? about the Sooners

[oketex]

Guys, sitting here watching the game - I really like our team, there have been a lot of improvements since Lon took over, now here is the question. What does LK need to do to get us to the next step. Kansas has the big fast guys, good outside shooters, how do we get those type of guys to OU?:facepalm

 

[DenverSooner]

Guys, sitting here watching the game - I really like our team, there have been a lot of improvements since Lon took over, now here is the question. What does LK need to do to get us to the next step. Kansas has the big fast guys, good outside shooters, how do we get those type of guys to OU?:facepalm

three consecutive recruiting classes like Hield, Hornbeak and Cousins would do it. He is doing it. M'Baye, Grooms, Hield, Hornbeak and Cousins are all talented guys. Once everyone on the team is like that group, then OU needs to get everyone like Hield and M'Baye or better. It is going to take a little time. Capel reallly screwed up our program. He was a swing for the fences recruiter and hit a couple of good balls but he struck out way too much.

 

[WTSooner]

Guys, sitting here watching the game - I really like our team, there have been a lot of improvements since Lon took over, now here is the question. What does LK need to do to get us to the next step. Kansas has the big fast guys, good outside shooters, how do we get those type of guys to OU?:facepalm

Gonna take time.

With what we KNOW about next year's roster, I don't see them being any better than this year. Maybe a small step back. The next step is simply increasing the talent on the roster. You can only do that 2-4 players at a time each season.

 

[MercedeSooner]

We need some size and better guard play.

 

[OUsky]

Hopefully the offense next season runs more thru Hield... wouldn't mind seeing more of that this year moving forward.

 

[garyeb2]

OU will be much improved next season. This we will sure miss the Capel recruits crowd is a headscratcher.

 

[MsProudSooner]

OU will be much improved next season. This we will sure miss the Capel recruits crowd is a headscratcher.

Technically, Osby is a Capel recruit and we will definitely miss Osby.

 

[WTSooner]

Technically, Osby is a Capel recruit and we will definitely miss Osby.

We will miss Pledger too. We will likely play next year with not one player that you'd call "a shooter". That isn't a good thing.

 

[MsProudSooner]

We will miss Pledger too. We will likely play next year with not one player that you'd call "a shooter". That isn't a good thing.

I don't know the definition of a shooter, but if Buddy can become more consistent from 15 feet on out, he can be a real offensive threat.

 

[MercedeSooner]

I don't know the definition of a shooter, but if Buddy can become more consistent from 15 feet on out, he can be a real offensive threat.

With his Tim Hardaway knuckle ball release I doubt anybody would ever call Hield a shooter, standstill he can knock em down but on the move most likely ain't gonna be pretty.

Definitely going to need some guys who can score, right now nobody on the roster projects next year as a guy who can consistently put 15 on the board every night sides hopefully Buddy.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't know the definition of a shooter, but if Buddy can become more consistent from 15 feet on out, he can be a real offensive threat.

I would say a shooter is a guy that can shoot it from deep. It opens things up. It's one of the things that hurts us this year. We have too many players that aren't threats at all from out there. Really, Pledger is the only guy you have to guard out there. Hield and Hornbeak will shoot them (and can make them) if they are open, but they aren't going to knock them down (at least not this year) coming off screens, or just rising up over somebody.

IMO, it's a major concern.

 

[garyeb2]

Technically, Osby is a Capel recruit and we will definitely miss Osby.

Osby wasn't technically a Capel recruit. He was a Capel recruit. I have it said dozens of times. Osby is the only player Capel left that is good enough to go win with in the Big 12. The rest of them are at best one trick ponies that do just as much to get you beat as they are help.

 

[JBaker]

Gonna take time.

With what we KNOW about next year's roster, I don't see them being any better than this year. Maybe a small step back. The next step is simply increasing the talent on the roster. You can only do that 2-4 players at a time each season.

Really? I only see us improving.
These freshmen will get a lot better. Woodard will be a nice addition.
Osby is a big loss, but our improvements and new additions will make up for it.

 

[WTSooner]

Really? I only see us improving.
These freshmen will get a lot better. Woodard will be a nice addition.
Osby is a big loss, but our improvements and new additions will make up for it.

In the long run? I agree.

Next season? I'm not sure. Lets revisit after this year. If this OU teams wins 10-11 Big 12 games, and makes the Dance, I'm not sure next year's team will match that. And if they do, I'm nearly certain they won't "better" it. Guards win ball games. As much as we knock Grooms, he has been invaluable in getting the ball up the floor against some of the more talented teams. Pledger does WAY more than he gets credit for. Let's see if all those driving lanes are available for Hield next year with Spangler clogging up the middle, and the other defenders more than eager to leave Cousins or Woodard standing open in the corner, as opposed to Pledger, whom they aren't leaving.

It may be a case of having more true basketball talent next year.....and better athletes, but not really being a better team. All that, and we have to replace Osby too.

Time will tell.

Edit: I should add that it's not like I see next year's team falling off the map. I still think we're a 5th-7th place team in the Big 12, and one that will likely win 17-18 games at minimum. But that might not match what this year's team does.

 

[bgrch1350]

In the long run? I agree.

Next season? I'm not sure. Lets revisit after this year. If this OU teams wins 10-11 Big 12 games, and makes the Dance, I'm not sure next year's team will match that. And if they do, I'm nearly certain they won't "better" it. Guards win ball games. As much as we knock Grooms, he has been invaluable in getting the ball up the floor against some of the more talented teams. Pledger does WAY more than he gets credit for. Let's see if all those driving lanes are available for Hield next year with Spangler clogging up the middle, and the other defenders more than eager to leave Cousins or Woodard standing open in the corner, as opposed to Pledger, whom they aren't leaving.

It may be a case of having more true basketball talent next year.....and better athletes, but not really being a better team. All that, and we have to replace Osby too.

Time will tell.

Edit: I should add that it's not like I see next year's team falling off the map. I still think we're a 5th-7th place team in the Big 12, and one that will likely win 17-18 games at minimum. But that might not match what this year's team does.

I think next years team is going to take a huge dive...especially in the big 12. We lose our deep threat shooter. We lose Osby who is our most dominant player. M'Baye isn't drawing the best low post defender and he hasn't been able to take over and next season he will be the guy that our opponents will focus on stopping. We just saw what Cousins and Hornbeak could do against a top team..1 pt combined. And I think Hield will struggle next year being that there will be a lot of pressure on him to win games.

 

[seniorsooner]

I think next years team is going to take a huge dive...especially in the big 12. We lose our deep threat shooter. We lose Osby who is our most dominant player. M'Baye isn't drawing the best low post defender and he hasn't been able to take over and next season he will be the guy that our opponents will focus on stopping. We just saw what Cousins and Hornbeak could do against a top team..1 pt combined. And I think Hield will struggle next year being that there will be a lot of pressure on him to win games.

Of course you do. I like how in your foreshadowing for next season you operate under the assumption that none of our returning players will get any better from this season to next.

 

[bgrch1350]

Of course you do. I like how in your foreshadowing for next season you operate under the assumption that none of our returning players will get any better from this season to next.

actually, I always assume that our players will get better. And I still think they will get better. But that doesn't mean I think that any of them will be on the big 12 AA team.

 

[Stikboy]

What is the Big 12 AA team?

 

[thebigabd]

OU needs a legit point guard and then they will be a lot better. Losing Osby next year hurts, bad, but hopefully Spangler/Bennett help make up that loss. I am sure OU will feature M'Baye more with Osby out, so they just need Spangler/Bennett to be solid.

 

[originalsooner55]

I think next years team is going to take a huge dive...especially in the big 12. We lose our deep threat shooter. We lose Osby who is our most dominant player. M'Baye isn't drawing the best low post defender and he hasn't been able to take over and next season he will be the guy that our opponents will focus on stopping. We just saw what Cousins and Hornbeak could do against a top team..1 pt combined. And I think Hield will struggle next year being that there will be a lot of pressure on him to win games.

We will be better next year, I will leave it at that