I guess these stats say it all

[thebigabd]

Big 12 games only, not including tonight.

#9 out of 10 in FG percentage
#9 out of 10 in 3pt percentage
#9 out of 10 in rebounding margin
#9 out of 10 in assists
#8 out of 10 in offensive rebounding
#8 out of 10 in blocks

The good news is, I couldn't find anything we were last place in. Just a bunch of stuff we are 2nd to last in.

Can't shoot, can't rebound, can't defend the rim. Kinda says it all.

 

[TheMont]

What’s so crazy is that we led the COUNTRY in defensive rebounding after non-conference play.

 

[hoopsaustin]

What’s so crazy is that we led the COUNTRY in defensive rebounding after non-conference play.

Shows how soft they all are.. they can do it. They're just too good or don't care

 

[MrAnderson]

Shows how soft they all are.. they can do it. They're just too good or don't care

Shows how soft Kruger is. Players usually take on the attitude of their coach.

Makes me have even more respect for Buddy, Cousins, Spanger, Woodard that they were able to win in this soft culture. Man i miss those guys

 

[CoachTalk]

How about James who missed 2 fts and Doo (I think) turns it over to go up 2-3 late in the 2nd half after the intentional foul... let’s be real a little. Will any coach ever blame a player!? No absolutely not.

Yeah. I’ll wait.

 

[sooner 1234]

How about James who missed 2 fts and Doo (I think) turns it over to go up 2-3 late in the 2nd half after the intentional foul... let’s be real a little. Will any coach ever blame a player!? No absolutely not.

Yeah. I’ll wait.

James FF misses was almost as bad as when he dribbled it out of bounds at the end of the a winnable Texas game

 

[Max Power]

How about James who missed 2 fts and Doo (I think) turns it over to go up 2-3 late in the 2nd half after the intentional foul... let’s be real a little. Will any coach ever blame a player!? No absolutely not.

Yeah. I’ll wait.

So why is it our 4 star jr and Sr making these bone headed plays you don't see other teams 4 star upper-classmen making

 

[ouboomer]

Lon's track record has been to come into a damaged program, fix things quickly, establish success for 5-7 seasons than move on. Not sure he is in his comfort zone any longer.

The past 3 seasons has been beyond bad with coaching, development, and effort. 1 year of this after loosing a Senior laden team and lose a good assistant coach or 2 is to be expected but 3 years is a pattern and sign of trouble.

I like Lon but at the end of the day its about results, I know he has a good group of players coming in next year but my optimism is beginning to fade a bit that he can fix it.

 

[Speedy17]

Shows how soft Kruger is. Players usually take on the attitude of their coach.

Makes me have even more respect for Buddy, Cousins, Spanger, Woodard that they were able to win in this soft culture. Man i miss those guys

Lon is missing the toughness of his 20 year assistants (Henson and Hill) who left after the Final 4 run for head coaching jobs. Those guys made Buddy and the boys tough.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Lon is missing the toughness of his 20 year assistants (Henson and Hill) who left after the Final 4 run for head coaching jobs. Those guys made Buddy and the boys tough.

You know who made Buddy and Isaiah tough? Buddy and Isaiah. Those two guys were born that way. Their work ethic was the same before they even got to college. Also, if our current staff deserves blame for lack of toughness, where was that criticism when Spangler was missing open layups or air balling free throws in the last minute of close games?

 

[sooner 1234]

You know who made Buddy and Isaiah tough? Buddy and Isaiah. Those two guys were born that way. Their work ethic was the same before they even got to college. Also, if our current staff deserves blame for lack of toughness, where was that criticism when Spangler was missing open layups or air balling free throws in the last minute of close games?

Are you REALLY questioning the toughness of a 6’7 player who lead the big 12 in rebounding in 2 of his 3 years ?

 

[WichitaSooner]

Are you REALLY questioning the toughness of a 6’7 player who lead the big 12 in rebounding in 2 of his 3 years ?

I'm questioning the irrational focus on assistant coaches determining whether certain players are "tough." As for Spangler, I don't question his physical toughness or effort, not at all.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I'm questioning the irrational focus on assistant coaches determining whether certain players are "tough." As for Spangler, I don't question his physical toughness or effort, not at all.

Dude, you are all over the place. You don't question his toughness yet post this?

Also, if our current staff deserves blame for lack of toughness, where was that criticism when Spangler was missing open layups or air balling free throws in the last minute of close games?

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I think it has been proven that Lon's teams take on his demeanor. Which is good in some cases but overall I think it is a detriment.

 

[CoachTalk]

I'm questioning the irrational focus on assistant coaches determining whether certain players are "tough." As for Spangler, I don't question his physical toughness or effort, not at all.

I agree with Wichita here...

Coaching is overrated. Takes jimmys and joes.

Toughness isnt just taught in college.

 

[CoachTalk]

I think it has been proven that Lon's teams take on his demeanor. Which is good in some cases but overall I think it is a detriment.

So he doesnt yell and scream and cuss and act a fool....

Cant believe Lon changes year to year. hes only been to several final 4's, glad he was a yeller and screamer and "tough" coach those years...

Come on. Get a grip

 

[NY Soonerfan]

So he doesnt yell and scream and cuss and act a fool....

Cant believe Lon changes year to year. hes only been to several final 4's, glad he was a yeller and screamer and "tough" coach those years...

Come on. Get a grip

He's been to TWO Final Four's, 28 years apart. I'm a Lon fan, I have the utmost respect for him as a coach and more so as a man, and I HATE yellers and screamers as coaches...but it would be nice to see him try to motivate this team/group with a bit more passion b/c the laissez faire attitude clearly isn't working.

 

[WTSooner]

He's been to TWO Final Four's, 28 years apart.

I LOL'd at that comment. Two in 28 years hardly qualifies as several.

Unless Coach meant that Lon has attended several FF's as a spectator?

 

[NY Soonerfan]

Along the lines of what Coach said further up above, the stats don't show seniors missing TWO front ends (along with the other FT misses they do show), or Doolittle not even getting a shot off on the gift possession from that flagrant foul, or the COUNTLESS missed assignments or simply losing the sight of the ball that resulted in (I think) six wide open made 3s, or the failure to identify the hot hand seemingly game in and game out, or get position on the defensive boards down low. We are the 8th most talented roster in the B12; when that is the case, you have to do the little things to beat teams that are better than you. We have shown time and again we cannot do that.

This is where I get a little torn on the coaching dilemma. At some point, doesn't pure basketball IQ take over? Plus, Lon didn't coach Calixte or Reynolds (by no means am I solely singling them out), these guys are 5th-year seniors. By the time I was in 2nd grade I knew not to make the 3rd out at 3rd base or field a punt inside my own 5-yard line. Don't lose sight of the shooter or the ball falls into that category as well. We just seem to be lacking a lot of basketball IQ on a night-in/night-out basis. Maybe coaching gets a bit of blame for not reinforcing it, but Lon and the staff can't be there when these kids are 8 years old and learning the game. Of course, the player development issue is obviously a completely different discussion.

 

[CMSOONER]

While I'm not sold on Steve Henson as a head coach, he was a really good assistant and the perfect complement to Lon's laid back coaching style. I don't believe we have bad assistant coaches, we just don't necessarily have the assistant coach(es) we need. At least one that will light a fire under a player. I like Crutch and Hartman, but I think Lon hiring his son instead of a more fiery coach was a mistake simply because all our coaches are now nice, laid back guys. To me that is the missing piece to the puzzle.