A heartbreaking loss for OU last night in Norman as Bill Self’s Jayhawks found a way at the end to beat the Sooners 69-68 in Norman.
For the second straight game OU lost by a point in the last ten seconds following Saturday’s 59-58 loss to TCU in Fort Worth.
The Big 12 is brutal. Just ask defending champion Baylor which lost at home twice last week to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. The razor thin margin between winning and losing is like I’ve never witnessed before in this conference. Literally…when the smoke clears at the end of this season, minus O State which is banned from post season play this season, all nine teams can beat each other on any given night. Throw O State into that mix as well as they already have wins over Baylor and Texas.
OU desperately needs to get Ethan Chargois back on the floor because he’s the primary quality big man depth behind Tanner Grove. I don’t think it’s a surprise Tanner’s game has suffered the past two games not only due to heavier minutes, but the prospect he can’t play as aggressively with only five fouls to play with some of the country’s best talent opposing him on the floor.
I think at some Jacob Grove will have to be a small forward ask to play some big forward minutes even after the 6’9″ Ethan Chargois returns.
On a positive note…seldom used Awol Mawei played last night out of sheer necessity and chipped in five clutch points.
For the second straight game the Sooners let a six to eight-point lead get away from them in the back ten minutes of the game.
OU simply has to get better at closing games with the lead against nationally elite opponents.
This has nothing to do with effort, but more to do with gaining cohesion and experience as a group in how to close out games with the lead.
OU has to start winning some Big 12 games though as they now stand 2-4 one-third of the way through the Big 12 regular season.
There are no easy games on the horizon. Next up…the defending national champion Baylor Bears in Norman on Saturday.
Bill Self’s Jayhawks at one conference loss currently stand alone in first place in the Big 12.
Bill Self”’ if I were Sam Hinkie-Presti is a coach I would have on my short list if the Thunder at some point in the future decide on playing to win games rather than just develop players for the rest of the NBA.
I’ve always thought Coach Self’s personality would translate very well to a young NBA team on the rise. Plus..I think this market would love his demeanor. Not to mention the fact he’s a Jayhawk just like Nick Collison. I would assume or hope at some point…Nick Collison has a voice in decisions like this when the Thunder resume playing competitively legitimate basketball games.