Turnovers

[SoonerNorm]

Some believe that OU's turnover problems are the result of the style of basketball we play. I wish that were true but I'm afraid it's simply an excuse rather than a fact. Following are some games to look at in which we scored less than 70 points (not exactly fast-paced games):

Creighton game- we scored 69 points, had 19 turnovers, and 4 fast break points.

St. Louis game- we scored 68 points, 16 turnovers, and 0 fast break points.

Marist game- we scored 68, 19 turnovers, and 4 fast break points.

Texas Tech game- scored 65 points, 15 turnovers, and 2 fast break points.

Texas game- scored 69 points, 17 turnovers, and 4 fast break points.

We averaged 17.2 turnovers in these games in which we scored less than 70 points and very few fast break points. For the year we have averaged 16.4 turnovers per game which means that we actually turn the ball over more in games in which we score more than 70 points than in games in which we score less than 70. Watching the games reveals that the vast majority of turnovers come in the half-court where we are just trying to run our offense and get a good shot. Many turnovers occur from poor passes or defenders stealing the ball from the ball handler. Some occur when a player tries to dribble between two defenders. Some occur due to walking, 3 seconds, stepping out of bounds, etc. Almost none come from us hurrying to beat the other team down court in an attempt to score or because we have so much movement in the half-court.

Turnovers have been a problem for the Sooners for years. I doubt that will be corrected any time soon and I don't think they have anything to do with the style of basketball we play. Most occur due to careless play.

While turnovers do not regularly determine the outcome of games, they certainly become critical in close games. I expect the UCLA game to be close.

 

[j2d2]

I expect us to lose. I will be watching to see just how tough the returning players are willing to be. Who is willing to mix it up. I dont worry about Jo in this regard. It's time for Sharane to show her mettle.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I expect us to lose. I will be watching to see just how tough the returning players are willing to be. Who is willing to mix it up. I dont worry about Jo in this regard. It's time for Sharane to show her mettle.

You mean the Sharane that consistently takes a beating in games? The one that hits the boards and drives to the hoop like someone much bigger? She's one I've never benn concerned about her "mettle".

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

While turnovers do not regularly determine the outcome of games, they certainly become critical in close games. I expect the UCLA game to be close.

Although they certainly make a difference in close games they also do in not so close games. If you lose by 10 points it may not seem close but if you commit five extra turnovers there's your ten points. A team is going to play differently down 10 as opposed to down 3. IMO those extra turnovers can be a huge difference. Think about the times we go down the court three straight times and don't get a shot. How does that weigh on the mindset of the team? I can still hear my dad saying you don't have to get a good shot but at least get a shot every time down the floor.

The fact that we A) year after year don't take care of the ball and B) don't seem to address that fact or seem to do anything about it.

 

[Keller Sooner]

A lot of our turnovers come from poor passing. Some are just way off target and others occur when a player doesn't come to receive the ball. That dang bounce pass into the post create a lot of them. Nicole Griffin has a hard time catching balls that are knee high or lower. I'm hoping tonight we can hold the turnovers down, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

A lot of our turnovers come from poor passing. Some are just way off target and others occur when a player doesn't come to receive the ball. That dang bounce pass into the post create a lot of them. Nicole Griffin has a hard time catching balls that are knee high or lower. I'm hoping tonight we can hold the turnovers down, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Drives me nuts. Maybe it's the peach basket in me but we used to do passing drills until we puked - step to throw it and step to catch it. At least half of the turnovers in that situation isn't from bad passes.

We've been over this before on here - at least I've weighed in. If you throw the ball to her up high there's not an issue. You don't see Baylor constantly bouncing the ball to Griner. Nicole has gotten better this year but in the past the first thing she'd do is either put the ball on the floor or bring it down low thus making herself about 5'6". And some of the bounce passes we'd throw her were terrible. Let's face it. Bending at the waist to get those low balls isn't exactly her forte. If you don't have the correct angle for a pass then move around and get a better one.

 

[badger]

It's a good day when we keep it under 20. It's a better day when we keep it under 15.

If we keep it under 10, you've died and gone to heaven. Sorry, but you really shouldn't have been checking Sooner Sports twitter while driving

 

[sybarite]

How many points would we score if we didn't try to get the better shot?

 

[brokebacksooner]

you mean the sharane that consistently takes a beating in games? The one that hits the boards and drives to the hoop like someone much bigger? She's one i've never benn concerned about her "mettle".

+1000

 

[35TangoTango]

It's a good day when we keep it under 20. It's a better day when we keep it under 15.

If we keep it under 10, you've died and gone to heaven. Sorry, but you really shouldn't have been checking Sooner Sports twitter while driving

Talking to the Angels-7 turnovers against UCLA

 

[tycat947]

Talking to the Angels-7 turnovers against UCLA

:clap

 

[badger]

It's a good day when we keep it under 20. It's a better day when we keep it under 15.

If we keep it under 10, you've died and gone to heaven. Sorry, but you really shouldn't have been checking Sooner Sports twitter while driving

:woot

 

[Oliver Hardy]

You will never convince me that staying focused and not making turnovers, even one, doesn't serious change the game and give the team with the least number of giveaways a better chance to win.

See Monday night as convincing proof.

 

[SoonerNorm]

You will never convince me that staying focused and not making turnovers, even one, doesn't serious change the game and give the team with the least number of giveaways a better chance to win.

See Monday night as convincing proof.

I think "focus" is the key. Getting sloppy, IMO, is generally caused by a lack of focus. From Sherri's recent comments we know she was very concerned about turnovers. I suspect the coaching staff made that a priority to take care of the basketball. Whatever they did or whatever they said sure worked to perfection last night. The girls just need to focus on every possession from here on out. That was really fun watching them play an entire game with only a handful of mistakes.

 

[AustinTXSooner]

You will never convince me that staying focused and not making turnovers, even one, doesn't serious change the game and give the team with the least number of giveaways a better chance to win.

See Monday night as convincing proof.

And how would you rationalize the game against Central Michigan, where we had 24 turnovers and they had 7? I'm not saying turnovers aren't important, but they are just one of many facets of the game.

I haven't done the research, but I would guess that the team with the highest field goal percentage wins the game more often than the team with the fewest turnovers.

 

[SoonerNorm]

And how would you rationalize the game against Central Michigan, where we had 24 turnovers and they had 7? I'm not saying turnovers aren't important, but they are just one of many facets of the game.

I haven't done the research, but I would guess that the team with the highest field goal percentage wins the game more often than the team with the fewest turnovers.

I think you are probably right. The difference is, some nights the shots are just not falling and there is very little a coach can do about field goal percentages. Turnovers are controllable. If you look at the game we lost in Norman to ISU, we had 18 turnovers and lost by 4 points. I would say it is pretty likely if we would have only had 7 turnovers in that game we would have won.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

And how would you rationalize the game against Central Michigan, where we had 24 turnovers and they had 7? I'm not saying turnovers aren't important, but they are just one of many facets of the game.

I haven't done the research, but I would guess that the team with the highest field goal percentage wins the game more often than the team with the fewest turnovers.

I think that says more about Central Michigan than anything else. We'll see what happens Sunday if those numbers are the same. Despite winning that game that amount of mistakes should never tolerated. What would the score have been had we had 14?

The problem is once you're in a tight game or against a superior opponent winning FG% doesn't always matter when you keep pissing away possessions.

 

[BanjoCharley]

A stat that should be kept and isn't as far as I know would be "points per possession."

 

[tycat947]

Tennessee has 527 turnovers is 33 games (15.9 per game) and we have 549 in 34 games (16.1 per game). Tennessee has shot 44.9% from the field and we've shot 42.8% for the season. Looks like a close game to me. Hopefully, playing in OKC will be our advantage!

 

[MsProudSooner]

I think that says more about Central Michigan than anything else. We'll see what happens Sunday if those numbers are the same. Despite winning that game that amount of mistakes should never tolerated. What would the score have been had we had 14?

The problem is once you're in a tight game or against a superior opponent winning FG% doesn't always matter when you keep pissing away possessions.

I heard the commentators say that our players were talking about UCLA from the minute we arrived in Columbus. That's kind of unusual because our players don't usually make comments to the press like that. If it's true, I suspect we didn't have our mind on our opponent 100% of the time on Saturday.