Something is wrong

[Sooner Cal]

Today's game was sobering. I found myself wondering what on earth is Sherry doing. And her assistants are the quietest bunch I've ever seen. Then there'/ our upperclassmen. There's no leadership in that bunch.

It became painfully obvious that the Sooners were going to lose as the second half progressed. But there was no sense of urgency on the coaching staff, no emotions evident from the upperclassmen. I had to conclude the whole bunch mailed it in.

If the seniors cared, I didn't see it. If the juniors cared, there wasn'5 much to show of it. Dungee played the way I'd like to see them all play. I'd have her on the court for 34 minutes or more.

I heard Peyton on the radio. She said she knew it was her last year so she wanted to take it all in. That'S fine, but I'd want to win too. She should be the leader, vocal and demanding, but apparently that's not her personality. I wish it was.

The fellow who sits behind me apparently agrees, we are paying this staff way to much money for what they are producing. For example, the mistakes Nancy makes are post play 101. What are we doing to develop her? She has obvious potential to be very good.

I could be wrong, but I think these are great young women. I also think they are nice first and competitive second. On the court, it should be the other way around.

Maybe it's time for a change. Sherry's been a blessing for OU, but she'S been doing this a long time. Worse, she hasn't brought in an assistant worthy to replace her. Joe is probably scared to push her out. I would have no problem doing it.

 

[inoref]

Today's game was sobering. I found myself wondering what on earth is Sherry doing. And her assistants are the quietest bunch I've ever seen. Then there'/ our upperclassmen. There's no leadership in that bunch.

It became painfully obvious that the Sooners were going to lose as the second half progressed. But there was no sense of urgency on the coaching staff, no emotions evident from the upperclassmen. I had to conclude the whole bunch mailed it in.

If the seniors cared, I didn't see it. If the juniors cared, there wasn'5 much to show of it. Dungee played the way I'd like to see them all play. I'd have her on the court for 34 minutes or more.

I heard Peyton on the radio. She said she knew it was her last year so she wanted to take it all in. That'S fine, but I'd want to win too. She should be the leader, vocal and demanding, but apparently that's not her personality. I wish it was.

The fellow who sits behind me apparently agrees, we are paying this staff way to much money for what they are producing. For example, the mistakes Nancy makes are post play 101. What are we doing to develop her? She has obvious potential to be very good.

I could be wrong, but I think these are great young women. I also think they are nice first and competitive second. On the court, it should be the other way around.

Maybe it's time for a change. Sherry's been a blessing for OU, but she'S been doing this a long time. Worse, she hasn't brought in an assistant worthy to replace her. Joe is probably scared to push her out. I would have no problem doing it.

One would think for the money OU is paying her they could find a better coach

 

[bluesooner17]

I agree there is something wrong. I don't wish to start anything, but there seems to be some adversity among the players or it seems to me. I know we are supposed to be in a new offense which seems to be nothing more than a motion offense, but there seems to be no kick out at certain times to certain players when there should be to the open player. I noticed when Kentucky went to a zone we stayed on the parameter inside of driving and dishing and we did the same thing against ORU. I also noticed Maddie being hesitant to shoot when running a high and low play even if she was wide open as she against Kentucky and ORU. If Vivi is truly hurt as she seemed when she left the bench and Sherri doesn't figure this out we are in for a long season.

 

[OKUman]

What's wrong is the three butts on the bench who don't wear uniforms. They have downgraded the recruits every year for the laste five or Six. The game changed and they just have not been able to bring in enough girls who play modern basketball. Great citizens, good students, graduate and give of their time for others, if that is all you want from them, we're number one.

 

[soonerstar]

What's wrong is the three butts on the bench who don't wear uniforms. They have downgraded the recruits every year for the laste five or Six. The game changed and they just have not been able to bring in enough girls who play modern basketball. Great citizens, good students, graduate and give of their time for others, if that is all you want from them, we're number one.

You are correct, but it all falls on Coale. She is the final say on signing players.

 

[euphguy]

Not one week ago, I was very optimistic about this team. Things can change swiftly.

I just canceled my soonersports.tv subscription. With both the men's and women's basketball teams down this year, it's not worth it. Call me a fair-weather fan if you want, but I'm one of the few actual OU alumni on this board.

 

[22dupree]

The new offense seems to be very free flowing ... almost TOO free flowing and sort of encourages the out of control play we saw today. Too many bad shots and too much 1-on-1 or sometimes 1-on-2 or 1-on-3 drives.

Once ORU started making their run, it felt as if we didn't take it seriously or thought we'll just turn it on ... and we couldn't.

We might be hungover from the Kentucky loss. We might be suffering a bit of an identity crisis due to a leadership void. Or both.

I love our players, but someone has to step to the front and truly lead this team in competition.

I hope this is simply the game that had to occur to get us moving on that process.

 

[Hoopdreams79]

I'm not sure there is a true leader on this team and if there was at one time I think their inconsistency has affected that leadership. You can role player leaders like Penzo and Kellogg that sit on the bench and encourage but to really be effective you need someone who plays minutes and has consistent play. I think that hurts with the inconsistency right now across the board. Leadership isn't just about scoring but being consistent in your efforts and in decision making. After the game I saw Gioya really expressing herself in the post game huddle.

 

[sybarite]

Today's game was sobering. I found myself wondering what on earth is Sherry doing. And her assistants are the quietest bunch I've ever seen. Then there'/ our upperclassmen. There's no leadership in that bunch.

It became painfully obvious that the Sooners were going to lose as the second half progressed. But there was no sense of urgency on the coaching staff, no emotions evident from the upperclassmen. I had to conclude the whole bunch mailed it in.

If the seniors cared, I didn't see it. If the juniors cared, there wasn'5 much to show of it. Dungee played the way I'd like to see them all play. I'd have her on the court for 34 minutes or more.

I heard Peyton on the radio. She said she knew it was her last year so she wanted to take it all in. That'S fine, but I'd want to win too. She should be the leader, vocal and demanding, but apparently that's not her personality. I wish it was.

The fellow who sits behind me apparently agrees, we are paying this staff way to much money for what they are producing. For example, the mistakes Nancy makes are post play 101. What are we doing to develop her? She has obvious potential to be very good.

I could be wrong, but I think these are great young women. I also think they are nice first and competitive second. On the court, it should be the other way around.

Maybe it's time for a change. Sherry's been a blessing for OU, but she'S been doing this a long time. Worse, she hasn't brought in an assistant worthy to replace her. Joe is probably scared to push her out. I would have no problem doing it.

I'm excluding inoref, OKUman, and soonerstar from any response since they have been negative about all aspects of the women's program going back to when we were in the Final Four. Enough.

I don't exactly know what we can take from this game. In fact, I'm not sure how to take the season thus far. We really haven't made an effort to define a final seven or eight who will see the most minutes in a game. It's almost like this has been a month-long experiment. There have been some positives. Today, it's difficult to find a positive. But, sometimes, you play badly and lose when you shouldn't.

We still have a lot of positives, and we have about ten people who bring something of value. I haven't been as excited about the mechanics of the "new" offense since I see a lot of wasted trips. But, it seems to have the players excited. I thought we were beginning to get our feet on the ground until the first half against Kentucky. For some reason, we weren't getting our shots. We were ahead because we were hitting shots that weren't our usual shots. But, it's difficult to win if you aren't playing your game.

I have no idea what the starting lineup today was about. Sending a message? Sent a message to Kay Kay a couple of years ago by sitting her out for Arkansas. Lost to Arkansas unnecessarily, and the message was not received. Didn't change anything.

I have to think that there was a reason that we did all of the things we did today. I have no idea why. But, it doesn't make sense not to have a purpose behind it. I'll wait to see what happens.

 

[gwydion]

I don't think Sherri knows what she has. There is no go to player she can rely on. There is no leadership. Ultimately, this goes back to recruiting. We have some nice role players but not the players to get us in the hunt for a Big XII championship. Dungee might turn into something, but she is young and isn't going to take a leadership role, she is still figuring out the college game. They have no idea how to play Mulkey. This season is on Sherri and maybe the AD will finally step up and say something.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Did Kruger make Buddy a leader or did Buddy make himself a leader? Did Stoops make Baker a leader or did Baker make himself a leader?

If a coach puts a team in the wrong offense or the wrong defense that's on them. I'm not saying Coach Coale is perfect and has never screwed up but some of you people seem to think holding players accountable for their own actions, or lack thereof, will give you hives!

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Leaders exist. They are rarely made. See Baker Mayfield as an example.

This team hasn't had a leader since Whitney Hand and even then the leadership wasn't great.

I don't know what may be happening with this team right now. Sherri has already set Gabbi down for playing poorly. She sat Maddie last game.

I'm fine with both decisions. Maybe she needs to set Peyton too and just start over. I doubt the season's outcome would be much different than what we've seen so far this year or for the last several years.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I almost hate to weigh in. You never know what is going on inside the team so you are operating with half or more of the info you need to make the decisions many of us feel the coaches need to make.

I think both Sherri and Kruger are doing a lot of experimenting now getting ready for the big 12 season. The ladies have 14 players who have averaged 5.5 minutes a game or more. It is like she has too many options. Also Sherri's teams seem to improve in late December during the break. We will know more by January.

Benching your best players is rarely a solution. You are hurting the entire team doing that. If there is a severe problem you may have to but it is usually not the way to go. Problems are best handled in practice not in a game.

I said early in the season we had three problems; rebounding, outside shooting and long dry spells. Rebounding has improved some but the others are still a problem. Our outside shooting suffers from too many from too far out and too many shots rushed in poor rhythm. You can almost predict the misses when the shots go up.

Other than ViVi no one has emerged with any kind of consistency. She missed two easy layups against Kentucky but generally she has been pretty predictable. Not so with Maddy, Little, Edwards and Carter. More so with Dungee. Ortiz is trying too hard and losing her starting job is probably also an issue with her. I don't feel that Edwards is much if any improvement over an Ortiz in a funk.

I am concerned that supposedly our best players are not playing better than in their earlier seasons.

Also I don't see that much difference in the offense. It is still a 4 guard offense with little movement away from the ball and almost no screens. We do a lot of ball screens but the player in the ball side corner and the two off ball players are not moving at all. And I don't see the center rolling to the hoop off the screens much. We just have four players, two on each team jamming up play up top.

It looked a lot like street ball against Oral Roberts.

 

[OKUman]

I'm not sure there is a true leader on this team and if there was at one time I think their inconsistency has affected that leadership. You can role player leaders like Penzo and Kellogg that sit on the bench and encourage but to really be effective you need someone who plays minutes and has consistent play. I think that hurts with the inconsistency right now across the board. Leadership isn't just about scoring but being consistent in your efforts and in decision making. After the game I saw Gioya really expressing herself in the post game huddle.

Leadership is ok so far, but the lead sheep can't teach the sheep heard to knit a sweater even tho they all have wool on their backs. TALENT wins games.

 

[sybarite]

I almost hate to weigh in. You never know what is going on inside the team so you are operating with half or more of the info you need to make the decisions many of us feel the coaches need to make.

I think both Sherri and Kruger are doing a lot of experimenting now getting ready for the big 12 season. The ladies have 14 players who have averaged 5.5 minutes a game or more. It is like she has too many options. Also Sherri's teams seem to improve in late December during the break. We will know more by January.

Benching your best players is rarely a solution. You are hurting the entire team doing that. If there is a severe problem you may have to but it is usually not the way to go. Problems are best handled in practice not in a game.

I said early in the season we had three problems; rebounding, outside shooting and long dry spells. Rebounding has improved some but the others are still a problem. Our outside shooting suffers from too many from too far out and too many shots rushed in poor rhythm. You can almost predict the misses when the shots go up.

Other than ViVi no one has emerged with any kind of consistency. She missed two easy layups against Kentucky but generally she has been pretty predictable. Not so with Maddy, Little, Edwards and Carter. More so with Dungee. Ortiz is trying too hard and losing her starting job is probably also an issue with her. I don't feel that Edwards is much if any improvement over an Ortiz in a funk.

I am concerned that supposedly our best players are not playing better than in their earlier seasons.

Also I don't see that much difference in the offense. It is still a 4 guard offense with little movement away from the ball and almost no screens. We do a lot of ball screens but the player in the ball side corner and the two off ball players are not moving at all. And I don't see the center rolling to the hoop off the screens much. We just have four players, two on each team jamming up play up top.

It looked a lot like street ball against Oral Roberts.

Until Kentucky, I thought Maddie was beginning to emerge as the star. She took a step back, but not all that far. She did OK except in scoring. I think it was a serious mistake to bench her, and I would like to argue with Sherri about her motivational techniques. If anything, I think Maddie might be reacting to overcoaching. When she tries to follow orders to shoot more, she tends to ruin her form by forcing shots. She is best letting the game come to her.

I think Sherri has a thing for her OKC area stars: Kay Kay, Gioya, TT--even LaNesia to some extent. She doesn't seem to be as irritated by their weaknesses as I would be. TT is a point guard who can't hit a free throw to save her life. She stalls the offense by not having one, other than driving to the rim herself, and she won't be doing that in the Big Twelve.

Gioya still makes freshman mistakes that cost us as much as she scores. Her defense is the worst of the starters. She can't start on a team that you want to go to the Elite Eight.

I don't know what Sherri was doing against Oral Roberts. Her point missed me. If I saw any evidence of this benching of stars working, I might buy into it. Didn't work for Kay Kay. Sherri knows a lot more about basketball than I do. But, I think I would yell at her right now if I had the opportunity. Whatever that was, it failed.

 

[Sweetest OU Girl]

I agree with the comments expressing confusion about the benching the long time starters.

I am convinced that Gabbi must be the point guard if we are going to compete this year. Unfortunately, TT is undisciplined - and lacks most fundamental BB skills. She is fast - and perhaps Sherri was just "expecting a miracle" and for her to somehow become more stable. Clearly it did not happen. I like TT as an individual, but she just misses too many shots, creates too many turnovers, etc. Gabbi has to be the point guard if we are to make a strong run this year.

Maddie brings a lot to the table that no other player can provide. We have all been hopeful she would become a better scorer, and perhaps she still will do that. But she provides lots even with just her normal scoring levels.

I do worry about the psychological impact of benching these players. They are young people - and young people tend to dislike being embarrassed in public - as do most people of any age. It has already looked to me like Gabbi has started trying too hard when she finally gets in, even though we all know her normal PG play is better than anything else we can put on the court. She seems to be trying to prove herself.

When the football season started, Baker was not playing at the top of his game. There was never any evidence that Stoops even considered benching him to "teach him a lesson". That would be a truly foolish teaching strategy - and almost certain to create errors from pressing too hard.

It seems to me that we need to settle on 5 main players and let them learn to play together. Then fill in with 2 or 3 backups, with others getting in the game in certain situations.

Sherri has coached a long time. Surely she will get things settled down soon.

Another thing I wonder about. Who do we have that has a long time experience teaching inside players to play effectively. Sherri and Jan are guards (PG and shooting guard in college). That is their skill. Who do we have who played center in the women's game for lots of years? Nancy really needs a mentor to keep developing her wonderful skills.

 

[Sooner Cal]

Coaches are responsible for recruiting and developing. Ours are well paid. They've been together for a long time. I find it OU long that there'/ no emotion or energy shown in this group of coaches.

I have felt for some time that the culture in the program is too soft. Conditioning, especially with theist players has been an issue for a decade. From 2000 to 2010, we had 3 point shooters and guards who made layups, even very difficult ones. Not the case now.

At the risk of being slammed, I'd add that Sherri doesn't do Edwards or Williams any favors by permitting them to stand with their arms to their side during the national anthem. As John Wooden put it, I can'5 make you do the right thing, but I don'5 have to play you. The fact that they can behave this way with no discouragement tells me the coach lacks control.

After games, I've heard Sherri blame herself or offer excuses. I come. Away feeling the expectations aren't very high. Before the session, she raved about how much fun it was watching this team grow since last year. Well, I don't see the growth. In all candor, I think ORU had 2 Oklahoma girls who could start for OU.

I agree that it looks like Sherri is experimenting with all the players. But in all honesty, she knows who her performers are.

I doubt we have a player on this team who would start on any team we had from 2000-2010. Sherri built a great program, but it's not like that anymore.

 

[sybarite]

I'm not that convinced that I understand. I want to see where this leads.

The one thing that I noticed about the US Army was that they could teach some rather unremarkable talent everything they needed to know during basic training. Of course, they reduced the word, "trainee," to a status that would be offensive in a way that helped me understand how minorities must feel. You are shown what to do, practice doing it, and tested on it daily. Repeat and command.

I think it is a lot like the Kim Mulkey technique. It produces a desired effect, if that is what you desire.

I have the impression that Sherri is teaching her players rather than demanding a technique. It is a difference in philosophy, and I don't think everyone gets it. Some people are better if you act like they don't have a brain and drill, drill, drill. I think Geno is somewhere in between, but can recruit people who will learn it the right way. I must admit that I wouldn't play TT until she learns not to lose the ball and can hit 70% of her free throws. I wouldn't play Gioya until she quit lazy passes, played some defense, and actually reached for a rebound. Sometimes, you have to insist that they learn. I may be wrong. Right now, I haven't a clue.

 

[MsProudSooner]

At the risk of being slammed, I'd add that Sherri doesn't do Edwards or Williams any favors by permitting them to stand with their arms to their side during the national anthem. As John Wooden put it, I can'5 make you do the right thing, but I don'5 have to play you. The fact that they can behave this way with no discouragement tells me the coach lacks control.

Perhaps Sherri agrees with George Takei:

I pledged allegiance to the flag every morning inside an internment camp. I would never burn one, but I'd die to protect the right to do so.

The First Amendment gives them the right to stand with their hands at their side. i couldn't support a coach or university that tried to usurp First Amendment rights.

 

[Sooner Cal]

As a vet, I wouldn't miss you.

The fact is, the protest is misguided. A coach is supposed to develop young people. They are entitled to voice their opinion, but not entitled to play. It's that simple really.