OU - Texas Tech

[schooner2]

Wow, what a start! Sooners are red hot, Tech stone cold and OU leads 17-3. OU getting some transition basket looks as well. Ross in on, thank you! We need her to have a good game.

Field goals:
OU 7-12
TTU 1-14

[schooner2]

It simply can't go better for OU right now. 10 minutes into the game, OU is on pace for 120 points, no turnovers, no fouls, and shooting 55 percent.

But Tech has found its rhythym and I fully expect them to make a game of it.

[schooner2]

Halftime and its 44-24. Ross is hot, Caufield is hot, the team is creating steals, rebounding very well, hitting most of their shots, playing transition basketball. Probably the best half they have played this season, although the first half against Illinois was also phenomenal.

OU went on an 18-0 run after starting up 6-3. And they haven't looked back.

Caufield 16 pts
Dales 10 pts
Ross 10 pts, 6 rebounds

Perkins leads Tech with 6 points

Tech is 10-38 for 26.3% from the field while OU is 18-39 for 46.2%. OU has hit 4 of 7 3-pointers while Tech is only 1-10. OU has outrebounded Tech 27-22.

Obviously half a game left and Tech can do amazing things at home. But if OU limits its turnovers - they only have 4 (FOUR!) in the first-half - then OU should win this game. OU will have to play a bad 2nd half to lose this one.

[sooner64]

Congrats to the Sooners! Great win against #9 Tech team at there place. I think you jinxed them! 15 turn overs in the 2nd half! Just kiddin', good game Sooners!

Texas Tech Oklahoma
POINTS 68 80
FIELD GOALS 25 - 73 (34.2%) 27 - 66 (40.9%)
3-POINT FGs 5 - 16 (31.2%) 7 - 11 (63.6%)
FREE THROWS 13 - 24 (54.2%) 19 - 24 (79.2%)
REBOUNDS 41 (15 - 26) 54 (16 - 38)
STEALS 9 7
BLOCKS 8 0
ASSISTS 18 14
TURNOVERS 13 20
ASSIST/TURNOVER 1.4 0.7


[This message has been edited by sooner64 (edited 01-05-2002).]

[schooner2]

Yep. Too many turnovers in the 2nd half. But Oklahoma coasts to victory 80-68.

Oklahoma's quickness was too much for Tech. Quickness negating height.


[This message has been edited by schooner (edited 01-05-2002).]

[sooner64]

Quickness negating height.

It defenitely worked today. 54 rebs.

[swok34]

One thing OU has to learn if they intend to be in San Antonio in March.........play all 40 minutes....

Absolutely awesome first half, though Texas Tech didn't seem to be able to get their offense going until late in the first half and then much better in the second half.

I was keeping up with the fanslivetracker...which lapses at times, but Caton Hill and Rosalind Ross both got double/doubles.
Rosalind Ross had a huge game, Caton Hill started out playing well and ended up fouling out. A couple sounded like "mental" fouls and did things she had no business doing with 2/3 fouls.
Talbert was 2 points away from a double-double.....but she did have the opportunities and missed some chippies.

Don't think you could have asked for a better first half, as an OU fan.......even little 'ole Action Jackson hit a 3 pointer, I've never even seen her SHOOT a 3 pointer.

Way to go Sooners! go http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ou.gif

[Press]

Great game Sooners the best team won today for sure. It sounded like we had the looks, just didn't fall in the first half. The bright spot was we outscored you in the second half, but when you're down 25 (or however many it was)points at the half, it's a long way back. I'm just glad the kids showed enough heart to keep fighting after the rough start and being down.

I know OU has been on the losing end a few years ago and it's never fun, but what a team you have now!

[schooner2]

With Tennessee losing big so far to UCONN, don't know why it didn't dawn on me that OU could end up #2 in the nation next week. Will be interesting to see people's mentality wondering if OU should actually be ranked above the big and mighty Volunteers. There is an appreciable gap in the points in the polls.

ESPN/USA Today:
#2: Tennessee 963
#3: Oklahoma 874

AP Poll:
#2: Tennessee 1034
#3: Oklahoma 969

Email List Poll:
#2: Tennessee 340
#3: Oklahoma 313

[SwoopesMVP]

Terrible first 7 minutes for Tech. There was a lid on the basket and everything popped out. On the otherhand, OU could have thrown up a shot blind-folded at mid-court and made it. Tech did have good looks and kept attacking though. I think this game could have easily gone either way had Tech not come out so cold.

I like a lot of the things I saw...the shots just weren't falling. Coach benched Jia and Nat (TT's top two scorers) most of the game and let others play, like freshman KJ Simmons. KJ actually gave Tech an offensive spark. Jia and Nat just came out cold and dug a hole that they couldn't get out of.

I like the fact that Tech came back at OU with mostly freshmen and sophomores and didn't back down or give up. They played with a lot of heart after their dismal start. Anxious to see how the rematch in Norman goes. Should be a good one...will show you how far each team has come since this game. Tech outscored OU in the 2nd half...another positive to take away from this game. It's a learning experience for this young team and they will only get better.

You know I have to b**** about this after yelling at the refs the entire game! I may not be an "expert" but I've played basketball since I was old enough to talk and I've officiated intramural games as well...so I'm pretty sure I know a foul when I see one. I can honestly say that OU got away with murder today...Hill shouldn't have been the only one to foul out. Should have been fives across the board! Also the refs allowed Dales to shoot 2 when she was fouled on the floor and Tech was not in the bonus either. She wasn't shooting the ball, so why in the hell did she get free throws? These refs stunk like last week's trash! But I can't blame the loss on officiating...Had Tech knocked down their shots, they would have won.

Swok34...looking at OU's depth, will they ever be able to play a full 40 minutes against top-caliber teams? I think not. OU looked exhausted...out of gas in the 2nd half. But the top 6 players are pretty damn good, I must say that.

Oh well, it was a fun second-half to watch and it's gonna be a very fun year for Big 12 basketball. Go http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ttu.gif

[This message has been edited by SwoopesMVP (edited 01-05-2002).]

[elfdenmom]

OU put on a clinic in the first half on running an offense and taking advantage when the ball bounced their way. Of course their hustle was the main reason the ball bounced their way and they got all those rebounds. The better team definitely won today. Nevertheless, I was extremely proud of the way Tech fought back. That was a truly gutsy performance. It would have been so easy to quit!...Nothing was falling, nothing worked but they just kept plugging away.

I was delighted with Kari Jo's performance and with the way Candi White played her heart out and what can you say about Amber Tarr. Her shots weren't falling, her knee was obviously giving her fits, but she was always there fighting for the rebound or loose ball and rallying the other players during time outs. Now that is a player!

Congratulations to OU. You played a tremendous game, but I don't think Tech has a reason to hang their heads in shame, either.

[Bball Girl]

The first 7 minutes of awesome offense by the Sooners killed Tech. But the 2nd half belonged to Tech. 16 to 2 points off of TO's going to Tech. They played their hearts out in the last 30 minutes. Poor free throw shooting (13 for 24...there's the game) also really hurt us and OU did a great job on the boards in the first half.

I don't normally gripe about the refs, but I have to agree with SwoopsMVP about the FTs that Dale and actually Caufield shot when Tech only had 4 team fouls. I had my binoculars out and in both cases they were NOT shooting...in fact the commentators praised whoever fouled Caufield...if you're going to foul on a break away...foul when they have the ball below their waist. But evidently that didn't mean anything in either case. There was also stupid foul at the end...I sit behind the home baskets...33 pushed Casey from behind into Dales and they called a foul on Casey...huh? And in my book traveling happens when your feet move and you are holding the ball...Hill traveled a number of times in the 1st half and they didn't call it. Then in the 2nd half she did the same thing and suddenly they called a travel.

But none of that was the game. OU made great shot selection and every time Tech went on a run, Ross banged in another 3. She's terrific...she had a bunch of rebounds too. You hear so much about Dales and Caufield, but Ross...wow!

Tarr was everywhere..had a bit of trouble with her shots, but got some key rebounds, took a wonderful charge..and never let them give up.

Also...8 blocks for Tech..unfortunately OU was usually able to make a basket anyway.

But I'm proud of my Lady Raiders...they were pretty down on themselves after those 1st 7 minutes...but came back with heart and guts. The team that played the best first 10 minutes tonight did win. But I'll still take Tarr and company against anyone in the country...except maybe UConn.

[sooner64]

Poor free throw shooting (13 for 24...there's the game)

I love it when people blame free throw shooting for a loss.

[This message has been edited by sooner64 (edited 01-05-2002).]

[DblT81]

S64- The U comes before the O

[DblT81]

I can't say much more than what the other Tech fans already posted. OU hit key basket after key basket. Their timing and accuracy were unbeatable.

I was impressed with the crowd. They stayed in the game even when Tech was down big.

I like the way KJ plays also. She is a spark, no doubt.

Tech did not lose the game solely due to poor free throw shooting (and I don't believe Bball Girl meant that either, but I'll let her clear that up). However, the coaching staff and players simply must do SOMETHING to improve the FT shooting. This is a disturbing trend that will cost Tech some games soon.

I look forward to the last game of the season to see if Tech can pull it together enough to challenge OU on their home court.

[Amanda]

Here is my game report from RaiderPower.com

Well, of course the game didn't turn out the way we all wanted, but I can't say the final score surprises me. I predicted OU would win 78-65, and the final score was 80-68. With 51 seconds left, the score was indeed 78-65.
It has already been said that we went 1-18 over the first 9 minutes of the game. We hit one of nine from the three point line in that stretch - a bucket by Natalie Ritchie. Our lone basket in nine minutes and thirty seven seconds of play was a three point field goal. The score was 24-3 at that point.

Over the same amount of time, OU hit on 10-18 shots, including 2-2 from behind the arc. OU had 14 points in the paint, four points off three Tech turnovers, three points off second chance points, and four points off the fast break. Texas Tech had ZERO points from each of these areas. OU had six assists and zero turnovers, Tech had one assist and three turnovers. OU had 16 rebounds, Tech had nine.

The difference between the first ten minutes and the second ten minutes was pretty clear – Tech settled down and got some points in the paint – eight. Tech limited OU to only six more points in the paint over that time as well.

OU led at the half 44-24. OU went 4-7 from the three point line, Tech was 1-10. Tech got off as many shots as OU in the first half (OU shot 39 and Tech shot 38) but Tech only hit 10 while OU hit 18. OU had 10 assists to Tech’s eight, but Tech had eight turnovers to OU’s four.

For all intents and purposes, the game was over in the first ten minutes. Of course the team didn’t give up – and they deserve some credit for that. However, it is pretty hard to give a team like OU so much cushion.

Texas Tech outscored OU in the second half, 44-36. The Lady Raiders ended up with 24 points in the paint to OU’s 26. Tech scored 18 points off turnovers while OU got 12 points off turnovers. OU still had some distance on Tech on second chance points – 22-14, but Tech ended up with 14 points off the fast break while OU ended the game the same way the ended the first half – with 6.

Slowing down the OU fast break was one main reason Tech was able to make up some ground on the Sooners in the second half. The Lady Raiders got dominated on the boards – 54 to 41. The Lady Raiders and the Sooners both shot 24 free throws, but OU hit 19 while Tech hit 13. OU was 7-11 from the three point line, while Tech was 5-16. OU wound up turning the ball over more that Tech, 20 to 13. The Lady Raiders also had more assists – 18-14.

The first ten minutes literally did Tech in. If they had even kept it close during that time, it would have been a totally different ball game.

Ok – that pretty much covers all the numbers of the game. So what does it mean? Well – for one thing, OU is a run and gun team. They push the ball up and down the court as well as any team in the country. And they can score off the break – they can finish the shots in traffic, while being fouled, off the spin – they can do it all.

The problem with playing a team like that, especially when you are as young as Tech is this season, is the temptation to get away from your strengths and try and run and gun at the same tempo. Tech isn’t built that way. We don’t have the players to get in a true shoot out. So over the first ten minutes of the game, Tech tried like hell to play at the same pace as OU. It got us in a 24-3 hole. The Lady Raiders jacked up shots from all over the court, and hit a grand total of one field goal.

After the first ten minutes, Tech seemed to settle down and take some better shots. In the first half, Tech took 16 shots in the paint to OU’s 25. In the second half Tech took 19 shots in the paint to OU’s 16.

Shot selection – you can’t say enough about it, and man we don’t have it – at least we didn’t in this game. When things are clicking, you can afford to force some shots. If you are having a good night, it might be ok to take a few shots that aren’t really that great. Tonight was not one of those nights. This was a night where Tech needed to make OU work on defense for 23 second before shooting. Instead, it was more like the Lady Raiders worked the ball for about three seconds before throwing up an off-balance shot.

The other side of that is that even when Tech slowed OU down and made them work hard for a shot, too many times the Sooners were able to either get an offensive rebound or hit a shot with the shot clock under five seconds.

The Lady Raiders didn’t give in, they didn’t throw in the towel. The bottom line, however, is that OU is a savvy, veteran team who knows how to win. They play their game and make their opponent do things they don’t want to. Today was no different. The encouraging thing for me was seeing Tech recover from that after the first 10 minutes and then go on to do the things the Lady Raiders needed to do in order to keep the game within reach and somewhat respectable.

I think OU is the class of the league this year. Tech and everybody else seems to be just a step behind. But hey – OU should be good. They start four seniors and a junior. Three of their five starters have been crucial parts of the Sooner team for the last three years. Tech just lacks the experience and the leadership that OU has – not necessarily the talent. So that is a good thing.

I think Tech can finish second behind OU in the conference. It will be a dogfight to get it done, but I know the Lady Raiders can do it.

[schooner2]

Originally posted by DblT81:

I was impressed with the crowd. They stayed in the game even when Tech was down big.


Coach Coale commented on this after the game. She was blown away at how loud the crowd was even at the point when OU led 24-3. After Tech scored from that point, the crowd was loud and intense.

[Bark]

Congrats to OU for a big win on the road. Hope OU moves up to #2 in the polls on Monday.

[swok34]

speaking of polls, does any realize that the UConn game vs Oklahoma and the UConn game vs Tennessee ended with exactly the same score...........the only difference was OU's game was in Hartford and the game today was at Tennessee.....I'm not sure OU will move, pollsters tend to forget beyond a week ago.

Last year, OU didn't have much better depth down the stretch in Big 12 play........Ross came off the bench, Taylor came off the bench but fought a knee injury the whole time.

[YCN]

Originally posted by swok34:
...the only difference was OU's game was in Hartford and the game today was at Tennessee...

Actually, there was another difference, although it is doubtful that the people voting in the polls will recognize this nuance.

At 6-1/2 minutes remaining at UConn the Sooners trailed the Huskies by 4 points! Although we eventually wore down without OUr post players (26 fouls!) we were right in it with only minutes left in the game.

At 6-1/2 minutes the Vols were down by 21. At 2-1/2 minutes, they were down by 22, but scored the final eight points of the game to make the score more respectable.

And to think that UT was playing at home in front of the largest audience ever to see a women's college basketball game, instead of on the road facing 15,000 plus.

In my mind, especially with OU just completing 2 wins over ranked teams by comfortable margins, that OU deserves to be ranked #2 MORE than UT, although that isn't likely to happen.

At least not this week.

[metromaniac]

YCN is right on in his analysis of Tenn and OU vs. UCONN. Sooners should be #2,,we'll wait and see.

Points of agreement or disagreement in prior posts(and I was at the game)

1) The first 10-12 minutes, http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ou.gif played as well as they EVER have. It truly did appear their team speed overwhelmed Tech during this stretch. The run also silenced the crowd for this stretch. Tech did appear to get too much into OU's up tempo during this time.

2) We all need to quit worrying about ref's. They let both teams PLAY, push, foul and claw, as they should in a game like this. Heck, part of the reason Tech made a bit of a run in the second half was because the ref's let KJ Simmons and others in red and black, push, grab, kick, and otherwise foul Caulfield and anyone else in her path. My rule is---in a big game with two great teams, get out of the way, unless there is malice or blood and let 'em PLAY! Don't slow the game down and put the ref's in control. Good teams adjust to the way a game is called, or they should.

3) Query: Why didn't Marsha let Ritchie and Jia play after the 15 minute mark in the second half? Both can go off---give 'em another shot.

4) Query #2: Why did Sherri play only six in the second half--even when up by 25 with 15 min's to go? Tech played at least 9 and maybe ten about 20 min's each. IMO, the main reason for the increase in TO's by OU in the second half was fatigue and Tech's reliance on the fresh or fresher legs on the bench, to mount their comeback and outscoring of OU during the second half. I fear the "fear" of bench use will come back to haunt OU later in the Big 12, the Big 12 tournament and NCAA's when you play games back to back or without the normal 3-4 days off. There ARE players to float in and out 1 at a time to give the studs 2-3 min's without hurting the flow or effectiveness, due to the strength of the remaining studs. As some say, "Use it or lose it"
A bench is there for a reason and they must believe the Coach has confidence in them. Can Ross get you 21 and 12 rebounds on back to back or one days rest?

5) Caulfied is on a new level this year after her success in the Big 12 All-Stars in Europe this summer. She was, again, on fire in the early run. Ross, as always, is the most cold-blooded shooter in the NATION.!!!!! She never misses a needed shot to comeback or put another nail in the coffin. She is the most underrrated stud in America.

6) Tech fans are great---they did stay into the game and tried their butts off. Kudo's to them all. But really, who would or should ever doubt the Tech team wouldn't battle and play hard the Whole game. That is expected from that team and a reflection of the greatness of Marsha Sharp and her character. No further comment needed. Her use of her whole team and shared confidence early may just pay off later in the season.

7) I too am at a loss about Tech's season long problem at the line. It does get to be mental. Answer---just give em confidence and make em shoot a ton or so a day---on their own even. Bet this clears up soon.

8) Tech is and will be quality and big time. The fact OU has so much senior status and "been there" leadership puts the Sooners on top of the Big 12 so far. It's still early and many teams are better this year.
Heck, what a conference and what fun to watch this year----for a long time into the tournament. !!!!!!!!!!

Go http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ou.gif!!!

[Bball Girl]

I taped the game and watched it again. Ross is even more impressive in retrospect...she got such great position for those rebounds...and Jackson knocked down some killers too. Geez think what she's going to be when she's a Sr?

Like Amanda said..our imaturity showed itself as did OU's maturity.

What a player Kari Jo is....a bit unheralded and some questioned Coach Sharp's choice. But that young lady isn't intimidated by nothing...comes into a big game, at home when the team is down by 18 and knocks down her first shot. Later on she scoops up a ball and heaves it down the court all in one motion dead onto Tarr who makes a nice layup. She let herself get caught behind Caufield who was posting up...(since when are shooting guards supposed to post up on offense http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif ?) got called for the foul. Coach called her over, told her what to do in case it happens again..she pays attention and gets Caufield called for the offensive foul...she's a terrific addition to the program.

Jia was plump frustrated..you could see it in her eyes and the way she was carrying herself and I think she was thankful to be on the bench for the rest of the game. When she gets frustrated like that, she can try to do way too much all by herself and it goes from bad to worse. I still think Jia shouldn't be playing the PT position...it ties her down. She's much better at the shooting guard where she creates so much for herself and others. Candi's hustle and workmanship kept us in the game.