The team this weekend beat two very mediocre teams and lost to a marginally good team.  OU will face better competition in the MAC. Even the matches that were won were made more difficult by OU’s lack of ability to pass the ball under control.   UAB and UTSA did not have nearly the offensive weapons or blocking ability that OU had yet were able to stay in games or keep them close due, in part, to their ability to control the ball and pass.

 

While it’s always fun to watch a big spike what is under appreciated is the fact that every spike begins with a pass. It’s passing and ball control that allows a team to run an offense. Everything is connected and it all starts with ball control.   I’m sure there is a stat kept that shows how often an offense is run “in system”.   It would be interesting to see what that percentage looks like for OU.

 

Ball control like hitting and blocking is an attitude.   If a team doesn’t think they can pass then they can’t. Right now I believe this team accepts the label that they cannot pass or play good defense. That attitude has got to change! OU has the weapons and believes it is strong offensively and that it is an intimidating blocking team.   What is it going to take to believe that it is a good ball control team as well?

 

The team also has the ability and players to control the ball, but must buy into the attitude that ball control is important on every point.   Not just the DS’s, but every single player on the court and on the sideline including the coaches. (It’s the coach’s job to foster this attitude and to put players in a position to succeed.) Everyone has to have the attitude that ball control is vitally important.   Everyone must do their part and carry their load not only in games, but in practice each day as well.   It starts with everyone thinking and saying we can control the pass, we can play defense, we will run our offense in system.