It’s Oklahoma (3/21/25 @ 9:25p on TNT)

[auror]

So they’re good at drawing FTs and guards penetrate off the dribble well. What else do we have?

Other than Fears, they're really old. Lots of transfers.

 

[bendm]

I can’t believe the draw Dook got. That’s the easiest draw I’ve seen in decades. Beat Oklahoma

Saving grace is they’d have to beat both Houston and winner of Auburn/Florida and I think that’s as tough as it gets for a final 4/final

 

[UCTitleTown]

9:30 games are our thing lately.

 

[caw]

OK had a very good OOC overall. Not a ton of top teams by they won every game OOC. The games against decent teams were all pretty close except the one against their rival.

OOC wins were PC by 2, UL by 5, Mich by 1, OKST by 15 and Zona by 5. So they beat a four, five and eight seed OOC.

In the SEC they beat Arkansas (10 seed), and Texas on the road and SC, Vandy (10 seed), Miss St (8 seed), Missouri (6 seed) and UGA at home.

SC, Missouri and Vandy were a blowout victories.

They play a deep bench with 10 players playing 10+ minutes and playing in most games.

The good news:

They have one of their players as questionable (Sam Godwin). He is one of two guys who doesn't shoot the rock from deep but he is also one of their biggest players. They play three guys over 6-10 and Godwin is their best statistically though the other two played well against UK in the SEC tournament when he was out.

They also turn the ball over a good amount and don't block a ton of shots. They also are pretty bad at rebounding the ball. They also struggle defending the paint.


The bad news:

They are pesky and small. They average near 8 steals a game with three players 6'2 or smaller, two at 6'4 and two at 6'6/6'7. Fears is their star but Jalon Moore is a player. They have three very good shooters and two more who are very solid. They also make their FTs and take a ton. Their True Shooting Percentage is top 12 in the country at 59.5% (UConn is 20th at 59.1%). Their 3PT defense is also very good.

Overall:

In terms of pace they play at a relatively fast one overall, rated in the top 70 in the country at 70 possessions per 40 minutes. UConn is near the bottom at 64.7 possessions per 40. (The national spread is 59.7 to 76)

I don't think they have played a team who runs an offense quite like UConn does. UK is the closest in terms of good passing and cutting off the ball but they play at a much higher pace and usually go for a shot much earlier in the shot clock. They did lose both games to UK but they were both by a single point.

In terms of teams UConn has played, I guess Memphis is the closest comparison, though Memphis is better down low.

They do play to UConn's weakness, but UConn also plays to theirs. It's an interesting matchup.

 

[uconntoatl]

Looking at Florida's last 10 games, they are trending more like a 30ish defense (96.5), not the 13th ranked defense they finished with. (Torvik rating)

If we get past Oklahoma—-Florida’s guards are going to take us to the woodshed. I’d be happy to keep it competitive but UConn does not have the offensive or defensive consistency to roll with Florida

 

[BFieldHusky]

I saw them play a bunch this year, including the Atlantis games. They peaked very early. My biggest concern is the FT issue. They live at the line, and they shoot it well from there.

I think this is a game where Reed could cause them a lot of problems. In terms of the teams we could have faced as a 9, I think we did ok here.

 

[Austin316]

Analysis:

The Sooners rank in the top 30 in the nation at getting to the free throw line, making 79% of their attempts, but they could run into issues against teams that are dominant in the paint. They allow a lot of offensive rebounds and don't block a lot of shots. Leading scorer freshman Jeremiah Fears has taken over the offense, dropping at least 28 points in three of his last four games.

The only way we lost this game is if we are in foul trouble against a team that is foul prone.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Looking at Florida's last 10 games, they are trending more like a 30ish defense (96.5), not the 13th ranked defense they finished with. (Torvik rating)

We're not playing Florida

 

[UConnSwag11]

Not to get ahead of ourselves, but …

Our 3 point defense against the shooters that Florida has is a bad matchup. We’ve been torched by 3s, and they torch the opponent with 3’s

Oklahoma - we will need to find a way. They break teams down with quick driving guards. You know, the kind thats slices up our D. McNeeley, Karaban and Ball will need to shoot very well.

See above

 

[Marat]

Like UConn's success against New Mexico State in the West first round game in 2022?

That was before Hurley realized offense was a key to winning in the tourney. ( too bad he forgot about defense thid season though)

 

[UConnSwag11]

If we get past Oklahoma—-Florida’s guards are going to take us to the woodshed. I’d be happy to keep it competitive but UConn does not have the offensive or defensive consistency to roll with Florida

Two posts up

 

[UConnSwag11]

OK had a very good OOC overall. Not a ton of top teams by they won every game OOC. The games against decent teams were all pretty close except the one against their rival.

OOC wins were PC by 2, UL by 5, Mich by 1, OKST by 15 and Zona by 5. So they beat a four, five and eight seed OOC.

In the SEC they beat Arkansas (10 seed), and Texas on the road and SC, Vandy (10 seed), Miss St (8 seed), Missouri (6 seed) and UGA at home.

SC, Missouri and Vandy were a blowout victories.

They play a deep bench with 10 players playing 10+ minutes and playing in most games.

The good news:

They have one of their players as questionable (Sam Godwin). He is one of two guys who doesn't shoot the rock from deep but he is also one of their biggest players. They play three guys over 6-10 and Godwin is their best statistically though the other two played well against UK in the SEC tournament when he was out.

They also turn the ball over a good amount and don't block a ton of shots. They also are pretty bad at rebounding the ball. They also struggle defending the paint.


The bad news:

They are pesky and small. They average near 8 steals a game with three players 6'2 or smaller, two at 6'4 and two at 6'6/6'7. Fears is their star but Jalon Moore is a player. They have three very good shooters and two more who are very solid. They also make their FTs and take a ton. Their True Shooting Percentage is top 12 in the country at 59.5% (UConn is 20th at 59.1%). Their 3PT defense is also very good.

Overall:

In terms of pace they play at a relatively fast one overall, rated in the top 70 in the country at 70 possessions per 40 minutes. UConn is near the bottom at 64.7 possessions per 40. (The national spread is 59.7 to 76)

I don't think they have played a team who runs an offense quite like UConn does. UK is the closest in terms of good passing and cutting off the ball but they play at a much higher pace and usually go for a shot much earlier in the shot clock. They did lose both games to UK but they were both by a single point.

In terms of teams UConn has played, I guess Memphis is the closest comparison, though Memphis is better down low.

They do play to UConn's weakness, but UConn also plays to theirs. It's an interesting matchup.

Thank you

 

[Deepster]

 

[RuffRuff]

From my OK State buddy "OU very average. If you shut down their freshman PG (Fears) they have a hard time scoring"

True - and with all our lock down perimeter defenders it should be a piece of cake.

 

[HooperScooper]

Paging OKLAHOMA ERIC.

First thing I thought of after Oklahoma was revealed.

 

[boog204]

View attachment 107804

Oklahoma Eric?!?!!

 

[RuffRuff]

Two posts up

Our only chance with Florida would be to slow it down to about glacial pace as possible, and try to pull the whole execute our sets approach to 25 seconds and try to numb them into a stupor. Take as many tips from their loss against Tennessee as we can.

Man for man straight up at a high pace they would throttle us.

And for the fanboy comment - I was calling them out months ago and they just ran through the best conference tourney in hoops. When you actually watch teams and appreciate great players and teams, you learn a lot.

 

[sdglast]

I look at Oklahoma and they really don't do the things that teams who beat UConn do. Yes, they have quick guards, but they are small, and their best player is a freshman. Yes they beat the middle of the SEC, but they were freight trained by the big boys--blown out in many of those games. I would fear them more if they played them close, but they did not. They will have their struggles against our bigs, and we can go small with Karaban at center if need be. I think bigger guards and very physical defensive teams give UConn fits. Oklahoma does not seem to have that recipe for that type of basketball. Now, UConn will have to shoot the ball much better than they have lately, but I think they match up exceptionally well with this team and frankly should win.

 

[RuffRuff]

I look at Oklahoma and they really don't do the things that teams who beat UConn do. Yes, they have quick guards, but they are small, and their best player is a freshman. Yes they beat the middle of the SEC, but they were freight trained by the big boys--blown out in many of those games. I would fear them more if they played them close, but they did not. They will have their struggles against our bigs, and we can go small with Karaban at center if need be. I think bigger guards and very physical defensive teams give UConn fits. Oklahoma does not seem to have that recipe for that type of basketball. Now, UConn will have to shoot the ball much better than they have lately, but I think they match up exceptionally well with this team and frankly should win.

With you - I think we match up pretty well in this one. They play small. As a comparison they may feel a little like Xavier. They are a terrible rebounding team. If we can keep pace on our side, leverage our size inside and play our game, stay decent defensively on the perimeter, it’s a very winnable game. If they run out and we let their guards loose, could be a loss. This is the kind of game I think we can push our style.

 

[AdamaNation]

If we get past Oklahoma—-Florida’s guards are going to take us to the woodshed. I’d be happy to keep it competitive but UConn does not have the offensive or defensive consistency to roll with Florida

They said that 2014 vs Florida and in the final vs the twins

 

[UCfor3]

Fears is a nightmare. If Hass gets in foul trouble we will have a major issue. They have like 3 combo guards thst can all dribble drive. Tough cover matchup for our perimeter defenders.
.

 

[RuffRuff]

Ok back to the drawing board. How'd they not get the #1 overall?

I think the one order was firmed up early. They may be the hottest and most complete of the one seeds. This team just ran through 3 ranked teams and the SEC tourney by an average win of 15.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Our only chance with Florida would be to slow it down to about glacial pace as possible, and try to pull the whole execute our sets approach to 25 seconds and try to numb them into a stupor. Take as many tips from their loss against Tennessee as we can.

Man for man straight up at a high pace they would throttle us.

And for the fanboy comment - I was calling them out months ago and they just ran through the best conference tourney in hoops. When you actually watch teams and appreciate great players and teams, you learn a lot.

 

[RuffRuff]

Heck yeah - we’ve seen 16 seeds beat 1s. Crazy things happen in March and in a 1 and out format. The one thing our team does have is tourney experience. That matchup would put Hurley’s coaching chops to the max test. I want to see that.