Kruger is a terrible tourney coach

[oukyle]

I've never said that.

I don't care what you can accept quite honestly.

Just like the Wichita State coach said today, college basketball has changed. Gone are the days where a handful of teams advance to the final 4 every year. Once you get past Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, UNC and a handful of others the remainder have talent that is very similar. All it takes is favorable matchups and a team to get hot and they can make a run. This was a bad matchup for us. Plain and simple.

Do not be disingenuous. This team was beat by a team it should have beaten, period. We gave a program its first NCAA win when we were seeded much higher. We gave a team their first top 50 RPI win in the NCAA tourney. We played a terrible game and still had a good chance to win in the last minute and we botched it. That has nothing to do with your perceptions of talent.

 

[fhosu]

Do you think a coach the magnitude of Donovan takes that job 7 years earlier? Doubtful.

.

 

[WaymanFan]

As for the title of this thread, it got me thinking back to the late '90s when Billy Tubbs was coaching TCU. During the one year he had them in the Dance, I remember reading this article in either SI or USA Today. It was right before the Tournament started, and the article was categorizing everything under the sun. One of the categories was: "5 Coaches Who Need To Step-It-Up in March". I don't remember all 5 names, but I do remember 3 of them - Billy Tubbs, Kelvin Sampson and Dave Bliss. :facepalm

At least Coach Kruger is in pretty good company .

 

[DenverSooner]

Myopic much? We lost the game because we trusted the game and the style we played. The reason we made fewer FGs on more attempts has everything to do with the shots we took (which result from the offense we run). Check the ADS stats. I guarantee that NDSU had at least a 6' advantage. They were taking shots in the lane while we settled for jumpers. Whose offense created layups and whose created jumpers? We did well this year but lets not absolve all the blame when we lose to an inferior team and our plan goes awry.

I don't think you change your style of play in March. I also don't think you change your style of play for a team like NDSU.

To me OU lost this game for the following reasons:

1. Hield and Neal went 2-13 from 3 point range. That is 15%. On the season they were more like 40%. If they hit just 30% OU wins in regulation by 6.

2. OU did a horrible job defending Lawrence Alexander. The guy was the leading scorer and rebounder in the game. You cannot tell me he was the most talented basketball player on the court but he certainly played the best last night. The coaches have to be really upset with this. On the season he averaged 11.4 and 4.3. OU allowed him to produce at double his norm.

3. OU's bench did not produce. Even if NDSU has its best starting 5 in its history, the bench at OU should be a huge advantage but the OU bench only combined for 6 points and was actually out rebounded by NDSU.

4. OU played poorly as a team, especially for two 5 minutes periods where they didn't score.

5. OU did a bad job closing out the game. It was won. Call it what every you want but replay that last minute 20 times and OU wins it 19.

 

[coolm]

the complainers in this thread would b!tch if you didn't hang them with a gold rope.

Let's be honest ... we entered this season HOPING to play .500 ball. HOPING to be in the top half of our conference. HOPING to maybe earn some post-season spot.

Then, over the course of the season, it turns out that our conference is the toughest in the country - yet we're winning! Then, we're not just winning but we're in the top half and the top 4 and the top 2. AMAZING!

The only reason peeps had ANY expectations post-season was because of the miraculous job coach and the players did all season long.

Sorry, but that success means much more than one game at the NCAA tourney. When we are to the point that recruiting and the team's play have become consistently superior then I might be concerned over "playing to seed" (how silly).

Oh, and it is ridiculous to sit here and claim that this ND State team was one "OU should beat". They were a group of veterans and OU is a group of inconsistent underclassmen. That alone takes the "OU should beat them" crap away.

I do agree regarding a better emphasis on defense. But I have no clue what coach has beaten into their heads over defense and what he plans for the future. I am betting this was the style he felt he could get the most mileage out of through the season (and it certainly did) and then he danced with what brung him at the tourney. Seems reasonable to me.

I don't think you change your style of play in March. I also don't think you change your style of play for a team like NDSU.

exactly

 

[DenverSooner]

the complainers in this thread would b!tch if you didn't hang them with a gold rope.

Let's be honest ... we entered this season HOPING to play .500 ball. HOPING to be in the top half of our conference. HOPING to maybe earn some post-season spot.

Then, over the course of the season, it turns out that our conference is the toughest in the country - yet we're winning! Then, we're not just winning but we're in the top half and the top 4 and the top 2. AMAZING!

The only reason peeps had ANY expectations post-season was because of the miraculous job coach and the players did all season long.

Sorry, but that success means much more than one game at the NCAA tourney. When we are to the point that recruiting and the team's play have become consistently superior then I might be concerned over "playing to seed" (how silly).

Oh, and it is ridiculous to sit here and claim that this ND State team was one "OU should beat". They were a group of veterans and OU is a group of inconsistent underclassmen. That alone takes the "OU should beat them" crap away.

I do agree regarding a better emphasis on defense. But I have no clue what coach has beaten into their heads over defense and what he plans for the future. I am betting this was the style he felt he could get the most mileage out of through the season (and it certainly did) and then he danced with what brung him at the tourney. Seems reasonable to me.



exactly

I agree with this except I think OU should have beaten NDSU. I am not insulting NDSU or discounting the fact that they are a bunch of seniors. I simply think you tweak something very minor and OU wins that game. For example, don't go completely cold the last five minutes of the first half, don't go cold for five mintues of the second half, etc.

 

[TINY]

the complainers in this thread would b!tch if you didn't hang them with a gold rope.

Let's be honest ... we entered this season HOPING to play .500 ball. HOPING to be in the top half of our conference. HOPING to maybe earn some post-season spot.

Then, over the course of the season, it turns out that our conference is the toughest in the country - yet we're winning! Then, we're not just winning but we're in the top half and the top 4 and the top 2. AMAZING!

The only reason peeps had ANY expectations post-season was because of the miraculous job coach and the players did all season long.

Sorry, but that success means much more than one game at the NCAA tourney. When we are to the point that recruiting and the team's play have become consistently superior then I might be concerned over "playing to seed" (how silly).

Oh, and it is ridiculous to sit here and claim that this ND State team was one "OU should beat". They were a group of veterans and OU is a group of inconsistent underclassmen. That alone takes the "OU should beat them" crap away.

I do agree regarding a better emphasis on defense. But I have no clue what coach has beaten into their heads over defense and what he plans for the future. I am betting this was the style he felt he could get the most mileage out of through the season (and it certainly did) and then he danced with what brung him at the tourney. Seems reasonable to me.



exactly

I agree, CoolM, except for the bolded above.

I expect OU to be a tournament team every year, at the very minimum. There are a few exceptions like first seasons on the job.

If our expectations become the way you described above, then we aren't getting our money's worth out of that $2 million + per year.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I agree, CoolM, except for the bolded above.

I expect OU to be a tournament team every year, at the very minimum. There are a few exceptions like first seasons on the job.

If our expectations become the way you described above, then we aren't getting our money's worth out of that $2 million + per year.

I expect to win the lottery every week but the odds against that are astronomical. My expectations about the lottery have little in common with reality.

The reality was that we lost over 60% of our scoring from last year.

the reality was that we were starting a true freshman point guard, which is often a recipe for disaster..

The reality was that we were very undersized and rebounding was going to be very hard as was offensive production in the paint.

The reality was that we started 1 senior, 3 sophomores and a freshman, an extremely young team.

You can say that you expect to go to the dance every year all you want, but the odds against this team having the kind of success they had this year were huge and they are to be commended for their hard work this year. They have weaknesses to work on and I have no doubt they will do so.

 

[TINY]

I expect to win the lottery every week but the odds against that are astronomical. My expectations about the lottery have little in common with reality.

The reality was that we lost over 60% of our scoring from last year.

the reality was that we were starting a true freshman point guard, which is often a recipe for disaster..

The reality was that we were very undersized and rebounding was going to be very hard as was offensive production in the paint.

The reality was that we started 1 senior, 3 sophomores and a freshman, an extremely young team.

You can say that you expect to go to the dance every year all you want, but the odds against this team having the kind of success they had this year were huge and they are to be commended for their hard work this year. They have weaknesses to work on and I have no doubt they will do so.

I was thoroughly impressed with OU's regular season and equally unimpressed by their postseason showing. I will commend them on a good regular season, and I will critique them on the junk they put out there against Baylor and NDSU.

This isn't the NBA, you are responsible for your roster as a collegiate coach, unless it is your first day on the job. After you have 2.5 recruiting cycles (especially in bball), you can't blame previous regimes for your lack of whatever it is you lack. I don't care what extenuating circumstances you run into, because every other coach deals with the same variables and 90% of them don't have near the resources as OU does.

OU is paying top 15 money to Kruger, and I expect to be in the tourney every season. You can call me entitled all you want, but the grace period was up long ago and I need to see better postseason play, starting next season.

 

[coolm]

there are few things I find more ludicrous than this entitlement mentality regarding the NCAA tournament. You can't "expect" to be in the tournament every year unless you are like one of a mere handfull of programs that get the best recruits year in and year out. And even then those programs have off years. that is silly.

this isn't football. there are well over 300+ teams vying for spots every year And we're NOT one of those handfull of teams ... and if you think we should be then make darn well sure that you're at every single game because that's step one.

quite frankly - I believe it is hyped expectation fans that ruin much of college basketball for the non "traditional power" teams. you hafta build a steady product without resorting to short-cuts and those types of fans don't allow ANY time for a program to grow.

 

[campbest]

I was thoroughly impressed with OU's regular season and equally unimpressed by their postseason showing. I will commend them on a good regular season, and I will critique them on the junk they put out there against Baylor and NDSU.

This isn't the NBA, you are responsible for your roster as a collegiate coach, unless it is your first day on the job. After you have 2.5 recruiting cycles (especially in bball), you can't blame previous regimes for your lack of whatever it is you lack. I don't care what extenuating circumstances you run into, because every other coach deals with the same variables and 90% of them don't have near the resources as OU does.

OU is paying top 15 money to Kruger, and I expect to be in the tourney every season. You can call me entitled all you want, but the grace period was up long ago and I need to see better postseason play, starting next season.

While yes you are responsible for the personnel, you can't just cut every player that was previously on the roster and bring in 13 of your own in two years and expect them to be better. Oklahoma isn't Kentucky, we don't and can't recruit like that.

The old saying runs true about coaches, let your first full class get to graduation and see where the program is. If that is the metric, things are looking up based on the foundation we have in the sophomore and freshman classes.

 

[coolm]

you know what ... if MY alma mater is recruiting without cheating, getting good grades, graduating players, has players who stay out of trouble, and puts out a competitive product through the season ... then I am MORE THAN HAPPY to accept earlier NCAA tournament exits in return. This is because I know that every few years there will be a confluence of circumstances and we will go further.

too many people lose sight of the forest for the trees.

 

[DenverSooner]

you know what ... if MY alma mater is recruiting without cheating, getting good grades, graduating players, has players who stay out of trouble, and puts out a competitive product through the season ... then I am MORE THAN HAPPY to accept earlier NCAA tournament exits in return. This is because I know that every few years there will be a confluence of circumstances and we will go further.

too many people lose sight of the forest for the trees.

I pretty much agree with this but I would really like to see OU become a program that is in the Sweet 16 more times than not or at least somewhere near 40% of the time.

 

[jerry]

you know what ... if MY alma mater is recruiting without cheating, getting good grades, graduating players, has players who stay out of trouble, and puts out a competitive product through the season ... then I am MORE THAN HAPPY to accept earlier NCAA tournament exits in return. This is because I know that every few years there will be a confluence of circumstances and we will go further.

too many people lose sight of the forest for the trees.

Yeah I agree and that is why Kruger is here.

 

[TINY]

While yes you are responsible for the personnel, you can't just cut every player that was previously on the roster and bring in 13 of your own in two years and expect them to be better. Oklahoma isn't Kentucky, we don't and can't recruit like that.

The old saying runs true about coaches, let your first full class get to graduation and see where the program is. If that is the metric, things are looking up based on the foundation we have in the sophomore and freshman classes.

I agree, Camp,and I still stand by my statements.

This is a dog eat dog profession and if someone thinks Joe C will be satisfied by anything less than a ncaa tourney bid every season with the type of money he is throwing at the program, then I would call them naive.

Rewind to the end of Capel's third season. Capel had arguably the best program in the big12, #1 draft pick, an elite 8 and second round postseason showings, 3 straight recruiting classes featuring McD's AAs, etc. Capel missed 2 tourneys consecutively and got the hook amidst ncaa violations, and they weren't paying him nearly as much, nor did Lon have near the success as Capel during their first 3 seasons at OU.

Starting next season, which is Lon's 4th on the job, Joe C and the BMDs will expect a ncaa tourney bid and most likely a second weekend run. It is pretty much irrelevant what I expect.

 

[IndySooner]

I agree, Camp,and I still stand by my statements.

This is a dog eat dog profession and if someone thinks Joe C will be satisfied by anything less than a ncaa tourney bid every season with the type of money he is throwing at the program, then I would call them naive.

Rewind to the end of Capel's third season. Capel had the best team in the big12, #1 draft pick, an elite 8 and second round postseason showings, a much more highly regarded recruiting class featuring multiple McD's AAs in TMG, Tiny. Capel missed 2 tourneys consecutively and got the hook amidst ncaa violations, and they weren't paying him nearly as much, nor did Lon have near the success as Capel during their first 3 seasons.

Starting next season, which is Lon's 4th on the job, Joe C and the BMDs will expect a ncaa tourney bid and most likely a second weekend run. It is pretty much irrelevant what I expect.

From what I've heard after the fact, Capel lost his job for things almost entirely unrelated to what was happening on the court.

 

[jerry]

From what I've heard after the fact, Capel lost his job for things almost entirely unrelated to what was happening on the court.

Yeah he cheated and wasted a very large recruiting budget to start with and ended up with players like Nick Thompson. Since then he has told many people that he was just trying to get another good class so he could get out of Norman and get a better job in his eyes. Monumental mistake by Joe C. to hire this guy.

 

[garyeb2]

From what I've heard after the fact, Capel lost his job for things almost entirely unrelated to what was happening on the court.

While not being able to offer any 1st hand accounts, I concur. The on court result was the excuse needed to run Capel out of town.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I agree, Camp,and I still stand by my statements.

This is a dog eat dog profession and if someone thinks Joe C will be satisfied by anything less than a ncaa tourney bid every season with the type of money he is throwing at the program, then I would call them naive.

Rewind to the end of Capel's third season. Capel had arguably the best program in the big12, #1 draft pick, an elite 8 and second round postseason showings, 3 straight recruiting classes featuring McD's AAs, etc. Capel missed 2 tourneys consecutively and got the hook amidst ncaa violations, and they weren't paying him nearly as much, nor did Lon have near the success as Capel during their first 3 seasons at OU.

Starting next season, which is Lon's 4th on the job, Joe C and the BMDs will expect a ncaa tourney bid and most likely a second weekend run. It is pretty much irrelevant what I expect.

What are you smoking? At no point in Capels career did we have "arguably the best program in the big 12". With his best team he lost to KU, a rebuilding KU who lost most of their entire team from the NC the previous season AT HOME. Did I mention Capels best team had a local kid who would have never been there if the previous coach hadn't signed his big brother? Did I mention that same player was probably the best player to ever wear crimson and cream? Did I mention he was the best player on the court every time he played that season? Did I mention the team was loaded with seniors most of which had played a bunch over the previous 3 years?

If you really believe Capel had the best program in the conference "arguably" then you sir are highly delusional. At no point that year did I ever think we were going to eclipse the results of previous OU teams (85, 88, 02, 03).

 

[BanjoCharley]

I agree, CoolM, except for the bolded above.

I expect OU to be a tournament team every year, at the very minimum. There are a few exceptions like first seasons on the job.

If our expectations become the way you described above, then we aren't getting our money's worth out of that $2 million + per year.

So you would have been happy if we paid Kruger less? Cut his salary and then first round outs are acceptable?