Buddy going pro?

[OkieTC]

Don't think we have to worry about that. While he is Mr. Hustle, he really has no offensive game beyond shooting 3's. And when they aren't falling, he is almost an offensive liability. Hope he hangs around another year and develops his offensive game.
As a side note, get the damn ball into Thomas!

 

[JBaker]

Does anybody know if he has small hands or something?

His handles are just awful. Not just dribbling the ball, but he fumbles the ball just trying to catch it or hold it more than any guard I can remember.

He's definitely improved on defense this year, but I haven't seen any improvement in his offensive game.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

He can't have games back to back like this and go pro. Means next year should be fun

 

[ChongoChingi]

These games didn't drop his chances for losing but he missed an opportunity to raise his stock.

 

[jerry]

Don't think we have to worry about that. While he is Mr. Hustle, he really has no offensive game beyond shooting 3's. And when they aren't falling, he is almost an offensive liability. Hope he hangs around another year and develops his offensive game.
As a side note, get the damn ball into Thomas!

If so, good luck in the D league. Great kid, but not ready for the next level.

 

[MercedeSooner]

Never saw it to be honest. He has so much to work on even before the disaster of the last 2 games.

 

[uberjamb]

Buddy has the size and shooting ability to play the 2 in the league, but he must drastically improve his ball skills. He can't dribble, and he doesn't seem to have any ISO moves. If he doesn't catch off a screen, he can't get open.
I know Wisconsin is a really good defensive team, but Buddy has issues creating his shot against almost everyone.

 

[sheepdogs1]

His ability is more apparent when pushing the ball down the court in a quick tempo game as opposed to a half court game. He has more than a full plate to work on to sniff the pro level.

 

[MercedeSooner]

Buddy has the size and shooting ability to play the 2 in the league, but he must drastically improve his ball skills. He can't dribble, and he doesn't seem to have any ISO moves. If he doesn't catch off a screen, he can't get open.
I know Wisconsin is a really good defensive team, but Buddy has issues creating his shot against almost everyone.

Trying to be objective Buddy has the looks of a good college player and that's about it right now.

 

[BCSooners]

He cannot create for himself or others. I think the only way he goes pro is by improving his strengths more than his weaknesses. He could be a corner specialist who doesn't give up much on defense and rebounds ok. Just shoot about 45% on 3s and keep improving on defense he could find a niche.

 

[playmakr]

I actually like Buddy as an NBA 2, although slightly undersized compared to most NBA 2's.

 

[cvangild]

I agree. He has defintely not looked like a player ready to make that jump...but it's very early in the season and if he lights it up during the second half of the season, these two games will be distant memories. Mr. Potato head for the aggies had some horrible games and he still went pretty high.

With Buddy, it just seems like if he isn't hitting his 3's he isn't much of a factor offensively. Like other posters have said, his dribbling ability is FAR from NBA readiness...especially for a 2G. He also isn't very good at finishing at times. How many times have we failed to score due to Buddy not finishing??

 

[CoachTalk]

Rough crowd. I'll remind you guys of all these flaws when he's POY in big 12!

 

[campbest]

Rough crowd. I'll remind you guys of all these flaws when he's POY in big 12!

POY has nothing to do with the NBA.

As an undersized 2, he needs to do one thing exceptionally well. That skill may reveal itself this year, but it hasn't yet. He is a very good college player right now.

With all of that said, don't think coming back for another year helps his stock at all.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

He needs to be able to create his own shot and finish at the rim. Better hands too, he loses the ball too much. I love Buddy. Favorite player on the team, but he's not NBA caliber, yet. Which is why he will be a 4 year guy and lead OU to the National Semi-finals in 2016.

 

[SilliSooner]

Buddy needs to increase his range a bit if he expects to an NBA outside threat. The college three point line looks to be Buddy's comfort level range based on his arc and short follow through. Booker looks comfortable at three or four feet beyond the line.

I think he can do it but it takes time and Lon has to give him the freedom to fire it from 25' which will also force the defenses to spread. When Mitch Richmond played for Lon, he'd shoot comfortably in the 23 to 25' range and became really difficult to guard. Buddy can develop but it may take another year.

 

[Kewllane]

His ability is more apparent when pushing the ball down the court in a quick tempo game as opposed to a half court game. He has more than a full plate to work on to sniff the pro level.

More apparent as in the fact that when he pushes the ball down the court, it's a turnover or no points scored more than 50% of the time?

He's always missing the layup or dribbling it off his leg when he's pushing on a fast break. Too out of control.

 

[jerry]

More apparent as in the fact that when he pushes the ball down the court, it's a turnover or no points scored more than 50% of the time?

He's always missing the layup or dribbling it off his leg when he's pushing on a fast break. Too out of control.

Buddy definitely needs to improve his handle both in half court sets and in transition.

 

[sperry]

With all of that said, don't think coming back for another year helps his stock at all.

This is the most ignored factor in all of these discussions. He's not getting any bigger or more athletic. He is what he is. They'll have three years of film on him after this year. Every year you come back to school is a huge gamble.

 

[JBaker]

This is the most ignored factor in all of these discussions. He's not getting any bigger or more athletic. He is what he is. They'll have three years of film on him after this year. Every year you come back to school is a huge gamble.

He doesn't need to get bigger or more athletic. He needs to get better at handling the ball.