Well my wife and I went to the game. Let me first say that everything at UTA was first class. Their campus looked really nice. When we were walking up around an hour before the game it was crazy outside the area. Full blown parade, even a live band eventually. We were 8 rows behind the OU bench for 15 bones, nice deal. The fans I sat around were very nice. One guy I talked to after the game seemed very appreciative that OU would come down to play them. I got pretty fired up during the game and was pretty vocal about some perceived bad calls, but nobody around really even told me to shut up or gave me any smack..
As far as the game was concerned, it started out frustrating as it seemed our balls were dancing all over the rim and then going out. But then the defense we played during that run in the first half was almost Sampson-like. The physicality, the switching, was like a work of art to see in person. We seem(and are) much more athletic and quicker than previous years. Osby's rebounding, and really our overall team rebounding, was stellar.
I was very frustrated, like many of you, with our guards' inability to get the ball up the court there at that point in the second half. And it wasn't just Hornbeak. Yes, Grooms got the ball stolen from him on a double team in the backcourt, too, that looked terrible, so let's not just blame it all on the freshmen. I thought Cousins and Hornbeak got psyched out in some spots but I'm not ready to throw in the towel on them yet. Reality check here, it was their first collegiate road game... They will get much, much better. We should be thankful for Grooms(senior) coming in in that short spurt and helping us get the ball back up the court. If Cousins and Hornbeak can keep their confidence levels up, both of them have much more overall game than Grooms, but I'm glad we have Sam. Hield was Hield, at least in the first half. He never got psyched out at all. He did disappear in the second half but that was more from our inability to handle their pressure then slide into a coherent half court offense. Overall I am cautiously optimistic that all three freshmen with more games under their belt will handle things much better by January. I have to give it Pledger, he was money on that clutch three he hit, when we really needed it. He did have an incredibly boneheaded turnover, and would have helped for him to have a few more guard skills at certain points, but i'm not going to beat a dead horse. Osby was a man rebounding. Game might not have been as close had we made an average number of FTs too.
Need to remember that this was a tremendous learning experience while still getting a W. UTA is no slouch, and they were playing like crazed dogs. I was particularly impressed with Butler and their white fish PG. Players. I was most worried about Reves going in but he didn't really do anything but redirect a couple of our shots.
I thought it was a great win in a tough environment and I am glad we have these talented freshmen. We would not have won this game last year. They will get better and I look forward to lots of improvement in the Orlando tourney.
Last thing, allow me to give it up to UTA. Neat new arena, good, scrappy team, and great fans. Pie Fives after the game was awesome too, great pizza. UTA plays Texas and OSU on the road and I hope they at least compete with them. Maybe one of those teams will show some juevos in the future and come down to Arlington. :billy
As far as the game was concerned, it started out frustrating as it seemed our balls were dancing all over the rim and then going out. But then the defense we played during that run in the first half was almost Sampson-like. The physicality, the switching, was like a work of art to see in person. We seem(and are) much more athletic and quicker than previous years. Osby's rebounding, and really our overall team rebounding, was stellar.
I was very frustrated, like many of you, with our guards' inability to get the ball up the court there at that point in the second half. And it wasn't just Hornbeak. Yes, Grooms got the ball stolen from him on a double team in the backcourt, too, that looked terrible, so let's not just blame it all on the freshmen. I thought Cousins and Hornbeak got psyched out in some spots but I'm not ready to throw in the towel on them yet. Reality check here, it was their first collegiate road game... They will get much, much better. We should be thankful for Grooms(senior) coming in in that short spurt and helping us get the ball back up the court. If Cousins and Hornbeak can keep their confidence levels up, both of them have much more overall game than Grooms, but I'm glad we have Sam. Hield was Hield, at least in the first half. He never got psyched out at all. He did disappear in the second half but that was more from our inability to handle their pressure then slide into a coherent half court offense. Overall I am cautiously optimistic that all three freshmen with more games under their belt will handle things much better by January. I have to give it Pledger, he was money on that clutch three he hit, when we really needed it. He did have an incredibly boneheaded turnover, and would have helped for him to have a few more guard skills at certain points, but i'm not going to beat a dead horse. Osby was a man rebounding. Game might not have been as close had we made an average number of FTs too.
Need to remember that this was a tremendous learning experience while still getting a W. UTA is no slouch, and they were playing like crazed dogs. I was particularly impressed with Butler and their white fish PG. Players. I was most worried about Reves going in but he didn't really do anything but redirect a couple of our shots.
I thought it was a great win in a tough environment and I am glad we have these talented freshmen. We would not have won this game last year. They will get better and I look forward to lots of improvement in the Orlando tourney.
Last thing, allow me to give it up to UTA. Neat new arena, good, scrappy team, and great fans. Pie Fives after the game was awesome too, great pizza. UTA plays Texas and OSU on the road and I hope they at least compete with them. Maybe one of those teams will show some juevos in the future and come down to Arlington. :billy
