OU's starting guards, any they were a combined 12-37 and 4-15 for 3. and collectively OU co had only 19 assists on 32 made field goals (by contrast, we assisted on 20 of 29 FG). This does not statistically present the picture of guard domination that you state. The only real penetration that I saw was when Gaines lost his man uncharacteristically a couple of times, and Vic was illegally screened off his man. A lot of time, they penetrated right into turnovers. Their forward and center did a lot more effecitve work than any of their guards, imo.
Here are the reasons we lost this game, imo.
1) Ryan Taylor 2-11 from 3
2) Outrebounded 52-36 including 18-8 on the offensive glass
Well, I can't believe I'm saying this but all of your comments under this thread are "Spot on". I have a few observations and I want your perspective on it, and a question or two.
1. It seems as if our defense was solid, denying the 3 pt shots and was especially good down the stretch of the second half. Others have commented that our players were gassed, and although the minutes played may suggest that, I didn't observe that until maybe the last minute of OT. Over the last 2 minutes of the second half, I don't believe Oklahoma scored and I remember a few blocks and steals by us. We kept the intensity from what I seen, so I tend to agree with Collins that the team wasn't gassed. What do you think?
2. I'm a bit superstitious and after going to 12 years of NU Basketball games, I remember what Shon Morris told me, for whatever reason, in this building, it's the "First team to 65 rule". When Oklahoma hit 65 first, by history, we could chalk up the loss. The only exception that I remember was last year but that wasn't in our building. That 65 rule isn't prejudice either, if we get to 65 first then we win as well. Then again, maybe the old Indian burial ground story just comes back to haunt us.
3. Point guards. It seems to me that point guards are less valuable in todays college basketball. Sure, Collins wanted Lathom but it seems to me that college offenses are getting away from the point guard 'proper'???
4. Not at all going to hate on Ryan Taylor, I felt he played tremendous on both ends, other than some missed shots. But he is a shooter and he is finally taking more shots (Good sign) and will eventually really kick some butt since it's pretty obvious that he is a scorer. I remember myself and others pounding on Trai Demps in some early games where he would just keep shooting and missing, but eventually he found his groove and he ended up pretty damn good, although not at the same potential level a Taylor. I'm not the slightest concern that Taylor can't shoot....he can. What was more impressive was his defense isn't such a handicap as it was the first few games of the season.
5. Outrebounded. Well, we did deny the 3 and it may have caused us to be spread out but even though Okie had 10 more offensive rebounds, we reacted and blocked 10 shots to kinda equalize that department.
6. Law bringing the ball up as opposed to Turner??? I felt that Turner finally was coming into his own the last few games and was comfortable and settled in with his place in our lineup, i.e., a sorta morph point guard but required to shoot. I'm sure there was a reason as Collins scouted Oklahoma, why he changed the offense to have Turner more of a wing guy with Law bringing the ball up. But imo Turner didn't know where to fit in at last night. He was very hesitant to shoot. Pardon kicked the ball out to him twice where Turner simply passed up the shot. Shots he didn't pass up the 2 games prior games. Passing up a wide open shot in the corner which Collins appeared to rip him on for doing so. Just looked hesitant and it also appeared that the Okie player was talking to him the whole game and got him a bit off his game, even missed a crucial free throw by a mile. Dunno, but I was really liking how Turner was bringing the ball up and settled in the past 2 games. Dude can shoot great when not hesitant. What was the reason to change this up and have Law bringing the ball up? Only thing I can think of is how Oklahoma was anticipated to play Pardon?? Dunno. But I hope Turner brings the ball up from here.
7. Last second shots at the end of the game. Not sure why Collins doesn't like calling those timeouts in those situations. Seemed like we all weren't on the same page but Taylor did get an open look, not wide open like some said, but it was open. Other than falling in love with Demps on some last second shots, Collins appears to isolate one player and burn the last 20 seconds stalling until the last 3 seconds. He did this unsuccessfully with Crawford, Mac, and it appears he is doing this again. I'm assuming Oklahoma had 3 guys on Pardon but we already have seen that Pardon is a gamer with less than 3 seconds to go. Why not go for 2 and let Pardon decide? I like our odds on that one. Dude is a gamer.
8. Kopp. Wow. What a game. But only 15 minutes? 3 blocks, 5 rebounds??? I felt we could have played him a bit more.
At any rate, things are looking up and I'm not sure why anyone is talking NIT??? We have some losses but the level of play with these guys is a level that I think is greater than all other NU teams I've seen. And while it's not good enough to say that we lost to ranked teams by the last bucket, I think we are just going the long way around the block and will finally be the team that wins. And if these guys find a way, then LOOK OUT. Even if we lose 5 more games like this against top ranked teams, I doubt ANY big ten team will want to play us in the Big ten tournament which is going to be WIDE OPEN.