Biggest improvement we need to make next year?

[WTSooner]

Defense.

Plain and simple. We started the year playing much better defense. I think Ken Pom had our defensive efficiency ranking somewhere in the 40-50 (team ranking) range in early February. We finished the season ranked 85th, which was just 6 spots ahead of the season before. For comparison, our offense finished ranked 37th, a gain of 90 spots from the season before.

I don't think there is any way we'll be as good on offense next year as we were at times this year. Hope I'm wrong, but I don't see it. Where we can compensate for any fall in offense, is on defense. We need to be able to have the same defensive success we had most of the season into early February, all season. I'd love to see us ranked between 40-50 next year in both O and D. Illinois was similar to that this year, for another comparison.

I think replacing Grooms, Pledger, and Fitz should help the defense some, but those guys weren't entirely to blame for the collapse late in the season. The young guys didn't have the same success they had early in the season either. Hopefully Spangler and one of Hamilton/Bennett will be able to defend at a high level inside. This team could really use a solid shot blocker inside. That can help compensate for "average" defense in other spots.

 

[BigTime]

Containing dribble penetration. /endthread

 

[jmizzy4ou]

You guys have any insight into how good of a defender Woodard is expected to be????

 

[slappy in OP]

I agree that we need our D to step up next year. I will be shocked if we are anywhere near as good on offense next year (and we weren't very good this year as it is) due to the loss of Osby. IMO, the only way we win consistently next year is to become a smaller/shorter, slightly more athletic version of Wisconsin. We will have to win games that we barely score in the 60s.

I am looking forward to what is to come. I would be ecstatic if someone steps up or comes in next year that can give us an offensive threat. If we can get that combined with an improvement on D, we will be dancing again.

 

[JBaker]

You guys have any insight into how good of a defender Woodard is expected to be????

From what I've read he is supposed to be a good defender.
Spangler and Bennett are supposed to be as well.

 

[WTSooner]

I agree that we need our D to step up next year. I will be shocked if we are anywhere near as good on offense next year (and we weren't very good this year as it is) due to the loss of Osby. IMO, the only way we win consistently next year is to become a smaller/shorter, slightly more athletic version of Wisconsin. We will have to win games that we barely score in the 60s.

I am looking forward to what is to come. I would be ecstatic if someone steps up or comes in next year that can give us an offensive threat. If we can get that combined with an improvement on D, we will be dancing again.

I don't think we'll be quite THAT offensively challenged.

And keep in mind. The better our defense, the more easy baskets we should get in transition. We scored a lot more that way earlier in the season, than we did the last month. Some of that is competition, but some of it was that our defense simply didn't play as well.

KSU is who I'd like to be a little like next year. Well, KSU without McGruder.

 

[outest]

What we need is for Kruger to get Hamilton/Dominique to lift some weight and gain muscle in the summer!!! They are both big, but their work ethic, aggressiveness need to be developed.

 

[WTSooner]

What we need is for Kruger to get Hamilton/Dominique to lift some weight and gain muscle in the summer!!! They are both big, but their work ethic, aggressiveness need to be developed.

Dominique (Elliott) isn't coming to OU any longer.

 

[BCSooners]

What we need is for Kruger to get Hamilton/Dominique to lift some weight and gain muscle in the summer!!! They are both big, but their work ethic, aggressiveness need to be developed.

From what I see, Hamilton should spend a lot of time on the treadmill.

 

[HeismanWatch]

Make your fee throws.

 

[NYC-Fool]

Score more points.

 

[OkieTC]

Make perimeter shots?

 

[KBaden145]

Defensive effort through the entire shot clock, defensive rebounding, finishing at the rim offensively, and handling/attacking ball pressure in the full court would be my first priorities. Overall ball handling and passing always needs work and they all need to get up a lot of shots this offseason.

 

[BigTime]

Make your fee throws.

You obviously didn't watch many games this year...

 

[KBaden145]

Make your fee throws.

Top FT shooting team in the conference...

 

[PledgerFan]

We need guys to consistently knock down jump shots.

 

[IllTemperedSeaBass]

Make perimeter shots?

ding ding ding

our best 2 outside shooters graduate. mbaye has no business shooting 3's. cousins,hornbeak,hield are all below average outside shooters. cam is streaky. i'm worried that we will have trouble scoring.

 

[WTSooner]

I wasn't asking you guys. I was telling you.

Defense.

 

[opsooner]

Containing dribble penetration. /endthread

I agree that there was a big difference in this between games where we played well and those where we did not. A lot of this is attitude. I also agree that overall defense improvement need to be our focus once practice starts for 2013-2014.

With that said, I hope the guys focus on their offensive skills during the off season because that also has to be better

 

[jmizzy4ou]

From what I've read he is supposed to be a good defender.
Spangler and Bennett are supposed to be as well.

Thank you.