Could Fitz, M'Baye, and Osby all start next year?

[WTSooner]

Lol at all the Calvin Newell love now that he's gone. I'm sorry but he wouldn't had made a significant difference on this season.

I don't consider myself a Calvin Newell "fan", but with the offensive struggles we've had out of the guard positions (pretty much everybody except Pledger), I think it's silly to think that Newell couldn't have been the difference in 2-3 wins. And that might be enough wins to keep us out of the Dance, or even the NIT. So I'd say that is significant.

Also, it would have been more depth. I still think this team will be exhausted at the end of the season b/c of the minutes they've been forced to play. Newell would have helped out there as well.

 

[CMSOONER]

I agree that it would have added to our depth. But with Newell, Pledger doesn't drop 30 on KSU yesterday. Newell would have taken his shots whether he was hitting or not. He proved that over the last 1 1/3 seasons. You can't say he's the difference between 2-3 wins because u don't just add whatever production that he might get because he changes the dynamic of the team. With him on the floor, Pledger, Fitz and Osby all get less touches and IMHO he wasn't a good enough defender to make a difference. He had a couple good games against sub par non-conference talent. That's not enough for me say he would have been a difference maker on this team.

 

[DenverSooner]

If he would have bought into the system and be a team player, he makes a difference. I think OU beats A&M and Cinci with Newell. Perhaps they beat OSU and Baylor (although OSU controlled that game).

 

[rickjames]

You got a guy who is a freak athlete and had higher averages than Fitz at the D-1 Level in M'Baye and Fitz probably has a vertical of 20 inches and has way too many games of 0 rebounds or 1 rebound..he's a forward for crying out loud. Fitz would be a role player on any other team right now. Easy call IMO.

 

[garyeb2]

Fitz is a one trick pony. But, you have to admit, even with all of his shortcomings, it is a pretty good trick.

 

[DenverSooner]

You got a guy who is a freak athlete and had higher averages than Fitz at the D-1 Level in M'Baye and Fitz probably has a vertical of 20 inches and has way too many games of 0 rebounds or 1 rebound..he's a forward for crying out loud. Fitz would be a role player on any other team right now. Easy call IMO.

Fitzgerald was All-Big XII honorable mention as a sophomore.

 

[Stikboy]

I think there are two guys that you can pencil in as starters: Pledge and Osby.
I think there are two guys that likely start: Grooms and Fitzgerald.
I think there are two guys that will battle for time: Cam and M'Baye.

Pure speculation, but I also think I see a situation very similar to Cal looming, and I don't like thinking about it. Cal get's us at least one more W this season already IMHO.

Im hoping I misunderstood your post, but are you speculating that someone else is about to quit this year? Or that with all the talent next year you think there could be a repeat of Cal?

 

[Shooterms]

Lol at all the Calvin Newell love now that he's gone. I'm sorry but he wouldn't had made a significant difference on this season.

Pretty sure JBaker was being sarcastic.

 

[CMSOONER]

Pretty sure JBaker was being sarcastic.

I thought he was. I wasn't calling him out, hope it didn't seem that way. People just keep mentioning Newell as the missing piece and I just don't see it that much. Maybe he helps against cincy's penetrating guards or OSU but I just can't see a drastic impact from him in conference play. I think if Blair scored a few more points per, that's about what I think Newells impact would be.

 

[AdaSooner]

Im hoping I misunderstood your post, but are you speculating that someone else is about to quit this year? Or that with all the talent next year you think there could be a repeat of Cal?

I think what he's saying is that if M'Baye is as good as everyone says, one of our starters this season will be coming off the bench next year.

Everyone will be back, except C.J. and two walk ons (Honore' and Franklin). Add a pretty solid recruiting class of three freshmen and OU's pre-season practices should be very interesting. I predict the competition for minutes will be intense from the time the first practice starts until the season tips off.

I'm hoping who starts and who comes off the bench won't matter, but in reality I know better. The question is will the player(s) picked to be numbers six through eighth in our rotation be mature enough to handle it the way Carl did this year when he lost his starting job to Sam? Sure hope that's the case!

 

[Shooterms]

I thought he was. I wasn't calling him out, hope it didn't seem that way. People just keep mentioning Newell as the missing piece and I just don't see it that much. Maybe he helps against cincy's penetrating guards or OSU but I just can't see a drastic impact from him in conference play. I think if Blair scored a few more points per, that's about what I think Newells impact would be.

I think Newell was doing just what we needed him to do. Our bench is streaky, and anytime you have more options coming off the bench, it's a better deal. That being said, Pledger is at a different level and is showing it. It is not only his scoring, but his leadership. When all is said and done, outside of Blake, Pledger may be the best player Capel brought to OU. He is playing like a Senior, but he isn't yet. If he continues to improve, well, wow.

 

[JBaker]

I thought he was. I wasn't calling him out, hope it didn't seem that way. People just keep mentioning Newell as the missing piece and I just don't see it that much. Maybe he helps against cincy's penetrating guards or OSU but I just can't see a drastic impact from him in conference play. I think if Blair scored a few more points per, that's about what I think Newells impact would be.

Yep, don't worry about it.
I was just piling on in poking fun at Gary.

 

[garyeb2]

Yep, don't worry about it.
I was just piling on in poking fun at Gary.

That is fine. Pledger is a good shooter and is capable of going off for a big number. He has done it before and will likely do it again. But, just out of curiosity, what do you do to entertain yourself the majority of the time when he is draining them at his conference rate of 35%?

 

[WTSooner]

That is fine. Pledger is a good shooter and is capable of going off for a big number. He has done it before and will likely do it again. But, just out of curiosity, what do you do to entertain yourself the majority of the time when he is draining them at his conference rate of 35%?

Actually, he is shooting 38% during conference games, and that is good enough for 8th in the conference. I'd also point out that he is 2-3 percentage points from being tied for 3rd place. And he is doing that while taking about 15-20 more shots then just about anybody else that is ahead of him. And in case you are wondering just how close those 2-3 percentage points really are, if he'd have made one shot that he missed, he'd be within a couple tenths of a percentage point of the 3rd best shooter. One shot. So to suggest that what Pledger has done from 3 in conference play is somehow disappointing.....well, that is misleading, and untrue.

 

[WTSooner]

Actually, he is shooting 38% during conference games, and that is good enough for 8th in the conference. I'd also point out that he is 2-3 percentage points from being tied for 3rd place. And he is doing that while taking about 15-20 more shots then just about anybody else that is ahead of him. And in case you are wondering just how close those 2-3 percentage points really are, if he'd have made one shot that he missed, he'd be within a couple tenths of a percentage point of the 3rd best shooter. One shot. So to suggest that what Pledger has done from 3 in conference play is somehow disappointing.....well, that is misleading, and untrue.

He also leads the conference in FT%. Is 10th in overall FG%. Is 7th in minutes played. And is 6th in scoring average per game.

But yeah, he's just a streaky shooter, huh?

 

[garyeb2]

Pledger's shooting % from inside the 3pt line is lower than his 3 pt shooting %. His overall % is about what I quoted. Which is easily explained. Most 3 pt shots that Pledger or anyone else takes are open shots.

He is an excellent free throw shooter. Once again, no one is guarding him.

 

[garyeb2]

He also leads the conference in FT%. Is 10th in overall FG%. Is 7th in minutes played. And is 6th in scoring average per game.

But yeah, he's just a streaky shooter, huh?

You are making up things again. I never said he was a streaky shooter. There is no such thing as a streaky shooter. I could explain that to you if you ever cared to learn something new.

What I have said is that when well defended. He is no kind of shooter at all.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Fitz is an undersized inside player who is averaging 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. I think he could fit on most teams. Maybe a 6th man on some of the better teams but a starter on a lot.

What little tape I have seen of MBaye, he is Osby with a better shooting touch. Don't know if he can rebound as well. I think you will see Fitz, Osby and MBaye in together a lot.

But with more guards next year you will see probably 9 deep and a lot of pressure defense and running.

 

[Sam]

Fitz is an undersized inside player who is averaging 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. I think he could fit on most teams. Maybe a 6th man on some of the better teams but a starter on a lot.

What little tape I have seen of MBaye, he is Osby with a better shooting touch. Don't know if he can rebound as well. I think you will see Fitz, Osby and MBaye in together a lot.

But with more guards next year you will see probably 9 deep and a lot of pressure defense and running.

M'Baye is a taller Osby that is more athletic and skilled but not as strong.

 

[25mob]

If OU is going to play the up tempo style that LK wants then M'Baye and Osby have to start along side 3 guards.

Groom, Blair, Pledger, M'Baye, Osby