Oklahoma St. 2/21 7:00 ESPN+

[leo from jersey]

As you know, Okla. State came into last night's game scoring only 66.9 points a game (conference) and giving up 76.2 points a game (conference). Last night UC let them score 80 points and UC scored 76 points. Wow. I went back and looked at UC's conference scoring defense since Miller took over. Here are the numbers: 2021-22 (70.2); 2022-23 (70.6); and 2023-24 so far (69.62). That averages to about 70 points a game in the conference. This year UC is giving up 70 pts a game at home. The message here is Miller's defenses HAVE NOT gotten better over time. You would think that they would. You make adjustments as you learn about what does not work. I do NOT see that with Miller's defense.

Last night, if UC holds Okla. State to 70 points, UC wins. Okla. State went on to score 80 points and UC lost. Miller has got to think differently about his defense because it is slowly killing his career.

Defense is important beyond other aspects of the game (in my opinion). CWM had little time to recruit his first year for defense and not the rep the next two years to get the guys. That leaves coaching what you have up. It starts with the mental. There are two many soft speaking guys on UCs team as of now (what a diplomatic way of expressing it). I heard a soft speaking CWM on the post game. Today
s players are bent on doing what they want and it is not usually playing defense or rebounding. They get overly sensitive (remember just a couple of years ago). This was the adjustment Cunningham made in coaching. I think CWM can be the coach needed - He learned from Roy Williams although he didn't get the UNC job. It is simply reduced to his getting the ability out of the current guys or get new guys. A new coach has that opportunity, but does a 3 year coach have that? Why do I think CWM has it in him. Look at how he handles JJ. He keeps him out at crunch time when the pressure of the announcers, the fan recognition and a HoF dad is in attendance, JJ dad knows. He played a sport at the highest level. CWM can do that because he has DayDay for defense. I don't see that luxury for the rest of the lineup. Three bigs rode the bench. As you said Lee, this is CWM career. He has to make the adjustments. Give him NIL money and get some hard nose guys that have been coached hard or better still effectively. It is a tough situation here. CWM seems to have lost the home fan support although they still support the team. Until he gets those players, his only choice is to coach up. Will our guys follow? Have they been taught the basics of defense from grade school or just me ball? One thing I noticed is that he isn't so touchy feely on the court since a particular player transferred. Give CWM another year, but I know we all hate to lose.

[leeraymond]

As you know, Okla. State came into last night's game scoring only 66.9 points a game (conference) and giving up 76.2 points a game (conference). Last night UC let them score 80 points and UC scored 76 points. Wow. I went back and looked at UC's conference scoring defense since Miller took over. Here are the numbers: 2021-22 (70.2); 2022-23 (70.6); and 2023-24 so far (69.62). That averages to about 70 points a game in the conference. This year UC is giving up 70 pts a game at home. The message here is this, Miller's defenses HAVE NOT gotten better over time. You would think that they would. You make adjustments as you learn about what does not work. I do NOT see that with Miller's defense.

Last night, if UC holds Okla. State to 70 points, UC wins. Okla. State went on to score 80 points and UC lost. Miller has got to think differently about his defense because it is slowly killing his career. Not to mention the 10th loss of the season. Once again, for three straight years, the once proud defensive minded UC will have ten or more losses; and counting.

[leo from jersey]

I figure few like quotes. I like them because they are usually spoken from experience. I would post them in my gym at home and I believe it inspired my kids and also me while teaching great points. I hated UCLA from the beating they gave the Cats in the 60s, but I loved Coach Wooten. I won't bore you with a lot of stuff, but here are two quotes pertinent to the current Cats.

"Champions are brilliant at the basics." ~
"A mistake is valuable if you do four things with it: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it" ~ John Wooden

[leo from jersey]

We scored 44 points in the second half. Offense was not the problem.

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

[leo from jersey]

I feel really bad for John Newman, he’ll leave UC without playing in the NCAA, same for Ody Oguama. That just can’t happen for a UC Bearcat.

Ody may not play in any gaames besides Senior night. We had 3 bigs with zero minutes. That is some very valuable roster spots.

[London 'Cat]

Down to #41 in KenPom. The only way to get back to the tournament is simple, win at Houston.

Winning at Houston will be extremely difficult. The average margin of victory in UH home games is at least double digits.

[leeraymond]

We've completely lost any home court edge under Miller. No need to monitor bubble talk anymore.

You are correct about that one. Since Miller has been the coach, UC has lost 48% of its conference home games. That is almost half. Guess what, there are still a few more games to lose. Under Miller, that once great home court advantage is NOW GONE. So sad.

[leeraymond]

This is what I said before the game. I think the reason Dailey had been struggling is other teams scouted and had a gameplan for when OK St went small. We clearly did not.

Miller does not play the match-ups. A reporter once asked Miller about defending against a particular player and Miller's response was, we do not design our defense to defend against a particular player. Yeah, and it showed tonight.

[longtimefan]

Down to #41 in KenPom. The only way to get back to the tournament is simple, win at Houston.

[longtimefan]

This is what I said before the game. I think the reason Dailey had been struggling is other teams scouted and had a gameplan for when OK St went small. We clearly did not.

He’s also a Freshman, though he was a top 40 recruit. By this time of year talented Freshmen tend to not be freshmen anymore. OSU definitely has good young talent, and we came out not ready to play.

[sedz]

6'8 forward Eric Dailey is a rare true midrange maestro, converting over 50% on twos away from the rim. And he'll also step out and take a three. He'll be a tough cover if he's playing the 5, but he's had a rough month and hasn't played more than 18 minutes in the last 6 games.

This is what I said before the game. I think the reason Dailey had been struggling is other teams scouted and had a gameplan for when OK St went small. We clearly did not.

[sedz]

Our offense was pretty good in this one. We scored 1.11 points per possession, our second highest output in conference after the Texas Tech game. We fell in love with the jump shot late in the first half, but mostly attacked the rim throughout the second. We ended up 16 for 26 at the rim and only took 14 midrange shots and 17 threes. We also took care of the ball much better in the second half, committing only 5 turnovers compared to 9 in the opening half. 44 second half points should have been enough to win.

But the defense was embarrassing. We gave up 1.17 points per possession, our second worst effort of the entire season (only Dayton was more efficient). Unsurprisingly, Dailey led all players in box plus minus, and his offensive box plus minus of 10 was way better than everyone else (Simas was second at 6.7). Dailey himself was good, scoring 9 points on 7 shots in only 14 minutes, but OK St played 5 out when he was on the floor, and we couldn't guard it. Much like the PnR at West Virginia, a very standard offensive set torched us and we didn't make an adjustment until it was too late.

Skillings was our worst player tonight, with negative 5 net points, fully accounting for the margin. His head was not in the game, as he made several extremely lazy turnovers and put up some wild shots. He was also our second worst defender (Jizzle was the worst with a negative 3.3 defensive box plus minus). Aziz was actually our best player statistically with 3 net points. He played well when Dailey wasn't in the game. Simas also had a solid game. Ody only saw 3 minutes of action, but was statistically our best defender when he was on the floor (defensive BPM of 11.7). I think we should have matched Dailey's subs with Ody. I'm fairly confident we win this game if we had done that.

[longtimefan]

Can we get Rick Pitino to give us an unfiltered assessment of this basketball program (players and staff)...

Hookers won’t help anything.

[JohnFrancis]

Can we get Rick Pitino to give us an unfiltered assessment of this basketball program (players and staff)...

[London 'Cat]

Defense allows OSU to shoot 55.6% FGs. Can’t beat anyone allowing that type of shooting.