Talking LSU...

[pnkranger]

...how do we defend Ben Simmons? LSU can't shoot the three. Does that change how you defend him?

 

[chuckb]

I'd run different guys at him and try to keep him in front of you. I'm not sure I'd help until he got deep in the lane as Hornsby can shoot the 3. Force him to shoot from the outside, if possible. Do our best to deny him the ball in the half court. Finally, and most importantly, take advantage of his deep penetration by going up-tempo off of both misses and makes since we'll have some numbers. Make him play defense and run a lot. We can wear him out.

I'd be surprised if we don't win by double digits.

 

[usedtobe1]

Who guards Simmons in the man-to-man defense? He's a 6'10" small forward who handles the ball well. It won't be Spangler or Lattin. Woodard is too short. Although Cousins is our best defender, you can't be having your PG do that because he goes inside too much. I think it has to be Buddy's assignment and just accept Simmons will get his points. We can't afford to get someone in foul trouble trying to do something that nobody has been able to do.

It will be interesting because OU switches on screens (except for Spangler and Lattin), so you will see times when even Woodard ends up on him. I expect Christian James to be guarding him some. He's quick, strong, and a decent defender.

My current preference would be to shut down the other 4 players and letting Simmons do his thing. If we drop off to double him, he is a good passer. He's only an average outside shooter. JMHO.

 

[Max Power]

Let him get his 30 and stop everyone else

 

[Seymore Cox]

Who guards Simmons in the man-to-man defense? He's a 6'10" small forward who handles the ball well. It won't be Spangler or Lattin. Woodard is too short. Although Cousins is our best defender, you can't be having your PG do that because he goes inside too much. I think it has to be Buddy's assignment and just accept Simmons will get his points. We can't afford to get someone in foul trouble trying to do something that nobody has been able to do.

It will be interesting because OU switches on screens (except for Spangler and Lattin), so you will see times when even Woodard ends up on him. I expect Christian James to be guarding him some. He's quick, strong, and a decent defender.

My current preference would be to shut down the other 4 players and letting Simmons do his thing. If we drop off to double him, he is a good passer. He's only an average outside shooter. JMHO.

Spangler switches on screens unless he's playing the 5. That's why the development of Buford is important. He's getting it defensively. He's come along the last few games. He is shot hunting, which is an area of caution.

 

[DenverSooner]

Simmons a wages 19.6 points, 12.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists. i would play him straight most of the game but then double for a few periods of time, with one coming very early. Basically try to confuse him like you would a quarterback.

 

[usedtobe1]

Spangler switches on screens unless he's playing the 5. That's why the development of Buford is important. He's getting it defensively. He's come along the last few games. He is shot hunting, which is an area of caution.

Shot hunting. I like that term. You're right. I guess that was my issue with Walker earlier in the year. He would come in off the bench looking to immediately shoot. I can see where Buford is doing that too sometimes.

Buddy is better about that also. He has almost swung the other way. Yesterday he played 28 minutes and only put up 10 shots, but still scored 19 points. He was very patient and let the offense come to him. I can see where Buford needs to be a little more patient, too.

Dante has come a long way this season, and is getting almost all the backup minutes in the post. He is physical and can extend his defense a little further from the basket. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that LK went with a 7-man rotation in yesterday's game against Baylor. Only Buford and Walker came off the bench until the last minute when it become garbage time ..... and Manyang never even got in.

 

[hoopsaustin]

All i want is the win and buddy to score more than Simmons. Locking up that POTY

 

[sperry]

I expect Simmons to end with about 30 and 20, and OU to win by double digits. It's a shame that kid went to LSU, it would have been fun to see him on a decent team.

 

[Larry72]

LSU has plenty of talent(more athletic ability than OU) they do not play smart some of the time. Their fans will make this a very difficult game.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

LSU is 12-7 (5-2 in SEC)
http://www.lsusports.net/fls/5200/assets/docs/mb/16stats/16stats.pdf


**********
They are capable of big home wins, as the win over Kentucky shows.

Kentucky ... 67
LSU .......... 85

http://www.ncaa.com/game/basketball-men/d1/2016/01/05/kentucky-lsu


**********
LSU is 10-1 at home this season, with the lone loss to Wake Forest in December.

They won their most recent game on Saturday, as they won a road game at Alabama. Based on the Alabama game box score, it appears LSU has a bench similar to OU, based on playing time. Check out the minutes played in the box score link below:

http://www.lsusports.net/pdf9/43932...PSID=27826&SPID=2166&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=5200


Watch out for Tim Quarterman, the 6’6” junior guard. He has had some really big games in his LSU career.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

LSU has plenty of talent (more athletic ability than OU) they do not play smart some of the time. Their fans will make this a very difficult game.

Agreed. As one of my best friends is from LSU country, I have watched LSU a lot in recent years. They have tremendous athletes. They have good recruiting but mediocre coaching. OU's biggest advantage is in the coaching box.

Also, LSU basketball does not normally draw good fan support to their home games (my friend's son works in the LSU ticket office). There is a lot of buzz and excitement in Tiger-land over the OU game. It is a rare sellout of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (capacity: 13,472).

 

[furge]

I wouldn't be opposed to running a zone press from half court to switch the looks up, to force the team's guards to give the ball up to Simmons farther away from the basket than he likes. Then run someone like Cousins at him to harass him one - on - one til he gives the ball up. At that point, their half court offense has to recover from a broken set and a shorter shot clock. He'll still get his on pure ability, but forcing him to make decisions and denying their others players time to set up for catch-and-shoot baskets would help a lot. Plus, forcing turnovers and running the break back the other way.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

While we are talking LSU, the Tigers have a pretty good basketball history. This includes 4 Final-4 Appearances:

1953, 1981, 1986, 2006

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSU_Tigers_basketball

 

[stormspencer]

LSU has plenty of talent(more athletic ability than OU) they do not play smart some of the time. Their fans will make this a very difficult game.

Agreed. I think our fans would be prudent to realize that LSU is not all "Ben Simmons" and a bunch of nobodies. Hornsby and Victor could both start for almost every Big 12 team. And those two missed a good part of the early season schedule when LSU was struggling more.

I don't believe LSU is very well-coached at all, but having said that, they can play with just about anyone on talent alone. I think OU will be around a 5-6 point favorite. It will be interesting to see how we defend Simmons.

 

[Soonerinkc]

They also have some size in the post. When I've watched them, couple games...Simmons gets a lot of off put backs. Not a great jump shooter but very active, athletic.

I'd play him straight up..he's going to get his...and keep the other 4 down.

It'll b a closer game than expected by some. We've played in 2 of the toughest places in the country...Ames and Lawrence...lost but very close games and both teams are more talented.

 

[j2d2]

Since he is likely to get his points anyway, why wear out a starter on him. This might be a good opportunity to teach Buford to get after it.

 

[CoachTalk]

Tech first please

 

[pnkranger]

Tech first please

We don't play the games. No need to be concerned with the impacts of us looking ahead. Nothing in this thread implies we are going to just roll over Tech. They always give us a hard time. I like Tubby a lot.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Spangler switches on screens unless he's playing the 5. That's why the development of Buford is important. He's getting it defensively. He's come along the last few games. He is shot hunting, which is an area of caution.

it depends who we are playing ... against ISU we switch 1-4 because of Niang

against most teams including Baylor and Kansas we only switch 1-3 ..