A thought regarding Cousins running some point

[BigTime]

Perhaps it is just a way to instill some confidence in Isaiah and a chance for him to get some more experience doing what he likely going to do in the NBA/Europe.

It can't hurt to get him reps there as the Sooners will face several foes who live and die with fullcourt pressure - WVU and now Texas. Need Cousins feeling good about his ability to get the ball from A to B with pressure.

 

[CoachTalk]

I dont think Lon is working on getting with experience for the NBA or Europe.

Coach is preparing them for a final 4 run.

 

[BigTime]

I dont think Lon is working on getting with experience for the NBA or Europe.

Coach is preparing them for a final 4 run.

I guess you didn't read my second point then.

 

[CoachTalk]

I read it and agree with it. Hence the final 4 run preparation.

 

[bgrch1350]

I dont think Lon is working on getting with experience for the NBA or Europe.

Coach is preparing them for a final 4 run.

In order to go far in the tournament you need great PG play and this will help b/c if Woodard can't do it then hopefully Cousins can.

 

[BigTime]

In order to go far in the tournament you need great PG play and this will help b/c if Woodard can't do it then hopefully Cousins can.

I also think of Walker as more of an undersized scoring guard so Cousins may be the best bet as the back up.

 

[bgrch1350]

I also think of Walker as more of an undersized scoring guard so Cousins may be the best bet as the back up.

I'm eager to see his progression from year one to year 2. He's really our only returning bench player with actual minutes so hopefully he will be much improved.

 

[BigTime]

I'm eager to see his progression from year one to year 2. He's really our only returning bench player with actual minutes so hopefully he will be much improved.

I think he will be better. JUCOs usually make a nice jump during the second year. I like that he has a Big 12 body, is fearless, and showed a willingness to defend last year.

 

[Postman77]

What most people aren't considering in this whole debate:

Both Isaiah and Buddy are both "ball stoppers." The offense very rarely touched multiple sides of the floor last year, and that leads to bad offense. By Isaiah running more point, that helps ensure that Woodard can help play-make to incorporate more floor touches. Basically, this makes Isaiah have to give the ball up at least once. This was a frustration of the staff last year, and by making this adjustment, you don't have to totally re-invent players...they can still play off their natural instincts. There is absolutely no doubt that Woodard will have the ball in his hands most in pressure situations.

 

[scrybe]

I could certainly be wrong, but I'd expect Woodard to play the point something like 80-55 percent of the time.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think he will be better. JUCOs usually make a nice jump during the second year. I like that he has a Big 12 body, is fearless, and showed a willingness to defend last year.

Walker had three 10 point outings last year and all three of them were against solid competition. He had 10 against Wisconsin on neutral floor and 10 against Texas on the road and at home. In Juco he scored quite bit. I think those three games will give him a lot of confidence that he can be productive at this level. With his year of experience and practice I truly believe he has a chance to put up a nice average off the bench.

The biggest thing I want to see this year is the OU bench consistently scoring at least 15 points per game. I don't care who scores, I just want to see that type of bench production. If OU is getting that virtually every night and once in while having really big nights, it will be very difficult to beat OU.

 

[BigTime]

What most people aren't considering in this whole debate:

Both Isaiah and Buddy are both "ball stoppers." The offense very rarely touched multiple sides of the floor last year, and that leads to bad offense. By Isaiah running more point, that helps ensure that Woodard can help play-make to incorporate more floor touches. Basically, this makes Isaiah have to give the ball up at least once. This was a frustration of the staff last year, and by making this adjustment, you don't have to totally re-invent players...they can still play off their natural instincts. There is absolutely no doubt that Woodard will have the ball in his hands most in pressure situations.

Interesting take and it makes sense.

 

[WTSooner]

I think it has more to do with speeding up the break. Thing about it, Cousins is going to be in defensive rebounding position much more frequently than Woodard is. So you leave Cousins down there to get the outlet pass, and let Woodard head down and spot up. The alternative, which I thought worked fine, was for Woodard to come back to the ball to get the outlet pass, and Cousins to head down court from the paint-area, instead of the top of the key-area (where Woodard will now break from).

One thing I noticed in the 1st exhibition game was that when Cousins brought the ball up and there was no fast break opportunity, without fail he dribbled to Woodard's wing and handed him the ball. Almost as if to let Woodard start the offense. And after that first pass, the three guards all do the same thing.

We'll see if this lasts all season or not, but after watching the first game, I think this has to be about speeding up the fast break process. I can see no other logical reason to do it.

 

[AdaSooner]

Interesting observations by Postman77 as well as WTSooner, both of which make perfectly good sense to me.

 

[usedtobe1]

I think if Cousins can handle the point, it gives the Sooners a lot more options to put on the floor to present match up issues. OU generally plays small. Spangler is only 6'8" and Buddy and Isaiah are both 6'4"-6'5" wings. Then you throw in Woodard who is less than 6'.

Cousins at PG allows us to play 6'7" Buford or 6'5" Odomes on the wing along with Buddy, and still have 2 post players inside. They are both probably better options than Woodard offensively and a whole lot better on the boards. Big teams killed us the past 2 years. JMHO

 

[jackson_supersooner]

I guess you didn't read my second point then.

Haha

 

[BoulderSooner]

i just want to say I stand corrected on the PG situation ..

what I find interesting is that Jordan play 0 min at the point ... walker got the back up pg duties ... this makes me think it might not be a season long thing .. .we will see going forward ..

 

[usedtobe1]

i just want to say I stand corrected on the PG situation ..

what I find interesting is that Jordan play 0 min at the point ... walker got the back up pg duties ... this makes me think it might not be a season long thing .. .we will see going forward ..

November and December is the time to experiment with different lineup combinations. They know what the 4 returning starters can do in their old positions. The 4 newcomers and an improved Walker give us a lot of choices.
Manyang getting healed would help, too.

I honestly like Cousins at PG because it opens up a lot more options. Let's buy some popcorn and see how it plays out over the next 6-7 weeks.

We all need to be careful and not over-react to one exhibition game.

 

[Section31]

I honestly like Cousins at PG because it opens up a lot more options. Let's buy some popcorn and see how it plays out over the next 6-7 weeks.

We all need to be careful and not over-react to one exhibition game.

I'm going to guess that feeling goes away the first few times he can't adequately bring the ball up court against average, on-ball pressure. I could be wrong, but his ball handling still looks to be suspect.

 

[OUballer]

Sometime Cousins loses confidence, slump shoulders, and checks out of game. We cannot have that this year. He is a senior show leadership and hit the open shot 17-20 ft, jumper with consistency. Walker has pg skills possibly to break the full court press unlike woodard Guards should be good just dont live and die at the three point line or panic.