Oklahoma vs. Texas on Tuesday

[AirLonghorn]

Another really big game for the Longhorns is coming up on Tuesday. Can the Texas team knock off the #2 team in the nation? It should be a really good game from start to finish. Oklahoma is a "seasoned" team, while the Longhorns are "young and talented." I'm hoping for a Longhorn win to help our RPI rating and to give us boasting rights: to have beaten Tennesse (#3) and Oklahoma (#2) in 1 week. The Sooners are, obviously, the best team in the conference right now, but I've seen things change before. Who will peak at the right time?

Jody will have the Horns ready to play...that's a "given." I look for the Texas bench to produce in this one, as well.

Hook'em!

[metromaniac]

To answer the specific question---Probably not!! ( Can the Horns knock off #2 and #3 in a week?)

Having the "Horns ready to play by Jody being a given is another ? The key game last week was Baylor, not Tennessee. Appararently, either they or she wasn't ready on Saturday. Even with a lead, I would have sneaked Stephens back in the first half and challenged her to play without getting her third, keeping my lead larger than it ended. That is and was purely a coache's decision. I have seen Coale put Hill, Caulfied and Dales BACK in during the first half after each had two fouls many times this year. A blanket rule that you sit the whole half after two fouls ignores the feel of the game and the needs of the team.

Regardless, this will be a war and great fun to watch the tinkering and flow patterns. The fact that the game is almost a must win for Texas, an not so for OU will be a big key. I do think the challenge and the mere fact that it is the Lady 'Horns, will cause the Sooner Women to be prepared to play and to meet the intensity of a team needing a win.

[swok34]

I don't think OU plans to be doing any celebrating until about 9:30 on February 27....and then our celebrating will be tempered by saying goodbye to our seniors. This OU team is focused on being in San Antonio late March and Coach Coale is not letting them get one step ahead (or even one ball possession).

Though Texas needs this win more than OU, hey, it's Texas.....and I almost think among OU fans the rivalry is stronger than the OU/OSU rivalry.....though I don't necessarily think that may be true for the 2 teams involved.

Laneisha has been in an offensive funk of sorts the last couple of weeks, her defense hasn't suffered at all.....time to get her back on track and grooving. But then when you have such 5 solid players, not counting Dionnah......Laneisha's not always going to get her 20 points a night....Caton Hill has had 3 solid offensive games in a row, so she appears OUT of her shooting funk that attacked her in a couple of games.......

OU's strong guard play and fast breaking style is it's biggest advantage vs Texas, though I don't expect this game to be anything the earlier game was....
I think OU wins by their guard play. Another advantage to OU is that the starters got quite a bit of rest on Saturday and Texas had to play to the end against a team that'll run you to death.

[hornsofthedilemma]

Can they? Of course.

Will they?

It'll be key to watch what happens in the once-a-game "drought" from Texas offensively. How they handle it and who becomes the rainmaker will be important. Living in Central Texas as we do, we know more about handling droughts than a lot of the conference, so I'm hopeful. If we step up the defense and send that drought to OU, we're okay. The http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif women really need to play with complete intensity for the whole 40 minutes. I've seen them do it this season, so I'm hopeful in an important game for the team that they'll do it.

Who'll be the rainmaker this time out? Bowers was hot in Oklahoma on the road trip. Schreiber looked good at Baylor.


Hook 'em http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ut.gif

[Big12Bear]

Metro, I disagree with your "20/20" call to put Stephens back in the game in the 1st. That's easy to call in light of what happened, but if Stephens picks up her 3rd anywhere before halftime, then you're really in a bind. I think I'll give the winningest college coach of all-time the benefit of the doubt. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

In the 2nd half with Stephens in there, and the end of the 1st half, BU pulled away because we went from a half-court game to a fast break style, which better suits our style of play.

That TX-OU game should be a fun one, as always.

[metromaniac]

Big12bear---

I agree it is easy to second guess---but you are correct , in a way. If Stephens picks up her third, you MAY be in a bind. However, if she doesn't, you just MAY probably win the game last Saturday. Jody is a stud,,,,I was just comparing two successful coaches manner of handling that situation. I just personally don't agree on the 2 fouls and you sit the rest of the half as a hard and fast rule.

[Bobcat4956]

I agree with Big12Bear for once. Texas has been hurt bad by teams that can score in transition. Baylor must have had 20 points off transition baskets. We get beat down the floor because our guards (other than Kenya) are not quick enough to get back on defense. Oklahoma can hurt you like that too, and if we have any chance of beating them we will have to get back on defense. I think we can hurt them inside so it should be interesting. Are we ever going to see a night when Bowers and Schreiber both play well?

[BigUtFan]

Originally posted by metromaniac:
To answer the specific question---Probably not!! ( Can the Horns knock off #2 and #3 in a week?)

Having the "Horns ready to play by Jody being a given is another ? The key game last week was Baylor, not Tennessee. Appararently, either they or she wasn't ready on Saturday. Even with a lead, I would have sneaked Stephens back in the first half and challenged her to play without getting her third, keeping my lead larger than it ended. That is and was purely a coache's decision. I have seen Coale put Hill, Caulfied and Dales BACK in during the first half after each had two fouls many times this year. A blanket rule that you sit the whole half after two fouls ignores the feel of the game and the needs of the team.

Regardless, this will be a war and great fun to watch the tinkering and flow patterns. The fact that the game is almost a must win for Texas, an not so for OU will be a big key. I do think the challenge and the mere fact that it is the Lady 'Horns, will cause the Sooner Women to be prepared to play and to meet the intensity of a team needing a win.

I disagree........Yes, I think they can pull off the upset against a very talented OU ballclub. I also think the win was just as important at Tennessee, if anything to get the monkey off the UT players and JC, where they have not beaten Tennessee in 13 tries. It should be a tremendous game, hopefully down to the wire. I was there at OU, and we lost it in the last seven minutes. I hope for a different outcome. We must maintain our rankings in the Top 16 to secure first and second round games at home. That would be NICE!!!!!!!!!!!

[BigUtFan]

Originally posted by AirLonghorn:
Another really big game for the Longhorns is coming up on Tuesday. Can the Texas team knock off the #2 team in the nation? It should be a really good game from start to finish. Oklahoma is a "seasoned" team, while the Longhorns are "young and talented." I'm hoping for a Longhorn win to help our RPI rating and to give us boasting rights: to have beaten Tennesse (#3) and Oklahoma (#2) in 1 week. The Sooners are, obviously, the best team in the conference right now, but I've seen things change before. Who will peak at the right time?

Jody will have the Horns ready to play...that's a "given." I look for the Texas bench to produce in this one, as well.

Hook'em! AMEN!!!!!!!!!

[BigUtFan]

Originally posted by Big12Bear:
Metro, I disagree with your "20/20" call to put Stephens back in the game in the 1st. That's easy to call in light of what happened, but if Stephens picks up her 3rd anywhere before halftime, then you're really in a bind. I think I'll give the winningest college coach of all-time the benefit of the doubt. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

In the 2nd half with Stephens in there, and the end of the 1st half, BU pulled away because we went from a half-court game to a fast break style, which better suits our style of play.

That TX-OU game should be a fun one, as always. Thanks.........I agree with you.