Kruger report card

[Max Power]

He landed 2 others.

Ah how could I forget that team that won 13 games, but then had all whopping 13 of them vacated. I seriously doubt you want to use 2009-2010 as a defense of caple

 

[stormspencer]

I would give him a B on his tenure. I think it's a bit overstated that this program was in shambles when he arrived. From a mentality standpoint, I can agree that the program was very fragile. But Capel did leave him with some pretty good tools/players to work with. Yet, the process of "learning how to win" is a big variable and very much a wildcard. I think he was one of the better candidates who could come in and bring a patient, calm demeanor to a program that needed stability and confidence. He has done a very good job at restoring both stability and confidence, but I also believe there is only so far that he can take us.....until we get a higher "caliber" of player. He needs to prove he can consistently recruit top 100 guys and an occasional top 25/top 50 guy. That will move continue to move us forward as a program.

 

[bgrch1350]

Ah how could I forget that team that won 13 games, but then had all whopping 13 of them vacated. I seriously doubt you want to use 2009-2010 as a defense of caple

Actually Warren helped with the elite 8 run.

 

[Max Power]

Actually Warren helped with the elite 8 run.

And then helped destroy the program the next year.

 

[campbest]

B - with an arrow on performance this year trending down.

Like the recruiting class he has on deck, but that doesn't translate to W's automatically.

 

[OUBig12Champs]

I am not into letter grades, however I am into the type of grade us older folk received in early grade school. I give him unsatisfactory and needs improvement marks.

 

[AdaSooner]

Kruger inherited 3 All Big XII players in Osby, Pledger and Clark, along with Newell, Neal and Fitzgerald which is the best of any of those coaches. This fake story how he inherited a disaster is a joke.

Bottom line he needs to get something going. Year 4 and nothing but treading water.

While it's true Kruger inherited a stable of pretty good players when he came to OU, you can't count Osby because he had to sit out that season.

That wasn't the case with Capel. Despite the loss of three high-profile signees, it's not like the cupboard was bare in his first season at OU. He inherited Nate Carter, Keith Clark, Longar Longar, Tony Crocker, Taylor Griffin, David Godbold, Austin Johnson and Michael Neal. That's eight pretty darned good players, including one (TG) who would be instrumental in bringing in the national player of the year the following season. Capel also added Bobby Maze in the late signing period, yet he could do no better than a 16-15 record his first season.

I agree that LK needs to "get something going." I doubt if even he would disagree with that assessment. But, there is a major difference in Capel's fourth and fifth seasons compared to Kruger's fourth season. Capel's last two years at OU were a total disaster. He was not to blame for all of it, but 13-18 record, following by 14-18, not to mention a series of embarrassing situations involving players and an assistant coach, I can't think of any other way to describe what took place back then.

I can't help but be somewhat disappointed with at least three losses (Creighton, Washington and K-State) this team should have won this season. But on the whole, Lon Kruger has done what he was hired to do, right the ship and build a solid foundation for the future. Personally, I think the best is still ahead, the 2016 season to be exact. I plan to wait until then to grade his performance.

 

[bocabull]

I'm hoping the future is better too Ada. We really need Lattin & Buford to surprise to the upside. But when you objectively look at things:

Woodard
Hield
Cousins
Thomas
Spangler

is no better than (it could be argued is less talented than)

Newell
Pledger
Clark
Osby
Fitzgerald

And other than Pritchard there isn't anybody committed to improve things.

 

[DenverSooner]

If you are making a starting lineup of those guys I suspect it is as follows:

PG Woodard
SG Cousins
Wing Hield
C Spangler
PF Osby

I don't see how you can really argue that the other five are more talented.

 

[DenverSooner]

And other than Pritchard there isn't anybody committed to improve things.

It is a bit early to complain about the 2016 recruiting class. Odomes, James, Manyang, Buford and McNease will all be added next season. I am hoping McNease is a wash with Bennett and the others will combine to be better than Thomas.

 

[AdaSooner]

I'm hoping the future is better too Ada. We really need Lattin & Buford to surprise to the upside. But when you objectively look at things:

Woodard
Hield
Cousins
Thomas
Spangler

is no better than (it could be argued is less talented than)

Newell
Pledger
Clark
Osby
Fitzgerald

And other than Pritchard there isn't anybody committed to improve things.

Boca, Calvin Newell appeared to be a player with a huge upside at OU, but he didn't do much after he transferred to UCF. He averaged 10.1 ppg as a junior and 11.1 his senior season. The best season he had from three was 31% as a junior. He shot 27% his senior season. Calvin was a combo guard. But assuming you are comparing him to Woodard, Jordan shot 37% last year. He's averaging 21% this season. Nothing about that makes me wish we had Newell. As I said, Newell showed a lot of promise. I'm just not sure I would take him at the point guard position over Woodard. We didn't see him play that position at OU enough for me to make that call.

Pledger vs Cousins is a no contest for me. The easy choice is Cousins. I was a big Bird fan back in the day. But, Isaiah is a much better defender, more athletic, and he can create his own shots and score in far more ways than Steven ever could. Do I need to bring up three point shooting? Pledger was a streaky shooter at best. The only season he was even close to Cousins current average of 44% was his junior year when he averaged 41.6%. Cousins has averaged better than 40% the last two seasons. Pledger had one season when he averaged 40% or better.

To be honest, I never thought we'd miss Cam Clark as much as we have this season. I knew he was a good player. I just didn't realize how much he brought to the team last year. Having said that, though, would you really trade Buddy Hield for him? I know I wouldn't.

Spangler over Fitz is another no contest pick from my perspective. The only thing I might give Drew the edge on is shooting short range jumpers, and even that's iffy for me. Ryan just brings so much more to the floor with his athleticism, rebounding and hustle than Fitz ever did. That's not meant as a knock on Drew, he just wasn't blessed with quick feet and even decent hops. His defense was also suspect for the same reasons.

That brings us to Osby and Thomas. The jury is still out to some extent on TaShawn for me. But if I had to choose between the two as of now, I would pick Romero. I hope I won't be able to say that at seasons end.

 

[jerry]

Believe it or not the main players we miss this year are Neal and Hornbeak. With them we had at least 7 players. This year we haven't thus far.

 

[bgrch1350]

While it's true Kruger inherited a stable of pretty good players when he came to OU, you can't count Osby because he had to sit out that season.

That wasn't the case with Capel. Despite the loss of three high-profile signees, it's not like the cupboard was bare in his first season at OU. He inherited Nate Carter, Keith Clark, Longar Longar, Tony Crocker, Taylor Griffin, David Godbold, Austin Johnson and Michael Neal. That's eight pretty darned good players, including one (TG) who would be instrumental in bringing in the national player of the year the following season. Capel also added Bobby Maze in the late signing period, yet he could do no better than a 16-15 record his first season.

I agree that LK needs to "get something going." I doubt if even he would disagree with that assessment. But, there is a major difference in Capel's fourth and fifth seasons compared to Kruger's fourth season. Capel's last two years at OU were a total disaster. He was not to blame for all of it, but 13-18 record, following by 14-18, not to mention a series of embarrassing situations involving players and an assistant coach, I can't think of any other way to describe what took place back then.

I can't help but be somewhat disappointed with at least three losses (Creighton, Washington and K-State) this team should have won this season. But on the whole, Lon Kruger has done what he was hired to do, right the ship and build a solid foundation for the future. Personally, I think the best is still ahead, the 2016 season to be exact. I plan to wait until then to grade his performance.

First, Osby played for Kruger his first year.

2nd. Capel brought in Clark and Crocker. They were not on this team prior to him arriving. Only committed. Reynolds and James were committed to.

There's no argument that Capel's last 2 years were terrible. And Kruger is a better coach then Capel. But Kruger is in a conference with coaches who have all better records then him outside of tcu's coach, Ford and hoiberg and hoiberg has turned that program around fast. So he needs to step up his recruiting or this is what to expect each year. It's great that Kruger can turn a program around. But can we see elite 8 and beyond.

 

[DenverSooner]

2nd. Capel brought in Clark and Crocker. They were not on this team prior to him arriving. Only committed. Reynolds and James were committed to.

This is a stretch. These guys grew up in Oklahoma, wanted to play for Oklahoma and were signed not just committed before Capel was hired. He had little, if anything, to do with them playing for OU.

 

[bgrch1350]

And then helped destroy the program the next year.

He was hurt the following year.

 

[bocabull]

The bottom line is that Capel inherited zero All Big XII players from Sampson & Kruger inherited 3 All Big XII players from Capel. Those are the irrefutable facts.

In addition, discrediting the success Capel had when Blake was at OU is a joke. Its funny to hear those same people criticize Capel for wasting his time recruiting 5 star studs like Blake instead of playing it safe with the lower tier 4 stars and 3 stars like we have now.

 

[AdaSooner]

First, Osby played for Kruger his first year.

2nd. Capel brought in Clark and Crocker. They were not on this team prior to him arriving. Only committed. Reynolds and James were committed to.

There's no argument that Capel's last 2 years were terrible. And Kruger is a better coach then Capel. But Kruger is in a conference with coaches who have all better records then him outside of tcu's coach, Ford and hoiberg and hoiberg has turned that program around fast. So he needs to step up his recruiting or this is what to expect each year. It's great that Kruger can turn a program around. But can we see elite 8 and beyond.

I know Osby played for Kruger his first season. I was responding to Boca's point that the roster LK had his first season wasn't much better than the team we have now. Thus, my breakdown of each player and how they stack up with the players on our current roster.

You'll get no argument out of me that Coach Kruger needs to step up his recruiting if OU is to make a deep run in March. Still, I think it's too early to count this team out this season. We have seen signs that they're perfectly capable of beating nearly anyone when they're on their game offensively and they're playing the kind of defense we saw against UT in Austin. Can they do both consistently? The answer is, yes. Will they do it? That's a question I'm not sure anyone can answer at this point.

By giving LK until the 2016 season to put an Elite 8 team on the floor, I'm counting on the returning players that year, plus an anticipated outstanding recruiting class that will include Pritchard and Doolittle, as well as a couple of high-profile recruits OU is in on in that class. If I'm right, OU should have the firepower necessary to produce an Elite 8 caliber team. That may be somewhat of a stretch, but I honestly believe it can be done. Keep in mind that a top fifty point guard like Pritchard will almost always attract top fifty or better bigs and wings who will want to play with him.

 

[DenverSooner]

The bottom line is that Capel inherited zero All Big XII players from Sampson & Kruger inherited 3 All Big XII players from Capel. Those are the irrefutable facts.

In addition, discrediting the success Capel had when Blake was at OU is a joke. Its funny to hear those same people criticize Capel for wasting his time recruiting 5 star studs like Blake instead of playing it safe with the lower tier 4 stars and 3 stars we have now.

Or Kruger turned three guys into All Big XII level players and Capel turned none of the guys he got into All Big XII level players.

Capel was a joke. He had Blake Griffin for two years and still posted a losing record in Big XII play. He violated NCAA rules. He had a horrible problem with retaining players. He got virtually nothing out of the players he recruited except Blake Griffin.

I guess you have forgotten about: Maze, Neysmith, Allen, Cannon, Pattillo, Willis, Hardrick, Abdul, Blair, Newell, Thompson, WWII, Tiny Gallon and TMG. That is 14 guys that left the program early (not counting Griffin) all of who did not work out under Capel's watch. No degrees, no seniors, and very few wins.

 

[Max Power]

Or Kruger turned three guys into All Big XII level players and Capel turned none of the guys he got into All Big XII level players.

Capel was a joke. He had Blake Griffin for two years and still posted a losing record in Big XII play. He violated NCAA rules. He had a horrible problem with retaining players. He got virtually nothing out of the players he recruited except Blake Griffin.

I guess you have forgotten about: Maze, Neysmith, Allen, Cannon, Pattillo, Willis, Hardrick, Abdul, Blair, Newell, Thompson, WWII, Tiny Gallon and TMG. That is 14 guys that left the program early (not counting Griffin) all of who did not work out under Capel's watch. No degrees, no seniors, and very few wins.

This Sums It Up Nicely

 

[Dr Sleep]

B+, top 25 team currently but loses in the post-season. I expect some wins this year.