Bedlam basketball: Matchup edge to OSU, depth edge to OU
OSU has the matchup edge in Bedlam basketball Wednesday night. But the Sooners have the depth edge. OU’s strategy should be to garner as many whistles as possible.
As far as the matchups, here’s why OSU has the edge. Keiton Page and LeBryan Nash. The Sooners don’t have an elite perimeter defender, so it will be a committee of guys rotating on Page, who will run all night, coming off multiple screens, trying to get open and nail 3-pointers or draw fouls, the combination that led to 40 points against Texas last Saturday. Conversely, whatever defensive deficiencies Page has aren’t likely to be exploited by OU, since Sooner point guard Sam Grooms is not a break-you-down penetrator.
Also, Nash is a tough guard for OU’s Romero Osby. Nash spends much of his time on the perimeter, then occasionally moves inside via dribble or to take a pass. The Cowboys play small out of necessity, and while the Sooners aren’t a bunch of behemoths themselves, OU is better off matching Osby with a more traditional power forward. Wouldn’t surprise me to see C.J. Washington play more for OU, since he seems the most likely physical match for Nash.
Meanwhile, OU’s strengths are well-countered by OSU. The Cowboys at least have a possible solution for Steven Pledger’s scoring ability. Freshman Brian Williams and sophomore Markel Brown are good, athletic defenders. But Brown and Williams can be foul prone. If the whistle blows a lot, and either has to sit, the Cowboys are in trouble. If OSU has to play Cezar Guerrero alongside Page, then Pledger and Cameron Clark have a huge advantage.
Inside is a wash. OSU’s Michael Cobbins has become a good defender, shot blocker and rebounder. OU’s Andrew Fitzgerald isn’t much at any of those, but he’s a capable scorer. OU is deeper, because of Carl Blair and Washington and Tyler Neal.
I think the game comes down to this. If OSU fouls too much, OU wins. If OSU limits its fouls, OSU wins. Let’s put the over/under number at 171/2. If OSU commits 17 or fewer fouls, the Cowboys win. Eighteen or more fouls, the Sooners win.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Sure like to see a sell-out crowd down in Norman tonight – mostly Orange! I think it will be a really good game – always is. Advantage OU for being at home, though, coming off a tough loss to Iowa State on the road. OSU may feel cocky after knocking off Texas at home, but being on the road is always a tough nut to crack in the Big 12.