Sooner Men's BB: Big Game against Texas Tech on Saturday @ 1 PM!
Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 8:47 am
After the disappointment of the loss to Texas on Tuesday night, the Oklahoma Sooner Men's Basketball Team and Coach Porter Moser hopefully have re-grouped and are ready for Saturday's game against Texas Tech at 1 PM in Lloyd Noble Center. The Sooners are 3-3 in conference play and in a tie for seventh place with 3 other teams. Texas Tech is alone in first place with their 4-1 record and had the mid-week game off. A win by the Sooners is needed badly to help 'right the ship' in conference play.
Texas Tech has [played well in conference play as they have won at Texas by 11, and at home against OSU, K-state and BYU. their lone loss is to Houston on the road 10 days ago by 23. I hope that whatever the Red Raiders ate before the Houston game is on the menu for today as they prepare to play Oklahoma.
Tech has two guards that drive their team along with 1 big man. It looks like they play most of the time with 4 guards/forward that are 6'6" or smaller. Only their center, Washington, has good size at 7'0". Washington scores 10.3 per game along with 8 rebounds. In conference play he has upped his scoring by three points. the two guards for Tech are Isaacs (6'2") and Toussaint (6'0"). Together they average 30 points a game. The Sooners will need to play better against them than they played against the Texas guards. The other two Texas Tech starters are 6'6" and 6'5". Williams at 6'6" scores 9.3 points and pulls down 7 boards a game. All four of those Red Raiders play 28 minutes minutes or more. Walton starts and scores 8 points a game along with 2 rebounds.
Tech only plays three other players most of the time. Two guards who are 6'4" and 6'3", McMillian scores 9 points and get 3 rebounds as he plays 26 minutes a game of the bench. Jennings, a 6'7" forward, plays only about 8 minutes a game. I think the Red Raiders usually play a few minutes without the 7-foot Washington on the court each game.
Stopping the two scoring guarda and handling the 7-footer should be the focus for the Sooners on defense. It think the Sooners can handle the boards inside against Tech. Tech can play slow or fast, so the pace of play could be anything. Tech handles the ball well with only 10 turnovers a game. Tech shoots the ball pretty well and make about 9 three's agame.
On offense, I hope I see the Sooners play a little closer to the free throw line out front. I think the pic-n-roll move has moved further away from the lane lately due to defensive pressure. When the pick happens that far above the free throw line, it takes away the jumper away across the pick. On the roll, Godwin and Hugley IV are too far away from the rim to be effective. It also gives defensive help more room to help. I think the faster the pace of play, the better it is for the Sooners. Open floor shooting and penetration is what OU does well. Too much dribbling of the ball lets the defense double and clog up the gaps. Moving the ball quickly creates gaps for players like Oweh, Moore and Soares and it creates good looks from 3-point range for the outside shooters for OU.
Saturday's game is a rebound game for Oklahoma. They need this one for many reasons.
The game will be show on ESPN+. As usual, the contest will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry working the radio call.
Good luck to the Sooners tomorrow against the Red Raiders an hour after high noon @ 1 PM in LNC.
Boomer Sooner!
Texas Tech has [played well in conference play as they have won at Texas by 11, and at home against OSU, K-state and BYU. their lone loss is to Houston on the road 10 days ago by 23. I hope that whatever the Red Raiders ate before the Houston game is on the menu for today as they prepare to play Oklahoma.
Tech has two guards that drive their team along with 1 big man. It looks like they play most of the time with 4 guards/forward that are 6'6" or smaller. Only their center, Washington, has good size at 7'0". Washington scores 10.3 per game along with 8 rebounds. In conference play he has upped his scoring by three points. the two guards for Tech are Isaacs (6'2") and Toussaint (6'0"). Together they average 30 points a game. The Sooners will need to play better against them than they played against the Texas guards. The other two Texas Tech starters are 6'6" and 6'5". Williams at 6'6" scores 9.3 points and pulls down 7 boards a game. All four of those Red Raiders play 28 minutes minutes or more. Walton starts and scores 8 points a game along with 2 rebounds.
Tech only plays three other players most of the time. Two guards who are 6'4" and 6'3", McMillian scores 9 points and get 3 rebounds as he plays 26 minutes a game of the bench. Jennings, a 6'7" forward, plays only about 8 minutes a game. I think the Red Raiders usually play a few minutes without the 7-foot Washington on the court each game.
Stopping the two scoring guarda and handling the 7-footer should be the focus for the Sooners on defense. It think the Sooners can handle the boards inside against Tech. Tech can play slow or fast, so the pace of play could be anything. Tech handles the ball well with only 10 turnovers a game. Tech shoots the ball pretty well and make about 9 three's agame.
On offense, I hope I see the Sooners play a little closer to the free throw line out front. I think the pic-n-roll move has moved further away from the lane lately due to defensive pressure. When the pick happens that far above the free throw line, it takes away the jumper away across the pick. On the roll, Godwin and Hugley IV are too far away from the rim to be effective. It also gives defensive help more room to help. I think the faster the pace of play, the better it is for the Sooners. Open floor shooting and penetration is what OU does well. Too much dribbling of the ball lets the defense double and clog up the gaps. Moving the ball quickly creates gaps for players like Oweh, Moore and Soares and it creates good looks from 3-point range for the outside shooters for OU.
Saturday's game is a rebound game for Oklahoma. They need this one for many reasons.
The game will be show on ESPN+. As usual, the contest will air on the Sooner Sports Radio Network (KRXO 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma City; KTBZ 1430 AM in Tulsa; Varsity Radio App) with Toby Rowland and Kevin Henry working the radio call.
Good luck to the Sooners tomorrow against the Red Raiders an hour after high noon @ 1 PM in LNC.
Boomer Sooner!