Locker room drama?

[152219]

Again young was VERY distant with the team on and OFF the court.

His teamates may have been a bit jealous but young wasn’t the best teammate either .

I’m not saying he was a bad kid , just selfish .

His leaving is best for this programs future . They won’t near as talented next year , but basketball just like any sport involved a team .

It appears that Young is very close to his family, so is his being distant off the court because he was with him family or because he was aloof? Or because he didn't like to party?

The only thing that was visibly "selfish" would be his warm up routine, which was his own and outside of the team. To be honest, his warm up routine looked like one that was patented after a NBA player's.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I've heard similar whispers, but not from anyone extremely close. I've heard it was an issue between the team where they didn't like this idea that it was Trae Young who was the reason OU was winning, and when they started losing, it was "well, C'mon Trae, this is your team, lead us to victory why don't you. If you are the reason we are winning, then you are the reason we are losing" which got retorted back with how Trae would be the only NBA player. It wasn't Trae vs the others as well, there were players in there that were on his side vs the other guys.

Towards the end, it became a "we all know you are leaving, so we'll show you next year when we do just as well or better after you are gone"


There was definitely issues in the locker room, and I mean, Doolittle even admitted it.

If true, we have some guys who are extremely immature and, in their own way, just as selfish as some people say Trae is.

 

[Matthew G]

So, petty jealousy brought down the team. Nice.

To a certain degree. On that side, there's belief that Trae didn't care about winning or losing, as long as he continued leading the nation in assists and points. But then did, when he realized losing didn't help his draft stock nor POY awards, but still wanted to lead the nation in points and assists.


The other major issue was players felt like Trae could do whatever he wanted and didn't face backlash from coaches where they couldn't do that. That's probably the biggest issue IMO that I've heard. If players got pissed because Trae could make mistakes and not face punishment, then that would cause a major divide.

 

[sooner 1234]

If true, we have some guys who are extremely immature and, in their own way, just as selfish as some people say Trae is.

No one is taking up for the other players . We have no leadership whatsoever , and some players need to focus on being a team player and frankly grow up or leave .
Saying that ,Young would have rubbed a team full SRs like Buddy and company wrong .

Again Young isn’t a bad guy , just more of a player focused on himself and his nba career than winning and his team /Oklahoma .

I think he’s a good kid overall but came into a team full of followers who were somewhat jealous at the freshman.
There was some tension and instead of young trying to lead this team he basically withdrew himself from the team and their attitude and focused more on himself and his future .

I’m not saying I wouldn’t do the same thing , but again it killed this second half of the season .

both sides are to blame , not to mention in my opinion the staff the most .

Both sides ( ou and young ) got what they asked for .

Ou got a McDonald’s all American and one of the best freshman seasons in college basketball in YEARS.

Young got basically the keys to the city and made himself millions .

In the end he wasn’t the best fit with a team full of players trying to find themselves .

We have a major issue with ou basketball right now , Young was a asset, not a problem .

I thank Young for coming to ou and will miss him .

 

[152219]

The other major issue was players felt like Trae could do whatever he wanted and didn't face backlash from coaches where they couldn't do that. That's probably the biggest issue IMO that I've heard. If players got pissed because Trae could make mistakes and not face punishment, then that would cause a major divide.

So, the coaching staff failed?

 

[OU84]

So, the coaching staff failed?

Yes, they failed.

 

[Matthew G]

So, the coaching staff failed?

I would say partially, and I think they'd admit that as well, but this is Kruger's style. Has been, always will be. He believes the team can grow by learning themselves, rather than someone holding their hand throughout. He will give them guidance, but can't force someone to do something. It's what made the 2015/16 team special. They got freedom to grow into what they became, rather than Kruger dictating and them needing him for everything they tried doing.

 

[CoachTalk]

So, the coaching staff failed?

There are things coaches can’t fix in the locker room.
Yes coaches get blame for losses. And players credit for wins...

But players have to make plays. Coaches can’t fix all issues

 

[sybarite]

I have no contacts on the team, nor do I know anyone who does.

I may be fortunate. I watch a game and see us fail to go after a rebound. Those who are close to the game seem to miss the fact that nobody even tried to get to the rebound. The discussion is about whether the coaches recruited them, the coaches taught them, Young didn't tell them to get the rebound, Young did tell them to get the rebound and they rebelled, or they weren't going to get the rebound as long as Young was on the team.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

So, the coaching staff failed?

Isn't the reality that everyone failed to some degree or another? Sometimes things just go to crap and it becomes a bad mix. No one's to blame and at the same time everyone's to blame. Does it make them bad people? No. Sometimes things just don't work out the way to it seemed like they would.

Remember these guys are young kids who are trying to figure it out. Who's going to lead? Lattin, since he's the senior? Trae, since he's the PG and star?

Everything's great and then it's all falling apart suddenly and the coaches only have 2 hands to put it all back together.

 

[152219]

There are things coaches can’t fix in the locker room.
Yes coaches get blame for losses. And players credit for wins...

But players have to make plays. Coaches can’t fix all issues

:facepalm:facepalm

 

[Soonerinkc]

I have no contacts on the team, nor do I know anyone who does.

I may be fortunate. I watch a game and see us fail to go after a rebound. Those who are close to the game seem to miss the fact that nobody even tried to get to the rebound. The discussion is about whether the coaches recruited them, the coaches taught them, Young didn't tell them to get the rebound, Young did tell them to get the rebound and they rebelled, or they weren't going to get the rebound as long as Young was on the team.

Unfortunately, 1 reason may be why?...When I know TY is going to go down and Jack up a 35fter...

Just sayin...that might have added into...as wrong as that seems.

 

[Soonerinkc]

[/QUOTE]

Anyone who was paying attention with an open mind to the problems this team was having from about the midway point of the season, should have been able to see it for themselves.[/QUOTE]

Very obvious...even on TV to me, but I'm weird...I watch the huddles, body language, etc..

 

[CoachTalk]

:facepalm:facepalm

Guess I missed something. If you think a coach can fix kid chemistry at the snap of a finger. You’ve lost it

 

[152219]

Guess I missed something. If you think a coach can fix kid chemistry at the snap of a finger. You’ve lost it

When it comes to sports, players, coaches, and fans desire consistency. Consistency in regards to coaching, discipline, the officiating, etc. If one player is treated completely different by the coaching staff at the HS and college level, that will almost always result in a % of the players becoming disgruntled. Especially in the film room, when a player B gets blasted by the coaches for poor execution, but player A gets a free pass for the same mistakes. So yes, that goes on the coaches. If you don't understand why that is a problem, then you've lost it.

 

[Jccouger]

When it comes to sports, players, coaches, and fans desire consistency. Consistency in regards to coaching, discipline, the officiating, etc. If one player is treated completely different by the coaching staff at the HS and college level, that will almost always result in a % of the players becoming disgruntled. Especially in the film room, when a player B gets blasted by the coaches for poor execution, but player A gets a free pass for the same mistakes. So yes, that goes on the coaches. If you don't understand why that is a problem, then you've lost it.

Amen.

 

[WTSooner]

Guess I missed something. If you think a coach can fix kid chemistry at the snap of a finger. You’ve lost it

Maybe not, but he has to be fair, consistent, and be willing to bench/punish kids who aren't doing the right thing. Sounds like that wasn't happening.

 

[sdcloud9]

Guess I missed something. If you think a coach can fix kid chemistry at the snap of a finger. You’ve lost it

Coaches to do their best to establish a culture but players are the ones who have to buy in and work for team goals.

 

[WTSooner]

Coaches to do their best to establish a culture but players are the ones who have to buy in and work for team goals.

The coaches have control over that. They can punish guys for not buying in. Do better at recruiting guys that fit in. Run guys off that don't fit in. Sometimes LK is too nice. I personally think a part of that is not staying around places long enough to have a vested interest.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

The coaches have control over that. They can punish guys for not buying in. Do better at recruiting guys that fit in. Run guys off that don't fit in. Sometimes LK is too nice. I personally think a part of that is not staying around places long enough to have a vested interest.

I just disagree with the notion that Kruger doesn't have a vested interest in what happens with OU's basketball program as well as with the notion that there are whole bunch of people on the team who should be "run off" for their bad attitudes.