Fitz to the bench

[j2d2]

As much as I love him, he is a liability on defense and cant rebound. Nor can he play with his back to the basket very well. His one strength is to play about 10 feet+ from the basket and shoot. From what I hear about M'Baye, we would gain some defense, and rebounding and not lose much if anything on offense. I think Fitz becomes our first off the bench spelling both M'Baye and Osby next year.

 

[SoonerSpock]

I cannot speak for how Kruger will use M'Baye next year but this past season I attended about 10 practices. M'Baye played the 3 80+% of the time with 20% or less at the 4. The effort by the staff was to focus M'Baye on improving his perimeter skills.

Doesn't necessarily mean anything come this fall but I think it is probable that they initially have him at the 3 to provide competition for Cameron Clark and a second/third option BTA.

 

[ksSooner13]

M'Baye will play the 3
Osby the 4
Fitz the 5....


no need to start the bashing already, wait until October

 

[DenverSooner]

I cannot speak for how Kruger will use M'Baye next year but this past season I attended about 10 practices. M'Baye played the 3 80+% of the time with 20% or less at the 4. The effort by the staff was to focus M'Baye on improving his perimeter skills.

Doesn't necessarily mean anything come this fall but I think it is probable that they initially have him at the 3 to provide competition for Cameron Clark and a second/third option BTA.

I suspect that is because he needed to improve his perimeter skills.

 

[WTSooner]

I cannot speak for how Kruger will use M'Baye next year but this past season I attended about 10 practices. M'Baye played the 3 80+% of the time with 20% or less at the 4. The effort by the staff was to focus M'Baye on improving his perimeter skills.

Doesn't necessarily mean anything come this fall but I think it is probable that they initially have him at the 3 to provide competition for Cameron Clark and a second/third option BTA.

Sure it does. It means that playing the 3 in practice was the best way to get him some time on the perimeter. A 3 spends 100% of their time out there, while a 4 may spend 50% at most, depending on the offense. Just b/c they wanted him to improve his perimeter game, doesn't mean they want him to play the 3. They also didn't know what our roster would look like next year. See below.....

M'Baye will play the 3
Osby the 4
Fitz the 5....

no need to start the bashing already, wait until October

IF we don't sign another big man that can play next year (ie, Spangler and Korchek both redshirt), I don't see any way it plays out like this. That would mean you are sitting a TON of guards on the bench, and you are starting the only three big men we have that are worth a darn. Besides, if M'Baye is such a good rebounder, why in the world would you want him outside defending guards? Tough to rebound from out there.

 

[garyeb2]

There still seems to be a misconception about M'Baye. He wasn't practicing at the #3 because he needed so much to improve his peremiter skills. He is already a better peremiter player than anyone we have. He is a better #3 than Cam on both ends of the court. He is a pretty good player.

He is probably a natural college #4. But, we alredy have a decent #4 and it would be silly not to have the 2 best players on the floor. I don't know where Kruger will play him. But, he has options.

My preference would be that He and Osby play a help each other out two on two game from inside out with no traditional #5. M'Baye is tall, but he isn't and will never be be a traditional #5. My guress would be 2 #4's and 3 guards will be how they go most of the time. And then 3 #4's, Fitz,Osby, & M'Baye, and 2 guards when they want to go bigger.

 

[WTSooner]

There still seems to be a misconception about M'Baye. He wasn't practicing at the #3 because he needed so much to improve his peremiter skills.

That goes against what LK said a few weeks ago. The article was linked here on the site. LK said exactly that, that they had M'Baye practicing with the guards to improve his perimeter game. What else could that mean?

I think the other reason was numbers. We had Washington, Arent, and Honore who could all run the 4/5 spots for the B Team. B Team guards would have been Blair, Neal. By default, unless LK wanted to use the walk-ons, M'Baye had to play the wing, no? What other choice did he have? Play M'Baye inside, and play Honore at the 3 to have enough guys to scrimmage/practice?

That is why I laughed earlier when people suggested that M'Baye playing the wing in practice meant something. Simply looking at the roster answered that question, lack of numbers dictated it.

 

[greenbug]

I agree with the OP that Fitz will be the first off the bench. The three Guards we have coming in can play the 3 if needed. Horbeak 1,2,3 Cousins 1,2,3 and Hield 2,3. I think Hield or Cousins will end up pushing Cam at the 3. I really don't think Cousins will play point based on limited film I've seen.

 

[garyeb2]

That goes against what LK said a few weeks ago. The article was linked here on the site. LK said exactly that, that they had M'Baye practicing with the guards to improve his perimeter game. What else could that mean?

I think the other reason was numbers. We had Washington, Arent, and Honore who could all run the 4/5 spots for the B Team. B Team guards would have been Blair, Neal. By default, unless LK wanted to use the walk-ons, M'Baye had to play the wing, no? What other choice did he have? Play M'Baye inside, and play Honore at the 3 to have enough guys to scrimmage/practice?

That is why I laughed earlier when people suggested that M'Baye playing the wing in practice meant something. Simply looking at the roster answered that question, lack of numbers dictated it.

Of course practicing on the wing for a year would help M'Baye improve his ball handleing , 3 pt. shot, and other skills. I heard Kruger's comments.
My comment was that he didn't need anymore practice out there to be better than our current bunch of wing players.

You forgot about TJ. He is a fine practice player. Also, Kruger's nephew is somewhat skillled. The sportscaster's kid was fine for a practice player except when being pressured in the backcourt. And then of course there was Calvin. He was there for practice all thru the preseason and up past the start of the regular season. There was no shortage of guards to practice.

M'Baye was on the wing for a reason. He was there to get better at doing the things wing players do.

 

[usedtobe1]

IMHO there is no way they will have all 3 big men on the floor at the same time ..... very often. OU's biggest problem last year was on the perimeter. Offensively, Grooms is the only guy who can handle the ball against a press, and he isn't a threat to shoot from the outside. Pledger is a spot up shooter without great handles. No way can they play the 3 big men, Pledger, and Grooms. They would fold like a cheap tent against pressure.

Kruger's MO has been to to utilize guard play, and I think the recruiting of 3 G/wing players show that's what they're trying to fix.

I always heard that it doesn't matter who starts, but instead it's who finishes that really counts. I think there are plenty of minutes to go around for Fitz, Osby, and M'Baye because at least one of the freshmen need to be on the floor on a 3 guard/2 post lineup.... 8 players are going to get PT in Big 12 play.

 

[WTSooner]

IMHO there is no way they will have all 3 big men on the floor at the same time ..... very often. OU's biggest problem last year was on the perimeter. Offensively, Grooms is the only guy who can handle the ball against a press, and he isn't a threat to shoot from the outside. Pledger is a spot up shooter without great handles. No way can they play the 3 big men, Pledger, and Grooms. They would fold like a cheap tent against pressure.

Kruger's MO has been to to utilize guard play, and I think the recruiting of 3 G/wing players show that's what they're trying to fix.

I always heard that it doesn't matter who starts, but instead it's who finishes that really counts. I think there are plenty of minutes to go around for Fitz, Osby, and M'Baye because at least one of the freshmen need to be on the floor on a 3 guard/2 post lineup.... 8 players are going to get PT in Bug 12 play.

:clap

 

[garyeb2]

IMHO there is no way they will have all 3 big men on the floor at the same time ..... very often. OU's biggest problem last year was on the perimeter. Offensively, Grooms is the only guy who can handle the ball against a press, and he isn't a threat to shoot from the outside. Pledger is a spot up shooter without great handles. No way can they play the 3 big men, Pledger, and Grooms. They would fold like a cheap tent against pressure.

Kruger's MO has been to to utilize guard play, and I think the recruiting of 3 G/wing players show that's what they're trying to fix.

I always heard that it doesn't matter who starts, but instead it's who finishes that really counts. I think there are plenty of minutes to go around for Fitz, Osby, and M'Baye because at least one of the freshmen need to be on the floor on a 3 guard/2 post lineup.... 8 players are going to get PT in Big 12 play.

Kruger was a guard. He likes guards. He will play alot of guards. But, you cann't have M'Baye sitting on the bench while he is rotating with Osby and Fitz for minutes. And then have inferior players on the floor just because they are 6'4"

People seem to think that just because he is tall, he is limited as to what he can do. He could beat out any of last years starters from the #2 thru the #5.
I leave out the #1 because he probably lacks the first step quickness to be a press breaker.

I'm not representing him to be some great program changeing talent. But, I would think that the consensus of those that have watched him work is that he is an all conference caliber player. He will get a chance to make money playing basketball in a couple of years. If any of last years bunch, with the possible exception of Osby, gain financialy from basketball. It will be as a high school coach.

 

[BigTime]

Kruger was a guard. He likes guards. He will play alot of guards. But, you cann't have M'Baye sitting on the bench while he is rotating with Osby and Fitz for minutes. And then have inferior players on the floor just because they are 6'4"

People seem to think that just because he is tall, he is limited as to what he can do. He could beat out any of last years starters from the #2 thru the #5.
I leave out the #1 because he probably lacks the first step quickness to be a press breaker.

I'm not representing him to be some great program changeing talent. But, I would think that the consensus of those that have watched him work is that he is an all conference caliber player. He will get a chance to make money playing basketball in a couple of years. If any of last years bunch, with the possible exception of Osby, gain financialy from basketball. It will be as a high school coach.

Osby, Cam, Pledger and Fitzgerald will all make money playing basketball someday if they choose to...

Grooms will too if he can get his shot under control.

 

[WTSooner]

Osby, Cam, Pledger and Fitzgerald will all make money playing basketball someday if they choose to...

Yep.

 

[garyeb2]

Osby, Cam, Pledger and Fitzgerald will all make money playing basketball someday if they choose to...

Grooms will too if he can get his shot under control.

Where and for who? Cade Davis, one of my personel favorites, landed in the eastern european league. The minors.

Are you saying that the group you mentioned are a more marketable basketball commodities than Cade? And if that is what you are saying, please explain to me how such a fine collection of professional quality players has lost so many games for so many years.

 

[garyeb2]

Yep.

Thanks for chirping in. I did exclude Osby from my evaluation. You said that Grooms was the worst point guard to play at OU in the last 20 years. No one on this board has been a harsher critic of Cam than you.

So, now they are part of a group of pro caliber players. Consistancy isn't one of you virtues. Is it?

 

[WTSooner]

Thanks for chirping in. I did exclude Osby from my evaluation. You said that Grooms was the worst point guard to play at OU in the last 20 years. No one on this board has been a harsher critic of Cam than you.

So, now they are part of a group of pro caliber players. Consistancy isn't one of you virtues. Is it?

You don't think those guys can play overseas for money? Especially Pledger? If not, it shows how little you know about the kinds of players that end up playing over there. Cam is too athletic to not get a shot overseas, unless he just tanks it the next two years. Ryan Frickin' Wright is playing for money, and averaging 17ppg. And you don't think Pledger or Cam will get paid? That is crazy.

 

[garyeb2]

You don't think those guys can play overseas for money? Especially Pledger? If not, it shows how little you know about the kinds of players that end up playing over there. Cam is too athletic to not get a shot overseas, unless he just tanks it the next two years. Ryan Frickin' Wright is playing for money, and averaging 17ppg. And you don't think Pledger or Cam will get paid? That is crazy.

Which league,where, how much money? How broad a definition of playing for money do you want to go. Do you want to include the Washington Generals?

They are/were a pro exibition team that amassed a record of 6 wins and over 13,000 losses. Is that playing pro basketball? Some of OU's current players have certainly put together a resume that matches up well with an operation like that.

If you are trying to say that you think that there are more paying baskeball jobs available than there are quality players to fill them, well mayby there is. I don't know for sure about that. And niether do you.

If you are trying to say that OU currently has a stockpile of quality players ready to fill quality basketball jobs, well... I would have to file that with " the current class of incoming guards are long and athletic,but they lack basketball skills, and freshmen dont play good defense." And of course we should all have the WT brand of insight that enables us to see that every big that has been mentioned as a possible recrut is destined to be nothing more than a career bench player.

The fog that engulfs you prevents you from understanding that players like Ryan Wright and Heskett would have been starters and stars on the last 3 OU teams.

 

[Sid]

Which league,where, how much money? How broad a definition of playing for money do you want to go. Do you want to include the Washington Generals?

 

[BoulderSooner]

Which league,where, how much money? How broad a definition of playing for money do you want to go. Do you want to include the Washington Generals?

They are/were a pro exibition team that amassed a record of 6 wins and over 13,000 losses. Is that playing pro basketball? Some of OU's current players have certainly put together a resume that matches up well with an operation like that.

If you are trying to say that you think that there are more paying baskeball jobs available than there are quality players to fill them, well mayby there is. I don't know for sure about that. And niether do you.

If you are trying to say that OU currently has a stockpile of quality players ready to fill quality basketball jobs, well... I would have to file that with " the current class of incoming guards are long and athletic,but they lack basketball skills, and freshmen dont play good defense." And of course we should all have the WT brand of insight that enables us to see that every big that has been mentioned as a possible recrut is destined to be nothing more than a career bench player.

The fog that engulfs you prevents you from understanding that players like Ryan Wright and Heskett would have been starters and stars on the last 3 OU teams.

ryan wright and heskett woudl not have started on last years OU team .. but they would have been a great help off the bench