Second half collapses - a comparision

[jaymOU]

Could Kruger's second-half woes be compared to Stoops second-half problems in his first year at OU?

If you recall, OU had a lead in every game - at ND, UT, even in the bowl game against Ole Miss. Sure they went 6-6, but there was real, tangible progress.

Kruger had OSU, UT, ISU all beat, but these kids don't know how to finish yet. Sort of like Stoops '99 team.

Now I am not predicting Kruger will win the NC next year, but I do think his influence and winning attitude will continue to be ingrained in these kids.

Getting more talent and more time teaching the returning talent, I think Kruger has the program headed in the right direction for sure.

 

[cowboysooner]

If you watch college basketball at all, you know the come back phenomen is common place. In fact, in virtually every game you watch there are 10-15 point swings in games.

First, there is great parity in talent and emotion/intensity ebbs and flows depending upon the point spread in a game. Kids are intense, they get ahead, lose their emptional edge, and then can't get it back.

Second, the combination of the 3 point line and shot clock exists. A 20 point lead with 8 minutes to go, pre 3 point line and shot clock, was virtually unassailable. Now it is winning 6 possessions in less than 3 minutes.

The shot clock not only keeps a team from holding the ball but, like the out of bounds lines, ends up being a good defender for the teams that try and milk the clock, e.g. they work the ball around for 20 or more seconds and then end up taking a bad shot just to get one off before the shot clock expires.

Haven't looked at stats, but it is my observation that teams with really good point guards that can dribble penetrate probably do the best at staving off late double digget rallies.

 

[Ham]

Minor correction: In Stoops first year, they went 7-5, not 6-6.

And personally, I don't really see the correlation. Placing all the obvious aside (# of players in each sport and other dynamics...) Stoops took over a fairly talented team that had absolutely no competent leadership. Kruger took over an average mid-major team (at best) and is still dealing with personnel issues, although like Stoops, he certainly has made some improvements.

Also LK doesn't have a real great PG. Almost the equivalent to Stoops not having a real great QB. I think if this '12-'13 team had a Hepuel-esque PG, in other words - maybe not next-level talent but solid talent and mega-intangibles, we might have won the Big 12 and would be looking at a great seed.

The football team in '99 lost leads because of defense and the lack of running game.
The basketball team in '13 lost leads because we went stretches when we couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. Kelvin's and Capel's teams both did the same thing. I would think it's just a part of the game. That...and LK doesn't seem to believe in calling TO's to stop momentum swings. I don't have a problem with that. Dude knows what he's doing.