Early observations

[j2d2]

1. Need to get much, much better at rebounding. Our weakest ability by far. 2. Fitz looks like a different player. He's more aggressive under the basket and actually plays some effective defense.
3.Hield is outstanding.
4. Second weakness is allowing penetration to the basket. We are terrific at that. It's the second biggest weakness of the team now.

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree that rebounding could be a problem this year. OU got a lot of rebounds (53) last night. But there is no excuse for giving up 44 to an undersized UCO team.

Fitz, Tyler and Cam, with 8, 9 and 7 respectively did their part. Osby and M'Baye, with 5 each, will have to hit the boards harder for us to compete with the bigger teams we'll face in the regular portion of our season and in conference. IMO, they spent too much time on the outside to be effective on the offensive boards.

And, how does a 6' 4" guard go through an entire game without getting a single rebound? Pledger had better get with the program or he may find himself coming off of the bench.

 

[bgrch1350]

I agree that rebounding could be a problem this year. OU got a lot of rebounds (53) last night. But there is no excuse for giving up 44 to an undersized UCO team.

Fitz, Tyler and Cam, with 8, 9 and 7 respectively did their part. Osby and M'Baye, with 5 each, will have to hit the boards harder for us to compete with the bigger teams we'll face in the regular portion of our season and in conference. IMO, they spent too much time on the outside to be effective on the offensive boards.

And, how does a 6' 4" guard go through an entire game without getting a single rebound? Pledger had better get with the program or he may find himself coming off of the bench.

Well until Kruger establishes his lineup, I take these stats with a grain of salt.

A. We're playing horrible competition.
B. None of the players are getting into grooves

We get better competion just scrimmaging ourselves.

 

[AdaSooner]

Well until Kruger establishes his lineup, I take these stats with a grain of salt.

A. We're playing horrible competition.
B. None of the players are getting into grooves

We get better competion just scrimmaging ourselves.

What does the level of the competiton have to do with rebounding?

Some of the veterans on this team may not be in a groove. But that doesn't apply to everyone, which is why three newcomers are starting right now. As I said before, that could change in time. Unlike last year when Kruger didn't have many options, playing time will have to be earned.

 

[DenverSooner]

playing time will have to be earned.

In my opinon that is the main reason OU will be better this year. If you are not playing well, Kruger can sit you on the bench. He could not do that last year.

 

[AdaSooner]

In my opinon that is the main reason OU will be better this year. If you are not playing well, Kruger can sit you on the bench. He could not do that last year.

I agree 100%, Denver.

 

[MNsooner]

In my opinon that is the main reason OU will be better this year. If you are not playing well, Kruger can sit you on the bench. He could not do that last year.

Absolutely agree. It also means we can ride the hot hand on any given night instead of live or die based on the play of a couple of guys.

 

[25mob]

And, how does a 6' 4" guard go through an entire game without getting a single rebound? Pledger had better get with the program or he may find himself coming off of the bench.

this is why I would really like to see Cam start at the 3rd guard spot. He can defend well and he's really rebounding aggressively. To many times in both exhibition games the opposing guards were out working the OU guards on the boards or getting their hands on the ball. I think the best lineup for a good mix of offense and defense is:

G - Cousins
G - Hornbeak
G - Cam
F - M'Baye
F - Osby

 

[garyeb2]

Where is WT and his posse when you actually need them. Guys I have been a constant knock on Pledger. I think he dogged it for 3 yrs. I thought he was dogging it in losing efforts when others on the team were busting their butts. I didn't care how good he can shoot, I didn't like it.

Pledger isn't doing anything wrong this season. I really believe that Kruger put the pressure on him to come back a different player this season. It looks like to me he is doing everything he can to be the best he can be. I think that I have only missed two practices so far and that is what I'm seeing.

During a break to shoot free throws I was close enough to hear a couple of asst. coaches mutt talking Pledger to Kruger over some shortcoming that they had perceived. Kruger defended him by saying how pleased he was with Pledger's practice efforts so far.

Starting 3 freshmen this early in the season may a bridge too far. I like the idea, but, all 3 of them will have a better chance of getting off to a good start if they are playing along side some more experienced guys.

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree that it's better to mix the newbies with more experienced players. That may be why Kruger brings Hield in with the second unit, instead of experimenting with three freshmen on the floor at the same time.

I'm not for replacing Pledger either. There aren't many posters on the board who have been more supportive of Bird than me. But I saw a couple of things last night I didn't like, namely taking plays off and standing by himself outside the circle when his teammates were jumping up and down before the game got underway.

I support Steven when he does well. But I will also criticize him (in a polite way of course) when he fails to meet the standards coach has set for every member of the team. Maybe he wasn't feeling well. All I know is that he did not perform to a high level, and it didn't have anything to do with 1 of 6 shooting from three.

 

[NickZepp]

I know this may sound wierd but I'm not sure Osby and Amath should both be starting as our posts. They are kinda similar in their games in a lot of ways. I kinda think Fitz should start as a post. If both Amath and Osby start it would be in a 3 forward lineup. I'm not saying that either one is bad or anything but to me we need a post player that is going to play more from the post. Fitz will mostly do this even with his jumper setting up his post game. And I believe he's a better rebounder than Amath and Osby. If we start those 2 we need to put one at the 3 and have one of the freshman goes to the bench.

 

[StatGeek]

I know this may sound wierd but I'm not sure Osby and Amath should both be starting as our posts. They are kinda similar in their games in a lot of ways. I kinda think Fitz should start as a post. If both Amath and Osby start it would be in a 3 forward lineup. I'm not saying that either one is bad or anything but to me we need a post player that is going to play more from the post. Fitz will mostly do this even with his jumper setting up his post game. And I believe he's a better rebounder than Amath and Osby. If we start those 2 we need to put one at the 3 and have one of the freshman goes to the bench.

Let me get this straight. Andrew Fitzgerald is a better rebounder than Romero Osby???? Surely you can't be serious.

 

[NickZepp]

Probably good point there but the real point is that I'm not sure Amath and Osby contrast each other as good as Fitz would as a starter. And Fitz will take up more space leading to more rebounds.

 

[TheGimper]

Probably good point there but the real point is that I'm not sure Amath and Osby contrast each other as good as Fitz would as a starter. And Fitz will take up more space leading to more rebounds.

How would Fitz take up more space than Osby/M'Baye?

 

[jmizzy4ou]

nm

 

[SoonerinNC]

The three freshman guards and Pledger are hitting open shots. Clark and Grooms are not. Cam had a good practice on Tuesday but not today. He seems to be struggling to get into the flow of things.

They spent a fair amount of time on rebounds today and a lot of time working on getting the ball inside. Fitz made some nice shots off the offense.

Arendt had some kind of leg injury. Don't know how serious but he didn't play after that.

Neal seems to be coming on. Hopefully that will hold up when we face the tougher competition. If he can contribute we have a solid 10 deep. Neal spent quite a bit of time with the Reds today.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

The three freshman guards and Pledger are hitting open shots. Clark and Grooms are not. Cam had a good practice on Tuesday but not today. He seems to be struggling to get into the flow of things.

They spent a fair amount of time on rebounds today and a lot of time working on getting the ball inside. Fitz made some nice shots off the offense.

Arendt had some kind of leg injury. Don't know how serious but he didn't play after that.

Neal seems to be coming on. Hopefully that will hold up when we face the tougher competition. If he can contribute we have a solid 10 deep. Neal spent quite a bit of time with the Reds today.

Good stuff!!!!!

 

[NickZepp]

The thing is that Fitz is more of a true post player. M'Bath and Osby seem like they are both more of the 3/4 swing guys. We would have a more versatile team and probably better overall at rebounding if we in fact start Osby, M'Bath and Fitz. But I can also see going with a lineup with the freshman Pledger than Osby/Fitz/Amath. But to me having 2 small power forwards doesn't seem to make sense unless one is amazing at rebounding.

 

[25mob]

The three freshman guards and Pledger are hitting open shots. Clark and Grooms are not. Cam had a good practice on Tuesday but not today. He seems to be struggling to get into the flow of things.
.

because the team doesn't have to depend on one person to hit outside shots is the reason Cam could replace Pledge and not have a big drop off in scoring. sometimes you have to sacrifice some offense for defense and rebounding. If OU doesn't start becoming a better all around team then OU will probably expect another .500 or a little above .500 team this season.

 

[WTSooner]

Fitz is no more a true post player than Osby is. Truth of the matter is, we really won't be playing a true post player this year, in terms of a guy that does most of his damage inside. All of our bigs will score a lot of their points on 10-15 foot jumpers. Fitz score a TON of his points last year on the elbow and baseline jumpers.