OU Men's Basketball: Travels to Lawrence to play Kansas Today!

[OUBeliever56A]

Bottom post of the previous page:

I watched the Oklahoma Men's Basketball game with Kansas last night and was anticipating what would probably be a loss, but was still hopeful that the if the Sooners could reduce the game to a 3-minute game, that maybe the Sooners would pull out a victory. I think most fans were concerned about the Kansas-aura of playing at home and treatment by the officials of the visiting team (lots of fouls called). then there are those 'fans' that seem to find everything they think is wrong with the team and can't wait to tell everyone did not feel as I did. Most OU fans thought my thought was too optimistic I think. Well, I do try to be optimistic in most things. Looking for bad things is usually rewarded, even if it is imagined. Looking for good is rewarding too. It takes a little more work, but it is a good way to look at things.

At the halfway point of the 1st half, the Sooners held a lead of 17-12 over Kansas when Uzan hit a 3-pointer at the 10:54 mark of the 1st half. Job well done for the first quarter of the game by the Sooners.

Kansas quickly struck back with 2 three's by Dick and Clemence to close to within one point at 18-19 by the 9:42 mark. Things can change quickly in 1:12 seconds. But OU still led. The score was close the rest of the half and when Sherfield hit a jumper from outside at the buzzer, OU trailed 34-36 at halftime. Again, really good half of basketball by the Sooners. Some stats:

Points in the Paint - 18 OU - 18 Kansas
- 2nd Chance Points - 6 OU - 4 Kansas
- Fast Break Points - 4 OU - 2 Kansas
- Bench Points - 10 OU - 10 Kansas
- Points off Turnovers - 3 OU - 11 Kansas (ugh!)
- Turnovers - 7 OU - Kansas 3 (ugh!)
- Rebounds - 21 OU - 16 K:ansas
- Shooting % Field - 46% OU - 39% Kansas
- 3-PT % - 11% OU - 38% - Kansas
- Free Throws - 5 of 6 OU - 7 of 8 Kansas
- Fouls - 5 OU - 6 Kansas (I guess the officials did not think it was time to affect the game yet.)

I would suggest to any one, that the Sooners played well in the first half except for the turnovers. And even that was not terrible. But Kansas did take advantage of the 7 turnovers with 11 points. At the half, I was encouraged as the Sooners stayed out of foul trouble, Sherfield was playing better and Godwin made a big contibution off the bench. I think OU felt they could play with Kansas after the first half. Only Adams and Clemence (a surprise) had played well for Kansas. I think the focus on Dick and to stop his 3-point shooting was working. So did the commentators on ESPN2.

Kansas broke out to a 5 point lead quickly on a 3-point play (2 and 1). I thought that after Sherfield made a bucket at 43-40, that OU was going to stay close. But after the bucket Sherfield got a very quick "T" apparently for a comment to an official about a foul not being called. I will say that Sherfield receives a lot of contact as he dribbles every game without many calls against the defense IMO. 4 free throws gave Kansas a 47-40 lead at the 16:37 mark and I will say I was a bit worried that the game might slip away at that point.

But, by the 14:42 mark the game was tied at 48-48 when Jalen Hill made a bucket inside for Oklahoma.

The Sooners then made a big run at the Jayhawks over the next nine and half minutes or so. OU scored 23 points over that stretch with Kansas only scoring 13. I think OU scored on 12 out of 12 possessions over this stretch. Seven Sooners scored with Sherfield scoring 9, Uzan 4, T Groves 4, Hill, Nolan and Godwin 2. It was a big time stretch of play for the Sooners.

All 13 of the Kansas points were at the free throw line however. Wilson for Kansas made 8 FT, with Dick and Clemence had 2 and Pettiford had 1. After that, the Sooners had some foul concerns, especially with T Groves and Goodwin. But the Sooners led 71-61 at the 5:19 mark of the 2nd half. To this point the Sooners had outplayed the Jayhawks and Coach Moser had pushed the right buttons and selected the right strategies to help get the Sooners to this point. Can anyone really disagree with those thoughts. Up by 10 in Lawrence against the #2 team in the country? Can you give the Sooners some praise? I was!

I found myself thinking that maybe the Sooners would finish this off and get a huge win on the road. Coach Self took a timeout after the T Groves bucket in the paint to make the score 71-61. Kansas responded quickly to the timeout. Adams scored 2 inside, OU had a turnover and Wilson hit a 3-pointer after 2 offensive rebounds to make the score 71-66 with 4:17 mark. Coach Moser called a timeout to get things settled. Sherfield missed inside followed by a Harris bucket to make it 71-68 at the 3:33 mark. The two teams traded misses before Nolan scored for OU to make the score 73-68 with 2:30 left to play.

After a Kansas miss, OU missed on a wide open 3-point attempt as Kansas left Nolan all alone on the left wing. Kansas took the rebound and scored quicky to make the score 73-70. Coach Moser quickly called another time out with 1:46 left in the game. I remember thinking that OU needs two more buckets, just two more.

After the timeout, the Sooners missed on their next three possessions. Kansas scored on all three of their possessions. Kansas led 77-73 with 18 seconds left to play. Tanner Groves made two free throws to make the game a 2-point game before Harris made 2 free throws as the Sooners were forced to foul. The final score was 79-75.

It was a tough pill to swallow going down the stretch for the Sooners. They were outscored 18-4 in the last five minutes. I will mention that only 4 of the Kansas points were on free shots. Kansas scored 14 points from the field. But one must acknowledge, Kansas is the #2 team in the country and they were playing at home where they almost never lose and haven't lost to OU since Bob Barry, SR was the sports reporter for Channel 4 which broke a long stretch of losses at that time. It you truly thought that OU would be defeated by 4 points to Kansas, please stand up. I am waiting, please stand up. A fan can still be dissapointed but yet realistic as the same time. And for one fan, I can be happy and encouraged by the Sooners play against Kansas for 35 minutes. Very encouraged.

Okay - the stats for the 2nd half:
- OU outscored Kansas in the paint in the second half 20-14. OU scored 38 of their 75 points in the paint. I think that means that they did take the ball to the bucket alot against Kansas.
- OU had 9 fast break points to 4 for Kansas. Both teams had 5 2nd chance points.
- OU had 8 bench points to 3 for Kansas.
- Kansas did lead in points off of turnovers 6 to 4. OU only had 4 turnovers in the 2nd half, Kansas had 3.
- OU shot 48% from the field and 12.5% from 3-point range. Kansas shot 35% from the field and 33% from long distance.
- Kansas scored 43 in the 2nd half and OU scored 41. Kansas made 24 of 31 free throws while OU made 14 of 17 free throws. OU committed 17 fouls, Kansas had 11.
- OU shot 17 three's in the game. They average 18.9 a game with last night included. It is on par with the season. It is too bad they did not make a couple by Nolan and T Groves down the stretch. They were big shots that did not fall.

I think I can count in my head at least 4 fouls that were picked up by OU inside that I was not even sure there was contact and OU had there hands above their shoulders. That has to be frustrating. I think if Tanner Groves could get a cold from a person 1000 feet away from him, he would if it was comapred to the way he gets called for fouls sometimes. You can tell how much he is frustrated by it as he rubs his head and hair after a call.

Coach Moser did call 2 timeouts down the stretch in an attempt to right the ship. The team never gave up. The Sooners are now 1-3 in conference after losing to Texas by 1, Iowa State by 3,both at home and by 4 to Kansas on the road. They defeated Texas Tech, injured a bit, by 5 on the road. Honestly, that is just about what I expected before conference play started. But with a couple shots here and there, the record could be a bit better. The Sooners were 7-11 in the Big 12 last year. This year, the Big 12 is better, perhaps much better. The ESPN2 commentators last night said that the average NET ranking for the Big 12 was 30 points higher than the next best conference. They were pretty amazed at that stat. Ou has played 3 of the top 4 teams in the Big 12.

The next few games should be somewhat of a "lull" in the schedule. OU hosts WV, travels to OSU, hosts Baylor and then travels to TCU. Three of those games are on ESPN2/U. Maybe the Sooners can go 2-2 or even 3-1 over that stretch. But there is no easy win in the Big 12. Every win is earned. Earned with difficulty.

The game against West Virginia on Saturday is at 11 AM and is part of a DH at Lloyd Noble Center with the Women's game against Kansas at 2 PM.

I know I might seem a bit optimistic to some, but there is some reasons to be that way IMO.

Boomer Sooner!

[OU Guy]

^^^

I love your recaps and enthusiasm of writeups but some of the comments on this one seem directed at me or several posters here?

That loss was bad because we have now blown several games this year not just this one. I am always super happy for our teams but something is off when we can’t close games and the coach hasn’t figured it out. Football had the same issue this year (4 losses by 3 points) but all new staff they get a pass. And it takes longer in football to change bad culture due to so many more players. But next year there are higher football expectations too.

Moser didn’t have someone snake out in middle of night and take players/recruits he had a soft landing due to a retirement from Lonnie which is a big difference. This year should have more expectations and its hard to let it slide when all 3 conf losses shoild be wins. And these losses may keep us out of 64. Coach has to figure it out and had a whole off season to do so. Being up 10 vs Kansas with only 5 minutes left on the road is no small feat and then just total collapse. I don’t give him as much pass as others because he was hired to improve us yet it seems we’re going wrong direction. If not mistaken all starters are his guys?

But I still root for them and hope cosch can figure oit how to turn losses into wins. OU won’t fire him if he fails to make 64 but he’ll have lots of pressure. I’d have to think he gets at least 3-4 years but in year 2 it seems about the same as year 1 when I expected a bump.

Again, I love the writeups please keep doing them. Maube you wrote this for another crowd and reposted it here and if so then no biggie. It just felt directed at me or others (the criticism).

Next game is a must win or thkngs could spiral downhill.

[Charliedontsurf]

Had the refs
not put ku on the line darn near every possession for 15 minutes the sooner would have led by 20+ at the 5 minute mark and won this game. The only time our boys got a call was when it was so obvious the ku fans would've booed.

[OU Guy]

Data backs up ref bias against OU same as football. Its all revenge for leaving

[OUBeliever56A]

Here is the staff writers article about the tough loss to Kansas.

https://soonersports.com/news/2023/1/10 ... 2-2-kansas

Boomer Sooner!

[gcruse7]

Data backs up ref bias against OU same as football. Its all revenge for leaving

I don't tend to be a conspiracy-theorist type of person, but last night on the Sooner Sports Talk show, Coach Moser mentioned that going into conference play, OU was in the top 20 in the nation of fewest fouling teams, so it is not like our style of play typically generates more foul calls. Then we start into B12 play and we are -47 on FT attempts through 4 games, which is more than double the next closest conference team. That just doesn't add up.

As Coach Moser said last night when asked about the foul discrepancy, "we (the Sooners) ask ourselves what can we do better about that? (about the way they defend in certain situations). He also said that he hoped another group of people (implying the conference officials) would be asking themselves the same question.

[EMan]

Personally, I think it's time for Moser to channel his inner Billy Tubbs and go ballistic until he gets rung up. It's time to start showing some real displeasure in how these games are being called. You saw what happened when Bill Self got T'd up the other night. OU immediately got several fouls called on them. I'm not saying it's time to have Bobby Knight-type antics from the coach, but I do think it's time to "periodically" get a little more animated on the sidelines. If I remember correctly, Lon Kruger never got a T called on him the entire time he was at OU (the bench got one once, but it wasn't Lon that said the magic word). I don't remember if Moser has gotten one or not, but it sure hasn't been many, so it feels like OU has gotten the reputation of letting officials off the hook. With the incredible discrepancy in fouls we're seeing, it's time to start raising the ante the next time OU is on the short end of the foul situation. Whether people want to admit it or not, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and when officials know you're not going to argue too much with a bad call, maybe subconsciously they give the call to the other team. Who knows, but it sure feels like the Sooners can't get a call even when they're playing at home.

"Regardless of how terrible the officiating is, do not throw stuff on the court." Billy Tubbs

The perfect example of a timely T.

[Raul]

One important point on the disparity in the number of whistled fouls to keep in mind is that we don’t drive the ball to the rim very much. Notice KU’s strategy in the 2nd half when our smothering D had effectively stifled their offensive rhythm - they drove and got most of their points at the line. We don’t do that, compared to the other conference teams. Thus what looks to be a very uneven spread of whistles is tied to offensive styles and capabilities.
Moser can and should put some heat on some of the more ticky-tak air fouls that we are seeing, but to expect an equal distribution we are going to have to develop more of what we don’t have.

[EMan]

I understand what you're saying, but there's another side to that story. The Sooners had essentially half their points (38) in the paint against KU so it's not like OU wasn't taking the ball inside. Against Tech, OU had 32 points in the paint, which would be just under half their total. Again, it's not like the Sooners are never going inside, but IMO they just aren't getting any calls. I'm not saying the Sooners aren't committing fouls, but I'm finding it hard to believe every one of their conference opponents is playing virtually a pristine game in comparison.

[MsProudSooner]

Porter Moser was on Sooner Sports Talk last night. Toby asked him what we could do about the free throw discrepancy since the conference games have started. FYI, prior to conference play, we were one of the teams that was called for the fewest number of fouls. Since conference play started, our opponents have shot a total of 96 free throws. We have shot 49. Moser said we need to look at film and see what we need to improve on in that area and try to make those improvements. Then he said, "Other groups need to do the same." More tactful than what Billy Tubbs might have said but the point was made.

I'm not under any illusion that it's going to get any better, but I was happy to see him address it.

[OUBeliever56A]

^^^

I love your recaps and enthusiasm of writeups but some of the comments on this one seem directed at me or several posters here?

That loss was bad because we have now blown several games this year not just this one. I am always super happy for our teams but something is off when we can’t close games and the coach hasn’t figured it out. Football had the same issue this year (4 losses by 3 points) but all new staff they get a pass. And it takes longer in football to change bad culture due to so many more players. But next year there are higher football expectations too.

Moser didn’t have someone snake out in middle of night and take players/recruits he had a soft landing due to a retirement from Lonnie which is a big difference. This year should have more expectations and its hard to let it slide when all 3 conf losses shoild be wins. And these losses may keep us out of 64. Coach has to figure it out and had a whole off season to do so. Being up 10 vs Kansas with only 5 minutes left on the road is no small feat and then just total collapse. I don’t give him as much pass as others because he was hired to improve us yet it seems we’re going wrong direction. If not mistaken all starters are his guys?

But I still root for them and hope cosch can figure oit how to turn losses into wins. OU won’t fire him if he fails to make 64 but he’ll have lots of pressure. I’d have to think he gets at least 3-4 years but in year 2 it seems about the same as year 1 when I expected a bump.

Again, I love the writeups please keep doing them. Maube you wrote this for another crowd and reposted it here and if so then no biggie. It just felt directed at me or others (the criticism).

Next game is a must win or thkngs could spiral downhill.

'OU Guy' - My comments were not directed at any one poster at all. I do post most of my comments on two boards though.

I would say that my comments were more directed at fans that seem to have very little patience w Coach Moser and the team. I agree that they have perhaps let a couple games get away from them this year, but those teams are also pretty good according to pollsters and the like. I would love for the men to have been 4-0 after the Kansas game. But I think they are playing well too despite their 1-3 record at that point.

Yes, the fouls and disparity is a concern and seems lopsided. But I think some of that is due to styles of play. If a team drives the ball inside there will be fouls called. If a team has 4 or 5 players 20 feet from the bucket shooting jump shots, not so much.

I was, if anything, expressing that there is hope. I think we saw some of that on the floor on Saturday against WV. Saturday's win was well earned despite the late game un-needed fouls OU committed to keep giving WV a shot to comeback.

Sorry if I stepped on toes.

Boomer Sooner!