6/7

[Big Old Booger]

In most peoples' opinions, I'd imagine.

Name me another coach who OU hired that previously took multiple programs to the NCAA tournament and who had coached in a final 4. He has a chance to be the best coach in OU history. Maybe not most wins or most postseason appearances but overall.

 

[sybarite]

I was basically against the Kruger hire. I had seen his teams, and I hadn't been particularly impressed. I thought we had over-reacted with the Capel firing (of course, I still like Tubbs and Sampson).

Last year, I began to see something that I liked in Kruger's style, and I have been more than impressed this year.

 

[MercedeSooner]

In most peoples' opinions, I'd imagine.

Yup. Not sure how much it really matters how much Lon has accomplished prior to coming to OU when you're considering the best OU coaches ever.

 

[WTSooner]

Yup. Not sure how much it really matters how much Lon has accomplished prior to coming to OU when you're considering the best OU coaches ever.

That is how I see it.

After BOB's edit, I see he is wanting to consider LK's earlier stuff. Weird argument to make, IMO.

 

[AdaSooner]

After watching LK's first two seasons, I had him pegged as a defense-first coach. That's why I said before the season got underway that this team would win games with their defense. I wasn't alone. A number of posters on this board were trying to figure out where our scoring would come from after we lost our top three scorers from last year.

OU's offense has been a monumental surprise to me! I never dreamed that our five starters would average in double figures and the team would average 82 ppg. If someone had told me six players on this team would shoot 36% or better from three, I would said they were crazy.

The only disappointment to me has been our defense at times. That worries me some as we head into the postseason.

 

[WaymanFan]

I liked the Kruger hiring from the beginning, though I thought Jeff Capel deserved one more season. So, in essence, I was wrong as well. Forget W-L for a second. Lon Kruger being hired was likely the deciding factor in the NCAA Infractions Committee going easy on us after two rounds of violations over five years. Had Jeff stayed or Joe C not hired somebody who squeaks when he walks, I think we would have gotten hammered by the NCAA.

As for Lon being the best OU coach of all time if he stays long enough...can we keep it real, guys? Argue all you want between Coach Tubbs and Coach Sampson...but let's stay on earth for awhile. Let's not forget that Billy Tubbs only lost two home games over SEVEN YEARS, and his teams were a #1 seed for four of those years. Kelvin Sampson was the model for consistency - 10 NCAA Tournaments in 11 years...without a single player drafted in the 1st round of the NBA. One can argue for Coach Kruger if they COMBINE all his coaching stops, but not just for his body of work at OU.

 

[sybarite]

I'll tell you exactly what I thought when we hired Kruger. He was 59 and had been a head coach for 25 years. In 25 years at places like Kansas State, Illinois, Florida, and Las Vegas, he had been to:

One Final Four
One Elite Eight
One Sweet Sixteen

Seven Second Rounds
Four First Rounds
NIT SemiFinal
NIT Second Round
Two First Rounds

Three times in twenty-five years he had had a real good season. The rest was so-so.

I thought we were hiring a so-so old white guy that the alums remembered as having been a thorn in OU's side as a player.

This year, I've been impressed.

 

[AdaSooner]

I liked the Kruger hiring from the beginning, though I thought Jeff Capel deserved one more season. So, in essence, I was wrong as well. Forget W-L for a second. Lon Kruger being hired was likely the deciding factor in the NCAA Infractions Committee going easy on us after two rounds of violations over five years. Had Jeff stayed or Joe C not hired somebody who squeaks when he walks, I think we would have gotten hammered by the NCAA.

As for Lon being the best OU coach of all time if he stays long enough...can we keep it real, guys? Argue all you want between Coach Tubbs and Coach Sampson...but let's stay on earth for awhile. Let's not forget that Billy Tubbs only lost two home games over SEVEN YEARS, and his teams were a #1 seed for four of those years. Kelvin Sampson was the model for consistency - 10 NCAA Tournaments in 11 years...without a single player drafted in the 1st round of the NBA. One can argue for Coach Kruger if they COMBINE all his coaching stops, but not just for his body of work at OU.

I agree with you, WF! It's easy to forget that OU was blessed with two great coaches who competed at a high level on the national stage. LK may prove to be on that same level in time. He's a great coach, too, and I'm beyond thrilled that he is the man in charge now. But he still has a ways to go to match Kelvin and Billy's success at OU.

 

[StatGeek]

I'll tell you exactly what I thought when we hired Kruger. He was 59 and had been a head coach for 25 years. In 25 years at places like Kansas State, Illinois, Florida, and Las Vegas, he had been to:

One Final Four
One Elite Eight
One Sweet Sixteen

Seven Second Rounds
Four First Rounds
NIT SemiFinal
NIT Second Round
Two First Rounds

Three times in twenty-five years he had had a real good season. The rest was so-so.

I thought we were hiring a so-so old white guy that the alums remembered as having been a thorn in OU's side as a player.

This year, I've been impressed.

No offense but that is an extremely short sighted analysis of the mans resume.nd correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you are still hedging a bit?

 

[garyeb2]

No offense but that is an extremely short sighted analysis of the mans resume.nd correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds like you are still hedging a bit?

Short sighted is Syb's go to position.

 

[WaymanFan]

Three times in twenty-five years he had had a real good season. The rest was so-so.

That's a real cynical observation for success. OU has had many successful basketball seasons when we exited during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Lon Kruger has had many successful ones as well. The reason for his so-so record in March is because he doesn't land the top recruits. Neither did Kelvin, who also only advance to the second weekend three times. Both coaches always got the most out of their players and their teams always competed at a high level.

Kelvin's two best coaching jobs (1995 and 2000) were when OU did not make it out of the first weekend...those were both successful teams, I assure you. Lon has had many of those...and he can add 2014 Big XII Coach of the Year to his impressive resume. As 2014 Big XII Coach of the Year, it means that we had a successful season regardless of how things play out going forward.

 

[skyvue]

Probably the best coach in the history of the program if he stays coaching long enough.

Some of you need to reread BOB's statement (not saying i agree with him, but there seems to be some confusion over the stance he took). He didn't say Kruger was OU's best coach right now, but that he likely would prove to be if he remains at the helm long enough.

It's still a debatable stance at best, but it's not quite the outlandish overstatement some of you are acting like it is.

 

[DenverSooner]

I thought we were hiring a so-so old white guy that the alums remembered as having been a thorn in OU's side as a player.

This year, I've been impressed.

you would cry if someone said something like this about a black man

 

[Big Old Booger]

Some of you need to reread BOB's statement (not saying i agree with him, but there seems to be some confusion over the stance he took). He didn't say Kruger was OU's best coach right now, but that he likely would prove to be if he remains at the helm long enough.

It's still a debatable stance at best, but it's not quite the outlandish overstatement some of you are acting like it is.

Thank you.

My post was in no way a knock on Sampson or Tubbs. I admired both of them as OU coaches and was sad to see both leave. I think Tubbs came along when Big 8 basketball wasn't very good. He helped to elevate it no doubt, but if he were to come along 30 years later would he be able to have the same level of success as he had in the 80's? Hard to say. He was also helped by Wayman being a local kid which jumpstarted the program.

Sampson was/is a great coach and would win anywhere he coached and I think if he had been re-hired when Kruger accepted the job we would probably be enjoying similar success as we are this year.

My point was meant though not just as coaches and not just as coaching at OU or even their career as a whole. I mean the entire package. Coaching, recruiting, alumni/donor outreach, face of the program, doesn't break the rules, good with parents, not abusive to the kids, etc. As a whole he's the entire package and that's what I meant. Not to mention, if he continues to coach long enough he will get us to a final 4 which will be his 2nd as a head coach. If things fall we may even win an NC with LK, you never know.

 

[Big Old Booger]

That's a real cynical observation for success. OU has had many successful basketball seasons when we exited during the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Lon Kruger has had many successful ones as well. The reason for his so-so record in March is because he doesn't land the top recruits. Neither did Kelvin, who also only advance to the second weekend three times. Both coaches always got the most out of their players and their teams always competed at a high level.

Kelvin's two best coaching jobs (1995 and 2000) were when OU did not make it out of the first weekend...those were both successful teams, I assure you. Lon has had many of those...and he can add 2014 Big XII Coach of the Year to his impressive resume. As 2014 Big XII Coach of the Year, it means that we had a successful season regardless of how things play out going forward.

Besides 1995, the 2004 season may have been Kelvins best coaching job considering all the youth, injuries, etc., and we still made the NIT and won a game.

 

[WaymanFan]

My point was meant though not just as coaches and not just as coaching at OU or even their career as a whole. I mean the entire package. Coaching, recruiting, alumni/donor outreach, face of the program, doesn't break the rules, good with parents, not abusive to the kids, etc. As a whole he's the entire package and that's what I meant. Not to mention, if he continues to coach long enough he will get us to a final 4 which will be his 2nd as a head coach. If things fall we may even win an NC with LK, you never know.

Fair enough .

We all want Lon to continue succeeding, and remain here for the reasons you stated. Just like your post wasn't meant to be a knock on Billy or Kelvin, mine wasn't meant as a knock on Lon. I hope he stays long enough to take us to a Final Four. Even if he doesn't, hiring him was a great move by Joe C. At the very least, Lon should soon be placed alongside Billy, Kelvin and Bruce Drake on OU's Mt. Rushmore of men's basketball coaches.

 

[coolm]

I watched Lon's UNLV teams a few times and they were, to me, plain and rather unimpressive.

Watching THIS team has impressed me so much more about Kruger. This team and those Wildcats back in '88.

 

[KBaden145]

I wanted CLK after Sampson left. I never dreamed we would get him after that debacle we went through. He has still far exceeded my expectations. We could not have asked for a better fit, IMHO. While he may never match Tubbs and Sampson's accomplishments at OU, his career compares very favorably with both.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sybarite]

I watched Lon's UNLV teams a few times and they were, to me, plain and rather unimpressive.

Watching THIS team has impressed me so much more about Kruger. This team and those Wildcats back in '88.

Exactly!

 

[AdaSooner]

My point was meant though not just as coaches and not just as coaching at OU or even their career as a whole. I mean the entire package. Coaching, recruiting, alumni/donor outreach, face of the program, doesn't break the rules, good with parents, not abusive to the kids, etc. As a whole he's the entire package and that's what I meant. Not to mention, if he continues to coach long enough he will get us to a final 4 which will be his 2nd as a head coach. If things fall we may even win an NC with LK, you never know.

BOB, when you put it that way you'll get no argument out of me. As much as I appreciated Billy and Kelvin's coaching success at OU, they could not measure up to LK when it comes to community outreach, spending time with people of all ages, reaching out to the students, etc. I don't know about Billy, but Kelvin would never agree to open his practices to the public. I have said more than once that Lon Kruger is a master communicator.

It should be obvious to everyone by now that OU's basketball program has received a wealth of positive publicity since he arrived on campus. There's a reason for it. He is liked by everyone he meets, and that includes reporters. So, when you consider the entire package, as you put it, LK would definitely be in the running as far as I'm concerned.