2013-14 OU womens basketball thread [Archive] - SoonerFans.com Message Boards

badger

10/14/2013, 11:22 AM

I need something to take my mind off football... BASKETBALL TO THE RESCUE!

Welcome to preseason preview, where I go through every newcomer I can with photo(s) and video(s) and SS.com makes them available... and they haven't yet, so you're stuck with just one image for today's first installment:

T'ona Edwards #2
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/400/HH/HHKIXEMFLIHWCVR.20130927163214.jpg

Tee-own-ya? Is that how you pronounce it? Until we know for sure, let's call her "Braces" :)

Braces hails from Spencer, the same place that gave us Sharane Campbell. However, she is not from *STAR* Spencer, so I am not sure whether she will be a star or just a... "northeast academy."

A 5'5" guard, the Oklahoman named her the "Little All-City Basketball Player of the Year." I am not sure if that is because she is only slightly taller than me, or because Spencer is not the size of OKC.

She has two older siblings, which lends itself to great athleticism as your bully older siblings (both a brother AND a sister) torment you daily with their ageness, tallness and old person strength. Yeah, badger's a younger sibling, so?

She spent her senior high school year going 30-0 and winning the state championship. Thus, we can expect the same thing out of her initial Big 12 year. It'll be like CP3 all over again, except we won't have an early NCAA exit!

Welcome to the team, "Braces." I hope you get an awesome mouthguard so I can start calling you "Mouthguard" instead.

badger

10/15/2013, 02:20 PM

They still haven't posted the media guide and I have half a month to make it through 5 freshmen (6 if you include our redshirt freshman Maddie, who sat out with injury last year)...

So, once again, you are stuck with the roster page mugshot:
Derica Wyatt #11
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/GI/GIQITECLPWLSHZR.20130726190943.jpg
Derrick-ah... I'm pretty sure that's right... again, gonna have to wait till November to find out the real pronunciations.... till then, let's call her Rocky Top! Why?

Rocky Top hails from Tennessee!

She is 5-10, but yet is listed as a guard. I dunno about the rest of you, but being 5-10 and female qualified you as a center at my high school. Maybe we have another Whitney Hand on our hands?

Her parents are named Dayna and Darin, and she has a brother named Devin. In other words, they wanted to name her Erica, but her family D'vetoed that.

Averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.2 steals in high school. OK, but will she fit in at OU?

"Named Best 3-Point Shooter by the Nashville City Paper." OK, she's definitely a Sooner!

Seriously, a tall guard that shoots lots of threes. If only she were from the Dallas area, we'd have a Whitney Hand clone here. Welcome to the team, Rocky Top!

Stay tuned the rest of the month as we all forget about football and forge survival skills for football's offseason

badger

10/16/2013, 11:13 AM

Let's go ahead and assume they haven't posted the media guide once again and instead look at the Lindy's preseason top 25 (http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/sports/wbkb/2013-14/releases/20130916duun0z):

1. Connecticut
2. Duke

I've got an idea --- let's rank the teams we've always ranked high!

3. California
Ummm... Berkeleys are smarts?

4. Notre Dame
5. Stanford
6. Tennessee
7. Kentucky
I've got an idea --- let's rank the teams we've always ranked high!

8. Louisville
They beat Baylor, right? So they have to be good, right?

9. Baylor
We'd rank them lower, but Skeletor would kill us.

10. Maryland
11. Dayton
12. Colorado
13. South Carolina
14. Penn State
15. Gonzaga
16. Chattanooga
17. Purdue
This is the mid-top 25 lull, where nobody cares except those who are named. Zzz.

18. Iowa State
They were good at some point, right? Maybe?

19. Georgia
20. Creighton
More lulling. Lullaby...lullaby... zzzz

21. Texas A&M
No longer relevant in a conference that doesn't give a crap outside Rocky Top.

22. Green Bay
23. UCLA
24. LSU
25. Quinnipiac
This stings... they rank Quinnipiac but not OU. It's like I'm the victim of an April Fool's joke or something, and it's only October! Trick or treat... you only get tricks. Grrrrr.

**** them and their top 25. Have a video and photos (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209280839) from preseason practice to cheer you up. No seriously, check out the awesome SS.com video. Now.

badger

10/21/2013, 02:09 PM

Still no media guide, but there is a Friday tailgate with the team! (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209288553)

In the meantime, we are just under two weeks till our season-ish starts, so let's keep the know-your-new-Sooner thing going:

Shaya Kellogg #22
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/QB/QBAAAGDYQEZXRAZ.20130726190812.jpg
Sha-YEAH?! That's probably wrong, so let's just call her Frosted Flakes. No, she's from Iowa, so let's call her Corn Flakes, hehe.

Not just Iowa, but Ames, Iowa. She had to come to OU since, you know, they don't have any quality college programs to play at around those parts. Zing!

She is 6'2" tall forward. Now if she is a smarty scientist, we might have another Joanna on our hands. Alas, SS.com says "plans to study for a career in education." But, what type of education? One that put the BIO in front of chemistry, perhaps???

Seriously, her near-double double stats suggest she's going to focus on rebounding (7-8 her junior-senior years). Will be interesting to see how her stats and skills translate from high school to college, Iowa to Oklahoma, farmageddon land to God's country...

Anyways, that's about all for now. Seriously, SS.com. Post your media guide. People expect photos here, not HS stats!

8timechamps

10/22/2013, 09:46 PM

I'm in love with Nicole Kornet.

badger

10/23/2013, 10:29 AM

I'm in love with Nicole Kornet.

Just for you:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/400/AG/AGWECOAURULBNTN.20130927163052.jpg

Last month, the coaches voted for some tournament changes. They will be passed onto the NCAA for consideration. Here they are:

Return to having top-16 seeds host the early rounds. It was changed to predetermined sites in 2003. (This was in an eight-team "pod" system for the early rounds from 2005-07; it was discontinued.)

I attended every OU womens postseason 2001-2005. There is absolutely no comparison between a home early round site and an away one. If you want fans to show up, go to a home site. If you want an empty arena with maybe 100 fans, along with the support groups (band and cheer... and mascot too I guess), send OU to Tempe in 2004. It was a lot of fun getting to sit in a fancy hotel by the pool and such, but it didn't compare to our awesome home crowd for the early rounds of 2001 and 2002. We lost to George Washington in 2002, but we still had a big crowd for that loss.

Move the Women's Final Four to the weekend after the men's event.
There might be some momentum from the mens game left for this, but it doesn't change the fact that there's a day between games in basketball. You're going to have diminished interest with that much spacing regardless. At least when weaving with the mens games (Friday-Sunday for men, Saturday-Monday for women), there's a game every day that weekend.

Go back to a Friday-Sunday setup for the Women's Final Four, rather than Sunday-Tuesday. The latter has been utilized since 2003.
Meh.

Have two super-regionals instead of the current four regionals, and award them on a multi-year basis to build up community interest, support and infrastructure.
I like this a lot. We already have a ton of teams attending their conference tournaments anyway, why not make it a big ol' get together site for postseason teams?

The biggest thing to keep in mind is what they're doing to promote their game and also do right by the athletes, who miss a ton of school for basketball's postseason. There's a week for spring break of course, but there's tons of travel, tons of games, etc. Home sites will minimize travel times for at least some of the teams, while fewer later sites may allow teams to have more advanced planning for travel.

In any event, it majorly kicked arse to see so many Oklahoma state (little s, not big S) teams in last year's tourney.

badger

10/24/2013, 10:09 AM

SS.com likes to torture me by continuing to not post the media guide. October ends in a week, SS.com and basketball season starts shortly after. They're just never going to post it are they?

Well, eff waiting around. Time for another freshman!
Maddie Manning #23
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/400/IB/IBHSAYTKPSZKPLF.20130927163809.jpg

Wait, doesn't that name sound familiar? It should, because she's a redshirt freshman. She started with the Sooners last year, and literally started... until a season ending injury ended her season. Horrid details here in this espn archive article. (http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8692210/maddie-manning-oklahoma-sooners-season)

Last season early-on was just the epitomy of misery related to injuries and Maddie was one of several. Kay Kay Williams had just gone out with an ACL, and we would later lose Whitney Hand for the third and final time.

*sigh* it is times like this that I wonder if only we kept healthy if we could have had as successful of a postseason as Baylor.

:D

I should probably talk about Maddie, who doesn't need a nickname, because we've actually already heard her name last year.

MADDIE is on twitter (https://twitter.com/MaddieManning). She is taller than Allen Iverson at 6'2" but yet is still classified as a guard. No wonder we were looking to start her early-on pre-injury!

She was a three-sport start back in the land of Corn (aka Iowa) in high school before deciding that God's country was better than... ethanol? The first presidential caucus? The place where The Music Man musical takes place? Wow, no wonder we get so many girls to leave Iowa and play here.

http://sporthangover.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/iowa.jpg?w=300&h=273
http://tigerboard.com/uimages/user15351_19.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1oYBPeVFDa8/Tlhkev0EdlI/AAAAAAAAAbE/PGRx96Kznto/s1600/BoringIowa.jpg
http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/31255941.jpg
http://i.qkme.me/356tld.jpg

Iowa sucking aside, I am really excited for Maddie's return. I think she has immediate starter potential and based on how quickly she broke into our pretty solid starting 5 last year, All-Big 12 potential.

Did I mentions she still just a (redshirt) freshmen? Someone give her the Heisman!

Anyways, I'll be back next week with our final two (true) freshmen.

Boomer!

tycat947

10/24/2013, 01:02 PM

IOWA (Idiots Out Walking Around).

8timechamps

10/24/2013, 05:58 PM

Thanks for doing this badg. I'm keeping up with it.

Soonerjeepman

10/26/2013, 08:03 AM

yes thanks...I do follow the team, I coached HS girls and my sis played at KSU.

but I'll take Maddie over Nicole...I'm a sucker for brunettes...lol. *This is MERELY stating she's a cute girl...both are. I'm old enough to be their dad...so it's just an observation.

Soonerjeepman

10/26/2013, 08:05 AM

Badge, who is our newest verbal? just a name is good. It's on ouinsider.

Salt City Sooner

10/27/2013, 01:33 AM

Badge, who is our newest verbal? just a name is good. It's on ouinsider.
http://ouhoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=404409

Scroll down for a few highlights from VPL.

Also, I didn't see it mentioned here yet, but Maddie's out again. ACL tear.

Soonerjeepman

10/27/2013, 12:19 PM

no $hit...ugh Trey M now her. I tore my acl in April...no ball for 8 months but I'm old...lol Hope for a speedy recovery

Soonerjeepman

10/27/2013, 12:22 PM

oh, THanks SCS

badger

10/28/2013, 08:31 AM

http://ouhoops.com/forum/showthread.php?p=404409

Scroll down for a few highlights from VPL.

Also, I didn't see it mentioned here yet, but Maddie's out again. ACL tear.

Yeah, the Norman Transcript reported (http://normantranscript.com/sports/x1442593926/Sooners-Manning-Hook-suffer-injuries) it yesterday as a potential season ending knee injury so maybe there's good news to be had later on that... or we're looking at yet another redshirt freshman year NEXT year! How do you feel about getting a masters degree paid for, Maddie?

In the minor injury category, Morgon Hook sounds like she twinged her thumb, but timetable for recovery is days, not weeks, according to that linked article.

Badge, who is our newest verbal? just a name is good. It's on ouinsider.

I admittedly do not follow recruiting as much as some in any OU sports, unless they're Tulsa area. Can you all see this ESPN page? (http://espn.go.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/rankings/_/class/2014) If not, here's the 2014 OU girls on the top 100 list:

14 Gabrielle Ortiz
98
Oklahoma PG 5-6 The Prairie H.S. (WI)

83 Vionise Pierre-Louis
94
Oklahoma P 6-3 Grandview Prep (FL)
If I had to take a wild and crazy guess, the one ouhoops is talking about is Vionise Pierre-Louis.

The first number (14 for Gabrielle, 83 for VPL) is their ranking in the class overall, according to ESPN's Hoopgurls. The second number (98 for Gabrielle, 94 for VPL) is their grade out of 100, giving Gabrielle five stars and VPL four stars.

I highly recommend visiting ouhoops.com throughout basketball season. Very good and passionate Sooner basketball fans on both the mens and womens side. A few of them love Baylor women a little bit too much, but that's about it.

PS: "no $hit...ugh Trey M now her." Ummmm... jeepster dude? I don't think Trey is out for the season with an ACL (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/24091779/report-sooner-wr-trey-metoyer-charged-with-indecent-exposure), nor do I think Maddie Manning is out for the season on... those charges. However, run to the hills run for your lives if you hear Sherri utter the following statement:

She’s going through some things right now...she’s trying to get her hands around it. And so we just wish her the best as she works her way through that.”

I'm death staring anyone out there with dirty thoughts right now. :mad:

PPS: Did I seriously just confused Metoyer with Millard. Holy sh!t. It must be Monday morning. Gah. I'm leaving my post up in great humility and shame for making that mistake

badger

10/28/2013, 12:50 PM

I'm still embarrassed for mixing up my Trey Ms :(

But, SS.com is not equally embarrassed for being less than a week from the Sooner womens season and not having their media guide online yet. Geez, no Big 12 media days for womens basketball, we lose our (likely) starting tall guard during an exhibition aaaaagain to an ACL, another possible starting guard gets a finger injury in that same exhibition... EFF EERRRRRRRYTHING! Here's your next freshman:

#25 Gioya Carter
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/400/UZ/UZNYIJKOVUGDFXO.20130927163904.jpg
Please don't make me try to pronounce her name. Please don't make me try to pronounce her name. Please don't

Guy-oh-ya... Gee-oh-ya... eff it.

Toyota Car(ter) is our latest in attempts to dissuade in-state talent from going out of state for their college experience. A 5'9" guard from Midwest City (Carl Albert), she received many state honors from media, including the Oklahoman's Big All-City and Super Five, as well as being a member of the All-State and All-Tournament teams for two consecutive years!

She is also an inspiration to younger siblings everywhere, as yet another star athlete who likely had to endure being bullied by the older brothers and sister for ages before finally growing up to being the greatest. I don't know why, but whenever I picture a younger sibling athlete from the OKC area, I picture all of the torturous tales of Wes Welker and his older brother and friends.

There is no mention of her three-point shooting percentage/number/etc., so when they list 18.3 ppg, I have to assume that it's non-three. Dear oh dear, will she fit in our offense? ;)

She also has 7.4 rpg listed, not sure if that's due to being a center in spirit, or because she's going up again high schoolers my height (full disclosure: "height" in no way describes how tall I am, nor does the word "tall").

The last guard that we had that really have a three-point focus was none other than D-Rob Danielle Robinson, but she was also one that had a very good assist/dribble drive focus. What we had here is a scorer/rebounder. Is Sherri going away from her three-point focus? Or am I just reading waaaay into info that's not listed. Hell, for all I know, her 18.3 ppg were all threes (6ish per game!).

In which case, I might as well be confusing Trey Millard for Trey Metoyer again. Gag.

In any events, welcome Gioya. I promise to either come up with a better nickname or an accurate pronunciation of your name by season's end.

Our final freshmen later this week, before the season starts. Maybe SS.com will also bless us with a media guide (aka tons of photos)

panhandlesooner

10/28/2013, 09:58 PM

love it...thanks badger..you made me smile....

badger

10/29/2013, 08:21 AM

Btw, speaking of future OU commits, here's a really cool article on our top 2014 prospect via ESPN. (http://espn.go.com/espnw/news-commentary/article/9871765/hoopgurlz-oklahoma-sooners-recruit-gabbi-ortiz-overcomes-death-mother-stars-basketball-court-thanks-dad-always-watching-her)

Whether it has been soccer or basketball, whether he has been a coach or a fan, Ortiz has been there. He has made that commitment even though, as a flight attendant for American Airlines, he doesn't have a 9-to-5 job. He has committed to being there for his daughter in part because she lost her mom -- and he his wife -- nearly 17 years ago to a heart attack. Gabbi was just 7 months old.

And because I know you all love photos:
http://a1.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1023/espnw_e_ortiz01jr_300x200.jpg
http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2013/1023/ny_e_ortiz_800x450.jpg

Obligatory: It is awesome to see another Wisconsin girl coming to OU :)

Soonerjeepman

10/29/2013, 12:02 PM

wow, cool article...she'll fit in perfect.

Salt City Sooner

10/29/2013, 01:42 PM

Gabbi highlight reel:

FQzZMbNoi3s

badger

10/31/2013, 09:39 AM

I was trying to hold out for the media guide, but I just SS.com just isn't gonna post it. FINAL FRESHMAN!

Felisha Gibbs #43
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/400/OI/OIBABDQHJKZBLJP.20130927164127.jpg

Since she doesn't have a name which can be confused in pronunciation, I just want to state that she is from Parkin, Arkansas. Therefore, her preseason nickname is Parkin-Arkin' or something like that

Park Ark is a 6'2" forward who averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals as a senior at Earle High School, according to SS.com.

Judging on our other recruiting pickups and our existing roster, Earle Bird will probably be our insurance policy against our taller girls getting in foul trouble, getting winded, or just -- dare i even say -- getting injured. After last season, we need as much bench contribution as possible in practice, in exhibition early games, and later on in the season as we need to rotate our roster to face unique opponents.

It is my sincere hope that one-time star froshie Kay-Kay Williams will take our defacto "power" position and will retain it this season and that she can help Arky Earle make the transition to the college game. With any luck and no injuries (which we are off to a shining wonderful optimism brewing start, btw), we could even have both in anti-bullying lineup to face some of the more notoriously brutal punchy opponents.

I mean, I dunno about the rest of you, but as a mother... of children... I am against bullying.

I will probably do at least one more entry before our 7 p.m. Saturday exhibition against Cameron. The preseason poll was as predictable and boring as the football preseason polls.

Boomer!

tycat947

10/31/2013, 11:23 AM

After watching Felisha at scrimmage last week, you can tell that she's an exceptional athlete (much like a previous Arkie, Nyeshia Stevenson) and if she really improves with her basketball skills, she will really be a good one by the time she's a junior/senior. I think Felisha is going to be another good find for Sherri and staff!

badger

11/1/2013, 11:26 AM

All right you effing hillbillies (does anyone even still remember Bill Callahan? Did you even know his name till you just now read it?), one last preseason entry before entering another phase of preseason: Exhibition!

USA Today released its preseason womens basketball poll, and here it is. (http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings)

1 Connecticut (31) 0-0 799
2 Duke 0-0 735
3 Stanford 0-0 714
4 Tennessee (1) 0-0 663
5 Louisville 0-0 631
6 Maryland 0-0 630
7 Notre Dame 0-0 624
8 Kentucky 0-0 621
9 California 0-0 490
As much as I'd love to be ranked higher, I am glad someone else isn't for the first time in years. I must admit I'm kind of surprised at Tennessee's staying power post-Summitt, but then again, they DID send us home (with a postgame prayer, thanks again btw) in the Sweet 16 last season.

10 Baylor 0-0 407
If losing Britney Griner drops them nine spots, imagine what a loss-loss will drop them. How about all of the spots and be unranked :D

11 North Carolina 0-0 387
12 Nebraska 0-0 381
13 Texas A&M 0-0 368
Traitors. Oh, and North Carolina too. I do long for the days of the old Big 12 in womens basketball season at times. Meh. Have fun losing lots. Traitors.

14 Oklahoma 0-0 354
This is about right. I haven't looked at our pre-Big 12 schedule yet, so I'm sure Sherri has a lot of competition in store as usual.

15 Penn State 0-0 313
16 Dayton 0-0 307
17 LSU 0-0 276
18 Michigan State 0-0 185
19 Colorado 0-0 172
This is around the part of the poll where regional bias comes out. I see a collective "meh" in this area.

20 Iowa State 0-0 163
Good ol' Iowa State, Sherri's early aught nemesis.

21 South Carolina 0-0 158
22 Georgia 0-0 152
23 Purdue 0-0 129
More meh.

24 Oklahoma State 0-0 127
They really made a solid investment in their basketball programs at the same time with their facility upgrade. They still have a lot of empty GIA seats to fill for non-Gooner games (just like football, amirite Pokes? BUY YOUR SEASON TICKET WITH POSSE MEMBERSHIP FEE FOR BETTER SEATS OR MISS BEDL@M RAWR) but should they ever find their footing, we are in for a future fun rivalry similar to when Andrea Riley was still around.

25 UCLA 0-0 114

Others receiving votes: Vanderbilt 99, Gonzaga 68, DePaul 54, West Virginia 53, South Florida 37, Georgia Tech 34, Kansas State 32, Green Bay 18, Florida State 18, Marist 17, Rutgers 11, Creighton 10, Saint Mary's 8, Syracuse 8, Toledo 6, Middle Tennessee 6, San Diego 4, Quinnipiac 4, Iowa 4, Delaware 2, Minnesota 2, Pacific 1, Florida 1, Brigham Young 1, Southern Methodist 1, St. John's 1
Despite our 10-strong (more like 9 because TCU will always suck at basketball a la Baylor will always suck at foo...grrrrrr), the Big 12 remains one of, if not the, most competitive and strongest conferences in womens basketball. Unlike its other two major sports, Texas already parted ways with their former big name coach (Gail G formerly of Duke) so there's hope for them to return to prominence.

Far more hope than Mack or Rick leading whorn football or mens basketball back to dominance, that's for damn sure.

Boomer!

badger

11/1/2013, 02:43 PM

One more poll for you all... the AP one. (http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings) Big 12 teams in bold

1 UConn's football team sucks
2 Duke crazies don't show up for womens games
3 Stanford pretentious twits and tree
4 Tennessee gets a pass on insults
5 Louisville does too thx for beating Baylor
6 Notre Dame does not. Eff you domer uppity Catholics too good for Big 12
7 Kentucky doesn't know the SEC is a football conference
8 Maryland probably had Under Armour make it new ugly unis
9 California was too busy protesting to notice their ranking
10 Skeletor's minions sans Britney. Sweet 16 nyah nyah
11 Oklahoma made it to the Sweet 16 too nyah nyah
12 North Carolina adds powder to their blue; it makes you sneeze ka-choo
13 Penn State deserves to lose at everything forever
14 Dayton welcomes you to Ohio. Ha ha now you're stuck in Ohio
15 LSU fans eat corn dogs and smell like them too
16 Texas A&M is part of an elite exclusive bloated to 14 member conference
17 Nebraska used to husk corn but now are just a bunch of cornholes
18 Purdue has a rally train whistle. Choo choo DE-FENSE choo choo DE-FENSE
19 Colorado legalized marijuana so it could tolerate boring things like Colorado athletics
20 Michigan State fans dress like the naked men of '300' Harumph!
21 Oklahoma State is our younger sibling that wants to play with our older friends. Shoo!
22 South Carolina is so immature that they can't say their mascot without giggling
23 Iowa State wonders where it will go when the Big 12 dissolves
24 Georgia eats peaches then tosses the pits in front of old lady's walkers and canes.
25 Gonzaga laughs when those old ladies trip saying 'That's the pits' then laugh again.

Others receiving votes are not worthy of being joked about: West Virginia 77, UCLA 70, Vanderbilt 61, Green Bay 48, DePaul 44, Chattanooga 41, Georgia Tech 39, Creighton 21, Middle Tennessee 11, Missouri 10, Marist 10, Texas 7, Washington 6, Quinnipiac 2, Florida State 2, James Madison 1, South Florida 1, UT Martin 1

badger

11/4/2013, 10:46 AM

Point of information: SS.com is never going to post its media guide online. Bastards. Thus, I will just have to spam you all with game photos whenever possible. Up first, Nicole Kornet:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/BA/BATGKTTNHJXVNAI.20131103025100.jpg

OU 102, Cameron 48

Ah, exhibition, that magical time when you get to see everyone leave the bench, the Sooners score 100 and nobody really cares how uncompetitive the scoreboard looks. Who knows? It may even provide a hint to what we'll see from freshmen, post-injury players, and returning stars the rest of the season.

Game notes:

Starting at point guard, freshman T'ona Edwards: With Morgan Hook out with a stubby thumbbie, and Maddie Manning ACLing, T'ona started and made the most of it, with 8 pts, 12 assists and 7 rebounds. A point guard with double digit assists? Yes, please.

We were ahead 68-19 at halftime: Don't complain, or you'll look like media blowhards that didn't tune into 77-0 in 2003 (they ran up the scorrrrrrrrrrrrrrre). Cameron decided that it would be a good idea to lob 12 three attempts (and they only made 2 of them). Thus, their field goals in the first half was a facepalm worthy 7 of 31. At the same time, they sent OU to the line 14 times in the first half and allowed us to shoot nearly 50 percent from 3, nearly 60 percent overall from the field. And, once again, it's exhibition, it doesn't count, nobody cares about the final score.

And now, Kay Kay provides a post-injury photo break. Doesn't she look happy to be back:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/ZS/ZSXNUZVCPRROCVK.20131103025100.jpg

Aaryn scored 24 points in only 18 minutes: I still remember talking about how great she was as a freshman but alas, she, Morgan and Nicole are now seniors. College sports are so unfair. Four years of eligibility?! Who still graduates in four years (actually, I did in 2005 so I shouldn't be questioning it)

Eerrrybody gets minutes: The only exceptions were the injured ones.

Btw, Sharane Campbell now has short hair:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/PN/PNENDXECCAFLTHS.20131103025100.jpg

And now, the bozo stats of the game:

19 turnovers: When this problem is there game after game, you zero right in on the number at first box score glance. How bad was it this time? It was bad. If a team wants to beat us, all they have to do is wait for our turnover mistakes and capitalize. Oh, you want to fast break, Sooners? Nope, I'm gonna take this errant pass the other way and you're going to have to silly foul to stop me. Grrrrr arrrrrrgh %^%&%&^%^&

52 percent free throws: So you stand on this line in front of the basket unguarded and the points still count if you make the shot?! That sounds like cheating! Wait, you missed almost half of those free shots? How considerate of you to the unfairness of the situation. Maybe we should just ask the other team to contest our shots since we shot those almost as well (50 percent).

Nicole Kornet and T'ona Edwards both had four fouls: Now that Joanna McFarland is gone, the "Four Foul" nickname is up for grabs. Who wants it?!

Player of the Game: Ellen-burger
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/VG/VGSCPETNVVOTFZD.20131103025100.jpg

At least she attends the games so she hopefully hasn't heard national TV announcers butcher her name, but it's much cooler than "Vegas," right? She had 24 pts, 4 steals, 6 assists and ZERO turnovers in just 18 minutes.

What did Sherri say postgame?

“I was really pleased with the first half with how we came out," OU head coach Sherri Coale said. "We were very attentive to detail, pushed the ball in transition, got good looks, shot it extremely well. It’s always pretty when you shoot it well.

"I thought we defended in a disciplined manner and that was one of the biggest things I was looking forward to the opportunity to do tonight with the new emphasis in the officiating."

Next game: 7 p.m. Tuesday vs Central Oklahoma in exhibition. TV is FS Southwest Plus/FCS Central

Boomer!

badger

11/6/2013, 11:34 AM

I have created a GIF recap of the first half for those of you that missed it last night:
http://picasion.com/pic75/ba4f30dbc939e1553415154426cc9edb.gif

Central Oklahoma spells Broncos with an "h," and after lobbing 3s aimlessly for about 18 minutes, the Sooners went on a 37-0 run. The game stopped being competitive after the first two minutes and both teams let it show.

UCO attempted 32 shots and only made two (again, within the first two minutes of the game). After that, it truly was an exhibition... of how many players we could get off our bench and show off what they can offer this program when the *real* season starts.

Game notes:

Billy Tubbs returns again to "commentate": If you want professional analysis with in-game information pertinent to the live action you are viewing... **** you, go away, tune into Longhorn Network. Billy Tubbs is awesome. I wish I could sit next to him and listen to him ramble, while occasionally interjecting "I think UCO touched the ball last." Love you Billy. Please keep showing up for OU womens games.

They called her "Ellen-burger" again last night: She deferred to the bench players in this blowout mostly, so she *only* got 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals. And no joke, I even DVR rewound it to be sure, the not-Billy guy called her "Ellenburger" lol

Kay Kay is awesome: Redshirt sophomore extraordinaire Kaylon Williams had 18 pts, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. She is going to be someone that will give every opponent, Div. 2 or NCAA tourney bound, fits. She is the one that Skeletor will be screaming at refs about come conference season.

Is T'ona Edwards our future starting point guard?: I swear I heard Sherri call her "Toy" in the postgame interview. In any event, she moves the ball very well and with a few more solid showings, dare I suggest that she'll start in place of Morgan whether Hook's thumb is healed or not?

Over-board: We outrebounded UCO 68 to 35. Based on positioning, I will go out on not much of whim here and suggest that we are going to have similar results against higher than Div. 2 competition. It isn't just Nicole being tall, it isn't just Kay Kay being stronger, it isn't just the guards being faster, everybody is already exactly where they need to be post-shot, waiting for a miss to fall. It's perfect, we rule.

Bozo stats of the game (where we are not perfect and don't rule):

17 turnovers: Admittedly I saw a lot of errant-ness during mopup duty near the end, but even during those first few competitive minutes of the game, I was seeing conduct unbecoming of senior players in regards to valuing possession of the ball. This leads me to suspect that the point guard position is not as set in stone as our other two seniors, center Nicole, because she's tallest, and shooting guard Aaryn because she scores and steals a lot.

Cheat throws: This is the only way that I'll feel better about missing so many of these shots, by thinking that we are rising above this obvious circumvention of the rules and therefore declining to accept ill-gotten pointage. 24 of 36. The only thing good about those numbers is if you're in elementary school math and know that you can divide both of those by 12 to get an easier fraction. 2 of 3! That's 67 percent! Ish. Gaaaaaaaaaah

Player of the game: Kay Kay
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/HK/HKPAHZHZMPMVXJZ.20131106034224.jpg
Welcome back, we missed you. Please continue frustrating the hell out of defenses. What does Sherri think of Kaylon?

“I thought she established herself in the second half particularly. We talked at halftime about demanding the ball. Sometimes our post guys can be too unselfish. They want to catch and make the extra pass and swing it and they need to understand that they have an advantage in that situation. She did that in the second half. Her first move in the second half was kind of soft and iffy and from that point forward was really explosive. That’s one of the things we teach is to score closer than you receive it. I thought down the stretch in the second half she did a great job of that.”

Next game: Preseason WNIT in Norman! We kick this off 7 p.m. Friday vs Stetson. It's televised by "Sooner Sports TV," aka badger-wont-be-watching-argh.

Boooommmerrrrrrr

8timechamps

11/6/2013, 09:52 PM

badger

11/7/2013, 09:09 AM

LOL...loved the comment about Tubbs. Had a chance to catch the men's exhibition game on FoxCollege and I laugh every time I hear him talk for the first time in a game. My kid (who has no clue what Tubbs means to OU) said "is that guy drunk?". I laughed and simply said, "No son, that guy is Billy Tubbs".

I implore anyone who has been holding off on watching Sooner basketball on Fox Sports these past few seasons to tune in and not wait till the professionals take over during conference season (because they usually replace Billy with someone more neutral by then). Billy Tubbs makes the two hours (ish) worth it! He does both mens and womens games!

badger

11/8/2013, 04:26 PM

Oh look, Sherri's blog now has a logo:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/1024/UQ/UQAZVVRDVWZSQQR.20130926161405.jpg
She just posted a new entry on the importance of practice here (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209301705), addressing the added challenges with all of the newcomers/redshirts.

Once again, we have a game at 7 p.m. tonight. It's late notice, so I won't do vBetting on this one, but I promise to get on that soon. I'm thinking a bingo format where we see how many milestones/targets we can hit each game/week would be more fun than just inventing an arbitrary point spread (OU by 60! No, I'm sorry, but we only beat UCO by 59. D'oh!)

The game is being "televised" by its online Sooner Sports TV thingie, plus radio on KOKC 1520 AM.

SanJoaquinSooner

11/8/2013, 09:31 PM

Badger, would you do live reports on this evening's game? Thanks.

badger

11/11/2013, 10:12 AM

I may cave eventually, but for now, not subscribed to SS TV. I will consider doing live reports on future womens games, but admittedly, they may include a lot of curse words (substitutes --- SF.com has a language filter).

btw, the women won 78-60 over Stetson Friday and 89-70 over Wichita State on Sunday. I'll recap both as best as I can later this morning.

I also plan to vBookie things up for both mens and womens next games, so please be on the lookout for that in Sports Book

badger

11/11/2013, 02:21 PM

I do apologize for taking the weekend off, because our team certainly didn't!
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/ZI/ZIRQXDQNVUCBVDA.20131109033850.jpg
OU 78, Stetson 60

The top photo's Gioya Carter. Here's one of Nicole Kornet:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/BU/BUJVZJJRDEYJHXP.20131109033850.jpg

Game notes:

Aaryn "Vegas" Ellenberg(er) is awesome: She would definitely hit that vBet thing that I put up for a Sooner scoring 30... if Sherri would just leave her in the entire game. 24 pts in 31 minutes. Now... how much would she score in an overtime game? Not that I want to find out, I like winning in regulation just fine, thanks... 5 steals, 6 for 11 from three,

Kay Kay is awesome too: What the vBet hits on double-double, it will probably be Kay Kay that you should thank. 17 pts and 8 rebounds in 16 mins. off the bench. Is Sherri holding her back due to her injury last season? I am fine with that, since I'd love to be full strength (yes, i KNOW maddie's already out! i mean BESIDES her!) against our conference opponents.

Sharane also solid: 10 pts, 6 rbs in only 23 mins. Did have 4 fouls and 0 for 4 for three, though...

Bozo stats:
15 turnovers: We did have 16 assists to make up for it, but I'd rather this number be a lot lower.

Cheat throws: 17 for 26 for 65.5 percent.

Three throws: 25 percent for the entire game is nothing to write SF.com about. There were several players that were 0-fer to bring this number lower than typical Sooner three-ness.

Player of the game: Vegasburger
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/FM/FMQDAIUOVAFWYUX.20131109033850.jpg
You cannot stop her. You can only hope to contain her... and Stetson didn't, probably because their mascot is the Hatters. (http://www.stetson.edu/portal/stetson-today/2012/01/john-b-makes-grand-debut-as-new-stetson-mascot/)

Sherri?

“The one thing I will say though is that everybody needs to relax a little bit. It’s the first time we’ve seen the zone and we’ve maybe spent 10 or 15 minutes on zone offense in practice. The lack of rhythm and the second guessing and just some of it felt disjointed. It’s just because we don’t run a half-court zone ourselves and so we don’t see it in practice very much. I don’t think we’ll see it a lot during the year. Maybe I’m wrong. If we continue to shoot 23 percent from the 3, we’re probably going to see it a lot. I don’t think that’s going to happen. Obviously that exposed us a little bit but considering we only spent about 10 to 15 minutes on it, I think we did okay.”

I'll be back later to recap the second weekend game...

badger

11/12/2013, 10:02 AM

A day or two late, but still a great win:
OU 89, Wichita State 70
Can they give the Heisman to Aaryn?
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/MZ/MZYMZTBAXOZCUNM.20131110211511.jpg
Sherri's hair this season is higher, wavier and longer:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/YF/YFZDFRZRUCBSBXT.20131110211510.jpg
Kay Kay: You mean i STILL haven't earned a starting spot yet?!
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/CT/CTHLFUCSLXDMPYH.20131110224647.jpg

More puzzling than a 5,000-piece jigsaw on almost every game this season, that question is. I really think that Kay Kay will work into the starting lineup soon, based on some stellar games. For the time being, barring injury, the current starting lineup is Hook, Kornet, Griffin, Campbell and of course, Ellenberg.

The Shockers decided to eliminate Aaryn's scoring threat in the first half (she only had one basket), yet we still led 46-34. Well, there goes that idea, Big 12 foes. You'll have to try something else if you want to beat us later this season, nyah nyah

Game notes:

Free throws once again: Hooray, we made 27 of 31, including 11 of 12 in the first half. I will table this ongoing complaint for at least *this* game.

Board game: We outrebounded the Lady Shockers 54-30, including 37 on defense.

Aaryn's heir: Sharane Campbell took over for our top scorer during her off-game, scoring 24 points in 25 minutes. She also added 6 boards and was a perfect 9 for 9 from the line.

And now, the bozo stats:

Three throws: 4 for 15, including 1 for 7 in the first half. Oh dear oh dear oh dear, I don't want us to be in trouble like Duke men when threes aren't falling. Are midrange jump shots out of the question? How about layups? Maybe pass to post players?

Big foul trouble: Or maybe not. Nicole fouled out, Kay Kay had four too. Sharane had 4 as well, with several more having 3 each. If our tallest and biggest players are in foul trouble, no wonder we were trying to lob threes. Ugggggh

Oh boy apple turnovers: Oh wait, these are just turnovers without the apples. Dammit, and there were 22 of them too (compared to Wichita's 12). Why do we give up the ball so much? We're not even getting free apples in return :mad:

Player of the game: Sharane Campbell
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/MN/MNJLSYYURDRGAJR.20131110211510.jpg
In case you missed the early season memo, she has short hair now. She stepped in when Aaryn was struggling early-on, so go Sharane! Yay!

Sherri?

“Sharane getting to the rim that was huge as well,” Coale added. “I’m just really proud of the team effort and I feel like we had a lot of guys who rose to the occasion and had really big games tonight.”

Next game: 7 p.m. Thursday preseason WNIT action continues vs Gonzaga. TV is FS Southwest Plus/FCS Central. I intend to watch, unless toddler baj has other plans. I may chime in here occasionally if it warrants it. Please check vBookie for all of your Sooner womens basketball vBetting needs.

Boomer!

Soonerjeepman

11/12/2013, 01:05 PM

Sherri's HOT...really HOT. Don't tell the GF who is an unbelievable partner in ALL aspects...but mmm, coach does it for me~

That's all...

badger

11/12/2013, 01:11 PM

Well-kept secret: She turns 49 in January. She actually gets her Jan. 19 birthday off for once (WVU on Jan. 18, ISU on Jan. 21) but since both of those games are on the road, odds are she's not going to be getting a party back home

Soonerjeepman

11/12/2013, 02:18 PM

just my age..lol. I ran into her at fball game a few yrs ago, I was walking in, she was waiting by a bathroom I think for someone..kid? I walked up and talked to her for a bit. Very nice, told her I had coached HS girls, my sis played at KSU and that I appreciated her teams.

badger

11/14/2013, 09:23 AM

Once again we have a game tonight against Gonzaga at 7 p.m. Tune into one of the localized Fox Sports channels and you probably get it, even if you're in Florida (the one I watched the Sooner men on last nite, lol).

I didn't mention it earlier this week, but the basketball polls are released on Monday, and OU is at 11 and 13.

Linky (http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings)

Here's the other Big 12s and where they are:

9. Baylor (both polls): Because their womens basketball team apparently didn't boycott over bus rides and poor facilities, Grambling State showed up to Baylor and lost 110-55 on Nov. 9. Sick them Bears next game is tonite versus Nichols State... and their next few opponents look just as weak, so they keep up the top ten illusion a bit longer.

18, 22. Iowa State: Because there's nothing significant about North Dakota or its university or the fact that Iowa State beat them in their first game, check out their logo. Copying anyone familiar? They also beat South Dakota already. Next up is Cincy LadyBearCat on Nov. 21.
http://a2.espncdn.com/prod/assets/clubhouses/2010/ncaa/logos/155.png

20, 24: Oklahoma State: They've beaten Lamar by 30ish and UTSA by 40ish so far. They have Northern Colorado in two days, but USC in about a week.

Traitor roundup: If you weep for the old Big 12 during basketball season, you are not alone. Nebraska's at 10 and 15; Texas A&M's at 12 and 16; Colorado is at 17 and 19. I think there's a fourth traitor, but I don't remember since they never amounted to much in womens basketball or real life... oh, and it's not like there's not a bunch of other felines with stripes running around as mascots in college sports, if ya know what I mean.

Boomer

badger

11/14/2013, 08:36 PM

Sooo many fouls that nobody sees except refs on both sides. Boooooooo make our free throws already. Raaaaaaaage

badger

11/14/2013, 10:19 PM

To whoever brought shiny jersey no. 23 kid in front row near center court opposite scorers table... Thank you!!! His enthusiasm jumping in circles and more showed up well on tv :)

Also, since I had to watch silently lest I wake toddler baj, I could live vicariously through that kid

Boooooooomerrrrrrrr we win! Eff the refs regardless

badger

11/15/2013, 10:40 AM

Don't let Nicole Kornet's smile fool you:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/CF/CFFEQMNVRBEKOXT.20131115035651.jpg
We took a beating last night without getting beat on the scoreboard.
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/HX/HXZJJOZUQCAIWJW.20131115035652.jpg
It wasn't just Morgan going down and other physicality, it was extreme frustration with the officials, who are probably kindred spirits with the infamous scabs:
http://www.abmuku.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/golden-tate-packers-touchdown.jpg
The good part of that was that it was awfully officiated -- to the tune of 75 free throws and several players fouling out --- on both sides of the ball. The bad part was that my dearly beloved husband NP declared the game unwatchable (which he also did in the first half) with five minutes to go, and thought OU was en route to lose. He was even bringing sympathy ice cream back to the room I was watching the game in.

OU 82, Gonzaga 78
We wanted it more. Trailing with about 5 mins remaining, the team that my closed captioning kept referring to as "Gonzales" was ahead and undoubtedly headed for victory, when something unexplainable except through photos happened:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/IN/INSVGWXMQFLWWMV.20131115035652.jpg
Players in foul trouble were fearlessly going for loose balls an rebounds, despite refs whistling as often as they mouth-breathed.
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/UK/UKGUXKGRLKWFKWT.20131115035652.jpg
"Gonzales" stopped getting all of their offensive rebounds and stopped making shots.
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/LB/LBRTAOAJQOFTZWT.20131115035652.jpg
And despite a very good possibility of getting punched, slapped or otherwise bumped, we didn't stop driving to the basket.

Soooo... we are probably going to get crushed by Louisville (the team that infamously sent Baylor home in the Sweet 16 last year in OKC, as Skeletor screamed and stripped at courtside), as they return 11 players and 4 starters from last year's team. But, at least we have this victory.

I am going to take a pass on complaining about turnovers and missed shots (especially free throws) and go straight to Sherri. Sherri?

“I’m really proud of our team. I think we displayed a great deal of toughness, especially down the stretch after Morgan (Hook) went out. We got great minutes from T.T. [T’ona Edwards] and Gioya [Carter], great toughness from our bigs and our All-American (Aaryn Ellenberg) makes baskets at the end of the game. That’s a really good team. I have such respect for Kelly Graves. He does a tremendous job. They are experienced. They went deep in the tournament last year and they have everybody back. They are way better than 25 or whatever poll it is that has them 25. They are definitely a top-25 team and they are going to beat a lot of people.”

Sadly, I must render the current state of the game as "unwatchable" unless you are really pro-OU or love this team. It is not the endless turnovers or botched shooting, it is the officiating, plain and simple. You cannot catch a break, you cannot expect them to let the players play. If they're getting paid by the tweet, then sign them up for Twitter instead. I will continue to monitor this horrendous development in the college game (mens and womens alike) and update you as the season progresses.

Next game: 3 p.m. Sunday hosting Louisville. Heaven help us, it will take a miracle to pull this one off, and if we do, it's our ticket to the top 10 in the polls. TV is CBS Sports Network. I will get it posted to vBookie sometime soon.

Boomer!

badger

11/18/2013, 11:02 AM

#5 Louisville 97, #11 OU 92 (OVERTIME)
http://drawception.com/pub/panels/2012/4-10/msg1S7tRfR-8.png
Nah, just kidding. If you want to lose to tournament-quality teams, it is much better to lose to them in November than it is to lose to em in March. For those of you who have repeatedly typed "SMH" whenever it is mentioned that Louisville begged in Austin to get a Big 12 invite, womens basketball is no exception.

Louisville football defeats almightly SEC in Orange Bowl is not good enough for Big 12? SMH.

Louisville mens basketball wins national title is not good enough for Big 12? SMH.

Louisville womens basketball defeats Skeletor and her Baylor minions in the Sweet 16 en route to the national title game?!?!?

We could have been playing these guys in all three sports annually! SMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMH

No offense to West Virginia, of course, but at this point, I'd have loved to include both (or just exclude TCU again, who does not give a **** about basketball)

Game notes:

Foul trouble: If freshman Gioya Carter has a weakness, it's silly foulness. Same with RS sophomore Kay Kay. They both fouled out, and three more had 4.

Odds in Vegas favor: Double-double with 22 pts, 12 boards!

We practiced free throws: In a season where free throws are going to be given out like Tulsa mayoral campaign mailers, it is clear that free throws were practiced since our last outing, because we shot 85 percent, with only one player missing more than 1 all game.

Bozo stats:

We did not practice three throws: If you divide 7 by 29, you get... 24.1 percent?!?! Please tell me my math is wrong... oh wait, that's SS.com math. Straight from the higher education institution folks :mad:

20 turnovers: I love Ellen-burger, but she led the team with 6.

Enough from me, here's Sherri:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/KW/KWUAZUCKOOUUPDJ.20131118000716.jpg
And here she is again, in quote format:

“Well, I’m really proud of our team what a great basketball game. My goodness. What a great showcase for women’s college basketball. I think everybody here was entertained and I think everybody at home was entertained as well. I thought we mounted a tremendous comeback in the second half. I was so proud of that. It got away from us a little bit in overtime. It’s a seasoned team that has been to the Final Four and they have been in situations like that. They made big plays, so give them credit for that. I think for us to be in that position, with the way we shot the ball tonight, speaks volumes about our team.”

**** the Big 12 and **** Austin thumbing their noses at L'ville's groveling for membership. Let's schedule these guys in our major sports for some home and home action. Everything --- football, both basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball... ROWING. Do they even have a rowing team?

Next game: 7 p.m. Wednesday hosting UT-Arlington. TV right now is just Sooner Sports TV online, so hopefully it'll change to include local FS affliliants.

Boooomerrrrr

PrideMom

11/18/2013, 12:23 PM

badger

11/18/2013, 01:03 PM

Y'know how Baylor brings lots of green clad for their Norman games? L'ville seems to have a bit of a following as well, at least at home. I know attendance stats can get inflated often, but here's how their home games have been thus far:

LSU: 8099
QUINNIPIAC: 6783
LOYOLA CHICAGO: 7511

Louisville's KFC Yum! Center capacity is 22K for basketball, fyi --- the fifth largest in college basketball.

If I didn't state it enough, we seem to have missed out a good expansion candidate for the Big 12 back in October 2011. The depressing AAS details here. (http://www.statesman.com/news/sports/college/big-12-still-torn-between-louisville-west-virginia/nRggb/) I wish I knew who to be angry at besides Texas.

tycat947

11/18/2013, 02:48 PM

Does anyone know why there were so many fans rooting for Louisville? We have reserved seats in the lower north section, and we were surrounded. I thought it was maybe for a certain player at Louisville, but really could not be sure.

There were a LOT of Native Americans there and even though most had on OU gear, they were there because of Shoni and Jude Schimmel. Sherri said on the pre-game radio show that they had a large following of Native Americans wherever they went.

badger

11/20/2013, 11:11 AM

We have a game tonight :)

But first, here's a link to Sherri's updated blog. (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209316487) Here's an excerpt:

Our locker room was not a happy place on Sunday. Disappointment was scattered around like dirty socks, but the resolve that’s already become our moniker was bubbling stronger than ever. This group just refuses not to be great. What a marvelous thing to know.

Another awesome entry from the former high school English teacher :)

Another treat from the team and Sherri -- a video thanking the crowd for Sunday's atmosphere. (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209315471)

Also, because she's awesome, Aaryn Ellenberg was Big 12 player of the week. (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209314961&DB_OEM_ID=31000) This is the seventh time she's won this honor.

I would mention that we're No. 10 in the poll right now, but I think we deserve higher despite losing Sunday, so eff that, not gonna update till we get a more worthy number :D

Tonight's UT-Arlington game is at 7 p.m. TV is FS Oklahoma/FCS Atlantics. Just go through your FS channels till they have our game and you're golden.

Boomer!

badger

11/21/2013, 11:07 AM

It's a good thing there's no 100-point promotion, or there'd be a reason to leave that game disappointed.
OU 99, UT-Arlington 46
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/GF/GFWSSTOZWTFTNSD.20131121040102.jpg
I really like this team, but this game was basically a midseason exhibition. By the time I got to tune in (toddler baj needs a nightly bath to get to sleep) UTA had pulled within 18-10, but that was as close as the game ever got, if you don't count 0-0. The UTA logo and colors made me think we were walloping Boise State, so that's also a positive. **** you, Boise State :P

Game notes:

Freshman on fire: Remember the name "Derica Wyatt" for later in this season. She went 7 for 11 from three (including 5 for 5 in about a 10-minute first half stretch).

34 turnovers: Thank goodness that was UTA's stat and not ours. We had a mere 9, despite giving a lot of minutes to non-starters, freshmen, etc. Whew!

Freshmen for the assist: Also remember the names "Gioya Carter" (6 assists) and "T'ona Edwards" (8 assists).

Vegas-burger: Not quite Vegas, not quite Ellen-burger, she only got to play 24 minutes but at least she got 23 points out of her time. :)

Bozo stats:

Sharane injured, shooting poorly: If I heard the announcer correctly, she is 1 for 17 from three this season so far, adding another miss to her tally last night. She went down in the first half (rolled ankle it appeared) and only played 8 minutes. Hopefully she is OK, because her speed shooting seems to be a stronger point in her game than three throwing.

Kay Kay foul foul: "Four Foul" Williams just doesn't have the same ring as "Fourl Foul" McFarland... but I will totally give her that designation if her tendency to foul everyone -- ranked and mid major alike -- continues this season. Arg.

Outrebounded? Really?!: I feel like we really didn't give enough effort here, and so UTA outrebounded us 43-40 last night. We made about half of our shots, so can't use that as an excuse.

Cheat throws: There was this scene in Family Guy where Stewie is teaching piano by zapping the kid when they touch wrong keys, and suspending another kid over a shark pool with a bassoon, lowering the rope with each bad note. Perhaps we can establish a similar negative reinforcement tool on free throws. We were 11 for 21 last night.

Player of the game: Derica Wyatt, for going 5 for 5 from three during an early stretch and 7 for 11 on the game. It was pretty amazing to watch, and since this wasn't a nail biter by any stretch of the imagination, for this reason alone... player of the game! yaaaaay.
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/GE/GEQWFRIGVLGPBUW.20131121021113.jpg

Sherri?

“Derica can shoot it, there is no doubt about it. She can shoot it. She was at one point five of five from three and she passed up a couple and I’m thinking ‘what in the world’ because if someone had thrown it to me and I was five for five I could have been triple teamed and I would have shot it, When that’s flowing, sister, keep firing. She did really good things and what Derica just has to learn is defensive transition, defending screens, and all of those things that all freshmen have to learn and she got an opportunity to do all of that tonight too. You guys were all going ‘wow’ about her making threes but she was jumping to the ball, she was on the back line, and doing things that we need her to be able to do so she gets more minutes. It was a really good night for her in ways beyond making seven 3s.”

I should also note that UTA just played OSU too, losing 74-35. Tee hee, we won by more.

Next game: 3 p.m. Sunday at UCLA. TV is Pac 12 Network, which I've never had a reason to watch till now.

Booommmerrrrrr

tycat947

11/21/2013, 02:28 PM

I should also note that UTA just played OSU too, losing 74-35. Tee hee, we won by more.

And our starters played 92 minutes out of 200 possible where the pokette starters played 127 minutes out of 200 total!!!

badger

11/25/2013, 10:32 AM

First of all... the Pac 12 Network. I don't get it, and it was the broadcast network of Sooner basketball last night.
http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/usc/blog/Pac-12Networks_Horiz.jpg
Next time you poo poo at what others have in TV deals --- the B1G Network, the Pac 12 Networks, the Longhorn Network, etc., remember that they are not truly national networks. Everyone gets Fox Sports, therefore, everyone gets to see a lot of our games. Not everyone gets Bevo TV, Pac-LA or B1G channel. As much as everyone bashes their football broadcasts and such, at least you can see OU on it.

OU 76, UCLA 82
I should make a clever comment here... the referees make college basketball as unwatchable as regional Pac 12 networks in Oklahoma! Was that suffice? OK then, let's go down the box score's unwatchable stats:

50 fouls: How is basketball supposed to be a fast-paced game when the refs blow their whistles to stop play 50 times (not counting TV timeouts, regular timeouts and other play stoppage, like one of our turnover passes going into row 15)?

58 free throws: Nothing is more exciting than watching an uncontested, untimed (by the scoreboard) shot worth a single point.

5 players fouled out: 3 OU, 2 UCLA. Because making players sit out the remainder of the game might cause non-basketball-related drama, because basketball was boring by itself.

I am so disgusted with the way the first month of college basketball has gone, both mens and womens. I didn't like Texas A&M style thug ball, but this is taking things too far.

SS.com didn't provide postgame quotes, so let me give one final middle finger to the Pac 12 Network (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zf7Mgkt5afg/UCz8xGVb4lI/AAAAAAAABho/Ala6WS9XTqs/s1600/NewPhotos+018.JPG), then tell you when the next round of abysmal reffing begins:

12 p.m Sunday hosting Creighton. TV is Fox Sports 2.

Boooooooo(the refs)mer

badger

12/4/2013, 04:14 PM

I have been a bad badger, but to my defense, I have also been a sick badger. Thus, your lack of college football meltdowns, college basketball meltdowns (and I missed both KU and OSU losing because of it!) and most importantly, lack of OU womens basketball updates.

I may go to bed early tonight and miss tonight's game as well, but that's no reason that all of you have to:

6:30 p.m. tonight hosting Western Illinois. TV is FS Oklahoma/FCS Pacific

Also, extra special kudos to another sports team I had the honor of pep banding once upon a time, the OU womens volleyball team, who take on Auburn's football beyonce, Alabama in the first round of the NCAA tournament Thursday night. I remember the pre-Santiago era. We lost so often that we were all confused the time that we extended a series to 5 games (They only play to 15 points? OK...) and could count the number of home conference victories on a hand, probably less.

I especially have to give them kudos after last basketball season, when they loaned us Tara Dunn and Eden Williams.

Boooooomerrrrrrrrr

badger

12/5/2013, 11:35 AM

OU 97, Western Illinois 80

I spent the moments that I tuned in impressed that a program I knew nothing about (Western Illinois is the "Leatherneck." No idea if they change that to "Ladynecks" for womens teams). I was also impressed that one of their players was able to keep up and shoot well given her size:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/BW/BWDMOMXWVIMLLHM.20131205025302.jpg

Disclaimer: I've gained weight, I've lost weight, I'm not knocking someone that weighs more than me. You just can't help but stare at the players that look different, and the short and fat opposing player definitely looks different.

What really kept Western Illinois keeping the scoreboard respectable, other than us backing off in the closing seconds, was their three shooting. Like us, they shot better than 50 percent from there. The difference in our favor was rebounding and causing turnovers. As Sherri can tell you, this mid-major deserve a lot of kudos and respect:

“I will first of all say that Western Illinois plays hard and they played well tonight. They shot the ball extremely well and they played their tails off for 40 minutes. I have such respect for the way they’re coached, the way they compete, and they’re going to win a lot of basketball games if they play that hard and shoot that well. I think we did some good things. We had some periods where we plateaued and lost our focus, lost our concentration. We were able to zap it back but we have got to get rid of those lapses. It’s part of the process, it’s why we play games, it’s why we do what we do.”

I'm still not 100 percent (out of excuses), so I'll just give some brief tidbits:

Kay Kay had zero fouls: But she also only played 17 minutes.

Both teams scored 46 each in the second half: Good thing OU already had a 17-point lead.

Gioya Carter started: I'm not ready to thumb my nose at the ouhoops posters that doubted my "she's gonna start" suspicions, because I may have qualified that statement with "replace Morgan" or something that isn't quite factual yet. In this case Sherri went with a four-guard starting lineup (and tall Nicole), having other-Nicole (Kornet) as first off the bench.

I need ibuprofen. I hope OU's next opponent is easier... oh wait, it's Duke. Sherri?!?

The big, long answer is simply this. Basketball seasons are long and building a team is a process. I told the kids I heard Villanova head coach Jay Wright in the locker room have this great phrase after the Kansas game where he said, ‘We’re building our souls.’ You don’t do that kind of stuff quickly. It’s not going to happen in a week, it’s not going to happen in three days. The whole idea is brick by brick you build those things so that in the spring you can go and do something really special. We have a lot of things we can improve upon. Rebounding is one of them. Consistent defending is one of them. Shooting well in both halves is another. We have all kinds of things. Getting all of the guys the best possible spot for them at the same time. We had Vegas great in the first half and we had Gioya show up in the second half and you kind of have this thing pieced together. The whole idea is to roll toward the point where that can all happen simultaneously, and that’s why we practice, that’s why we play. That’s what the point of all this is. Will we be a finished product on Sunday? No, not at all. But I don’t think Duke is either. The whole idea is to be better than they are for 40 minutes on Sunday afternoon.”

Next game: 3 p.m. Sunday hosting Duke. TV is FOX Sports 1.

Booommmahhhh

Bourbon St Sooner

12/5/2013, 03:31 PM

So should we prepare our anuses? ani? for Sunday?

badger

12/5/2013, 03:45 PM

So should we prepare our anuses? ani? for Sunday?

The most optimism I can brew up before the team that is probably UConn's equal (seriously, check the scoreboards of their games this year and the heights on their roster --- they score a lot and they're tall) is that we pushed top-five Louisville into OT and should have won that game in regulation. If we have our best day and Duke doesn't... or even if they do...

Let me start over. You see that woman in my avatar to your left? She is Sherri Coale, golden goddess of Sooner basketball. Whether our teams are highly ranked or not, injured or healthy, she has always given OU a good chance to beat any opponent. Hell, we've scared UConn a few times in recent years when they've been unbeatable!

tycat947

12/6/2013, 10:55 AM

Kay Kay had zero fouls: But she also only played 17 minutes.

HEY! KayKay has had 4 fouls in 17 minutes before!!!

badger

12/9/2013, 02:46 PM

Duke 94, OU 85

Don't be fooled by the final, we were down about 20 at halftime then had a few 20+ scorers to make it a more respectable final. In a game where we had to be flawless we had our flaws --- 15 first-half turnovers (21 overall), 6 players with 3 or more fouls, 7 for 23 for three --- so we had our loss.

On the positive side, we did make the final score respectable, so we are the only 3-loss team to still be in the AP's top 25, released today. We're now No. 20, and poised to climb once the undefeateds that have only played cupcakes (*cough* OSU! *cough*) face their conferences.

Sadly, I am still fighting my nose to the point that I want to cut it off so that I don't have to blow it every minute. So, only some brief stats again:

Barely bench: For the majority of this game, Sherri only played 6 players. Kay Kay, Tall Nicole, Vegasburger, Morgan and Sharane started, and they all played at least 22 minutes. Gioya Carter played 19. Only 3 others entered, including Other Nicole, they played 2-5 mins each. Not sure what to think of this. I will table this discussion till further discussion.

Free throws free: We only missed 4, going 22 to 26. A special Mack Brown sideline clap to Tall Nicole going 7 for 9. Clap clap clap clap. Please keep it up Tall Nicole. You're going to get sent to the line lots this season.

Morgan le Tre: Part of the reason Morgan Hook had 24 pts was going 3 for 3 from three. I haven't seen her this focused on three since her froshie year. Good sign? Yes, definitely. Here's a pic of her from last night's game just for fun:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/OL/OLXTOZCDYIZDLFR.20131209000020.jpg

Somebody rebound please: We aren't going to face potentially the top team in the country every game (No. 2 Duke plays No. 1 UConn later this month), but our post primaries Kay Kay and Tall Nicole only had 6 and 7 rebounds, respectively.

Let me just turn this over to Sherri:

“Well, I was as proud of our second half as I was disappointed in our first half. Just did not start the game emphatically, we didn’t play with confidence and we didn’t play with bravado. It’s hard to say why that happened. I think a lot of bad things stem from not doing simple, easy things. We missed easy a few shots around the basket, which we should not have missed. There’s not excuse for that. We let it affect our psyche and it just started a downhill spiral. That little spell in the first half where we turned it over, threw out of bounds, kicked it out of bounds, threw it to them was really the difference in the game. I’m disappointed in that because I know this group is better than that. We should be past that. With this many seniors, we should be beyond that. With all that being said, tremendous grit in the second half. These two guys (Aaryn Ellenberg and Morgan Hook) were really tough in the second half. Gioya Carter was fantastic. There are some good things to take away and Duke is No. 2 in the country for a reason. They’re very good, very athletic, they make plays and they make big shots.”

If you haven't attended a Sooner home game since the early aughts, this is what you're missing during pregame intros: Red flamage.
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/PF/PFWSMVXGMHMHMPL.20131209000020.jpg

Next game: 2 p.m. Sunday hosting Maryland Eastern Shore. TV currently set for Sooner Sports TV, not sure if a Fox affiliate will pick it up or not.

Boomer!

badger

12/16/2013, 03:22 PM

Sidenote to begin: Congrats to the OU volleyball team on making it to the second round of NCAAs. Sadly, they also have reason to hate Satan-ford, who ended their season. Baskeball team loaner Eden Williams tied two of her volleyball teammates in setting a program record for NCAA Tournament games played with eight. Williams had 10 digs and ended her career with 947. I think that's the maneuver where you dive at the ground to prevent the ball from hitting the ground. This clever remark is for you:

BREATHE IF YOU HATE STANFORD

And now, a basketball brief:

105-46

I am once again passing on my SF.com public services due to motherhood. It is fun to post meltdowns from other boards, extensive basketball game recaps, vBookie and the like, but sadly, I'm starting to grow out of the Internet thing. But, I still love my Sooners and like to see how they're doing. So... to the box score!

Double double for Tall Nicole: Almost. She had 10 boards and 9 points.

26 pts for Other Nicole: Someday, I will think of a better nickname for her than "Other Nicole." Or, I'll make Tall Nicole "Other Nicole" and Kornet "Awesome Nicole." How? Keep score 26 points in a game, please.

Aaryn Ellenberg: "Suffered a minor left knee strain four minutes into the game and did not return. She was held out as a precaution." Do I need to mention how doomed we are if Vegas-burger is injured seriously? Good call holding her out.

12 players played: Hopefully we'll see more in bigger games too, and not just a 5-6 player "rotation" like we were against Duke.

6 for 21 from three; 29 for 39 from free: Making shots isn't important to this game, right? You can win games without making shots, right?

Sherri?

“I liked our energy. I liked how well we played together and shared the basketball. I thought we got important minutes for a lot of guys. We’re developing our depth and trying different combinations and I think it’s a game that we used to get better. Every game we play, we want to get better. I thought our approach in the second half, even though we let them score a little bit more than I would have liked, I thought our approach to the things we have been working on was pretty good.”

Next game: 6 p.m. Weds at Bridgeport, Conn. vs Fairfield. No TV (and no beer make Homer something something)

[I]Boomer!

badger

12/30/2013, 10:30 AM

Big huge conference season preview thing

It has been awhile, and I apologize. Sadly, the news is not good, because I have a very strong inclination that we are living off program reputation alone at this point. We have four losses, yet the top 25 didn't see fit to drop us. So, here's my 4-loss evaluation right here:
http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/screen_kubrick/mig/6/2/5/8/2126258-169_doom4stillgoing_gsnews_04032013.jpg

I'm not gonna mince words, folks, because I am not Texas A&M football, who can blindly scream how their strong conference affiliation (Big 12 is indeed a strong basketball conference) and all losses are to postseason-bound, quality opponents (no argument, they all are) and how our star players will lead to postseason greatness (they still could).

Rather than cheer you all up with our wins, here's how we lost, and when:

Nov. 17 at home: #5 Louisville 97, us 92 in overtime: We had the chance to win it in regulation, but alas, it was not meant to be and L'ville out-starred us in the end of an exhausting affair.

Nov. 24 at UCLA (unranked) 82, us 76: On paper, no excuse, but in reality, the basketball season is long and road games are always tough. They probably owed us a loss after we bonked them in last postseason for a Sweet 16 berth, tee hee.

Dec. 8 at home: #2 Duke 94, us 85: Not as close as the final score. This was probably going to be a loss regardless of how well we played, so long as Duke didn't get food poisoning or the flu en route over. But, just looking back at the final score, I can pretend that we had a chance.

Dec. 21 at Marist (unranked) 76, us 69: And here's the part where I soothe you all with the word "doooooooom" in a haunting voice. We shot 3 for 16 from three, hence only scoring 69 points total. Argh. Doom doom doom dooooooooooooooom

http://th01.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2012/312/1/6/hope___pandora_s_box_by_bernardumaine-d5kdek0.jpg
Now that Pandora has let all of the gloom and doom out, here's where the hope appears at the bottom of the box: We begin our conference season Thursday, which will allow us time to soul search, reset goals and perhaps get back on track to where we need to and should be for postseason success. Here's what I hope they all have in mind:

1- Practice free throws. Refs are whistling more, so this is where our points should be coming from, not lobbing (and missing) threes. Dribble drive, shoot for frees and get our opponents in foul trouble.

2- Minimize turnovers. How are we supposed to get free throws if we lose the ball before we can force opponents to foul us?

3- No silly fouling. Unless an opponent has a track record of bricking frees, we should let opponents wildly run around a bit and watch them make the mistakes on offense without getting bailed out by the refs. Having our post players stay out of foul trouble will be key to keeping our offense scoring (and getting sent to the line, but of course)

4- Stay healthy. Injuries have derailed Final Four hopes in the past, and I hope this isn't going to be one of those years, but it shaping up to be one. The best we can hope for at this point is to maintain the roster we have without anymore injury losses.

5- Make the most of opportunities off the bench. I see Sherri going to the bench very little in key games, so when players do get their number called, I hope they are extremely focused and ready, because our starters must get gassed after logging that many minutes.

Here's what Sherri had to say after a Dec. 29 win over Samford:

On how valuable it is to get a lot of minutes for a lot of players heading into conference play:
“I take away a couple of things from that. First of all, because Vegas was out tonight, we had some different lineups and you never know when youre going to be forced into that. Vegas isn’t one to get in foul trouble, but if we have Morgan (Hook) in foul trouble or Gioya (Carter) is in foul trouble we have guys who are able to morph into different positions and those combinations that we have on the floor are not as awkward or as new. We have been through that, we have played through that before. I thought they did a really good job tonight at changing. We did some things in timeouts that put people in different places just so they can feel that. I think that’s a benefit that comes from that. Another benefit that comes from that, which is huge and you can’t overlook it, is every time these guys get minutes they earn trust from me. These guys can play. These guys on the bench can play. Not only can they function, they make an impact. Having that does two things. It gives you quality depth as you go ahead and you compete against teams and get in foul trouble. To stay fresh and have quality depth. Also, you can keep people really accountable. It’s really easy to hold people accountable when the guy off the bench is going to come in and do a really good thing and challenge. They say a competition makes a horse race, and we have got that right now. We can build on that as conference play goes on. I thought everyone who came in tonight did some good things and put themselves in a position where I’m not afraid to put them moving forward.”

Next game: 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Texas Tech. No TV (and no beer make Homer go crazy) as of right now. I really hope to be back to my sunshiney self afterwards, but if not, I promise not to wait a few weeks to goom and dloom :)

Boooooooooom(er)

badger

1/6/2014, 03:50 PM

Hey everybody, it's Pain and Panic!
http://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/04/PainPanic.jpg
I just watched Disney's Hercules on Netflix last night.

OU 75, Iowa State 82 (overtime)
I don't care that Iowa State is now ranked No. 11. We are now out of the AP's top 25 with loss No. 5.

We shot an abysmal 3 of 13 from three, committed 15 turnovers and even bonked 6 free throws during the game, which isn't terrible, but hell, if we just made one more during regulation, maybe we would have won?

Eff the usual recap stuff --- we play at Texas on Wednesday, the same day that the men host Kansas. Here's hoping, here's hoping, here's hoping... eff it. Here's some photos of our team:

Morgan Hook:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/MU/MUWXBYVZBQUKTKL.20140105214916.jpg
Nicole Kornet:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/SU/SUUVWNCZOFVSWAK.20140105214916.jpg
Aaryn Ellenberg:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/IY/IYSYZCMTCFTJHTB.20140105214916.jpg

Happier times from a few games back just for fun:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/SD/SDNAYBNACQJZNCR.20131215225202.jpg
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/UN/UNHUIFYBNKOZTGZ.20131215225202.jpg

Because I have already declared eff everything, here's some postgame notes from our overlord and master, Iowa State:

“I told the kids before the game, ‘We’ve done a lot of good things.’ We’ve won all the game we’ve played, we’ve won our state championship, we’ve won at TCU. This was a measuring stick. When you come here and win, you’re doing something right. That was our message all along. These are games we take great pride in. I have the utmost respect for everything that’s done here and how they do it. I don’t like playing Oklahoma. Coach Coale’s one of my best friends. Those are hard. You know it’s going to be done the right way.”

Whate whorn: 11 a.m. Wednesday televised on... the Longhorn Network. Eff e'rrrrr-thing once more.

badger

1/8/2014, 03:50 PM

OU 74, whorn 79 (OT)
http://www.katimorton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/banana-sad-face.jpg
Les Miles once conned his way into a title game by saying his two teams' losses were really ties because they were overtime losses. That's ****ing bull**** and we all knew it then, and therefore, there's no way to minimize the sting of loss number...

6

Even Sherri's gameday attire was meh:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/NT/NTXVLYZJZIYLNUH.20140108194114.jpg
The only thing that saves today is a men's team win at home against Kansas. They start "rock chalking" at LNC tonight, shoot the badger

Statz
37 pts: Aaryn is too good for this team. Send her to the WNBA now.
22 turnovers: tl;dr
20-27 on FTs: Texas shot 30
8 rebounds: Was it Tall Nicole? Other Nicole? Kay-Kay? No, it was Sharane Campbell.
12-point halftime lead: Was it Texas' lead? Noooooooooooo it was the other team :mad::mad::mad::mad:

SS.com doesn't have quotes, so let's see what texassports.com has...
http://texassports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=0&image_path=/images/2014/1/5/fb-strong-splash-800x600_01.jpg
Gawd dammmmm...
http://www.texassports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2014/1/5/0105-jones_LHN-highlights.jpg
Where in the hell is...
http://www.texassports.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_prefix=rp_primary&image_path=/images/2013/12/27/1227-best-of-2013.jpg
I give up. No Sherri quote today.

Next game: OU hosts KSU at 7 p.m. Saturday. It'll likely be on a Fox Sports whatever.

sad badger is sad. please beat ku sooner men :(

Soonerjeepman

1/9/2014, 12:03 AM

so much for the women picked to win the big12....what the hell has happened?

badger

1/13/2014, 10:42 AM

Let the healing process begin. Let the season salvaging commence. Let the winning win again.
KSU 50, OU 61
I have chatted on fellow Sooners over at ouhoops.com on what the hell went wrong and what can go better, but really, we just need to win again. No more fetal position at the end of tight games then losing in overtime. No more losing to unranked opponents on the road. Just win. Just win. Just. Win.

So, how did they finally win Saturday night? Here's some stats:

23 points for Aaryn: One of the things I mentioned is that players must have defined roles and fill it to the best of their ability. Aaryn is clearly the team's shooter and scorer. On nights that she does this well, our team has a very good chance of winning.

10 rebounds for Sharane: I also lamented the lack of a rebounder that we can rely on, unlike past teams with Joanna McFarland, Amanda Thompson, Courtney Paris, etc. Interestingly enough, Sharane has led the team in rebounds recently. I am not sure what to think about our junior guard leading in rebounds rather than our senior center, our sophomore power forward, or somebody taller.

Crappy stat:

We stink at shooting: Why are we only scoring 61 points against a mid-meh KSU team? 4 for 15 for three, 20 for 49 from the floor overall, and even a few missed free throws (17 for 22).

Hi Sherri. Can we have two quotes this time since I missed you last game?

“All wins are good wins in the Big 12 Conference. You’ve got to take care of your home floor and we did that tonight. Kansas State is young, and they were playing really really hard and scrappy the entire game, and they are only going to get better. I’m just glad to get away with a win.”

“You’ve got to have this one. You’ve got have them at home. It was nice not coming down to the final possession. It gave everybody a chance to breathe a little bit. I feel like they’ve been a little strangled over the past week and gave us a chance to breathe. That’s important when you have a whole week ahead of you and then you have to play two really tough road games.”

Here's some photos from the game just for fun (it was Military Appreciation Night):
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/DH/DHVSQMHWHTADCNZ.20140112032851.jpg
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/ZF/ZFWTTVREDNCQRID.20140112032851.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/CC/CCDVIEIKBYDOQMG.20140112032851.jpg
Dunk it, Nicole! Actually, I'm quite sure that's just an odd camera angle :)

Next game: 1 p.m. Saturday at... West Virginia. Furk. TV has not been announced yet.

Boom-ahhhhh...

so much for the women picked to win the big12....what the hell has happened?
EDIT: I should have answered you, jeep! I think that we were really counting on a redshirt freshman (Maddie Manning (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=208409487)) being a solid contributor this season, and then once again, our awesome recruit goes down with an ACL. 6'2" guards are hard to replace in the women's game. I also think that the new refffing rules that are also plaguing the men's side of things this season has impacted us more than other top teams, because (a) we bonk free throws at bad times/too often, and (b) we tend to be a bit silly with our fouls, especially after turnovers (of which we have too many).

With that said, we still have a few months to right the ship. If we beat Baylor, I will forgive all of our overtime losses. If we beat Baylor twice, I will forgive the other four.

FaninAma

1/18/2014, 04:25 PM

The Sooner women seem to have an inordinate number of ACL injuries. Any possible contibutors other than bad luck?

The women are really struggling. No bench and not really much support for Aaryn. Somebody(or 2) is going to have to step up or this season will get away from Sheri in a hurry.

tycat947

1/18/2014, 06:00 PM

IMO there is something internally going on although I have no idea. They played very well during the preseason WNIT and haven't played well since so I know the ability is there, but not being shown now.

Soonerjeepman

1/19/2014, 10:14 AM

I haven't followed them as closely as I have in the past...although I do check scores, etc.

Wow...we went from preseason #1 in Big 12 to 1-3? injuries? I haven't read anything about girls getting hurt...like out for the season.

This is a struggle year for them

*edit Badge...saw your response...so we lose 1 FRESHMAN...and we go to hell in a handbasket? wow. Yes, I know a 6'2 woman's guard is a great thing (coached HS girls) but if need to rely on one kid that doesn't seem good. I will say it seems Coach C is always having girls with acl's. I tore mine last spring...I think they way women's hips are puts a lot of stress on acl's that normally don't take it...(evolutionist will give it another 10K years of women's sports to cure it). It also seems we haven't had a good bench since the Stacey Dales era...or I guess Paris twins.

badger

1/19/2014, 03:30 PM

Let's just make a GIF to commemorate the occasion:
http://picasion.com/pic76/b98d194522c2e406732f12e32be8cbe8.gif
In a nutshell, I'm starting to get used to our women's team losing and I have a feeling that they are, too. It's not that we haven't had 7-loss teams before (only five of Sherri's teams --- three CP3 years, the 2002 runner-up team and the year before that haven't), it's that this team is on a losing skid and having trouble finding a way out. We can't finish games we are close to winning (THREE losses in overtime?!) and some games, we just don't seem to be in position to win.

Take yesterday for example. We had a 17-point deficit and we are in lovely Morgantown, West Virginia. We had an 8-point deficit at the half. How, pray tell, do we get out of this deficit and come away with a win?

Shoot lots of threes: We were 8 of 21. Meh.

Shoot lots of free throws: We were 11 of 14. OK i guess. Only shot 2 in the second half? Meh.

Rebound a lot: Both teams had 31. Meh.

Don't turnover the ball: Both teams had 16. Meh.

Rely on starters and bench players both: 10 players played, but 6 of them had 24 or more minutes, the rest had 7 or less. Meh.

I love Sherri Coale as our coach and I think she can right this ship, but I'm starting to think this season is a lost cause. In the coming months I am going to have to google what the women's version of the NIT is called (yes, I'm joking. after all, we played in the preseason version of it) or if there's anything lesser-lesser we can hope for (WCBI? WCIT?)

I am still a very loyal fan, but alas, that has involved watching lots of Sherri teams of the past, and compared to the Final Fours, the Sweet 16s and the Big 12 champion teams, this is not up to what OU fans like me have become accustomed to under Sherri.

It's time to not blame the refs. We've had months to adjust to them calling ticky tack crap. It's time to not blame injuries, other players should have had the chance to step up and perform by now.

Alas, I am going to put this on the players, because Sherri will be here next year, OU basketball will be here next year and all the banners and trophies of years past will still be part of the OU legacy. However, the players are going to graduate, transfer, be replaced by incoming freshmen or those that have recovered from injuries or that are part of the next recruiting class. The current players that are spending a year of eligibility here at OU have only this season to worry about, because for some of them, there is not going to be a next year.

Please girls, win this year. Don't win this year for me, because I'm an anonymous Internet hack that likes to plagiarize opposing fan boards when their football/basketball teams lose and create GIFs to cope with Sooner losses. Win for yourselves.

Boomer Sooner as always.

PS: Yes, I am now a troll for whoever the men's next opponent is. Beat TCU Wednesday! As for the women... well, you are headed to Iowa State 6 p.m. Tuesday. Please be safe and stay healthy.

Soonerjeepman

1/19/2014, 04:09 PM

Let's just make a GIF to commemorate the occasion:
http://picasion.com/pic76/b98d194522c2e406732f12e32be8cbe8.gif

I am still a very loyal fan, but alas, that has involved watching lots of Sherri teams of the past, and compared to the Final Fours, the Sweet 16s and the Big 12 champion teams, this is not up to what OU fans like me have become accustomed to under Sherri.

.

this

Soonerjeepman

1/19/2014, 04:12 PM

6

Even Sherri's gameday attire was meh:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/NT/NTXVLYZJZIYLNUH.20140108194114.jpg

politely disagree...lol...anything Sherri wears is very good~

badger

1/20/2014, 02:00 PM

I will probably have to post tons more Sherri pics the rest of the season to get you all to stay interested... and because she may be the only one left on next year's team at this rate. And, we have to go to Iowa State tomorrow, so we are likely staring at loss #8. *sigh* I would much rather be staring at football championship #8 :(:(

I give you: "Sherri at OU: In pictures"

Sherri Coale in 2012:
http://binaryapi.ap.org/7480c58e61cb4f868dfaafbee1208709/512x.jpg

Sherri Coale in 2011:
http://img.spokeo.com/public/900-600/sherri_coale_2011_12_04.jpg

Sherri Coale in 2010 (at Final Four):
http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/43/33/145091/3/628x471.jpg

Sherri Coale in 2009 (yes, another Final Four):
http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Sherri+Coale+NCAA+Women+Basketball+Tournament+5pgt mGo2NTVl.jpg

Sherri Coale in 2008:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/RP/RPWAANRELZCWWYB.20130611223232.jpeg

Sherri Coale in 2007 (big 12 tourney championship):
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics28/1024/FWYRTXAJODBDSTG.200861710138.jpeg

Sherri Coale in 2006:
http://a.espncdn.com/media/ncw/2006/0219/photo/a_coale_275.jpg

It's hard keeping year-to-year straight in the early years, but here's Sherri not-Coale during her OCU days (the 86-87 season):
http://www.oc.edu/contentAsset/image/9774b4b0-7528-404a-a263-bfebaabd4e9b/photo?byInode=1

Might do more later

Soonerjeepman

1/20/2014, 07:59 PM

THANKS Badge...it's so stupid cause she's about 3 yrs younger than me...but damn, she's a sports guy's fantasy~ lol.

hawaii 5-0

1/21/2014, 09:31 PM

Very nice win over the Iowa State Cyclonettes today on their own court.

Ellenberg showed up in the 2nd half.

Griffin impressive in the low post as well.

5-0

tycat947

1/22/2014, 03:44 AM

Big win! 'Bout time!

Soonerjeepman

1/22/2014, 09:31 AM

just read that...yes big win. C'mon ladies...keep it going.

badger

1/22/2014, 10:00 AM

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs26/f/2008/140/a/4/Awesome_Face_by_yabramokids.jpg
OU 75, ISU 54
Tee hee, the Cyclones must be really sick of OU beating them lately :) I must now cower in shame after showing no faith in the team winning in Ames, so let's just let the box score and Sherri do the talking:

Sharane "Rebound" Campbell: Was once again our leading rebounder, with 9. She also added 10 points, so just shy of a double double.

Vegas scores: 22 pts to lead OU, and also played all 40 minutes.

5-0 for Morgan: 5 assists and zero turnovers. Yay, point guard.

9 players with at least 10 minutes: And a 10th player with 6. Good to see more players getting a chance.

Once again, shame on me for ever doubting. Sherri?

“I’m really proud of our team’s focus, intensity, the passion that we showed tonight...We needed this badly. Obviously, it’s been a long time since we’ve won in this building.”

According to SS, OU hadn't won in Ames since 2008, when D-Rob was a froshie.

Next game: 7 p.m. Saturday hosting TCU (no TV set yet). If you cannot wait till then for OU to beat TCU, remember that OU will be beating TCU (men) 8 p.m. tonite on ESPNU.

Once again, shame shame shame on badger. I will go post a few bonus meltdowns for you all in penance.

Boom-ah

Soonerjeepman

1/22/2014, 10:04 AM

no shame...I had no faith as well...OU wasn't playing well and Ames is Ames...

badger

1/24/2014, 03:38 PM

The women's next game is still tomorrow at 7, but alas, it looks like no real TV, just Sooner Sports TV. They also are just saying "Big 12 Network" for the mens game tomorrow 3 at Tech, so I guess there's always possibilities of finding it via channel flipping.

SF.com no longer allows posters to have more than 10 pics in a post, so let's go ahead and hammer out a few more Sherri pics
2009:
http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w300-93592c32300ee7389810129d13c8737f.jpg
2006:
http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2006/03/26/STANFORD_OKLAHOMA_bw_sport_t640.jpg
I *think* this is when we unexpectedly won the Big 12 tourney in 2005 as a 6-seed...
http://static.newsok.biz/sites/newsok/images/web/100%20best/coale.jpg
2003:
http://a.espncdn.com/media/ncw/2002/0219/photo/a_coale_i.jpg

And... from the year OU hired her, in 1996:
http://i49.tinypic.com/2ywy8ed.jpg

Soonerjeepman

1/24/2014, 05:26 PM

mmm, let's go with the after the 2005 season... lol

Salt City Sooner

1/25/2014, 12:28 AM

FWIW, my viewing guide says OU/TCU will be shown on FCS Central tomorrow.

badger

1/27/2014, 03:51 PM

**** yes we're back...ish
OU 63, TCU 52
We even got a few votes in the AP poll. A few more wins and they'll just have to put us back in the top 25. Why? Hell, they kept us in the top 25 at least three losses beyond where they should have. Perhaps there just isn't 25 good teams this year and we'll get back in by default.

Vegas scores scores scores: 19 points in 36 mins. She didn't get many other stat lines, but 3 steals is nice I guess

8 for 18 from three: There's really not a lot impressive in this boring box score, but this nearly 50 percent line from three is.

16 turnovers: Well, maybe we can shoot for 15 next game... hey, that's how many assists we had. Gaaaahhhh eff these turnovers.

Yknow what? Eff this recap. I'll just give you all what you came for: Photos of Morgan Hook and Sherri quotes and a reminder when the next game is... aaaaand go:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/DV/DVDDROMZZDQZHFP.20140126034019.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/DD/DDPEFJNEDNNUKCK.20140126034019.jpg

Well, I was really proud of our team’s performance. I thought we played with great energy again. We got the shots we wanted on offense. We had a little bit of a turnover fiasco in the first half when Morgan (Hook) came out. But to survive that and take a nine point lead into halftime with Morgan only playing seven minutes in the first half, I thought that was really big. Vegas did a tremendous job on Medley and then taking advantage of opportunities to score in the second half particularly. I just thought we survived a really physical game, especially when the ball came off the glass, so I thought we held our own and survived it.
I feel like Old Man Potter was about to put our business under with the bank closures, but lo and behold, we have $2 left at the end of the day. Now... will we still have that $2 left after the next game?
Next game: 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kansas State. TV is FS Kansas City / FCS Pacific.

Boomer!

badger

1/30/2014, 10:30 AM

gawwwwwdddddaaammitol
KSU 86, OU 78
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ksu/sports/w-baskbl/auto_player/9652172.jpeg

Kansas State ended a 13-game losing streak to Oklahoma

Furkity furk furk furk... SHERRI! WHAT THE HELL?!

“I do not think that was the difference in the game. Obviously we turned it over once against it. I do not think that was the difference in the game. The difference in the game was the way we defended. We did not defend with confidence or energy. Even though we got 23 points from Nicole Griffin, our post play was not what it should have been offensively or defensively and we deserve this one. K-State played great. I do not want to take anything away from them. Anytime you make 11 three’s and anytime you are 23-of-31 from the free throw line, you are going to beat a lot of people. There is no doubt about that. I am disappointed in our lack of attention to detail and the game plan we did not follow.”

So basically, last night, I decided to not watch the basketball game everyone else in the state watched (Thunder over Heat) and tune into some mini-Fox Sports station that was broadcasting the K-State homers commentating on the Sooners blowing yet another lead. Oh yes, we HAD the lead in the second half. Does SS.com have something to say about that?!

Oklahoma led by 5 at halftime and kept its margin for seven minutes into the second half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Katya Leick and Kindred Wesemann closed the gap and Wesemann added 3 the old-fashioned way on the next K-State possession to tie the game 51-51.

So once again, we snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and ouch, what painfully sharp jaws those victory jaws are. STATS TIME!

Tall Nicole scores: 23 pts, including 7 of 7 for free throws. Basically, she was out-talling KSU (photo proof above), who concentrated more on guarding...

Vegas so-so night: By Aaryn's standards, 16 pts is low. We can blame 1 for 10 shooting from three. NO TYPO ONE FOR TEN

Morgan tries very hard: Say what you will about Morgan being a point guard or not, but she gave a hell of an effort trying to keep OU in this game. She ended with 21 pts, 6 assists and 5 boards

So much for bench: Three players (Vegas, Morgan, Sharane) had 38 minutes each. Tall Nicole had 33. That didn't leave a lot to be given to the bench, which had 5 players range from 1 minute (T'ona Edwards) to 12 (Gioya Carter, who fouled out).

I think I'm gonna be sick.

Next game: 2 p.m. Saturday hosting Lady Poke, TV is FSN.

I know I'm gonna be sick.

Next-next game: 6 p.m. Monday hosting Baylor, TV is ESPN2.

I'm already sick.

Booomer....bllllleagggggh

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:44 PM

lead on the aggies by 10. 4 minutes to go.

ouflak

2/1/2014, 04:46 PM

Any updates?

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:48 PM

Sooners have been leading 4 or 5 for a while and then hit two threes in a row. Now have a lead of 10. 4 minutes left. in a time out.

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:49 PM

3:34 by 11.

Soonerjeepman

2/1/2014, 04:51 PM

what channel?

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:51 PM

sooners by 9, 2:58

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:51 PM

fox college sports

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:52 PM

2:46. Sooners by 11

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:53 PM

sooners at the foul line 2:12. 72-61.

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:54 PM

1:56 Sooners by 9.

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:55 PM

1:53. Sooners by 11

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:59 PM

1:14 Sooners by 8. Cowgirls are fouling immediately.

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 04:59 PM

1:12 Sooners by 10

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 05:00 PM

0:59 Sooners by 8.

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 05:01 PM

0:54 Sooners by 9

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 05:02 PM

steal by Sooners.

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 05:03 PM

37 seconds. 81-72

SanJoaquinSooner

2/1/2014, 05:05 PM

81-74 final Sooners whip Aggies.

Soonerjeepman

2/1/2014, 06:12 PM

takes the sting out of the guy's loss...ugh

hawaii 5-0

2/1/2014, 06:44 PM

Nice 2nd half.

5-0

badger

2/2/2014, 02:18 PM

I think my massive headache today is from Sooner womens basketball confusion
OU 81, oklast 74
But really, for historic purposes, it makes sense:

Oklahoma State has now lost 16 consecutive times on the Sooners court

Rather than fight the headache, let's just go straight to stats:
Star Spencer Sharane: 28 pts, 8 rebounds in 34 minutes, including a perfect 11 of 11 from free throw.
Tall Nicole double-double: 14 pts, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in 30 minutes
Carter the Starter: Gioya played 31 minutes and added 7 pts and 3 steals.
Halftime deficit: We were down 37-34 at half, plus OSU had been undefeated in the Big 12 on the road so far this season. We got the lead back with 16 mins left.

Sherri, are we still on speaking terms even though I cursed at you last entry? :(

That was fun. I’m really, really proud of how hard we competed. I thought we were gutsy, gritty, made plays when we needed to make them and I think the charge that Oklahoma State made down the stretch and us being able to hold them off and execute was really important for our team because that sort of situation has put us in a bind in previous games. I thought our three seniors were just huge in the stretch about two-thirds of the way through the first half when we blew it open and Nicole Griffin made a shot inside, Morgan (Hook) hit a 3, Vegas made a 3 and that’s really what stretched it wide open. I can’t say enough about Sharane Campbell. I’m sure you guys are going to ask her a bunch of questions and talk about her and rightly so. She was fantastic in every phase of the game from start to finish.

I deserve this headache for being a fickle fan. Here, have some photos:

http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/XL/XLOTZGDNYOJRLYP.20140201212507.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/FO/FOPYKJHVIBWEHDL.20140201212507.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/AY/AYWOXEFBCDADIEG.20140201230819.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/EQ/EQPAQLVJIRTUCIC.20140201230819.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/DD/DDCDJCFZFTYJRZZ.20140201230819.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/TI/TITOXEIUPCSSMYP.20140201230819.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/AH/AHEUFHWUDBZBDVQ.20140201230819.jpg
Next game: 6 p.m. Monday hosting Baylor. TV is ESPN2. Heaven help us it's going to be as difficult as this one.

Boomer...

badger

2/4/2014, 11:28 AM

I can be bitter, it's perfectly allowable under rules of fandom.
http://soonerpsycho.com/spfarksandpics/mulkeyhulk.gif
OU 67, Baylor 81
Perhaps it was the imminent winter weather, perhaps it was the inevitable loss looming, but attendance at LNC last night as it appeared on TV confirmed what soonerpsycho's masterpiece (that's the GIF above!) tells repeatedly: No one gives a rat's *** about Baylor women's basketball.

When Baylor loses to OSU in football, there's an epic Internet meltdown. When they lose the Fiesta Bowl to the central region of Flo Rida, there's an epic Internet meltdown. When Baylor men's basketball is headed for NIT for worse, there's constant cries to fire Scott Drew and burn the stadium to the ground and throw the tarp at them.

So... does it really matter when we lose to a program that nobody gives a rat's *** about? Absolutely not. PHOTO TIME!
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/PO/POTOGFKUJGVHKAI.20140204010829.jpg
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/YZ/YZKHRLKOKKZMUSA.20140204010829.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/JY/JYAPAXCHHRQUFOL.20140204025415.jpg
:( Nobody actually believes that sh!t I wrote above, do they? I absolutely wanted this game. I'm sick of losing to BU in football and womens basketball, it has happened far too often lately and I wanted our unranked scrappy squad to pull off the upset at home. They were competitive and succumbed to foul trouble late. I'm proud of their effort and was very sad to see them fall short :(

Sad badger stats:
Foul trouble: Aaryn, Sharane and Gioya all fouled out. We definitely felt it late when three starters were forced to sit on the bench.
17 turnovers: This issue is just not going away ever. It's badger's lot in life, she's made to suffer.
10 missed free throws: 15 for 25, compared with Baylor's 17 of 22.

Sherri?

There was never any rhythm in the game whatsoever. We got discombobulated at the beginning and never really were able to get any rhythm. Again, I thought these guys fought. Morgan (Hook) was a warrior the whole time. As far as contributing to the misfortune, we shot ourselves in the foot a lot. We turned it over repeatedly in the second half and got it cut to 8 or 9 and turned it over. We had a defensive miscue by running out on a non-shooter and leaving a shooter open. That’s young guys trying to survive in the midst of a tough situation. In the first half we missed some open shots and threw it away. We were careless. I don’t think the post had the presence that they had in the last couple of games. Maybe that was the fear of getting another foul.

Next game: 2 p.m. Sunday at Kansas. It's currently set for ESPN3, so NP actually won't make me change the station this game, unlike last night (I changed it back when he wasn't looking)

Boomer

Soonerjeepman

2/4/2014, 09:37 PM

Next game: 2 p.m. Sunday at Kansas. It's currently set for ESPN3, so NP actually won't make me change the station this game, unlike last night (I changed it back when he wasn't looking)

Boomer
Daughter and I headed over to watch. We went when the Pairs twins where playing..got a ton of pics of daughter with the team..Sherri as well...

SicEmBaylor

2/5/2014, 05:25 AM

http://chrisblattman.com/files/2011/07/facebook_like_button_big1.jpg

badger

2/5/2014, 09:12 AM

Daughter and I headed over to watch. We went when the Pairs twins where playing..got a ton of pics of daughter with the team..Sherri as well...

I can't think of any sports team that doesn't like seeing its fans at road games. I remember crashing a mostly empty GIA as a student with some older alums (it was basically all of OU's pep band with a few dozen alums on a bus from Norman. We were instructed to decline their beer offers). The Poke pep band was piiiiiiiissed off and basically did nothing but "Ride Ride" during every timeout pointed directly at us (we ended up winning --- it was Coach Goodenough's last season I think)

Soonerjeepman

2/9/2014, 09:11 PM

well, daughter and I had a great time. $8 or $12 dollar tickets...can't remember. Sat on the first row behind the bench...had our choice. Ladies played well. Balanced scoring...I will tell ya if you don't like women's ball on TV, go to a game, it's amazing how athletic most of the girls are.

Hook is very good, Vegas is quick and good. They play together very well. OU got off to a slow start, but built the lead to 8/9 most of the game. #42? for ku..good lord she couldn't miss..had 25 at one point. Their big has some nice moves.

Oh, and yes (which I knew this) Sherri is much hawter in person~ lol. I'll try and post a few pics.

* do they stay in a row at the FT line when being introduced at home? They did that at ku. The one thought was solidarity...figured coach has them do that to show no matter who starts we are a team...?

badger

2/10/2014, 11:14 AM

I'm glad you all got to witness a Sooner win. Teams always seem to appreciate fans more on the road than at home for whatever reason :)

OU 81, KU 71
We only led 2 at halftime, but then again, Vegas (Aaryn Ellenberg) only had 2 points at halftime. She ended up with 17, so as she went, so OU went, it seems.

I really have no idea what team will show up in which half or either half or which game or any game, or which players will be on or off, because... this season. I selfishly would love for the women to be having the success and fan interest that the men's team is, but unselfishly, if one program has to be postseason bound and ranked and on national television... yeah.

Game stats:
6 players with at least 19 minutes: Our starting five has seemingly been expanded to a starting 6, with two more players adding 11 and 12 each. This bodes well for the future and I hope we continue sharing the minutes. There's only 200 to go around, but at least more are seeing the court more often.

Vegas scores: 19 points, as mentioned earlier. Most of these were not threes (only 2 for 5 there) but just baskets in general. I think this is a better way to go forward.

7 for 15 for three: We still attempt them and we still make them, and although I have no concrete info to back this up, I think we are taking less and making more. Is it just this opponent or a trend? Table this stat for future discussion.

14 for 16 for free: Again, making more, taking less, but we have less control over how often we get to shoot these. I've often lamented missed frees in the past, so I can say for sure that this is a stat that has greatly improved since the beginning of the season, which is good, because the refs are whistle happy this year. Gah.

Morgan is too a point guard, haters: She added 15 pts and 9 assists. She clearly doesn't want our season, her senior year, to end early and the effort shows in the box score.

Tall Nicole double-double: 11 boards and 10 points. She was even a perfect 4 for 4 for free. Yay, Nicole!

No photos or Sherri quotes today, sorry. Neither KU nor OU had anything on their sites (but KU had a lot of pink photos due to it being their pink day).

Next game: 6 p.m. Thursday hosting West Virginia. Maybe we can return their weather travel favor (on the mens side this past week) and deliver them a flight delayed loss. TV is Fox Sports 1.

Boomer

Soonerjeepman

2/10/2014, 05:00 PM

Nicole, ummm....had several close put backs or post moves that didn't make it. She plays her heart out and had a good game, but man if she had any "dominance" in her we'd be really good.

badger

2/14/2014, 09:52 AM

1. Shock and Denial: Our losses are quality losses!
2. Pain and Guilt: We're no longer ranked and we keep losing and I'm a bad fan for pointing both out
3. Anger and Bargaining: **** ****ity **** **** ****. If we make the postseason, I'll never question Sherri again!
4. Depression, Reflection, Loneliness: We suck this year, but I guess we've had down years in the past. Does anyone else still care about this team?
5. The Upward Turn: Hey! We just beat ISU and OSU and they're both ranked!
6. Reconstruction and Working Through: Well, we're still losing, but a lot of tournament teams have losses!
7. Acceptance and Hope: We're not making the postseason, but there's always next year.

WVU 76, OU 75
Take some Oklahoma bottled water on the way home with you. I hear that you need it more than us, even if we're in various stages of drought!

Sherri, I really don't have much else to say. Do you?

“We missed some good looks in the second half. We got the ball where it needed to go and missed some good looks. We bogged down after about the midway point of the second half. We had multiple opportunities to stretch our lead and we didn’t. Early in the second half we just missed a bunch of really good looks. I thought the stretch that killed us was when we had a 6-point lead and we missed a layup and they went down and scored and we got it back and missed another layup and then they went down and scored. That was the exchange that got us. It gave them momentum and it gave them confidence and that is when you have to burry teams.”

Next game: 12 pm Sunday at OSU. TV is ESPN2

I've accepted that this season's a lost cause, but I can still be a fan even with the lowest of winning expectations.

Boomer Sooner anyways

PrideMom

2/14/2014, 10:25 AM

I think it is time for a different approach to women's basketball. Obviously OU is not recruiting the TOUGHEST athlete. I am tired of watching a slug-fest at every game. The refs are getting worse, and it is time that OU gets new assistants that can get the type of athlete that plays that way. One of the reasons we got season tickets to the women's games was that in the beginning you actually saw basketball as it was meant to be played, with set plays, etc. Now you see pushing, slapping, tripping, and anything goes attitude on the court.

oudanny

2/17/2014, 11:54 AM

I'm afraid that until we improve our talent level and get more athletic players it isn't going to matter much how we play. I'm not advocating playing an "anything goes" style of basketball but effort and heart will only take you so far. From what I've seen, next year doesn't look any better.

badger

2/18/2014, 09:13 AM

btw, I'm well aware of Sunday, I'm just giving Sooner womens basketball the silent treatment till next game I think :(

tycat947

2/18/2014, 10:06 AM

btw, I'm well aware of Sunday, I'm just giving Sooner womens basketball the silent treatment till next game I think :(

Thank you!!! :excitement:

Ruf/Nek7

2/19/2014, 10:13 PM

Why no Ellenburg tonight against the whorns?

Salt City Sooner

2/20/2014, 12:31 AM

Why no Ellenburg tonight against the whorns?
Concussion; she got decked on a killer screen last game. Heck of an effort by The Guys to pull one out tonight, esp/ w/o Vegas & KK getting hurt. Morgan was 1 board & 2 assists shy of a triple double.

badger

2/20/2014, 09:34 AM

Oh me of little faith.
Texas 63, OU 64
Ya see what I did there? Last night was our pinkie game... let's go straight to photos:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/KB/KBCXUZTTNKALKNU.20140220015445.jpg
Nicole Kornet (aka "other nicole")
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/TT/TTARSYCRMPVERCD.20140220015445.jpg
Morgan Hook:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/640/ER/ERRJNTOUAKEIMFP.20140220015445.jpg
Kaylon Williams (aka "Kay Kay"):
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/VO/VOFSUCHMNGGKLLK.20140220015445.jpg
They really go through a lot of paper in their locker room, don't they? This is ex-Sooner Jozsef Szendrei with Kay Kay:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/ZP/ZPWOCJCUEWUBEGO.20140220033247.jpg
Sherri giving Gioya Carter a hug:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/KS/KSWLCWEDJFVOXIC.20140220033247.jpg
More of Sherri's pink outfit:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/FX/FXOKADBFLREGAJL.20140220033247.jpg
Don't give each other concussions, girls! (Other Nicole and Morgan):
[http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/GQ/GQZHINOMUVZFODJ.20140220033247.jpg
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/HV/HVMKJWYMZCQIMMR.20140220033246.jpg
Seriously, I am so very sorry that I was pouting this weekend and after. I never want to give this team the silent treatment or the 7 stages of denial or a loss lamenting GIF or whatever the hell else I've done this season. Everything is up from here. Aaryn will be back from concussion, our team will hang tons more paper in their locker room, everything from now on is back to normal, yes?

Sooner stats:
1-point-lead: We led by one at halftime, 27-26. That one point was the end score difference and we've gone both directions this year, either blowing a halftime lead or coming back from a halftime deficit, so really, there's nothing to see here. Moving along...

Morgan Morgan Morgan!: Y'know how futbol fans like to shout MESSIMESSIMESSI a lot? Well, Morgan deserves something like that for 15 points and 8 assists, 9 rebounds and only 3 turnovers in 38 minutes. She's having a lot of senior moments this year, and thank goodness this one resulted in the win over the whorns.

Horrendous shooting: Not to put a damper on things, but we shot 4 of 13 from three and 16 of 25 from free. Fortunately, texas sucks

10 to 10: 10 assists, 10 turnovers. Then again, when everyone on both sides misses shots, why bother worrying about turnovers? :D

Sherri?

“I’m not very often without words, but I’m not sure I have a lot tight now. I thought it was a very gutsy effort by our team, I’m so proud of the freshman coming in and giving us big minutes and Portia Durrett as a senior who was really good today. She made key plays. She’s been good all week, she’s been good in the locker room. Of course, these two here (Morgan Hook and Sharane Campbell) were significant. Morgan’s will, we just attached ourselves to Morgan’s will, we really did. She almost had a triple-double and just made tough play after tough play and when you’re a point guard with nine rebounds, that’s ‘want to’ that’s what that is. She was not going to be denied this win. So despite miserable numbers, I told them in the locker room that this stat sheet is ugly, but the important number on there is 64, we had one more point than they did and we finally figured out how to win a close game.”

I recommend the SS.com recap here (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209411675). Or, just read this part:

The Longhorns had a chance for their own game-winner. Hook’s second free throw missed and was rebounded by Texas’ Nekia Jones. Jones passed ahead of the Sooner defense to Enemkpali, but the streaking Longhorn did not have time to release her shot before the buzzer blasted.

Tee hee, Texas. You lose!

Next game: 7 p.m. Saturday hosting Kansas. TV is FSN (Sooner Sports TV).

Boomer!

hawaii 5-0

2/20/2014, 01:41 PM

Sweet win over the whorns.

Sometimes it feels there's nothing 'gelling' this team together. Lots of running around with no productivity.

Other times they pull it together and walk away with a big smile and high-fives for everyone.

Way to go Lady Sooners !

5-0

oudanny

2/20/2014, 04:14 PM

An ugly win is better than a pretty loss but man, that was really ugly. Hook was a warrior. Congrats!

Soonerjeepman

2/21/2014, 10:52 AM

Concussion; she got decked on a killer screen last game. Heck of an effort by The Guys to pull one out tonight, esp/ w/o Vegas & KK getting hurt. Morgan was 1 board & 2 assists shy of a triple double.

I KNOW Coale refers to her team like this...yes, I'm nit picking...but they are not GUYS, Way to Go SOONERS, Ladies, women, PLAYERS, females...whatever...but this cross gender thing is old. For the record when the real GUYS play, I don't call them "men, guys, boys.." I just call them Sooners.

Okay..sorry for the preaching..but this cross gender philosophy push in general is really getting old and I noticed you capitalized it, making your point.

So, WAY TO GO SOONERS! I HOPE they can salvage the rest of the season but not sure the NCAA is within reach short of winning the Big 12 tourney. After going to OU/ku game I noticed there is not a lot of depth, 10 players total? with 3 not playing at all in that game. ku had like 15 suited up, so it seemed.

OU_Sooners75

2/21/2014, 11:14 AM

hawaii 5-0

2/22/2014, 01:01 AM

I agree.

I still have high hopes for Maddie Manning when she returns next season.

5-0

tycat947

2/22/2014, 12:01 PM

I hope boosters and other prominent folks are putting Sherry Coale's feet to the fire!

I am not on the boat of her being replaced. But I am in the boat of she needs to gut her staff and start over with fresh faces.

It is working for Stoops, surely it can work for Coale.

It is time Coale cuts ties with her friends in Norman and get some real coaches!

The talent level continues to drop, and it is showing!

These so called friends were there when she took 3 teams to the Final 4. I think she is making adjustments and will make inroads with recruiting. We have an outstanding point guard coming in next year which, IMO, will make a big difference.

badger

2/24/2014, 11:00 AM

I hope boosters and other prominent folks are putting Sherry Coale's feet to the fire!

My (much more knowledgeable and passionate about this team) colleagues at ouhoops have heard rumors about this, but it's the Internet, take it for what it's worth. I tend to veer towards the "give Sherri a season to right the ship" right now, but that's likely due to us winning a few good games recently.

I still have high hopes for Maddie Manning when she returns next season

Me too, but I said the same thing last season when she also got ousted early due to injury. I'm not sure I can be hopeful more than three seasons, so here's hoping that year 3 (which is actually year 1 according to NCAA eligibility) is finally THE year!

I think she is making adjustments and will make inroads with recruiting. We have an outstanding point guard coming in next year which, IMO, will make a big difference

I know you're also an ouhoops lurker so you've also heard both sides on this argument. Our recruiting is up, our recruiting is questionable, we'll be stellar with next year's player's, why aren't our returning Sweet 16 started doing anything this year, etc etc.

In short, the final month(ish) of OU womens basketball really will tip the scale. If we win out (or at least close... we still have another Baylor game or two, after all), we can go into the offseason optimistic and ready for our next generation of awesome. If we continue disappointing at home and on the road and lose close games or games that we were never competitive in at all... gah.

OU 64, KU 61
Thank goodness we pulled off this nailbiter. We had KU in bonus (and then double bonus) very early in the second half, with about 4 players in foul trouble. However, Morgan had a senior clutch free throw moment in our final possession to bring us up by 6, then KU dinked around too long, hitting a 3 as the buzzer sounded. Congrats, Ladyjays! You lose by 3 instead of by 6 :P

Of note:
Aaryn didn't play again: Concussed for another game, but SS.com notes that we are 3-0 without her so far this season. Look for her to return to the lineup tonight, according to SS.com's projected starters (http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209415310).

Morgan scores 15: My husband made fun of me for saying that she has really stepped up her senior leadership late this season, because it seemed like the few moments he looked up at the TV she was turning the ball over, missing a three, or doing something else odd. So, granted, she's not perfect (0 for 3 from three, 5 turnovers, 3 rebounds, 5 for 10 overall from field), but she did hit those late free throws to seal the game.

Tall Nicole out-talls everyone: She continues to move a bit awkwardly in the post for points and rebounds, but you simply cannot overlook (nyuck nyuck) how much of a difference her height makes. 13 pts, 14 rebounds.

22 and 9 for Sharane: Almost a double-double for our junior starter.

0 for 11 for three: I swear I saw Sharane make a three in the second half, but then b1tch ref shot two fingers toward the scorer's table. Must have toed the line. Gah. At least KU shot horribly too (6 for 14 for three, 19 of 44 overall

Sherri?

I thought Kansas played really well. We just played gritty. I don’t know how well we played, but we played tough, with great intestinal fortitude, and great purpose. We just weren’t going to be denied. Anytime you shoot as poorly as we did and win a game that means you are doing a lot of the little things right. It’s running down loose balls, rebounds and setting good screens. Obviously, the difference in the game was rebounding. We get 24 offensive boards and then hold them to four. That’s a tremendous stat. Especially for our basketball team. You guys have been covering us so you understand what an impressive stat that is for us. In addition to these two who are beside me [Sharane Campbell and Morgan Hook], I thought Nicole Griffin was fantastic in the second half. Just around the rim, going after the ball, second and third efforts on offense and defense. Morgan (Hook) made a huge shot down the stretch. We guarded pretty well in the last minute or two minutes as well.

Next game: 6 p.m. tonight at... Baylor. :( TV is FOX Sports 1 if you are eternally optimistic.

Boomer...

badger

2/24/2014, 03:04 PM

Also, don't be this guy:

I've been messing around on this site for a couple of days. and I really can't believe that there is so much garbage about shari. I mean, what does anybody want. so the story is that ou wanted to drop girls basketball. it was the last or next to the last year of the big 8. the conference wouldn't let the school drop the sport immediately, which is what the admin wanted to do. rather they demanded that ou give the program a couple of more years before ending the program. to hasten the end they decided not to go after a coach that could build the program, but to hire a high school coach with no college experience. so they hired shari from norman high, expecting her to fail. now this will be the 15th straight ncaa appearance, to go along with 3 final fours, 7(maybe 8- I'm 70 and getting senile), 6 big 12 championships,and 4 conference tourney titles. even more important is 92 (92!!!!) conference all academic and 4 academic all Americas, and a gold medal as the coach of the world games. so her record, nearing 400 wins, hasn't been built with the type of players on some of the other big 12 teams. she won't recruit them. it might be a bit mushy but I would be proud for all of her players to be my grand daughters. also kudos to Castiglione for coming in an making it clear that he was behind the program.when you get to the bottom line, only bill Snyder has done more with less than shari. I'm disappointed this year for sure. but I still know what side the butters on. were fans and we all have a right to be critical, but don't be stupid. we can't get better than shari.

Revisionist history sometimes doesn't take very long. Suddenly, the "Miracle on Ice" game was for the gold medal, Texas A&M has three national championships and the OU women's basketball program was....well, let's just go through this step by step:

shari
Sherri Coale. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherri_Coale)

so the story is that ou wanted to drop girls basketball. it was the last or next to the last year of the big 8
The Big 8 dissolved in 1996 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Eight_Conference). The OU women's basketball program was temporarily dropped in March 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Sooners_women%27s_basketball).

they demanded that ou give the program a couple of more years before ending the program. to hasten the end they decided not to go after a coach that could build the program, but to hire a high school coach with no college experience
Once again, 1990 versus 1996 (the year they hired Sherri). There is no doubt that critics viewed the hiring of a high school coach from Norman High as a step backward, but not necessarily as a step to end women's basketball at OU.

I don't mean to call attention to this poor mistaken fellow, but I've heard this story told wrong many times over, so once again, March 1990 was when the program was temporarily ended, 1996 was when Sherri was hired on the recommendation of former OU associate athletic director and senior women's administrator Marita Hynes.

Joe Castiglione has certainly been behind multiple Sherri pay raises and other support during his tenure, but he was not behind her hiring. He became OU's athletic director in 1998 and was at Missouri before that. Joe C's signature hire will likely always be Bob Stoops (although Lon Kruger is certainly a hire to brag about).

I fear that revisionist history may also cast an unfair light on this season, so before it does, Sherri's worst OU season will (likely) always be her first two: 5-22 in '96-'97; 8-19 in '97-'98. Yes, she had led OU to the WNIT posteason before (1999) and she has had dismal Big 12 records turn into NCAA berths (8-8 in 2004-05, 9-7 in both 2003-04 and 2002-03)

badger

2/24/2014, 08:00 PM

I remember when we'd dominate teams like Baylor's dominating us tonight. It was fun while it lasted. Now, I'm thankful I got to witness that one shining moment when we brought their 20+ lead down to 14. :(

badger

2/25/2014, 01:09 PM

Well, at least we made 'em a little bit testy near the end.
Baylor 96, OU 89
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/1240/AM/AMGFZXKODBHQHSL.20140225163029.jpg
Hopefully that image (thanks, SS.com) will lighten the mood a bit, for downtrodden Sooners and lurkers who want to laugh alike. But, because I'm supposed to be talking about the game, here's a photo from last night's game:
http://www.soonersports.com/pics33/640/HD/HDQGRGYDUXIARQL.20140225154152.JPG
Baylor games, blowout or close, win or lose, are always more fun to watch with Skeletor on the sidelines. Anyways, now that I've gotten token photos out of the way, here's some stats:

Down 32, then down 6: I gutted out watching the entire game last night, but I did it by reading toddler baj books. If you plan to watch any Sooner women's games the rest of this season, I recommend having a distraction or a damper close by. Several years ago a game with that big of a swing would have resulted in broken things, a lot of yelling and probably no sleep the night after. Anyway, we somehow turned a 32-point deficit with 15 minutes left into a 6-point deficit near the end.

Making mommy proud: Skeltor's evil apprentice... that's mean. What I meant to say was Kim Mulkey's dear daughter Makenzie Robertson got a technical. I sadly missed how it happened. Seriously, I'm very sad about this. Could someone please tell me why?

Aaryn scores 29: If we're comparing star stats, Odyssey Sims had 38. However, since Vegas was returning from concussion I think her 29 is worth more :) She also had 3 steals, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

Foul play: Morgan, Kay Kay and T'ona Edwards all fouled out, while Sharane and Other Nicole had 4 each. It was basically to match Baylor's physicality, methinks. Sims especially seemed to have loose elbows

7 of 25 for three: Other Nicole (better nickname next year I promise) Kornet went 4 for 8, while Vegas was probably still in concussion mode, shooting 3 for 13.

Free throws: I shouldn't just point this out when we suck. We have drastically improved on this stat, going 20 for 24 last night, compared with Baylor's 23 of 35.

Sherri?

"Early in the game, you could tell she hadn't done anything in seven days except sit in a dark corner of a room and try to get well...But she played her way out of it and was fantastic."

If you are still teetering on the edge of "stick with it" or "make drastic changes," this game will not push you in either direction. We lost to the likely Big 12 champs on the road, but we also didn't lose by a lot.

Next game: 7 p.m. Saturday at TCU. TV is FS Southwest Plus. This will be our final Big 12 road game, then we have one at home Monday against pathe-Tech (not being clever, they really are bad) to close out the regular season. Big 12 tourney separates from its big brother this year and will be in OKC on the weekend of March 7-9.

Boomer

Soonerjeepman

2/25/2014, 01:23 PM

badger

2/25/2014, 04:35 PM

saw the score and was mildly impress by the closeness...this is a $hit year for women's BBall..no doubt. Basketball isn't rocket science...one hoop, one ball, 5 players...hopefully she'll get it going next year.

The majority of the game was not close. We started ice cold shooting, we were down 20+ at halftime and 30+ at one point in the second half. However, the endgame was the close part, as it should be (unless you're Baylor and blew a 30+ lead).

An ouhoopster that sometimes posts here enlightened me on the Robertson foul. Sadly, it was just touching the ball as we were inbounding it or some BS like that. Talk about giant letdown :(

Soonerjeepman

2/25/2014, 04:41 PM

ugh...that ruined it for me. LOL, I actually thought we played well...

SicEmBaylor

2/28/2014, 02:00 PM

I approve.

Soonerjeepman

2/28/2014, 02:19 PM

lol..take solace your girls are decent cause the guys suck~

badger

2/28/2014, 02:37 PM

lol..take solace your girls are decent cause the guys suck~

:D I like it when their men lose. Creates very fun banter to repost from BF.com. Baylor women win or lose, nobody really cares except a few. Certainly nothing to striptease the refs about

SicEmBaylor

2/28/2014, 08:36 PM

lol..take solace your girls are decent cause the guys suck~

Well, we got used to that situation a very long time ago. :D

Soonerjeepman

3/1/2014, 11:32 AM

lol...nice come back.

badger

3/4/2014, 11:35 AM

I call them pathe-Tech for a reason, not just trying to be clever.
OU 87, Tech 32
This is the program that Sheryl Swoopes played for. This is the program that won the national title back in the 90s. This is the program that used to regularly outdraw their men's program.

This is the new Texas Tech, 0-18 in conference and 6-23 overall, and we got to have our Senior Night (afternoon?) against them. Thank you, basketball gods.

Oh, I should have probably mentioned at some point that we also had a game at TCU on Saturday, but I'll let Sherri break the bad news to you all:

Coming off of a bad loss in Fort Worth

GAHHHHHHHHHHHH...beating tech stats time before i have a nervous breakdown

Senior starters... plus Other Nicole: As per tradition, senior start on senior night/afternoon, so so Portia Durrett logged 20 minutes with 7 points and 6 rebounds. Because we only have four seniors, Other Nicole got the fifth spot, adding 15 pts and 6 rebounds in 26 minutes.

Give it a rest: Nobody played more than 28 minutes, and 12 players got to log minutes.

Let it go: We also only committed 8 turnovers.

This season is over: The regular season is finally finished; The Big 12 tournament starts in OKC (not to be confused with KC, the host of the mens tourney) on Friday. The schedule is here (http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209285766).

Siiiiiiigh...Sherri?

“We did a lot of things well. I think chief among them not throwing the ball all across the gym. Ball security. It’s huge. I don’t know that we’re going to get many nights where we make 15 threes. I don’t know that that’s going to happen very often but being able to knock down open ones that’s something you have got to do. Even in some tough wins over a last couple of weeks we have not done that. We had open threes and not had the ability to knock them down so doing that, not just one player doing that, but I think we had five or six guys who hit threes tonight and that gives us a lot of juice going forward.”

Next game: Big 12 tourney, opponent not set yet I don't think. I promise not to abandon this thread on the side of the road just yet.

Boomer

tycat947

3/4/2014, 01:52 PM

I think Tech is worst team in Big 12 in the 21st century. I also think they quit on Candi yesterday too. She was the 1st one off the court too. May be in over her head.

BudsBoy

3/4/2014, 10:39 PM

Oklahoma women's BB is and will no longer be a power in this conference unless Sherri changes the type of players she brings in. We have two players that play the modern game of basketball, Campbell and Vegas. The rest of them are all roll players who just can't play the modern game. Sherri is mostly after girls who are HER, small school try harder girls who might just turn out to be players in 4 years if they work real hard. Some do, most don't, ie. all those girls who have left the program because they couldn't compete in the big 12. If you are going to keep getting those they girls you damn sure better have assistant coaches that can teach them to play. But we say last night what those coaches mean to the girls, "Mom, you make us laugh, and thanks for being there when I need to talk". That is what each sr. said last night, not thanks for teaching me some basketball. Some body do something, please.

b

tycat947

3/5/2014, 09:57 AM

badger

3/5/2014, 10:20 AM

Hell, I'm sorry that fans are unhappy too. It's just been one of those seasons that you'd like to pretend didn't happen, unless of course, this is the turning point/learning experience that finally gets Sherri her national championship.

In any event, the Big 12 has revealed their bracket for the upcoming tourney:
http://i57.tinypic.com/10milv8.png
Here's OU's schedule this week:
8:30 p.m. Saturday: OU vs Texas
4:30 p.m. Sunday: OU vs West Virginia (probably)
8 p.m. Monday: OU vs Baylor (probably)

You can view more Big 12 tourney info on the Big 12 page here. (http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=209285766&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=10410&DB_LANG=C&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT=)

We are doomed to wearing our away-crimson jerseys the entire time as a 6-seed. The only thing left to do is have fun at this point.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs255.snc1/10216_174145229154_598289154_3938354_1546883_n.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m284viWqir1qhtqtjo1_500.gif
http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/EndIsNear1.jpg

I'm a terrible fan. Here, have some optimism:
http://www.lelanicarver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DontPanic.jpg
:D Boomer!

BudsBoy

3/5/2014, 11:35 PM

Wow! I'm sorry you're soooooo unhappy!

I'm not unhappy, I'm trying to make a point that this staff is not getting the job done.

tycat947

3/5/2014, 11:45 PM

I'm not unhappy, I'm trying to make a point that this staff is not getting the job done.

Unfortunately, that happens from time to time. Roy Williams, UNC, finished 9th in the ACC and out of the NCAA tourney the year after winning the NC. Muffet McGraw had a 18-12 record and 10th place conference finish 5 years after ND's NC. Sherri will turn it around.

badger

3/6/2014, 01:06 PM

We have some Big 12 honorees to mention. Link here. (http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209427595&DB_OEM_ID=10410)

Aaryn Ellenberg became a three-time First-Time All-Big 12 selection, and was a unanimous selection (coaches cannot vote for their own players).

Morgan Hook was on the second team, Nicole Griffin and Sharane Campbell were honorable mentions. We didn't have anyone on the froshie team or defense team.

There were three unanimous first teamers, Odyssey Sims on Baylor and Tiffany bias of OSU the other two. WVU Coach Mike Carey was Big 12 Coach of the Year, as he was the first coach in several years to take at least part of the Big 12 crown from Baylor (share this year, Baylor sole winner past three years).

badger

3/10/2014, 09:14 AM

Take this season and shove it I ain't losing games no more
My top 25 done left and took all the reason I was postseason bound
Ya, better not try and shoot threes all game
Cause you might as well be turning over the ball
Take this season and shove it I ain't losing games no more

Nov. 17: Louisville (97-92 OT)
Nov. 24: @UCLA (82-76)
Dec. 8: Duke (94-85)
Dec. 21: @Marist (76-69)
Jan. 5: Iowa State (82-75 OT)
Jan. 8: @Texas (79-74 OT)
Jan. 18: @West Virginia (77-63)
Jan. 29: @Kansas State (86-78)
Feb. 3: Baylor (81-67)
Feb. 13: West Virginia again (76-75)
Feb. 16: @OSU (73-57)
Feb 24: @Baylor again (96-89)
March 1: @TCU (76-66)
March 8: Texas again (82-72)

For these 14 reasons listed above, we are not going to make the NCAA tournament's 64-team (remember this is womens not mens) field. We have been consistently losing since December. We have lost at home to ranked and unranked opponents alike, as well as on the road. We have lost to conference and non-conference opponents alike. We have lost in overtime, we have lost in regulation, we have been blow out, we have kept it close. We have even lost to some teams more than once.

Our only consistency is the losing, and teams with 18-14 records don't make the NCAA field unless they're conference champions.

But please don't take my word for it. Sherri?

Well, I think we've done
enough to get in. I do. When you go 9
-
9 in the
No.
1 RPI league in the country, I
think you're in.
Kansas got in last year at 8
-
10 and went to the
Sweet 16. That speaks volumes about the
strength of our league, and this Texas team is
very, very good. Our strength of schedule is 16 in
the country. I do think we've done enough. I'm
d
isappointed because I think a win tonight would
have really, really helped us in terms of where we
might end up.

Wait, WHAT?

I think I agree with you that
you're in, but is it a nervous Sunday awaiting
you because you don't know for sure until you
see it, and the last time it
was like this I think
was '05. Does it seem at all similar to that
season?

Huh???

You have a better
memory than I do. I can barely remember last
year, much less '05. It's just an unfamiliar feeling
for us to be sitting there when names are cal
led
and not know for absolutely sure. So it will be a
different sort of selection day for sure.

OK, badger's a moron. We are in after all. Hey, I'm not gonna argue! We can totally go to the tournament!

Last Four In

Oklahoma
Vanderbilt
Florida
Florida State

Forget everything I said! We're postseason bound! Huzzah!!!!!!!

Boomer!

Soonerjeepman

3/10/2014, 12:12 PM

really?..wow...didn't think we'd make the cut...just hope we can win the first game.

nighttrain12

3/10/2014, 09:32 PM

really?..wow...didn't think we'd make the cut...just hope we can win the first game.

The Big 12 Women's championship is on Monday night. They haven't announced the NCAA field yet. That happens on March 17th.

SicEmBaylor

3/10/2014, 11:23 PM

4th Regular Season Title (shared) in a row.
4th Big XII Tournament Title in a row.

I approve.

SicEmBaylor

3/11/2014, 05:15 PM

@Badger, WBB really deserves its own forum around here.

badger

3/11/2014, 08:39 PM

@Badger, WBB really deserves its own forum around here.

Not this season :(

soonerboomer

3/12/2014, 10:51 AM

tycat947

3/12/2014, 10:28 PM

I was extremely disappointed that Baylor beat West Virginia. I thought with 4-5 minutes remaining that West Virginia had the momentum and would win. They they began to make a lot of "dumb" mistakes that they normally don't make including turnovers, poor shots, fouling, etc.

And Hypocrite U got the calls as the officials were scared that Skeletor would rip them in the post game presser!!! :disgust:

badger

3/17/2014, 12:48 PM

At 6 p.m. tonight, we will know if we were good enough for the NCAA tournament. Sherri has said we're in, ESPN still says we're in (http://espn.go.com/ncw/bracketology)... then again, SMU had many turn out last night to celebrate their return to the NCAA tournament only to leave empty handed (with the NIT's top seed, heh).

Worst case scenario: WNIT selection (http://www.womensnit.com/postinfo.asp), which will be sometime after NCAA selection. As far as I know, there's no TV special for WNIT, just need to check twitter and SS.com for info.

Nightmare mode: There are no other womens postseason tournaments. It's NCAA, WNIT or bust.

Fingers crossed, go vBet if you want something virtual on the line. Boomer!

Collier11

3/17/2014, 06:06 PM

we are in as a 10 seed, NICE!

hawaii 5-0

3/17/2014, 07:19 PM

My expectations are low but my hopes are high.

Go Lady Sooners !!

5-0

badger

3/18/2014, 09:20 AM

My expectations are low but my hopes are high.

Me too.

As per tradition, I will make my fearless postseason predictions before the start of the tourney. Even though I usually take random stabs, they have a history of coming true (Texas getting ousted in the first round even if they host the game, OU making Sweet 16s, etc).

badger

3/19/2014, 09:45 AM

I have not looked forward to a womens basketball postseason more than I have not looked forward to this one. But, as per tradition, here are my fearless predictions for Big 12 teams this postseason. Here's a bracket if you want to follow along. (http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/tournament/bracket) And, in the case of the WNIT entrant, here's one of those brackets too.
(http://phillysportslive.com/2014-womens-nit-bracket-printable-blank/)

TCU (NIT)
I would normally be more inclined to predict that TCU will have an OSU-like run and take the entire thing before going off to make the NCAA and be ranked the following year, but then this happened. (http://www.kansas.com/2014/03/18/3353197/kansas-state-hires-tcus-jeff-mittie.html) Teams abandoned by their head coach don't fare well.

Prediction: Out in one round (at Colorado tonight).

OSU: 5-seed in Notre Dame region
Due to declining attendance, increased transportation costs and badger's own recent apathy, the NCAA has done away with neutral early round sites (mostly) and just declared that the top seeds will be the home teams (mostly) till the Final Four. Somewhere, Skeletor is screaming like a banshee for getting stuck in OKC during Griner's final season.

As such, you can expect a whole lot of LESS upsets and a lot of near-perfection in brackets. Just choose the higher seed and you're correct (mostly)... except those pesky odd-numbered rounds where you might not be playing the home team.

Prediction: Second-round exit (at 4-seed Purdue)

OU (10-seed in Lincoln region)
This is where the *mostly* comes in. UConn is the top seed, but they don't get to play endless home games till the final four. But, since it's UConn, their fans will probably travel in droves. Any excuse to get out of the state of Connecticut.

I am going to be extremely optimistic and say we get by DePaul. BUT even the most optimistic badger cannot say we'll make it by Duke at Duke in round 2. After all, we already lost to Duke at home back before we were free falling early in the non-conference season.

Prediction: Second round exit (at 2-seed Duke)

Iowa State (7-seed in Stanford region)

Now here's an NCAA wtf for ya: Iowa State gets to host the opening rounds, Stanford gets to host the Sweet 16/Elite Eight... but has to go through ISU at ISU in the second round (likely) to get to its home games. OU had a similar situation (against Stanford no less) back in 2004. We went to Tempe for our opening rounds (and stayed at a resort awesome hotel... the male pep banders couldn't stop staring at Sherri sunbathing so she eventually left) and would have gone back to OU for the Sweet 16/Elite Eight if we had won our second round game. Sadly, Stanford won.

As much as I would love ISU students to come out and Marcus Smart-style flop for Stanford, I don't see it happening.

Prediction: Second-round loss (at home to 2-seed Stanford)

Baylor (2-seed in Notre Dame region)
They're beatable, but nobody is going to beat them till they should. Tune in for the Notre Dame loss. I expect epic jacket ripping off style melting down once again on the refs.

Prediction: Elite Eight loss (at 1-seed Notre Dame)

Texas (5-seed in Louisville region)
One of my favorite traditions in fearless predictions is to predict a first-round Texas exit regardless of the circumstance. 12-seed Pennsylvania, eh? Not even Penn State, just Penn? Well... why not

Prediction: First-round exit (to 12-seed Penn sans-State at Maryland)

West Virginia (2-seed in Louisville region)

What an awful way to treat a 2-seed. First, you send them to the home of the 7-seed (where they'll likely meet in the second round), then if they survive that, they have to go to the home of the 3-seed (where they'll meet in the Sweet 16). If you make it past those two away games, you get to meet Tennessee, which will probably have a lot of fans travel across their state border for that Elite Eight game.

But, my predictions must be fearless: They are a good team and they will make it to Tennessee. And then, their luck will run out.

Prediction: Elite Eight (loss to 1-seed Tennessee at Louisville)

Sooner game: 12:30 p.m. Saturday vs DePaul; TV is ESPN2.

Boomer

badger

3/24/2014, 09:21 AM

For those of you who haven't tuned in this season, let me introduce you to OU offense's
FIVE MOVES OF DOOM
1- Lob a three
Frequency: More often when OU is behind by 10 or more points; fairly common regardless
Preventative action: Camera cuts to Sherri fuming at the sideline, so at least you know she didn't call that "play"
Death mode: A lobbed three from several feet behind the arch that airballs.
2- Turnover the ball
Frequency: One in every three to four offensive plays, usually the end result of an errant pass, likely to a post/paint-are player.
Preventative action: The opposing team drives quickly to the other side of the court for points, and Sherri yells at the team to slow down.
Death mode: The opposing team intercepts the in-bounds pass after a change of possession and immediately gets an easy bucket (it happened at least thrice last night).
3- Dribble drive into traffic and don't get a foul call
Frequency: Often accompanied by a really bad shot, the dribble-drive-into-traffic maneuver happens when we need buckets that are not lobbed threes, usually when our margin of defeat is uncomfortably high.
Preventative action: Getting called for an offensive foul usually makes our player think twice about doing that, but since offensive fouls are rare this season, usually a TV or regular timeout talking-to causes players to consider an open jump shot in the future.
Death mode: Dribble driving into traffic when the entire defense closes on our player, resulting in 3-4 wide open Sooners who do not get the ball passed to them for an open shot.
4- Missed free throw(s)
Frequency: Oh so often. Way too often. Why why why why why
Preventative action: Cry
Death mode: Checking the box score the next day and find out the margin of defeat would have been overcome with a few more made free throws
5- Rebound and miss again
Frequency: The least frequent, but possibly the most frustrating move of doom on the entire list
Preventative action: At least the refs sometimes whistle the next miss so that we can miss at the free throw line instead
Death mode: Rebound and miss, rebound and miss and then rebound and miss a third time (happened at least once yesterday)

The irony
After enduring the five moves of doom from the OU offense for most of the first half of play to the tune of a 19-point deficit early in the second half, the five moves of doom ARE CONTAGIOUS. DePaul caught them from us and suddenly they were lobbing threes instead of wearing down the shot clock, dribble-driving foolishly, rebound and missing and missing at the line. I am very happy that I didn't tune out after the frustrating, saddening first half, because by gawd, the Sooners nearly pulled off a 19-point-deficit come back.

Not the womens basketball team:
http://image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com/pics33/1240/NI/NIOPWVGVOHGTWGW.20140323005553.jpg
On a sidenote, congratulations to our womens gymnastics team. This is the front page of SS.com right now.

OU 100, DePaul 104
We didn't run out of time unlike the men versus Baylor in the Big 12 tourney, we just got beat at the end. DePaul hit a go-ahead three with less than a minute left and then we didn't make our shots. A sad way to end, but at least we fought in the second half despite a huge deficit.

Stats:
Kay Kay started: I have such high hopes and expectations for her next season, I am so glad that she got the start. She will be key to us being competitive in the Big 12 and the postseason again next year.
Nicole Griffin sidelined: I don't know what happened, but she played only 5 minutes in the first half. Injury likely, I'll update if I find out.
Aaron deserves better: 36 points on 7 for 15 three shooting and 12 for 22 overall (perfect 5 for 5 for free throws). She would start on any team in this country. It's very sad that her final year here was enduring injuries and more losing than the other three.
20 of 21 for free: We finally, FINALLY got our free throws after a season of bonk-bonk-bonk. We've improved, I'm happy to say, but hopefully we won't start over next year at square one. This is a must in this era of whistle happy college ref ball.

Sherri had several good quotes on SS.com, so here's all three:

“I would imagine for the fans who were in the arena and for the people who were watching on television, that was a very entertaining basketball game. Lots of points scored. Lots of big plays. Very talented offensive players. I thought our kids fought very hard. I’m very proud of our second half effort. We could have hung our heads and gone to the corner, but we didn’t. We fought back and took the lead and I’m incredibly proud of that. Our seniors played in that sense of urgency that’s special for this time of year. DePaul is just really good. They’re really, really good, and I hate it, obviously, that our season is over. Doug Bruno is a fantastic basketball coach, and he’s an even better person, so I’m happy for them as they continue to move forward, but I’m proud of our kids’ fight, and I thought it was a great game for our sport. It was a great showcase of what women’s basketball is all about.”

“We spent the first half of halftime talking about fighting back, and not cowering in the corner, and how we have been in that position before—trying to draw on that. I think the mentality is the first thing. You can give all the strategy in the world that you want, but if the mentality’s not there then it won’t be worth anything. Then we talked about going possession by possession, and being hard to guard, and we appealed to their sense of defensive pride. Quite a few times this year, we’ve given 50 points in as half, and that’s just unacceptable. You can’t win games doing that. Well, I guess DePaul just won one, but you can’t do it both halves. They didn’t give up both halves and we did, so we talked about defensive pride and just physical toughness in terms of standing in front of the basketball. Discipline and not closing out with high hands then putting your hands down for a second. Really good teams will make you pay for that. But we didn’t make any big schematic adjustments or changes like ball screen different or run more zone. It was just mainly let’s go about the business and try to chip away at this.”

“I think it’s appropriate that Vegas’ last game in an Oklahoma uniform, she scores 36 and hits key steals. When you ask what fueled the ride, it was the run throughs. She had two or three of them in a row that led to wide open layups and we cut it and we took the lead. She just played really possessed offensively and she’s done that on occasion throughout her career, and when she does there’s not a whole lot you can do about it. It’s really fun to watch. I thought every phase of her game—defensively, offensively, rebounding, everything—I thought she was really engaged tonight and her best version of herself for 40 minutes, as a senior, that’s how you want to go out.”

I really wish that this season and this game didn't turn out the way they did, but I hope we grow stronger because of it. See you all next November.

Boomer Sooner anyways :)