James should be starting for Woodard

[Big Old Booger]

I think James may have earned some more playing time but that could also end quickly. He played tough last night though and it was good to see. On the other hand I'll take Woodard as my starter.

Probably for the best but we need him to get back to the Woodard that played at AFH. That Woodard can help us advance in March. Anything less and it's going to be a struggle.

 

[Big Old Booger]

We got production from several other sources. Woodward had 11 points last night. Spangler had 12; Cousins had 15. James had by far his best outing of the season and if he plays like that game in, game out, he'll see plenty of playing time. But you advocated benching a three-year starter (who kept us in the game in the first half last night) based on a single solid half from a true freshman.

I advocated starting the guy with more measurables and potential at the 2 guard but playing Woodard a lot. I wasn't saying Woodard should play 10 minutes a game or less. To me we have 4 good guards (Hield, Cousins, Woodard and James). Woodard would play as many minutes as the other guys each night in my mind. Hield and Cousins the most PT obviously.

 

[skyvue]

I advocated starting the guy with more measurables and potential at the 2 guard but playing Woodard a lot. I wasn't saying Woodard should play 10 minutes a game or less. To me we have 4 good guards (Hield, Cousins, Woodard and James). Woodard would play as many minutes as the other guys each night in my mind. Hield and Cousins the most PT obviously.

You're still advocating switching the minutes of a three-year starter and a true freshman based on one half of basketball.

 

[opsooner]

I think the more interesting question is whether we could (or should) have developed a different starter (like James) and tried to use a guy like Woodard to give us some bench spark.

I'm certainly not for experimenting with that now though. Hopefully, Walker and James both give us that in the next several games.

 

[Big Old Booger]

You're still advocating switching the minutes of a three-year starter and a true freshman based on one half of basketball.

Switching isn't the correct word. I'm advocating placing the guy with better measurables and who is more aggressive and was better against the trap on the court to start the game to change it up for opponents. I'm still saying Woodard should play a lot. I'm also saying Walker shouldn't play at all.

Remember Rocky 2? Mickey taught Rocky how to swing with his right arm instead of just being a "south paw". That was to catch Apollo off guard because he would be preparing for the "South paw". Then when Rocky had him on the ropes Mickey wanted him to switch back. I'm calling for us to do the same here. Yeah, I know it's a movie but it could still be great. :ez-roll: :ez-laugh:

(the last paragraph is in jest, sort of :ez-laugh: )

 

[bgrch1350]

You're still advocating switching the minutes of a three-year starter and a true freshman based on one half of basketball.

James played good this game. Walker played good last game.

I actually thought Kruger messed up by not having Woodard in the lineup in the end. We came back with the help of James but in the end, James never would have been in there to get that last shot.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Lol awesome thread

 

[scrybe]

Switching isn't the correct word. I'm advocating placing the guy with better measurables and who is more aggressive and was better against the trap on the court to start the game to change it up for opponents. I'm still saying Woodard should play a lot. I'm also saying Walker shouldn't play at all.

Remember Rocky 2? Mickey taught Rocky how to swing with his right arm instead of just being a "south paw". That was to catch Apollo off guard because he would be preparing for the "South paw". Then when Rocky had him on the ropes Mickey wanted him to switch back. I'm calling for us to do the same here. Yeah, I know it's a movie but it could still be great. :ez-roll: :ez-laugh:

(the last paragraph is in jest, sort of :ez-laugh: )

:ez-laugh: I'm a Rocky fan too, Booger. But Woodard kept us in the game in the first half with those treys. Yes, he struggled later, but no way (IMO) should that cost him his starter's spot. We all saw what James did in the second half, and I'm beaming with pride for the kid. If he could have gotten that late layup up over the rim, we'd be celebrating him bigtime today.

 

[Dcox]

I'm thrilled that James played great last night and he has a bright future but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Woodard is the better player and I can't believe we are having this discussion.

+1

 

[OUSKINS]

Switching isn't the correct word. I'm advocating placing the guy with better measurables and who is more aggressive and was better against the trap on the court to start the game to change it up for opponents. I'm still saying Woodard should play a lot. I'm also saying Walker shouldn't play at all.

Remember Rocky 2? Mickey taught Rocky how to swing with his right arm instead of just being a "south paw". That was to catch Apollo off guard because he would be preparing for the "South paw". Then when Rocky had him on the ropes Mickey wanted him to switch back. I'm calling for us to do the same here. Yeah, I know it's a movie but it could still be great. :ez-roll: :ez-laugh:

(the last paragraph is in jest, sort of :ez-laugh: )

It's too late to change the starting 5 now; that would be disruptive on many levels at this juncture. It isn't too late to play him more though.

Love Lon, love everything he stands for and everything he's done for our program. It's been so fun watching this team over the past four years--- but I do fear his big failing this year was in unwillingness to develop the bench earlier in the year when he had a chance. There were countless opportunities to play these guys more meaningful minutes and give the starters more rest-- even at the expense maybe of another loss or two-- I think it could have been worth it-- and who knows, maybe we have the legs and extra "oomph" to win against KSU, TT, etc.

That said, I do like that Lon rolled with the hot hand last night--- if the kid stays hot, I imagine we will see more of him in the tourney-- but we are now at the point where there is no more on the job training-- a bad night from any key player and we could be cooked.

 

[bgrch1350]

Woodard gives us very little from the 2 guard position. So, James should be starting for him and then Woodard can take Walker's role but play more than Walker because Woodard is so much better.

If we are going to change the lineup after one game then why not start James over buddy. 6 points from buddy won't cut it. Sit him. :facepalm

 

[Big Old Booger]

If we are going to change the lineup after one game then why not start James over buddy. 6 points from buddy won't cut it. Sit him. :facepalm

Hield is much harder to guard and deny the ball and he plays better defense. Woodard is not a good defender and Hield is not great either but he's better, and longer. Also, if Woodard is guarded by a bigger guard, which he has been most of the last month he disappears.

To me, Woodard is better at the PG than he is at the 2G. He disappears like he did last night. Sure, he carried us early but after that he was a no-show. We can't have 1 guy a no-show when Hield can't touch the ball. I also don't like how Woodard breaks the press. He's too laissez faire and therefore takes too much time as happened last night. James attacked it and I think he's going to get much better over the next few weeks.

 

[Big Old Booger]

:ez-laugh: I'm a Rocky fan too, Booger. But Woodard kept us in the game in the first half with those treys. Yes, he struggled later, but no way (IMO) should that cost him his starter's spot. We all saw what James did in the second half, and I'm beaming with pride for the kid. If he could have gotten that late layup up over the rim, we'd be celebrating him bigtime today.

He did keep us in the game but why did he disappear? That's my biggest issue.

 

[Big Old Booger]

James played good this game. Walker played good last game.

I actually thought Kruger messed up by not having Woodard in the lineup in the end. We came back with the help of James but in the end, James never would have been in there to get that last shot.

:facepalm

No way. I know you love Oklahoma HS kids and want them to be recruited and play but Woodard completely disappeared in the 2nd half. James carried us on the comeback, so no way should he have left the game. He was almost the hero with the layup but he will learn and get better. Woodard for some reason disappears and we need to figure out why it's happening. When he's playing well, like he did in AFH then we are a very good team. Problem is since that game he's done very little.

 

[hoopsaustin]

:facepalm

No way. I know you love Oklahoma HS kids and want them to be recruited and play but Woodard completely disappeared in the 2nd half. James carried us on the comeback, so no way should he have left the game. He was almost the hero with the layup but he will learn and get better. Woodard for some reason disappears and we need to figure out why it's happening. When he's playing well, like he did in AFH then we are a very good team. Problem is since that game he's done very little.

No. Woodard should have been in. He's more clutch taking care of the ball. And a much better finisher and creater. Cost us that game him sitting

 

[Big Old Booger]

No. Woodard should have been in. He's more clutch taking care of the ball. And a much better finisher and creater. Cost us that game him sitting

No, sorry but you are wrong. He couldn't handle the pressure last night, he's too short, and he's too passive. James was what we needed. Had LK taken James out after he carried us that last 10 minutes you and everyone else on here would be ripping him.

 

[bgrch1350]

No, sorry but you are wrong. He couldn't handle the pressure last night, he's too short, and he's too passive. James was what we needed. Had LK taken James out after he carried us that last 10 minutes you and everyone else on here would be ripping him.

He had 0 turnovers. Cousins had 7. And you're telling me that Woodard didn't handle the pressure?

 

[SoonerinNC]

James is a freshman, a good one but not elite. Those types of players are up and down.

I'm sure he will get some early minutes in the next game and Kruger will go from there.

You can't just knee jerk and change every time someone has a less than stellar performance. some of you would have all of our starters on the bench. Should James replace Buddy rather than Woodard Buddy had his worst game of the year.

 

[Big Old Booger]

He had 0 turnovers. Cousins had 7. And you're telling me that Woodard didn't handle the pressure?

Cousins was the primary ballhandler. Surely you see why LK has Cousins handling the ball against the pressure instead of JW? If Woodard were better than Cousins don't you think it would be on him to get the ball upcourt?

 

[bgrch1350]

Cousins was the primary ballhandler. Surely you see why LK has Cousins handling the ball against the pressure instead of JW? If Woodard were better than Cousins don't you think it would be on him to get the ball upcourt?

Tell me. How does someone who can't handle the press have 0 turnovers?

I'm not questioning the logic behind Kruger's reason for moving cousins to the pg. But you are attacking Woodard and saying he didn't handle the press when it was cousins with 7 turnovers. Hield with 3. If Woodard didn't turn the ball over at all then he wasn't the issue with the press.