Coaches Poll

[mc_soonerfan]

So... Week before last we had four points, last week we had one point, and this week we have no votes at all. WTF??? All we've done is win and in impressive fashion. (Or am I wearing crimson colored glasses???) Maybe if we beat Cincy we'll go back to getting one vote??? I know it's probably better, as far as motivation for the team, if we're not ranked, but I just don't get it. Oh well, at least the polls don't really matter as much in basketball like they do in football as far as the end result.

I am so impressed with Kruger. I hope he can coach the Sooners to his second Final Four appearance and hopefully first championship game before he retires. I'm just really happy that we're in good hands, as far as coaching, at this time.
:clap

Why don't we have a Kruger emoticon, or am I just too drunk and missed it?

 

[Crocker's Long Sleeves]

We are going to have to beat a relevant team before we start getting some love in the polls. After the last two years we have been way off the map as far as national prestige goes. Getting blown out by anyone who is decent can do that to a program.

I'm just happy we are on the right track, and the recognition will come when we start competing with/beating good teams like we used to. We have a lot of ground to make up after the last two years of suckage we threw out there. And I second a Kruger emoticon, mods need to get on that.

 

[McJacknife]

 

[McJacknife]

 

[McJacknife]

 

[McJacknife]

 

[McJacknife]

whoops!

 

[EufaulaSooner]

I don't understand why none of the big programs (like North Carolina, Kentucky, et al) have gone after Kruger. I guess he just isn't young and "sexy" enough? (speaking metaphorically there)

 

[campbest]

I don't understand why none of the big programs (like North Carolina, Kentucky, et al) have gone after Kruger. I guess he just isn't young and "sexy" enough? (speaking metaphorically there)

:facepalm

 

[BigTime]

:facepalm

Enlighten me as to why you gave the facepalm? I'm also surprised that Kruger never got hired on at one of the 8-10 blue blood programs.

 

[campbest]

Enlighten me as to why you gave the facepalm? I'm also surprised that Kruger never got hired on at one of the 8-10 blue blood programs.

First of all, name the programs on your list. This is not a facepalm at Kruger, but how the coaching hiring process of many of those schools works. For example, Carolina isn't hiring anyone outside the Carolina family, that's how it goes. Furthermore, Lon is not the "sexy" hire most programs of that stature crave. Kentucky went with Gillespie over Kruger (easy decision, hadn't done anything at UNLV yet) and Calipari over Kruger (no brainer, even though Lon is coming off a Sweet Sixteen and Second round appearance). Michigan State has had Izzo forever, KU went after Self (no brainer), UCLA (Howland, no brainer at the time) Duke (guy named Coach K), Syracuse (Boeheim), UCONN (Calhoun), etc. How often do those openings occur? Not very often.

There is SO much more that goes into the major program hires than coaching...would Lon do well at those programs, most likely.

 

[IndySooner]

Indiana would have been an obvious fit, but again, he's not a "sexy" hire.

 

[campbest]

Indiana would have been an obvious fit, but again, he's not a "sexy" hire.

Agreed...but why would Indiana hire him anyway? Kruger the previous two years before the opening after Davis was six games above .500. He didn't make any relevant noise until after Sampson was at IU.

 

[geeoh]

Indiana's not a great example because Crean was an A+ hire for them. Kruger's great, but I wouldn't have been disappointed if we had gotten Crean either.

 

[Section31]

First of all, name the programs on your list. This is not a facepalm at Kruger, but how the coaching hiring process of many of those schools works. For example, Carolina isn't hiring anyone outside the Carolina family, that's how it goes. Furthermore, Lon is not the "sexy" hire most programs of that stature crave. Kentucky went with Gillespie over Kruger (easy decision, hadn't done anything at UNLV yet) and Calipari over Kruger (no brainer, even though Lon is coming off a Sweet Sixteen and Second round appearance). Michigan State has had Izzo forever, KU went after Self (no brainer), UCLA (Howland, no brainer at the time) Duke (guy named Coach K), Syracuse (Boeheim), UCONN (Calhoun), etc. How often do those openings occur? Not very often.

There is SO much more that goes into the major program hires than coaching...would Lon do well at those programs, most likely.

Over his career, LK is every bit any of those guys equal. In fact, I'd venture to say he's better than most of those guys. It's purely speculation on either of our parts to say for sure, but let's not act like LK just started coaching 10 years ago.

 

[BigTime]

First of all, name the programs on your list. This is not a facepalm at Kruger, but how the coaching hiring process of many of those schools works. For example, Carolina isn't hiring anyone outside the Carolina family, that's how it goes. Furthermore, Lon is not the "sexy" hire most programs of that stature crave. Kentucky went with Gillespie over Kruger (easy decision, hadn't done anything at UNLV yet) and Calipari over Kruger (no brainer, even though Lon is coming off a Sweet Sixteen and Second round appearance). Michigan State has had Izzo forever, KU went after Self (no brainer), UCLA (Howland, no brainer at the time) Duke (guy named Coach K), Syracuse (Boeheim), UCONN (Calhoun), etc. How often do those openings occur? Not very often.

There is SO much more that goes into the major program hires than coaching...would Lon do well at those programs, most likely.

That makes sense. The facepalm only post just made it confusing what you were facepalming...

 

[campbest]

Over his career, LK is every bit any of those guys equal. In fact, I'd venture to say he's better than most of those guys. It's purely speculation on either of our parts to say for sure, but let's not act like LK just started coaching 10 years ago.

Lon Kruger is better than:

Roy Williams - National Championship
Self - National Championship
Coach K - National Championship
Izzo - National Championship
Howland - National Championship
Boeheim - National Championship
Calhoun - National Championship
Calipari - Two final fours (with two different schools, FT away from a National Championship)

 

[BruinSooner]

Lon Kruger is better than:

Roy Williams - National Championship
Self - National Championship
Coach K - National Championship
Izzo - National Championship
Howland - National Championship
Boeheim - National Championship
Calhoun - National Championship
Calipari - Two final fours (with two different schools, FT away from a National Championship)

I'm painfully aware that Howland does not have a NC to his name.

Your point here is well-taken.

 

[Section31]

Lon Kruger is better than:

Roy Williams - National Championship
Self - National Championship
Coach K - National Championship
Izzo - National Championship
Howland - National Championship
Boeheim - National Championship
Calhoun - National Championship
Calipari - Two final fours (with two different schools, FT away from a National Championship)

I'd take him over Howland, Boeheim, and Cal. He's in the same league, IMO, as the rest of the simply as a coach. Those guys have ALL benefited by being at places where talent was plentiful - they won their first titles at those schools. My post was/is not a shot at those guys as much as a compliment to how fine a coach LK is...I don't just a coaches ability on NCs.

 

[campbest]

I'd take him over Howland, Boeheim, and Cal. He's in the same league, IMO, as the rest of the simply as a coach. Those guys have ALL benefited by being at places where talent was plentiful - they won their first titles at those schools. My post was/is not a shot at those guys as much as a compliment to how fine a coach LK is...I don't just a coaches ability on NCs.

I can't stand Boeheim, so would have to agree with you there. Howland's style of play is wearing off on the West Coast, he needs to get out soon. As for Calipari...you're crazy. Glad you wouldn't take Calipari, because I definitely would.