OU (Men) vs. Creighton - Tonight 7:00pm (CT) Fox 1

[8timechamps]

Excited to see how we look in our second game. Creighton isn't the same team they were even a year ago, but always seem to have solid teams. OU should win comfortably, but I'm sure it'll be a challenge.

[Eielson]

I don't know much about them, but I know their recruiting has improved recently, and they've often been a dangerous mid-major, even before McBuckets. I'd be pretty happy with any kind of W against them this early in the season. Being this early, and on the road, this might be our toughest non-conference game. The neutral court games could be a challenge as well.

[Eielson]

If I'm going on record, I think the UCLA game is our toughest. I think Creighton is one of the hardest 2-3 games we have, though.

[Blue]

Hield on fire early. 7-0 OU.

[8timechamps]

If I'm going on record, I think the UCLA game is our toughest. I think Creighton is one of the hardest 2-3 games we have, though.

It will be our first big test, but it's the game(s) after that which will tell us where we are on the "good to great" meter. There's a real chance we could see North Carolina then either Wisconsin or Florida.

This team has real potential...we'll know after Thanksgiving just how close we are.

[8timechamps]

This looks a lot like the first game. Our boys look ready to play...and Creighton appears to want to take the deep shots...that's tough if they're not falling.

[Sooner95]

Out strong tonight! Love it!

[Eielson]

It will be our first big test, but it's the game(s) after that which will tell us where we are on the "good to great" meter. There's a real chance we could see North Carolina then either Wisconsin or Florida.

This team has real potential...we'll know after Thanksgiving just how close we are.

I stand corrected. I wasn't thinking about our next game if we beat UCLA.

[Soonerjeepman]

cooled off, to be expected. Tough environment.

[Soonerjeepman]

I love Buddy but he needs to pick his shots.
Spangler with two 3's nice

[Soonerjeepman]

lots of subbing, which I like

[Sooner95]

I'd like to see a bit more down low scoring.

[Sooner95]

And I mean, more drives and attempts. This Thomas kid is supposed to be a pretty good addition, it;s a part of our game that slacked a bit over the past few years.

Would only help out outside shooting if we can get the front-court to be consistent players in games. Shall see, I like what I am seeing so far. good balance.

[Soonerjeepman]

95, agreed, I guess maybe that was what I was thinking with Buddy, he'll be the man but def need low post scoring...in the post, not Spangler hitting 3's..although that is nice.

[Soonerjeepman]

getting sloppy with the passes...I know our guys take chances..guess rather do that.

[Soonerjeepman]

okay,,8 to 4 fouls...bs. killin them on % but only a 5 point game due to FT

[Sooner95]

Right. Spangler knocking down 3's is fine, but it cannot be his main game. In order to truly compete in today's hoops, we gotta have to low post presence, enough for other teams to respect it.

[Sooner95]

Not happy with the fouls, but its a road game...lol Just need to play smart.

[Sooner95]

Love it!

[Soonerjeepman]

dang...he gave up that 3 after just hitting one! lol.

This would be a very good win in my opinion.

side note....I don't think ANYONE is going to beat UK...good grief, frickin nba team as far as size

[Soonerjeepman]

I do like Lon using a lot of combo's but it's early.

[Soonerjeepman]

great Defense

[Sooner95]

Considering how poorly Creighton is shooting, we need to be up by a bit more. Ok though.

Kid getting a beer dump was funny...lol

And yes, I think everyone is playing for 2nd place this year. Kentucky could field two teams of 7 each and beat most anyone this year. Stupid to be that loaded.

[Blue]

Good half. Sooners look good. OU 35 Creighton 24 Half

[SoonerorLater]

Creighton is shooting poorly but a lot of that can be contributed to OU's defense and rebounding.

[Sooner95]

Testing our composure here.. figured they'd make a run.

[Sooner95]

Stop jacking threes. Slow it down, work the low down...

[Soonerjeepman]

yes, frustrating....getting caught up in the crowd.

[Sooner95]

Exactly..

[Soonerjeepman]

total bull**** call

[Soonerjeepman]

went from18-6 point lead

[Soonerjeepman]

well we have gone cold

[Sooner95]

Well, see what we are made of..

[Soonerjeepman]

THIS is my one thing that I totally disagree with kurger on. He NEVER calls a TO in ANY FRICKIN run...until it's a 12/14 -0 run...EVERY FRICKIN TIME.

[Soonerjeepman]

yup...geeze

[Soonerjeepman]

they can't miss...and we can't hit...just a reversal from first half...knew neither would last.

[Sooner95]

Well, total collapse...lol Krug needs to regroup them troops.

Brand new ballgame, ect... Forget what has happened and resume playing like they did the first 22minutes.

[Sooner95]

Attack down low. Draw fouls.

[Soonerjeepman]

I really thought this would be a tough game, but we'd "comfortable" with a 10ish point lead most of the game...pre-game...looks like a tougher game. Hope we can pull it out.

Give them credit, they didn't quit.

[Sooner95]

If anything, it might be better that it's a close game.

[Soonerjeepman]

raftery is an A$$

[Soonerjeepman]

If anything, it might be better that it's a close game.

only if we win...lol. Not good for my ticker....

[Mookie91]

Got really nice pieces but they are very rough still.

[Soonerjeepman]

agreed, Thomas is doing well and even the Fr...Lattin? the other 1 guard as well

[Soonerjeepman]

we can't stop brooks

[Mookie91]

Cousins needs to look for his shot

[Sooner95]

only if we win...lol. Not good for my ticker....


Good point! lol

[Sooner95]

Here we go. Tied at 61! 100 seconds to go!

[Soonerjeepman]

ugh...Cousins doing some of the same crap...dribbling to no where and leaving his feet...he needs to really play smarter this year. Buddy will be Buddy, Spang, Jordan...Cousins needs to be that 5th guy

[Soonerjeepman]

I'm calling game..

[Mookie91]

Spang lookin tired, tough loss

[Sooner95]

One that got away....

[Soonerjeepman]

wow....I'm sorry but I really respect Lon and he's coached way more and knows a ton more. BUT, not calling a time out on the 14--0 run is on him. He did that last year as well.

got outscored 21-0 in 2nd half

[Mookie91]

Up 17 to a loss if this was the football we'd be calling for Kruger's head.

Takeaways, the ceiling is high but the floor is low. Cousins isn't very good, is Booker the guy?

[Eielson]

We really Krugered that one. This one hurts.

[Blue]

Gave it away. Hopefully we'll steal a few down the road.

[Soonerjeepman]

Frick...long season, but this was one we needed. I know, it all happens in March...but it'd be nice to have a great non-conf record. We have some tough games. We definitely could drop a couple more.

[FaninAma]

Ugly collapse. This team has a long ways to go especially in game management.

Definitely not Sweet 16 caliber at this point.

[Soonerjeepman]

Up 17 to a loss if this was the football we'd be calling for Kruger's head.

Takeaways, the ceiling is high but the floor is low. Cousins isn't very good, is Booker the guy?

he did the same crap last year...dribble into no man's land and not know wth to do. I haven't seen any improvement in 2 games...but it's long season. I think Booker plays "more in the system" Cousins likes his NY ways....lol

[Eielson]

Well...it's not over yet. 3.4 seconds to get 2 points. We could do this.

[Soonerjeepman]

well, there is a CHANCE...lol, small but a chance

[Eielson]

We had a chance, but that was just an ugly play.

[Blue]

How hard is it to get Heild the ball there?

Bad loss right there and terrible defense and rebounding in the 2nd half.

[Soonerjeepman]

no offense but they act like they won the ncaa...yes, great comeback..total collapse by OU. Lost the intensity, Lon didn't call a TO during the 14-0 run...to fire them up. Early but this loss hurts. Could have been a pretty solid win down the road.

[soonercastor]

Man. ****.

[Mookie91]

he did the same crap last year...dribble into no man's land and not know wth to do. I haven't seen any improvement in 2 games...but it's long season. I think Booker plays "more in the system" Cousins likes his NY ways....lol

The two things that really make nervous is no real inside presence, Spangler tries but he doesn't guard very well and he's kinda slow so he doesn't work the paint very well. The other being Buddy, oh Buddy, love when he's on, hate when he's off 'cause he ain't seen a shot he don't like.

Basketball is a long season but tonight would've been a nice tourney resume victory

[Sooner95]

Ah, tough because it's one we should have won. Nice early road win, would have went a long ways.

None the less, hopefully a lot learned, good test on the road. I really do think this will help us in the long run.

[Soonerjeepman]

The two things that really make nervous is no real inside presence, Spangler tries but he doesn't guard very well and he's kinda slow so he doesn't work the paint very well. The other being Buddy, oh Buddy, love when he's on, hate when he's off 'cause he ain't seen a shot he don't like.

Basketball is a long season but tonight would've been a nice tourney resume victory

agreed, Spang got abused by the guards in the post...defensively. I love his desire...Thomas looks like he might be the off guy in the post. Buddy....ah, yes. Heck, Spang had a better night from long range than Buddy...shooters got to shoot I guess. I know this year if this year...but man, next year will be awesome if everyone stays...lol

[Soonerjeepman]

night all...Boomer Sooner, beat the jayhawks Sat...need an OU blowout in SOMETHING...lol

[Mookie91]

agreed, Spang got abused by the guards in the post...defensively. I love his desire...Thomas looks like he might be the off guy in the post. Buddy....ah, yes. Heck, Spang had a better night from long range than Buddy...shooters got to shoot I guess. I know this year if this year...but man, next year will be awesome if everyone stays...lol

What perplexes me is the "new" college movement to have even the bigs face up and try to take guys off the dribble. Thomas is a prime example of a guy who's athletic enough to spin off the post but he wants to face up all day long. Spangler had a couple of decent posts and didn't get fed the ball but for the most part it is a high ball screen by the big which to me creates a heavily reliance on jump shooting which is a recipe for a roller coaster season.

[badger]

I took toddler baj to church and then I put toddler baj to bed, so I only got to see the final play and Buddy make two threes in two possessions (and blue jay answer the first, gah).

Bahhh. Misery loves company. I'm gonna do two meltdown posts for every one sooner loss, because dag nabbit, there's no BCS in basketball. Here, I built a flow chart:
http://i60.tinypic.com/2djq5gz.png

[kbsooner21]

Brutal loss, but going to be good for our guys later on in the year. Kruger will use it as a teaching point plus it's good to face adversity like that. Gives some character to your ballclub that could pay off dividends later on in the year.

[OUmillenium]

Great start, great first half, great first 1:30 in 2nd half - then we looked tired and unfocused.

Poor shot selection and less than stellar defense added to the fail.

Still had a chance but like many said, this would have been nice early season road victory for the tourney resume. Win about 15 straight and this won't matter.

[msteudem]

Would've like to have seen Laffin sp? stay in there more since he was doing a better job as rim protector. We just go out hustled in the last 17 minutes of the game. Wouldn't hurt so bad if we hadn't had such a large lead with 18 minutes left. Would be nice to see a rematch in the tourney!

[8timechamps]

I don't mind the loss, just because it's so early and to a decent team (and we could/should have won).

I actually like this loss a little bit. I've seen games like that a hundred times: team gets up to a big lead, then thinks it can coast to the end, opposing teams starts to make shots, and wins.

I like the loss because it's a HUGE lesson that can't be learned in practice. As good as OU is, there will be games when they are up big to good teams...they have to learn to finish. Even with as many returning players as we have, it's a new team with new pieces and this is the time of year to work out the kinks.

Couple of observations:

1. Hield is a stud. That's the guy I want with the ball at the end of close games. He's just gotten better every year.
2. Woodard played okay, but he's capable of more. I expect to see him making more shots (I'm sure he does too).
3. Lattin is the real deal. I agree with the above comment, he needs to be in the game more. He's going to be a good player.
4. Thomas looked much better than he did in the first game, but still not quite to the level he is capable. I'm sure he'll get there, and he's going to be a great addition late in the year.
5. Spanger worked hard down low (as usual), but was left to defense the guards and got run over. We need to fix that.
6. I love Isiah Cousins. I love how hard he worked in the off season to come back from the gunshot wound. I love that he's a Sooner. I do not love having him handling the ball in close games, especially late. He dribbles himself into trouble, then inevitably makes a bad pass.
7. What to say about Frank Booker...I love his defensive effort. Offense, not so much.

This is a good squad, and losing sucks, but we have a lot of time to get things right. The pieces are there, but they have to learn to play together, and to everyone's strength.

[Temujin]

I don't mind the loss, just because it's so early and to a decent team (and we could/should have won).

I actually like this loss a little bit. I've seen games like that a hundred times: team gets up to a big lead, then thinks it can coast to the end, opposing teams starts to make shots, and wins.

I like the loss because it's a HUGE lesson that can't be learned in practice. As good as OU is, there will be games when they are up big to good teams...they have to learn to finish. Even with as many returning players as we have, it's a new team with new pieces and this is the time of year to work out the kinks.

Couple of observations:

1. Hield is a stud. That's the guy I want with the ball at the end of close games. He's just gotten better every year.
2. Woodard played okay, but he's capable of more. I expect to see him making more shots (I'm sure he does too).
3. Lattin is the real deal. I agree with the above comment, he needs to be in the game more. He's going to be a good player.
4. Thomas looked much better than he did in the first game, but still not quite to the level he is capable. I'm sure he'll get there, and he's going to be a great addition late in the year.
5. Spanger worked hard down low (as usual), but was left to defense the guards and got run over. We need to fix that.
6. I love Isiah Cousins. I love how hard he worked in the off season to come back from the gunshot wound. I love that he's a Sooner. I do not love having him handling the ball in close games, especially late. He dribbles himself into trouble, then inevitably makes a bad pass.
7. What to say about Frank Booker...I love his defensive effort. Offense, not so much.

This is a good squad, and losing sucks, but we have a lot of time to get things right. The pieces are there, but they have to learn to play together, and to everyone's strength.

Good points. I agree with all of them. I don't personally like any loss that involves laziness on defense. Especially since it's been a problem in the past with these guys. But I get where you're coming from.

Some of my thoughts:

1. Agree 100% about Cousins. He has no business even being on the court in crunch time, IMO. Too many REALLY bad decisions. But he really lays it on the line on the court most of the time.
2. Hield - part 1. He can be amazing, but he needs to move around more to get open on offense. Most of that 2nd half run that Creighton had, he was standing around waiting for the pass to come to him, but he wasn't open. Had he gotten open and hit a shot or two he could've opened things up for some of the other guys.
3. Hield - part 2. The slapping the floor thing is annoying, not because he's incapable of playing good defense...but because of the type of defense we play. We don't play tight man-to-man, we play off and do a lot of switching. It just looks foolish for him to be slapping the floor like that, knowing that in about 3-5 seconds he's not going to be covering that man. And yeah, I know he's just trying to get himself amped up. Just a personal annoyance.
4. Woodard - part 1. I hated that he would take 9 seconds to cross half-court and then just sit 30-35 feet from the basket killing time. I understand slowing the game down to sort things out, but we weren't running an offense at that point, and it ended up in a lot of bad shots.
5. Woodard - part 2. All last year and so far this year it's apparent to me that he can't be covered without being fouled. Why we aren't taking more advantage of that is confusing to me. He's got to be more involved in the offense. And I get that he's trying to involve the rest of the team...but he has to be a threat as well.
6. Love Lattin's defense. He was the one to stop the constant driving to the basket that we just allowed to happen for much of that 2nd half. We need more of that, and sadly I think he's the only one with that ability.
7. I like the dynamic that Tashawn Thomas brings to the offense. His defense needs a little work, IMO...but that could just be him still getting acclimated.
8. I know most people are wary of it, but I like Spangler hitting outside shots. He's had a hard time of scoring consistently down low, and him hitting the long range shots is just another threat defenses have to worry about.

Anyway, I'm a little concerned about the lack of effort issue. I'm not entirely thrilled about the type of defense we play. But I like this team and I think they can do really good things this year. But, it's just basketball, right? ;)

[Eielson]

I didn't get to watch hardly any of the two games this season, so I don't have much to add. I will say that what you guys are saying about Cousins is consistent with what I've seen over his career. Hield and Woodard have the potential to be great scorers on offense, and that has been apparent from day 1, but not so much with Cousins. He plays hard, though, and while he's not an incredible athlete, he's athletic enough to guard most people. I said going into the offseason that we needed him to develop into our primary perimeter defender to go very far this postseason. If he's developed into an elite perimeter defender, he'll be the perfect fit in our backcourt.

Spangler is an interesting case. I felt like he was a big reason for our success last year, but that if we're going to get where we want to be, we're going to have to phase him out of the starting lineup by his senior year. He seemed kind of like a band-aid to hold us over, but with his great offensive rebounding, he became a bit more than that. Defensively, though, he doesn't have the ability to protect the rim, and he doesn't have the quickness to guard guys out on the perimeter. We're capable of making a Sweet 16 run with him, but I don't think we can make an Elite 8/Final 4 type run or win conference. If he's making 3's, though, that will go a long way for his minutes. It would really stretch the defense if he could shoot about 40% on 3. I still think he needs to be coming off the bench next year, though.

Also, any word on Buford? Is he redshirting? I had kind of assumed he would step in as a starter before Thomas was declared eligible. If Thomas wasn't eligible, would Lattin and Spangler be our starters?

I'm also curious about Walker. I've never seen him play, so I don't know anything about him.

[Temujin]

I didn't get to watch hardly any of the two games this season, so I don't have much to add. I will say that what you guys are saying about Cousins is consistent with what I've seen over his career. Hield and Woodard have the potential to be great scorers on offense, and that has been apparent from day 1, but not so much with Cousins. He plays hard, though, and while he's not an incredible athlete, he's athletic enough to guard most people. I said going into the offseason that we needed him to develop into our primary perimeter defender to go very far this postseason. If he's developed into an elite perimeter defender, he'll be the perfect fit in our backcourt.

Spangler is an interesting case. I felt like he was a big reason for our success last year, but that if we're going to get where we want to be, we're going to have to phase him out of the starting lineup by his senior year. He seemed kind of like a band-aid to hold us over, but with his great offensive rebounding, he became a bit more than that. Defensively, though, he doesn't have the ability to protect the rim, and he doesn't have the quickness to guard guys out on the perimeter. We're capable of making a Sweet 16 run with him, but I don't think we can make an Elite 8/Final 4 type run or win conference. If he's making 3's, though, that will go a long way for his minutes. It would really stretch the defense if he could shoot about 40% on 3. I still think he needs to be coming off the bench next year, though.

Also, any word on Buford? Is he redshirting? I had kind of assumed he would step in as a starter before Thomas was declared eligible. If Thomas wasn't eligible, would Lattin and Spangler be our starters?

I'm also curious about Walker. I've never seen him play, so I don't know anything about him.

I didn't know this until the other thread about Thomas, but Buford didn't qualify academically, so he has to sit out a year.

FWIW, I love Spangler. I think people are expecting more of him than he's capable of doing, because he's so good at the things he does. So, I'd rather him just do the things he's comfortable doing - rebounding, and now apparently hitting open shots. I think for him, that's good enough, especially if Lattin and Thomas develop into better low post scorers.

[Eielson]

That really hurts. We could use Buford.

[Temujin]

That really hurts. We could use Buford.

I was thinking the same thing originally, but I like where we're at now that we have Thomas. Fitting Buford in would be tough now. And since Thomas is a senior, it'll be nice to have Buford as a replacement next year and get as much out of him as we can.

[Soonerjeepman]

Spang...80% 3's...4/5. Pretty good. I don't want him shooting more than 1 or 2 a game...at the right times, which he has, can be a big help.

Team is at 40% so far.

FT needs to increase, only 69%.

Using 9 guys...

Lots of positives. This week will be huge.

[Eielson]

I was thinking the same thing originally, but I like where we're at now that we have Thomas. Fitting Buford in would be tough now. And since Thomas is a senior, it'll be nice to have Buford as a replacement next year and get as much out of him as we can.

How so? When all was said and done, I was thinking Spang and Thomas would start, and Lattin and Buford would be the two guys off the bench.