Why Sam Grooms lost his starting spot

[HOTROD21]

After watching this game I can understand why Grooms lost his starting spot. For a senior to suddenly become so tentative and clumsy with the ball when a team puts on a full court press is unacceptable. Whenever he did get the ball across the half court line in the 2nd half he did nothing to generate a good offensive flow and was very hesitant to the hoop. I know OU wanted to milk some clock but you can't completely abandon what got you the lead in the first place especially when the lead is dwindling. This was by far the worst coaching performance from Lon since he arrived at OU.

Also, if anybody remembers, Baylor almost came back in the same fashion against OU the previous game. They have to get a killer instinct and continue to attack the basket for 40 minutes regardless of the score. I was hoping the full court press woes were over, apparently not. Nonetheless, OU is still in good shape to make the NCAA tournament regardless as to what the announcers were saying as long as OU doesn't fall apart from this point forward.

 

[AdaSooner]

I doubt if anyone here will disagree that OU was much too conservative in the last five or six minutes. We did almost nothing to make UT pay when we broke the press. It was like we were on a mission to run the clock out. Everything we did in the first 33 minutes to get a 22 point lead was abandoned in the final 7.

 

[BruinSooner]

Grooms lost his starting spot because of defense. If it was his ball handling under pressure, which of the freshman PGs would have done better? Illogical.

 

[DenverSooner]

I was at the game and I sure didn't feel like the problem was Sam Grooms. First, OU was not getting to the ball quickly and and inbounding quickly. They would wait several seconds and allow Texas to complete set up the press.

Second, no one was setting screens for Grooms to help him get open.

Third, the coaching staff didn't seem to try a single different approach to getting the ball in.

Fourth, Pledger was down court doing noting (and I think that is what the coaches wanted).

Fifth, Cam Clark was doing very little.

Six when OU got the ball in, Texas was all over the OU players with no fouls called. I did not have the benefit of replay but I find it hard to believe you could press that hard for that long without a single foul. To me it looked liked once Sam got the ball he was being ridden (bumped) as he pushed the ball up court.

Seven OU DID NOT ATTACK THE RIM AFTER THEY BROKE THE PRESS. You have to make a team pay for a press and OU didn't even try to make them pay. They would have 3 on 2 or 2 on 1 opportunities and allow Texas to get back and defend.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

this wasn't on grooms

 

[MsProudSooner]

Six when OU got the ball in, Texas was all over the OU players with no fouls called. I did not have the benefit of replay but I find it hard to believe you could press that hard for that long without a single foul. To me it looked liked once Sam got the ball he was being ridden (bumped) as he pushed the ball up court.

The thought crossed my mind that Texas got the 'home court officiating' that Iowa State would have killed for on Monday night.

 

[CoachTalk]

I dont put this on Grooms. BUT He is one of the main reasons we have played really well upto this point, esp the last few weeks,

OSU- 01 Grooms, Sam......... 9-11 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 18 4 2 0 0 35
Tech- 01 Grooms, Sam......... 4-8 0-0 4-7 1 1 2 2 12 5 0 0 0 30
Bay- 01 Grooms, Sam......... 3-9 2-2 15-17 0 2 2 3 23 4 3 0 2 30

 

[WTSooner]

Like I said a week or two ago. When LK can control Grooms' minutes, Grooms can do well. When Grooms has to play 35 minutes, he is going to have some bad stretches.

 

[SoonerInJersey]

Sam is not the only one to blame. Osby and M'Baye do well on the dribble and when they did that we got across half court fairly well. Would have helped if that had started earlier. Not sure if that is a decision issue, or a Kruger issue, or a team issue, but not all a Sam Grooms issue.