Guard Recruiting

[sperry]

Lon has not done a very good job with this of late. Our lack of decent guard play was the reason we flamed out last year. Trae has obviously covered up those warts this year, but we are still short on guards that can play, which is forcing Trae into playing 40 per game.


Of our 12 scholarship guys, we've only got 5 guards. That ratio is already out of whack with what Lon has shown he wants to do, and where modern basketball is heading. One of those 4 is Ty Lazenby, who is a marginal role player at best. Trae is gone after this year, and Shepherd has not shown much. McGusty has been marginalized and I'd be worried he transfers.


At this point, I think if there is a quality grad transfer out there we absolutely have to go get them. I know we're bringing in Bienemy and are looking at some HS PGs. But going forward, I think out of the 13 roster spots, we want 7 guards.

 

[CoachTalk]

<eyeroll>

 

[sperry]

<eyeroll>

Get out of here. Everything I posted is accurate. If you disagree, respond constructively.

 

[Maverick008]

Lon has not done a very good job with this of late. Our lack of decent guard play was the reason we flamed out last year. Trae has obviously covered up those warts this year, but we are still short on guards that can play, which is forcing Trae into playing 40 per game.


Of our 12 scholarship guys, we've only got 5 guards. That ratio is already out of whack with what Lon has shown he wants to do, and where modern basketball is heading. One of those 4 is Ty Lazenby, who is a marginal role player at best. Trae is gone after this year, and Shepherd has not shown much. McGusty has been marginalized and I'd be worried he transfers.


At this point, I think if there is a quality grad transfer out there we absolutely have to go get them. I know we're bringing in Bienemy and are looking at some HS PGs. But going forward, I think out of the 13 roster spots, we want 7 guards.

Technically we have 6 "guards" (guys that play on the perimeter on offense and guard opposing teams guards) on the roster that see playing time for the most part:

Young
McGusty
James
Lazenby
Odomes
Shepherd

Most of them were 3 stars (or more) out of HS with the exception of probably Lazenby. Shepherd and possibly McGusty haven't seemed to have progressed as much from their freshmen year as hoped but this is a different team than last year when more was put on their plates due to one reason or another. It's more a "trying to find his role" issue with McGusty along side TY to me than overall talent. James for the most part has been a ton better this year as has even Odomes. It's an unrealistic expectation to expect 5 or 6 guys to play like starters game in and game out in my opinion. The only spot that clearly needs an upgrade going into next year is the PG spot with only Shepherd returning. A grad transfer or the 5 star pg supposedly being recruited would be ideal. The rest just need to continue to work at improving as much as possible.

 

[CoachTalk]

Get out of here. Everything I posted is accurate. If you disagree, respond constructively.

1. Young
2. McGusty
3. James
4. Lazenby
5. Odomes
6. Shepherd
7. Doolittle

And Ill add Doo to that list as he is being played as a wing more and more. So there is your 7.

Post isnt very accurate IMO

 

[CoachTalk]

missed on the Rice transfer but thats going to happen. Mcgusty and Shep are Soph slumping... at times thats going to happen. Happened with James and Odomes to a degree. Doolittle, we know his faults, thats put him behind.

Still ranked top15.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Get out of here. Everything I posted is accurate. If you disagree, respond constructively.

Can I take a stab? You say "of late," but what exactly does that mean? We currently have the best guard (and player) in the country. Two years ago, we had the National Player of the Year, plus two other guards who started basically their entire careers and were key players on a Final Four team. Last year, Kam was on the Big 12 All Freshman team and was one of the bright spots in a really tough year. James had a rough sophomore season, but has played much better this season. We are currently 15-5 and highly ranked, and I don't think anyone would suggest that our success is based on dominant frontcourt play. So if that is a poor job recruiting guards, I can't wait to see how things look when we actually manage to sign some good players!

 

[CoachTalk]

Can I take a stab? You say "of late," but what exactly does that mean? We currently have the best guard (and player) in the country. Two years ago, we had the National Player of the Year, plus two other guards who started basically their entire careers and were key players on a Final Four team. Last year, Kam was on the Big 12 All Freshman team and was one of the bright spots in a really tough year. James had a rough sophomore season, but has played much better this season. We are currently 15-5 and highly ranked, and I don't think anyone would suggest that our success is based on dominant frontcourt play. So if that is a poor job recruiting guards, I can't wait to see how things look when we actually manage to sign some good players!

Thanks.

 

[CoachTalk]

We start 2 TRUE Frosh!

 

[coolm]

and Jahvon Quinerly is exchanging tweets with Trae.

 

[AdaSooner]

and Jahvon Quinerly is exchanging tweets with Trae.

What are they saying?

 

[sperry]

Can I take a stab? You say "of late," but what exactly does that mean? We currently have the best guard (and player) in the country. Two years ago, we had the National Player of the Year, plus two other guards who started basically their entire careers and were key players on a Final Four team. Last year, Kam was on the Big 12 All Freshman team and was one of the bright spots in a really tough year. James had a rough sophomore season, but has played much better this season. We are currently 15-5 and highly ranked, and I don't think anyone would suggest that our success is based on dominant frontcourt play. So if that is a poor job recruiting guards, I can't wait to see how things look when we actually manage to sign some good players!

We have no guard depth this year. We had no depth and very poor guard play last year. Next year, when Trae leaves, we are staring poor guard play in the face again.

Even in the final four year, we had issues with guard depth. We had Dijynyl Walker as our 5th guard.

Compare our versatility and depth in the front court with what we have in the backcourt.

 

[Stikboy]

What are they saying?

He's saying you coming back man?

I don't know man my mom wants me to but no one can finish man!

Well let me know man I aint back you up aight?

$$$$$

HAHA later homie!

 

[CoachTalk]

What are they saying?

JQ- to Trae
I have mad respect for @TheTraeYoung because he’s showing the world you don’t have to be super athletic to be successful at the next level! Countless hours in the gym to prove every doubter wrong. Keep going bro

Trae to JQ

Much Love Lil Bro!!! Hard work is everything!! Keep killin I've been watching... You Next Up
#Blessed

 

[usedtobe1]

Bienemy will compete for significant playing time next year. He's a stud.

 

[oudna]

We have no guard depth this year. We had no depth and very poor guard play last year. Next year, when Trae leaves, we are staring poor guard play in the face again.

Even in the final four year, we had issues with guard depth. We had Dijynyl Walker as our 5th guard.

Compare our versatility and depth in the front court with what we have in the backcourt.

It's sounds like you are expecting the back-ups to be just as good as your starters.

Our best player a year ago is now coming off the bench at the guard position this year.

I disagree with your entire premise.

 

[oudna]

It's sounds like you are expecting the back-ups to be just as good as your starters.

I guess you could point to the front court and say, 'no drop off'. Because both starter and reserve are average.

It's like you're punishing Kruger for having All-Americans at guard.

 

[usedtobe1]

We have no guard depth this year. We had no depth and very poor guard play last year. Next year, when Trae leaves, we are staring poor guard play in the face again.

Compare our versatility and depth in the front court with what we have in the backcourt.

OK. We have Trae, James, Odomes, and McGusty for the 3 backcourt positions. I like all 4 of them. Sometimes Shep but he isn’t playing his best now as reflected by his minutes..... confidence? I guess Doolittle sometimes plays the 3 but is still getting back in the groove.... I like him better at the 4.

I don’t see a lot of front court depth. Lattin and McNeace in the post complement each other, but aren’t elite by any means but show flashes of promise. Manek is good, and Doolittle is a capable backup. Freeman is struggling. We don’t defend or rebound particularly well.

Honestly, I like our backcourt better right now .... and not just because of Trae.

 

[Zimwillett]

It's sounds like you are expecting the back-ups to be just as good as your starters.

Our best player a year ago is now coming off the bench at the guard position this year.

I disagree with your entire premise.

Exactly. I'd be curious to learn when, in the entire history of OU basketball, that depth at guard wasn't at least somewhat of a concern.

Take the 2002-2003 teams, as an example. Hollis, Quannas, and Ebi were among the best guard combos in OU history. But the depth behind them was a topic of incredible consternation back then. In 2002, Jason Detrick was basically the only guard off the bench (with all apologies to Blake Johnston's 11 mpg). And this isn't an uncommon problem anywhere else. Even the bluest of blue bloods struggle with depth at guard (see e.g. Kansas backup guard situation).

The truth is that Lon's guard recruiting has been quite strong. If anything, I'd argue that his recruitment of big men has been far more lackluster, but that's another discussion for another thread.

 

[sperry]

It's sounds like you are expecting the back-ups to be just as good as your starters.

Our best player a year ago is now coming off the bench at the guard position this year.

I disagree with your entire premise.

No, I am hoping that we can add more quality guards to the roster. McGusty should be back to form next year. But his ability to contribute this year has been dramatically hurt because he's not a guy well equipped to play alongside a ball dominant guard like Trae. Shepherd has not been very good, and that's the extent of our depth. I think our roster is imbalanced and we need more guards, and higher quality guards. That's how you will compete for titles as a school that's not going to be in the running for the very top recruits.

I also think our guard play has been fine overall this year, but that's because Trae is playing 40 minutes and contributing at a historically great level. I don't think we are equipped to come close to replacing him next year, and think it might be anotehr long season next year.