OU 91 Illinois 69

[swok34]

What a great first half these young ladies put together...that may have been the finest I have ever seen them play on both ends of the court. OU wasn't called for it's first foul until there were 4 minutes remaining in the half....actually there weren't a lot of fouls called at all........OU only had 4/5 turnovers the first half. They played excellent defense, they got a looksee at a fullcourt press....as I'm sure they will see next Saturday.

Laneisha Caufield.....what can you say! She is playing excellent basketball. I think all the starters and Jackson had excellent games.....Talbert was missing chippies and didn't contribute scoring wise, but she got in the passing lane and fought for the ball. Great game for Caton Hill, she played solid and didn't have to contend with the foul trouble as she has in games of late........attendance is puzzling.....4733. I guessed 6500 easily by the looks of the stands.

Now the second half......if they come out playing like that in yet another game, Connecticut will capitalize on the moment....and OU will be left hanging on to their shirt tails.
Sounded, by comments made by the ESPN announcers, that OU had a really "hard" week of practice this past week.......and I'm sure the next 3 days before they leave for Connecticut will be equally
rough.

Perhaps they need to practice "halftime" like the football team did this past year.

Think I saw Portland Coach Linda Hargrove across the court... and the present I'm giving myself for Xmas, binoculars....I borrowed a pair from a friend at the game; that's pretty awesome to see folks up close.

[JK]

Now, THAT'S what I'm talking about!!! OU definitely lived up to their billing yesterday. Granted, Illinois is not a "TOP 25" team, but they are still very solid. I just hope OU can put a game like that together against UCONN! Way to go Coale & Co !!!

[schooner2]

Wow, wow, wow on the first half. What great intensity. Everything was clicking.

I've never seen Caufield so consistently great. Both her and Dales have been on their game big-time recently.

Illinois started the second-half on an 11-0 run over the first 5 minutes. OU outscored Illinois by 11 points over the next 3 1/2 minutes. So except for those first 5 minutes of the second half, OU played unbelievably well.

I think OU can hang with UCONN if they get that type of output.

From the Norman Transcript: When Dales was asked what to expect when OU meets UCONN, Dales didn't hesitate: "We're going to beat UCONN," she said. Gotta love the confidence and determination!

I actually thought the attendance figure was about right. Lots of people spread out everywhere. Could see quite a few empty seats between people - so it gave the illusion that a lot more were there than actually was. But 4733 is great to have. This is still non-conference. If OU pulls the big upset Saturday, crowds could get very large at the Lloyd Noble Center during conference play.

[DblT81]

Here is what a Connecticut fan thinks about Sunday's win by OU:

Sloppy game…Illinois is young and the turnovers killed them..Oklahoma has a nice perimeter game but lacks a strong inside game
http://www.geocities.com/wbballz/bell/bell_04.htm

Not wanting to give OU credit for much apparently.

Oh, how I want the Sooners to take care of business in Storrs. I want it bad. Please, please, pretty please.

[swok34]

me, too, dblt.........not all of their fans think the game was so bad. There already discussing the Tennessee game on Jan 5 over on the Uconn board. I seriously doubt that Geno is overlooking Oklahoma.....what I wouldn't give to see OU go 11-0 when they arrive back in Norman for Christmas break.

From an OU fan point of view......1st half:

5 team turnovers total.
2 fouls...the first one not occurring until 4 minutes left in the half.
The best defense I have seen OU play.

What everyone seems to be forgetting is that Uconn is Svetlana and Shea-less from the last time we played....OU is Whaley, Taylor, Hardeman-less. UConn did pretty well contain Whaley and Caufield busted out......OU has picked up Talbert, Ross and Jackson.

Some Uconn fans say this is the best starting 5 ever.....I just think the champ team of '00 was the best team I've seen. And their depth that year was more solid.

[Bark]

Your certainly right about UConn's depth, Swok. In big games UConn will probably only go 8 deep. Only one of the reserves is a guard. If both Bird and Taursi have to sit (fouls/injuries), then UConn will struggle.

[swok34]

naw, Geno's not overlooking the game.

Auriemma sees Oklahoma waiting on the other side of the break, and he is happy. Because once the school tests are over, the toughest basketball test so far this season is upon them.

"I'm glad we've got a really good team in 13 days," Auriemma said. "Because the worst thing in the world would be to go to practice for the next week and a half, looking at a 50-point blowout. That would be awful. So, the fact that we've got a really good team, with really good guards, waiting for us on the 22nd, I think that's a great thing for our practices coming up.

[Jennifer]

Well, though he may not be taking OU lightly, seems like many of their fans are. I've been checking in over at the Boneyard and some of them are so arrogant it makes me laugh.
I've read that if OU tries to run w/ Uconn, they might as well leave the bus running. OU's guards can't hang w/ Uconn's guards size or speed-wise. They basically think OU doesn't stand a chance.

[Bark]

There are so many boneyarders that taking one post is generally not the consensus of their fans. They usually argue amongst themselves. I think the UConn team considers the Sooners' guards as their biggest challenge to date. The the match up in the post is where UConn holds the advantage. Someone posted that Sherri may have some defensive suprises (Swok?). Stacy Hansmeyer knows the UConn starting personnel as well as anyone. I'm sure her insightes will help and may make a difference. She may also sing the national anthem at this game.

[elfdenmom]

I really, really want to see OU make Christmas pudding of UConn!
Whomp 'em OU!

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by Bark:
There are so many boneyarders that taking one post is generally not the consensus of their fans. They usually argue amongst themselves.

Well, I did read completely through several threads, and the consensus opinion was that OU doesn't stand a chance.
I used to frequent the AOL message boards and found there that most of the Uconn fans were very gracious and respectful.

Anyhow, the guard matchups will be among the best so far this season. I sure hope 'Neisha continues her hot streak. I expect Caton will have a big game as well.

[kate dawg]

GO SOONERS!! bury UCONN and put those east coast snobs in their place. they think the game of basketball exists only in the eastern time zone and that the Big 12 is nothing. this is a big chance to earn respect for the conference and everyone is pulling for you!

[Bark]

Jennifer, you are right that most UConn fans think that the OK/UConn game will go to UConn. But that's because of the post match ups. Not because they think that the Sooner guards are not good.

Any UConn fan who thinks that the Sooners guards are too slow, too short, or generally not good enough (I saw that boneyard post)is wrong . Oklahoma's four guards are really good and offensively good enough to take the game. If OK can effectively defend the paint using their three guard line up the game will be very competitive. If the paint defense is there, the three Oklahoma guards can score the 90+ points I think Sooners will need.

[Bark]

Hey Kate Dawg, Are the east coast snobs just UConn fans or are other wbb fans included in this group?

[swok34]

I think Oklahoma and Connecticut have a very respectable relationship with one another....given the ties that Sheri Coale and Geno have and the tie-in with Stacey Hansmeyer.

Bark.....Coach Coale mentioned in her radio or tv show that they have some tricks up their sleeves and they've discovered some tricks along the way......like playing Caufield down in the post some against 6'-3 and 6'-4 players......Coale has had to be rather inventive to deal with their overall depth problems and their height problems.

Rosalind Ross didn't have a very good night vs. Illinois when you factor in her turnovers, bad shot selection......and it's not the Ross I've seen play very often this year....she could very well be a factor given her 3 pt FG range. I have a feeling, too, that Caton Hill is going to be the X-factor.
I think OU will change up their defenses quite a bit.....they played the best defense I've ever seen them play vs Illinois....
though they still continued to leave a 3-pt shooter open;
Taurasi will kill 'em if they do that Saturday.

I really appreciate your comments concerning the game, bark...

I did read on the Boneyard a comment by a Stanford fan who want's Connecticut to annihilate OU because of LAST year's incident and the response by Huskynan was GREAT!....she basically told him/her...no sympathy for Stanford from UConn...
the relationship between OU/UConn was very mutual and their was a lot of respect for both programs between the programs.

[Bark]

Can't describe the love UConn fans have for Stacy. She is the best! I'm sure the fans in CT will express this loudly and often on Saturday too. Look for the "Bam Bam" signs.

I think Ross will also be instrumental in you're game plan besides putting up three's. Saw in the stats that she rebounds very well as a guard. I expect Dales, Caulfield, and Jackson to do their thing. And UConn will try to take away either Dales and/or Caulfield. Also agree that Hill needs to be a factor. Hope personal fouls don't get in the way.

Rebounding and defense from Hill, Talbert, and Ross, plus Ross's 3's will be key.

[Bark]

Its amazing how fan like or dislike teams parallel to their coaches likes and dislikes. Tara & Geno don't like each other, then a Stanford fan gets on the boneyard and tries to stir up trouble ... Oops, he didn't know that UConn fans like Oklahoma.

The only given on the boneyard is that UConn and Tennessee are eye-ball to eye-ball. The boneyard have irrational, illogical, passionate "flamers" concerning TN, just like the summitt, concerning CT. My bias: proportionately, there are more "flamer" on the summitt (I'm a UConn fan so "grain of salt"). Best to ignore these posts on either board, they go no where.

[Bark]

Also Kate Dawg, I don't think the Big XII lacks respect. The conference has six teams ranked in the top 25, equal to the sacred SEC and five more than the Big "Least", more than the ACC, more than the Pac 10.

You are right in this respect though. The perceived gap between the top two teams and the rest of the top 25 is considered large. But in reality, it is yet to be defined. Perhaps the basis of the top two team's ranking is based on historical program success. Or maybe the pollsters really know more than we fans do. Or whatever...

Regardless, the 12/22 OK/UConn game will further define the rankings and the gaps. That game as well as all of the remaining big Big XII inter-conference games. TN/TX, TT/Vandy, etc.

But regardless of the outcomes, polls are still only a snapshot of perspectives at a point in time. Luckily in CBB the games are played and the games in March are the most meaninful.

Bottom line: I think your conference already has respect, the games in March can enhance that not only for this year but next year, if the Big XII does well.

PS, Why do you think Notre Dame and Rutgers were ranked in the beginning of the season? They both stink as of now, maybe they'll rebound in March.

[swok34]

there's a great article in the USA Today with pictures of both Laneisha and Stacey (Dales, that is) and quotes from both.... http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/basketball/women/2001-12-18-notes.htm

Here's point/counterpoint in the local Oklahoman:
http://www.newsok.com/cgi-bin/show_article?ID=798687&pic=none&TP=getcollege

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 12-18-2001).]

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 12-18-2001).]

[kate dawg]

Bark...pretty much anyone who lacks respect for the best women's basketball conference in the country is included. Not UCONN specific, but you'd be hard pressed to find an overwhelming majority of that group that has love for the Big 12.

I agree with pretty much everything you said. We do lack that last "level" of respect, so to speak, due to a failure to win the big NCAA games that we SHOULD have won, but did not. We have the respect of the pollsters, but it bothers me somewhat that the supporters of other programs and conferences seem to not.

As to why Rutgers and Notre Dame were in it, but no more...Notre Dame is fairly obvious. Even if they did lose Ruth and Co., they were still the defending NCAA champs so the pollsters gave them the benefit of the doubt. Rutgers...4-5 to start. They get love because of Vivian. I think they would be such a different team if they had Cappie Pondexter eligible. Not to mention the fact that they have five freshmen on a roster of 10.

It's nice to have new "faces" around the board to provide some nationwide perspective.

[This message has been edited by kate dawg (edited 12-18-2001).]

[Bark]

Your right about the Big XII. The overall conference strength is much better than the perception non-Big XII fan gives it. Sorry, but the average fan gets no information, East coast, or otherwise.

Change is slow. And it requires either a "premier" program or a teams from a specific conference making consistent and multiple appearances in the final four. Who would know anything about the Pac 10 were it not for Stanford? Ditto the Big East, if there wasn't UConn in recent years? The whole sport doesn't get enough press for the average fan to be knowledgeable.

On the bright side, I think (me, one lousy fan) that at least one Big XII team, and maybe two will be in this year's final four. If that happens change will come faster.