How will we do next year

[SoonerTraveler]

You know what's nice about Kruger's players so far?
Not a single one has quit the team yet.
Those last 3 years with Capel we seemed to be losing 3 guys a year just for no reason.

I agree that there seems to be much more "stability" with Kruger's recruits. This is a very good thing.

It is just a matter of time before Coach Kruger also loses some players. I heard reported at a recent Tip In Club meeting that 40% of D-1 basketball players DO NOT finish at the school they start. There were more than 300 D-1 transfers after the end of last season.

OU has certainly benefited from these transfers with Osby, M'Baye and Spangler.

 

[WTSooner]

I agree that there seems to be much more "stability" with Kruger's recruits. This is a very good thing.

It is just a matter of time before Coach Kruger also loses some players. I heard reported at a recent Tip In Club meeting that 40% of D-1 basketball players DO NOT finish at the school they start. There were more than 300 D-1 transfers after the end of last season.

OU has certainly benefited from these transfers with Osby, M'Baye and Spangler.

Yep.

It won't be a negative reflection on coach, necessarily, either. The key is to have your backups, or end of bench guys leave. Not guys that project to start or play major minutes for you. And not bunches at a time.

 

[pnkranger]

The team that I'm REALLY, REALLY excited about?

The 2015-2016 team. That team is likely to start Woodard, Hornbeak, Hield, and Spangler for their THIRD year in a row. Additionally they will only have lost Bennett (most likely) off the prior year roster, and that team, depending on some key additions, has a chance to be really good.

Totally agree. I actually consider next year a transitional year because we're losing 4 seniors that include our two best players...

But when this year's freshmen are juniors and seniors, we'll be pretty stout.

 

[bgrch1350]

This year we have 9 guys who average 15 minutes per game, and 7 guys who average over 17. We are the deepest team in the league this year, and that will not change next year.

starting 5:
Woodard
Hornbeak
Hield
Mbaye
Spangler

Bench:
Cousins
Clark
Bennett
Hamilton
(Another scoring wing)

There is no team in the big 12 that will be able play that kind of depth and experience. I think you are confusing the word depth with talent. BTW that lineup does have some talent as well. I am very excited to see the athleticism and length next years team brings!

:ez-roll: do you even look at the other teams in the big 12? TEXAS returns everyone!(assuming Kabongo stays) W.V. is only losing Kilicli. Baylor is loaded with talent. KU has a top 5 recruiting class. OSU is returning the majority of their team. K-ST loses McGruder and returns the majority of their players.

You throw names on our Bench Like Bennett and Hamilton...Those guys wouldn't get playing time on the majority of the Big 12 teams and you think they give us debth.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

: ... You throw names on our Bench Like Bennett and Hamilton...Those guys wouldn't get playing time on the majority of the Big 12 teams and you think they give us debth.

So, you are running down OU players before you have seen them play. How do you know how good these Sooners might become?

 

[Max Power]

So, you are running down OU players before you have seen them play. How do you know how good these Sooners might become?

He has got to be an Aggy. No sooner would post the stuff he posts about "their" team

 

[JBaker]

So, you are running down OU players before you have seen them play. How do you know how good these Sooners might become?

Because its the same act he's been running with for a couple years. He was big on how M'Baye wasn't a high-major starter before the season.

 

[StatGeek]

So, you are running down OU players before you have seen them play. How do you know how good these Sooners might become?

The guy can't do anything but look at recruiting rankings, he is literally clueless. Been that way for a long time.

 

[WaymanFan]

I'll reserve judgment until after the spring class is signed and we get hopefully two more bodies. As of now, I don't see anyone capable of extending the defense the way Pledger does. There doesn't appear to be a low-post scoring threat like Osby, either. Because of this, it's difficult for me to think next year's team will be better. Again, let's see what the spring brings.

After the 2001 NCAA Tournament ended, I thought we'd be a bubble team at best in 2002 because I didn't like the fact there was no one who could effectively run the point, and I knew we needed someone who could play the '2' / '3' combo since we were losing Nolan Johnson and Kelley Newton, but only adding Ebe Ere. Next thing we know, Quannas White and Jason Dietrick come aboard and we did a little better than be a bubble team if memory serves. That is why it's best to wait until things play out in the spring.

On the plus side, Kelvin always said his best players usually made their biggest strides between their freshman and sophomore seasons. I'm really excited to see how much Hield, Hornbeak and Cousins improve.

 

[StatGeek]

I think we will be about the same, like most I see us being better defensively, and I see us taking a step backwards offensively. I do predict that Buddy jumps up to 14+ppg next year. I believe his 3pt shooting will be vastly improved, when looking for a replacement for Pledger next season we are overlooking Buddy.

 

[bballfan2012]

I just don't think OU will be able to make up for the loss of Pledger and Osby. I know you all don't seem to like Pledger or even Fitz/Grooms that much. But I can tell you this...you aren't even in the Bedlam game this year if it weren't for Pledger, Osby, Grooms, and Fitz.

Sure there will be guys playing in their place but I don't think Woodard, Hamilton, Spangler, and increased minutes from your soph. trio of guards next year can make up for what Pledger, Osby, Grooms, and Fitz did.

I'll be surprised if you win more games next year than this year. It probably means someone dramatically improved or you sign a pure scorer in this late signing period that can just flat out score at the D1 level.

 

[pnkranger]

bball, it's weird because I literally NEVER agree with your posts, but I don't think you're far off.

The one thing you are overlooking though is that we're adding a LOT of new bodies and our roster isn't finished:

Bennett
Spangler
Woodard
Hamilton

+

Two spring recruits

Of those 6, 2 of them have been on campus for a year already. There's a good chance some of these guys are better than we thought.

 

[bballfan2012]

bball, it's weird because I literally NEVER agree with your posts, but I don't think you're far off.

The one thing you are overlooking though is that we're adding a LOT of new bodies and our roster isn't finished:

Bennett
Spangler
Woodard
Hamilton

+

Two spring recruits

Of those 6, 2 of them have been on campus for a year already. There's a good chance some of these guys are better than we thought.

I'm not that unreasonable...
But I agree - I expect a new face or two at OU to perform well between the transfers and/or freshman.

I just think replacing 40 ppg from a team that averages about 70 ppg is going to be tough.


Especially when they were senior leaders. Grooms was also your leading assist guy.
Osby your leading rebounder.

Also, I believe from watching you guys that Mbaye was more successful this year because he had the #2 post defender guy on him because the other one was taken care of defending Osby. Mbaye was successful playing off of Osby...I don't see that being the case next year.

You also lose all your 3 guys who average more than 35% from 3pt range.

I think recruiting a shooter/scorer with your last scholly is vital but there isn't much left out there. The booker guy would be a good addition but he seems to be leaning toward Tenn.

 

[Chaser728]

Is that really true? I mean, that 10 deep you just posted will include two true freshmen (Woodard and the scoring wing), 3 sophs that played an assortment of minutes this year, a soph with virtually zero game time (Spangler), and two JUCO's. That leaves M'Baye and Clark as the only guys that have more than one year of D1 experience.

I get what you are saying, but I think there will be some growing pains next year. There will be a lot of inexperience in that 10 deep.

I'm not sure I would say that our 3 freshman who will then be Sophmores have "played an assortment of minutes". I mean Buddy has played 25 points a minute (3rd most), Hornbeak 22 minutes and Cousins 15. Agreed that I should amend the experience part though.

 

[Chaser728]

:ez-roll: do you even look at the other teams in the big 12? TEXAS returns everyone!(assuming Kabongo stays) W.V. is only losing Kilicli. Baylor is loaded with talent. KU has a top 5 recruiting class. OSU is returning the majority of their team. K-ST loses McGruder and returns the majority of their players.

You throw names on our Bench Like Bennett and Hamilton...Those guys wouldn't get playing time on the majority of the Big 12 teams and you think they give us debth.

Texas? Who is going nowhere in the postseason this year with all those returning players. WVU? Who is near the bottom of our conference this year. That is your argument? Baylor may lose most of that talent from this year. OSU is probably losing 2 of the 3 players that make them a top team this year. And then the top 5 class of KU. So you can discount our players without ever seeing them play a game, but assume that their talent will be that much better. The only argument you are using here that holds any water is probably KSU. Your logic is faulty. Again, you are utterly confusing the word depth with the word talent.

 

[TheGimper]

Texas? Who is going nowhere in the postseason this year with all those returning players. WVU? Who is near the bottom of our conference this year. That is your argument?

We were near the bottom of the conference last year. No reason to think Huggins won't develop his players while bringing in talented kids.

A large reason Texas went nowhere was because there preseason Big 12 first teamer wasn't eligible to play and there second best player was injured most of the season. They won't be the same team next season. Not to mention they have a chance at landing a McDonald's All-American (Frazier) and Randle.

Not to mention a young Tech team and TCU adding Shepard should be a little better next season. While the top of the Big 12 maybe weaker next season (depending on who leaves and who commits where) the bottom 7 will certainly be stronger and to think otherwise is just ignorant.

 

[campbest]

:ez-roll: do you even look at the other teams in the big 12? TEXAS returns everyone!(assuming Kabongo stays) W.V. is only losing Kilicli. Baylor is loaded with talent. KU has a top 5 recruiting class. OSU is returning the majority of their team. K-ST loses McGruder and returns the majority of their players.

You throw names on our Bench Like Bennett and Hamilton...Those guys wouldn't get playing time on the majority of the Big 12 teams and you think they give us debth.

You really need to look at their rosters before you post this.

 

[luckyc1423]

I think we will be about the same, like most I see us being better defensively, and I see us taking a step backwards offensively. I do predict that Buddy jumps up to 14+ppg next year. I believe his 3pt shooting will be vastly improved, when looking for a replacement for Pledger next season we are overlooking Buddy.

Man I really hope you are right. I agree we are better defensively so maybe that will win us a few games.

But I just dont see how we can replace osby's leadership. I am a big believer that this is very important.

 

[Chaser728]

You really need to look at their rosters before you post this.

:clap

 

[Krugerfan52]

I know some of you want to believe that Pledger and Osby were no good because they were Capel guys, but they are both big time players. Pledger was looking like Big 12 POY at one point last year and Osby was first team all-big 12, despite that fact that many of you claimed that Capel was an idiot for saying that Osby was a bigtime player. I notice not one of you has the stones to admit that you were wrong, and not Capel.

But I agree with those that say we will take a step backwards. Not only do you lose your 2 best players, but losing Fitz and Grooms may not seem like much. But when you lose 4 seniors that have each started many games all at once, it takes some time to build back up. We may not have a senior starter on the roster next year, unless Clark regains that spot.