Was it the gym?

[colston15]

That caused all the air balls? I know different gyms have different shooting backgrounds.

Obviously we lost because we didn't bother showing up in the first half, but it's hard to explain so many bad misses from Pledger and others.

Steve doesn't always have his shot going down, but he doesn't air ball three shots and bank the other off the side of the glass.

I'm not making excuses, just trying to figure it out.

 

[152219]

That caused all the air balls? I know different gyms have different shooting backgrounds.

Obviously we lost because we didn't bother showing up in the first half, but it's hard to explain so many bad misses from Pledger and others.

Steve doesn't always have his shot going down, but he doesn't air ball three shots and bank the other off the side of the glass.

I'm not making excuses, just trying to figure it out.

Banking off the side of the glass is also an air ball when you completely miss the rim IMO.

And although TCU's gym is essentially a big high school gym, it still doesn't explain what I saw in Ft Worth today

I have seen about 100 OU hoops games in person and that is easily the most air balls I have ever seen OU shoot in a game

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

No.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

The OU team has played games in McCasland Field House. They practice all the time in the LNC practice gym.

I do not know what it was, but it was not the gym.

No excuses. Excuses are for losers.

 

[pnkranger]

Here's the crazy thing: That was only the SECOND time since 1996-1997 season that we did not make a three pointer in a game.

That's over 500 games...if only one of those go down we win that game in OT. What a crazy statistic.

 

[MercedeSooner]

It seems almost impossible to come back from that large a deficit without getting a little hot from beyond the arc - usually the only way to make up points in bunches. I kept telling myself we had to eventually hit a couple from out there if we were gonna win this thing - sadly I was right.

I just wish we stopped chucking em up earlier - ridiculous how bad our misses were even when they did at least touch the rim.

 

[JBaker]

It was very weird.
I was at the game (sat right near Sooner04 actually) and couldn't keep track, but we must have had near or into double digit air balls (including balls that hit backboard but no rim). I honestly think it might have equaled or exceeded our total airballs for the rest of the season combined.

I don't know if the sight lines had something to do with it, but it's not like it was just Pledger. M'Baye was doing it. I think Buddy had one, Fitz... It was crazy.

 

[pnkranger]

It was very weird.
I was at the game (sat right near Sooner04 actually) and couldn't keep track, but we must have had near or into double digit air balls (including balls that hit backboard but no rim). I honestly think it might have equaled or exceeded our total airballs for the rest of the season combined.

I don't know if the sight lines had something to do with it, but it's not like it was just Pledger. M'Baye was doing it. I think Buddy had one, Fitz... It was crazy.

Is the set-up along the baseline different? Walls closer to the basket, etc.?

The worst part is that the TCU fans (all 9 of them) stopped chanting airball after the third or fourth one because they couldn't remember who had (or hadn't) airballed.

 

[WTSooner]

The worst part is that the TCU fans (all 9 of them) stopped chanting airball after the third or fourth one because they couldn't remember who had (or hadn't) airballed.

That is both the funniest and saddest thing I've read all night.

 

[JBaker]

Is the set-up along the baseline different? Walls closer to the basket, etc.?

The worst part is that the TCU fans (all 9 of them) stopped chanting airball after the third or fourth one because they couldn't remember who had (or hadn't) airballed.

The stands behind the baseline are much closer than at LNC, but I mean, our guys were air balling from all angles... If it in some way had to do with sight, I'd be more inclined to believe it had something to do with the ceiling or lights or something.

 

[StatGeek]

Strangest OU game I have ever seen from a shooting standpoint. Has Pledger ever missed 4 shots as badly as he did today? I mean those were good open looks.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Strangest OU game I have ever seen from a shooting standpoint. Has Pledger ever missed 4 shots as badly as he did today? I mean those were good open looks.

It was completely bizarre. The only 3 that came even close was Sam's at the end. Add Je'lon to the list of people who overshot a 3. It reminded me of high school kids who are used to shooting in intimate little gyms and then can't hit the ocean from a boat when they play in bigger arenas.

 

[OUsky]

The OU team has played games in McCasland Field House. They practice all the time in the LNC practice gym.

I do not know what it was, but it was not the gym.

No excuses. Excuses are for losers.

Couldn't agree more.

To back this up the other 8 teams in the Big 12 shot a combined 40.3% from 3 pt range at this same gym.

 

[Krugerfan52]

Yeah, other than Kansas nobody had trouble with TCU this year.

I can't imagine what this board would be like if KU had beaten TCU and we lost to an 0-17 TCU team. Although it really hasnt been that bad on this board so maybe it wouldnt anyways. I can't imagine what this board would be doing to Capel if he had lost a game like this a week after losing to that miserable Texas team.

 

[JBaker]

I can't imagine what this board would be doing to Capel if he had lost a game like this a week after losing to that miserable Texas team.

Nobody would give a damn because we'd be 13-17 right now and eliminated from postseason discussion months ago.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Yeah, other than Kansas nobody had trouble with TCU this year.

I can't imagine what this board would be like if KU had beaten TCU and we lost to an 0-17 TCU team. Although it really hasnt been that bad on this board so maybe it wouldnt anyways. I can't imagine what this board would be doing to Capel if he had lost a game like this a week after losing to that miserable Texas team.

Well, TCU has improved a lot over the course of the season but we still should have won. Strange year in the big 12 this year especially considering Baylor ran KU out of the gym and Baylor was swept by OU, KSU, and OSU.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Nobody would give a damn because we'd be 13-17 right now and eliminated from postseason discussion months ago.

Exactly, but capelfan52 doesn't get that.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

... I can't imagine what this board would be like if KU had beaten TCU and we lost to an 0-17 TCU team. Although it really hasnt been that bad on this board so maybe it wouldnt anyways. I can't imagine what this board would be doing to Capel if he had lost a game like this a week after losing to that miserable Texas team.

If the current coach was approaching the end of his second straight 18 loss season with no hope that the coming years would be better, then yes, this board would be in critical meltdown.

Thankfully, that is not the case. Fans can be disappointed with the poor effort at TCU, and yet still appreciate 11 conference wins, 20 total wins, a chance to make the big dance, and legitimate hope for a good, fun season next year.

Big difference.

**********

Fans can appreciate that the program is in SO MUCH BETTER shape than it was 2 years ago. Lacking patience, we just wish it was even better. Now.

There is hope that patience will pay off with Coach Kruger.

There was no hope for an improving program with Coach Capel.

Big difference.

**********

All that being said, Coach Kruger surely knows that 20 win seasons (or better) are necessary to maintain favor with the majority of the fan base. He can be the nicest man in the world, and run the cleanest program in the NCAA, but he still has to win. He can open every practice and make time to visit with fans, but he still has to win. He can have players that graduate and stay off the police reports, but he still has to win.

I am very disappointed in the TCU game effort/focus/execution, yet it is just a blip in the big scheme of things. We have the next three years to watch "Buddy and the boys" mature and improve. We can look forward to that!

Two years ago there was nothing to look forward to.

Big difference.

 

[bocabull]

Nobody would give a damn because we'd be 13-17 right now and eliminated from postseason discussion months ago.

Nice fairy tale. The truth is at the same point in Capels 2nd season OU was 21-10 with 5 wins against top 50 teams, no losses to sub 200 teams and no fall flat on your face collapses like the 22 point Texas debacle.

We lost yesterday because the head coach did not have his team ready to play.

 

[MsProudSooner]

When programs are declining, as ours was previous to Lon's arrival it's one step forward and two steps back. When programs are improving, it's two steps forward and one step back. That's what we've been doing this year. To expect otherwise is foolish.

And ridiculing one player in a loss is childish.