This year vs. Last year

[coolm]

I would have never guessed this going into this season ...

today it looks like we're in better shape heading into conference play THIS year than last year at the same time.

I mean - especially after wichita state last year we really were riding a crest of hope. and it got pounded into submission then kids left and the outlook was bleak.

These guys are fun to watch, more diverse scoring, more balanced scoring, by far better defense, and more mature by leaps and bounds. We are in much better shape than last season.

Last season: Take 2.

 

[jaymOU]

I would have never guessed this going into this season ...

today it looks like we're in better shape heading into conference play THIS year than last year at the same time.

I mean - especially after wichita state last year we really were riding a crest of hope. and it got pounded into submission then kids left and the outlook was bleak.

These guys are fun to watch, more diverse scoring, more balanced scoring, by far better defense, and more mature by leaps and bounds. We are in much better shape than last season.

Last season: Take 2.

Agree in hindsight, but at this time last year Trae had his own scroll on ESPN and was leading the nation in scoring and assists. It was MUST watch TV every time he played. I have two sons at OU now and they both love basketball. This season, they have seen OU only play a handful of times. Last year, they were locked in on every game.

I agree, about liking this team better - but last year we were watching history - sometimes it was great, other times it was a train wreck, but it was compelling regardless.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

The OU team last year went 8-10 in the Big-12. It would just take a 2-game swing to improve to 10-8, but that would seem to be so much better.

 

[sperry]

Big XII is much, much weaker this year. West Virginia, OSU, Baylor all pretty bad. Kansas State is toast as long as Wade and Stokes are out. Iowa State and Texas are nothing special. Out of our competition, ISU is probably the only team that has gotten better from last year, and several teams have gotten significantly worse.

 

[MichaelM]

Agree in hindsight, but at this time last year Trae had his own scroll on ESPN and was leading the nation in scoring and assists. It was MUST watch TV every time he played. I have two sons at OU now and they both love basketball. This season, they have seen OU only play a handful of times. Last year, they were locked in on every game.

I agree, about liking this team better - but last year we were watching history - sometimes it was great, other times it was a train wreck, but it was compelling regardless.

Basketball is a personality-driven sport. Some people tune in to watch the Thunder, but lots more tune in for Russell Westbrook.

Who is OU's best player this year? If you ask five people, you might get five different answers. A superstar is much more appealing to casual fans than a team that plays well together and is tough on defense.

 

[BCSooners]

Basketball is a personality-driven sport. Some people tune in to watch the Thunder, but lots more tune in for Russell Westbrook.

Who is OU's best player this year? If you ask five people, you might get five different answers. A superstar is much more appealing to casual fans than a team that plays well together and is tough on defense.

Christian James is easily the best player but the balance this year makes the team better.

 

[stormspencer]

Big XII is much, much weaker this year. West Virginia, OSU, Baylor all pretty bad. Kansas State is toast as long as Wade and Stokes are out. Iowa State and Texas are nothing special. Out of our competition, ISU is probably the only team that has gotten better from last year, and several teams have gotten significantly worse.

I agree that the Big 12 is down this year. However, there is team you mentioned above (ISU) that has as good of a chance as any to finish second in the league. They went 10-2 out of conference and their best player (Wigginton) only played in two of those games I believe. ISU is very good according to all of the metrics. I also think that they will beat KU in Ames on Saturday. I also think TCU is another team to watch out for. After they lost to Lipscomb, they have gotten their act together. They play at KU next week. Tech is good again, but their offense is so substandard that it will cost them a couple of games IMO.

We will have definite road win possibilities at osu, WV, Baylor, K-State, and Texas. IF we win three of those and can hold serve at home.....that is 12-6. That would make us 24-7 overall and would likely put us in the 3-seed range. That would be a damn good season by any standard. But I don't want to put the cart before the horse. This team still needs to get better in several areas for that to happen (outside shooting, limiting turnovers).

 

[coolm]

I agree that the Big 12 is down this year. However, there is team you mentioned above (ISU) that has as good of a chance as any to finish second in the league. They went 10-2 out of conference and their best player (Wigginton) only played in two of those games I believe. ISU is very good according to all of the metrics. I also think that they will beat KU in Ames on Saturday. I also think TCU is another team to watch out for. After they lost to Lipscomb, they have gotten their act together. They play at KU next week. Tech is good again, but their offense is so substandard that it will cost them a couple of games IMO.

We will have definite road win possibilities at osu, WV, Baylor, K-State, and Texas. IF we win three of those and can hold serve at home.....that is 12-6. That would make us 24-7 overall and would likely put us in the 3-seed range. That would be a damn good season by any standard. But I don't want to put the cart before the horse. This team still needs to get better in several areas for that to happen (outside shooting, limiting turnovers).

that was a good post storm. I am interested to watch ISU.

 

[bearcreekfan]

The first thing that came to mind for me after seeing the subject line is that OU has proven they can stay competitive and win close games this year vs. last year.

After the AL game last year, I could pretty much count on the fact that OU was not going to come back and win a game if they got down by more than 5 points in the second half.

They've definitely changed that trend this year. Even when it looked bleak against KU last night, that was not the case and they still had a shot in the last couple of minutes.