Bigs on other teams

[AdaSooner]

There is one on nearly every team we play. Cameron Lard, 6’ 9” 225 freshman with 19 points and 17 rebounds totally dominated this game inside. I wouldn’t trade him for every big on our roster! Flame away if you want.

But it’s time to recruit some beef to OU!

 

[hoopsaustin]

Correct.

But to be fair to our big guys, were soft at every position

 

[outest]

When your big can't handle another big. You put 2 in there.

 

[AdaSooner]

Correct.

But to be fair to our big guys, were soft at every position

That’s my point. Soft, physically overmatched, lacking the aggression and heart we see on other teams. And it doesn’t end there.

 

[sdcloud9]

When Manek is playing the 4, what do you expect?

He's not ready to compete defensively in the paint in the Big 12. That's not a rip, he's just not ready.

It's a team built to score the ball, not built to defend.

 

[AdaSooner]

When Manek is playing the 4, what do you expect?

He's not ready to compete defensively in the paint in the Big 12. That's not a rip, he's just not ready.

It's a team built to score the ball, not built to defend.

Again, that’s my point. Lattin and McNeace have the same problem. I’m tired of seeing our skinny-ass bigs get pushed around in every game!

 

[usedtobe1]

There is one on nearly every team we play. Cameron Lard, 6’ 9” 225 freshman with 19 points and 17 rebounds totally dominated this game inside. I wouldn’t trade him for every big on our roster! Flame away if you want.

But it’s time to recruit some beef to OU!

Agreed. Lattin and McNeace are not strong enough to keep bigs from posting them up and backing them down. They do fine with coming over to help out on defense which is where they both get most of their blocks.

 

[steverocks35]

Yes, but they often leave their man to try to get the spectacular block and it hurts our defense as they are constantly out of position, especially Lattin. I would rather have less blocks and give up a lot fewer layups and uncontested shots.

 

[22dupree]

Again, that’s my point. Lattin and McNeace have the same problem. I’m tired of seeing our skinny-ass bigs get pushed around in every game!

Lattin was fortunate to play with Spangler, who was a willing banger. We have no such player now so we’re a donut squad. Gotta recruit some larger-bodied fellas.

 

[chuckb]

Just a couple of days ago, so many here were complaining that Polla had too much beef to play in college basketball. I think there's a place for a guy like Polla but the game has gone away from guys like him. There's nothing wrong with the players we recruit. They just aren't strong and play soft. McNeace is basically the same size as Lard and Lard threw him all over the court.

They've got to get stronger and tougher. That's the bottom line. These guys could do it. They just don't.

That said, I think it's dubious that the new recruit Kuath can compete in the Big 12 at 173 pounds. He'll surely have to red shirt and put on 40+ lbs of muscle.

 

[BlackwellSooner]

Again, that’s my point. Lattin and McNeace have the same problem. I’m tired of seeing our skinny-ass bigs get pushed around in every game!

The 2 biggest players on our team are both 235 and 236. The biggest guy on Iowa State's team was 245, but he only got 4 RBs. OTOH, Lard is 6-9 & 225, only 13 lbs bigger than Lattin, and not as big as Doolittle (6-7 & 236). But he played with an ATTITUDE today, and it showed.

No, effective rebounding is mostly WANT-TO! I wish that we had a big guy who had the attitude (and skills) of Blake Griffin...

 

[BlackwellSooner]

Lattin was fortunate to play with Spangler, who was a willing banger. We have no such player now so we’re a donut squad. Gotta recruit some larger-bodied fellas.

I don't disagree with the bolded portion, but, as I mentioned earlier, it's more about attitude than anything else.

 

[AdaSooner]

I don't disagree with the bolded portion, but, as I mentioned earlier, it's more about attitude than anything else.

Absolutely true! That’s why I added attitude [translated aggression and heart] to my follow up post.

That’s my point. Soft, physically overmatched, lacking the aggression and heart we see on other teams. And it doesn’t end there.

 

[sheepdogs1]

It's been pointed out that we don't play zone defense. Seems like if we are exposed on defense we should rethink that. Seems the perimeter would have less open shots and at the same time our 'bigs' would be operating defensively in tighter quarters thus making it easier to defend their position.

 

[sperry]

Lon builds his team to win with guards and wings. The guards and wings aren't up to snuff, and they are getting the bigs exposed.

 

[thebigabd]

PG: young
SG: James
SF: Manek
PF: Lattin
C: polla

Go zone and don't come out of it for rest of season.

 

[steverocks35]

We played zone against West Virginia and got crushed. He had to go back to man.

 

[WTSooner]

PG: young
SG: James
SF: Manek
PF: Lattin
C: polla

Go zone and don't come out of it for rest of season.

You posted that lineup the other day, and I didn't respond.

But that is a terrible lineup. Too big. Two many (see what I did there) guys that can't space the floor on offense. Not sure what you see in Polla, but I certainly don't see a guy that needs to be playing.

As for the original topic of this post, it has amazed me for years that so many teams can recruit and coach up big guys that make ours look so bad. Lattin is not good. He probably doesn't start for but maybe 1 or 2 other Big 12 teams, and that is being generous. These other teams all seem to have guys that can rebound and defend. And score.

 

[Soonerinkc]

PG: young
SG: James
SF: Manek
PF: Lattin
C: polla

Go zone and don't come out of it for rest of season.

unfortunately this isn't old Iowa girl's bball...we have to have some folks on the offensive end..at least some. ;-)

 

[Soonermarty]

Give me Mitchell Solomon any day of the week. Kid hustles and puts a body on someone when rebounding. Dives after 50/50 balls. Reminds me a lot of a Sampson guy. Heart hustle hardwood.