Current state of team

[cowboysooner]

Manek and doo are playing like all big 12 players. Young guys are coming along. Vic, Williams, kur, Harmon and hill look like they are improving and coming along. Jamal looks like he is regaining his form from the end of last year. Reavers is certainly in funk. But I still think is a good player.

As for the MSU game, doo and manek really defended well. The team was focused and played with great energy for 40 minutes. Lon needs to find a way to get reavers going. And, MSU looks good. What a bunch of athletes. I think this ends up being a really good win

 

[steverocks35]

Big picture: We won’t sniff the top 25 this year. We will finish in the middle of the pack in the Big 12 or lower. If we sneak into the NCAA tournament we will be a 9, 10, or 11 seed. After this season we lose our best player, leaving us with a great player in Manek and a player in Harmon who looks like he is improving greatly. So maybe a core of those two guys plus a good player in Bieniemy. Williams and Hill look serviceable. I don’t know what Reaves will bring to the table. We have two project big men so who knows what those guys will do. You guys can correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think we are bringing in a big difference maker in the next recruiting class. All the best in-state talent is going elsewhere. That’s where we are. I don’t think it’s a good place to be but YMMV.

 

[cjhsooner]

Next season will be rough. Losing our best player, and not replacing them with a serviceable recruit is a mistake. Phipps is not really OU-level. There is a reason he was committed to Tulsa. He is probably a good kid, but most likely won't contribute at OU. So unless Harmon takes a big step next season, OU will be where OSU is this season.

 

[tmeyer3307]

I mean, we have another Scholarship, maybe two if someone leaves right? I think Lon is probably looking for a wing or a Center Grad Transfer.. If you land one solid player to replace Doo I think the team will be just as good or better.

 

[CoachTalk]

Next season will be rough. Losing our best player, and not replacing them with a serviceable recruit is a mistake. Phipps is not really OU-level. There is a reason he was committed to Tulsa. He is probably a good kid, but most likely won't contribute at OU. So unless Harmon takes a big step next season, OU will be where OSU is this season.

Lol

 

[Soonercpa2011]

Next season will be rough. Losing our best player, and not replacing them with a serviceable recruit is a mistake. Phipps is not really OU-level. There is a reason he was committed to Tulsa. He is probably a good kid, but most likely won't contribute at OU. So unless Harmon takes a big step next season, OU will be where OSU is this season.

No they won’t be winless and in last place. I think both Victor and Jalen will be really good players. Kur will be better along with Devion, Jamal, Austin. I do think a grad transfer will be looked at and could definitely help too

 

[thebigabd]

Next season will be rough. Losing our best player, and not replacing them with a serviceable recruit is a mistake. Phipps is not really OU-level. There is a reason he was committed to Tulsa. He is probably a good kid, but most likely won't contribute at OU. So unless Harmon takes a big step next season, OU will be where OSU is this season.

Next year's team will just be different... I would expect to see Harmon take a big leap, along with Kur and Alondes.

PG: Harmon
SG: Reaves
SG: Williams
PF: Manek
C: Kur

If kur and Williams continue to improve this could be a very legit lineup... With JB, Hill, Victor, etc coming off the bench.

I would like to see Merritt move on and bring in two more jucos who can contribute but we will see what happens in the late period.

 

[CoachTalk]

I mean, we have another Scholarship, maybe two if someone leaves right? I think Lon is probably looking for a wing or a Center Grad Transfer.. If you land one solid player to replace Doo I think the team will be just as good or better.

I think he’ll find someone to help.

We’ll be just as good next year or better. I agree.

 

[TheGimper]

I think he’ll find someone to help.

We’ll be just as good next year or better. I agree.

On top of that, we’ve seen improvements from Harmon, Hill, and Kuath throughout the season. No reason to think they want keep improving. Williams has started to show some promise and might be a great piece of the bench. Iwuakor is playing his first real season of basketball in awhile. He should continue to grow. Plus, it’s not likely Reaves will shoot the ball any worse than he his now next season.

Also, while Phipps is the only scholarship player we’re adding, Ganyang and Issanza will be coming off redshirts. Players who had redshirted under Lon tend to contribute in varying amounts their next season.

 

[thebigabd]

On top of that, we’ve seen improvements from Harmon, Hill, and Kuath throughout the season. No reason to think they want keep improving. Williams has started to show some promise and might be a great piece of the bench. Iwuakor is playing his first real season of basketball in awhile. He should continue to grow. Plus, it’s not likely Reaves will shoot the ball any worse than he his now next season.

Also, while Phipps is the only scholarship player we’re adding, Ganyang and Issanza will be coming off redshirts. Players who had redshirted under Lon tend to contribute in varying amounts their next season.

Exactly.. Let me do this again.

First Team
PG: Harmon
SG: Reaves
SG: Williams
PF: Manek
C: Kur

Second Team
PG: JB
SG: Hill
SF: Garang
PF: Victor
C: Issanza

Next year there will be lots of unknowns and assumptions of progress, but that is college basketball. You only keep these guys 2-4 years and then you have unknowns every time a starter graduates.

 

[steverocks35]

Well our Big 2 will be reduced to a Big 1 next season, so we will definitely need contributions from people that haven't contributed much so far. I can't imagine we can lose Doolittle and be better next year. It's always possible that several players can make a big leap but that's something that you don't really want to rely on.

 

[AdaSooner]

Next season will be rough. Losing our best player, and not replacing them with a serviceable recruit is a mistake. Phipps is not really OU-level. There is a reason he was committed to Tulsa. He is probably a good kid, but most likely won't contribute at OU. So unless Harmon takes a big step next season, OU will be where OSU is this season.

You’re not giving Phipps much credit for being named MVP in the 6-A State Tournament last year. Let me repeat that: 6-A State Tournament, not some podunk award handed out to just any kid who can dribble a basketball. By the way, he scored 42 points in the championship game.

Will he start next season? Not likely. But I think he will be a nice piece off of the bench on a team with better than average talent and a chance to be just as good or better than this season.

 

[cowboysooner]

Agree with big, we will be different but at least as good next year. Could easily be better if a few guys develop a little. Whether we are or not, it won’t have anything to do with Phelps. Freshmen don’t contribute much with 11 scholarship players returning.

I think manek replaces doo and kur replaces manek and otherwise play about how we do now.

Wildcard will be ag and rick. We will know more next fall. I will be surprised if ag does help some. Haven’t seen enough of rick to speculate

 

[steverocks35]

Exactly.. Let me do this again.

First Team
PG: Harmon
SG: Reaves
SG: Williams
PF: Manek
C: Kur

Second Team
PG: JB
SG: Hill
SF: Garang
PF: Victor
C: Issanza

Next year there will be lots of unknowns and assumptions of progress, but that is college basketball. You only keep these guys 2-4 years and then you have unknowns every time a starter graduates.

I don't really see Kur starting unless he figures out lots of things in a hurry, but you never know.

 

[BCSooners]

Exactly.. Let me do this again.

First Team
PG: Harmon
SG: Reaves
SG: Williams
PF: Manek
C: Kur

Second Team
PG: JB
SG: Hill
SF: Garang
PF: Victor
C: Issanza

Next year there will be lots of unknowns and assumptions of progress, but that is college basketball. You only keep these guys 2-4 years and then you have unknowns every time a starter graduates.

So 2 year starter JB goes to the bench?

I think this could be a year for a regular transfer if he’d be a better option than a grad transfer, or a really good Juco wouldn’t be a bad idea since JB would be the only junior.

 

[thebigabd]

So 2 year starter JB goes to the bench?

I think this could be a year for a regular transfer if he’d be a better option than a grad transfer, or a really good Juco wouldn’t be a bad idea since JB would be the only junior.

He just can't produce anything... I get that he plays good defense, but he just doesn't produce enough to warrant a starting job on a good team.

He played 30 minutes yesterday and didn't score, missed all his shots, but had 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Those numbers are fine, but I think he can backup multiple players off the bench. You have to have someone who can produce out there.

He is just one of the most inept offensive players to play such a big role on a team. Think about this.... In 10 games this season he has scored 3 points or less, and in 4 of those 10 he didn't even score. You almost never see that.

10 out of 19 games with 3 points or less... he played 33 minutes against Stanford and didn't score. Played 30 minutes against Mississippi State and didn't score.. 20 minutes against Creighton and didn't score.. 26 minutes against Maryland Eastern-Shore and didn't score. It's crazy. You just never see that.

Alondes is going to be a producer next season... so is Harmon.. so is Reaves. I like having 3 producers out there and letting JB backup multiple positions, get tough defensive assignments, run the 2nd group, etc.

 

[mict085]

Based on our recruiting, we will be a perennial bubble team every year. The program is stagnant.

 

[BCSooners]

He just can't produce anything... I get that he plays good defense, but he just doesn't produce enough to warrant a starting job on a good team.

He played 30 minutes yesterday and didn't score, missed all his shots, but had 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Those numbers are fine, but I think he can backup multiple players off the bench. You have to have someone who can produce out there.

He is just one of the most inept offensive players to play such a big role on a team. Think about this.... In 10 games this season he has scored 3 points or less, and in 4 of those 10 he didn't even score. You almost never see that.

10 out of 19 games with 3 points or less... he played 33 minutes against Stanford and didn't score. Played 30 minutes against Mississippi State and didn't score.. 20 minutes against Creighton and didn't score.. 26 minutes against Maryland Eastern-Shore and didn't score. It's crazy. You just never see that.

Alondes is going to be a producer next season... so is Harmon.. so is Reaves. I like having 3 producers out there and letting JB backup multiple positions, get tough defensive assignments, run the 2nd group, etc.

How did Weatherspoon play yesterday? He’s a ball mover, gang rebounds, & shuts down the other teams best guard.

You want scorers off the bench, not ball movers/defenders.

 

[thebigabd]

How did Weatherspoon play yesterday? He’s a ball mover, gang rebounds, & shuts down the other teams best guard.

You want scorers off the bench, not ball movers/defenders.

He's not even a ball mover.... he's just a bus driver on offense. He doesn't make plays, he just swings the ball around.

 

[BCSooners]

He's not even a ball mover.... he's just a bus driver on offense. He doesn't make plays, he just swings the ball around.

I see things differently, I’d love to watch a game with you (not being sarcastic).