Is keeping Lon worth Harmon?

[SoonerTraveler]

The assistant coach hires haven't worked out for us. We haven't recruited well enough and haven't developed the projects that were needed.

It is unlikely Joe is going to fire Lon. The two previous coaches of men's basketball managed to get us in trouble with the NCAA. Lon is as safe as anybody in the country as far as the cheating goes. This is also only a year removed from assistants getting arrested around the country. Joe will be slow to pull the trigger.

I would assume that he just wouldn't rollover his contract as they usually do so when he does pull the trigger we owe him less money.

You are likely correct. I don't think Joe will pull the trigger. The wild card is President Gallogly and the Board of Regents. I think Joe wanted to give Jeff Capel another season, but higher powers prevailed at that time.

 

[MrAnderson]

Wow. You guys are awesome! Lol

Fewest Big 12 wins in the league last 3 seasons. Raise your expectations.

 

[tycat947]

You are likely correct. I don't think Joe will pull the trigger. The wild card is President Gallogly and the Board of Regents. I think Joe wanted to give Jeff Capel another season, but higher powers prevailed at that time.

Gallogly has other higher priority issues on the table and he’s a short timer as his wife did not move with him. Regents are also having their own issues now too. Capel had other issues besides on-the-court problems. I think any movement this year will be totally up to Lon.

 

[AdaSooner]

Gallogly has other higher priority issues on the table and he’s a short timer as his wife did not move with him. Regents are also having their own issues now too. Capel had other issues besides on-the-court problems. I think any movement this year will be totally up to Lon.

I don’t think we’ll see any changes in our coaching staff this season, unless it’s at the assistants level, which is unlikely too because that is Lon’s call.

I’m fine with that for one reason. If we lost key members of our 2019 recruiting class, it would be too late to replace them before the season started. Capel put himself in a similar position in his last season by slow-playing recruits he could have signed to stay the course on high-profile players who went to other schools. We can’t afford to take that chance.

 

[TINY]

Lon and Harmon will be here next year so go ahead and jump off the bandwagon. Don’t bother coming back when Lon rights the ship either.

 

[Hollisp]

Lon and Harmon will be here next year so go ahead and jump off the bandwagon. Don’t bother coming back when Lon rights the ship either.

I hope u r right. I just can’t believe in it anymore.

 

[Eielson]

I was Lon's biggest critic during Buddy's tenure, yet somehow I'm almost a Lon supporter compared to you guys now. Maybe it's because of how realistic I was that I'm able to handle this slump. Anyway, I have just one thing I want to say:

At this time next year, Lon's job won't be on the line.

(And no, that's not my way of saying he'll be fired. I do think a Kruger should be finding a new job soon, but not Lon.)

 

[sooner8]

Lon and Harmon will be here next year so go ahead and jump off the bandwagon. Don’t bother coming back when Lon rights the ship either.

So you have enjoyed these last three years of Sooner Basketball?Lon will be back next year unless he decides he is tired of it,but $3.1mill would make me want to come back.That said Lon deserves another year to get this mess cleaned up & get back to winning.

 

[Big Old Booger]

You are likely correct. I don't think Joe will pull the trigger. The wild card is President Gallogly and the Board of Regents. I think Joe wanted to give Jeff Capel another season, but higher powers prevailed at that time.

I disagree. I flew from KC to OKC with Joe C the day after Capel's last game -- a double digit loss to OSU in KC. I acknowledged Joe and I was wearing OU gear. (Clearly Joe thought my ex-wife and I were OU fans who traveled to KC to watch OU but we were actually on our way to Las Vegas for a friends wedding.) Anyway Joe said to me, "thanks for your support and we are going to fix this basketball program". About 2 days later we started hearing rumors of Capel getting fired and it happened shortly thereafter.

 

[Darwin]

So you have enjoyed these last three years of Sooner Basketball?Lon will be back next year unless he decides he is tired of it,but $3.1mill would make me want to come back.That said Lon deserves another year to get this mess cleaned up & get back to winning.

Yes ... He made the dance last season and the Final Four 4 yrs ago, Sweet 16 the year before that. Joe C wants a good workplace for his coaches so cutthroat firings don't build that. Too many threads about getting rid of Lon don't help one bit. Although we know this lousy run can't continue much longer, one way or the other. This new recruiting class gives Lon several better players.

People wanted Switzer out in 83, he turned it around.

 

[WTSooner]

Lon and Harmon will be here next year so go ahead and jump off the bandwagon. Don’t bother coming back when Lon rights the ship either.

I won't. Know why? Because a year or two after Lon "rights the ship", we'll be right back to this point. It's his M.O. And it doesn't please me.

 

[WTSooner]

This new recruiting class gives Lon several better players.

Not really. I know I can't convince you or most others of that, but wait and see. Harmon is going to look a lot like Bienemy did this year. In other words, not much of an offensive threat. Reaves will help, but I don't think he'll be enough. Still not going to have any inside game. And it's a class full of guys that won't contribute much for 2-3 years. IMO.

 

[CoachTalk]

I won't. Know why? Because a year or two after Lon "rights the ship", we'll be right back to this point. It's his M.O. And it doesn't please me.

I disagree but know I wont convince you otherwise.

There is depth here. With several freshmen.

 

[WTSooner]

I disagree but know I wont convince you otherwise.

There is depth here. With several freshmen.

What does depth have to do with my comment? We had depth a few years back.

Lon's career is full of ups and downs. And not the normal kind. BIG swings. Constant roster turnover. No continuity over 2/3/4 year periods.

I have no doubt if Lon sticks around he'll have better years. I also have no doubt if he sticks around we'll have some more pitiful ones.

 

[WTSooner]

I disagree but know I wont convince you otherwise.

There is depth here. With several freshmen.

Also, rather than taking jabs at me, why don't you worry about your own team? I can see why you like Lon so much, you have a lot in common with him. Poor team. Both on 4 game losing streaks. At least Lon is keeping them above .500. So far.

 

[CoachTalk]

What does depth have to do with my comment? We had depth a few years back.

Lon's career is full of ups and downs. And not the normal kind. BIG swings. Constant roster turnover. No continuity over 2/3/4 year periods.

I have no doubt if Lon sticks around he'll have better years. I also have no doubt if he sticks around we'll have some more pitiful ones.

Depth has to do with you said we'll be right back here again. I dont think thats the case. A few years ago we went to the final 4... Guys didnt develop like we all wouldve wanted. Of course thats on the coaches.

Roster turnover? Do you mean every program in NCAA basketball?

Of course, there are ups and downs.

 

[CoachTalk]

Also, rather than taking jabs at me, why don't you worry about your own team? I can see why you like Lon so much, you have a lot in common with him. Poor team. Both on 4 game losing streaks. At least Lon is keeping them above .500. So far.

Haha! Didnt see you mention the last 3-4 years.

Back to personal attacks... Good for you.

I cant recruit i guess is the difference. We'll be back, just takes time.

 

[WTSooner]

Depth has to do with you said we'll be right back here again. I dont think thats the case. A few years ago we went to the final 4... Guys didnt develop like we all wouldve wanted. Of course thats on the coaches.

Roster turnover? Do you mean every program in NCAA basketball?

Of course, there are ups and downs.

OU shouldn't need a top 5 NBA draft pick that is from our back yard to avoid being left out of the Dance 3 years in a row. Yet, that is likely to be the case.

What makes you think we won't continue having development issues? That seems more likely than lucking into the next Buddy.

 

[sperry]

Depth has to do with you said we'll be right back here again. I dont think thats the case. A few years ago we went to the final 4... Guys didnt develop like we all wouldve wanted. Of course thats on the coaches.

Roster turnover? Do you mean every program in NCAA basketball?

Of course, there are ups and downs.

Lon's recruiting has been absolutely atrocious. I do like next year's class, although it still has the kind of shot in the dark projects that have not worked for him and have screwed the roster numbers since he's been here.

My biggest gripe with bringing him back is that he's 67 years old. What is the point of keeping him around when he should be aging out soon regardless. Why should we prolong the Lon era for 3-4 more years when we could go find our next guy? It's not like Lon is some OU lifer who has earned the right to go out on his own terms. He's a guy who was paid handsomely to turn this program around, and he did that, but he hasn't carried that momentum forward.

 

[CoachTalk]

Lon's recruiting has been absolutely atrocious. I do like next year's class, although it still has the kind of shot in the dark projects that have not worked for him and have screwed the roster numbers since he's been here.

My biggest gripe with bringing him back is that he's 67 years old. What is the point of keeping him around when he should be aging out soon regardless. Why should we prolong the Lon era for 3-4 more years when we could go find our next guy? It's not like Lon is some OU lifer who has earned the right to go out on his own terms. He's a guy who was paid handsomely to turn this program around, and he did that, but he hasn't carried that momentum forward.

Dont get me wrong, I get the frustrations. I think next year will be his last and hang it up, if not this year.