ESPN Top 25 breakout players for 2013-2014

[1H3@rtH0$]

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff-goodman/post?id=2086

"6. Buddy Hield, Oklahoma Sooners
Sophomore, 6-4, 210

The Bahamas native averaged 7.8 points in 25 minutes as a freshman last season, but he wasn't the same after suffering a broken bone in his foot in February. With the loss of Romero Osby, Steven Pledger and Amath M'Baye, Field is the team's leading returning scorer. He has good size, plays hard and can finish. One Oklahoma coach said Hield lives in the gym and is ultra-competitive and confident. His biggest fault may be that he tries to do too much.

Look for Hield to be the Sooners' most productive player for coach Lon Kruger. He has the blend of talent, toughness and energy that's rare these days -- and it should translate into a big season."

:woot

 

[AdaSooner]

I'm not sure if "breakout" player is the right category for Buddy? He proved last year that he is capable of having big games. I'm too lazy to check the stats on each one, but I know he led the team in scoring a few times prior to his injury.

Thus, it's easy for me to believe that Buddy is poised for a great season. No one on the team I can think of is capable of scoring in so many ways. If I was asked to pick the most logical candidate to lead the team in scoring, Buddy would be my choice. That is, assuming he is healthy and ready to go full speed when the season starts.

 

[Max Power]

I'm not sure if "breakout" player is the right category for Buddy? He proved last year that he is capable of having big games. I'm too lazy to check the stats on each one, but I know he led the team in scoring a few times prior to his injury.

Thus, it's easy for me to believe that Buddy is poised for a great season. No one on the team I can think of is capable of scoring in so many ways. If I was asked to pick the most logical candidate to lead the team in scoring, Buddy would be my choice. That is, assuming he is healthy and ready to go full speed when the season starts.

I don't remember his stats, but I remember watching and thinking, buddy is having a bigtime game in our victory over kansas

 

[WTSooner]

Buddy only averaged 7.8 points (not terrible given the scorers that finished in front of him), on 39% and 29% shooting.

So I think there is still room for him to "break out".

I'll be honest, I'm really anxious to see how are scoring goes this year. Most years you can reasonably guess. I really don't have much of an idea this year.

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree, this is the first time in my recent memory when there is not a clear cut favorite to lead the team in scoring. I'm just saying that if I had to predict our top scorer right now, Buddy would be my choice

Do I expect him to match Romero's average of 16 per game? No way. I don't believe this team has a player who will score 16 or more night in and night out. I think our scoring will be more balanced than we've seen in years, with four to five players averaging 8 to 15 points per. Hield, Spanger, Woodard, Clark, Hornbeak and Cousins are all capable of doing that.

 

[sheepdog]

3 out of 4 isn't bad!

 

[Max Power]

I agree, this is the first time in my recent memory when there is not a clear cut favorite to lead the team in scoring. I'm just saying that if I had to predict our top scorer right now, Buddy would be my choice

Do I expect him to match Romero's average of 16 per game? No way. I don't believe this team has a player who will score 16 or more night in and night out. I think our scoring will be more balanced than we've seen in years, with four to five players averaging 8 to 15 points per. Hield, Spanger, Woodard, Clark, Hornbeak and Cousins are all capable of doing that.

That's not a bad thing. We will be able to weather one guy having an off night we can go to other options. Also, the defense can't focus on stopping one guy