Big 12's most important players >>> ESPN

[BigTime]

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/61501/big-12s-most-important-players

 

[TheGimper]

I agree that Romero is our most important player. Pledger will be our deadliest score, but with much more depth at the guard position, we (hopefully) won't have a huge drop off when Pledge goes to the bench.

 

[DenverSooner]

I can agree with that. I really hope both M'Baye and Osby make at least 20 three pointers each on the season, average 12 or more points per game and average 7 or more boards a game. OU will a good team if that happens.

Osby shot 38% from 3 point range last season but only took 18 shots. I truly believe he could make 20 3 pointers on the season. Based on past numbers I am not sure M'Baye is a guy that can make 20 3 pointers on the season. I certainly don't want to see M'Baye jacking up a bunch of 3s shooting under 30%.

 

[garyeb2]

I can agree with that. I really hope both M'Baye and Osby make at least 20 three pointers each on the season, average 12 or more points per game and average 7 or more boards a game. OU will a good team if that happens.

Osby shot 38% from 3 point range last season but only took 18 shots. I truly believe he could make 20 3 pointers on the season. Based on past numbers I am not sure M'Baye is a guy that can make 20 3 pointers on the season. I certainly don't want to see M'Baye jacking up a bunch of 3s shooting under 30%.

In practice M'Baye is easily the 2nd best 3 pt. shooter on the team. It wouldn't take much of a spot for me to take him over Pledger in a HORSE game.

 

[DenverSooner]

In practice M'Baye is easily the 2nd best 3 pt. shooter on the team. It wouldn't take much of a spot for me to take him over Pledger in a HORSE game.

I hope you are right. His 3 point shooting at Wyoming was not one of his strenghts.

 

[WTSooner]

I can agree with that. I really hope both M'Baye and Osby make at least 20 three pointers each on the season, average 12 or more points per game and average 7 or more boards a game. OU will a good team if that happens.

Osby shot 38% from 3 point range last season but only took 18 shots. I truly believe he could make 20 3 pointers on the season. Based on past numbers I am not sure M'Baye is a guy that can make 20 3 pointers on the season. I certainly don't want to see M'Baye jacking up a bunch of 3s shooting under 30%.

Part of the reason Osby shot a decent percentage last year was because he didn't take many. He is pretty much limited in his shooting abilities to wide-open, top of the key 3's. I don't have a problem with him taking about 1 a game, but it's still a low percentage shot when you consider the alternatives. And if he shoots it more often, I'm guessing that percentage goes down.

As for M'Baye, same type of thing. Lots of players can shoot well in practice or shoot arounds. He didn't shoot it well at all during his time at Wyoming, and given the skill set of his teammates, his other skills, and what position he will most likely be playing, I'd rather see him shooting other shots. We don't need either of those guys to do much from 3 IF Pledger and two of the other guards (Cousins, Hornbeak, Hield, Cam) manage to be solid threats. And I think that will happen.

 

[garyeb2]

I hope you are right. His 3 point shooting at Wyoming was not one of his strenghts.

I've been an M'Baye sunshine pumper from the get go. But, I understand, that to some degree alot of it could be abit of a mirage. Afterall, it is all practice gym heroics against our guys.

He is a big time athlete with good basketball skills. He and Osby are the only two we have like that. Well, we have 2 1/2 if you count Grooms. The rest of them are either limited athleticaly with decent skills or athletic with limited skills. Without question he will make the team better.

The best practice player isn't always the best game player. But, I'm optimistic that in M'Baye's case, that is exactly what he will be.

 

[Sam]

I'd echo Gary's sentiments on M'Baye's shooting in practice, he showed the ability to hit the mid range and long ball whenever I watched. Now I will admit that not all things from practice carry over into games, but I will say that his size, athleticism and motor (kid never stopped competing in practice) are three things very likely to carry over.

So at the LEAST, OU is adding an athletic, aggressive, and hardworking/playing 6'9 guy to the rotation. I have a hunch he'll be more than that though.

 

[25mob]

I've been an M'Baye sunshine pumper from the get go. But, I understand, that to some degree alot of it could be abit of a mirage. Afterall, it is all practice gym heroics against our guys.

He is a big time athlete with good basketball skills. He and Osby are the only two we have like that. Well, we have 2 1/2 if you count Grooms. The rest of them are either limited athleticaly with decent skills or athletic with limited skills. Without question he will make the team better.

The best practice player isn't always the best game player. But, I'm optimistic that in M'Baye's case, that is exactly what he will be.

M'Baye did some good things at Wyoming so he isn't just a practice player (not that you were saying that).

 

[BoulderSooner]

In practice M'Baye is easily the 2nd best 3 pt. shooter on the team. It wouldn't take much of a spot for me to take him over Pledger in a HORSE game.

at best he is 3rd .... tyler neal is the best shooter on our team in practice (and i know it has not translated to the games yet)

 

[garyeb2]

at best he is 3rd .... tyler neal is the best shooter on our team in practice (and i know it has not translated to the games yet)

I respectfully disagree.

 

[thebigabd]

Funny story about these guys being able to shoot 3's in practice situations.

A long time ago, when I was in high school, I went and watched a summer league thing in Tulsa that had ORU, TU, and OSU players playing pickup ball against one another. There were two guys, who, based on those pickup games, who I thought would be really good 3pt shooters.

One of them was Kelvin Sango, who was a big time athlete but the knock on him was that he couldnt shoot. With refs and in a scrimmage setting, he hit about every three he put up. Then he gets to college in a real game and cant shoot to save his life.

The other guy was OSU's Ivan McFarlin. He was knockin down three's in warmup, and during the scrimmage. Looked really comfortable doing it. He played 4 seasons at OSU and im not sure he even attempted a 3. But for a week out there in Tulsa against ORU/TU players, he was hitting 3's.

Since then I have been careful about what I see in scrimmage/practice situations and what actually takes place during the games.

 

[playmakr]

Funny story about these guys being able to shoot 3's in practice situations.

A long time ago, when I was in high school, I went and watched a summer league thing in Tulsa that had ORU, TU, and OSU players playing pickup ball against one another. There were two guys, who, based on those pickup games, who I thought would be really good 3pt shooters.

One of them was Kelvin Sango, who was a big time athlete but the knock on him was that he couldnt shoot. With refs and in a scrimmage setting, he hit about every three he put up. Then he gets to college in a real game and cant shoot to save his life.

The other guy was OSU's Ivan McFarlin. He was knockin down three's in warmup, and during the scrimmage. Looked really comfortable doing it. He played 4 seasons at OSU and im not sure he even attempted a 3. But for a week out there in Tulsa against ORU/TU players, he was hitting 3's.

Since then I have been careful about what I see in scrimmage/practice situations and what actually takes place during the games.

This reminds me of an intense debate I had with someone on here (old board) after he was making fun of an ex/maybe current at the time OU player and his shooting ability. I told the guy that said player can outshoot him any day in a game of horse or something and it got intense from there lol. People think that since they can make shots at their YMCA or driveway it means they are great shooters or would be in a real game with guys flying around everywhere.

 

[campbest]

This reminds me of an intense debate I had with someone on here (old board) after he was making fun of an ex/maybe current at the time OU player and his shooting ability. I told the guy that said player can outshoot him any day in a game of horse or something and it got intense from there lol. People think that since they can make shots at their YMCA or driveway it means they are great shooters or would be in a real game with guys flying around everywhere.

This.

As the token "white" shooter my entire life, I take huge offense when people try to water down our craft.