Rooting Interests this week

[pnkranger]

For the sake of our conference title hopes:

Monday-Wednesday
OU to beat TCU at home
Texas to beat Baylor in Waco
ISU to beat WVU in Ames
Kansas State to beat Kansas in Lawrence (right!)
OSU to beat Tech in Lubbock (save Travis Ford!)

Saturday

TCU to stun Kansas in Fort Worth
OSU to beat ISU in Stillwater
OU to beat KSU in Manhattan
West Virginia to beat Baylor in Morgantown (Baylor has the more favorable schedule)
Tech to beat Texas in Austin

If all that were to happen, OU would have a one game lead on WVU who has the toughest remaining schedule and a 2+ game lead on everyone else heading into the last 8 games.

 

[Big Old Booger]

For the sake of our conference title hopes:

Monday-Wednesday
OU to beat TCU at home
Texas to beat Baylor in Waco
ISU to beat WVU in Ames
Kansas State to beat Kansas in Lawrence (right!)
OSU to beat Tech in Lubbock (save Travis Ford!)

Saturday

TCU to stun Kansas in Fort Worth
OSU to beat ISU in Stillwater
OU to beat KSU in Manhattan
West Virginia to beat Baylor in Morgantown (Baylor has the more favorable schedule)
Tech to beat Texas in Austin

If all that were to happen, OU would have a one game lead on WVU who has the toughest remaining schedule and a 2+ game lead on everyone else heading into the last 8 games.

We already have a 1 game lead on KU so if they lose both games this week, which Tuesday's game is in Larryville and they won't lose that one, then we would have a 3 game lead on them.

All we really need to do is keep winning and we will win the conference.

 

[Sooner-Bred]

We already have a 1 game lead on KU so if they lose both games this week, which Tuesday's game is in Larryville and they won't lose that one, then we would have a 3 game lead on them.

All we really need to do is keep winning and we will win the conference.

We definitely have the more favorable schedule down the stretch.

I predict we lose 2 more games (@ WVU, and one more, maybe @Texas).

That'll put us at 14-4 in conference.

To win it outright, we'd need Baylor and WVU to lose 3 more times, and KU, ISU, and Texas to lose 2 more times.

Baylor should lose in Norman, in Morgantown, and hopefully one more.

WVU should lose in Lawrence, Ames, and potentially Waco and Austin.

 

[CoachTalk]

lets just win them all and remove all doubt who is the best team in the Big 12

 

[SoonerTraveler]

lets just win them all and remove all doubt who is the best team in the Big 12

Yes!

Still, I think the road game at K-State on Saturday is huge. The Sooner have trouble with that team. A win in Manhattan could be the difference in winning the conference.

 

[CoachTalk]

Yes!

Still, I think the road game at K-State on Saturday is huge. The Sooner have trouble with that team. A win in Manhattan could be the difference in winning the conference.

I think its payback time for them! They ruined the ship for last year by themselves.

 

[Sooner-Bred]

We definitely have the more favorable schedule down the stretch.

I predict we lose 2 more games (@ WVU, and one more, maybe @Texas).

That'll put us at 14-4 in conference.

To win it outright, we'd need Baylor and WVU to lose 3 more times, and KU, ISU, and Texas to lose 2 more times.

Baylor should lose in Norman, in Morgantown, and hopefully one more.

WVU should lose in Lawrence, Ames, and potentially Waco and Austin.

Re-reading my post....we have very little margin for error if we want to win the Big12 outright

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re-reading my post....we have very little margin for error if we want to win the Big12 outright

I think we will win at WV. They haven't looked very good since the game in Norman. If they can't hit shots then we will win fairly easily just like Florida on Saturday.

 

[Sooner-Bred]

I think we will win at WV. They haven't looked very good since the game in Norman. If they can't hit shots then we will win fairly easily just like Florida on Saturday.

I really hope you're right!

Honestly, the game in Austin might scare me more than any of the others

 

[AdaSooner]

Yes!

Still, I think the road game at K-State on Saturday is huge. The Sooner have trouble with that team. A win in Manhattan could be the difference in winning the conference.

I'm a little concerned about that game too. We lost to K-State twice last year, and it's not like we blew them out in Norman a few weeks ago. Inferior team or not, the Cats will not be easy to beat in Manhattan.

WVU on the road is another tough test. The Mountaineers are not as good this year without Juwan Staten running their offense. They're still a dangerous team at home when their pressure defense is creating turnovers and their crowd gets loud.

Truth is, we can't take a night off on any team left on our schedule. Play well and we'll win every game. Fail to come out ready to play and we could lose to a team that should not be on the same floor with this OU team.

 

[opsooner]

I think we will win at WV. They haven't looked very good since the game in Norman. If they can't hit shots then we will win fairly easily just like Florida on Saturday.

We are the better team but depends on how we handle the pressure and if we attack them inside. Florida did both. Sill tougher to best them in Morgantown though.

 

[1390]

I'm a little concerned about that game too. We lost to K-State twice last year, and it's not like we blew them out in Norman a few weeks ago. Inferior team or not, the Cats will not be easy to beat in Manhattan.

WVU on the road is another tough test. The Mountaineers are not as good this year without Juwan Staten running their offense. They're still a dangerous team at home when their pressure defense is creating turnovers and their crowd gets loud.

Truth is, we can't take a night off on any team left on our schedule. Play well and we'll win every game. Fail to come out ready to play and we could lose to a team that should not be on the same floor with this OU team.

True..but OU allowed K-state back in the game in Norman..if OU comes out in Manhattan and plays the way they did the first 10 minutes of the game vs the Cats at home I think they win by double digits

But you are right..there are no nights off..If Tcu can go into Lawrence and be competitive and KU can get blown out in Stillwater..you have to gear up each night especially as the #1 team

 

[opsooner]

I suspect KSU will use the same tactics they used in Norman. If their big guy knocks down a few 3s again it might be interesting. We need to be playing solid defense, an area where we did not play our best in Norman.

 

[Soonerinkc]

Hurt (ksu's big) is only 4/15 from the 3...thinkin he had 2 or 3 against OU. Like Kruger told the guys Sat, they can't hit like that all game...lol

 

[Stikboy]

Yeah, Hurtt had 3 threes against OU. I swear teams and players come into Lloyd Noble and have career shooting nights. But yes, @K State is the one that has my attention right now..

 

[stormspencer]

I pride myself on being objective with this team (both optimistic and critical at times), but I really believe OU wins the Big 12 by at least two games this year...and here's why:

Barring unjury, I just don't see OU losing more than 2 games for the remainder of the season. They've proven on several occasions that they are up to the task in hostile road environments. At most, they will lose 2 of @WV, @texas, @K-state....and it's likely they win 2 of those 3. And I believe they sweep at home.

I firmly believe ISU poses the biggest threat to OU in the conference. They are playing better over the last several weeks, but they still have two games left with WV and they have to go to Lawrence and Waco...and remember Baylor beat them in Ames. They already have 3 losses, so at best, I think they finish with 5 losses total in conference.

WV still has to go to Ames, Lawrence, Waco, and Austin. And they have home games remaining with OU and ISU. I don't see how they get through that brutal stretch any better than 3-3 and likely 2-4 (or worse). And depending on how long Bolton is out, that press will remain a little less daunting without him.

Regarding KU, I think they will lose @OU and @Baylor....and I see them dropping at least one of @KSU/@texas. KU doesn't defend as well this year and they don't have the arsenal of pieces on the offensive end that they have had in recent years. They've already been blown out three times away from home....they don't have "it" this year. I wouldn't be totally shocked if they dropped one in AFH either. I think KU ends up no better than 12-6.

Baylor is an interesting case, but I believe they are simply too schizophrenic to be considered a legitimate threat. They will drop one on the road that they probably shouldn't (possibly KSU) and they still have 2 games left with WV and KSU. They get ISU and KU at home, but have to go to OU. I think they end up no better than 12-6 and likely 11-7.

It's all conjecture at this point, but OU is definitely in the driver's seat at this juncture.

 

[Zimwillett]

I pride myself on being objective with this team (both optimistic and critical at times), but I really believe OU wins the Big 12 by at least two games this year...and here's why:

Barring unjury, I just don't see OU losing more than 2 games for the remainder of the season. They've proven on several occasions that they are up to the task in hostile road environments. At most, they will lose 2 of @WV, @texas, @K-state....and it's likely they win 2 of those 3. And I believe they sweep at home.

I firmly believe ISU poses the biggest threat to OU in the conference. They are playing better over the last several weeks, but they still have two games left with WV and they have to go to Lawrence and Waco...and remember Baylor beat them in Ames. They already have 3 losses, so at best, I think they finish with 5 losses total in conference.

WV still has to go to Ames, Lawrence, Waco, and Austin. And they have home games remaining with OU and ISU. I don't see how they get through that brutal stretch any better than 3-3 and likely 2-4 (or worse). And depending on how long Bolton is out, that press will remain a little less daunting without him.

Regarding KU, I think they will lose @OU and @Baylor....and I see them dropping at least one of @KSU/@texas. KU doesn't defend as well this year and they don't have the arsenal of pieces on the offensive end that they have had in recent years. They've already been blown out three times away from home....they don't have "it" this year. I wouldn't be totally shocked if they dropped one in AFH either. I think KU ends up no better than 12-6.

Baylor is an interesting case, but I believe they are simply too schizophrenic to be considered a legitimate threat. They will drop one on the road that they probably shouldn't (possibly KSU) and they still have 2 games left with WV and KSU. They get ISU and KU at home, but have to go to OU. I think they end up no better than 12-6 and likely 11-7.

It's all conjecture at this point, but OU is definitely in the driver's seat at this juncture.

If OU protects home court and wins 3 of the remaining away games (@KSU, @TTU, @WVU, @UT and @TCU), they'll be 14-4. I think that will be at least good enough for a share, and probably good enough to win it outright. I just don't see anyone other than OU good enough to finish this out with fewer than 4 conference losses.

 

[tycat947]

Yes!

Still, I think the road game at K-State on Saturday is huge. The Sooner have trouble with that team. A win in Manhattan could be the difference in winning the conference.

Agreed! We'll get their best no doubt!

 

[Big Old Booger]

I suspect KSU will use the same tactics they used in Norman. If their big guy knocks down a few 3s again it might be interesting. We need to be playing solid defense, an area where we did not play our best in Norman.

Luckily Stokes is injured right now and I hope he remains injured for our game on Saturday though I'm guessing Weber is counting tomorrow as a loss so not planning to play him. Then he wants him healthy when the #1 team comes into town to boost his resume.

 

[WTSooner]

Meh. This team is good enough we shouldn't have to backdoor our way into a conference championship. OU controls their own destiny. Time to make it happen.