Stop the presses

[oSuJeff97]

In the only poll that matters OU is currently ranked #16 and the step child is ranked #40.

Which poll would that be, genius?

 

[DenverSooner]

No. College coaches know the difference between OU and OSU. That might be the most absurd comment I've read here. These aren't Joe Schmo on the street.

You think college coaches know all 300+ D-1 schools? They don't. People outside of the Big XII are not very familiar with OSU. The letters OSU mean Ohio State and Oregon State to most people outside of this region.

Do you really see a difference between forgetting to include "state" and not really distinguishing between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State?

 

[skyvue]

I was primarily comparing OU this year to OU last year

Actually, you were comparing how this year's Sooner squad stacks up to the rest of the country after nine games with how OU stacked up to the rest of the country at the end of last season.

This season, our opponents are averaging 64 points per game, compared to 67 ppg after nine games last year, despite the following facts: a) We’re giving three true freshman lots of minutes, along with a transfer who's been shaking off the rust, b) we’ve played just two games in Norman (compared to five last season), and c) we’re playing a tougher schedule this season.

 

[ksSooner13]

OU received two votes in the latest coaches poll.

When was the last time OU was in the poll?

received 4 votes during the Dec. 12th poll from last season..


http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2012/week/6/seasontype/2

 

[Chaser728]

Which poll would that be, genius?

I believe he is referring to the RPI poll. http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rankings/rpi/index1
But we are actually ranked #20. And that number is not likely to go down, as long as we take care of business. SFA is ranked #27, Ohio is going to probably win their conference, and of course then the Conference Schedule will not hurt our RPI & SOS (which is currently 24th).

In my opinion, this has set us up for a run at the NCAA Tourney... We now just have to sweep the teams we should beat (AKA: TCU & TTU), Hold serve with the teams we can beat at home (OSU, ISU, Texas, WVU, KSU & Baylor) & Steal a road win or two from the teams previously mentioned. That would equal 10 or 11 conference wins and with 3 more OOC wins; totaling a 20 or 21 win season. making us a lock for the Tourney and #3 or #4 in the conference. That is assuming a lot, but I think it is very feasible for this team.

 

[Chaser728]

I believe he is referring to the RPI poll. http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/rankings/rpi/index1
But we are actually ranked #20. And that number is not likely to go down, as long as we take care of business. SFA is ranked #27, Ohio is going to probably win their conference, and of course then the Conference Schedule will not hurt our RPI & SOS (which is currently 24th).

And OSU is currently ranked #32 in the RPI with a SOS of #148.

 

[Chaser728]

This season, our opponents are averaging 64 points per game, compared to 67 ppg after nine games last year, despite the following facts: a) We’re giving three true freshman lots of minutes, along with a transfer who's been shaking off the rust, b) we’ve played just two games in Norman (compared to five last season), and c) we’re playing a tougher schedule this season.

My thoughts exactly. :clap

 

[Chaser728]

No mention of the A&M game, our 20th ranking in the RPI, or our 24th ranked strength of schedule.

:facepalm

Yes... This shows the validity of research done by this guy... Plus this thing is pure conjecture trying to be passed as journalism. Ridiculous! By the way, I am by no means declaring that we should have received these votes; but it is what it is... And at least OU is getting some recognition for playing a tough schedule which will help them come conference time!

 

[oSuJeff97]

Actually, you were comparing how this year's Sooner squad stacks up to the rest of the country after nine games with how OU stacked up to the rest of the country at the end of last season.

I was comparing OU's raw numbers this year vs. their raw numbers last year. Showing the national and conference ranking was for context.

Again, the raw AdjD and FG% defense have improved by about 3%. I'm not denying there is improvement. I'm just saying the improvement (so far) is marginal, at best.

And also again, AdjD takes schedule strength into consideration.

This season, our opponents are averaging 64 points per game, compared to 67 ppg after nine games last year, despite the following facts: a) We’re giving three true freshman lots of minutes, along with a transfer who's been shaking off the rust, b) we’ve played just two games in Norman (compared to five last season), and c) we’re playing a tougher schedule this season.

The PPG is partially a by-product of just playing at slower pace this year compared with last year.

And your telling me that your schedule right now is stronger than your schedule as a whole last year? I'm sorry, but that's not correct.

That's my whole point. Your defensive performance is marginally better when compared to last year as a whole. Your schedule strength is only going to increase as conference play gets under way, more than likely eroding away the marginal improvement.

And OSU is currently ranked #32 in the RPI with a SOS of #148.

Guys. Come on. You know that the RPI doesn't really get much meaning until about mid-January at the earliest.

There just haven't been enough games played yet, and right now you mostly get rewarded for not playing horrible teams. Or you get things like Stehpen F. Austin. They are currently 25th in the RPI because they've only played 4 games against D-1 teams, going 3-1. Their best win is against Tulsa, who just lost to Arkansas Little-Rock.

So should SFA be crowing about their shiny #25 RPI ranking right now?

 

[AdaSooner]

I don't think you are being a jerk. But, I just wanted to point out that you answered you own question. You see it with your eyes. An observer can easily see that what they are doing and how they do it is a vast improvement over last year.

You stat guys wear me out. While I'm abit of a numbers guy myself, sometimes I get to thinking Jerry Jones is right when he says "stats are for losers".

^This. OU fans who have watched every game this team has played with a critical eye the past two years, can easily see the improvements. With all due respect to OSUJeff, his casual interest in OU basketball can't possibly be on the level of a fan like me, and certainly not a fan like you who has also attended nearly every practice.

I'll go one step further by saying that our defense in the A&M game was an improvement over what we saw in November. ATM's 19 turnovers were the results of sloppy play by the Aggy guards to some extent. But OU's defense contributed to the majority of those miscues. This team is defintely better on defense. Now, it's time to focus on an offense that is still a long way from a finished product.

 

[Chaser728]

Guys. Come on. You know that the RPI doesn't really get much meaning until about mid-January at the earliest.

See here is where your logic breaks down... RPI & SOS matter very much throughout the entire season for teams like us who reside in Power Conferences. The reality is that if your RPI & SOS is great in November & December then it has the potential to only rise as long as you take care of business. Taking care of business = beating the teams you should, holding serve at home to teams you can beat & stealing a couple of good away games or stealing some home games from the likes of KU. So, RPI matters now for us, because it sets us up for a real run at the tourney.

The difference between us and most teams who have played the type of competition we have, is that we did this mainly away from home.

 

[Chaser728]

^This. OU fans who have watched every game this team has played with a critical eye the past two years, can easily see the improvements. With all due respect to OSUJeff, his casual interest in OU basketball can't possibly be on the level of a fan like me, and certainly not a fan like you who has also attended nearly every practice.

I'll go one step further by saying that our defense in the A&M game was an improvement over what we saw in November. ATM's 19 turnovers were the results of sloppy play by the Aggy guards to some extent. But OU's defense contributed to the majority of those miscues. This team is defintely better on defense. Now, it's time to focus on an offense that is still a long way from a finished product.

Yep.

 

[snydrosooner]

I would also add that just by the eye test, our defence and especially our rebounding has gotten better from early in the season. I would venture to say we would play Gonzaga tougher today with how our defence has progressed.

 

[oSuJeff97]

^This. OU fans who have watched every game this team has played with a critical eye the past two years, can easily see the improvements. With all due respect to OSUJeff, his casual interest in OU basketball can't possibly be on the level of a fan like me, and certainly not a fan like you who has also attended nearly every practice.

I can appreciate that.

I hope you can also appreciate the fact that die-hard fans such as yourself can sometimes see what they want to see.

Again, I don't doubt that there has been improvement. But it just seems to me that "drastic" improvement would be reflected in the numbers.

See here is where your logic breaks down... RPI & SOS matter very much throughout the entire season for teams like us who reside in Power Conferences.

I never said they didn't matter. I said that the RPI as of today still has some noise in the numbers, referenced by my SFA example.

The reality is that if your RPI & SOS is great in November & December then it has the potential to only rise as long as you take care of business.

Agreed. But my point is that until we get into conference play, you won't have a good handle on your true SOS. For example, do you honestly believe SFA will end the season as an RPI top 25 team?

Taking care of business = beating the teams you should, holding serve at home to teams you can beat & stealing a couple of good away games or stealing some home games from the likes of KU. So, RPI matters now for us, because it sets us up for a real run at the tourney.

RPI is nice, but you also need a couple of wins against good teams. It doesn't really do you any good to play a good schedule, but not have any marquee wins.

 

[garyeb2]

Please don't pretend to know what I see and don't see. You couldn't possibly know. It isn't a secret. I'll tell you. What I want to see is 5 good players playing well. I haven't seen that in years.

 

[Chiefdaddy]

I agree with Ada. For us die hards that watch every single OU bball game for the last few years with this group, the defensive improvement is there. It's night and day from where it was under Capel. And alot better that last year. Kruger and his staff have taught this group good defensive principles. Switching, rotating, helping each other out, hands up and getting deflections. We still need to improve on our rebounding. I give credit to Kruger and his staff along with the OU players buying in. The freshmen have made their mistakes while trying to take care of the ball but they have also caused alot of turnovers due to their activity on defense. Stats don't always tell the story. You can look at the Arkansas game where we played good defense down the stretch and one guy for the Razorbacks makes two unbelievable shots. It was still good D.

 

[AdaSooner]

I can appreciate that.

I hope you can also appreciate the fact that die-hard fans such as yourself can sometimes see what they want to see.

Again, I don't doubt that there has been improvement. But it just seems to me that "drastic" improvement would be reflected in the numbers.

While it's true that I'm more of a glass is half full fan, I would also like to think that I'm a realist when it comes to seeing things as they really are, not what I want them to be.

I have been openly critical of the way this team has played in the past, particularly certain players who have failed to perform at a reasonably high level. Stats or no stats, this team continues to get better on defense, and the improvement from last year to this has been a huge step forward. In part, that's because we have more depth. But it's also because our freshmen guards are really good on-the-ball defenders. They're still making freshman mistakes, but it's mostly on offense.

 

[skyvue]

And your telling me that your schedule right now is stronger than your schedule as a whole last year? I'm sorry, but that's not correct.

No, I'm telling you that our schedule nine games in has been tougher than it was through nine games last season.

Any other comparison is pointless. The team as it exists now is not what it will be at the end of the season. Sooner fans hope and trust our team will be better then; it's possible, of course, that it will be worse. But it won't be what it is right now.

So to compare where we stand right now to an entire season's results from last year doesn't make sense. Comparing what this team has achieved to what last year's squad had accomplished at the same point in the season is a much more appropriate comparison.

 

[bocabull]

I hope you can also appreciate the fact that die-hard fans such as yourself can sometimes see what they want to see.

That's why the RPI exists to extinguish aggie illusions.

 

[oSuJeff97]

That's why the RPI exists to extinguish aggie illusions.

Yeah, boca... you stay strong. Keep clinging to that RPI rating.