This would be fun... And cause me to finish off a handle of Whiskey over the 2 1/2 hours.
Guess I better stop by the Liquor Store before Saturday at 6.
Oklahoma Predictions/Analysis
- Thread starter WastedTalent
- Start date
This would be fun... And cause me to finish off a handle of Whiskey over the 2 1/2 hours.
Guess I better stop by the Liquor Store before Saturday at 6.
Prediction: Oklahoma 82, Iowa State 74 ???
No. 11 Iowa State at No. 3 Oklahoma, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN2: A friend and Iowa State fan sent this note to me during the Cyclones’ 104-84 win over Coppin State on Wednesday (Coppin State, a mediocre offensive squad, connected on 17 of 30 3-pointers): “We can’t stop a nosebleed.†Within KenPom.com’s top 20, Iowa State’s differential (51) in offensive (16th) and defensive efficiency (67th) is third behind North Carolina and SMU. Oklahoma has Buddy Hield, a veteran crew around him and an offense that’s connecting on 46.2 percent of its 3-pointers (No. 2 in the country). But Oklahoma will compete for the Big 12 title and more because of a defense that was strong enough to hold Wisconsin to 0.80 points per possession and Villanova to 0.77 PPP.
I have heard a number of basketball insiders suggest “ISU tends to reinforce bad habits by playing down to the level of their competition†rather than bringing a warrior like winning attitude to every game, but I had hoped this would be a closer game than the author predicted. Just curious what others may think?
No. 11 Iowa State at No. 3 Oklahoma, 7 p.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN2: A friend and Iowa State fan sent this note to me during the Cyclones’ 104-84 win over Coppin State on Wednesday (Coppin State, a mediocre offensive squad, connected on 17 of 30 3-pointers): “We can’t stop a nosebleed.†Within KenPom.com’s top 20, Iowa State’s differential (51) in offensive (16th) and defensive efficiency (67th) is third behind North Carolina and SMU. Oklahoma has Buddy Hield, a veteran crew around him and an offense that’s connecting on 46.2 percent of its 3-pointers (No. 2 in the country). But Oklahoma will compete for the Big 12 title and more because of a defense that was strong enough to hold Wisconsin to 0.80 points per possession and Villanova to 0.77 PPP.
I have heard a number of basketball insiders suggest “ISU tends to reinforce bad habits by playing down to the level of their competition†rather than bringing a warrior like winning attitude to every game, but I had hoped this would be a closer game than the author predicted. Just curious what others may think?
I am looking forward to seeing our new coach in his B12 debut. I like what I see of him so far; he has put the team in a position to win on numerous occasions.
The team has not played up to its capability, but will they listen to the coach? Can they play aggressively while avoiding foul trouble; that is another sub-plot with this team, and a relatively thin bench.
I think we are missing Naz much more than people think; defenders have to respect his shot, and when they do, they leave other guys open, or at least more open. If you are wondering why our 3-point shooting is down, that is one big reason.
Offensively, it will be our inside game versus their 3-point shooting. Defensively, it will be our perimeter defense versus their inside coverage. One way or the other, we will have a better perspective on this team Sunday morning.
The team has not played up to its capability, but will they listen to the coach? Can they play aggressively while avoiding foul trouble; that is another sub-plot with this team, and a relatively thin bench.
I think we are missing Naz much more than people think; defenders have to respect his shot, and when they do, they leave other guys open, or at least more open. If you are wondering why our 3-point shooting is down, that is one big reason.
Offensively, it will be our inside game versus their 3-point shooting. Defensively, it will be our perimeter defense versus their inside coverage. One way or the other, we will have a better perspective on this team Sunday morning.
Re: Prediction: Oklahoma 82, Iowa State 74 ???
Villanova was shooting <30% of 3's going into OU, but took 50% of their shots as 3's against OU. 50%. They had good open looks and made 4/32. It wasn't really OU's defense but really really bad offense by Villanova. Wisconsin is a team full of roleplayers and no stars with the exit. They have a recognizable name, but they aren't a threat to win games any more than TCU is.
OU is a pressing team which inflates margins against poor teams and they played a lot of poor teams including Wisconsin. Wisconsin was a top 50 kenpom team last week at 7-5...
F kenpom.
OU presses and breaks off turnovers which should be very familiar to ISU fans. They don't have a great half court offense, but they do have Hield which makes up for a large part of it. They make a living getting to the FT line. In the last two games against above average opponents in Hawaii and Harvard they shot nearly 30 FTA average. That is where they are making up points for not having an inside threat.
To beat OU
Stop fast breaks
Clog the lane from driving and drawing fouls - this means going under screens.
Don't foul
Rebound their misses - this is huge.
Attack inside on them - we should have an advantage here all day. Limit 3 point attempts.
Push the ball - OU likes to run, but our bigs run better and should always have a advantage in transition.
Villanova was shooting <30% of 3's going into OU, but took 50% of their shots as 3's against OU. 50%. They had good open looks and made 4/32. It wasn't really OU's defense but really really bad offense by Villanova. Wisconsin is a team full of roleplayers and no stars with the exit. They have a recognizable name, but they aren't a threat to win games any more than TCU is.
OU is a pressing team which inflates margins against poor teams and they played a lot of poor teams including Wisconsin. Wisconsin was a top 50 kenpom team last week at 7-5...
F kenpom.
OU presses and breaks off turnovers which should be very familiar to ISU fans. They don't have a great half court offense, but they do have Hield which makes up for a large part of it. They make a living getting to the FT line. In the last two games against above average opponents in Hawaii and Harvard they shot nearly 30 FTA average. That is where they are making up points for not having an inside threat.
To beat OU
Stop fast breaks
Clog the lane from driving and drawing fouls - this means going under screens.
Don't foul
Rebound their misses - this is huge.
Attack inside on them - we should have an advantage here all day. Limit 3 point attempts.
Push the ball - OU likes to run, but our bigs run better and should always have a advantage in transition.
Unless ISU received the gift of defense for Christmas, they lose big in Norman. As someone else said...this one will be a double digit loss. If we actually play defense, ...nah...what am I saying?
From YaHoo Sports:
Iowa State (11-1) plans to compete for a Big 12 title as well, and it can earn an early edge on the Sooners "if" it can shut down their shooting barrage. The Cyclones have gotten by so far despite ranking last among the 10 conference teams in 3-point defense at 35.7 percent.
To me it's a coin flip... but if we are going to contest anything in this game, we'll have to play tougher defense than we have all season so far. We MUST guard against the 3.
Iowa State (11-1) plans to compete for a Big 12 title as well, and it can earn an early edge on the Sooners "if" it can shut down their shooting barrage. The Cyclones have gotten by so far despite ranking last among the 10 conference teams in 3-point defense at 35.7 percent.
To me it's a coin flip... but if we are going to contest anything in this game, we'll have to play tougher defense than we have all season so far. We MUST guard against the 3.
What OU will do is what APB and Coppin State did. They'll put all 5 players near the perimeter which which will draw our posts out from the middle. This will allow their guards clear path to dribble drive. Or penetration defense is below average. If we collapse then they'll kick out for an open three.
We'll be playing catchup all game.
We'll be playing catchup all game.
OU strikes me as the kind of team that, when focused and motivated, is real real good. When they are not, then they are very average. Clones are kinda like this too.
I expect OU to be real focused tonight, despite not having played in a while, or worrying about Kansas on monday.
ISU must match that intensity and play well to have a shot at a W. If they do, it should be a great ballgame, win or lose.
I expect OU to be real focused tonight, despite not having played in a while, or worrying about Kansas on monday.
ISU must match that intensity and play well to have a shot at a W. If they do, it should be a great ballgame, win or lose.