Andy Katz on OU's non-conference schedule

[OUHoops]

He also breaks down the rest of the Big 12 schools' schedules here:

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebask.../36371/nonconference-schedule-analysis-big-12

Toughest: Arkansas (Dec. 10), at Cincinnati (Dec. 29)

Next-toughest: 76 Classic (Nov. 24-27)

The rest: Idaho State (Nov. 11), Coppin State (Nov. 18), Sacramento State (Dec. 2), Oral Roberts (Dec. 8), vs. Houston in Oklahoma City (Dec. 17), South Carolina State (Dec. 21), Northwestern State (Dec. 31)

Toughness scale (1-10): 4 -- The trip to Cincinnati will be the toughest game by far. The Bearcats are a legit top-25 team. Arkansas at home will be dicey, too. The 76 Classic is a weak field, but that’s OK for a rebuilding team under first-year coach Lon Kruger. The Sooners draw beatable Washington State in the first round, then could get a crack at MWC co-favorite New Mexico on the second day. The top part of the bracket has Villanova. But even if Saint Louis were to end up being an OU opponent, that would help too. The reality is the Sooners don’t have a postseason team, so this schedule will do them fine.

 

[bocabull]

Love it that he says we don't have a postseason team. I disagree and when we make it Kruger will get major props which will only help future recruiting.

Our talent is a lot more complete and a higher level than people realize.

 

[AdaSooner]

Love it that he says we don't have a postseason team. I disagree and when we make it Kruger will get major props which will only help future recruiting.

Our talent is a lot more complete and a higher level than people realize.

Agreed. I try to be optimistic about the prospects for a good season every year. But for some reason, I never felt that way last year.

This season is different. Something tells me this year's team may have that special chemistry that will carry them to a higher level of competition than most people expect. The eight players back from last year's team (not counting Romero) should also be improved, and they will defiintely be more experienced. Arent, Grooms, and Romero Osby, who I believe could be a candidate for newcomer of the year, will add the size and depth we were sorely lacking in last season.

I'm not saying that this is a top twenty team or one that is a sure bet to get a postseason birth. I am saying that this team will be considerably better, and that they have the potential to be the surprise of the Big 12 by seasons end.

 

[thebigabd]

Love it that he says we don't have a postseason team. I disagree and when we make it Kruger will get major props which will only help future recruiting.

Our talent is a lot more complete and a higher level than people realize.

There are a lot of unknowns.

Osby averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds per game at MSU. Will he be all hype and no production? We dont know yet...

Arent averaged 20/12 in juco.... but it was California juco which makes it less impressive. Will he be a solid contributor or a nobody?

Sam Grooms put up decent numbers on a Chipola team that sent 6-7 players to D1 colleges. Is he good enough to beat out Carl Blair, because if Blair is your starting PG I dont know if you are a post-season team.

Now that Calvin Newell is playing his natural position, what will his impact be? Can he provide legit scoring for those nights when Pledger can't hit anything?

Does Cameron Clark make that jump?

Can Andrew Fitz grab more than 2 rebounds in 35 minutes of game action?

We just don't know any of these things.

 

[AdaSooner]

There are a lot of unknowns.

Osby averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds per game at MSU. Will he be all hype and no production? We dont know yet...

Arent averaged 20/12 in juco.... but it was California juco which makes it less impressive. Will he be a solid contributor or a nobody?

Sam Grooms put up decent numbers on a Chipola team that sent 6-7 players to D1 colleges. Is he good enough to beat out Carl Blair, because if Blair is your starting PG I dont know if you are a post-season team.

Now that Calvin Newell is playing his natural position, what will his impact be? Can he provide legit scoring for those nights when Pledger can't hit anything?

Does Cameron Clark make that jump?

Can Andrew Fitz grab more than 2 rebounds in 35 minutes of game action?

We just don't know any of these things.

Danged party pooper! Bet you scare little kids on Halloween, don't you?

Of course there are some unknowns. But do you disagree that this year's team will be an improvement over team we had last year? The only player we lost worth a flip is Cade Davis. Everyone else is back, and one would think better than before with the experience they gained, not to mention an off season to work on their game.

More importantly, we now have three new players in Osby, Arent and Grooms, who will, if nothing else, give us the much needed depth and size we were lacking in last year.

I agree that the jury is still out on whether this team can get OU back in the running for a post season birth. But I'd bet my last dollar that this will be a better team in every area of the game. I don't need a crystal ball to see that.