Interesting team offensive stats

[AdaSooner]

Scoring in the first nine games has not been the problem most here, including me, thought it would be when the season tipped off. James has been even better than expected, averaging a team high 19.2 ppg. The remainder of the scoring has been mostly by committee, with four players (Muni with a 9.9 ppg average; Manek and Reynolds at 9.7; and Calixte with 9.4 ppg average) giving us an “almost there” five players averaging in double figures. Doolittle is averaging 6 ppg, Freeman is averaging 5 rounded off and moving up fast.

Three point shooting was also thought to be a struggle for this team, with the possible exception of James and perhaps Manek. Through the first nine games, we’re averaging just under 40% from three, as a team. I won’t bore you with individual stats, except to say that Freeman, James and Calixte lead the way.

I think nearly everyone will agree that this team is exactly what I said they would be: vastly improved on defense. They’re not all that bad on offense either.

 

[BoulderSooner]

good stuff

 

[jaymOU]

Manek needs to be more consistent shooting, but his rebounding and even a post move or two has been a welcome surprise.

I still see scoring and ball-handling as this team's primary problems. Too many unforced TOs and when some of the more athletic teams put the clamps on you in conference play, how does OU create shots?

James can, somewhat, get his own. Love his pull-up game, but he does have some trouble finishing around the rim. Aside from him, I am not sure who it will be.

Reynolds can drive, but against higher level competition it makes me worried he won't be able to get to the rim.

Calxite might be the second best option as he seems to be able to get to the rim with quickness.

But OU may resort to throwing it inside to Muni to create jump shots on the perimeter - an old-school inside out approach.

I think this team feels more like a Sampson-coached team, than a run-and-gun classic LK team right now. I feel defense, rebounding and effort is their best recipe for success.

 

[Soonerinkc]

Manek needs to be more consistent shooting, but his rebounding and even a post move or two has been a welcome surprise.

I still see scoring and ball-handling as this team's primary problems. Too many unforced TOs and when some of the more athletic teams put the clamps on you in conference play, how does OU create shots?

James can, somewhat, get his own. Love his pull-up game, but he does have some trouble finishing around the rim. Aside from him, I am not sure who it will be.

Reynolds can drive, but against higher level competition it makes me worried he won't be able to get to the rim.

Calxite might be the second best option as he seems to be able to get to the rim with quickness.

But OU may resort to throwing it inside to Muni to create jump shots on the perimeter - an old-school inside out approach.

I think this team feels more like a Sampson-coached team, than a run-and-gun classic LK team right now. I feel defense, rebounding and effort is their best recipe for success.

agree...

wsu's active def gave us fits for awhile...they just didn't convert on the other end. The up in your face def teams will push our team's ability to score.

 

[AdaSooner]

JaymOU, I couldn’t agree more about your recipe for success to this point of the season. I don’t even want to think about where we’d be if our defense, rebounding and teamwork had not been stellar so far. The only reason I focused on our offense through the first nine games is that no one I can think of thought this team would be nearly this good on offense.

Will it continue? Not likely, especially when we square off against the best teams in the Big 12 on their home floor. We might even lose another game or two by double digits if we have a bad game like the one we lost to Wisconsin.

But, I also think this OU team is going to win sone games they were expected to lose before the season tipped off. Very few, if any, posters here expected us to be 8-1 right now.

Will the competition be tougher down the road a ways? Sure. But it’s not like the teams we have played so far were all cupcakes who rolled over and let us win. This team is pretty darned good, and getting better. I’m not the least bit concerned about a collapse like the one we saw last year.

 

[WichitaSooner]

agree...

wsu's active def gave us fits for awhile...they just didn't convert on the other end. The up in your face def teams will push our team's ability to score.

Not saying this isn't true, but it's also the case for probably 95% of college teams. Very few teams don't go through stretches where they look awful offensively against good defense. KU barely broke 60 against New Mexico State. K-State, who many people on this board expect/expected to challenge KU this season, scored 46 against Tulsa. Unlike in the NBA, most college teams don't have a handful of guys who can create and/or make an open shot at will. And role players tend to be streaky and especially inconsistent away from home. As we all know, though, the one guy on this roster who could realistically help things by becoming more consistent with his offense is Manek. He played so well against ND, but was obviously struggling against WSU, and it noticeably affected his confidence.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

It's so funny that seemingly in every game the team has some pretty severe turnover problems in the 1st half only to turn it around and take care of the ball pretty well in the 2nd half. They just have to figure out how to channel that ability to take care of the ball from the opening tip.

 

[Soonerinkc]

Not saying this isn't true, but it's also the case for probably 95% of college teams. Very few teams don't go through stretches where they look awful offensively against good defense. KU barely broke 60 against New Mexico State. K-State, who many people on this board expect/expected to challenge KU this season, scored 46 against Tulsa. Unlike in the NBA, most college teams don't have a handful of guys who can create and/or make an open shot at will. And role players tend to be streaky and especially inconsistent away from home. As we all know, though, the one guy on this roster who could realistically help things by becoming more consistent with his offense is Manek. He played so well against ND, but was obviously struggling against WSU, and it noticeably affected his confidence.

yes...but we were talking about OU. Wsu isn't a "great" team. As I've said before, I'm just enjoying the ride...don't have any expectations for this team.

If James can stay strong and Calxite can keep the PG going we should be ok. Need another guy...Manek, JM...someone to step up as well.

It'll be an interesting year.

 

[Darwin]

This is not a great offensive team but its good and can improve as the competition gets tougher. These guys are still learning to play with each other. I like the variety of guys that can get their own shots and draw fouls. If Brady doesn't go full sophomore slump, they can be pretty good.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I believe that our quality depth is our biggest strength. Even last year we would have short periods of good defense, particularly in the early going before the team fell apart.

This is the first year that Kruger has had the depth to maintain the pressure and play a running game plus pressure defense. It usually shows in how strong we close the games as other teams seem to be more fatigued. Exception was Wisconsin where they just got extremely hot from outside.

There is also offensive upside. Bieniemy, Manek and Doolittle have more potential there. Doolittle is a very interesting case. I watched a lot of his high school games on the old Cox High School network and he was largely an outside player then. Now he just seems to go hell bent to the rim no matter what. He may have the potential to become a well rounded offensive player. He shows a nice shooting touch from the free throw line. Not sure what the obstacle is to his offensive development. He also seems to not really be comfortable in our offensive flow.

 

[jaymOU]

JaymOU, I couldn’t agree more about your recipe for success to this point of the season. I don’t even want to think about where we’d be if our defense, rebounding and teamwork had not been stellar so far. The only reason I focused on our offense through the first nine games is that no one I can think of thought this team would be nearly this good on offense.

Will it continue? Not likely, especially when we square off against the best teams in the Big 12 on their home floor. We might even lose another game or two by double digits if we have a bad game like the one we lost to Wisconsin.

But, I also think this OU team is going to win sone games they were expected to lose before the season tipped off. Very few, if any, posters here expected us to be 8-1 right now.

Will the competition be tougher down the road a ways? Sure. But it’s not like the teams we have played so far were all cupcakes who rolled over and let us win. This team is pretty darned good, and getting better. I’m not the least bit concerned about a collapse like the one we saw last year.

Ada - we are saying the same thing. I am so excited about the possibilities of this team. OU football and basketball are so different expectation-wise for me. I get nervous and frustrated with OU on the gridiron, but am always excited and anxious about the hardwood.

I am excited about how this team plays, the effort they put in and the way they appear to have each other's back. It's fun to watch!

 

[coolm]

listened to coach Lon talk to toby rowland last night. the coaches are very pleased with the progress made my Matt Freeman. Coach says Matt may be the first player off the bench to spell McNeace in the future. He also said they just can't get Doolittle's aggressiveness to translate from practice to game. He's a shrinking violet (my words, not Lon's).

 

[AdaSooner]

listened to coach Lon talk to toby rowland last night. the coaches are very pleased with the progress made my Matt Freeman. Coach says Matt may be the first player off the bench to spell McNeace in the future. He also said they just can't get Doolittle's aggressiveness to translate from practice to game. He's a shrinking violet (my words, not Lon's).

I’m not surprised to hear the coaches are pleased with Matty Freeman’s progress. You can see it in the confidence he shows when he puts up a shot or tries to take his man off of the dribble. He is a totally different player than the one we saw last year who was reportedly considering a transfer or going back to New Zealand. Good to see him playing well and having fun doing it!

 

[Soonerinkc]

I’m not surprised to hear the coaches are pleased with Matty Freeman’s progress. You can see it in the confidence he shows when he puts up a shot or tries to take his man off of the dribble. He is a totally different player than the one we saw last year who was reportedly considering a transfer or going back to New Zealand. Good to see him playing well and having fun doing it!

To me, his defense has improved..thus translating confidence to offense..

Just sayin when I play...if I've played good defense..stopped a guy then go down to the other end, ya just feel better about taking shots, rebounding, etc...IMHO.

 

[skyvue]

What's the name of Coach Kruger's TV show? I can't seem to find it in my listings.

 

[TheMont]

What's the name of Coach Kruger's TV show? I can't seem to find it in my listings.

It's a weekly radio show with Toby that's recorded live at Rudy's in Norman. You can hear replays in the form of podcast episodes: http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=210473199

(Titled Sooner Sports Talk)

 

[skyvue]

It's a weekly radio show with Toby that's recorded live at Rudy's in Norman. You can hear replays in the form of podcast episodes: http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=210473199

(Titled Sooner Sports Talk)

Thanks, I'll check it out. There's no TV show with Coach Kruger, then?

 

[ksSooner13]

Thanks, I'll check it out. There's no TV show with Coach Kruger, then?

No, it airs on TV. Same title, Sooner Sports Talk, look for it on Fox Sports Oklahoma or any of the Fox Regionals. During football season it's an hour with Lincoln. During Basketball season it's 30 minutes with Lon and Sherri, unless someone can't make it. Then it's either an hour or they bring in another winter/spring coach to talk.


Last night it was Lon and KJ Kindler.

 

[Max Power]

Thanks, I'll check it out. There's no TV show with Coach Kruger, then?

probably not in NYC, its on fox sports oklahoma here

 

[skyvue]

No, it airs on TV. Same title, Sooner Sports Talk, look for it on Fox Sports Oklahoma or any of the Fox Regionals. During football season it's an hour with Lincoln. During Basketball season it's 30 minutes with Lon and Sherri, unless someone can't make it. Then it's either an hour or they bring in another winter/spring coach to talk.


Last night it was Lon and KJ Kindler.

I watched the football version all season (along with The Huddle, also taped at Rudy's), but the basketball one hasn't been showing up in my listings. I'll check again.