Sam
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For me:
Force the Pokes to shoot the 3
Remember Ford's teams his first two season? Where they were shot happy from three and hit all the time. Playing 4 guard sets letting Obi, Anderson, Page and company shoot from three all day?
Yeah that isn't happening anymore as OSU is laying enough bricks from outside that they might finally have enough to build that indoor football practice facility. That or if they're of the cement kind maybe Boone can use them to fill in chunks of concrete he steals from people.
OSU is only shooting 30.5% from three point on the season and here is where it gets good. The number in conference is an amazing 26.4% from three point range. Thats right, 1 out of 4 from three, Ford's teammate in Sixth Man Zigi Hrbacek could shoot better than that from deep.
What makes this even funnier for me is they have the same problem on the other end of the court as they're giving up a league worse 40.5% from three in conference. You hear that Steve and Cade? This is your chance, please go to town and I don't mean on Eskimo Joe's cheese fries.
Good ol Keiton Page is the only reliable threat from three. Even he's having a down year with 34.5% shooting from deep, which is a good 5% below what he was shooting earlier in his career. I think a lot of that can be contributed to less open shots (Anderson and Eaton are both gone now) and being forced to carry the offense more. He can no long camp on the three point line and get easy kick outs.
My only issue with lil' Page (beside the flopping, I think he learned it from watching Italy in the World Cup) is he's still a great shooter when he gets his look. Combine that he will hit open looks with the "Bedlam factor" he is probably due to go off if hes gets even an inch of open space tomorrow.
The Pokes next best three point options are Olukemi (33.3%) and Ray Penn (32.9%). Both are struggling even more in conference play from 3 with a combined 10-48 for a sizzling 20.8% shooting percentage. Hopefully the Sooners pack it in more than the state has this week and the Pokes shoot blanks from deep.
Paging Andrew Fitzgerald
The Sooners need you buddy, as far as I'm concerned this is the biggest game of your young career. This is Bedlam in Stillwater. Its your time, its your place, cause those Cowpokes to hate you with the same passion they hate Bookout. Heck even throw up your arms after every basket if you really want to get under their skin.
If the pre "Slim Fitz" can go for 16 points and 6 rebounds in that barn called the Phog then I can wait to see what the lean and mean Fitz can do in the "Historic" GIA. A 20 and 10 type game is needed along with 35 minutes without foul trouble.
I know its a tall task but if Drew produces like that then the win in Stillwater seems even more and more possible. Hit the boards, hit the open J and if the unorthodox below the rim moves can somehow get Moses in foul trouble thats just gravy. But Fitz please avoid the gravy in the post game celebration just stick with the Slim Fasts and the 20 and 10 games will start to pile up.
Stay Loose/focused
This is going to be the toughest environment OU has played in all year. Even though attendance has been an issue for the Cowpokes they will show up for this game. Even if they have to drive their John Deer's there to make it through the snow drifts that are forming. Another possibility for Aggie travel to the game is maybe some of the Agg majors can find a way to harness the power of the glaciers that are forming in this great state to travel to the game.
Cade Davis is the only Sooner to have logged extended playing time in the Stillwater with Fitzgerald only having 6 minutes and Pledger with 15 minutes. These three are key, the rest of the team is going to have to feed off of their energy and intensity (insert the cliches of Bedlam being a whole new level and what not).
Because of this youth it might be ugly for the rest of the Sooners and I mean that literally. I doubt they will have ever seen so much Neon Orange in their life up this point, unless they have gone hunting with Bob Knight.
I'm sure all the orange will mess with their sight lines so I hope they get plenty of shots up in pregame to understand its still a gym and not a pumpkin. Maybe let T.J. Franklin get on Big Puma's shoulders and measure the rim and stuff. Let them know that the orange is in the background and despite its obnoxious color it has no impact on the playing surface.
Now I'm not sure if the spirit of old Iba and his 1972 Olympic failure are still in the building but if they are the place will be loud. If OU gets ruffled early and OSU gets hot I'm really afraid this young squad could let it get away and it turn into a blowout.
Boomer Sooner!
Force the Pokes to shoot the 3
Remember Ford's teams his first two season? Where they were shot happy from three and hit all the time. Playing 4 guard sets letting Obi, Anderson, Page and company shoot from three all day?
Yeah that isn't happening anymore as OSU is laying enough bricks from outside that they might finally have enough to build that indoor football practice facility. That or if they're of the cement kind maybe Boone can use them to fill in chunks of concrete he steals from people.
OSU is only shooting 30.5% from three point on the season and here is where it gets good. The number in conference is an amazing 26.4% from three point range. Thats right, 1 out of 4 from three, Ford's teammate in Sixth Man Zigi Hrbacek could shoot better than that from deep.
What makes this even funnier for me is they have the same problem on the other end of the court as they're giving up a league worse 40.5% from three in conference. You hear that Steve and Cade? This is your chance, please go to town and I don't mean on Eskimo Joe's cheese fries.
Good ol Keiton Page is the only reliable threat from three. Even he's having a down year with 34.5% shooting from deep, which is a good 5% below what he was shooting earlier in his career. I think a lot of that can be contributed to less open shots (Anderson and Eaton are both gone now) and being forced to carry the offense more. He can no long camp on the three point line and get easy kick outs.
My only issue with lil' Page (beside the flopping, I think he learned it from watching Italy in the World Cup) is he's still a great shooter when he gets his look. Combine that he will hit open looks with the "Bedlam factor" he is probably due to go off if hes gets even an inch of open space tomorrow.
The Pokes next best three point options are Olukemi (33.3%) and Ray Penn (32.9%). Both are struggling even more in conference play from 3 with a combined 10-48 for a sizzling 20.8% shooting percentage. Hopefully the Sooners pack it in more than the state has this week and the Pokes shoot blanks from deep.
Paging Andrew Fitzgerald
The Sooners need you buddy, as far as I'm concerned this is the biggest game of your young career. This is Bedlam in Stillwater. Its your time, its your place, cause those Cowpokes to hate you with the same passion they hate Bookout. Heck even throw up your arms after every basket if you really want to get under their skin.
If the pre "Slim Fitz" can go for 16 points and 6 rebounds in that barn called the Phog then I can wait to see what the lean and mean Fitz can do in the "Historic" GIA. A 20 and 10 type game is needed along with 35 minutes without foul trouble.
I know its a tall task but if Drew produces like that then the win in Stillwater seems even more and more possible. Hit the boards, hit the open J and if the unorthodox below the rim moves can somehow get Moses in foul trouble thats just gravy. But Fitz please avoid the gravy in the post game celebration just stick with the Slim Fasts and the 20 and 10 games will start to pile up.
Stay Loose/focused
This is going to be the toughest environment OU has played in all year. Even though attendance has been an issue for the Cowpokes they will show up for this game. Even if they have to drive their John Deer's there to make it through the snow drifts that are forming. Another possibility for Aggie travel to the game is maybe some of the Agg majors can find a way to harness the power of the glaciers that are forming in this great state to travel to the game.
Cade Davis is the only Sooner to have logged extended playing time in the Stillwater with Fitzgerald only having 6 minutes and Pledger with 15 minutes. These three are key, the rest of the team is going to have to feed off of their energy and intensity (insert the cliches of Bedlam being a whole new level and what not).
Because of this youth it might be ugly for the rest of the Sooners and I mean that literally. I doubt they will have ever seen so much Neon Orange in their life up this point, unless they have gone hunting with Bob Knight.
I'm sure all the orange will mess with their sight lines so I hope they get plenty of shots up in pregame to understand its still a gym and not a pumpkin. Maybe let T.J. Franklin get on Big Puma's shoulders and measure the rim and stuff. Let them know that the orange is in the background and despite its obnoxious color it has no impact on the playing surface.
Now I'm not sure if the spirit of old Iba and his 1972 Olympic failure are still in the building but if they are the place will be loud. If OU gets ruffled early and OSU gets hot I'm really afraid this young squad could let it get away and it turn into a blowout.
Boomer Sooner!
