The season of gut punches

[152219]

OU's losses this year

N. Iowa- OU has an 18 point lead at one point in the 2nd half. NIU storms back and takes the lead. OU ties the game late with a 3 pointer. UNI wins in OT.
@ Wisky- OU leads at halftime and with 11 minutes to go OU holds a slim 1 point lead. Wisky goes on a massive run and puts the game away. (Not a surprise loss here.)
Wichita State- OU leads at halftime and ends up losing by 3 points.
Memphis- OU leads at halftime and the vast majority of the 2nd half. OU ties the game with a late 3 pointer. Memphis wins in OT.
Auburn- OU loses by 4 points in their fist game without Woodard. To be honest, OU didn't play well against Auburn.
Baylor- Blown out (played absolutely terrible). No Woodard.
@ TCU- OU leads at halftime and pretty much the entire game. TCU goes on a late run, OU has a shot for a 3 pointer to tie the game but it is blocked and TCU wins by 3. No Woodard.
@ KSU-KSU had a comfortable lead throughout. No Woodard
KU- OU leads at halftime. KU goes on a massive run to start the 2nd half and snags a lead that they don't relinquish. (Not a surprise loss here.)
ISU- OU grabs a big lead early, ISU storms back. Back and forth in the 2nd half. OU misses a jumper to win it late. In the first OT OU has a 6 point lead with 1:49 left but gives up the last 6 points in the first OT. Loses in the 2nd OT.
@ Texas- OU makes a late run to snag a 5 point lead with 17 seconds left. Lattin misses a FT put OU up 6, Texas hits a 3 pointer, McGusty misses two free throws, and then a Texas player hits a ridiculous 3 to win it with 1.8 seconds left.


We are all going to have guts of steel after taking all these haymakers.

 

[CoachTalk]

Its going to be awesome when we win the Big 12 tourney and make the dance!

 

[SoonerBounce13]

hey, atleast we won in morgan town! I can't imagine if we would have lost that game as well

 

[Chaser728]

Its going to be awesome when we win the Big 12 tourney and make the dance!

That's the spirit! I'm not sure we will do that, but the way this year has gone it is definitely something we could do... I just see us bursting with talent...

 

[AdaSooner]

Replacing the "g" in your title with an "n" may be closer to the way I feel about our season so far.

 

[coolm]

I like it when the focus is away from winning/losing and applied more to how they played and how they improved. I am enjoying this season.

 

[Chaser728]

I like it when the focus is away from winning/losing and applied more to how they played and how they improved. I am enjoying this season.

I agree. Honestly last night that loss stung, but it's one where I was very proud of our guys. To have played three overtimes in 4 days and their 3rd game in 6 days, you knew it was gonna be hard to win on the road. And then to be down bY 11 and find our way back to leading, how could you not be proud? I know it didn't equal a win and if they'd just hit their free throws they would have been able seal the victory, but hey I appreciated how this team fought. And they are going to be a very good team... Saturday we played terrible, but I thought we did some good things last night while facing down some adverse conditions.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

I like it when the focus is away from winning/losing and applied more to how they played and how they improved. I am enjoying this season.

Then you, my friend, enjoy losing records.... hello Herm Edwards "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!"

 

[coolm]

I agree. Honestly last night that loss stung, but it's one where I was very proud of our guys.

I liked that they tried to bear down defensively at the end. I would have liked the win as a reward for that defensive effort at the end, but I was proud of them also.

 

[stormspencer]

Then you, my friend, enjoy losing records.... hello Herm Edwards "YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!"

I hate losing, but I will acknowledge that these young men continue to fight. Unfortunately, they have developed a knack in close games this year that prohibits them from closing out wins....whether it's poor possessions, turnovers, or missed FTs (last night). There obviously needs to be some mental maturity and growth because the focus/toughness that is needed in these high-leverage situations simply isn't at the level that it needs to be.

Again, I believe the physical effort is there, but the mental makeup and situational awareness (or lack of it) will continue to cost this team in close games. One quick answer to the problem is leadership (someone taking charge and making plays), but that seems to be inconsistent at best. Hopefully someone will begin to consistently step up.

 

[sooner 1234]

Regardless this team is improving every game .

Young teams are like raising kids , they put you through hell but in the end it's all worth it .

One day we will look up and these youngsters will be srs/gone .

Just like children you have to slow down and enjoy the ride ,even the lows .

 

[sdcloud9]

I agree with many posters on the board, I have looked at the season differently since Christmas.

It was doubtful that OU was going to make the tournament due to the tough early losses and the loss of Woodard (thankfully he wasn't hurt long). Plus, the league is tough, as we know.

Now, as much as I hate to lose, I am watching these games thinking about the future. OU fans have not had this problem, lately it's been about rankings and seedings for the NCAA's, etc.

This year has been a season of hard knocks with plenty more to come.

But as a former assistant high school coach, I learned from our teams the distinctions between winning and losing close games are very small, these kids are so close to winning many of these games.

As these kids play together more and get more comfortable, their chemistry will get better and that's so important in winning close games, especially defensively. I thought chemistry was so key to last year's success (and Buddy's shot making, lol)

If OU can somehow land Young, this team is going to be a force as early as next year, imo.

The pain is not over for this year but I think the Sooners are going to be delivering pain very soon, especially if Young stays home or LK can find a good point guard.

 

[AdaSooner]

I hate losing, but I will acknowledge that these young men continue to fight. Unfortunately, they have developed a knack in close games this year that prohibits them from closing out wins....whether it's poor possessions, turnovers, or missed FTs (last night). There obviously needs to be some mental maturity and growth because the focus/toughness that is needed in these high-leverage situations simply isn't at the level that it needs to be.

Again, I believe the physical effort is there, but the mental makeup and situational awareness (or lack of it) will continue to cost this team in close games. One quick answer to the problem is leadership (someone taking charge and making plays), but that seems to be inconsistent at best. Hopefully someone will begin to consistently step up.

You hit on what I see as one of this team's biggest weaknesses: Leadership! More correctly, the complete absence of a leader.

I'd dare say no one here can name the team's leader with any degree of confidence. I sure can't. Woodard would be the obvious choice, mainly because he's our only senior and arguably our best player.

It's true his teammates depend on him a lot. But when was the last time you saw Jordan gather the other players around him at a crucial point of the game and urge them to play harder, tighten up their defense or box out on the boards? I honestly don't remember a time. Jordan is calm, cool, quiet and reserved. That's not a bad thing for a point guard. It's that nothing about him says he's a Type A personality with natural leadership qualities.

Khadeem acts the part sometimes, and he even talks like a leader in interviews. But leaders lead by example through their effort and by at least trying to be the best player on the floor. They don't make silly fouls and watch most of a game from the bench.

This is the first time in years I haven't been able to point to a player and say "there's the team's leader!" I think it's safe to say, no one else can either.

 

[coolm]

oh yeah, we need leadership. we need someone with confidence in what theyre doing telling us which direction to go.

 

[MsProudSooner]

oh yeah, we need leadership. we need someone with confidence in what theyre doing telling us which direction to go.

Is that confidence and leadership built by winning easily or going through the adversity of a season like this?

Honestly, after playing 3 games in 6 days (2 of them away from home) and losing in 2 overtimes, I didn't expect them to play as well as they did last night.
I would have loved to win last night. I'm no less proud of them than I would have been if they had won. I'm disappointed FOR them, but not disappointed IN them.