2012/2013 Roster

[WTSooner]

Assuming we don't have any unforeseen roster turnover this off season, when is the last time OU had 13 scholarship players of this level? I'm not sure Kelvin ever did. Neal or Blair would arguably be the least talented player on the roster. CRAZY!

Be nice to have all that depth. It'll breed competition in practice, for one thing.

Here is what the roster will look like (Rivals recruit ranking in parenthesis):

1. Blair - SR
2. Grooms - SR
3. Newell - JR
4. Pledger - SR (#121)
5. Hield - FR (#94)
6. Hornbeak - FR (#89)
7. Clark - JR (#34)
8. Osby - SR (#57)
9. Neal - JR
10. Henry - FR
11. M'Baye - JR
12. Arent - SR
13. Fitz - SR (#70)

And unless I'm forgetting something, that'll leave us 6 scholarships available for the 2013 class, with bigs as a HUGE need. I'd like to see us land Woodard, Parker, and a JUCO pg, to go with a JUCO big, and two HS bigs.

 

[CoachTalk]

One of the '13's are gone with CJ Cole.

 

[ArdmoreSooner]

Next year looks amazing to me compared to where we will have been the last two and this year. I see a little bit maybe of a down year after that just because of so many new faces. Nothing close to what we just went through but down compared to the year before. I could see next years team going to dance and winning game or two.

 

[ArdmoreSooner]

One of the '13's are gone with CJ Cole.

How does that work since he is on an Academic and will walk on?

 

[WTSooner]

How does that work since he is on an Academic and will walk on?

I think there is talk of him getting a basketball scholarship for that season. If that happens, he is 1 of the 13. I think he'll probably stay on academic scholarship, in which case, we'll still have the 6 to give.

 

[WTSooner]

I see a little bit maybe of a down year after that just because of so many new faces.

I thought the same thing, but we will have some experienced talent that season as well. Cam/Neal/M'Baye/Newell will all be seniors. Hield/Henry/Hornbeak will all be sophs with a year of experience. Depending on who else we bring in, the drop off might not be as bad as I had first imagined.

 

[p230]

with bigs as a HUGE need. I'd like to see us land Woodard, Parker, and a JUCO pg, to go with a JUCO big, and two HS bigs.

I would say that PG is just as much of a need. Having the best bigs in the world won't do any good if we can't get them the ball. That being said with that many scholarships we should be able to fill both needs....I hope.

 

[DenverSooner]

I thought the same thing, but we will have some experienced talent that season as well. Cam/Neal/M'Baye/Newell will all be seniors. Hield/Henry/Hornbeak will all be sophs with a year of experience. Depending on who else we bring in, the drop off might not be as bad as I had first imagined.

OU is going to need a pg for that year. That is my biggest concern. The 7 guys you mention make for a solid rotation except for pg. OU will also need some help inside but I don't think it will be desperate situation.

I think OU actually has a chance to be pretty good next season. If M'Baye is a guy that belongs on the court 30 minutes a game, OU is going to have Grooms, Cam, Osby, Pledger, Fitzgerald, M'baye and probably Newell as guys that deserve 30 minutes a game. That is actually 210 minutes with only 200 to split between them so they will not average 30 a game. When you consider that Blair will likely get 5-10 minutes as Grooms rests, that really only leaves 160 minutes for 6 guys. If you give any time to Neal, Arent, Hornbeak, Hield and Henry, OU is going to be a very well rested team. Assume those 5 guys (Neal, Arent, Hornbeak, Hield and Henry) average 20 minutes between them and that only leaves 25 minutes per game for the six primary guys (Osby, Clark, M'Baye, Fitzgerlad, Pledger and Newell). To me that is a big positive. OU could literally have two top 100 sg/w that barely see the court. If they are so good they take time from Pledger, Newell and Cam, that is a really good thing.

 

[BozemanSooner]

OU is going to need a pg for that year. That is my biggest concern. The 7 guys you mention make for a solid rotation except for pg. OU will also need some help inside but I don't think it will be desperate situation.

I think OU actually has a chance to be pretty good next season. If M'Baye is a guy that belongs on the court 30 minutes a game, OU is going to have Grooms, Cam, Osby, Pledger, Fitzgerald, M'baye and probably Newell as guys that deserve 30 minutes a game. That is actually 210 minutes with only 200 to split between them so they will not average 30 a game. When you consider that Blair will likely get 5-10 minutes as Grooms rests, that really only leaves 160 minutes for 6 guys. If you give any time to Neal, Arent, Hornbeak, Hield and Henry, OU is going to be a very well rested team. Assume those 5 guys (Neal, Arent, Hornbeak, Hield and Henry) average 20 minutes between them and that only leaves 25 minutes per game for the six primary guys (Osby, Clark, M'Baye, Fitzgerlad, Pledger and Newell). To me that is a big positive. OU could literally have two top 100 sg/w that barely see the court. If they are so good they take time from Pledger, Newell and Cam, that is a really good thing.

man, reading that made me smile!:austin686_jpg_xs:

 

[CMSOONER]

If Hornbeak and Hield are as good as advertised I don't see Newell getting much playing time and they will cut into Pledgers minutes too. But that's IF they are that good. It's not too often that freshman come in and are impact players from day one. It's likely that they will only play a couple minutes a game barring injury. The roster is going to be pretty deep, somebody's gonna get the shaft.

 

[Sam]

I think there is talk of him getting a basketball scholarship for that season. If that happens, he is 1 of the 13. I think he'll probably stay on academic scholarship, in which case, we'll still have the 6 to give.

Cole himself has told me that he is expecting a scholarship come the 2013 season. Likely will be a redshirt freshman that year.

 

[CoachTalk]

Its hard to get a "full" ride unless you are a national merit scholar, 36 on the ACT, etc...

 

[WTSooner]

Its hard to get a "full" ride unless you are a national merit scholar, 36 on the ACT, etc...

I've heard this several times in recent months, in regards to a couple of separate kids.

I don't think that is true. Whatever the kid doesn't get straight from the school, or wherever, he can likely make up by getting other outside scholarships. I mean, the kid is going to be in the running for any scholarship he applies for. Surely he'd get enough of the "smaller ones" to make up any difference that was needed.

 

[Section31]

I've heard this several times in recent months, in regards to a couple of separate kids.

I don't think that is true. Whatever the kid doesn't get straight from the school, or wherever, he can likely make up by getting other outside scholarships. I mean, the kid is going to be in the running for any scholarship he applies for. Surely he'd get enough of the "smaller ones" to make up any difference that was needed.

Going thru this right now with my daughter and WT is spot on, plus OU (and OSU) for that matter are VERY reasonably priced compared to the other schools in this region (including all the small in-staters). If the school wants you, they find you academic stuff. I know from experience.

 

[campbest]

Our incoming class better be prepared to sit on the bench and observe, not going to be many minutes available.

 

[CoachTalk]

Campbest- Time to get bigger, stronger, and faster for the "newbies"

 

[luckyc1423]

Our incoming class better be prepared to sit on the bench and observe, not going to be many minutes available.

I dont agree...as it sits now we arent a great team....if we play the same players next year we wont be a great team....so playing time is available...its just like we have a holis price or blake griffin on the team....every spot will be available

noone has shown me yet that they have a gauranteed starting spot....so I think the new kids have just as much of a chance to play as anyone...I dont buy into the hole this kid has been here 3 years stuff...the better player plays its that simple....

I could easiliy see fitz getting pushed out...exp if arent develops he could start at the 5 with osby/mbaiye at the 4...then when arent gets in fould trouble we will move osby to the 5 and mbaiye to the 4

I could also see blair's minutes deminish....pledger has played well but lets see if he can do it against athletic two guards...

We arent a great team so to me we really arent that deep. We have alot of average big 12 players on are squad. If that makes us a deep team then so be it...but alot of the kids on our squad when ride the pine at other schools.

 

[luckyc1423]

Cole himself has told me that he is expecting a scholarship come the 2013 season. Likely will be a redshirt freshman that year.

I know nothing about cole...is cole good enough to have a scholorship...like will he ever be able to player major minutes? I hate wasting schollys

 

[DenverSooner]

If Hornbeak and Hield are as good as advertised I don't see Newell getting much playing time and they will cut into Pledgers minutes too. But that's IF they are that good. It's not too often that freshman come in and are impact players from day one. It's likely that they will only play a couple minutes a game barring injury. The roster is going to be pretty deep, somebody's gonna get the shaft.

I will virtually gauranty they don't take significant minutes from Pledger. Essentially all three guys were rated the same coming out of high school (all right around 100 give or take a little). Given the fact that it is opinion, I don't see much difference between just under 100 and 121. It will just be hard for those guys to over come the experience of Pledger.

I also question whether they will take minutes from Newell. He is producing at a high level this year and will have two years of exeperience on both kids.

If you are correct and they do play a significant role, OU is going to be a very good team. That will mean OU has 6 guards that can play and perhaps the most experienced backup pg in the country or at least the Big XII. Lots of people are down on Blair because he is not a star player but having a kid with an entire year of staring experience (completely ignoring the University of New Orleans experience which is much more valuable than high school) is a huge asset. The coach doesn't have to fear giving his pg a descent rest in each half assuring his starter is well rested for the final 5 minutes of each half.

 

[WTSooner]

exp if arent develops he could start at the 5 with osby/mbaiye at the 4

*sigh*

What have you seen from Arent this year or in the past that suggests a) he'll make significant improvement, b) he'll improve enough to be starter quality in the Big 12, or c) he'll improve enough to be starting in front of Osby or M'Baye?

I don't understand. From what I've seen, Arent's ceiling is a decent backup off the bench, that will focus on rebounding and defense. He has little to no offensive talent. Not saying that to bash the kid, but he doesn't. Have you seen the shots (not dunks) he has taken this year? Sorry, but what you see is what you are going to get for two seasons out of this kid. He'll make some slight improvements, but he will always be a liability on offense, and he'll never start in front of those guys, if they are healthy.