Doolittle

[AdaSooner]

The "production lineup" would be:

Reaves - Williams - Doo - Manek - Kur

This puts your best scorer, your best shooter, your best driver, your best athletes, your best rebounder, your best defender, and your best shot blocker on the floor at the same time.

The negative is... it means Reaves is running point.

Probably also best to go with a 1-3-1 or 2-3 zone with this lineup.

I like everything about your lineup except Reaves at the point. He mostly creates shots for himself not his teammates. He’s so reckless with the ball sometimes (see his 6 TOs last night), I cringe when he goes into his fancy dribbling act.

Then again, since the Harmon/Bieniemy show isn’t working as well as it should, I’m all for giving it a try. Maybe putting the point guard responsibilities on Austin’s shoulders will be just the ticket to get him to be a total team player.

 

[OkieTC]

I think we have some decent players...but would like to see them COACHED a little more. When Reeves is playing hero ball, yank him out. When Bieniemy refuses to even acknowledge a basket and rim even exist, gone. When Doo passes up an open 17 footer for a step back 3? Bye bye. Make these guys accountable. I get so tired of watching him clapping from the sidelines as we look like clowns out there. I keep hearing how Reeves was so good in the American, but can’t hack it in the Big 12. Nah. That hero ball crap and terrible shot selection got his butt on the bench under Marshall. I know that’s not Lon’s style...but I think it’s what they need. If he can’t be the bad guy, one of his assistants needs to be. I don’t get it.

 

[BCSooners]

Is it a bad defensive lineup if you are playing zone?

I think so, but I agree it's worth a shot but for short periods once or twice a game.

If that group ran any type of zone here's the 3 main issues I see:

1) Manek would have to guard the perimeter against guards.
2) Williams & Kur have to be extra aware of their multiple assignments based on the offense's alignments & ball placement.
3) You can't hide Reaves on the worst perimeter player & just allow him to play good team defense, he'll have to hold his own 1v1 & not ball watch.

 

[Leroy]

Why is Manek getting a pass for how he played last night? He was soft jogged around all night. No effort at all. Our postmen are soft.

 

[Eielson]

I love Doolittle. He's not the issue.

 

[MJSooner]

I love Doolittle. He's not the issue.

I love Doo as well, and while he may not be THE issue, his play the last few games has been one issue.

While I thought the announcers sucked last night, I do agree in the color's point about toughness. He mentioned physical and mental toughness. Doo seems to be struggling with both, which has made him very ineffective on the defensive end and rebounding.

Additionally, he has fallen in love completely with his outside game and now he is not making shots. He is just spot-up shooting, with no dribble drive, no dribble pull up, or no taking it to the rack. Getting back to being physically tough.

Doo has the potential to be a great player, as demonstrated often. But the last few games he appears to have slid back into the mental mindest he had his sophomore year.

 

[daqman]

I love Doolittle. He's not the issue.

He isn't THE issue. But when the guards give us nothing AND Doolittle gives us nothing, there's no chance of winning. Doolittle seems to have a cold shooting spell in every game but he usually snaps out of it eventually and gets his 15. If he had done that last night we might have been able to eke out a win.
My biggest concern before the season was the necessity of playing two of our best 5 at the same time (Manek/Doolittle), even though they're really not suited to play together. It might work out alright most games if our guards weren't playing like dog****.

 

[OkieTC]

I really feel that so many of the faults we have with our guys should have been corrected already by the coaching staff. Reeves and his poor shot selection. Doo and his love of the jumper. Bieniemy and his lack of aggression. All correctable. Just don’t think it’s being done. And I agree about Brady being somewhat soft and lack of aggression. It drives me nuts how he seems to get down on himself after missing a shot or giving up a rebound. He kinda hangs his head, reminds me of Christian James attitude. But when they are allowed to do it, it becomes habit. But sadly, I don’t see Lon changing, so I guess that’s just OU basketball until he retires. Sad.