Oklahoma basketball: Sooners must fix its defense to be a contender

The Oklahoma Sooners (16-11) lost their sixth straight game on Monday. The Sooners must make some changes on defense if they hope to make a deep tournament run.

Because of Trae Young, Oklahoma has been thrust into the college basketball spotlight. As a result, their flaws have become exposed and magnified. While the Sooners’ offense remains one of the best in the country, their defense is problematic.

One of the biggest issues for Oklahoma is rebounding. During their six-game losing streak, the Sooners have lost the rebounding battle four times. Kansas consistently succeeded on the offensive glass against Oklahoma. If the Sooners continue to struggle on the boards, their tournament run will likely be a quick one.

In addition to their struggles on the boards, the Sooners’ interior defense has been vulnerable. Opposing big men have had success in establishing deep post position. Also, the Sooners are allowing opponents to attack the basket with ease. But it’s not just the frontcourt that is struggling defensively for the Sooners.

The perimeter defense has also been susceptible lately. In five of their last eight games, the Sooners have allowed opponents to shoot better than 40-percent from beyond the arc. While the Sooners can make threes at a high rate themselves, it is tough to win games when you frequently give your opponent uncontested shots.

A Potential Solution

In order to address the interior defensive issues, a switch to zone defense might help. A two-three scheme will make it easier to secure rebounds and minimize opponents’ ability to score in the paint. In addition, it can improve the Sooners’ help defense and help them focus on quick rotations.

A zone defense will not erase the Sooners’ defensive issues, but it will hide and alleviate the major problems. Even if Coach Lon Kruger continues to primarily deploy a man-to-man defense, an occasional switch will confuse an opposing offense and generate some crucial stops.

Outlook

Young is a transcendent offensive talent that is capable of leading a team to a prolonged tournament run. However, if the Sooners cannot fix their defense, they could easily get bounced in the first round.

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The Sooners are one of the country’s most exciting teams thanks to their high-octane offense and star point guard. If they improve defensively, they will also be one of the country’s most formidable squads in March.