far the best of her career her. No injuries to shorten her season. And I'd have to agree that she has progressed in terms of her fouling (or rather lack thereof).

Can't say I've seen much strides from the other team members. Some even seem to have faded a little. I'm not throwing Maddie into that mix as she hasn't played at all until this season. IMO, it's just like being her Frosh season.

Still have high hopes for all of 'em tho!!

 

[BigT14]

I think sometimes Goiya tries to be the "hero" when games are close. But her choices are usually not great. She will force up a shot when there is still time on the shot clock, instead of looking to see if there is someone open.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I think that with Gioya and Maddie, we saw glimpses of what their true potential is. Their biggest job now is to learn how to play at a high level consistently.

 

[atlantasooner]

Gioya went from reserve SG to
starting SG and went from AVG
5.5 to 9.7 points a game.
In Big 12, she averaged 12 points a game that's a massive improvement in her game.

all the other critiques are on target too but Gioya for a stretch played as well as anyone in the country

 

[Mac]

I think Manning will play one more season at OU.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I think Manning will play one more season at OU.

Why?

 

[35TangoTango]

I think Manning will play one more season at OU.

I think Manning will play 3 more seasons at OU.

 

[Mac]

Why?

Over flow on the roster, I don't see anyone else leaving the team..

OU is the dream school for Edwards and Williams, Wyatt has such wonderful OU back story I can't see her leaving, The Treece family loves OU, Penzo looks grateful for the opportunity to play at OU, and Kellogg is enjoying her time here regardless of PT. I think the 2016 class could consists of 4 kids, that would leave Manning as the one person who could decide that she wants to walk out with Kornet her original classmate.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Over flow on the roster, I don't see anyone else leaving the team..

OU is the dream school for Edwards and Williams, Wyatt has such wonderful OU back story I can't see her leaving, The Treece family loves OU, Penzo looks grateful for the opportunity to play at OU, and Kellogg is enjoying her time here regardless of PT. I think the 2016 class could consists of 4 kids, that would leave Manning as the one person who could decide that she wants to walk out with Kornet her original classmate.

Obviously, I don't know Maddie personally. But if she doesn't have the post surgery problems that Whitney had and if she's able to be a valuable contributor next year, I would be surprised if she left after next year.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I have a feeling someone may leave after this year due to lack of playing time. But, Mac may be right that Maddie may leave when she graduates as well.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I have a feeling someone may leave after this year due to lack of playing time. But, Mac may be right that Maddie may leave when she graduates as well.

Anyone know what her major/academic goals are? If I had aspirations towards a career that needed a masters or, like the Baylor player, wanted to go to law school, I'd stay until someone kicked me out!

 

[SoonerNorm]

Anyone know what her major/academic goals are? If I had aspirations towards a career that needed a masters or, like the Baylor player, wanted to go to law school, I'd stay until someone kicked me out!

I'm with you which is why I would beg for the coaches to redshirt me during my freshman year.

 

[rocjunkie]

I find it hard to believe after how hard Maddie has re-habbed to get back into playing shape that she would not finish out her playing career and at least 3 years if not 4 if she wants to petition for a 6th year to the NCAA. I don't see her leaving after next year.

 

[Mac]

I could see her playing at OU next year, leaving with Knornet and Williams, and then playing one more year in a big 10 school like Iowa... It's starting to happen more and more.

 

[atlantasooner]

I could see Manning staying 5 years depending upon playing time.

Remember Sherri's added enough post talent to play two bigs all the time.
And the guard/depth wing depth/talent battle is getting tougher.

 

[Sooners4Life0101]

Maddie might be our best player next yr... Did anyone hear Sharane in the press conference at the WV game? She said we've seen what she can do it practice so now I think this is where she basically start to dominate (basically). They all know how good she is and she's not going anywhere. (Assuming she stays healthy)

Yesterday wasn't a great performance out of her, but the entire game plan was to stop Maddie and KK- Especially form getting to the middle. Whenever Maddie subbed in, Breanna Taylor was put in the game, if not Davenport or another strong athletic guard was put on her. They had there best defenders on her the whole game, and there gameplay succeeded. Thats when things get difficult, you can't have any weaknesses when your the gameplan. But Maddie is just getting started... I look for her to improve greatly in her first real offseason. She'll be at OU. If she maximizes her abilities, she could be a legend at OU. Im not under any impression that she will be leaving in the near future...