If Next Year is Just Like This Year

[Sooner23]

It did not remotely appear that way on TV, not even close to half full. The top better have been at 75% or there is no way it was 50% full.

I went to most of the non-conference games and all of the Big 12 games and the top is always fuller than the lower level. A lot of people really do buy up those $10 tickets, while half of the donors who sit in the lower rarely show. It was definitely half full yesterday, but not by much.

 

[Sooner23]

is OU looking for a new coach?

They should, but Joe. C won't do it. Capel was his "great find" and he was bragging to a bunch of people about it last year and getting lots of pats on the back. He's not going to get rid of "his guy" that easily. Capel will get two more years.

 

[OKURanger]

is OU looking for a new coach?

Yes.

The truth, according to Capel, is that young players today are not responding to the motivation tactics that Capel is used to; if those young players don't respond for a second season, then it will show that Capel is unable to change or modify his motivation arsenal. That will prove that OU needs to give another coach a shot.

After all, there are coaches that know how to get their talented, undisciplined players to work hardproduce motivated teams, right?

 

[IntenseDefense]

As usual, sky hit hit the nail on the head.

 

[sooner333]

It did not remotely appear that way on TV, not even close to half full. The top better have been at 75% or there is no way it was 50% full.

"Estimated Attendance: 6083" "Official Capcity: 12,000"

 

[AdaSooner]

They should, but Joe. C won't do it. Capel was his "great find" and he was bragging to a bunch of people about it last year and getting lots of pats on the back. He's not going to get rid of "his guy" that easily. Capel will get two more years.

^
This. Anything less would be an admission on Joe C's part that he made a mistake in hiring Capel. He'll get at least two more years.

I'll add that I'm fine with that if we see an improvement in the way Coach Capel's teams perform from the start of the season. The fact that this year's team actually got worse in in some areas bothered me more than their overall record.

 

[DenverSooner]

^
The fact that this year's team actually got worse in in some areas bothered me more than their overall record.

OU did lose WW for the season. He was the best or one of the bext players on the team. I know a certain segment of fans wanted to blame everything on WW but I personally never believed that.

 

[SoonerNorm]

OU did lose WW for the season. He was the best or one of the bext players on the team. I know a certain segment of fans wanted to blame everything on WW but I personally never believed that.

I never did either. No one knows what all went on this year behind the scenes but I think there is plenty of blame to go around, both with coaches and various players (possibly with the S&C staff too). I have seen no evidence (rumors do not constitute evidence) that WW was the main culprit causing those problems.

While others want to talk about Jeff's demise as the head coach, put me firmly in the column of one who has not at all given up on his ability to be an outstanding coach of the Sooners and next year I believe we will be a signficantly better team.

 

[38red]

No

 

[Big Old Booger]

I never did either. No one knows what all went on this year behind the scenes but I think there is plenty of blame to go around, both with coaches and various players (possibly with the S&C staff too). I have seen no evidence (rumors do not constitute evidence) that WW was the main culprit causing those problems.

While others want to talk about Jeff's demise as the head coach, put me firmly in the column of one who has not at all given up on his ability to be an outstanding coach of the Sooners and next year I believe we will be a signficantly better team.

I certainly respect and appreciate your positive attitude, but I don't see any way we will be "significantly better" next season.

If everybody returned and Jeff figures out how to instill some discipline, then we will be better, but the question is how much better? Significantly better to me means at least 20 wins in the regular season and a top 4 finish in the Big 12. That is significant improvement, and I don't see how it can happen.

Capel needs to get something figured out and fast because this ship is sinking with every passing day.

 

[SoonerNorm]

I certainly respect and appreciate your positive attitude, but I don't see any way we will be "significantly better" next season.

If everybody returned and Jeff figures out how to instill some discipline, then we will be better, but the question is how much better? Significantly better to me means at least 20 wins in the regular season and a top 4 finish in the Big 12. That is significant improvement, and I don't see how it can happen.

Capel needs to get something figured out and fast because this ship is sinking with every passing day.

Why don't we just agree to wait and see what happens in the future rather than continue with all of the constant, never ending, on and on negative comments that we see from a handful around here. We all get it that some just can't wait to post another negative comment that pops into their heads about how this program sucks. I would just like to see them take a chill pill and relax. The constant complaining isn't going to help one iota.

 

[rocjunkie]

Why don't we just agree to wait and see what happens in the future rather than continue with all of the constant, never ending, on and on negative comments that we see from a handful around here. We all get it that some just can't wait to post another negative comment that pops into their heads about how this program sucks. I would just like to see them take a chill pill and relax. The constant complaining isn't going to help one iota.

+1 excellent post, totally agree.

 

[campbest]

I certainly respect and appreciate your positive attitude, but I don't see any way we will be "significantly better" next season.

If everybody returned and Jeff figures out how to instill some discipline, then we will be better, but the question is how much better? Significantly better to me means at least 20 wins in the regular season and a top 4 finish in the Big 12. That is significant improvement, and I don't see how it can happen.

Capel needs to get something figured out and fast because this ship is sinking with every passing day.

You don't see how a team which plays 4 freshmen consistently (2 starters) could win 7 more games next year? The middle of the Big XII will be more jumbled than ever...Colorado, OU, Nebraska, TT will all have better personnel (notice the word) than this season. Not to mention, a few of the NCAA tourney teams (most notably Texas A&M and OSU) will have some serious holes to fill.

Serious improvement from right now (i.e. long losing streak) to next year at this time would be competing for a shot at the NCAA tourney. If OU is headed into the Big XII tourney this time next year in the field of 65 or on the bubble with a chance to make it, that is a serious improvement. Don't mind if OU is one of the first few teams out, but I realize that is probably not a real popular opinion on this board right now.

 

[Big Old Booger]

You don't see how a team which plays 4 freshmen consistently (2 starters) could win 7 more games next year? The middle of the Big XII will be more jumbled than ever...Colorado, OU, Nebraska, TT will all have better personnel (notice the word) than this season. Not to mention, a few of the NCAA tourney teams (most notably Texas A&M and OSU) will have some serious holes to fill.

Serious improvement from right now (i.e. long losing streak) to next year at this time would be competing for a shot at the NCAA tourney. If OU is headed into the Big XII tourney this time next year in the field of 65 or on the bubble with a chance to make it, that is a serious improvement. Don't mind if OU is one of the first few teams out, but I realize that is probably not a real popular opinion on this board right now.

Norm said "significant improvement" which to me would be 20+ wins and a top 4 finish in the conference.

I'm not sure what constitutes "serious improvement". My guess would be getting into the big dance period.

True we played 4 frosh this year, but they never as a group improved. That is a problem sign to me. If we were sitting here at 4-12 and won a few games down the stretch and pushed some other teams (in losses) then I'd say yes we have something to look forward to next year. But that isn't the case.

Other than Cade's uncharacteristic shooting performance in Austin (in the 1st half) we were pretty lifeless down the stretch. Some of you want to point to the 2nd half in Lawrence, but that to me was KU not being focused more than us pushing them.

 

[smileyjackson]

Yeah, if he racks up the second losing season in 41 years he will be gone and doesn't matter who it is against.

 

[campbest]

Norm said "significant improvement" which to me would be 20+ wins and a top 4 finish in the conference.

I'm not sure what constitutes "serious improvement". My guess would be getting into the big dance period.

True we played 4 frosh this year, but they never as a group improved. That is a problem sign to me. If we were sitting here at 4-12 and won a few games down the stretch and pushed some other teams (in losses) then I'd say yes we have something to look forward to next year. But that isn't the case.

Other than Cade's uncharacteristic shooting performance in Austin (in the 1st half) we were pretty lifeless down the stretch. Some of you want to point to the 2nd half in Lawrence, but that to me was KU not being focused more than us pushing them.

My bad on the "serious" and "significant" mix-up, meant to say significant.

As for the freshmen, I agree, didn't really come together for them as a unit. The exception in my mind is Fitz, who I believe firmly planted himself in his role within the unit. Now, obviously he needs to rebound better, but offensively, his game is going to be that 15 ft baseline jumper off penetration and short-corner rotation off a zone.

Personally, I think you have to have the leadership and skills in place from the upperclassmen to bring any frosh along...we just don't have that. As much as I like Cade and Crocker as players, they just aren't good enough to carry teams for stretches when other players (especially 4 freshmen) are struggling. In a way it's kinda ironic that we played better with Willie in the line-up, but in a limited role because he could get us out of certain situations, but didn't have such an impact where he dominated the ball.

Once he was sidelined, we never had that security blanket just in case we needed it, therefore our guys struggling so much down the stretch. Personally don't believe Crocker did a good job leading (verbally) which Cade HAS to do next year for any success.

 

[Big Old Booger]

My bad on the "serious" and "significant" mix-up, meant to say significant.

As for the freshmen, I agree, didn't really come together for them as a unit. The exception in my mind is Fitz, who I believe firmly planted himself in his role within the unit. Now, obviously he needs to rebound better, but offensively, his game is going to be that 15 ft baseline jumper off penetration and short-corner rotation off a zone.

Personally, I think you have to have the leadership and skills in place from the upperclassmen to bring any frosh along...we just don't have that. As much as I like Cade and Crocker as players, they just aren't good enough to carry teams for stretches when other players (especially 4 freshmen) are struggling. In a way it's kinda ironic that we played better with Willie in the line-up, but in a limited role because he could get us out of certain situations, but didn't have such an impact where he dominated the ball.

Once he was sidelined, we never had that security blanket just in case we needed it, therefore our guys struggling so much down the stretch. Personally don't believe Crocker did a good job leading (verbally) which Cade HAS to do next year for any success.

I would agree with this, but some of the fault for Crocker not leading as much as he needed to falls on Capel. As another poster suggested in another thread, Capel should have said early on in the season that Tony Crocker was our best player and this is why. I believe that would have helped Tony to lead more. Seems like Tony never led because he didn't feel like it was ever "his" team.

Or, maybe I'm all wrong and Tony just didn't care to lead? Somehow, after watching the post game from Saturday's game, I don't think this is the case.

 

[campbest]

I would agree with this, but some of the fault for Crocker not leading as much as he needed to falls on Capel. As another poster suggested in another thread, Capel should have said early on in the season that Tony Crocker was our best player and this is why. I believe that would have helped Tony to lead more. Seems like Tony never led because he didn't feel like it was ever "his" team.

Or, maybe I'm all wrong and Tony just didn't care to lead? Somehow, after watching the post game from Saturday's game, I don't think this is the case.

Agree Capel should have laid down the law from the get-go.

In addition, I did have a small class with Crocker when he was a Frosh or Sophomore (trying to recollect) that only had about 8 people in it. Obviously I don't know him from a locker room standpoint, but to say he was a natural leader would be inaccurate IMO.

In his regard to caring, I think there is no doubt in my mind he does. He had a lot on his plate this year, pressure as a senior, what sounds as a rift within the team, coach-player clashes, commitment issues and the birth of a child.

 

[DenverSooner]

Those that don't think OU will be significantly better next year if they return everyone seem lost to me.

Last year OU finished the season with 8 guys averaging 10+ minutes a game and only returned 3 of them. This year if OU returns everyone, OU will return 6 of 8 guys averaging 10+ a game, including 4 starters. That is a huge difference. Last year OU lost 3 starters (including its best player) plus 2 of the best bench players (Leary and Pattillo).

 

[StatGeek]

Why don't we just agree to wait and see what happens in the future rather than continue with all of the constant, never ending, on and on negative comments that we see from a handful around here. We all get it that some just can't wait to post another negative comment that pops into their heads about how this program sucks. I would just like to see them take a chill pill and relax. The constant complaining isn't going to help one iota.

couldnt agree more