Good read on Rashard Odomes

[OUHoops]

http://oklahoma.scout.com/story/1534702-ou-s-next-generation-rashard-odomes?s=146

 

[skyvue]

Gotta love this young man's attitude:

There’s no hesitation in what Odomes wants.

“I’d love for him to come back,” he said of Hield. “I think I would learn a lot of stuff playing behind him. I’m not looking to come in and just be that guy – how Buddy was this year.

“I’m looking to come in and learn stuff behind him coming off the bench. If he comes back, there’s a lot that he can teach me at my position.”

But that would mean much fewer minutes for Odomes, who had penchant for taking over games as a senior at Copperas Cove High School with his skill to the extent that his teammates were caught watching in amazement at times.

“I’m fine with that,” Odomes said of reduced minutes as a freshman. “I’m not looking to come in and be the star. I just want to come in and make an impact in the best way I can.”

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree with what Skyvue said about Odomes. I love his attitude and his ability to score in a variety of ways. I think OU got a steal when they signed this young man. I feel the same way about James. If he had not been injured most of last season, I think there is a very good chance he would have blown up last year, just as Odomes did his senior season.

I'm really excited about OU's 2015 class!

 

[j2d2]

Gotta love this young man's attitude:

I love the kind of people Kruger recruits. This kid sounds like an outstanding person and will likely make an outstanding player.

 

[WTSooner]

It's at least interesting that Odomes sees himself as Buddy's backup. Gonna be VERY interesting to see where Buford ends up contributing the most.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Odomes, who will play either small forward or a stretch power forward at Oklahoma, will start classes at Oklahoma in early June, when he will also have the chance to workout with his future teammates. He’ll play in the Faith 7 All-Star Basketball Bowl, a matchup between the best of Texas and Oklahoma, around that same time in Shawnee.

Fellow fans: If anyone finds out when this game is scheduled, please post it. I want to drive to Shawnee to watch it this summer. Thanks.

 

[CoachTalk]

It's at least interesting that Odomes sees himself as Buddy's backup. Gonna be VERY interesting to see where Buford ends up contributing the most.

I think Burford is the 3/4 type... Until this year 4 for OU is a guard that can guard a pf/sf (3/4). just like Cam.

Buddy was a 3 for us, but he's a sg/2.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think Burford is the 3/4 type... Until this year 4 for OU is a guard that can guard a pf/sf (3/4). just like Cam.

Buddy was a 3 for us, but he's a sg/2.

Is this accurate? In 2014 OU played Cam at the PF but the year before that OU had Osby and M'Baye and in Kruger's first season OU started Fitzgerald and Osby. Base on four seasons, I would say the trend is to a traditional two forward lineup with Kruger showing he would go with a smaller lineup if that gave OU the best chance to win based on his current players.

 

[WTSooner]

Is this accurate? In 2014 OU played Cam at the PF but the year before that OU had Osby and M'Baye and in Kruger's first season OU started Fitzgerald and Osby. Base on four seasons, I would say the trend is to a traditional two forward lineup with Kruger showing he would go with a smaller lineup if that gave OU the best chance to win based on his current players.

I think ideally LK wants a three guard lineup with a 4 like Buford (maybe Odomes), and a true big man. He hasn't had the type of big man at OU that would really allow him to use a small 4 most of the time, and be successful. Maybe Manyang is that player, and he can play beside Buford and play that style. I'm not sure. Maybe McNeace turns into that player. Maybe we haven't recruited that player yet.

 

[KBaden145]

I think ideally LK wants a three guard lineup with a 4 like Buford (maybe Odomes), and a true big man. He hasn't had the type of big man at OU that would really allow him to use a small 4 most of the time, and be successful. Maybe Manyang is that player, and he can play beside Buford and play that style. I'm not sure. Maybe McNeace turns into that player. Maybe we haven't recruited that player yet.

I think Ro was the perfect 4 for what Kruger is wanting to do.


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[AdaSooner]

It's at least interesting that Odomes sees himself as Buddy's backup. Gonna be VERY interesting to see where Buford ends up contributing the most.

Do you plan to keep track of the minutes he plays at every position so you can remind everyone about how right you were if he spends more time at the four?

No one, including me, has ever said Buford will not swing to the four position. I, too, believe we'll see that in certain match up situations. What I have said from the beginning is that he was recruited as a replacement for Cam on the wing. That's what Dante and his coach were told, and I have found Coach Kruger to be true to his word during the recruiting process.

If Buford doesn't work out at the three, he will at least get the chance to prove himself. It's no different than when Cousins was recruited to OU. He wanted the opportunity to play the point, and he got it.

 

[WTSooner]

Do you plan to keep track of the minutes he plays at every position so you can remind everyone about how right you were if he spends more time at the four?

No one, including me, has ever said Buford will not swing to the four position. I, too, believe we'll see that in certain match up situations. What I have said from the beginning is that he was recruited as a replacement for Cam on the wing. That's what Dante and his coach were told, and I have found Coach Kruger to be true to his word during the recruiting process.

If Buford doesn't work out at the three, he will at least get the chance to prove himself. It's no different than when Cousins was recruited to OU. He wanted the opportunity to play the point, and he got it.

The problem with that is that Cam didn't play the 3 much. He played the 4 exclusively as a senor, and played the 4 as a freshman (I think). He play the 3 more as a JR if I recall.

But his senior year, Cam was a 4.

As for keeping track of his minutes, like you, I've said he will play the wing some too. I actually even said he'd play the wing quite a bit (possibly) as an upper classman. The list of players that played significant minutes at both the 3 and 4 during the same season, starting with Kelvin's team thru today, is slim to none. Some moved from one to the other during the offseason, but very few truly split time during the same season between those two spots. That isn't on accident, IMO.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think ideally LK wants a three guard lineup with a 4 like Buford (maybe Odomes), and a true big man. He hasn't had the type of big man at OU that would really allow him to use a small 4 most of the time, and be successful. Maybe Manyang is that player, and he can play beside Buford and play that style. I'm not sure. Maybe McNeace turns into that player. Maybe we haven't recruited that player yet.

Do you think he will not start Spangler? I just don't see that happening. If Spangler does come off the bench, OU is going to be really good. Almost nobody has a post player coming off the bench as good as Spangler.

 

[AdaSooner]

The problem with that is that Cam didn't play the 3 much. He played the 4 exclusively as a senor, and played the 4 as a freshman (I think). He play the 3 more as a JR if I recall.

But his senior year, Cam was a 4.

As for keeping track of his minutes, like you, I've said he will play the wing some too. I actually even said he'd play the wing quite a bit (possibly) as an upper classman. The list of players that played significant minutes at both the 3 and 4 during the same season, starting with Kelvin's team thru today, is slim to none. Some moved from one to the other during the offseason, but very few truly split time during the same season between those two spots. That isn't on accident, IMO.

Looks like we're on the same page after all. I think we'll see Dante at both positions early on, although it may be difficult to say for sure if he'll be playing the three or the four. If he can knock down shots from the perimeter, he may play the three more, or he could always move to a stretch four to create match up problems for the opponent. I think he has the potential to be a match up nightmare for some teams.

 

[chuckb]

Gotta love this young man's attitude:

He's obviously got a great attitude and should be a great addition to the team next year.

 

[usedtobe1]

I can't wait to see Odomes in action ….. I'm probably more excited to see him than I am for Buford, Manyang, and James. I agree with Ada that we got a steal with him.

As for the lineup, I see Buford getting a lot of minutes next year whether he starts or not. 20+ a game. However, I go back and forth and where they might be. The player he reminds me of is Dustin Hogue from Iowa State: a big, strong wing. He is probably our best option early in the year to replace Thomas inside, but I don't see that as the year progresses. Buford and Spangler in the post together is just too small against really good teams….. but Buford is a better offensive player than either Manyang or Lattin, and we need some offense out of the post.

Ideally, I would guess Kruger would like one of his wings to he a bigger, stronger player. He had to play Buddy and Cousins together at 6'4" along with our undersized post players this year. Luckily, Buddy and Cousins are decent rebounders for their size. It will be a good battle between Odomes and Buford to see who is best suited to play the "big wing" or 3 …… although they will both eventually get a lot of minutes. I think they will both be as good as Hogue as upperclassmen ….. but will they be as good next year? Dunno. Doubt it.

Right now I would guess Buford is a better 4 and Odomes might be a better 3. Time will tell.

I also wonder if Christian James can recover enough from his injury season to replace Booker's minutes. We need someone who can handle the ball and be a threat from deep to sub in when Woodard or Cousins is taking a break.

 

[DenverSooner]

Worst case scenario, Walker can do it. He had some solid games and might make a nice jump in the off season.

 

[CoachTalk]

Is this accurate? In 2014 OU played Cam at the PF but the year before that OU had Osby and M'Baye and in Kruger's first season OU started Fitzgerald and Osby. Base on four seasons, I would say the trend is to a traditional two forward lineup with Kruger showing he would go with a smaller lineup if that gave OU the best chance to win based on his current players.

Give me mbaye measurements and Buford.

Was mbaye a true PF? No.

Thomas and Spangler was more of a true PF-C. Now I know neither is a true C.

 

[usedtobe1]

Worst case scenario, Walker can do it. He had some solid games and might make a nice jump in the off season.

You're much more optimistic than I am, but I hope you're right.

 

[NMSooner'80]

Fellow fans: If anyone finds out when this game is scheduled, please post it. I want to drive to Shawnee to watch it this summer. Thanks.

I haven't heard exactly when it will be. But it's usually in early June, around Father's Day weekend. I think I've been to seven of them, last one in '92 when Ryan Minor played in it.

It has been a pretty good game to showcase OU recruits. Stacey King tore it up in '85, for one. Minor and Kermit Holmes also did well in it, from what I recall. Pretty sure that Bo Overton and one-year Sooner Snake Gresham also played well it in in the late 70's, but I'm not completely sure.