Oklahoma St. 2/21 7:00 ESPN+

[leo from jersey]

It's not Wooten. It's Wooden.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wooden

you are so right. No excuses

[sedz]

That game was frustrating in many ways. We had some defensive lapses that led to open shots at the rim and inside the arc, but most of the threes were well contested and they got hot down the stretch. They were only 7/17 from 3, but made 13 of 14 free throws. I don't think a player getting hot has much to do with defense, some nights a guy just cannot miss. Last night was like that for both numbers 14 and number 12. We missed some rebounds, but we only had 2 fouls for the half until last two minutes of the second half. We should've held that team to scoe in the 60's not 80. We would've held them to the upper 60's if they missed two threes, and hit their typical 60% from free throws, plus we wouldn't have given them extra free throws at the end. The defense didn't account for the Fts or the extra three-pointers made.

They were 23 of 37 inside the arc. That's over 60%. And it wasn't luck - they ran a 5 out offense and iso'd our 7 footers with quick forwards who can score in midrange. We let their pure shooter get off 6 threes and he made half of them. Letting an opponent play to their strengths is absolutely about the defense.

[sedz]

Bandaogo taking an ill advised three pointer at a critical point in the game. Why that is not his job! Bench him and remind him what his job is again and put Reynolds in.

Bandaogo did not take a three last night. Reynolds took one with 5 on the shot clock if I remember right.

[Oldtimer_UC_fan]

Too many silly turnovers when the defense can't see the floor, play as one and fall for freshman dribble fakes. That back door was wretched. Therefore, since the defense can't adjust to the opponent, those tos were the difference to me. No defense was acknowledged in that game, so to win your offense had to be better. It wasn't. CWM was besides himself and was reduced to mumbling about the defensive mistakes and his continual mantra - We will get better ---- I wish Terry would have asked "when".. Let's give CWM another year. Sure he will basically have 3 frosh, but he knows what is needed in the portal. Heck we all know. -- A floor leader who directs both sides of the court and a mean spirited defender.-- You know, an old fashioned Bearcat.

I heard this is how you win. Know your weakness. Adapt and overcome. You should be able to rebound and play defense every night. Shooting is often muscle memory and taking the right shot, but your head has to be in the game to play defense and rebound. Yes, a good pass, screens and spacing is important to the offense, but a scorer can score usually especially with that slow confused defense OSU has.. When you know your weakness is on seeing the court and reacting defensively, then you must adapt and overcome by scoring more points. The Cats just couldn't do that with crazy out of control drives in the first half and even worse senseless TOs in the second. Many talked about not adjusting. What pieces does CWM have to throw in there defensively? I would have liked to see ODY, but it wasn't to be. I am not talking stats here guys, but what was needed to win the game at hand considering your roster.

Do not let what you can't do interfere with what you can do.
John Wooten

It's not Wooten. It's Wooden.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wooden

[red_n_black_attack]

why do you think they were hot last night when they were not hot most of the year. They were traveling, strange rims and at the beginning a hostile home crowd. Why were they hot is what makes me wonder. Did our lack of defense help them. I know they threw up shots at the last of the clock and they went in, but did we think the clock was buzzing and so we slackened our defense? I am sorry for posting so much guys, but that game was very winnable and I hate to lose.

That game was frustrating in many ways. We had some defensive lapses that led to open shots at the rim and inside the arc, but most of the threes were well contested and they got hot down the stretch. They were only 7/17 from 3, but made 13 of 14 free throws. I don't think a player getting hot has much to do with defense, some nights a guy just cannot miss. Last night was like that for both numbers 14 and number 12. We missed some rebounds, but we only had 2 fouls for the half until last two minutes of the second half. We should've held that team to scoe in the 60's not 80. We would've held them to the upper 60's if they missed two threes, and hit their typical 60% from free throws, plus we wouldn't have given them extra free throws at the end. The defense didn't account for the Fts or the extra three-pointers made.

[Rufus]

This team goes as Skillings goes. He is the driving force, the one who can create his own shots and not afraid to do so. With that said if he's bad we don't win, if he's good we do win. With the way he was making lazy passes and turning it over last night you almost have to keep him on the bench alternating with CJ and Reed. Let Newman become more freer to create on offense. Skillings is going to be a star one day but as of now when he tries to do everything on his own he's too much of a liability.

[leo from jersey]

We didn't lose that game last night for lack of scoring. It wasn't really bad defense for the most part. Ok St is not usuallyu a great shooting team, but they were hot from beyond the arc last night. Tough pill to swallow losing to a much lower ranked Net team who was winless on the road in conference play, but sometimes the other team just hits the shots you expect them to miss.

why do you think they were hot last night when they were not hot most of the year. They were traveling, strange rims and at the beginning a hostile home crowd. Why were they hot is what makes me wonder. Did our lack of defense help them. I know they threw up shots at the last of the clock and they went in, but did we think the clock was buzzing and so we slackened our defense? I am sorry for posting so much guys, but that game was very winnable and I hate to lose.

[leo from jersey]

In my mind it is simply on the coaching staff right now. Stop trying to be their best friend and be their coach. Skilling's should have been benched after the first lazy turnover an you throw in Anythony or Jizzle. Bandaogo taking an ill advised three pointer at a critical point in the game. Why that is not his job! Bench him and remind him what his job is again and put Reynolds in.

Press the other team to tire them out! We have the numbers and it gets more of our skilled players on the floor. Our team never looks tired at the end of the game. Which is a credit to them and the coaching staff for having them in shape, so use it to your advantage! We are wasting so many good players on the bench and such a good rebounding team all because the coaching staff can't teach other defenses or how to maximize the roster.

I don't miss Huggins because I was never a fan of some of his stuff. However, he knew how to get his players under control, fired up and he knew how to coach defense. This team has everything we need to be successful which is what is driving me crazy. For so many years that has not been true. We were out coached once again last night and I'm up in the air on Wes because he put this good team together but he is also the one who is killing it.

were you a fan of his winning?

[red_n_black_attack]

We didn't lose that game last night for lack of scoring. It wasn't really bad defense for the most part. Ok St is not usuallyu a great shooting team, but they were hot from beyond the arc last night. Tough pill to swallow losing to a much lower ranked Net team who was winless on the road in conference play, but sometimes the other team just hits the shots you expect them to miss.

[bearcatrunner]

In my mind it is simply on the coaching staff right now. Stop trying to be their best friend and be their coach. Skilling's should have been benched after the first lazy turnover an you throw in Anythony or Jizzle. Bandaogo taking an ill advised three pointer at a critical point in the game. Why that is not his job! Bench him and remind him what his job is again and put Reynolds in.

Press the other team to tire them out! We have the numbers and it gets more of our skilled players on the floor. Our team never looks tired at the end of the game. Which is a credit to them and the coaching staff for having them in shape, so use it to your advantage! We are wasting so many good players on the bench and such a good rebounding team all because the coaching staff can't teach other defenses or how to maximize the roster.

I don't miss Huggins because I was never a fan of some of his stuff. However, he knew how to get his players under control, fired up and he knew how to coach defense. This team has everything we need to be successful which is what is driving me crazy. For so many years that has not been true. We were out coached once again last night and I'm up in the air on Wes because he put this good team together but he is also the one who is killing it.

[leo from jersey]

I guess what I am saying is this. It isn't about looking back on why we lost, but in the present seeking how to win. To me, that is a major factor and both statements are miles apart. Look at the game at hand as you have one chance to win each game. Sadly, the loss last night was likely the worse loss in a long time. We had a home crowd, a healthy roster and a weak opponent. The Cats didn't have the means to get it done.
In other words the entire team - coaching staff and players are not seeing the court or don't know how to address it. It is playing in the now.

[leo from jersey]

Let's face it, we do not(at this time)have the quaility of players that can consistently make shots. Until we start getting some quality offensive players, this is not going to change

Just about any team could have scored against that wretched defense of OSU. The problem was UC didn't score enough to win the game and made tragic bonehead grade school plays when it mattered. I stand by my statemen the offense lost it as our defense didn't exist so the offense had to outscore OSU. With OSU's defense it should have been done, but it wasn't.

[bearcatrunner]

I just don't understand when you have a player being so glaringly bad like Skilling's last night why you leave him in. Now for the record he is rebounding well! However, you just can't let those lazy passes from guy not get addressed. Not once did he take him off the court. I seriously was thinking Skilling's is getting paid to throw the game. They all seemed like they were at critical parts of the game and just soooo bad!

As for JJ vs Day Day. As most have said keep them both in the game! Put Day Day on the best shooter and let JJ get experience. They both are so talented and I think JJ's game would open things up for the athletic Day Day. Why not put both of them out there and press during the game. We should have really tired them out with our advance numbers and their limited ones.

I just don't know why Wes doesn't work on different defenses. This is the easiest team I have ever seen to scout against. Wes does not mix things up to confuse the other team. Look what happened to our team when they went small ball. We could be doing that. We have the lineup for a press and for a zone. From what I can tell they are not evolving at all right now and Wes continues to make lineup mistakes. Wes get your best players on the court! JJ has to start playing more. If not for this year then for next! If JJ transfers from this team I'm done with Wes Miller. He is the next Steve Logan.

[bearcatjd]

Let's face it, we do not(at this time)have the quaility of players that can consistently make shots. Until we start getting some quality offensive players, this is not going to change

[Lobot]

On a related note, Vik didn’t see the floor again tonight. He was “out sick” for several games, and then gave us zero when he returned. Is there more to his illness than we’ve been told?

I don't think illness is the issue here at all. It's not Vik's fault but as you probably noticed leading up the last two games, Vik's not right. I have educated guesses as to why but it's probably not a good thing to speculate about.


Wes's rotations continue to be an issue. I do not get his substitution patterns, like at all. It's almost like this team has too many guys that can really play on the roster to keep everyone happy.

The loss of a home court advantage under Wes is really puzzling.