Kruger's biggest coaching mistake this year

[bgrch1350]

Grooms is averaging exactly 2.2 mpg less than Cousins. What has he done to prove he is a better option?

I like Cousins potential. But you don't win games with potential. When hes a junior or senior...I expect him to be a solid player. And the same goes for Hornbeak and Hield...I don't think they will take them as long as Cousins to develop.

 

[AdaSooner]

I like Cousins potential. But you don't win games with potential. When hes a junior or senior...I expect him to be a solid player. And the same goes for Hornbeak and Hield...I don't think they will take them as long as Cousins to develop.

What is this world coming to when we can agree on two things within a span of minutes? lol You're right in that Hornbeak and Hield's rate of development will be faster than Cousins.

We tend to forget that Isiah is not a true point guard. He was a combo guard until his senior year in high school. Hornbeak and Hield are also more fundamentally sound, whereas Cousins has a bit of streetball in him, likely a product of his New York environment. I still like what he brings to the floor as an on-the-ball defender and as a kid with a huge upside, providing he can learn from the mistakes he's making this year.

And, therein lies the value of the playing time our three freshmen are getting this season. While it's painful to watch at times right now, I believe it will pay dividends later on, hopefully before the season is over.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

... Obviously, the point guard position continues to be a problem for OU. It seems that we can't get a break in finding the right player to run our offense. I couldn't help but wish that we had a player like SFA's Hal Bateman, as I watched him dismantle our defense with clever ball handling, 13points, 9 assists and 0 turnovers. Hopefully, Woodard will change all of that a year from now.

I saw Woodard a time or two last season, and he looked very good for a high school junior PG. He handled the PCO pressure defense like it was a walk in the park. He should be a far better "true PG" than anybody currently on the OU roster. He should help OU be a better team next season, even as a college freshman PG.

I plan to go watch him some this season too.

 

[sharp1]

The way Kruger shuffles and platoons players in and out it is like he thinks that there isn't much difference between the "best" players and the others.
Have you considered the possibility that he may just be right?

smh

 

[AdaSooner]

I saw Woodard a time or two last season, and he looked very good for a high school junior PG. He handled the PCO pressure defense like it was a walk in the park. He should be a far better "true PG" than anybody currently on the OU roster. He should help OU be a better team next season, even as a college freshman PG.

I plan to go watch him some this season too.

I hope you're right, Trav! We both know all too well that the point guard position is invaluable at the college level these days, or any level for that matter. SFA's PG is proof of that. I truly believe that if we could have traded for him before the game started, the outcome would have been totally different. There is no way that SFA could have won the game without Bateman. If you and others who have seen Woodard play are correct in your assessment, his impact will be huge next year.

Oh, and don't forget to give us a report after the games you watch.

 

[Seymore Cox]

Grooms may have a lot of holes in his game, but he makes plays. I don't even know if Woodard is a playmaker like Grooms. Cousins doesn't make a lot of plays in the games I've seen.

 

[Soonerman]

Said weeks ago that I think Grooms should be playing ahead of Cousins. Think Isaiah will be a good player for us, but the offense looks so much more stagnant with him out there running the point.

 

[Krugerfan52]

Grooms is averaging exactly 2.2 mpg less than Cousins. What has he done to prove he is a better option?

yeah, neither one of them are very good. Neither can shoot.

 

[stormspencer]

I like Cousins potential. But you don't win games with potential. When hes a junior or senior...I expect him to be a solid player. And the same goes for Hornbeak and Hield...I don't think they will take them as long as Cousins to develop.

I'm so sick of hearing the term "potential". There is an old coaching adage that is appropriate here.....all potential means is "that you haven't done it yet". Are we playing to win this year or are we playing to win 2-3 years down the road? I don't think it's debatable that, when Grooms is in the game, it seems that we have a much better flow offensively because of his ability to drive. Grooms is by no means the "be all and end all" for a PG, but he is a much more viable option at this point.

Let's go ahead and play the youngsters more minutes and coast to another .500 season....all the while, losing our two best scoring options (Osby, Pledger) to graduation. I just don't understand the appearance of "let's play for the future" when we have some tools to help us be successful this season.

:facepalm

 

[bgrch1350]

I'm so sick of hearing the term "potential". There is an old coaching adage that is appropriate here.....all potential means is "that you haven't done it yet". Are we playing to win this year or are we playing to win 2-3 years down the road? I don't think it's debatable that, when Grooms is in the game, it seems that we have a much better flow offensively because of his ability to drive. Grooms is by no means the "be all and end all" for a PG, but he is a much more viable option at this point.

Let's go ahead and play the youngsters more minutes and coast to another .500 season....all the while, losing our two best scoring options (Osby, Pledger) to graduation. I just don't understand the appearance of "let's play for the future" when we have some tools to help us be successful this season.

:facepalm

Agree

 

[garyeb2]

I'm so sick of hearing the term "potential". There is an old coaching adage that is appropriate here.....all potential means is "that you haven't done it yet". Are we playing to win this year or are we playing to win 2-3 years down the road? I don't think it's debatable that, when Grooms is in the game, it seems that we have a much better flow offensively because of his ability to drive. Grooms is by no means the "be all and end all" for a PG, but he is a much more viable option at this point.

Let's go ahead and play the youngsters more minutes and coast to another .500 season....all the while, losing our two best scoring options (Osby, Pledger) to graduation. I just don't understand the appearance of "let's play for the future" when we have some tools to help us be successful this season.

:facepalm

Just curious. What would those tools for success be? Since no measurable success has been acheived by any of the current players, are you suggesting that you see the "potential" for success?

 

[Big Old Booger]

I'm so sick of hearing the term "potential". There is an old coaching adage that is appropriate here.....all potential means is "that you haven't done it yet". Are we playing to win this year or are we playing to win 2-3 years down the road? I don't think it's debatable that, when Grooms is in the game, it seems that we have a much better flow offensively because of his ability to drive. Grooms is by no means the "be all and end all" for a PG, but he is a much more viable option at this point.

Let's go ahead and play the youngsters more minutes and coast to another .500 season....all the while, losing our two best scoring options (Osby, Pledger) to graduation. I just don't understand the appearance of "let's play for the future" when we have some tools to help us be successful this season.

:facepalm

I disagree. Playing Grooms, Fitz and Clark will end up just like it did last year, 15-16 or 16-16 or whatever it was with no postseason appearance and even worse, a very young inexperienced team next year returning. Which means another rebuilding year.

By playing the younger talent, when their isn't much difference between the younger talent and the older players you are preparing the team for next year. I am very much against just playing the best players when you know how the story ends.

:OUbball-logo:

 

[bgrch1350]

I disagree. Playing Grooms, Fitz and Clark will end up just like it did last year, 15-16 or 16-16 or whatever it was with no postseason appearance and even worse, a very young inexperienced team next year returning. Which means another rebuilding year.

By playing the younger talent, when their isn't much difference between the younger talent and the older players you are preparing the team for next year. I am very much against just playing the best players when you know how the story ends.

:OUbball-logo:

And you think next years story is looking better than this years? What Kruger is doing is pissing away this season.

 

[Cleavon Little]

And you think next years story is looking better than this years? What Kruger is doing is pissing away this season.

What you are implying is that with one or two changes we start easily winning games, therefore "saving" the season. I just don't think that's accurate.

 

[Big Old Booger]

What you are implying is that with one or two changes we start easily winning games, therefore "saving" the season. I just don't think that's accurate.

It's not.

Merry Christmas Cleavon from one Fightin' Chick to another. Hope you and yours have a happy new year too.

 

[Cleavon Little]

It's not.

Merry Christmas Cleavon from one Fightin' Chick to another. Hope you and yours have a happy new year too.

Same to you brother - hope all's well on your end and always good to see you around here. Hoist one for Grady County and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

:OUbball-logo:

 

[thebigabd]

bump.

 

[MNsooner]

It's hard to say. I think it is possible that both Grooms and Cousins benefited from the move. It gave Cousin's a chance to get experience and really motivated Grooms to improve his game.

 

[WTSooner]

It's hard to say. I think it is possible that both Grooms and Cousins benefited from the move. It gave Cousin's a chance to get experience and really motivated Grooms to improve his game.

Agreed.

They way this season has played out, I don't think any of us fans really know for sure. Gotta trust LK on this one.

 

[MercedeSooner]

bump.

I guess using Hornbeak over Grooms wasn't a mistake either ?