thoughts on the final four

[grojc]

O.K. My horns are out and I'm going to the Final Four this weekend. I'll be rooting real hard for the Sooners. But, let's be honest. Does anyone have a realistic chance of beating Connecticut? I think a team beating them would be one of the big upsets in college sports in the last thirty years. What do you all thing would have to happen for this to occur? My thoughts?

A team would have to shot a very high percentage, the Huskies would have to have an off shooting night and get into foul trouble. Can it happen? Sure. Will it happen? I hope. Is it likely? I doubt it.

What do you all think?

[Jennifer]

While I agree that Uconn is the overwhelming favorite, I do believe that they can be beaten. Yes, they are good. Very good. Of course, the media makes sure we know that!
On any given night, anything can happen. Indiana beat Duke. Why can't someone beat Uconn?

I hope it happens by the Sooners! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[swok34]

I say we gotta' get by the Dookies first.

If OU and Connecticut are in the finals and OU plays like they played in the Big XII Tourney.........OU's got a chance.

OU did a pretty good job back in December. I like OU's chances; no one else will give us a chance, so we fans gotta believe.

[vickie1ok]

In order to beat Uconn, you cannot let them get on a run where you find yourself 15-20 points down. You need to limit them to miniruns and counter them with runs of your own. In other words, you can't lose focus for a minute.

[RaiderPower1]

If OU turns the ball over 21 times (like they did against Tech in the Sweet 16) they will have no chance against Uconn much less Duke. They have to hold on to the ball and protect each offensive possession. They showed signs of that in the second half against CU, but in the first half OU still turned it over too much. That means no fancy passes that have a chance to be picked off Miss Dales! Crisp passes yes, but no behind the back, loopty-loop, no look, off the hip of the opponent passes.

[YCN]

Actually, I think the key is to get in their faces, look them square in the eye, and say...

How much do you want it?

This media orgasm over the Huskies is just a bit much for me. They are a great team, don't misunderstand me, but for people to say they can't be beaten is absolutely ludicrous.

Boomer Sooner!

[carolann]

So, let's say that Tenn loses to UConn and OU beats Duke. We would have the 2 best backcourt duos in the nation in Bird/Taurasi and Dales/Caufield. Dales and Caufield will rise to the challenge. Keys for OU:

(1) Ross needs to hit the big shots.
(2) Caton Hill has to stay in the game. That could be tough. Jones/Cash/Williams are all quick, strong, smart players.
(3) Dionnah Jackson could be the x-factor. If she can successfully penetrate to hit shots and/or draw fouls, OU's chances improve greatly.

[swok34]

http://soonersports.fansonly.com/sports/w-baskbl/stats/122201aaa.html

Actually, we OU fans just hope that Scott Yarborough has NOT been invited to San Antonio......look at the fouls occurred in this game on both sides. I do remember that Taurasi had 3 fouls in the 1st half and OU DID NOT capitalize on that...would have been a big difference, because she was quite the shooter in the second half. I think with the way the game was called, it made for an ugly basketball game.......

[swok34]

LOVE voepel's story: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/wbasketball/ncaatourney02/story?page=voepel_sanantonio

Lieberman picks OU:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/wbasketball/ncaatourney02/story?page=lieberman_ouduke

[schooner2]

Yarborough reffed the Big 12 Tournament championship game and OU had few fouls called on them - at least in the first half.

OU will have to have a pretty aggressive defense against UCONN. And extended beyond the 3-point line. Typically OU eventually ends up in foul trouble in those circumstances. If OU is to beat UCONN, they would cannot be in any foul trouble at all.

And Neish has to be as hot as she was against Colorado. Same for Ross. And Dales will need to cut down on those turnovers.

In other words - have a perfect game. Not impossible. But obviously the odds point to UCONN.

[schooner2]

Originally posted by swok34:
Lieberman picks OU:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/wbasketball/ncaatourney02/story?page=lieberman_ouduke

She states that either Dales or Caufield will be on Beard.

Wonder if Jackson won't get time against Beard. In the Big 12 Tourney, Jackson was put against KSU's and BU's best players - Koehn and Lambert and frustrated them both. Beard is 5'11 so I don't know how that may factor in Coach Coale's choice of who to defend her. Jackson is 5'6.

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by schooner:
Jackson is 5'6.

She's listed at 5'9, isn't she? I always thought she looked alot smaller than that out there.

[KSUron]

I respectfully disagree with most of the analysis I see in reference to OU v Uconn. First things first and as swok said Duke has to be dealt with first and they are a very tough out too. Also Uconn has to deal with Tenn. If those games come out as I expect then we get Uconn.

I belive that the idea that you have to play a "perfect' game to beat Uconn is worth a lot of points to Uconn in and of itself. Uconn is Outstanding but not unbeatable. Oklahoma is also an outstanding team that may be behind Uconn but not by much. OU needs to play their game, and their game with its flaws is still very tough to beat. Uconn will not play a perfect game and Oklahoma does not need to either. OU does need to bring their full focus and high energy to the game. That and playing within themselves and accepting that some bad things will happen during the game will give them their best shot.

When people say that Uconn "opponents are 15 points behind when they step off the bus" they are right, and most of the reason is the Uconn image and the idea that "the way we play everyone else is not good enough". Oklahoma's "A" game is good enough, and further it is the best that can be done. I think OU can win it all, but not if they don't believe sooner basketball is good enough. They will not become "perfect" by Sunday and they don't need to be. They just need eveyone's best effort and the attitude that they belong and that they can make up for what ever inevitably goes wrong by continuing to play sound OU ball.

Let Uconn worry about all their "undefeated season" "failure last year" etc. baggage they have to carry, plus having to play OU at its confident "A" game best. That will be enough.

Boomer Sooner!

[swok34]

I would swear that Jackson is taller than 5'-6, Stephanie Luce is 5'-6 and I'm pretty sure that Jackson is taller than her....

I heard some of the ESPN reporters talk about Beard having "long arms"......I think Dionnah's got pretty long arms, too......
and the girl can jump and make up for about a foot..... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

I like your points, KSUron......I especially like the fact that OU WILL be the underdog in the matchup, and that suits them better, IMO.

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 03-28-2002).]

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 03-28-2002).]

[Jennifer]

Yep, Jackson can jump all right (and I remember reading that Wadsworth has the highest vertical on the team. I bet she can REALLY get up in the air!).

Now, Sabrina Scott is listed as 6'2, and I'm sure the camera angle has something to do with it, but Dionnah seems to be soaring here...

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/okla/galleries/2002-ncaa-wbb-elite8-colo/a-jacksonshootys-lg.jpg

[swok34]

Jennifer, in preseason, there were saying that Wadsworth has a 30" vertical jump.....she is incredibly athletic.

We watched her play in the exhibitions, and someone asked "is this the next Phylesha?".....I really was impressed with Wadsworth athleticism, she's about the same height as Whaley, but not as "wide" (not saying that Whaley is wide, by any means).

She played high school ball with Tennessee's Ashley Robinson...

[schooner2]

Originally posted by KSUron:
I belive that the idea that you have to play a "perfect' game to beat Uconn is worth a lot of points to Uconn in and of itself. Uconn is Outstanding but not unbeatable. Oklahoma is also an outstanding team that may be behind Uconn but not by much. OU needs to play their game, and their game with its flaws is still very tough to beat. Uconn will not play a perfect game and Oklahoma does not need to either. OU does need to bring their full focus and high energy to the game. That and playing within themselves and accepting that some bad things will happen during the game will give them their best shot.

Okay, lets be more specific. I agree with you KSUron - but what exactly is OU's "A" game and what is perfect? UCONN practically 90% of the time plays very, very well. If they slip up, OU will definitely have a chance to win.

Lets take the Colorado game. Despite OU playing so well in the 2nd half, if OU plays like they did (all 40 minutes) against UCONN, I still don't know if that is enough to beat UCONN. Mainly because OU could not capitilize on all the CU turnovers in the first-half. I think OU would narrow the margin in the 2nd half given how well they played there. I think with the 2nd half of the CU game, OU was only really getting back to how well they played in the Big 12 Tourney. If OU plays as well as they did against KSU or BU in that tourney, then they will matchup very well with UCONN.

And I would have to retract the "perfect" phrase in one respect. I think OU can still turn the ball over 20 times and make a game of it. OU will always turn the ball over a lot because of the tempo they want to establish in a game. Sherri will not want to turn any game into a halfcourt game.

Fouls are probably the key to the game. As long as Neish, or Hill, or Dales, or Jackson do not have to sit significant minutes on the bench, OU will make a game of it. Take that, and if OU shoots better than say 50-55% from the field, and OU just may win the game.

[Jennifer]

I read on Georiga Schweitzer's chat that Duke would probably use Alana Beard, Monique Currie, and SHeana Mosch on Dales.

[swok34]

I'm sure Sherri will use a "team" effort on Beard.......

[labcoatguy]

Thats been the gameplan for the entire season http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Jennifer]

Welcome, labcoatguy.

[schooner2]

Originally posted by labcoatguy:
Thats been the gameplan for the entire season http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

Now, you aren't one of the trio of lab coat guys in the west seats during OU games are you?

[labcoatguy]

http://jacknchicken.freeyellow.com/labcoats.jpg

Im the one on the right side of sherri coale.

[schooner2]

Welcome aboard HoopScoop!

Now, what will it take to get more students in the stands?!!!

Attendance is going great, but wish we had a rowdier crowd. We need more students.

[labcoatguy]

Honestly, at this university, it would take a football game to get students into the stands.

But seriously, the only way more students are going to attend is if they lose the stigma that "oh, womens ball is less exciting because, uh, they have ovaries." Im hoping next years attendance will be greater, just based on the fact that everyone should know by now that we're a good team.

[KSUron]

Welcome labcoatguy. Although heaven nows there are already too many OU fans on this board. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif Just kidding. We all need as many fans as we can get. I hope you stick around and bring friends. If you can get those other "labcoatguys" on a road trip bring them to Bramlage in Manhattan. We should get you introduced to the "reffs". http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by KSUron (edited 03-28-2002).]

[metromaniac]

Labcoatguy----

Did I really see you guys meet the team bus and 4:00 am early tuesday morning? You guys are great.


Jackson is definitely 5-8 or 5-9---Luce is definitely 5-5 or 5-6


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

[This message has been edited by metromaniac (edited 03-28-2002).]

[KSUron]

schooner I really did not mean to aim my comments particularly at yours although the use of the word perfect did set me off. We don't disagree a great deal about the game. I agree that UConn is the favorite. My remarks were more aimed at the comments that have been coming from various analysts and so called experts in addition to posters on other boards. (That I should learn to stay away from) I think the idea that UConn is so much better than OU that OU has to be exceptional and somthing different than they have been all year is wrong. OU did not do badly at all on UConn's floor in the first game even with all the BAD things that happened.

If UConn plays like it did in the first half against ODU then I would agree that OU would have to match near perfection with perfection. I doubt UConn can play that way vs. OU and if they do the sooners will just have to ride it out till they come back to earth.

KSU was up and down this year but I can tell you they were very up for OU as were most teams OU played. That win over us in KC was earned and it was earned by a team that played great defense (especially Jackson) and took us out of our game. OU did the same to many other teams and can bring that same speed and intensity to UConn. I like OU's chances in this game if they play sooner ball and play with heart.

What I mean by "A" game is playing up to one's potential. Nothing more and nothing less. It goes without saying that its unusual for every player on a team to have a "career" day in the same game. I don't think that is needed for OU to win. They just need every player to bring all their effort to the game. OU is close and they just need that kind of effort and a few breaks. This is doable by the sooners. Obviously UConn is very capable of pulling off another win. My point is the sooners CAN do it with a regular good sooner effort. In my oppinion they can't do it if they try to be something they are not or if they put excessive presure on themselves to play mistake free ball.

LET IT FLY! PLAY the game as a game of sooner basketball.

GO BIG RED! (of the south)

[labcoatguy]

Originally posted by metromaniac:
Labcoatguy----

Did I really see you guys meet the team bus and 4:00 am early tuesday morning? You guys are great.


You did indeed. It was cold.
There was a grand total of three other waiting cars there. Were you one of them?



[This message has been edited by labcoatguy (edited 03-28-2002).]

[swok34]

welcome, labcoatguy.........I admire you for being out in the cold at the LNC at 4 am; if I would have gotten my lazy butt out of bed......I'm really glad someone did, the men always get a very warm reception and the women's celebration hasn't quite caught on.....
I, too, share the blame.

[YCN]

labcoatguy,

Thanks for supporting our team.

I live in Boulder, so it isn't practical for me to do such a thing.

People like you are why magical things happen.

[labcoatguy]

Tell that to the old people sitting behind us in Kansas City. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[YCN]

Hey, they're old, they're behind you...

What else do you need?

Boomer Sooner!