Your Prediction: Remaining Non-Conference

[Maverick008]

+1.

Some folks just don’t understand basketball

The part that gets me about these complaints is that most are quick to point out all the "open shots" OU gives up......go watch ANY team play and throughout a game you will see them give up open shots. It's not the open shots that bother me given that will happen throughout the course of a game but the easy drives/uncontested lay-ups that this team needs to work on stopping.

Against North Texas, it was evident once the PG could no longer drive at will that they started having issues scoring. So far, this team doesn't seem to be in "switch at all cost" mode as the past 2-3 years have been which will help with some of that but just knowing your personel and getting them on the right guys as soon as possible will help that much more. Teams are going to shoot and hit 3's and personally I'd be estatic if a team took 42 or 43 3's every game and only hit 13. Defense is obviously something they need to continue to work on along with forcing one shot and out. With the pace they want to play at, defensive rebounding is huge in wanting to get out and run.

With Trae on the team people seem to have forgotten that the rest of these guys are for the most part still maturing into solid night in and night out basketball players and what it takes to win on a nightly basis. Regardless of how it looks, as long as W's keep coming along with getting better each day that's just icing on the cake.

 

[Chaser728]

This team right now reminds me of a team who is only half-way to hitting their ceiling... Let's not forget we are really young in our backcourt & wings for the most part.

Our Offense can be at times really good, but when/if those shots start falling, we will be hard to stop. These guys are just missing some open looks right now. Our Defense, obviously needs some work, but our best defense seems to be get out and run and play a good offense.

Also, our depth is real this year. I love what Lon is doing with TY & Shep... it reminds me of what he did with Cousins & Woodard the Final 4 year...

Also, I love the development I am seeing in both Muni & Lattin. Obviously a lot of this is happening because Trae demands so much attention, but I really like what I am seeing there.

Therefore, I am going to go with 10-2. I think we will win 3 of 4 (USC, WSU, NW & Bama)...

 

[Chaser728]

A 16 margin of victory for an entire season will result in a lot of winning...

Exactly. When you run like we do, there are very few teams that can keep up with our scoring.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Ball State 80
Notre Dame 77

Not sure it means much, but an interesting result for a nonconference opponent.

 

[skyvue]

Ball State 80
Notre Dame 77

Not sure it means much, but an interesting result for a nonconference opponent.

It means every bit as much as Oregon losing on a half-court buzzer beater the other night. If we're going to let our previous opponents' losses detract from our wins, then our previous opponents' impressive wins should darned well mean something, too.

 

[WichitaSooner]

It means every bit as much as Oregon losing on a half-court buzzer beater the other night. If we're going to let our previous opponents' losses detract from our wins, then our previous opponents' impressive wins should darned well mean something, too.

I wasn't aware that I ever referenced Oregon's loss, let alone suggested that it diminished our win. My personal feeling is that drawing conclusions based on any one game among the thousands played each season is ridiculous. Which is why I simply said the Ball State result was interesting, no more, no less. Other members of the board may disagree, which is fine.

 

[skyvue]

I wasn't aware that I ever referenced Oregon's loss, let alone suggested that it diminished our win. My personal feeling is that drawing conclusions based on any one game among the thousands played each season is ridiculous. Which is why I simply said the Ball State result was interesting, no more, no less. Other members of the board may disagree, which is fine.

I wasn't saying you did; another poster did in another thread (and I think there's an inclination among certain of our fans -- on the football side, too -- to cite those things that make us look bad and ignore those that might reflect positively on us).

 

[coolm]

... there's an inclination among certain of our fans -- on the football side, too -- to cite those things that make us look bad and ignore those that might reflect positively ...

I've never understood that. It's a game and it's supposed to entertain. So why bother watching at all if it does nothing but make you (them) mad? We're not like the old sad sack Cubbies or the tribe where the misery just loved company. perplexing.

 

[stormspencer]

The Sunshine Pumping Illuminati is telling YOU that YOU need to be happier about sub-standard defense.

Some pumpers are fine on here.....however, other pumpers seem extremely defensive (borderline insulted) if you point out shortcomings and/or areas we want to improve.

Having said that, there are also a couple of posters who can't wait for something to go wrong too.

Our defense definitely needs to get better. I hope the communication and energy level improves significantly against USC on Friday (as compared to our last two games). And yes, at the pace we play, we are naturally going to give up more points based upon more possessions. This team's success will likely depend on beating teams 90-80 instead of 70-60.....we are a poor man's North Carolina. It's something we are all going to have to get used to. But as long as we win against some quality teams, I can likely get on board with any style.

 

[Soonerinkc]

Get with the times, More possessions = More points given up.

No one is saying we are going to win the Natty...

Are we going to struggle at times, yes...

Are we where we need to be... No

Its a work in progress.

Scoring 94.0 a game...

giving up 78.4

yup...

curious how the D during Billy Ball...WHICH I LOVED!!!:chestram2:

 

[Soonerinkc]

Some pumpers are fine on here.....however, other pumpers seem extremely defensive (borderline insulted) if you point out shortcomings and/or areas we want to improve.

Having said that, there are also a couple of posters who can't wait for something to go wrong too.

Our defense definitely needs to get better. I hope the communication and energy level improves significantly against USC on Friday (as compared to our last two games). And yes, at the pace we play, we are naturally going to give up more points based upon more possessions. This team's success will likely depend on beating teams 90-80 instead of 70-60.....we are a poor man's North Carolina. It's something we are all going to have to get used to. But as long as we win against some quality teams, I can likely get on board with any style.

Definitely D needs to improve to play against the top 10 teams...but we were 11/20 (?) last year...hell, I'll take 100-99 win 7 days a week...at this point.

It's like the football team..pretty sure if we beat the bulldogs 55/35 we'll be happy...yeah D isn't great but good enough to win.