Blair Transferring?

[seniorsooner]

I sent a tweet to Shinn, Emig and Baldwin to ask them if they have heard anything about this. Shinn just replied and said "Nothing definite yet."

 

[vbdad]

Good for Carl. He will find a place where he can play. He wasn't going to at OU. We also then have a scholarship. You would think that the coaches thanked him for his time at OU and will help him find a good place for him.

 

[campbest]

Good for Carl. He will find a place where he can play. He wasn't going to at OU. We also then have a scholarship. You would think that the coaches thanked him for his time at OU and will help him find a good place for him.

This is almost always the case, and it won't be Manhattan Christian College.

 

[DenverSooner]

Blair is a much better player than you guys give him credit for being. Perhaps OU is too high of a level for him but the kid can play basketball. If he stays at OU as the backup pg, I will be fine with that. If he chooses to go somewhere where he can be the starter, I will wish him well.

 

[NorthCarolinaSooner]

Blair is a much better player than you guys give him credit for being. Perhaps OU is too high of a level for him but the kid can play basketball. If he stays at OU as the backup pg, I will be fine with that. If he chooses to go somewhere where he can be the starter, I will wish him well.

I think all the attacks on Blair are classless and juvenile. He probably isn't a high major PG but he is far better than Manhattan Christian and saying that simply makes you look like you know nothing about basketball.

He is a decent low major PG...and would be a GOOD DII player......but he is typical of Capel's tenure in the fact that Capel often put all his eggs into one basket and ended up scrambling for guys who weren't Big XII caliber kids, were of questionable character or were quick to jump ship. Not all those are Blair issues.

Blair can go somewhere and start....you should wish him well....be happy another scholarship is opening....and enjoy the ride.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I think all the attacks on Blair are classless and juvenile. He probably isn't a high major PG but he is far better than Manhattan Christian and saying that simply makes you look like you know nothing about basketball.

He is a decent low major PG...and would be a GOOD DII player......but he is typical of Capel's tenure in the fact that Capel often put all his eggs into one basket and ended up scrambling for guys who weren't Big XII caliber kids, were of questionable character or were quick to jump ship. Not all those are Blair issues.

Blair can go somewhere and start....you should wish him well....be happy another scholarship is opening....and enjoy the ride.

I know you are a basketball coach, which I am not, so I value your opinion.

With that in mind, answer me this question, if you have a player like Blair who averages 3-4 unforced turnovers a game and can't shoot, would you want to give him a scholarship?

Small colleges are limited to what they can give, so I don't see anyone giving him a full ride based on this. He has never improved since he arrived here. He still makes the same mistakes he made at the beginning of last season and still can't shoot.

 

[p230]

I think part of Blairs turnover's were him trying to get around the defenders. He knew he had to take some chances, now just bouncing it off his foot is one him. Playing in the low major team he would be much more comfortable. Let's face it there were some really good guards in the Big-12 this year. As I said I wish him the face stay or go it is up to him.

 

[WTSooner]

I think all the attacks on Blair are classless and juvenile. He probably isn't a high major PG but he is far better than Manhattan Christian and saying that simply makes you look like you know nothing about basketball.

He is a decent low major PG...and would be a GOOD DII player......but he is typical of Capel's tenure in the fact that Capel often put all his eggs into one basket and ended up scrambling for guys who weren't Big XII caliber kids, were of questionable character or were quick to jump ship. Not all those are Blair issues.

Blair can go somewhere and start....you should wish him well....be happy another scholarship is opening....and enjoy the ride.

Agreed. Blair isn't nearly as bad as he has looked the past two years. But, he is a guy that needs talent around him, and minutes (it appears). He has played on two of the least talented OU teams in the last 20 years, and this year, he barely got off the bench. I'm sure he was pressing trying to get more minutes, which only hurt him more. He went from starting his first two years in college to averaging 15 minutes this year. I'm sure that was a shock to the guy.

BTW, Blair shot 33% from three his freshman year. The kid isn't void of talent.

 

[Stikboy]

What is with all the crybaby stuff for Blair all the sudden? In the heat of games, when Blair was stepping on his * trying to get the ball down the court, and having a big hand in some of our losses, yes, people were upset. Maybe in some cases too harsh. But, I think most everyone wishes him the best wherever he goes, I know I do. But no, his talent didn't belong at OU. And, we have a schollie for hopefully a better player. Maybe he saw all that himself and cruised on his own. Best of luck Carl!

 

[StatGeek]

I know you are a basketball coach, which I am not, so I value your opinion.

With that in mind, answer me this question, if you have a player like Blair who averages 3-4 unforced turnovers a game and can't shoot, would you want to give him a scholarship?

Small colleges are limited to what they can give, so I don't see anyone giving him a full ride based on this. He has never improved since he arrived here. He still makes the same mistakes he made at the beginning of last season and still can't shoot.

Blair averaged 1.8 TO's per game on the season, because of the nature of some of his turnovers; people have the impression that his turnovers were more abundant than they actually were.

The biggest problem for OU and Blair is that he is basically Grooms lite. When Blair relieves Grooms the opposition doesn't have to adjust its defensive approach because both players are pass first, and neither of them has proven they can consistently knock down jump shots or finish at the rim. I think having a backup PG with a differing mind and skill set would give us the opportunity to change the flow of the game when things aren't going are way.

On the whole, Blair has been a positive contributor to the program and I wish him nothing but the best next season, whether he is at OU or some place else.

 

[campbest]

With that in mind, answer me this question, if you have a player like Blair who averages 3-4 unforced turnovers a game and can't shoot, would you want to give him a scholarship?

Check the stats.

Small colleges are limited to what they can give, so I don't see anyone giving him a full ride based on this. He has never improved since he arrived here. He still makes the same mistakes he made at the beginning of last season and still can't shoot.

He will land somewhere on a full ride, Kruger will help make this happen.

 

[Crocker's Long Sleeves]

So is he leaving or is this just a rumor? I wish him luck if he leaves but he is not the level of player we need if we are ever going to be competitive again

 

[TheGimper]

So is he leaving or is this just a rumor? I wish him luck if he leaves but he is not the level of player we need if we are ever going to be competitive again

Still just a rumor, despite everyone here wishing him well at his next destination.

 

[AdaSooner]

Blair averaged 1.8 TO's per game on the season, because of the nature of some of his turnovers; people have the impression that his turnovers were more abundant than they actually were.

The biggest problem for OU and Blair is that he is basically Grooms lite. When Blair relieves Grooms the opposition doesn't have to adjust its defensive approach because both players are pass first, and neither of them has proven they can consistently knock down jump shots or finish at the rim. I think having a backup PG with a differing mind and skill set would give us the opportunity to change the flow of the game when things aren't going are way.

On the whole, Blair has been a positive contributor to the program and I wish him nothing but the best next season, whether he is at OU or some place else.

Carl's turnover average of 1.8 per game doesn't appear to be all that bad, until you realize that his TOs came while averaging only 15.4 mpg, a little more than half of the minutes he played last year. Thus, I believe the frequency of his turnovers in limited minutes is at the heart of the problem most posters have with his ball security. I know that's true in my case.

I totally agree with everything else you said. I have been a Carl Blair fan since last year. I like what he brings to the program. There are indeed positives when you take the time to look for them. Unfortunately, this team does not have the talent to overcome too many weaknesses. Grooms poor shooting is enough of a burden that we can't afford to have a back up at the point turning the ball over at the worst possible times in close games.

I have no idea if Carl is staying or leaving. If he stays, I will continue to support him. If he transfers, I will wish him nothing but the best and be grateful for his contribution to the program.

 

[garyeb2]

Carl is one of my personel favorites on the team. When he lost minutes this past year, he didn't say anything or sull-up. (In public at least.) All he did was keep working. He knew he was just a turned ankle away from geting his job back. And that is how he conducted himself.

But, by definition. He is a mid-major talent. New Orleans was his best, if not his only offer. Capel gave him a look out of HS and passed. He is only here because TMG left abrubtly.

If Carl stays, he wouldn't be the back-up point guard. One of the freshmen will get that job. There are some glossy point guard prospects for 2013 available. But, those are birds in the bush. Kruger, most likely, would start getting someone ready.

 

[NorthCarolinaSooner]

I know you are a basketball coach, which I am not, so I value your opinion.

With that in mind, answer me this question, if you have a player like Blair who averages 3-4 unforced turnovers a game and can't shoot, would you want to give him a scholarship?

Small colleges are limited to what they can give, so I don't see anyone giving him a full ride based on this. He has never improved since he arrived here. He still makes the same mistakes he made at the beginning of last season and still can't shoot.

As pointed out...Blair didn't average 4 TOs a game....I never thought he was Big XII good but he isn't nearly as bad as some people on here try to make him out to be. For people to say he is below UCO's level is simply ludicrous.

I probably wouldn't have given him a scholarship if I were Capel....but I think he more than warrants a scholarship at some places. I think he would be an exceptional PG for UCO or another DII level team and a solid PG for a lower tier DI.

Shooting may not be his strong point but he CAN play. A lot of what you look for in guys depends on what you run, etc.

When I recruit I don't even look for PG's who are big scorers because I don't require it in my system.....I'd rather have a pass-first guy who can penetrate and KNOWS how to dish. If my PG is scoring a lot of points then we are going to struggle usually. It is kind of that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" type thing. LOL


That being said....I don't have scholarships to work with yet.....so I can't be as picky as some guys. LOL

 

[Big Old Booger]

As pointed out...Blair didn't average 4 TOs a game....I never thought he was Big XII good but he isn't nearly as bad as some people on here try to make him out to be. For people to say he is below UCO's level is simply ludicrous.

I probably wouldn't have given him a scholarship if I were Capel....but I think he more than warrants a scholarship at some places. I think he would be an exceptional PG for UCO or another DII level team and a solid PG for a lower tier DI.

Shooting may not be his strong point but he CAN play. A lot of what you look for in guys depends on what you run, etc.

When I recruit I don't even look for PG's who are big scorers because I don't require it in my system.....I'd rather have a pass-first guy who can penetrate and KNOWS how to dish. If my PG is scoring a lot of points then we are going to struggle usually. It is kind of that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" type thing. LOL


That being said....I don't have scholarships to work with yet.....so I can't be as picky as some guys. LOL

Thanks for the reply.

I see what you are saying so I will admit my mention of Manhattan Christian College was a bit much.

Carl showed last season (2011) he could drive and dish as he did it a number of times early on. His defense isn't terrible either, which is important. I just know the unforced errors would really drive any coach at any level nuts. I am sure some coaches out there are willing to live with the tradeoff.

 

[dubyac]

James Hale just confirmed on the Tulsa animal that Blair is gone...

 

[CoachTalk]

He is gone for sure... Source from inside the program.

 

[AdaSooner]

Not surprising. I wish Carl the best! Too bad things didn't work out for him at OU.