Freshmen Led the Way!

[AdaSooner]

Am I the only one who loves our freshmen?! McGusty, Doolittle and Shepherd combined for 46 points. Doolittle led the team in rebounding with 13. They were also clutch from the free throw line.

Not a bad group of newbies to build around!

 

[coolm]

I loved it when Shepherd took that break strong to the hole. I was like "YES! you can be THAT aggressive!"

 

[Stikboy]

Am I the only one who loves our freshmen?! McGusty, Doolittle and Shepherd combined for 46 points. Doolittle led the team in rebounding with 13. They were also clutch from the free throw line.

Not a bad group of newbies to build around!

Add Young and another physical big and we might be in bidness..

 

[Hotrod33]

We have a great group of Freshmen to build around. If we can get our Sophomores to play more consistently also, this team has the potential to compete for the regular season title against those pesky hawks. I am so proud of this team this year because we were in most of the games and never gave up. It will payoff.

 

[billyball]

Excited about next year. I think we'll see a big turnaround with this year's freshman and the addition of Young. Can't wait.

 

[AdaSooner]

I loved it when Shepherd took that break strong to the hole. I was like "YES! you can be THAT aggressive!"

Shepherd's composure is remarkable for a freshman with limited playing time. I would rather see him with the ball in his hands at crunch time than anyone on the team right now. As you correctly pointed out, he's also fearless.

 

[coolm]

Shepherd is just so calm out there. Even when he's messing up he's pretty calm. Thats a trait you can use in a guard. And dont get me wrong - I think he does a lot of good things too.

I do wish he had received more PT earlier. But it is what it is now. we move forward. I like where we're heading.

 

[skyvue]

I loved it when Shepherd took that break strong to the hole. I was like "YES! you can be THAT aggressive!"

That play stood out for me, too. Very impressive.

I was very excited about today's win and especially the play of our freshmen.

 

[NYC-Fool]

Impressed by the clutch free throws at the end of the game - big sign that these guys are growing up. Despite challenges this year, this was a great recruiting class.

 

[coolm]

Despite challenges this year, this was a great recruiting class.

no doubt man.

this is a TOUGH conference and our guys have weathered thru the #1 hardest schedule in the country. and they've been in it, and deep in it, in all but 3 games.

and thats dealing with no leadership and loss of woodard.

all those close, hard fought games where they led deep into the second half and couldnt hold on. they're battle hardened man. I think the TCU game today showed it. they're getting some armor.

shepherd, doolittle, mcgusty, mcneace, odomes nice xp!!

 

[kbsooner]

Thinking back to Buddy and Isiah's freshman year, these guys are light years ahead at the end of year 1.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Thinking back to Buddy and Isiah's freshman year, these guys are light years ahead at the end of year 1.

I think your memory is quite good. Just for the sake of comparison ...

Points scored as a Freshman at OU
211 .. Buddy Hield .. 27 games; 7.8 ppg
_85 .. Isaiah Cousins .. 32 games; 2.7 ppg
244 .. Hollis Price .. 34 games; 7.2 ppg

328 .. Kameron McGusty .. 30 games; 10.9 ppg
270 .. Kristian Doolittle .. 30 games; 9.0 ppg
113 .. Jordan Shepherd .. 27 games; 4.2 ppg

**********************************

Minutes Played vs. TCU
> 35 .. Freshman Kameron McGusty
> 32 .. Freshman Kristian Doolittle
> 29 .. Freshman Jordan Shepherd
> 28 .. Junior Khadeem Lattin
> 21 .. Sophomore Dante Buford
> 18 .. Junior Darrion Strong Moore
> 17 .. Sophomore Christian James
> 12 .. Sophomore Jamuni McNeace
> 08 .. Freshman Matt Freeman

 

[chuckb]

I think your memory is quite good. Just for the sake of comparison ...

Points scored as a Freshman at OU
211 .. Buddy Hield .. 27 games; 7.8 ppg
_85 .. Isaiah Cousins .. 32 games; 2.7 ppg
244 .. Hollis Price .. 34 games; 7.2 ppg

328 .. Kameron McGusty .. 30 games; 10.9 ppg
270 .. Kristian Doolittle .. 30 games; 9.0 ppg
113 .. Jordan Shepherd .. 27 games; 4.2 ppg

**********************************

Minutes Played vs. TCU
> 35 .. Freshman Kameron McGusty
> 32 .. Freshman Kristian Doolittle
> 29 .. Freshman Jordan Shepherd
> 28 .. Junior Khadeem Lattin
> 21 .. Sophomore Dante Buford
> 18 .. Junior Darrion Strong Moore
> 17 .. Sophomore Christian James
> 12 .. Sophomore Jamuni McNeace
> 08 .. Freshman Matt Freeman

To be fair, that team didn't need Hield and Cousins the way this one needed McGusty and Doolittle. Don't get me wrong...I've said many times that McGusty is better now than Hield was then but that team had Pledger, Clark, Osby, and M'baye and didn't need as much from the freshmen.

I would be very surprised is we're not top 4 in the conference next year and at least a 6 seed in the tournament. It's a down year, but the future is bright.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

True that.

I think a key point is that the freshmen this season are getting lots of playing time. The experience they are gaining is enabled by the fact that the seniors from last season are gone. The players that were freshmen last season (2015-16) gained limited playing time by comparison.

I certainly agree that the future is promising. The current freshman class provides a solid core to build around.

 

[chuckb]

True that.

I think a key point is that the freshmen this season are getting lots of playing time. The experience they are gaining is enabled by the fact that the seniors from last season are gone. The players that were freshmen last season (2015-16) gained limited playing time by comparison.

I certainly agree that the future is promising. The current freshman class provides a solid core to build around.

This is such an important point, in my view. We'd have been better this season if James, McNeace, and Odomes had played more last season, but we wouldn't have been as good last season. It would've probably cost us a couple of wins and a number 1 seed. Do we make the Final 4 if we're a 2 or a 3? Maybe not. Kruger went for it last year, including making an unsuccessful run at the conference championship, and it put us behind the 8 ball somewhat this season. I believe it was the correct call and, despite a bad year this year, we'll be better next year because of this year's retooling.

 

[coolm]

This is such an important point, in my view. We'd have been better this season if James, McNeace, and Odomes had played more last season, but we wouldn't have been as good last season. It would've probably cost us a couple of wins and a number 1 seed. Do we make the Final 4 if we're a 2 or a 3? Maybe not. Kruger went for it last year, including making an unsuccessful run at the conference championship, and it put us behind the 8 ball somewhat this season. I believe it was the correct call and, despite a bad year this year, we'll be better next year because of this year's retooling.

good point. and once it's off the rails man you've gotta make a good damage control decision and Lon did that.

I seriously, honestly believed woodard's first injury was minor but he was getting him to be out anyway to see what it stirred up in them. Maybe it was fortuitous that he did it if so because him leaving allowed a few guys to get that XP.

 

[BCSooners]

This is such an important point, in my view. We'd have been better this season if James, McNeace, and Odomes had played more last season, but we wouldn't have been as good last season. It would've probably cost us a couple of wins and a number 1 seed. Do we make the Final 4 if we're a 2 or a 3? Maybe not. Kruger went for it last year, including making an unsuccessful run at the conference championship, and it put us behind the 8 ball somewhat this season. I believe it was the correct call and, despite a bad year this year, we'll be better next year because of this year's retooling.

OU was a 2 seed last year.

 

[chuckb]

OU was a 2 seed last year.

Right. We were the 2 and Oregon was the 1. I guess I remembered it wrong since I thought at the time we were more deserving of the 1 seed. Regardless, the point remains. We might have been a 3 instead of a 2, and so on.

 

[WaymanFan]

Am I the only one who loves our freshmen?! McGusty, Doolittle and Shepherd combined for 46 points. Doolittle led the team in rebounding with 13. They were also clutch from the free throw line.

Not a bad group of newbies to build around!

No, you aren't the only one who is high on these three. I'm not giving up on Freeman, either because I saw early in the year how deadly accurate he was from the outside. Like Kelvin Sampson used to say, the best players make their biggest improvements between their freshman and sophomore seasons.

I can't wait to see these guys come November!

 

[Northbase]

I noticed in the TCU game that Freeman, although not making shots, moved and played very well without the ball. Good to see him making plays.