OU at BU

[HoopScoop]

It's three days early but I couldn't wait to start the thread :) :) :)

What an early, great matchup this will be. Baylor probably gets the nod because it's in Waco. I'll be glued to this one.

[giraffespots]

I am already nervous. But, I think we can take this. At least I hope so.

[tx4OU]

Contemplating whether to head down there again this year or watch on TV. Always a fun trip b/c of my great and wonderful Bear HoopScoopers. BearLady, you heading down?

[BearLady]

Contemplating whether to head down there again this year or watch on TV. Always a fun trip b/c of my great and wonderful Bear HoopScoopers. BearLady, you heading down?

not sure yet, tx4ou. Work is extremely hectic and am not sure that I can get out of the office early.

[swok34]

OU is taking a bus down, but leaving at 11:30 am would be pretty tough for me right now, workwise.

It is on TV for us up here in Norman. I think it will be an excellent test for OU to see how the play on the road in enemy territory :D

[spooky]

This should be a first class matchup. If I were to be totally honest, I'm not as positive as I'd like to be about our chances. Despite the win streak and some very nice stretches of play, I still don't think we're hitting on all cylinders offensively. Rachel's shot seems to have deserted her, and scoring from outside has been a little inconsistent. Defensively we've been really good, but even really good defense is no guarantee of stopping OU. The OU team I saw today DID look like it was primed and ready.

I think it will come down to one or two small facets of the game that will become huge and determine the way the game goes - turnovers, foul trouble, mental lapses, etc... It's always seemed that one of the lesser known players tends to step up and make a difference, like Britney Brown down here a couple of years ago, or Chameka Scott up in Norman her freshman year. Probably gonna be something similar again.

[40ishHorn]

tx4OU, is this game being broadcast in Dallas? I have DISH, but cannot find it.

[tx4OU]

tx4OU, is this game being broadcast in Dallas? I have DISH, but cannot find it.
Not sure 40ishHorn, I just presumed it would be with two top 10 teams, but now that I think about it, it probably won't be b/c of that fact.:rolleyes:

[swok34]

It's a Sooner Sports Network broadcast. We are getting it on our local CBS channel.

[40ishHorn]

I can't complain. As much as I would like to see this game, FSW is broadcasting Texas vs. A&M (WBB). :D

I thought maybe I could DVR the OU/BU clash of the Big 12 unbeatens. Hard to have a favorite in this one, so I'm cheering for the Waco gals since they haven't beaten us yet. Would love to see that interior matchup.

[sybarite]

I'm not getting it on DISH in Dallas.

This could be a fascinating matchup. Ordinarily, I wouldn't want to play Baylor in Waco. They are tough enough in Norman. But, I am no so sure that OU isn't building something in 2009 like Baylor had in 2005. I look back at that team, which is dramatically underrated and was better than any of the teams that have won the title since, and every piece seemed to fit. They weren't all stars, like Sophia. But, they all were good, and they were the right people for their roles. Blackman and Young were too much inside. Niemann was too good to leave open outside. They had five three-point shooters.

It is beginning to look like OU is building something like that this year with the power of the Paris's inside and the speed of the Danielle's and Ny outside to go with the shooting of Ny and Whitney. It's beginning to look a lot like a team on which the pieces fit. Maybe, we'll see how well they fit in Waco.

[BEAR SKIN]

I may have one or two decent seats available for an out of town Bear fan -- (or for swok -- I think I still owe you).

[swok34]

We don't get the Texas - Texas A & M game because of the Thunder playing Wednesday night. We now get Fox Sports Oklahoma rather than Fox Sports Southwest.

[giraffespots]

Is this game going to be on Fox Sports OK? I am really bummed that I may not get to watch this game.

[MsProudSooner]

It's on the SoonerSports Network.

[swok34]

Is this game going to be on Fox Sports OK? I am really bummed that I may not get to watch this game.

No, the Thunder are on FSN-OK. Oklahoma City and Norman: CBS Channel 9. For me it's Cox Channel 10. Wonder who the announcers are? Last time we got Patti Phillips doing color, Debbie Antonelli one time.

[spooky]

They're talking of a big ice storm hitting Dallas and points north in a few hours and continuing into Wednesday. Hope both team and fans can make it down safely.

As usual there's a line around Hillsboro where the winter stuff usually stops, so Waco should be in the clear unless things change.

[giraffespots]

For some reason, I don't get the Sooner Sports Networks game this year (I did last year). So, I checked the Baylor website and it SAYS that the webcast is a free event. Can one of you Baylor fans confirm this. On the OU site, twice this year, it said FREE EVENT, but it was a dirty trick.

Please, please, please tell me that this will be a free event. Or does that mean the audio is a free event?


(I would purchase the monthly, but all credit cards are still pretty maxed out due to Christmas :()

[Gator]

They're talking of a big ice storm hitting Dallas and points north in a few hours and continuing into Wednesday. Hope both team and fans can make it down safely.
My weather forecast (Internet NOAA for OKC) says it should hit 41 degrees Wednesday. Depending on how early that happens, Wednesday PM might be OK for driving and probably earlier OK for a charter flight. Got my fingers crossed although I am not going. I'll be at home at the mercy of whether or not TV is restricted to a COX channel - which we don't get. On the other hand, Brian's audio is always excellent.

[HoopScoop]

In taking a closer look at this game, despite both OU and BU playing very well - there have been some players underperforming. Thompson for OU and Rachel Allison for BU. I saw where Rachel was added to the Wade Trophy list but recently but she has had 3 or 4 games in a row here where she has kind of disappeared.

Baylor fans have any thoughts?

[BearLady]

In taking a closer look at this game, despite both OU and BU playing very well - there have been some players underperforming. Thompson for OU and Rachel Allison for BU. I saw where Rachel was added to the Wade Trophy list but recently but she has had 3 or 4 games in a row here where she has kind of disappeared.

Baylor fans have any thoughts?


Rachel had sprained her ankle a few games back and that slowed her down some. Then I heard that she re-tweaked it in the A&M game, although she is not listed on the injury report and Coach Kim was very quick to say that she is fine. I think it's probably a matter of her timing probably being off just a bit. Or maybe she's saving the effort for Courtney and Company! ;)

[spooky]

I think the ankle may have had something to do with it, but not completely. Rachel has obviously worked hard to be a threat farther away from the basket, partially because that's what she needs to progress as a player, but also because Danielle has demanded more of the post touches. When she's on she's been awesome (see Stanford,) but when her shot hasn't fallen, for whatever reason, she hasn't had the previous inside focus to fall back on.

I'm glad she's a better perimeter player, but i'd love for her to get the post presence back, especially more high-low with Danielle.

[Scamp]

For some reason, I don't get the Sooner Sports Networks game this year (I did last year). So, I checked the Baylor website and it SAYS that the webcast is a free event. Can one of you Baylor fans confirm this. On the OU site, twice this year, it said FREE EVENT, but it was a dirty trick.

Please, please, please tell me that this will be a free event. Or does that mean the audio is a free event?


(I would purchase the monthly, but all credit cards are still pretty maxed out due to Christmas :()The "free event" for OU/BU is just the audio, I'm afraid, for non-subscribers. Sorry.

[BearLady]

With the bad weather in Oklahoma and it now affecting the DFW area (and with some comments about concern for the weather in Waco for at least tonight), I'm wondering if, how and when the OU team got out of Norman. Think they usually make the trip by bus, but the roads around these parts are no place for them today. I think the Ft Worth leg of I35 may be getting it a little worse than the Dallas side, at least for now. But probably the worst is yet to come for us.

Whatever the nature of their travels, I do hope they make it (made it) safely to Waco, with no unexpected adventures.

[HoopScoop]

Yeah, I've been wondering about that BearLady. It's a mess up here. It's been sleeting non-stop for over 24 hours now. Wondering if it will ever stop. I've got 2 and 3 foot sleet drifts around my house. All flights at Will Rogers World Airport are delayed if not already cancelled. A local well-known sportscaster, Dean Blevins, is in intensive care after falling on the ice. Story of a local postman who fell on the ice and is in critical condition.

Just thank goodness this isn't freezing rain or it would be December 2007 all over again and massive power outages.

[swok34]

I've been looking, as well, to see if I saw whether they got to Waco and haven't found anything. I think OU usually travels up the day before to Waco. It doesn't appear that much will change tomorrow, so I wonder if the bus will still go.

I learned a valuable lesson today: I tried: bike, car, walk. Walking won. Bike was really bad on sleet, car didn't do a whole lot better. Only that I wasn't afraid I would break something. :) I didn't go very far either, but saw cars that would bog down if not driving on a scraped street.

BTW, Baylor is reporting this is a free webcast:

Webcast: BaylorBears.com
live audio (free) and video (free)

http://baylorbears.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/012709aaa.html

[Gator]

BTW, Baylor is reporting this is a free webcast:

Webcast: BaylorBears.com
live audio (free) and video (free)


... and was watching Channel 9 tonight - you don't have to have cox cable! It IS on 9 tomorrow!

[Jennifer]

I went out today around 3 and the roads weren't bad. I mean, they were slick but passable if you went slow. My neighborhood was probably the worse.

No work again tomorrow....

I did notice the house in my 'hood where a couple players live looked quiet--no cars outside like usual. Hopefully they made it out OK.
Maybe they got out ahead of things Monday, just to ensure they got out?

[mred]

According to the top article in the sidebar here (at least the top article as I post this) the OU-Baylor game will be on FCS-Pacific. The FCS channels are usually available for cable subscribers as part of a sports pack add-on, so many of you might have it. I'm not sure if DirecTV/Dish have the FCS channels.

[Scamp]

The Big 12 has featured some high profile women's basketball games in its history, but nothing matches Wednesday night's game at the Ferrell Center.

The meeting of No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Baylor is the first time two conference teams have played with both ranked in the top five nationally, according to the Big 12 office.

"It's a marquee matchup, and it's a shame it's not nationally televised," Baylor coach Kim Mulkey said. "It's a game that you'll see some of the best players in the country, and you'll see two programs that have really been around.

"It's good for our conference. It really is."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/oklahoma/stories/012809dnspobuou.3a36e77.htmlSo, did Kim shame "those cheap Baptists" into offering free on-line video for this game? ;)

[wildcatfan]

So, did Kim shame "those cheap Baptists" into offering free on-line video for this game? ;)

If so, I really appreciate it!

[giraffespots]

Me, too. Although, I have Directv, and I have every sports channel they offer in my area. That includes the fox sports channels. So, hopefully, it will be on.

I sent an email to fox sports yesterday and said "#2 vs #5 and you don't have it on???? What's up with that?" I begged them to make a last minute change. Now, I am sure my little email had no effect whatsoever, but if they do end up airing this game, I will send them a thank you email.

[BearLady]

Me, too. Although, I have Directv, and I have every sports channel they offer in my area. That includes the fox sports channels. So, hopefully, it will be on.

I sent an email to fox sports yesterday and said "#2 vs #5 and you don't have it on???? What's up with that?" I begged them to make a last minute change. Now, I am sure my little email had no effect whatsoever, but if they do end up airing this game, I will send them a thank you email.

I share your hope, giraffespots, though I'm not holding my breath. I too have DirectTV and their sports package. I quickly scanned through the various channels this morning, looking for the game listed on one of the west coast channels. But I didn't find anything. DirectTV doesn't technically carry the FCS channels, though sometimes there is overlap with one of the 'regional' FSN channels. But I didn't find anything like that listed this morning. Although there is an 'alternate' FSN West channel listed that I am hoping may pick it up.

As it is now, I plan to watch via CSTV All Access video streaming (as a regular subscriber for Baylor). Let's just hope they can handle the challenge and not screw it up . . . which is not a certainty, given their track record.

[swok34]

Cox Cable here in Oklahoma doesn't offer the Fox College packages. A T & T U-verse is pushing into the Norman area pretty strong, so I'm a little surprised that the cable company hasn't added that package.

U-verse is, from what I can tell, satellite without the dish and I could get the "sports" package that I really liked with satellite. They had crews from Missouri laying lines a couple of months ago, but it still doesn't appear to be available for me. I also saw crews from Arkansas in a different part of town.

I know on Fox Sports Oklahoma tonite, the OKC Thunder are playing and believe me: pro sports will ALWAYS trump women's basketball and that doesn't appear likely to change anytime soon.

I've been impressed that the Sooner Sports Network typically broadcasts on a channel that is local to our area and not cable-dependent. Cox Cable will pick up a broadcast from time to time that you wouldn't necessarily get. We were supposed to get the OU/CU game on a Cox Channel (since it was being shown on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain), and that didn't happen. We got: Gunsmoke :) As my friend said, "you don't like Gunsmoke"?

[ChiBears]

We, too, have DirectTV and get a good number of games with our sports package, but don't see the BU vs OU game listed and don't expect to, unfortunately.

We also subscribe to the ESPN Full Court, so I thought last night as I was watching our men play Texas on one of the Full Court Stations, hey, they already have their camera crews in the Ferrell Center, why not just add a little extra game in there, say between the #2 and #3 women's teams in the country?...

Ah, well, looks like another night with the laptop, TV and S-video cable, though I'm trying not to complain too hard, since God sometimes has a way of reminding me of the things I should be thankful to have when I'm complaining about the things that I don't have. Like was mentioned earlier, I can see me griping about having to watch the blurry AllAccess feed only to have it not be working for some reason and my ending up begging the feed to come on!

As season ticket holders, we had this game circled on our calendar as soon as the schedule was released, had our room reservations, and time off work scheduled in. What we hadn't planned on was our newly adopted at the first of December shelter dog being pregnant when we adopted her!

She whelped yesterday afternoon, and even though she is a good momma, no way we are leaving her and her six puppies this soon. (I guess one positive is I probably won't know the picture is blurry...I'm so sleep deprived EVERYTHING looks about that blurry!)

Did realize this was coming in time, though, to mail out my tickets to a friend in Waco who already has people lined up for our seats. Wouldn't want there to be any empty seats for this one!

Ah well, time to see if my girl will eat a bit. The trip to the vet was a bit upsetting and put her off her food somewhat.
(Ummm, wonder what Lady Bear names I can give the pups...Jhas, Jess, Rach, D, Barmore and Barron? Maybe MJ or Mo? Damion is a bit of a mouthful for such a little pup, but Coach McKinney always dresses so sharp, I could just name a pup Snappy in honor of his fashion sense!)

Sic'em Lady Bears!

[swok34]

An OU release:

WACO, Texas -- The University of Oklahoma versus Baylor University women’s basketball game will air on Fox College Sports Pacific in addition to the local carriers who will broadcast Wednesday at 7 p.m. Central.

FCS Pacific, affiliate of the Fox Sports Network, reached an agreement with the Sooner Sports Network, which is producing from Waco, Texas, to broadcast the game in its market.

No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 4 Baylor meet to establish a sole leader in the Big 12 Conference standings. Both teams are 5-0, the only undefeated, in league.

[Jennifer]

I've been impressed that the Sooner Sports Network typically broadcasts on a channel that is local to our area and not cable-dependent. Cox Cable will pick up a broadcast from time to time that you wouldn't necessarily get. We were supposed to get the OU/CU game on a Cox Channel (since it was being shown on Fox Sports Rocky Mountain), and that didn't happen. We got: Gunsmoke :) As my friend said, "you don't like Gunsmoke"?

And thank goodness;those are the only games I get to watch, as I gave up cable.

[35TangoTango]

So does Baylor not TV broadcast any games themselves?

[spooky]

Hopefully one of these sources works out, cause I'm not gonna be able to go. I actually missed work due to illness today for the first time in over 20 years. I prefer to look at it this way - maybe today's a good day for long streaks to come to an end ;)

[BearLady]

So does Baylor not TV broadcast any games themselves?

unfortunately, no. Probably chalk it up to a budget type thing, although I've noticed that state schools are the ones more likely to have a broadcast arrangement.

[BearLady]

The Baylor pbp team confirmed that President Bush will indeed be in the house tonight.

[swok34]

He's there: 43, they showed he and Laura when the handshaking was going on, I think he came out with Kim.

[soonerborn]

OU looks completely out-of-sync -

[soonerborn]

almost to painful to watch - sloppy, sloppy, sloppy on both ends

[Sooner Suzie]

I didn't see any top-10 teams out there tonight. Neither team were anywhere close to their best. Too many easy missed shots by both teams. From the last 10:00 min point until Hand hit her big 3, it appeared OU was running a lack-of-motion offense. Fortunately the rematch game will be shown by FSN for all to see.

[Soonercuda]

Gutty tough win by OU. Both teams played very tough very intense defense. Baylor could have easily won this game...and I am sure they are lamenting the poor shooting night.

Baylor did a great job of not letting Whitney Hand get open looks and then with a minute left they lose her for a second and she steps up and makes a deep corner 3, very clutch play by a freshman and a good assist from D-Rob. Jessica Morrow follows it up by hitting a tough contested 3...gutty play by Jessica. Then the play of the game was OU being patient and working the ball well and D-Rob driving and dishing a big assist to Courtney who makes the layup in spite of Danielle Wilson getting her hand on the ball. Then OU defense makes a stop...two free throws by D-Rob to seal the win. One thing I notice is in the 7 points that won the game for OU D-Rob had a hand in them all....her improvement is a huge reason why OU is a better team this year.

[MsProudSooner]

That's the kind of game that give your ulcers their own ulcers! I have a headache and way too much adrenaline in my system to be able to fall asleep at my regular time.

[tycat947]

Great win for the Sooners! Great game by both teams. Tough, gritty, give it all by both teams. Another war looms in Norman! :)

Thanks to baylorbears.com for the free video! It was great to us fans that didn't have access to the television feeds.

[sybarite]

Playing in Waco seems like trying to survive a Frazier-Ali fight. Both seem to end up needing to go to the hospital, and you don't even feel good enough to celebrate, at least until you recover. Those are wars.

[swok34]

W I N AND A D V A N C E.

That's all that matters right now.

Rachel Allison really looked out of sync tonite. Melissa Jones was huge.

[ChipperF1]

I saw two top-10 teams play some championship caliber defense tonight. Melissa Jones was big on both ends, but OU's guard impressed me with their defense. Robinson and Stevenson really stymied what Baylor likes to do in the perimeter to set things up. They played defense the way Baylor does. You can't look at the score or the percentages and immediately conclude a poorly played game. Nearly every shot attempt was a challenged shot attempt in this one. There wasn't much breathing room for people with the ball tonight.

I also liked how Danielle Robinson stayed focused, made adjustment and made some smart decisions with the ball when it was needed. Key dishes that set up some buckets and a little bit of a gamble late that set up Whitney Hand's big nuclear strike. OU just made one or two more plays. Baylor could do that the next time around...or perhaps the next two times around.

Now looking at the league...Key games from January 31-February 8

Saturday January 31 --
Kansas State at Iowa State -- KSU could clinch "Best In North" here.

Sunday February 1
Texas at Baylor -- Texas NCAA hopes may depend on this win

Tuesday February 2
Tennessee at Oklahoma -- Major statement game for OU
Texas A&M at Iowa State -- A trap for Aggie title hopes

Saturday February 7
Kansas State at Baylor -- The winner is still in the race for the title. The loser is out.

Sunday February 8
Oklahoma at Oklahoma State -- Big trap game for Oklahoma. Bedlam leg one.

[swok34]

Kim Mulkey's press conference is online at the Baylor site:

http://baylorbears.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/recaps/012809aaa.html

[spooky]

Both teams played great defense. Both teams had too many unforced turnovers. Both teams missed too many uncontested shots. But to me, the difference was that OU made more of the tough, hand-in-your-face shots, especially down the stretch. It helps a ton to have a player like Courtney, who I swear sometimes has some sort of homing device on the ball so that anything she throws up within 3 feet goes in. The kid's got some great touch.

We didn't have anybody who could finish consistently in traffic. Melissa did have a great game, continuing her offensive surge as of late (although the OU TV people made it sound like she'd never scored a point before in her life.)
But you can't beat a great team when 3 of your starters have very subpar offensive games.

[Scamp]

For me, the most glaring statistic is assists:

Oklahoma 12
Baylor 4

[36Cord810]

For me, the most glaring statistic is assists:

Oklahoma 12
Baylor 4

Bingo. Baylor won almost every facet of the game but the offense was having to work much too hard to score. Players were not getting their hands on the ball in position to make a basket. A lot of the credit goes to OUs defense, but to me it looked like the Baylor offense was not making adjustments either. There was no real flow.