OU Now 0-2 in Conference Home Opener
2006-01-10
Posted by: badanov
The mighty are falling before our very eyes.
OU isn't living up to their preseason hype. After dropping a game at Nebraska 61-60, the Sooners hosted Missouri tonight and lost in the final 1.9 seconds 71-69.
The Sooners are now 0-2 in conference play, after losing their home conference opener. Missouri is on a five game winning streak, after dispatching Oklahoma State Saturday, 69-61 at Stillwater.
What is happening to their vaunted team?
In the Missouri game OU guard Taj Gray hurt his back in pregame warmups, and although he scored 19 points, the Sooners went down against the Tigers. The AP reports that Michael Neal, OU's top three point scorer is out with a groin injury.
The Tigers game was exceptionally well coached by Missouri head basketball coach Quinn Snyder. With a little more than a minute to play, and the Tigers up by 2, OU hit two free throws, tying the game. The next 50 seconds were crucial because OU was called for a three point foul shot at 1.9 left, of which Missouri made two, winning the game.
The Missouri game was a defensive fight for both teams. OU shot only 18 percent from three point range, while Missouri shot 33 percent. OU held Missouri to 46 percent from the field, while Missouri held OU to 41 percent.
In the Nebraska game, OU shot far better from three point range at 26 percent but was held to 45 percent from the field. The Cornhuskers were 38 percent from the field and a whopping 34 percent from three point range.
OU at the moment seems to be suffering from this malaise which usually affects young teams. They can't seem to win close games. In the NCAA you may field the most powerful team in all college basketball and can win my huge margins most of the time.
But as good as you may be, if you will still get into close games and if you can't find a way to win the close ones, you will be an also ran to teams which usually do find a way to win the close games.
OU now at 9-4 travels to Texas A&M (11-1) and hosts Texas Tech (8-7) next week.
Missouri hosts Colorado (10-2) and Kansas (9-4).
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