Great news

[AdaSooner]

Those of you questioning the OP need to relax and just thank him for the info. If you don't believe him that's up to you, but I would rather not discourage people from posting.

Excellent advice!

That's especially true of a poster who has tried really hard to breathe life into this board by starting new threads the past few weeks. Even if I don't agree with everything he says, nikebasketball has definitely earned my respect.

 

[Stikboy]

Coach, I for one appreciate your tidbits. Keep em comin'!

 

[WTSooner]

Of course you are right. The problem is that the attack dogs are pushing a different story line. It goes something like this.

1. Cam isn't fit to start. He is best suited for and only qualified to be an off the bench role player.
2. The great Pledger will sorely missed.
3. The massive talent exodus of 2013 will set the program back.

All of which is likely to prove out to be nonsense. But, between now and then, any poster that offers up a different version has to be a liar, or idiot, or worse.

Attack dogs? All I said was that I don't think the OP was accurately conveying what LK told him. I think the OP was adding his own thoughts in there.

1. Never said Cam wasn't fit to start. While I think we'll be a better team if Cam is able to come off the bench in the same way he did last year, we will be less talented next year and that may push him into a starting role at the 4 spot. Cam will not start at the 3. I'm willing to put money on that. As for how good we can be with Cam starting, I reference you to the last three years. His freshman year he started all 32 games, played over 1,000 minutes, and OU went 14-18. His sophomore year he started 28 of 31 games, played nearly 850 minutes, and OU went 15-16. Last year he didn't start a single game, and played 550 minutes (about half of what he played as a freshman), and OU won 20 games and went Dancing. Isn't that the kind of stat you like to use to bash Pledger and Fitz? Well there it is, clear as can be for Cam. If Cam is one of our top two scorers next year, we will not be Dancing. I'd bet the bank on that. He might be pushed into a starting role due simply to his experience with so many new faces on campus, and his being the only real "small 4" on our roster.

2. Booker won't come close to replicating next year what Pledger did this year. I'm a huge Booker fan, but it'll take until his soph/jr years before he is capable of doing what Pledger did last year or the year before.

3. Missing the Tourney b/c we had uneven classes, and lost a bunch of talented seniors along with M'Baye isn't really a "setback". There isn't a single coach in the NCAA that improves the program every single year. At some point, you have to take a small step back, and build with new kids. That is EXACTLY what I think will happen next year, but I've never termed it a "setback". It's been the "likely rebuilding year" since LK set foot on campus. Even with that said, we could be worse than last year, and have similar results. This might be the worst collection of Big 12 talent next year that we've seen in over a decade. Apples to oranges comparisons don't really work.

 

[garyeb2]

Attack dogs? All I said was that I don't think the OP was accurately conveying what LK told him. I think the OP was adding his own thoughts in there.

1. Never said Cam wasn't fit to start. While I think we'll be a better team if Cam is able to come off the bench in the same way he did last year, we will be less talented next year and that may push him into a starting role at the 4 spot. Came will not start at the 3. I'm willing to put money on that. As for how good we can be with Cam starting, I reference you to the last three years. His freshman year he started all 32 games, played over 1,000 minutes, and OU went 14-18. His sophomore year he started 28 of 31 games, played nearly 850 minutes, and OU went 15-16. Last year he didn't start a single game, and played 550 minutes (about half of what he played as a freshman), and OU won 20 games and went Dancing. Isn't that the kind of stat you like to use to bash Pledger and Fitz? Where there it is, clear as can be for Cam. If Cam is one of our top two scorers next year, we will not be Dancing. I'd bet the bank on that. He might be pushed into a starting role due simply to his experience with so many new faces on campus, and his being the only real "small 4" on our roster.

2. Booker won't come close to replicating next year what Pledger did this year. I'm a huge Booker fan, but it'll take until his soph/jr years before he is capable of doing what Pledger did last year or the year before.

3. Missing the Tourney b/c we had uneven classes, and lost a bunch of talented seniors along with M'Baye isn't really a "setback". There isn't a single coach in the NCAA that improves the program every single year. At some point, you have to take a small step back, and build with new kids. That is EXACTLY what I think will happen next year, but I've never termed it a "setback". It's been the "likely rebuilding year" since LK set foot on campus. Even with that said, we could be worse than last year, and have similar results. This might be the worst collection of Big 12 talent next year that we've seen in over a decade. Apples to oranges comparisons don't really work.

1. I know what you said about Cam. I follow along. What I'm saying is that you are just plain wrong. It will be just another example of you out kicking your coverage again.
2. Pledger won't be missed. It will be like getting a rock out of your shoe. He absence won't create a void. It will create space that more talented players will easily fill in and expand their roles. It won't have to be Booker. And I doubt that it is.
3. Capel filled his roster with 2nd rate talent and 1st rate bums. Flushing those kind out have never hurt a program.

You have no concept of what has been going on in that gym for the last 2 years. Last season there were 3 distinct factions with their own agenda's. You had the Capel leftovers, the Kruger recruits, and M'Baye with his own program. Then you had Osby doing all he could to help Kruger pull it all together into a cohesive unit. When Buddy went down and Cousins faltered, the good ole boys club was back in charge again. By the end of the season, Kruger had lost them again just like the season before.

But, that is over now. That is a good thing. Next season isn't a rebuilding year. It is a rebirth year. It doesn't matter if Tyler is on board or not. They really don't need him. Cam is the question mark. He isn't a strong personality or aggressive leader type. He is a follower. And now finally, he is out from under the influence of the Capel bunch. That is probably just the ticket he needs to reach the potential that everyone but you seems to see.

For the first time this season everyone will be going in the same direction at the same speed. That will produce a better result than the mess Kruger has had to deal with for the last 2 years.

 

[WTSooner]

Cam leading OU in scoring next year will be exactly like Cade Davis doing it three years ago. Cade put up great numbers. But it meant the rest of the team wasn't good enough for OU to be good. That team went 14-18 despite what Cade did.

As for my predictions last year, I'd say I was pretty much dead on. I said M'Baye wouldn't play the 3, and he didn't. I said Pledger would start all year and play well, and he did. I said Pledger was good enough that with him as one of our best players we could go Dancing, and we did.

I thought Grooms would start most of the year, which he did not. But that had more to do with LK wanting two units that were both solid in their own right, then Cousins actually beating Grooms for the spot. That was seen late in the year when we struggled mightily with anybody but Grooms playing point. It's easier to play point against most of those teams we faced OOC. When we started playing the big boys.....when it was nut-cutting time.....Kruger was QUICK to get Grooms in there as much as possible. I wasn't wrong about much last year, and what I was wrong about had more to do with how LK wanted to put the pieces together, than whom was better than whom.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

You just can't win on the internets. Every team loses players every year, I think Kruger has a really good set of guards to work with and adequate depth in the post. Cam is absolutely the "X" factor though, dude is an enigma wrapped around a mystery: I think gary probably nailed the "problem" though. I'm content to chill and let a top tier NCAA coach do his thing.

 

[nikebasketball]

You just can't win on the internets. Every team loses players every year, I think Kruger has a really good set of guards to work with and adequate depth in the post. Cam is absolutely the "X" factor though, dude is an enigma wrapped around a mystery: I think gary probably nailed the "problem" though. I'm content to chill and let a top tier NCAA coach do his thing.

Cam is the X factor and he is working the hardest he ever has.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I don't know what, if anything, Coach Kruger shared with the OP. But I do know that I would be very uncomfortable making the implication that the OP lied, which is exactly what a couple of you have done.

+10000

:clap

 

[Big Old Booger]

I'm also a bada$$ to. I won't type out my résumé because it is way to long!!

I hope you use proper grammar in your resume.

I hate to pull out the grammar police, but you deserve it after your comment.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I appreciate you sharing the information, nike.

Yep, me too.

This reminds me of Soonerpeace and the other guys who claim to have inside info on another OU message board. They are always posting info they hear from coaches or people who talk to coaches and every time a cynic starts questioning and accusing the posters of lying.

More than half the time they are right. So, why would anyone, especially this guy who has already told us who he is (as Ada said, use Google and you can figure out his name based on what he's posted about himself) come here and tell a baldfaced lie? What does he have to gain from that?

Also reminds me of the guy who posted he had heard from a his friend who overheard someone in the athletic department state over the phone we were about to hire Kruger as our basketball coach. Most of the same yahoo's who questioned nikebasketball on this thread also questioned that information and the OP was roasted for it. Then Kruger was hired and these same yahoo's had to eat some crow.

Bottom line is whether you believe it or not, at least act like you believe it because otherwise you look like a fool. Some of you are used to it (looking like a fool) though.

 

[WTSooner]

Yes, b/c everything you read on the internet is 100% true and accurately stated.

smh

I've met Lon Kruger. I've heard/read about every word he has said publicly while at OU. Heck, I've even heard some of the stuff he said that wasn't really "for the public." I'd be absolutely SHOCKED if he said a few of the things in the OP. This has nothing to do with Pledger himself, but LK isn't going to say he is "easily replaced" by Booker. Not a chance. Same thing with some of that other stuff.

I never told nike not to post it. And while I've agreed with just about nothing he has said since he started posted here, I haven't followed him around, or given him grief. Even on this thread, I waited until somebody else said it first, then basically just agreed. I have no plans to give him grief everytime he posts stuff either. He can obviously post what he wants to.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

This is from SoonerSports.com: Oklahoma holds a 30-10 all-time series lead against former Big 12 member Texas A&M. The Sooners beat the Aggies 64-54 last December in the All-College Classic in Oklahoma City. OU senior-to-be Cameron Clark was named MVP. (In that game Cam played 26 minutes and scored 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting. He also had 4 rebounds and a steal, with only one turnover.)

Is Cam capable of being a Big-12 starter? Yes.

Is Cam capable of playing winning basketball and having very good games? Yes.

Can Cam play at a high level on a consistent basis throughout the course of a long season? We do not know, but it is possible. If he is dedicated and working hard as has been reported, then he has a chance to have a memorable senior season. He has talent, athleticism and experience. If his hard work leads to improved focus, maturity and confidence, then we may be in for a treat.

The path to the 2014 NCAA tournament will be much easier if Cam is consistently productive. He is the senior and he needs to put forth his best effort each and every game. He has shown that his best effort can be very good.

 

[hoopsaustin]

i come here for the speculation and rumors. i love hearing the info. heres a simple soltion for WTsooner and ther others..... dont click the thread... problem solved

 

[Big Old Booger]

Yes, b/c everything you read on the internet is 100% true and accurately stated.

smh

I've met Lon Kruger. I've heard/read about every word he has said publicly while at OU. Heck, I've even heard some of the stuff he said that wasn't really "for the public." I'd be absolutely SHOCKED if he said a few of the things in the OP. This has nothing to do with Pledger himself, but LK isn't going to say he is "easily replaced" by Booker. Not a chance. Same thing with some of that other stuff.

I never told nike not to post it. And while I've agreed with just about nothing he has said since he started posted here, I haven't followed him around, or given him grief. Even on this thread, I waited until somebody else said it first, then basically just agreed. I have no plans to give him grief everytime he posts stuff either. He can obviously post what he wants to.

Nobody here has said 100% of everything read on the internet is true so not sure why you posted that.

Like I said, the guy has told us who he is, why would he then baldfaced lie about something? Makes no sense to me but a cynic exists in every crowd.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

There is just a "we are going to suck" cult on every board. Why would a "fan" want to be right?

 

[WTSooner]

There is just a "we are going to suck" cult on every board. Why would a "fan" want to be right?

I think there is one poster that has said we'd suck next year, and he hasn't posted in several days that I can remember.

So I'm not real sure where your comment is coming from, but since I feel like it is directed at me, I'm clarifying that I've not one time suggested we'd "suck" next year.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Of course you are right. The problem is that the attack dogs are pushing a different story line. It goes something like this.

1. Cam isn't fit to start. He is best suited for and only qualified to be an off the bench role player.
2. The great Pledger will sorely missed.
3. The massive talent exodus of 2013 will set the program back.

All of which is likely to prove out to be nonsense. But, between now and then, any poster that offers up a different version has to be a liar, or idiot, or worse.

that's not true at all. I don't believe any of those things. I just don't believe the OP

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Bottom line is whether you believe it or not, at least act like you believe it because otherwise you look like a fool. Some of you are used to it (looking like a fool) though.

this is terrible advice.

There are a lot of posters that post random stuff and exaggerate all the time. There is nothing wrong with questioning someone, esp someone new, that makes statements that don't sound reasonable.

I'm not going to thank a poster for stating something that I don't believe is correct.

Learning who this guy is, I think he probably exaggerated the info he posted

 

[Big Old Booger]

this is terrible advice.

There are a lot of posters that post random stuff and exaggerate all the time. There is nothing wrong with questioning someone, esp someone new, that makes statements that don't sound reasonable.

I'm not going to thank a poster for stating something that I don't believe is correct.

Learning who this guy is, I think he probably exaggerated the info he posted

The old adage applies here...when you point your finger at someone three are pointing back at you...

:dance005:

 

[garyeb2]

that's not true at all. I don't believe any of those things. I just don't believe the OP

I don't have a clue as to why you don't believe him. One doesn't need to have an personal one on one interview with Kruger to come to the same conclusions.

1. Cam is primed for a big year. He is a senior and has shown flashes of pretty good.
2. Last years freshmen will be much improved as sophs.
3. Most fans are underestimating Spangler and Bennett.
4. Cole, Hamilton, and Neal may not be impact players.
5. Avila may be a use full every game sub.
6. Grooms and Pledger won't be missed.

What is it about that scenario that you are having so much trouble with?