2020 Recruiting

[SoonerTraveler]

Contender for what exactly?

My reaction to your question: Contender for a top-6 seed in the Big-12 Tournament. Those teams get a bye in the 1st round of the tournament.

It is getting old being a conference bottom feeder. Three straight years is long enough.

:OUbball-logo:

 

[61sooner]

OU has been crawling into the Big Dance 2 years in a row on hands and
knees. The conference record has been poor, unremarkable. Any average team is going to get an upset or 2 during the year.
OU has to avoid those 2nd semester losing streaks if they are going to get
into the top half of conference.
Satisfied, absolutely not.
OU has not scaled the heights of the regional final in Anaheim for 3 years.
Think it's still a long road to get back there.

 

[BigTime]

These last 3 years have been very disappointing during conference play. This program has been much better than this over the past 35 plus years. I agree with Ada. The Baylor game at home this year was just embarrassingly bad.

Hope for a turnaround this year.

 

[Maverick008]

These last 3 years have been very disappointing during conference play. This program has been much better than this over the past 35 plus years. I agree with Ada. The Baylor game at home this year was just embarrassingly bad.

Hope for a turnaround this year.

If OU fans don’t say they were embarrassed by the Baylor/KSU games this year they would be lying. However that same team also destroyed and helped end the reign of terror by KU at the end of this season. To say you weren’t proud of that moment as an OU fan would be lying as well. Same for the thrashing they put on Ole Miss in the tournament.

Over the last 3 years only the season after the FF run was a true embarrassment for the program. The last two years could be considered mediocre by the programs standards but major “disappointments” is harsh in my opinion. Trae brought a LOT of promise with him but again most refused to look at what OU returned that season. The way they started shocked everyone and then made it look like a huge disappointment the way it turned out but in all honesty is probably what everyone should have expected given they won 8 more games than the year before and returned to the NCAA tournament.

This past year for anyone that had great expectations would have been crazy given it was basically a new team with a lot of different pieces/parts from the year before. For that team to win 20 games and to not only return to the NCAA tournament but win a game the way they did it was a huge accomplishment for that group. Fans may not want to admit that given where they want the program to be (me included) but again in all honesty it was probably above what that group should have done given what they had to work with.

What a lot of people are refusing to see IMO is that with the way that season went after the FF, this program could be in a lot WORSE situation that it currently finds itself in and what they produced the last two years. No it hasn’t been pretty at times but lets be thankful that all of the games didn’t end like the KSU/Baylor games of this year and that the recruiting class is ranked 16th (currently on rivals I believe) and not something like 66th. Obviously that means nothing if the guys don’t produce but there’s nothing wrong with having a little optimism for the next few years right now instead of nitpicking EVERYTHING the team/coaching staff have done wrong from 3 years ago right up to when one of the asst coaches left for another program a few days ago.

Ok....rant over

 

[WichitaSooner]

It's absolutely amazing that people keep talking about the Baylor home game as if it represents last season's team. You can probably count on one hand the number of teams in any given year who don't have at least one game like that. Two years ago, the team deserved criticism for not playing hard. Last year, that wasn't remotely the case. It's ridiculous to use that game as a reason to act like we, as fans, should be embarrassed by the guys who are actually out there playing.

 

[skyvue]

It's been stated many times, but I'll repeat it: OU exceeded expectations last season, finishing one spot higher than it was ranked in the preseason poll of Big 12 coaches (the Sooners were picked eighth and finished seventh).

What's more, many posters on this board predicted the Sooners would miss the tourney. Some even predicted a losing record. I can't swear to it (I don't keep such records), but I'm guessing many of those squawking loudest now predicted a worse season than the Sooners delivered.

So I'm not sure it's fair to then turn around and claim the team was a huge disappointment. You want to knock the recruiting that lowered those expectations, have at it (but it's pointless, really -- we're going to be fine now that that loser Chris Crutchfield is gone, right?), but the Sooners did much better than expected in non-conference play, finished higher than predicted in conference, made the tourney, won a game there, and finished with 20 wins.

Am I satisfied with that? Heck no, and I most definitely want to see improvement (and plenty of it) in conference play. But I'm weary of the "only conference games matter" mindset and the notion (widely implied, when not stated outright) that the Sooners fell short of expectations last season. That's simply not the case.

 

[Eielson]

It's absolutely amazing that people keep talking about the Baylor home game as if it represents last season's team. You can probably count on one hand the number of teams in any given year who don't have at least one game like that.

Only 5 teams or less most years don't lose a home game by 30 to a non-top 25 team? You can't possibly believe that.

 

[Eielson]

It's been stated many times, but I'll repeat it: OU exceeded expectations last season, finishing one spot higher than it was ranked in the preseason poll of Big 12 coaches (the Sooners were picked eighth and finished seventh).

I believe this is what people mean when they talk about putting lipstick on a pig.

 

[skyvue]

I believe this is what people mean when they talk about putting lipstick on a pig.

Nope, it's just stating facts and providing perspective. I know facts are frustrating sometimes when they don't fit the picture one is painting, but facts they remain.

Plain and simple, the Sooners exceeded expectations last season -- those of Big 12 coaches and of many, if not most, of the posters on this board. They didn't blow past those expectations, like Tech did, but they did exceed them. One can acknowledge that fact and still hope for (expect, even) better going forward.

 

[Eielson]

Nope, it's just stating facts and providing perspective.

Tomayto, tomahto. We finished 7th out of 10 in conference, which is the climax of a 3 year stint, and you're patting Lon on the back. Putting lipstick on a pig indeed.

 

[Stikboy]

Tomayto, tomahto. We finished 7th out of 10 in conference, which is the climax of a 3 year stint, and you're patting Lon on the back. Putting lipstick on a pig indeed.

Exactly. No matter how you paint it this last 3 years has been attrocious compared to OU's standard. Put up or shutup this year baby!

 

[WTSooner]

It's been stated many times, but I'll repeat it: OU exceeded expectations last season, finishing one spot higher than it was ranked in the preseason poll of Big 12 coaches (the Sooners were picked eighth and finished seventh).

So that is that all that matters, where the Big 12 coaches predicted us to finish in the Big 12, and how we actually did finish? I, personally, don't care a single bit about preseason polls.

That said, you are missing the point. It's disappointing that OU was even in a position to be predicted to finish that low. We're a better program than that.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Only 5 teams or less most years don't lose a home game by 30 to a non-top 25 team? You can't possibly believe that.

Is getting blown out at home by a tournament team who was playing its best ball of the season more "embarrassing" than a highly ranked K-State team no-showing and not getting to 50 points in a loss to a much, much worse Tulsa team? Or ISU losing some of the games they did against clearly inferior teams? Or KU being down by 25 at the half in a game in Lubbock with major conference title implications? I never put a specific point spread on my statement, because that is clearly an arbitrary cutoff. The point is, almost every team is going to have at least one game where they play like crap and look lethargic and outclassed. It isn't fun when it happens, but it does happen, and it isn't a sign of a lack of overall effort or bigger issues as long as it isn't a trend.

 

[skyvue]

So that is that all that matters, where the Big 12 coaches predicted us to finish in the Big 12, and how we actually did finish? I, personally, don't care a single bit about preseason polls.

That said, you are missing the point. It's disappointing that OU was even in a position to be predicted to finish that low. We're a better program than that.

I didn't miss the point at all, as you'd know if actually read my posts. No one's happy with 7th in the conference, including me, but perspective is always a good thing. Many posters here (and yes, the Big 12 coaches, too) predicted a worse season than the one the Sooners delivered. Any poster who predicted OU would miss the tourney or even finish with a losing record but is now unwilling to admit that the team proved to be a bit better than they expected is being obtuse and/or stubborn. A season that exceeds expectations by even a little bit can be viewed as a step in the right direction, and that's a good thing.

Sure, it's frustrating that OU was in a position to be picked eighth in the conference (and even worse by some posters here), but they did better than expected. Not a lot better, but better. One can focus on the positive and look to the future or one can keep looking backward and obsess about the past. I choose the former. You, to no one's surprise, are clearly choosing the latter.

 

[Max Power]

Nope, it's just stating facts and providing perspective. I know facts are frustrating sometimes when they don't fit the picture one is painting, but facts they remain.

Plain and simple, the Sooners exceeded expectations last season -- those of Big 12 coaches and of many, if not most, of the posters on this board. They didn't blow past those expectations, like Tech did, but they did exceed them. One can acknowledge that fact and still hope for (expect, even) better going forward.

Why were the expectations at OU so low 7 years into Lon’s tenure?

 

[WTSooner]

Why were the expectations at OU so low 7 years into Lon’s tenure?

Don't worry about. It look forward, not back. We just exceeded expectations and we're bringing in a top 20 class. Everything is fine.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Don't worry about. It look forward, not back. We just exceeded expectations and we're bringing in a top 20 class. Everything is fine.

Things would only be fine if we had Hollis, Kellen, and everyone else who has been around Kelvin on staff. If we hired those guys, you would be in heaven even if we went 0-31.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Why were the expectations at OU so low 7 years into Lon’s tenure?

Best question on the thread!

Our expectations are low because Lon has caused us to lower our expectations. It is clear that Lon cannot sustain even a slightly above .500 conference record. My impression is that some fans find that perfectly acceptable as long as it is Lon, and will defend Lon's mediocrity to their last breaths.

I cannot figure it out. Maybe it is because Lon is a Kansas boy, born and raised, and people defend his mediocrity because of that (?). Heck, that is as good of guess as any.

My, how Oklahoma Basketball has fallen. But it does not matter. Lon gets a free pass no matter how low he consistently finishes in the conference. Those are the new expectations. And that is just fine, apparently.

Why were the expectations at OU so low 7 years into Lon’s tenure? Because that is the program that OU Basketball has become. But, based on the comments of some, Lon is not responsible nor accountable. And frankly, Lon does not seem all that bothered by it (but that is just my impression). If Lon still has any competitive fire, it is not apparent to me. He has lost so many conference games, I guess he has gotten used to it.

 

[Eielson]

Is getting blown out at home by a tournament team who was playing its best ball of the season more "embarrassing" than a highly ranked K-State team no-showing and not getting to 50 points in a loss to a much, much worse Tulsa team? Or ISU losing some of the games they did against clearly inferior teams? Or KU being down by 25 at the half in a game in Lubbock with major conference title implications? I never put a specific point spread on my statement, because that is clearly an arbitrary cutoff. The point is, almost every team is going to have at least one game where they play like crap and look lethargic and outclassed. It isn't fun when it happens, but it does happen, and it isn't a sign of a lack of overall effort or bigger issues as long as it isn't a trend.

I'm sure you can find a handful of teams that had equally embarrassing showings, but that's not the statement that was made. You said you could count on a single hand the teams that didn't have a game like that.

UVA? Tech? MSU? Duke? Auburn? Gonzaga? Purdue? Tennessee? Michigan? Houston? Florida State? VT? LSU?

I'm working on the third hand, and I'm just getting started. And KU's loss was on the road against a much better team, while KSU's game was a 1 point loss on the road, so even those don't really hold weight.

If you want to say that most teams have a bad game by their standards, I'll agree, as it's one of the most uncontroversial statements you could possibly make. If you want to say that most teams get run out of their own gym by a 9-seed...I'm not hopping on that hyperbole train.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Best question on the thread!

Our expectations are low because Lon has caused us to lower our expectations. It is clear that Lon cannot sustain even a slightly above .500 conference record. My impression is that some fans find that perfectly acceptable as long as it is Lon, and will defend Lon's mediocrity to their last breaths.

I cannot figure it out. Maybe it is because Lon is a Kansas boy, born and raised, and people defend his mediocrity because of that (?). Heck, that is as good of guess as any.

My, how Oklahoma Basketball has fallen. But it does not matter. Lon gets a free pass no matter how low he consistently finishes in the conference. Those are the new expectations. And that is just fine, apparently.

Why were the expectations at OU so low 7 years into Lon’s tenure? Because that is the program that OU Basketball has become. But, based on the comments of some, Lon is not responsible nor accountable. And frankly, Lon does not seem all that bothered by it (but that is just my impression). If Lon still has any competitive fire, it is not apparent to me. He has lost so many conference games, I guess he has gotten used to it.

I generally respect your posts, but these might be two of the dumber things I have seen in a single post. The first doesn't even make sense. What on Earth does Lon's home state have to do with anything?

As for the second bolded statement, this is the exact type of lazy, false narrative that so many here seem to believe. "Gee, Lon doesn't scream and yell, he doesn't publicly dress down his players, he doesn't look like he is ready to have a stroke like Gregg Marshall, Mick Cronin, etc., so he must not be competitive." Not only is that stupid, it is 180 degrees from the truth. In any article written about Lon, one of the first things people mention, including opposing coaches, is that he is one of the most competitive people they have ever met. But again, since he doesn't rant and rave, he just doesn't care. That must be why Federer and Sampras were/are such crappy tennis players -- they never argue and act out, so, clearly, they are just out there for fun and don't care as much as the guys who break racquets and yell at the linesmen and chair umpire.