Sooner04
2/7/2009, 05:57 PM
I'd like to paint with a broad brush and say our non-chalant attitude toward lesser teams will jump up and bite us. I'd like to say our cavalier approach to the end of a game will sneak up and cost us a game. I'd like to say our horrid free throw shooting will surely hasten our Waterloo......but I can't. I can't because we keep on winning.
This game was a reverse of the trend we've seen lately. In tough road games in Ames and Stillwater, we made the plays down the stretch to turn a close game into a comfortable victory. Today, we took what had become a comfortable, coasting home victory and made every mistake in the book to let the Buffaloes back in it. It's got to be driving Capel nuts.
I want to be pissed about it, but I can't. Can you gripe when you're 23-1 and 9-0 in the conference? I don't think so. We've seen incredible flashes from this team, so we know the talent is there to play mind-blowing ball, but we really haven't needed it. Will it be there in March? I'm guessing that's what all Sooner fans are depending on.
Colorado played a really good game. They worked our defense to death and were rewarded by several easy baskets near the rim. When we shut down interior passing lanes they popped the ball back out and knocked down shots. Is our defense bad or are teams playing really well against us? I think it's a little of the former and a lot of the latter. In Moral Victory Land you can point to the fact that the Buffaloes have been outscored by 16 points combined in their last seven conference games.....so you know they've been playing well. Leading 70-57 with four minutes to go, you sure expect to win by more than five when you're at home, but a win's a win's a win. 77-72, and you move on to the next challenge.
We'll need to be much better Wednesday in Waco. Baylor is due for a breakout performance.......especially against us.
SCORING BREAKDOWN:
1st - 20 [laid baaaaaaack.]
2nd - 18 [Karen Carpenter.]
3rd - 18 [Joan Rivers.]
4th - 21 [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.]
LEADING SCORERS:
26 - Blake Griffin [forgot about him, and kept Colorado in it.]
24 - Tony Crocker [the Crock Pot was cookin'!]
LEADING REBOUNDERS:
12 - Blake Griffin [ho-hum. Another 25 and 10 game.]
5 - The Chupacabra [three blocks too.]
4 - Austin Johnson
PLUSES:
1. Tony Crocker: The Crock Pot was feeling it from the opening tip and still had rhythm at the final horn. 24 points and the two crucial free throws that clinched the game. He also posted three assists and three rebounds while only turning the ball over once. He's the fourth different Sooner to score at least 22 points in a game during conference play. That's the sign of a really good offensive basketball team.
2. Blake Griffin: What do you compliment? The windmill? The lob from half court he flushed? The driving dunk he threw down with extreme prejudice? I'd hate to be the guy charged with putting together Blake's list of top 10 dunks at OU. That would be a daunting task.
3. The Chupacabra: Mr. Pattillo might be the best inch-for-inch shot blocker in the country. He's not just getting a hand on these blocks, no, he's feeding them back to the shooter for a late breakfast. He's as quick and as high a jumper as I've seen in a long time. He showed us a bit of range today too. Eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
4. Crowd: We're starting to get good, loud, knowledgeable crowds on a consistent basis these days. There was a solid 10,000 in the house tonight, and other than leaving in droves at the four-minute mark (which I'll NEVER understand) they were a solid bunch. I expect another good crowd next Saturday against Tech and a zoo Monday night against the wretched Squawks.
MINUSES:
1. Blake Griffin the Point Guard: Point guards don't turn it over half the time they take the ball up the floor. Point guards hit more than 60% of their free throws. Point guards don't have one assist against six turnovers. If I were coaching Blake, I'd make him run me a mile every time he brought the ball across half court when it was unnecessary. It drives me nuts.
2. Starting Backcourt: Austin and Willie, especially Willie, both had rough spots. Willie really forced things and had his worst game of the conference season. Our starting point and shooting guards combined to score 11 points on 5-14 shooting. They missed all seven of their shots from behind the arc, while only shooting one free throw between the two of them. Their nine assists were commendable, but not against seven turnovers. They'll be much better Wednesday, I'll bet.
3. "Gamma" Ray Willis: He didn't suit up today. Uh-oh?
Overall, a fairly gruesome win, but a win nonetheless. I'm very concerned about Baylor because they are so far past due to get one against us. We stole one in Norman last year, and you know they're going to be up for us big time. I don't think a loss would do us too much damage, but I really want to win the conference this year. On paper, we should drill them, but they're such a gimmick team they may hit 50% of their threes and run us halfway back to the Branch Davidian compound. I do have faith in our guys stepping up to take care of business. They've yet to let us down, and I'm confident they'll continue to make the key plays that championship clubs make.
23-1, 9-0 in conference. Yep, there goes the smile back across my face. :D
Thank you for your time.
This game was a reverse of the trend we've seen lately. In tough road games in Ames and Stillwater, we made the plays down the stretch to turn a close game into a comfortable victory. Today, we took what had become a comfortable, coasting home victory and made every mistake in the book to let the Buffaloes back in it. It's got to be driving Capel nuts.
I want to be pissed about it, but I can't. Can you gripe when you're 23-1 and 9-0 in the conference? I don't think so. We've seen incredible flashes from this team, so we know the talent is there to play mind-blowing ball, but we really haven't needed it. Will it be there in March? I'm guessing that's what all Sooner fans are depending on.
Colorado played a really good game. They worked our defense to death and were rewarded by several easy baskets near the rim. When we shut down interior passing lanes they popped the ball back out and knocked down shots. Is our defense bad or are teams playing really well against us? I think it's a little of the former and a lot of the latter. In Moral Victory Land you can point to the fact that the Buffaloes have been outscored by 16 points combined in their last seven conference games.....so you know they've been playing well. Leading 70-57 with four minutes to go, you sure expect to win by more than five when you're at home, but a win's a win's a win. 77-72, and you move on to the next challenge.
We'll need to be much better Wednesday in Waco. Baylor is due for a breakout performance.......especially against us.
SCORING BREAKDOWN:
1st - 20 [laid baaaaaaack.]
2nd - 18 [Karen Carpenter.]
3rd - 18 [Joan Rivers.]
4th - 21 [with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.]
LEADING SCORERS:
26 - Blake Griffin [forgot about him, and kept Colorado in it.]
24 - Tony Crocker [the Crock Pot was cookin'!]
LEADING REBOUNDERS:
12 - Blake Griffin [ho-hum. Another 25 and 10 game.]
5 - The Chupacabra [three blocks too.]
4 - Austin Johnson
PLUSES:
1. Tony Crocker: The Crock Pot was feeling it from the opening tip and still had rhythm at the final horn. 24 points and the two crucial free throws that clinched the game. He also posted three assists and three rebounds while only turning the ball over once. He's the fourth different Sooner to score at least 22 points in a game during conference play. That's the sign of a really good offensive basketball team.
2. Blake Griffin: What do you compliment? The windmill? The lob from half court he flushed? The driving dunk he threw down with extreme prejudice? I'd hate to be the guy charged with putting together Blake's list of top 10 dunks at OU. That would be a daunting task.
3. The Chupacabra: Mr. Pattillo might be the best inch-for-inch shot blocker in the country. He's not just getting a hand on these blocks, no, he's feeding them back to the shooter for a late breakfast. He's as quick and as high a jumper as I've seen in a long time. He showed us a bit of range today too. Eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
4. Crowd: We're starting to get good, loud, knowledgeable crowds on a consistent basis these days. There was a solid 10,000 in the house tonight, and other than leaving in droves at the four-minute mark (which I'll NEVER understand) they were a solid bunch. I expect another good crowd next Saturday against Tech and a zoo Monday night against the wretched Squawks.
MINUSES:
1. Blake Griffin the Point Guard: Point guards don't turn it over half the time they take the ball up the floor. Point guards hit more than 60% of their free throws. Point guards don't have one assist against six turnovers. If I were coaching Blake, I'd make him run me a mile every time he brought the ball across half court when it was unnecessary. It drives me nuts.
2. Starting Backcourt: Austin and Willie, especially Willie, both had rough spots. Willie really forced things and had his worst game of the conference season. Our starting point and shooting guards combined to score 11 points on 5-14 shooting. They missed all seven of their shots from behind the arc, while only shooting one free throw between the two of them. Their nine assists were commendable, but not against seven turnovers. They'll be much better Wednesday, I'll bet.
3. "Gamma" Ray Willis: He didn't suit up today. Uh-oh?
Overall, a fairly gruesome win, but a win nonetheless. I'm very concerned about Baylor because they are so far past due to get one against us. We stole one in Norman last year, and you know they're going to be up for us big time. I don't think a loss would do us too much damage, but I really want to win the conference this year. On paper, we should drill them, but they're such a gimmick team they may hit 50% of their threes and run us halfway back to the Branch Davidian compound. I do have faith in our guys stepping up to take care of business. They've yet to let us down, and I'm confident they'll continue to make the key plays that championship clubs make.
23-1, 9-0 in conference. Yep, there goes the smile back across my face. :D
Thank you for your time.