Texas/Oklahoma

[JK]

All in all, I think this was a very good game (from a learning standpoint) for my young 'Horns. We stayed right there with them for three/fourths of the game. Both teams' shooting percentages were pretty much identical. What killed us was Jackson and Talbert. It also didn't help that we got outrebounded 37-31 and turned the ball over 24 times. Gotta do better than that. We kinda fell apart with ten minutes left and made quite a few mistakes on consecutive possessions which killed us. Against a team like OU that has the perimeter play (and experienced perimeter play at that), you cannot afford to be careless with the ball. They will make you pay for it, and OU did just that. I said this before the game, and the announcers made the same observation, that we have GOT to start getting some production from the guards. Yes, Kala had a great game starting in the two spot, but I'm talking about us needing some long range shooting, and some penetration to break down the defense (a la OU). Again, I'm proud of the way we fought. Without that meltdown towards the end of the game it could've been another barn-burner. If we stay focused and learn from this game I will certainly be looking forward to playing OU again. Great game OU! You deserved it!

[Bevo]

Kudos to OU. JK, you summed it up pretty well (as best I can tell from listening to the radio broadcast). Its like Conradt said after the game, each time we made a mistake, they made us pay and that's what great teams do. It sounded as if we competed well. They just wouldn't let us get any closer than 6(I think?) in the second half unlike recent games in which we've been able to come back. I also don't think we took enough advantage of Hill sitting on the bench for a good part of the first half.

Keys to take from this game from our perspective:

1) Learn from it. We got to see up close and personal how a great team manages a game, gradually and steadily building a lead and answering each attempt at a run by the opponent.
2) Value the basketball. Turnovers killed us in the loss to Miami and again today.
3) Don't look back. Missouri is where our focus should be now. It will be very important to recover and come back on Tuesday night with focus and intensity. The key over the long haul of this conference race will be to give the best effort every time out. So far we've done that. Keep it up!

Let's go, ladies! Beat Mizzou! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif

[schooner2]

Good observations...let me add a couple more from being at the game. First off, where did all those Texas fans come from? This is by far the largest Texas crowd seen in Lloyd Noble. Maybe we always played Texas on a Wednesday in the past.

A lot of players that don't always grab the headlines played extremely well today. On Texas side, Bowers started off very hot and I believe ended up with the 2nd most points for Texas behind Stephens. Also Schreiber played well - draining 3 of 6 from 3 point range for 16 points total. For Oklahoma, both Jackson and Talbert had great games. With Jackson, that makes 3 freshman on the floor playing very important roles today.

Talbert came alive for easily her best game of her career. Sure could have used that against Iowa State although post-game on radio they mentioned she was sick at Iowa State. Can't understate her significance today especially going against Stephens. Stephens is strong enough to toss Talbert around like a rag doll - but Talbert played a very smart game picking her spots to take shots and getting 7 rebounds. This almost reminded me of last year's Baylor game (or was it Texas Tech) where Cunningham really made a statement that she was a force to be reckoned with and would contribute. This could be the game for Talbert. If we can get some consistent play from her - OU has another added dimension.

The final stats - percentage wise was rather close in the game. The difference seems to be in the number of shots taken as OU attempted 15 more shots than Texas. Probably the difference right there. But, OU seemed to wear out Texas in the last 10 minutes. The Sooners had a lot of easy looks in transition and converted on most of its tries.

Over 8600 showed up for the game as attendance is now consistently well above 5000.

[Texan]

The key to this game was the turn overs. It just didn't seem like we could keep the basketball, and just like Jody mentioned post game - good team make you pay for your mistakes.

I too think this could be a great learning experience for our young team. Imagine what UT is going to look like in two years when Stacy is a senior and Heather and Kala are Juniors ....

Congrats to OU for a great game. Back home for the LL.

[swok34]

I agree, Bowers and Schreiber were huge........I didn't think Schreober missed from the 3 point line.

Ditto, schooner.........Jamie Talbert's finest game this year...
I think she learned she can jump up in the passing lanes just like everyone else. She really needed a good game, her shooting has been a little off lately. Ditto for little "Jackson"......she was absolutely incredible. I thought perhaps the Big 12 was gonna be a little rough for her since she hasn't played like her norm since Big 12 started. Nope, she proved freshmen or not, she can keep up with these seniors.......

Great game and very, very loud crowd at Lloyd Noble. Think you have to credit the refs for that, they really got the crowd into the game the first half.

Doubt the score will be so kind for OU in Austin......

[swok34]

Quote from Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales
On the referees calling the captains together:
"The official told us she and her crew didn't want to call fouls every time down the floor. They told us to clean it up or that's what was going to happen"

Not sure at what point of the game this happened, though they were calling nothing the first five minutes and Texas and Oklahoma both play very physical basketball.......the refs certainly made up for their no calling. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[schooner2]

Originally posted by swok34:
Quote from Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales
On the referees calling the captains together:
"The official told us she and her crew didn't want to call fouls every time down the floor. They told us to clean it up or that's what was going to happen"

Not sure at what point of the game this happened, though they were calling nothing the first five minutes and Texas and Oklahoma both play very physical basketball.......the refs certainly made up for their no calling. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

Marla called Dales and Cook together to tell them. It was obvious what Marla was telling them cuz play was physical. But I've seen more physical than this. OU vs Wichita State was much more physical. Doesn't mean there wasn't a lot of intense play underneath - just that I thought it was a good bit more clean than against WSU.

[Bobcat4956]

I was lucky enough to get 2nd row behind the Texas bench. What an effort by Texas. The effort was there, but against a team with Dales, Caufield and Ross you cannot make mistakes. Turnovers were the key. They used their quickness and it hurt us bad. Also, they outrebounded us which I did not think they could do. Obviously, I would have preferred a win, but I see this Texas team being very good in the future. OU is all that. I was very impressed with their quickness around the horn. The tide turned when they started to press us. We did not handle the pressure very well. Kala Bowers is starting to show why she was so highly recruited.

[Texan]

I'm looking forward to seeing Kala play in Austin again this week. I knew there was reason Jody kept starting her, but to tell you the truth, untill the last two games, I could't have told you what it was. Glad to see her. I'm wondering if we will see Jody Bell this year.