Use of Hield last night

[bearcreekfan]

After Lon's halftime comments about how they needed to get Hield more involved, I was surprised that didn't happen in the second half. If anything, it seemed like Hield stood around more in the second half, standing at the high post or near the top of the key almost acting as a decoy for Cousins or others to drive or get their shot off.

Was anyone else surprised by how little they called up plays for him, e.g. double screens like in every other game, or how little he tried to constantly move to get open for a shot?

Yes, I know that he was being held, grabbed, and fouled at times. I also know that WVU doubled him just about every time he got the ball outside the the 3-pt line. But it seemed like he stood around more in this game than most.

When people try to compare him to J.J. Reddick, Reddick is constantly moving to try and get open. I know our offense is not like the NBA and not as open, but I really expected more movement from Buddy in the second half. Maybe I was just spoiled by his game Thurs. night against ISU.

BTW, this isn't a question about Buddy's ability as much as it is about Lon's play calling for Buddy in the second half. Maybe Lon and the team just decided it wasn't Buddy's night and/or wasn't worth exhausting so much effort to get him the ball if others could make shots instead.

 

[sdcloud9]

Great point.

WV said that Buddy was not going to beat them and they sold out. It was a great strategy.

He still came within .1 of doing it anyway.

 

[Big Old Booger]

After Lon's halftime comments about how they needed to get Hield more involved, I was surprised that didn't happen in the second half. If anything, it seemed like Hield stood around more in the second half, standing at the high post or near the top of the key almost acting as a decoy for Cousins or others to drive or get their shot off.

Was anyone else surprised by how little they called up plays for him, e.g. double screens like in every other game, or how little he tried to constantly move to get open for a shot?

Yes, I know that he was being held, grabbed, and fouled at times. I also know that WVU doubled him just about every time he got the ball outside the the 3-pt line. But it seemed like he stood around more in this game than most.

When people try to compare him to J.J. Reddick, Reddick is constantly moving to try and get open. I know our offense is not like the NBA and not as open, but I really expected more movement from Buddy in the second half. Maybe I was just spoiled by his game Thurs. night against ISU.

BTW, this isn't a question about Buddy's ability as much as it is about Lon's play calling for Buddy in the second half. Maybe Lon and the team just decided it wasn't Buddy's night and/or wasn't worth exhausting so much effort to get him the ball if others could make shots instead.

Here is what Lon said in the post game presser about it:
Q. Lon, did they do anything different to you
defensively on Buddy? Was it more physical? Did
they allow more pushing, shoving? Was that a part
of it at all?
COACH KRUGER: Well, West Virginia is going to be
up into you, you know that. You just have to work a little
harder away from the ball and work -- as a group we
have to work harder to get him open and he has to
work a little harder to get open. It is a combination of
doing things with a little more conviction and staying
after it.

 

[Larry72]

We are not that well coached.
We are the poorest passing team in the top 20.
I am watching the Div 2 texas state championship and both teams are much better passers than OU.
Dribbling one on one for 20 sec is not a good offense.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Dribbling one on one for 20 sec is not a good offense.

Hard to run set plays against wvu.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hoopsaustin]

We are not that well coached.
We are the poorest passing team in the top 20.
I am watching the Div 2 texas state championship and both teams are much better passers than OU.
Dribbling one on one for 20 sec is not a good offense.

This. Most here dont get it. Kruger has done a belw average job coaching this team. Fact. We could still catch fire and make a Run. But our margins are razor thin since we don't do the little things

 

[oudna]

The other 4 need to be more aggresive. Play loose, play fast, not afraid to lose.

 

[Crimson King]

Thought Lon should have Buddy bring the ball up at times as well.

 

[JBaker]

Thought Lon should have Buddy bring the ball up at times as well.

This.
It was clear that we went in with a specific gameplan: Break the press with Cousins, Woodard, and Spangler. Camp Buddy at the three-point line, and when we break the press, and WVU is scrambling to stop the ball, find Buddy open for 3.

There were a few problems that came up there that we didn't adjust to: Namely, our guards, in particular Cousins, did an absolutely terrible job breaking the press. And then when we did break the press, we never attacked the rim. WVU was coached to not break off Buddy and rotate, which allowed us tons of open paths to the rim, and we almost NEVER took them. We just got across half court (the few times we were able to get across half court, and slowed down. That's not our game at all.

Buddy didn't do a great job getting open in the half court, the rest of the guys didn't do a great job getting him open, and for some reason we never run anything like an elevator door for him.

 

[Crimson King]

This.
We just got across half court (the few times we were able to get across half court, and slowed down. That's not our game at all.

Good point. One had the feeling in the arena that we considered crossing the time line an accomplishment and were content with whatever happened afterwards. That we still almost pulled it out is amazing.

 

[scrybe]

Good point. One had the feeling in the arena that we considered crossing the time line an accomplishment and were content with whatever happened afterwards. That we still almost pulled it out is amazing.

No, it's a testament to our talent and the skill that finally took over in the final 6-7 minutes. If our Sooners hadn't allowed that fouling-machine (the WV press) to get inside their heads, OU would have won the game going away.

 

[Soonerinkc]

This.
It was clear that we went in with a specific gameplan: Break the press with Cousins, Woodard, and Spangler. Camp Buddy at the three-point line, and when we break the press, and WVU is scrambling to stop the ball, find Buddy open for 3.

There were a few problems that came up there that we didn't adjust to: Namely, our guards, in particular Cousins, did an absolutely terrible job breaking the press. And then when we did break the press, we never attacked the rim. WVU was coached to not break off Buddy and rotate, which allowed us tons of open paths to the rim, and we almost NEVER took them. We just got across half court (the few times we were able to get across half court, and slowed down. That's not our game at all.

Buddy didn't do a great job getting open in the half court, the rest of the guys didn't do a great job getting him open, and for some reason we never run anything like an elevator door for him.

exactly...great summary.

 

[bearcreekfan]

This.
It was clear that we went in with a specific gameplan: Break the press with Cousins, Woodard, and Spangler. Camp Buddy at the three-point line, and when we break the press, and WVU is scrambling to stop the ball, find Buddy open for 3.

There were a few problems that came up there that we didn't adjust to: Namely, our guards, in particular Cousins, did an absolutely terrible job breaking the press. And then when we did break the press, we never attacked the rim. WVU was coached to not break off Buddy and rotate, which allowed us tons of open paths to the rim, and we almost NEVER took them. We just got across half court (the few times we were able to get across half court, and slowed down. That's not our game at all.

Buddy didn't do a great job getting open in the half court, the rest of the guys didn't do a great job getting him open, and for some reason we never run anything like an elevator door for him.

Agreed.

What's crazy is that Lon had to have known this going into halftime. He's a smart coach. He knew they needed to get Buddy involved more somehow (see my first statement in the OP) and he knew that they needed to come up with a different way to break the press and attack the basket...but, other than inserting James, he still didn't adjust in the second half.

When you and I see the issues with the press, including after OU breaks it, and Fraschilla is calling out the fact that Buddy isn't involved and is just hanging out at the 3pt line from early in the second half through the rest of the game, Lon and his assistant coaches knew it too.

It seemed like Lon and Buddy accepted the fact that Buddy wasn't going to be able help in this game. I can't imagine that was true, but it was just surreal.

 

[Soonerinkc]

I was very frustrated the first few years with LK's use or lack of TO's. It SEEMED, to me, that he wanted the guys to "figure it out". We'd be up 5 -8, then give up a 12-0 run..be down by 4 or so then he'd call a TO. It got better this year...

I appreciate LK as much as the best fan, but I'm not sure "in game adjustments" are his strong suite. I love his demeanor on the sideline, I think he's a good "teacher"...but some of the things that happen leave ya scratching your head.

Course, there is the other argument, that he was telling the guys but they didn't do it. Can't call a TO every time the teams screws up.