What are our biggest areas needing improvement?

[Sweetest OU Girl]

As you think about the past 2 or 3 weeks, what are the glaring weaknesses you have seen?

Please no SC makes too much drivel. I'm wondering about our players and what is happening on the floor? It may be pure player problems or may be bad (specific) decisions by the staff. Can we fix anything in the next week or so?

Here are a couple of thoughts I have.

1. Vivi is too slow. She has to stand still, think a while, then make a move. When she trys to be out front and drive it almost always fails dramatically. Sherri makes an even bigger problem out of this by having her center inbound from the other end of the court.

2. When our guards drive for lay ups they often do not look at the basket. They just toss it up there and often miss. I think that is being taught because Dungee never did that until the last few games. I assume they are being taught to just drive, don't worry about scoring too much, but pray for a foul call.

What thoughts do some of you have?

 

[sybarite]

Intensity. First, I think this team needs to show the ability to come together on defense. They have done it, at times. But, they seem to start out, at times, with no intensity whatsoever. This team only comes together when they have defensive intensity. It is the engine that fuels the offensive energy.

I think the seniors are much like sisters. They like each other. But, they don't operate well together---unless threatened. Usually, siblings come together when threatened. This group has difficulty in that respect. They need to feel attacked.

This translates to their offense. They approach it as though each had equal contributions. I think there is a reason that A&M benched Peyton. She has never been the shooter that we had thought when she was recruited. She was a highschool superstar. But, she has never hit 40% from three in any year. She is usually less than that from the field as I remember. She is also not a dribbler, and she doesn't learn that. She continues to try to dribble into the middle and loses it.

Gioya is similar, not a great shooter. Good, but not great. But, Gioya can disrupt a run with careless fouls or turnovers that are simply from not looking, or reach in fouls.

We really have Vivi and Maddie. Maddie has always tried to involve everyone. But, nobody tries to involve Maddie. In one game recently, we were halfway through the first quarter before someone finally passed the ball to Maddie. They were all looking to pass it to Vivi or out front. But, they didn't look to Maddie, and Maddie is the best shooter that we have, by far. She is over 40% from three and from the field. Any plan of offense must look to feed Vivi and Maddie. Others should only be shooting if the situation presents a good shot. They are not good at creating shots.

I think Chelsea could have been a part of this. But, she has had to operate in isolation as others did what they do. So, she created what she could on her own, rather than as a part of something.

I think the arrival of some scoring talent next year will create new options. But, I don't know that these seniors have the ability to fight back, to get angry together. They seem to fall apart rather than working together against a common enemy. Rather than maturing into a successful team, they still work as loving individuals, friends to the end, but with no ability to forge common ground.

 

[soonerstar]

We were 3-0 without Manning. Beat West Virginia, Texas, Texas Tech. We are 1-3 with her back in the lineup, Beat TCU. Losses to Kansas State and beatdowns by Baylor and West Virginia. Just Sayin.

 

[SoonerSpock]

As you think about the past 2 or 3 weeks, what are the glaring weaknesses you have seen?

Please no SC makes too much drivel. I'm wondering about our players and what is happening on the floor? It may be pure player problems or may be bad (specific) decisions by the staff. Can we fix anything in the next week or so?

Here are a couple of thoughts I have.

1. Vivi is too slow. She has to stand still, think a while, then make a move. When she trys to be out front and drive it almost always fails dramatically. Sherri makes an even bigger problem out of this by having her center inbound from the other end of the court.

2. When our guards drive for lay ups they often do not look at the basket. They just toss it up there and often miss. I think that is being taught because Dungee never did that until the last few games. I assume they are being taught to just drive, don't worry about scoring too much, but pray for a foul call.

What thoughts do some of you have?

You are right on in your two points but I doubt we can fix much of anything in the next two weeks. Difficulty unlearning what has been taught, practiced and performed in games for the last 1-5 years depending on the player. Nor is it probable that the coaching staff will alter their approach to game planning.

I think you just hope the good version of this team shows up for 3 quarters in their 1st round game and that we get a good draw for the second round which is doubtful with our likely going on the road.

Long term the # 1 key is better recruiting targeting more top 10/top 20 players with a target of 6-8 top 50 players on every roster with half of them top 10/top 20 players especially some top 10 players. Get some shooters. We are a terrible shooting team. Compare the stats below to Baylor and Texas.

Second we need to play better with fundamentals on both sides of the ball but especially on offense. It can be taught, demanded and performed at the D-1 despite the obvious obstacles kids have coming out of H.S. At least my observation is the dreaded Mulkey teams play good fundamental basketball in all facets of the game and the link below confirms such.

Third I would be more aggressive on offense initiating contact with the defender with both our perimeter and interior players (Vivi does this well) but learn to use the board and shoot to score not as you say just throw it up. If you initiate contact and control it you are better positioned to get a good shot off than allowing the defender to initiate contact and having to react.

Four there need to me more focus on rebounding. Get position, maintain contact and reposition as the opponent tries to negotiate around you. Getting 2' in front of an opponent is not really getting in front of anyone nor restricting their movement to get the RB.

Last make players more accountable for their mistake. Making the same foolish unforced error repeated should have consequences. To me there appears to be none.

From my pespective Sherri does a good job with the talent she has. If you look at the coaches Big 12 award winners OU finishing 3rd is a tribute to Sherri a lot out of her players. She just does not have good enough players and the ones she has don't consistently implement the game plan and that is on the player. There are not tough minded player being such about half the time and on vacation the other half.

It will be difficult to get to Baylor's numbers but that should be the goal. Also getting the talent to the level it needs to be at is probably a 3-5 year project. Texas started that process about 3 years back and are beginning to get the needed talent. They have definitely passed OU's talent.

http://www.soonersports.com/pdf9/5285313.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=31000

http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-baskbl/stats/2016-2017/teamcume.html#TEAM.IND

http://www.texassports.com/documents/2016/11/15//wbb_stats_2016_17.pdf?id=6377

 

[Hoopdreams79]

What do you believe is a good enough player? All the All Americans that Texas and Baylor have or the barley top 100 kid in her class Tynise Martin who pretty much single handedly beat Texas? I think there are a lot of great players well beyond the all Americans like Hosey that sits on Texas bench...but I think you have to know what kind of basketball you want to play and recruit kids that fit that style and second and most important these kids must be tough - mentally and physically because it is those kids that can even when you are outtalented wont be outworked.

 

[Mac]

Speed,athleticism, toughness, rebounding, a new offensive plan, and a point guard who can really score the ball...

 

[inoref]

Speed,athleticism, toughness, rebounding, a new offensive plan, and a point guard who can really score the ball...

bingo

 

[Stringmusic]

Too much dribbling, not enough passing.
Not enough motion. One person dribbling, 4 others standing stationary and watching her dribble. This is not an offense. Shot clock runs down and the dribbler throws up something.
Too many shots at the basket without anybody near enough to get the rebound. Therefore the shots need to be perfect because there won't be a 2nd chance.
Too many unforced turnovers.

 

[j2d2]

Staff.

 

[gosooner2]

Staff.

This !! It is hard to do well with 3 semi retired asst.

 

[tooney]

Speed,athleticism, toughness, rebounding, a new offensive plan, and a point guard who can really score the ball...

I see a need for all of this.....a point guard who can really score the ball would be gravy.

But the above being said, it really all falls back to what others are saying....

STAFF

They run the show. They decide who to recruit. And they determine the game plan and the offensive plan.
Every time I see Mulkey seventeen feet from the goal on either end of the court, I want to throw something at the TV. And she's there a lot. Some of the other coaches are taking their bigs away from the basket to remove Mulkey as a shot blocker. How our coaches don't see this is beyond me.

 

[Oliver Hardy]

Change of the type of player we are willing recruit. Search for tougher, grittier players who live and breath basketball in their souls. Girls who have some fight and abundant talent. Get girls with speed who can handle the press with ease. We all know Sherri likes good girls who aren't going to get in trouble or be a problem. Take more risk in this regards. You don't need gang bangers, but you do need toughness and grit.

It's time there was some new blood on the staff. Either add a coach or two or fire some of her friends, even though I know that's tough to do. Everyone but Acosta should be on the block.

Scrap the 4 guard offense and go to power down low on the blocks with penetrators so our post players and power 4s cannot be double teamed .

Get a fast point guard who can shoot.

Get rid of this offense thatt, while better than the last, still leads to too much standing around. Go to a run and gun as soon as you get two quality point guards who can do that.

Tell Mulkey she better soften her hands and put on some weight or she's going to be riding the bench a lot.

 

[Mac]

Change of the type of player we are willing recruit. Search for tougher, grittier players who live and breath basketball in their souls. Girls who have some fight and abundant talent. Get girls with speed who can handle the press with ease. We all know Sherri likes good girls who aren't going to get in trouble or be a problem. Take more risk in this regards. You don't need gang bangers, but you do need toughness and grit.

It's time there was some new blood on the staff. Either add a coach or two or fire some of her friends, even though I know that's tough to do. Everyone but Acosta should be on the block.

Scrap the 4 guard offense and go to power down low on the blocks with penetrators so our post players and power 4s cannot be double teamed .

Get a fast point guard who can shoot.

Get rid of this offense thatt, while better than the last, still leads to too much standing around. Go to a run and gun as soon as you get two quality point guards who can do that.

Tell Mulkey she better soften her hands and put on some weight or she's going to be riding the bench a lot.

I think the staff could use a bit of a youth movement...

 

[soonermike22]

First Intensity/energy. It is the easiest thing for a player to bring to the court, and for a coach to demand. We too often lacked this, especially on defense.
Fundamentals. Rebound by trying, blocking out, following shot, don't watch shots-anticipate. Protect the ball, maximize possessions by making good passes, don't continue to make the same mistakes. Take good shots, in control of your body, in your shot selection area. Know where you are in relation the basket BEFORE you shoot. In close, use the box on the backboard.
Better game plans, including an offense that requires motion of ball and person without dribbling.
Recruit better, including a player or two who cusses and yells at players that mess up

 

[sybarite]

First Intensity/energy. It is the easiest thing for a player to bring to the court, and for a coach to demand. We too often lacked this, especially on defense.
Fundamentals. Rebound by trying, blocking out, following shot, don't watch shots-anticipate. Protect the ball, maximize possessions by making good passes, don't continue to make the same mistakes. Take good shots, in control of your body, in your shot selection area. Know where you are in relation the basket BEFORE you shoot. In close, use the box on the backboard.
Better game plans, including an offense that requires motion of ball and person without dribbling.
Recruit better, including a player or two who cusses and yells at players that mess up

Mostly, very good.

 

[sooner8693]

First Intensity/energy. It is the easiest thing for a player to bring to the court, and for a coach to demand. We too often lacked this, especially on defense.
Fundamentals. Rebound by trying, blocking out, following shot, don't watch shots-anticipate. Protect the ball, maximize possessions by making good passes, don't continue to make the same mistakes. Take good shots, in control of your body, in your shot selection area. Know where you are in relation the basket BEFORE you shoot. In close, use the box on the backboard.
Better game plans, including an offense that requires motion of ball and person without dribbling.
Recruit better, including a player or two who cusses and yells at players that mess up

Wow. You have hit the nail on the head. And, these all sound like things a highly engaged, motivated, attentive, hungry staff should be on working on every day.

 

[OKUman]

Wow. You have hit the nail on the head. And, these all sound like things a highly engaged, motivated, attentive, hungry staff should be on working on every day.

Seems to me the bench has had more energy than the players.

 

[sooner8693]

Seems to me the bench has had more energy than the players.

You could be right. And, if that is the case, some of our players must barely have a pulse.