Is Oklahoma cooked as a program?

[BoulderSooner]

I think there is a pretty big difference between the two programs. The women are clearly not close to the level of the upper tier programs. There are a handful of women’s team that are well clear of the rest of the field, and OU isn’t there yet. I think it’s fair to wonder if they can get there with the frantic style they play. You need to have a lot of players with a really high IQ and really high skill level to pull that off. When they play teams that are more talented and more physical, that style of play leads to blowout losses, especially if they don’t shoot well. But all that said, they are a top 25 team every year and make the tournament easily. That’s not close to being in the gutter. And remember how badly things had fallen off in the last few years before she was hired. But they do need to evaluate whether they think they can get over the hump with this style, because turning the ball over like crazy is a tough way to compete against the best teams.

the OU women needed chavez to be a top 10-15 player in the sport ... she is a good freshman but not close to that level yet ..

 

[WichitaSooner]

the OU women needed chavez to be a top 10-15 player in the sport ... she is a good freshman but not close to that level yet ..

That would help, as would Beers not spending so much time in foul trouble. And obviously their best shooter being in a prolonged slump this season hurts. But when I watch them, I’m always struck by how many out of control possessions there are, and they aren’t nearly as athletic as the best teams.

 

[AnotherSoonerInTX]

There are SEVERAL morons on the On3 site who are serious about it, and bring it up all the time (well, after every loss)...which has been frequent as of late. That's never going to happen, so not sure why they feel the need to constantly bring it up. I don't need some "fan" who doesn't care for b-ball telling me where my NIL donations need to be going.

I've noticed those posts. We have a lot in our fan base that are OU football fans only, as if OU football were an NFL team. Reminds me of growing up in Oklahoma when there were people that were fans of both OU football and OSU baseball. For some, OU hoops and other sports are a competitor to OU football. I'm not sure if that dynamic exists anywhere else on this level. I think it goes back to the reason to build the OU football program post-World War II: to bring pride to the state.

We do have people that are now softball fans since Patty has won 8 nattys.

Unlike some other schools, we have a fan base that only supports winners. It gets worse the longer we go without the 8th football natty. With that said, with the right coach and investment, men's basketball can be fixed.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Indiana just won the national championship. In football. Arguably the worst program in history. It took two years for a brilliant coach to take them from national laughingstock to national champion. Extreme example, to be sure. But as bleak as things are under MMM, there is no reason to think it can’t be turned around. But the first step is to make a coaching change, and to hire the right guy.

 

[SunshinePumper]

Indiana just won the national championship. In football. Arguably the worst program in history. It took two years for a brilliant coach to take them from national laughingstock to national champion. Extreme example, to be sure. But as bleak as things are under MMM, there is no reason to think it can’t be turned around. But the first step is to make a coaching change, and to hire the right guy.

I heard there’s an up and comer coach at Houston

 

[hoopsaustin]

I heard there’s an up and comer coach at Houston

Never kellen or anyone just bc they have a past OU connection

 

[BoulderSooner]

Hire Terry Stotts ..

 

[SoonerDutch]

Indiana just won the national championship. In football. Arguably the worst program in history. It took two years for a brilliant coach to take them from national laughingstock to national champion. Extreme example, to be sure. But as bleak as things are under MMM, there is no reason to think it can’t be turned around. But the first step is to make a coaching change, and to hire the right guy.

Agreed, first step is a new AD to find the right guy. Having a coach with a vision and donor enthusiasm (the AD’s only job) to complement said vision is not impossible, although the Cignetti comp is sadly already overused.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Agreed, first step is a new AD to find the right guy. Having a coach with a vision and donor enthusiasm (the AD’s only job) to complement said vision is not impossible, although the Cignetti comp is sadly already overused.

I’ve used dozens of other examples on this board specific to college basketball.

 

[cmdsooner]

The program isn’t cooked, but I do think it will take a special coach to put us where people on this site want us to be. Not just good, but a great hire. Good will not cut it with our resources & fan support. It’s been said in this thread already, but we are an extreme frontrunner fanbase in every sport. That means we have to have consistency or it can fall apart quickly. With poor NIL backing in this era, it’s not going to be easy to retain players, which makes consistency difficult. The right hire can make it happen though.

Evaluations have to be elite. Offensively, the coach needs to be able to adjust to his roster just as much as he molds it to his own style. That doesn’t mean you don’t have an identity, system, or culture, but you have to be intentional about knowing which situations your guys are going to excel in, and put them in those situations relentlessly. Be elite on the defensive end without compromise. It doesn’t take 5*s to do that and it’ll keep you in and win you some games when you’re out-talented.

Value lead guards that take care of the ball and defend in recruiting. Value bigs that are physically capable of standing up to this league on defense and on the glass. They don’t have to outscore the inevitable Kentucky 5* one & done center, but they have to neutralize on the glass & make them work for everything they get. If you take care of the ball, defend, and rebound, wins find you. Value guys that can contribute quickly. Projects aren’t sticking around for 3 years.