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Last night, there was a stretch from about 6 minutes left in the game, until around 2 minutes left, where it felt like the guys had a chance to come back and steal the win. The defensive intensity was great, and the rebounding was solid during that stretch. However, the offense was not good enough. I’m convinced after watching the game last night that there are a few things that would help the team (I could be wrong about all of these): This team should be playing a Baylor style 2-3 zone most of the time. Or some other zone that funnels drives to a shot-blocker and enables our guards to be more aggressive on the ball and in helping off the ball. Ashton Smith should be the starting center. His physical dominance and defensive intensity are unmatched by any of the other bigs. Issac McBride needs a break in each half. Especially from being the point guard. I think giving Amboree 3-4 minutes in each half to run the point would be beneficial for this season, but also looking towards next season. This one may be controversial, but I think the offense is better off shooting more threes than driving into the middle of the defense and shooting a really difficult shot. I like passing into the post more too. I don’t like all the drives into 2 or 3 guys. Basically, more passing the ball around on offense and guys shooting off the catch. Also, the trapping defense is really good. They should spring that on teams randomly throughout games.

The buck stops with the head coach. The HC builds the roster, he runs practice and determines style of play, he decides who plays, and if they aren't listening to him...why are they playing? Basketball teams are ultimately measured by wins & losses, but INMO the next most important measure is improvement, is the team improving? The answer to this year's Eagles to me is NO we are not improving. We have the same glaring deficiencies in our play in game 25 that we had in game 1! No D, poor rebounding, can't set a screen, stupid fouls, one on one offense! Can anyone point out something we do better now than we did at the start of the season? The coach gets the credit when the team is winning, he has to take the blame when they aren't!

"Sweet Jerry Cakes" on play-by-play, with his trusty color man Lawrence "Night Train" Lane. Classic college basketball broadcast team! BTW, Night Train is STILL officiating high school basketball games in and around Tulsa, in addition to substitute teaching, working as a sales clerk at Ross department store, and doing the PA at Booker T. Washington H.S. football games. The man is a machine...

When I was a boy, I remember Ken Trickey’s postgame shows after losses were epic. First off, there weren’t many, particularly at home, but when it happened you knew Coach was going to go OFF on the radio afterward. He might go nuts about the officiating, or the effort by his team, or his own coaching mistakes. He even tried to quit a couple of times on the air, before walking it back later in the interview or in the press room afterward. It was always Must Listen Radio on KRMG. And he never even CONSIDERED not showing up. Heck, he WANTED a chance to either explain the loss or cry on announcer Jerry Vaughn’s shoulder. Times sure have changed…just not sure what to make of “The Sound of Silence”.

This was one of the worst home performances I have seen in a long time. There was zero team effort, only individual play. Hero ball is being allowed by the coaching staff and to me it is clear as day. This team has talent but talent without teamwork = disaster and that is what we are seeing.

Me and the wife are en route from Huntsville, Alabama (it’s weird going without @ORob1)! We left at 5:35 a.m., should get there between 4-5. We’re excited for some basketball and (maybe more so) some baseball this weekend! See y’all at the Mabee tonight

Good analysis. Not sure why we aren’t doing most (all?) of this. I’m amazed that McBride continues to play 40 minutes a game. Can the coaches not see that he is physically (and mentally) fatigued? That’s why he dribbled the ball off his leg at the end of the first half. We don’t have a true point guard except Amboree - who rarely plays. Hard to play him now after a season of watching from the bench. We should have played him (and others) earlier in the year. Not sure why we aren’t running any offense. Way too much dribbling and then driving to the basket to either take heavily contested shots or get stuck under the basket with limited options. Not a fan of one on one basketball. Our offense, such as it is, is very predictable and easy to guard. Our lack of effort in games is puzzling. Why do the guys seem to be listless/without energy during games at times? Is that something the coaches can fix? I would play the guys on the bench - but what do I know?

After experiencing their "hospitality" in the Super Regional - it has to be the Ducks.

...and on a side note: which of these two programs facing off today do we find the more annoying?

Yeah it's truly depressing, Otis....this MBB team has been a big disappointment after we started 2024 so well......TheEagleman headed over to nearby Lawrenceville, NJ tonight to watch some mid major basketball between host Rider U. and Mt. St. Marys with my 18 yr old grandson....both teams are mediocre at best like ORU....so what the heck.....Let's Go Broncos!!

This could be my last post in this sub for a while. Just don't have the energy for this. Thank goodness there is a three game homestand starting this afternoon. I expect watching the Golden Eagles baseball team is a better use of my time. I will continue to hope for the best out of the MBB.

Chance of rain for this afternoon at JLJ has dropped to 15% but isn't going to be any warmer with temperatures expected to be in the low 40's. Tomorrow's forecast is almost identical so I expect the players will just bundle up and get after it. I wonder if any of the players have the baseball cap with ear flaps. Elvis Andrus used to sport that look when the Rangers played cold weather games. Speaking of Elvis, the Texas Rangers are your defending World Series Champions in case any of you forgot. Oops...off topic.

Well, beat the drum and hold the phone …

When there is no conflict with the OKC Thunder, ORU games are broadcast on 97.1 FM The Sports Animal in Tulsa. Stronger signal and larger broadcast footprint.

We knew it would be a rebuilding year. It could be worse: Detroit Mercy just won its first game of the year and are 1-26. Ouch!

I’m right there with you. From what I hear we have even more depth at pitching this year. Should be a salty team and fun to watch!

TheEagleman is ready for some baseball...Play Ball !!!!!

HCRS a no-show for the post-game radio show. Don’t get me started…

I remember Juergens and Lacis their freshman year, and I was not impressed. They turned out pretty good. I think the key is their ability and willingness to learn.

Bigs take a bit longer and need more development to make the D1 jump , so I'm hopeful! I see how my statement can be contradictory, but I think sometimes getting exposed/your butt kicked all year can show you, AND the coaching staff where you need to go back to the drawing board, and summer is where growth CAN happen. I see the potential there and most of the issues you said about him can honestly be attributed to most of our team (screens, rebounding, defense), not just the 19-year-old freshman. I believe Josh has the framework of a talented player, and I wouldn't be so quick to hope he transfers. He has generally beaten out transfers from Texas A&M and BYU for playing time (whether one agrees with that is between them and Springmann lol), so of ALL the people on our team, he's one I hope we can keep and develop. Just my opinion!