Oklahoma St. 2/21 7:00 ESPN+

[sedz]

Welcome to the defensive basketball world of Wes Miller. Miller's defenses have a very bad habit of NOT being able to take offenses out of what they want to do. Teams usually can run their stuff without many disruptions.

I agree, that's been my main concern with Wes this year. He has a different defensive philosophy than we got used to under Cronin and even Huggins. Cronin went to great lengths to take away the main scoring option of the opponent, with a tradeoff that we were often left scrambling to open shooters and struggling to rebound defensively. We were never good at defending the three point line or defensive rebounding under Cronin, and that came back to bite us in the postseason. Wes takes the opposite approach, choosing to play straight up man and keeping defenders in position on off ball shooters and rebounders. As a result we're really good at defending against threes and rebounding misses. I'm fine with the different philosophy, but we still need to apply scouting principles. We can still play straight man but put small quick defenders out there when the other team plays 5 out. Or stick to the screener if we're getting beat in PnR. Or force shooters to put the ball on the deck. In general our defense has been really good this year, but in several games we've been torched by easily correctable strategy mistakes.

Offensively we can't shoot. Guards can't hit threes or finish at the rim, bigs can't score outside the paint or hit free throws. Strategy can only overcome so much of that. I'm hoping more skilled players can give us more offense in coming years.

[leo from jersey]

accepting a lack of discipline, i.e. turnovers, or having no consequences on turning it over just leads to more complacency. When Skillings tried to lob the ball over the defender and got intercepted he didn't wince, didn't curse, didn't even make an all out attempt to get back to defend the dude. When you accept anything but full bore it energy then the rest of your game is going to obtain to the same level.

since the defense couldn't do the job, it fell on the offense and Skillings had the ball too much. We stopped trading basket for basket and OSU took the lead and won the game. Neither team's defense came to play. OSU made baskets UC had turnovers. Too many unforced errors my friend. I know you saw that

[leo from jersey]

Agree completely. UC allowed OSU to shoot 55.6% from the field. Not a recipe for success and not good defense by any standards. UC lost because it did not defend effectively.

how do we adjust in the game to win. The effort on defense wasn't there and I saw nothing to change that from the bench.

[Rufus]

accepting a lack of discipline, i.e. turnovers, or having no consequences on turning it over just leads to more complacency. When Skillings tried to lob the ball over the defender and got intercepted he didn't wince, didn't curse, didn't even make an all out attempt to get back to defend the dude. When you accept anything but full bore it energy then the rest of your game is going to obtain to the same level.

[leeraymond]

This is exactly the point I'm tying to make. Our staff didn't adjust to their 5 out offense. And we shouldn't have even had to adjust since it shouldn't have been a surprise. We should have had a plan going into the game. That's the main reason we lost. Not because we threw the ball away, or Jizzle didn't play enough, or bigs shot threes, or really anything to do with offense. This is college basketball, we shouldn't have to put up NBA efficiency numbers to win. 76 points in a 68 possession game on our home floor should be more than enough offense. We lost this game because we had no defensive strategy to limit what OK St wanted to do.

Welcome to the defensive basketball world of Wes Miller. Miller's defenses have a very bad habit of NOT being able to take offenses out of what they want to do. Teams usually can run their stuff without many disruptions. If I am Miller, I start studying Kelvin Sampson's and T.J. Otzelberger's (Iowa State) defenses for next season before it is too late. I used to live in Cincinnati. The fans are very sensitive about loses in that town. It is probably not all that pleasant for Miller right in Cincinnati. I am sure is he counting the days before the next away game. Good luck to Miller. He is really going to need it the rest of the way.

[leeraymond]

My brother listened to the game on the radio last night. Apparently Terry said coach has to stop worrying about guy's feelings and get his best lineup on the court, or something like that.

This is a VERY GOOD point. Former UC football coach Brian Kelly used to say, "I don't have time to worry about a player's feelings". I am looking for guys that CAN MAKE PLAYS. Of course Kelly went on to have an outstanding career at UC and is STILL one of the best college football coaches in the country. Good advice for Miller.

[London 'Cat]

We only had 5 second half turnovers (and 14 for the game, which isn't that bad and only half of them were live ball). How did the consensus here become that we threw the ball away on offense? We had 13 turnovers at Texas Tech, 15 against TCU, and 19 at BYU.

The solution to defensive issues is to fix the defensive issues. Not to try and play perfect offense and score 90 points.

Agree completely. UC allowed OSU to shoot 55.6% from the field. Not a recipe for success and not good defense by any standards. UC lost because it did not defend effectively.

[sedz]

I'm going to disgree somewhat. The defense was subpar last night for sure but this is on the staff for lack of preperation and lack of adjustments. We (on this board?) knew coming in what these guys were and it's like The staff didn't scout or players didn't execute that scouting report. I don't know what causes that unless the team has hit a wall.

I'm wondering if the travel schedule in this conference is having an effect on the team. Mike Rehfeldt has all kinds of recovery equipment and methods at his disposal to get these guys ready so I don't think it's on him or his staff for sure.

This is exactly the point I'm tying to make. Our staff didn't adjust to their 5 out offense. And we shouldn't have even had to adjust since it shouldn't have been a surprise. We should have had a plan going into the game. That's the main reason we lost. Not because we threw the ball away, or Jizzle didn't play enough, or bigs shot threes, or really anything to do with offense. This is college basketball, we shouldn't have to put up NBA efficiency numbers to win. 76 points in a 68 possession game on our home floor should be more than enough offense. We lost this game because we had no defensive strategy to limit what OK St wanted to do.

[sedz]

so what is our counter when it is our turn with the ball and we throw it away. We know how we lost. How do we win when things are not working in the actual game. We need a couple more impact players. Maybe more than a shooter as most can shoot. That is why last night it wasn't luck but shooters practice for hours and when given an opening, they usually score. Oh for a floor leader on both sides of the court.

We only had 5 second half turnovers (and 14 for the game, which isn't that bad and only half of them were live ball). How did the consensus here become that we threw the ball away on offense? We had 13 turnovers at Texas Tech, 15 against TCU, and 19 at BYU.

The solution to defensive issues is to fix the defensive issues. Not to try and play perfect offense and score 90 points.

[JBB]

On NIT Bubble with couple more losses
mihht be a crosstown rematch….X destined for same

[longtimefan]

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.

My brother listened to the game on the radio last night. Apparently Terry said coach has to stop worrying about guy's feelings and get his best lineup on the court, or something like that.

[leo from jersey]

C'mon Leo, you could have invoked spellcheck or autocorrect here and been off the hook. LOL.

I know --- so from now on here they are put them in where they belong/.,<>?":}{{}++ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz. -- Thanks for the coaching and you are 100% right. I will be more cautious in the future. I get carried away and to think I copied and pasted the quote, but changed the name to make it look better - regardless , I learned (I hope) and will forget as Coach W. said. LOL

[Lobot]

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.

I'm going to disgree somewhat. The defense was subpar last night for sure but this is on the staff for lack of preparation and lack of adjustments. We (on this board?) knew coming in what these guys were and it's like the staff didn't scout or players didn't execute that scouting report. I don't know what causes that unless the team has hit a wall.

I'm wondering if the travel schedule in this conference is having an effect on the team. Mike Rehfeldt has all kinds of recovery equipment and methods at his disposal to get these guys ready so I don't think it's on him or his staff for sure.

[leo from jersey]

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.

so what is our counter when it is our turn with the ball and we throw it away. We know how we lost. How do we win when things are not working in the actual game. We need a couple more impact players. Maybe more than a shooter as most can shoot. That is why last night it wasn't luck but shooters practice for hours and when given an opening, they usually score. Oh for a floor leader on both sides of the court.

[Lobot]

you are so right. No excuses

C'mon Leo, you could have invoked spellcheck or autocorrect here and been off the hook. LOL.