SoonerinNC
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Miss all those great reports.
Has anyone been to practice
- Thread starter SoonerinNC
- Start date
skyvue
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runner1182 offers an eyewitness account of the first practice here:
http://ouhoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35882
http://ouhoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35882
I went yesterday, Oct 15. OU does a great job making you feel welcomed.
They passed out roster, game schedule, practice schedule, and provided a chair for everyone.
The team looks athletic. The three young wings are players. But that also is a little concern. Our bench will be rookies except for Walker. Odemes and James can score.
You could tell the big man was not in the best of shape. But he was working hard, participating, and hopefully his conditioning will get better. He is BIG.
The team practices hard. Also the team is very respectful towards the coaches. The chemistry between teammates and toward coaching staff was awesome. Our SRs were leading vocally and by example.
This team has a chance to be special. Tough early schedule. The rookies need to be ready early.
I enjoyed getting to spend a couple hours there, and if any of the staff reads this.....THANK YOU!
They passed out roster, game schedule, practice schedule, and provided a chair for everyone.
The team looks athletic. The three young wings are players. But that also is a little concern. Our bench will be rookies except for Walker. Odemes and James can score.
You could tell the big man was not in the best of shape. But he was working hard, participating, and hopefully his conditioning will get better. He is BIG.
The team practices hard. Also the team is very respectful towards the coaches. The chemistry between teammates and toward coaching staff was awesome. Our SRs were leading vocally and by example.
This team has a chance to be special. Tough early schedule. The rookies need to be ready early.
I enjoyed getting to spend a couple hours there, and if any of the staff reads this.....THANK YOU!
KBaden145
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Saw about 30 minutes of practice yesterday. A few thoughts...
Walker and Woodard both look slimmer and quicker.
The entire team looks great.
No Cole or AK.
I saw mostly work on zone offense.
Cousins and Hield shot the ball incredibly well.
Funny moment; Odomes kept shooting from the extended 3 pt line thinking he was at the normal distance. CLK and Hield were giving him a hard time.
The coaches and players on this team are, for all we know, are good dudes but I noticed an edge, an urgency that hasn't always been there. They know they're good and you can tell there will no tolerance for not defending, laziness, lack of focus. CLK has talented depth now and, if you aren't locked in, he doesn't have to play you.
Haven't seen this level of length, depth, and talent on an OU men's basketball team in a LONG time.
Khadeem got a lot of instruction on his paint work against zone. He was missing his spots at times screening and hitting guys properly on reversals. Yes sir no sir kid, coachable. Like him a ton and he is a starter, most likely all season.
Buford is so athletic he takes himself out of plays at times. Worked as a post and left his feet too often. Difference maker for us. Much different player than Cam was. His game is going to be more about length and athleticism. His game is more Selvy, IMO.
McNease looked good but the little I've seen of a healthy AK gives us more than Jamuni will be able to provide. We need AK healthy to reach our full potential.
It would be extremely difficult for anyone to convince me there is a better backcourt anywhere in America than what will suit up in Norman. James and Odomes are as physically ready to play as any guards we've had in quite a while. I include Hield and Cousins in there. I still think Walker helps us this season but, if he can't get on the court, it will speak volumes about these young guys and their futures.
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Walker and Woodard both look slimmer and quicker.
The entire team looks great.
No Cole or AK.
I saw mostly work on zone offense.
Cousins and Hield shot the ball incredibly well.
Funny moment; Odomes kept shooting from the extended 3 pt line thinking he was at the normal distance. CLK and Hield were giving him a hard time.
The coaches and players on this team are, for all we know, are good dudes but I noticed an edge, an urgency that hasn't always been there. They know they're good and you can tell there will no tolerance for not defending, laziness, lack of focus. CLK has talented depth now and, if you aren't locked in, he doesn't have to play you.
Haven't seen this level of length, depth, and talent on an OU men's basketball team in a LONG time.
Khadeem got a lot of instruction on his paint work against zone. He was missing his spots at times screening and hitting guys properly on reversals. Yes sir no sir kid, coachable. Like him a ton and he is a starter, most likely all season.
Buford is so athletic he takes himself out of plays at times. Worked as a post and left his feet too often. Difference maker for us. Much different player than Cam was. His game is going to be more about length and athleticism. His game is more Selvy, IMO.
McNease looked good but the little I've seen of a healthy AK gives us more than Jamuni will be able to provide. We need AK healthy to reach our full potential.
It would be extremely difficult for anyone to convince me there is a better backcourt anywhere in America than what will suit up in Norman. James and Odomes are as physically ready to play as any guards we've had in quite a while. I include Hield and Cousins in there. I still think Walker helps us this season but, if he can't get on the court, it will speak volumes about these young guys and their futures.
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Thanks for the report.
I read a tweet somewhere that one of the bball experts compared Odomes to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson but your description of Buford sounds much more like Hollis-Jefferson to me. Is that what you saw?
KBaden145
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I don't think that's too far off. I think Dante lacks the finished body and physicality of that kid. I imagine he'll be a more finished product offensively. I don't know that Dante is an elite defender either, which I believe is this kids calling card. Dante's an elbow jump shooter and garbage bucket offensive guy right now. I think he has the potential to be a driver/finisher and shooter from distance in time.
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