Kruger/Majerus

[buttermaker1]

OU will be a top 25 team next year. Every player back will again improve under Kruger, year 2 in the system. Add 2 3 point shooters and look out. How many leads did we blow against really good teams? We aren't that far from being really good. Study the losses to teams like Texas and Baylor.

We were in every game except Osu, ku and mu on the road.

 

[WTSooner]

OU will be a top 25 team next year. Every player back will again improve under Kruger, year 2 in the system.

Now that, I don't agree with. No way we're a top 25 team next year.

 

[DenverSooner]

Now that, I don't agree with. No way we're a top 25 team next year.

No way is too strong. It is possible that OU is a top 25 team. I think it is a given that M'Baye is a going to make a big impact. If Hield or Hornbeak makes a big impact, OU could be a top 25 team.

What if Neal shoots at 40% next season from 3 point range? He had a horrible stretch this season and still shot at 33% on the year. What if Hield shoots at 37% from 3 point range next season?

What if Osby and M'Baye both shoot at 37% from 3 point range for the season with a fairly solid number of attempts. Osby shot 39% this season but took very few attempts.

What if OU signs a juco player that actually pays attention and realizes he has a great opportunity at OU because they desperately need a shooter? Jackson paid attention and went to Baylor because they had a big front line.

If OU has some 3 point shooting to go with Pledger, they will be a good team.

 

[garyeb2]

Sure,I think OU has a chance to be a top 25 team. My "ifs" are simply replacing at least two sarters with better players.

 

[WTSooner]

No way is too strong. It is possible that OU is a top 25 team. I think it is a given that M'Baye is a going to make a big impact. If Hield or Hornbeak makes a big impact, OU could be a top 25 team.

What if Neal shoots at 40% next season from 3 point range? He had a horrible stretch this season and still shot at 33% on the year. What if Hield shoots at 37% from 3 point range next season?

What if Osby and M'Baye both shoot at 37% from 3 point range for the season with a fairly solid number of attempts. Osby shot 39% this season but took very few attempts.

What if OU signs a juco player that actually pays attention and realizes he has a great opportunity at OU because they desperately need a shooter? Jackson paid attention and went to Baylor because they had a big front line.

If OU has some 3 point shooting to go with Pledger, they will be a good team.

The odds of the things happening that you mentioned above are so slim. M'Baye shot 11% and 16% from 3 against Mountain West competition, and you suggest 37% is reasonable? Not sure, but I don't think OU has had too many freshmen guards come in and shoot 37% from 3 as true freshmen. I'm too lazy to do all the homework on this, but a quick glance at Soonerstats.com appears to support my claim.

If M'Baye starts on the wing, he won't help much, if at all, on the boards. That is still a bit on an issue. And I'm not sure how much team defense is going to improve either. Sure the new guys are more athletic, but I don't expect freshmen to come in and play above average defense either. And the older guys, especially Fitz, simply don't have the athleticism to improve much. Same with Grooms on offense. You really expect a 22 year old kid to dramatically change is outside shot over one offseason? Some guys can't shoot, and no amount of practice will change that. Grooms may improve some, but I certainly don't expect much more from him next year.

I think we will be improved, but suggesting that being a top 25 team is anything more than a minor miracle, I don't get that. The pieces aren't there, unless we land a stud to fill one of those last two scholarships.

As for Neal shooting 40% from 3, you might want to go back and look at the list of OU players that have managed that. Not too many, and the ones that did were significantly better shooters, and players in general, than Neal. No offense to the kid, but I don't see that happening either.

 

[garyeb2]

WT, there was nothing in the weeks leading up to the season starting that indicated that Grooms would be so inept with his outside shot. He isn't a guy that looked like a good shooter. But, he isn't that bad. I would expct a regression toward the mean. Cam on the other hand,well, you could se that coming.

 

[WTSooner]

WT, there was nothing in the weeks leading up to the season starting that indicated that Grooms would be so inept with his outside shot. He isn't a guy that looked like a good shooter. But, he isn't that bad. I would expct a regression toward the mean. Cam on the other hand,well, you could se that coming.

I actually thought Cam COULD be decent. He shot it pretty well last year, and while I wouldn't call him a shooter, and his form wasn't great, it was decent. This year, what ever he did to his form, is terrible. He will never be consistent shooting the ball with that form. It is really bad. Not sure if he changed it last summer, or during the season after the slow start, but he needs to simplify it. Way too many moving parts.

As for Grooms, we'll see. He may shoot it a bit better next year, but I think it will still be a problem. We won't know until they play the games though.

 

[usedtobe1]

It is easy to take a negative position so you won't be disapointed.

But this team was better than it's record except for one thing. DEPTH. A study I did showed that late in the games the quality of OU play suffered and they got no help at all off the bench.

What I have seen of practice tapes gives me hope that M'Baye will be as good or better than Osby.

I expect some improvement from Neal. Probably a fair amount from Grooms and even some by Pledger. Fitz is what he is. But I find it a little harsh to suggest that Fitz and Pledger don't belong at this level. All-Stars, probably not, but at least serviceable Big 12 players.

The team played very good defense in large parts of most games with both on the floor and they both averaged double figures in scoring with a decent number of rebounds.

Simply you need depth to play Kruger's game and we didn't even come close this year in the depth department.

The two freshmen and maybe a late sign out of JUCO will be critical. I expect Neal to contribute more but that will not be enough. I suspect that Blair is maxed out.

And I really don't expect the Big 12 to be down. That is usually a pre-season hope that never materializes.

The two freshmen will probably determine whether we go to the NIT or the NCAA.
We can't improve a lot without improving our depth

I agree depth was a problem but it's not going to be that easy. Our guard play needs a major upgrade. Grooms was the only ball handler who can handle pressure, and Pledger is the only player with an outside shot .... and he can't create his own shot off the dribble. You're right that either Hield and Hornbeak are going to have to step in next year and contribute significantly.

I do think M'Baye is going to add a lot to the post play. With him and Fitz/Osby returning, we will be decent inside.

The depth will be improved, but improved guard play will determine how far this team goes next year.