Lon’s staff

[Romulus]

OU is missing Steve Henson and the toughness he brought the team. Lew Hill to Kevin Kruger has not been a boost.
You can see the team is different defensively with those two gone. Lon should have gone out and hired the best instead of giving his son a job.

 

[mict085]

No kidding. OU took a huge step back with the assistant coaches. They’re not getting the job done at all.

 

[OUHoops]

Absolutely agree.

 

[Soonerinkc]

yup...$219,999 worth

 

[AdaSooner]

It should be obvious the head coach is ultimately responsible for his team, and the entire program for that matter. But, what about his assistants? Ever wonder what assistant coaches do, what they are responsible for?

I found an article that spells that out fairly well. As you read it, ask yourself if the assistant coaches on Lon’s staff are doing their job well? I have already had a few things to say on this topic, maybe too much. I’ll let you be the judge?


http://work.chron.com/job-assistant-basketball-coach-25728.html

 

[Soonerinkc]

Honestly I don't see a lot of anything. Granted I am NEVER there...so I don't know. All I can judge is the product being put on the floor. For 9 games what I have seen is pretty bad, minus 1 game - ku at home.

I don't see ANY adjustments in the play of the team, offensively or defensively.

So, I'd guess...no not much is going on.

 

[WaymanFan]

Ada and I have discussed this both privately and publicly...we're on the same page with this topic. I really wish Coach Kruger had done a better job replacing Henson and Hill. With the Final Four team, he had strong #1, #2 and #3 assistants. The #1 and #2 got head coaching jobs, but instead of promoting the #3 to the #2, he promoted him all the way to #1. He brought in an average #2 and #3 trainee...no wonder we're hurting so bad.

 

[WTSooner]

It's easy to blame the assistants, but I'm really not sure how big a factor that is.

If anybody knows what Lon thinks about the game of basketball, you would think it would be his son. This isn't football, the X's and O's, and even the fundamentals, aren't all that difficult. Maybe those guys can't/don't motivate. I don't know. But this feels like an easy scapegoat.

 

[Matthew G]

Hartman isn't as demanding as Henson was with the bigs, and Crutch has always been a recruiter/player's coach. Hill and Henson demanded perfection out of the players. Hell, Henson would scream at the walk ons when they played defense against buddy and them for giving up easy shots. He'd tell them you aren't making them better by playing like that and also would yell about them not doing their jobs.


There's definitely a difference in assistants, but I disagree that it's the problem. Offensive scheme is a major problem, and it's all because Trae can't handle a double team.

 

[oudna]

It's easy to blame the assistants, but I'm really not sure how big a factor that is.

If anybody knows what Lon thinks about the game of basketball, you would think it would be his son. This isn't football, the X's and O's, and even the fundamentals, aren't all that difficult. Maybe those guys can't/don't motivate. I don't know. But this feels like an easy scapegoat.

You don’t think assistant coaches are important?

 

[dksooner]

It's easy to blame the assistants, but I'm really not sure how big a factor that is.

If anybody knows what Lon thinks about the game of basketball, you would think it would be his son. This isn't football, the X's and O's, and even the fundamentals, aren't all that difficult. Maybe those guys can't/don't motivate. I don't know. But this feels like an easy scapegoat.

I agree WT. Someone that has coached as long as Lon shouldn't need great assistants to be successful.

 

[MercedeSooner]

He made a mistake not going after more proven guys. Do we have a bad cop on this team who demands things from our players ? They are just extremely soft sad to say.

 

[WTSooner]

You don’t think assistant coaches are important?

Jeff Capel is a Duke assistant. So no.

All kidding (kind of) aside, I didn't say they weren't important. I just don't think they are as important, or ours are as bad, as some around here are making it out to be. Maybe I'm wrong. Just my feeling at the moment.

 

[oketex]

I think Lon needs to go back and get his old staff back together because these new guys aren't doing anything to help this team.

 

[Matthew G]

Jeff Capel is a Duke assistant. So no.

All kidding (kind of) aside, I didn't say they weren't important. I just don't think they are as important, or ours are as bad, as some around here are making it out to be. Maybe I'm wrong. Just my feeling at the moment.

Exactly. Is our staff the reason why Trae can't handle a double team, and thus forcing us to abandon a pick and roll offense?

Is it the assistants who decide to tell players to stand around waiting to see if they get the ball?

Is it the assistants who are shooting a terrible %

 

[Speedy17]

It's easy to blame the assistants, but I'm really not sure how big a factor that is.

If anybody knows what Lon thinks about the game of basketball, you would think it would be his son. This isn't football, the X's and O's, and even the fundamentals, aren't all that difficult. Maybe those guys can't/don't motivate. I don't know. But this feels like an easy scapegoat.

Hill and Henson were 20 year assistants for Lon, the person that misses them is Lon because he became accustomed to having them on a daily basis. It is kind of tough at 64 to lose the gang and start over.

 

[Romulus]

Hill and Henson were 20 year assistants for Lon, the person that misses them is Lon because he became accustomed to having them on a daily basis. It is kind of tough at 64 to lose the gang and start over.

I think it’s fair to ask the question then, was Lon’s magic Henson and Hill and he’s not the same coach without them?

 

[MsProudSooner]

I think it’s fair to ask the question then, was Lon’s magic Henson and Hill and he’s not the same coach without them?

I'm currently watching the women's game between Texas A&M and Mississippi State. Gary Blair's former assistant has been at Mississippi State for 6 years. Texas A&M hasn't been quite the same since he left and Mississippi State made it to the NC game last year. I don't think you can say that Henson and Hill were Lon's magic unless Henson and Hill have phenomenal success.

Coaching staffs are teams just like the guys on the court are. Sometimes they mesh better than others. But everything is speculation right now.

 

[Romulus]

I'm currently watching the women's game between Texas A&M and Mississippi State. Gary Blair's former assistant has been at Mississippi State for 6 years. Texas A&M hasn't been quite the same since he left and Mississippi State made it to the NC game last year. I don't think you can say that Henson and Hill were Lon's magic unless Henson and Hill have phenomenal success.

Coaching staffs are teams just like the guys on the court are. Sometimes they mesh better than others. But everything is speculation right now.

Has A&M finished in last place of the SEC every year since the asst left? That’s the trend OU is currently on and not speculation.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Has A&M finished in last place of the SEC every year since the asst left? That’s the trend OU is currently on and not speculation.

I'm not saying you're not right. I'm just saying it's too soon to know that.