Where we stand in the Big 12.....

[sanguinetti]

When glancing at the RPI this morning, we are up to #24. We also have 6 wins over top-50 RPI teams. Only Kentucky, Kansas, and Duke have more top-50 wins.....that is pretty select company. This is one of the first items that the committee looks at when determining your seed....i.e. how many "quality" wins do you have.

yup. even after all the denials "the committee" uses....record against the top rpi 50 is still pretty solid as an indicator.

that said, i'd guess this is a 5-8 type team when it's said and done. i like the way the schedule shakes out. a win over WVU would be a nice place to start.

 

[TINY]

Probably a little disappointed so far. There hasn't been a bench at all.



Cousins is sorta hit or miss. Early this year he was better than he has been recently. Our guard bench play has been awful.

everybody got to deviate from the norm

Cousins has been one of our top players easily. He is the probably the best defender on the team, and he is the best 3-point shooter in the conference. Best rebounding guard in the conference, with the ability to create for himself and others. I see some Russell Westbrook in him.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Let's not forget that Cousins is fighting through an injury to his right wrist that he suffered just one week ago at Baylor. Isaiah is a good player at both ends of the floor. He is oftentimes OU's best perimeter defender.

 

[usedtobe1]

Let's not forget that Cousins is fighting through an injury to his right wrist that he suffered just one week ago at Baylor. Isaiah is a good player at both ends of the floor. He is oftentimes OU's best perimeter defender.

Yeah I wonder how much the wrist is bothering him. I suspect a lot more than we realize. It may impact his ball handling more than his shooting.

 

[thewez]

Lon said in the postgame interview with Toby that the wrist had nothing to do with it. Cousins has been awful against the Pokes though. I think I heard he averages less than 5 points against them and has a terrible shooting percentage.

 

[stormspencer]

yup. even after all the denials "the committee" uses....record against the top rpi 50 is still pretty solid as an indicator.

that said, i'd guess this is a 5-8 type team when it's said and done. i like the way the schedule shakes out. a win over WVU would be a nice place to start.

A win over WV would go a long way in getting us to at least ten wins in conference. I know it's a bit premature, but I believe this is where we are with regards to NCAA seed and our final conference record:

8-10: 5% chance of this occurring; probably a 9-10 seed
9-9: 10% chance of this occurring; no worse than a 9, but probably a 7 or 8
10-8: 20% chance of this occurring; 6 seed
11-7: 30% chance of this occurring; 4-5 seed
12-6: 25% chance of this occurring; 4 seed
13-5: 10% chance of this occurring; 3 seed

If I had to narrow it down, I would say we probably finish at 11-7.

 

[Darwin]

WV game is huge. One of the toughest left on the schedule. Really need to get the word out about how big it is.

As for Cousins and anybody else having off nights, it happens. Now factor in flu, colds etc. That may explain tech beating ISU and any other strange loss.

 

[stormspencer]

Updated standings:
KU (8-1) 19-3: they have a couple of tough roadies left (WV, OU) as well as trips to KSU and OSU. I don't see them losing more than 3...likely only 2.
WV (6-3) 18-4: they're remaining schedule is nasty (2 w/ KU, BU, OSU, and @ISU,). I don't see them going better than 3-4 thru that stretch, but likely 2-5.
ISU (6-3) 16-5: they're remaining schedule isn't too bad with just a few toughies (2 w/OU), Baylor and @OSU and KSU. They aren't the best road team, but they will be a challenge to get past for 2nd in the conference.
Baylor (5-4) 17-5: still have to go to KU, ISU, UT and have 2 w/ WV. 11-7 or 10-8 looks about right for them.
OSU (5-5) 15-7: got a sweep over UT, which is good for their NCAA chances. They still have KU, ISU, @ Baylor and 2 w/ WV. If they get to .500, then it's been a good season for them. 8-10 could possibly even get them in the tourney.
K-State (5-5) 12-11: catastrophic loss to Tech. They still have KU, ISU, OU @WV, @Baylor, and @UT. They will lose at least 4 of those, especially if Foster continues to be a head case. They look like an NIT team.
UT (3-6) 14-8: They are in trouble. Swept by osu and still have @KU, @OU, @WV, @KSU, Baylor and ISU. They need to get to at least 8-10 and I don't see than happening unless they do a 180. They're headed for the NIT.
Tech and TCU - who cares.

From OU's perspective, we need a lower rung team to knock off ISU and take care of business from our side. We are 6-4 and have a pretty favorable schedule. We need to win @K-State, win our home games and avoid any letdowns to lower rung teams on the road. That would put us at a respectable 13-5 and, most likely, outright 2nd place.

 

[WTSooner]

Still can't believe we lost to KSU at home.

Of all our conferences losses, that is really the only bad one.

 

[jackson_supersooner]

Still can't believe we lost to KSU at home.

Of all our conferences losses, that is really the only bad one.

The @creighton, Washington, and home to KSU will haunt this team. Just stinks...if not for those 3 losses we stand at 18-4(7-3) and no doubt are in top 10. Just a pain that we lost those. But oh well gotta move forward!

 

[NickZepp]

True but Washington loss wasn't really all that bad. Washington has since kicked off their best player and the only reason they won that game against us. KSU also suspended their best player and a guy that made a huge shot that led to KSU's win also. Those games would have both been different if we faced the current forms of those teams at this time. Creighton loss is definitely a bad loss. And we blew a big lead in that one.

 

[jerry]

To me, there are 2 bad losses! Creighton on the road and KSU at home.

 

[stormspencer]

Updated from games yesterday.

KU (8-2) 19-4: the loss to OSU opened up the door for a possible tie at the top at the end of the season....although unlikely. They still have to go WV, K-State, and OU. I don't see them losing more than two of those...but who knows?
ISU (7-3) 17-5: big game on Monday against us. They're remaining schedule has several potential losses there - (2 w/OU), Baylor and @OSU. They aren't the best road team and I hope that continues to be the case.
Baylor (6-4) 18-5: The dismantling of WV was very impressive. still have to go to KU, ISU, UT and have WV in Waco. It's looking more like 12-6 or 11-7 is a good possibility for them if they keep playing well.
WV (6-4) 18-5: I thin we are beginning to see the nolvelty wear off their shine. If you beat their press/limit TOs, then you have a great chance to win. They are so bad on offense. They have a gauntlet left (2 w/KU and OSU, @ Baylor, and @ ISU). They look like they will end up around 10-8 or 9-9.
OSU (6-5) 16-7: Great win over KU, which really starts to solidify their NCAA chances. They still have ISU, @ Baylor and 2 w/ WV. If they get to .500 (which is a good possibility), then it's been a good season for them. 8-10 could possibly even get them in the tourney.
K-State (5-6) 12-12: Lost at home to Texas (without Foster). They still have KU, ISU, OU, @WV, @Baylor, and @UT. They will lose at least 4 of those, especially if Foster continues to be a head case. They are an NIT or CBI team.
UT (4-6) 15-8: Stopped the bleeding temporarily at KSU. They still have @KU, @OU, @WV, Baylor and ISU. They need to get to at least 8-10 and they will have opportunities for quality wins, but 8-10 may not be enough either. A win or two in the big 12 tournament would help. They are the definition of a bubble team.
Tech and TCU - who cares.

OU has put themselves in a very good position if they continue to win the games that they should. Winning out will be difficult, but finishing with only 1 or 2 losses the rest of the regular season seems achievable. A 2nd place finish in this conference likely gives us no worse than a 4 seed....maybe better if teams like VCU, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Iowa State can drop a few more. Those are the types of teams that we will be competing with for a 3 seed.

 

[ByronHoustonsSweatyPalms]

Updated from games yesterday.

KU (8-2) 19-4: the loss to OSU opened up the door for a possible tie at the top at the end of the season....although unlikely. They still have to go WV, K-State, and OU. I don't see them losing more than two of those...but who knows?
ISU (7-3) 17-5: big game on Monday against us. They're remaining schedule has several potential losses there - (2 w/OU), Baylor and @OSU. They aren't the best road team and I hope that continues to be the case.
Baylor (6-4) 18-5: The dismantling of WV was very impressive. still have to go to KU, ISU, UT and have WV in Waco. It's looking more like 12-6 or 11-7 is a good possibility for them if they keep playing well.
WV (6-4) 18-5: I thin we are beginning to see the nolvelty wear off their shine. If you beat their press/limit TOs, then you have a great chance to win. They are so bad on offense. They have a gauntlet left (2 w/KU and OSU, @ Baylor, and @ ISU). They look like they will end up around 10-8 or 9-9.
OSU (6-5) 16-7: Great win over KU, which really starts to solidify their NCAA chances. They still have ISU, @ Baylor and 2 w/ WV. If they get to .500 (which is a good possibility), then it's been a good season for them. 8-10 could possibly even get them in the tourney.
K-State (5-6) 12-12: Lost at home to Texas (without Foster). They still have KU, ISU, OU, @WV, @Baylor, and @UT. They will lose at least 4 of those, especially if Foster continues to be a head case. They are an NIT or CBI team.
UT (4-6) 15-8: Stopped the bleeding temporarily at KSU. They still have @KU, @OU, @WV, Baylor and ISU. They need to get to at least 8-10 and they will have opportunities for quality wins, but 8-10 may not be enough either. A win or two in the big 12 tournament would help. They are the definition of a bubble team.
Tech and TCU - who cares.

OU has put themselves in a very good position if they continue to win the games that they should. Winning out will be difficult, but finishing with only 1 or 2 losses the rest of the regular season seems achievable. A 2nd place finish in this conference likely gives us no worse than a 4 seed....maybe better if teams like VCU, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Iowa State can drop a few more. Those are the types of teams that we will be competing with for a 3 seed.

Good analysis Storm


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