Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

[T_Neal's Twitter]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

I hear the as of now the starting lineup is:

Osby
M'Baye
Pledger
Jelon
Isiah

Fitz, Buddy and Cam are the first three off the bench. Cam could make it back into the starting lineup.
Casey and Tyler are battling for a spot in the top 10 and it may just be who is best matchup in that game. Sam is 9 or 10.
I believe they will probably play 10 guys a game.

I'm all for starting Jelon. He looked GREAT in practice yesterday. I don't know about Isiah over Sam though, Isiah obviously has a huge ceiling and Sam is an offensive liability, but Sam is also a great athlete and defender and makes the right passes.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

I hear the as of now the starting lineup is:

Who are you hearing that from? Someone inside the program, or a buddy that has watched some of the practices?

That seems like a very unlikely starting lineup from day 1, to me at least. I find it even more unlikely that Sam has fallen that far back, already. While I don't like what he did offensively last year, had we gotten anything consistent from Cam, and had a bench, I think we could have won without Sam shooting the ball great.

 

[TheGimper]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

Who are you hearing that from? Someone inside the program, or a buddy that has watched some of the practices?

That seems like a very unlikely starting lineup from day 1, to me at least. I find it even more unlikely that Sam has fallen that far back, already. While I don't like what he did offensively last year, had we gotten anything consistent from Cam, and had a bench, I think we could have won without Sam shooting the ball great.

There is no way this will be the starting lineup on Day one.

 

[garyeb2]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

There is no way this will be the starting lineup on Day one.

I cann't predict what will happen on day one. But, I can report what the starting lineup was today. It was Cousins, Hornbeak, Pledger, M'Baye, And Osby.

Heild And Fitz were also were redshirts and alternated in. Buddy for Hornbeak and to a lessor degree for Pledger.

They scrimmaged with 3 refs and the clock. That group of redshirts beat the whites something awfull.

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

I hear the as of now the starting lineup is:

Osby
M'Baye
Pledger
Jelon
Isiah

Fitz, Buddy and Cam are the first three off the bench. Cam could make it back into the starting lineup.
Casey and Tyler are battling for a spot in the top 10 and it may just be who is best matchup in that game. Sam is 9 or 10.
I believe they will probably play 10 guys a game.

If OU is bringing a former All Big XII honorable mention forward off the bench, a top 40 recruit with two years of solid numbers off the bench, and a guy that lead the Big XII in assist to turn over ratio off the bench, OU is going to be a good team. That doesn't even consider the fact that Neal has two years of averaging over 12.5 minutes per game as the 9th or 10th guy in the rotation. I realize OU has not been a good team the last three seasons but virtually no one is bringing that kind of experience off the bench in the entire country.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

VBDAD has always had very accurate information. I always believed him to be someone inside of the program, or close to someone inside. He has shared info like this in the past. Maybe Ada or Big can confirm that, or tell me I'm crazy, but his info is usually solid, unless I have confused him with someone else.....

Just for what it's worth.

 

[Capel's Mustache]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

Kruger was on with Al today, he said Pledger has had his best week of practice since he (LK) took over. Just passing along info..

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

Kruger was on with Al today, he said Pledger has had his best week of practice since he (LK) took over. Just passing along info..

Heard that as well. Also pretty much gave a breakdown on each player. Loved what I heard about the overall state of the team. I did notice it sounded like Grooms may have gotten passed, or his inability to make shots is really hurting him right now. Did you pick up on that?????

He also said about Cam what alot of people here are saying: he needs to get more aggressive, attack the rim, and get to the line. Said he really wants to see Cam using his athleticism more. Said Cam fell in love with the 15 footer in HS because his superior athleticism made it very easy for him to shoot it whenever he wanted. Never was challeged to blow by people and get to the rim. Sounded like a concentrated effort among coaches and other players trying to get Cam believing he can attack the rim....

Those were the things that stood out to me. Also said Fitz has redistributed his weight again like he started doing last yr, and said he works extremely hard and will cause match up nightmares for other 5's because he can step out and shoot.... Said Fitz is adding the 3 to his arsenal, and will shoot it some this yr.

 

[KBaden145]

Heard that as well. Also pretty much gave a breakdown on each player. Loved what I heard about the overall state of the team. I did notice it sounded like Grooms may have gotten passed, or his inability to make shots is really hurting him right now. Did you pick up on that?????

He also said about Cam what alot of people here are saying: he needs to get more aggressive, attack the rim, and get to the line. Said he really wants to see Cam using his athleticism more. Said Cam fell in love with the 15 footer in HS because his superior athleticism made it very easy for him to shoot it whenever he wanted. Never was challeged to blow by people and get to the rim. Sounded like a concentrated effort among coaches and other players trying to get Cam believing he can attack the rim....

Those were the things that stood out to me. Also said Fitz has redistributed his weight again like he started doing last yr, and said he works extremely hard and will cause match up nightmares for other 5's because he can step out and shoot.... Said Fitz is adding the 3 to his arsenal, and will shoot it some this yr.

He referenced Fitz as a 5? If that is so, maybe he starts inside with Osby at the 4 and MBaye at the 3? Pledger and Cousins in the backcourt? Will be interesting to see the lineups at the scrimmage and in these exh games.

 

[vbdad]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

VBDAD has always had very accurate information. I always believed him to be someone inside of the program, or close to someone inside. He has shared info like this in the past. Maybe Ada or Big can confirm that, or tell me I'm crazy, but his info is usually solid, unless I have confused him with someone else.....

Just for what it's worth.

Thank You!

I wish I had heard Coach Kruger yesterday. He is very informative. I hear he likes this team a bunch. They have learned to work hard and the young guys are absolutely gym rats which is great. Sam just can't stay up with the freshman. He is a great guy who works very hard and is a good basketball player. Doesn't shoot well though but also the freshman are really good athletes. I think all 3 of the freshman still are inconsistant in shooting as well.

Tyler Neal has improved a great deal from last year too.

 

[campbest]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

Heard that as well. Also pretty much gave a breakdown on each player. Loved what I heard about the overall state of the team. I did notice it sounded like Grooms may have gotten passed, or his inability to make shots is really hurting him right now. Did you pick up on that?????

IMO, when you have an experienced team (Pledger, Osby, M'Baye, Fitz) the need for a PG who "runs the show" is diminished a bit. Especially with the addition of M'Baye who opens up passing/driving lanes since defenses won't help off as much.

One of those situations where Jelon or Cousins can get some serious run with the first team provided they don't turn the ball over. Because, to be honest (and no disrespect to Grooms) that was his main positive impact last year.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

IMO, when you have an experienced team (Pledger, Osby, M'Baye, Fitz) the need for a PG who "runs the show" is diminished a bit. Especially with the addition of M'Baye who opens up passing/driving lanes since defenses won't help off as much.

One of those situations where Jelon or Cousins can get some serious run with the first team provided they don't turn the ball over. Because, to be honest (and no disrespect to Grooms) that was his main positive impact last year.

I agree, but I also agree with the flip side of that, which is.....

Teams that have scoring talent all over the court an on the bench can get by a little easier with having a pg that isn't great at offense, as long as he can distribute the ball and defend.

My preference would be to start Grooms at the beginning of the season, play the freshman a lot, and go from there. If after a month it is obvious that Hornbeak/Cousins is more productive, you can always bench Grooms then.

 

[campbest]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

I agree, but I also agree with the flip side of that, which is.....

Teams that have scoring talent all over the court an on the bench can get by a little easier with having a pg that isn't great at offense, as long as he can distribute the ball and defend.

My preference would be to start Grooms at the beginning of the season, play the freshman a lot, and go from there. If after a month it is obvious that Hornbeak/Cousins is more productive, you can always bench Grooms then.

This is what I anticipate will happen.

The one thing about Jelon that really excites me is that he has played with talent for years, highly recruited players who need to be fed the ball. Not just deliver the ball, but deliver it in a position where the player can score (especially with big men). He is already in the mindset of distributing to guys who will make the plays. I am not as familiar with Cousins' background, but I casually remember he used to be an off/scoring guard? Very different transition.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

VBDAD has always had very accurate information. I always believed him to be someone inside of the program, or close to someone inside. He has shared info like this in the past. Maybe Ada or Big can confirm that, or tell me I'm crazy, but his info is usually solid, unless I have confused him with someone else.....

Just for what it's worth.

You are not crazy.

 

[garyeb2]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

IMO, when you have an experienced team (Pledger, Osby, M'Baye, Fitz) the need for a PG who "runs the show" is diminished a bit. Especially with the addition of M'Baye who opens up passing/driving lanes since defenses won't help off as much.

One of those situations where Jelon or Cousins can get some serious run with the first team provided they don't turn the ball over. Because, to be honest (and no disrespect to Grooms) that was his main positive impact last year.

I sure think that is right. Having some experience in other spots makes it easier to play a freshman at point for all the reasons that you mention.

But, I also think that there is another side to the equation. Cousin's is pretty darned good right now. He is at no competitive disadvantage and at least once a day he will make a play that is for lack of a better word, is stunning.

And he accepts coaching graciously and willingly. I guess it was 3/4 days ago, Kruger stopped the action, and went up to Cousins. Kruger asked him where he was suppose to go after the pass he just made. Cousins pointed in a direction that was different than where he just went. Krugers response was well, "if you know where you were suppose to go, why didn't you go there". Cousins shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know coach, but, I'll get it right next time."

I'm not enough of an X's and O's guy to know what these guys are suppose to be doing in every spot. But, it is pretty easy to take notice of which players are being coached and re-coached and for what. Based on that type of calculation, I don't think that Cousins presence on the court should be a concern for any reason.

 

[Ham]

Re: Kruger says "2 or 3" of last year's starters may not start this year

Intrigued by the idea of Pledger starting at the 3.

I knew Lon was high on Cousins when they were going after him in the Spring. You could just tell. I heard him on with Eschbach (after Cousins signed) and he just about sounded like a kid on Christmas morning. I think he knows he got a diamond in the rough. Jim Calhoun wanted him too at that time.

But the reason for this turnaround, if it indeed happens, (aside from Kruger's coaching ability) will be the further development of guys like Pledger, Fitz, and Osby but especially the maturity and experience of these 3 seniors. Or as some call them - "Capel leftovers". We'll miss them next year.

Anyhow...long ways to go. And I am totally amped for this season.