Lon Kruger on time and task: 'We’ve got to get the bar back up where it was

[TulsaWorld]

From Guerin Emig...

NORMAN — It was enough for his team to just make the NCAA Tournament when Lon Kruger became Oklahoma coach eight years ago, depressed as the men’s basketball program was at the time. Now, coming off back-to-back tournament appearances, Kruger sat in his office and said: “The standard needs to be higher than that. We get that. We’ve just gotta get it back there.”

I came to ask the 66-year-old Kruger, who has coached college basketball half his life now, how much longer he plans to do this. His disdain for three straight seasons with a losing Big 12 Conference record, never mind the NCAA saves in 2018 and 2019, hinted at an answer.

So did his accountability for the drop-off since OU’s run to the 2016 Final Four.

“Our message with our coaches is we’re responsible. We’ve got to help them (players) change,” Kruger said. “We lose five in a row like we did (on Jan. 28 through Feb. 11) and it’s mostly about our lack of confidence over missing shots. Well, it’s our job to figure out how to help them make shots. It’s not a case of, ‘Well, they’re not doing this, they’re not doing that.’ No. What are we, the staff, doing?”

That doesn’t sound like a man coasting into retirement with a $3.3 million salary.

 

[CoachTalk]

He'll get this back to where it needs to be real fast. I think we can go 9-9 at least next year and be really good the year after.

 

[BoulderSooner]

He'll get this back to where it needs to be real fast. I think we can go 9-9 at least next year and be really good the year after.

i agree

 

[Hollisp]

Saying the right things. He always does however.

But this is about as direct a quote you will get from him.

I will say, and I’m a Kruger homer, this would have been nice to hear mid season. I know that’s what he wants and what we expect. But, him saying that during the 5 game skid prolly would have calmed the pitchfork crowd.

But maybe I’m just naive.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Great article, thanks for sharing, Tulsa! Interesting to hear directly from Lon, but also a great job by Guerin dispelling some of the lazy myths about Kruger. Nothing is sillier than all the fans who think that because he doesn't rant and rave on the sideline, he isn't as competitive as the more demonstrative coaches.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Great article, thanks for sharing, Tulsa! Interesting to hear directly from Lon, but also a great job by Guerin dispelling some of the lazy myths about Kruger. Nothing is sillier than all the fans who think that because he doesn't rant and rave on the sideline, he isn't as competitive as the more demonstrative coaches.

I've not seen anyone call Lon "lazy" but I don't read every post and I tend to stay away from the game threads due to the kneejerk reactions.

I like Lon, I was one of the posters on here begging for Joe to give him a look when Capel bombed. I hope he can fix it and I believe he will fix it, I'm just not sure he's getting from his assistants what is needed at this point. I also think the downward trend the last 3 years combined with the hiring of his son as an assistant helped the pitchfork crowd. It appears he's just giving his son a handout instead of finding the most qualified person.

Anyway, I like what he says here and I hope next years team gets us back on the upward projection as a program.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I've not seen anyone call Lon "lazy" but I don't read every post and I tend to stay away from the game threads due to the kneejerk reactions.

I like Lon, I was one of the posters on here begging for Joe to give him a look when Capel bombed. I hope he can fix it and I believe he will fix it, I'm just not sure he's getting from his assistants what is needed at this point. I also think the downward trend the last 3 years combined with the hiring of his son as an assistant helped the pitchfork crowd. It appears he's just giving his son a handout instead of finding the most qualified person.

Anyway, I like what he says here and I hope next years team gets us back on the upward projection as a program.

To clarify, I don't mean that people call him lazy. I mean that the perception that he lacks passion just because he doesn't scream at players and refs is lazy -- it is easy for people to come to that conclusion without putting any real thought into things.

The assistant coach thing is a tough debate because honestly, I don't think anyone on either side of the fence can ever do anything but speculate since we have no idea what kind of work they do behind closed doors. I do think, though, that if the staff was as incompetent as some suggest, it seems highly unlikely that a program like Buffalo would have one of our coaches in the mix for their vacancy.

 

[CMSOONER]

I've always wondered how a program quantifies what an assistant for another school does enough to offer them a HC position.

 

[Big Old Booger]

To clarify, I don't mean that people call him lazy. I mean that the perception that he lacks passion just because he doesn't scream at players and refs is lazy -- it is easy for people to come to that conclusion without putting any real thought into things.

The assistant coach thing is a tough debate because honestly, I don't think anyone on either side of the fence can ever do anything but speculate since we have no idea what kind of work they do behind closed doors. I do think, though, that if the staff was as incompetent as some suggest, it seems highly unlikely that a program like Buffalo would have one of our coaches in the mix for their vacancy.

I don't think most people are bothered by the Carlin Hartman hiring, and it's highly likely he's a very competent coach.

The problem is Lon hiring his son which coincided with a 3 year slide in conference play.

 

[CoachTalk]

I don't think most people are bothered by the Carlin Hartman hiring, and it's highly likely he's a very competent coach.

The problem is Lon hiring his son which coincided with a 3 year slide in conference play.

His son is qualified 3rd asst spot.

Tons of playing, winning, coaching for it. Let it go.

 

[Eielson]

His son is qualified 3rd asst spot.

Tons of playing, winning, coaching for it. Let it go.

Qualified? Hardly. He coached one year at Northern Arizona, and then immediately made the jump to OU. This is 100% about daddy.

 

[Sooner04]

His son is qualified 3rd asst spot.

Tons of playing, winning, coaching for it. Let it go.

Who made you judge and jury? It was a nepotism hire, plain and simple. And a cushy one at that considering KK makes six figures.

So what’s your excuse for sporting the Big 12’s worst conference record since KK’s arrival? Should I let that go as well?

 

[Max Power]

hmm... so finishing in the bottom half of the conference and just barley making it in the tournament is not the standard at OU according to the coach himself... Interesting...

 

[WTSooner]

hmm... so finishing in the bottom half of the conference and just barley making it in the tournament is not the standard at OU according to the coach himself... Interesting...

Exactly. Makes some around here look really silly.

 

[thebigabd]

Why didn't Lon blame the conference? That's what I've heard around here.

 

[WichitaSooner]

hmm... so finishing in the bottom half of the conference and just barley making it in the tournament is not the standard at OU according to the coach himself... Interesting...

I'd say those of you who love to deal in strawman arguments look sillier. I'd love to see you find any post where someone suggesting finishing in the lower half of the league is the goal. There is a difference between saying Lon shouldn't be fired and the sky isn't falling, and saying we should be aiming for a bottom half finish. Then again, you already know that.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Who made you judge and jury? It was a nepotism hire, plain and simple. And a cushy one at that considering KK makes six figures.

So what’s your excuse for sporting the Big 12’s worst conference record since KK’s arrival? Should I let that go as well?

You criticize him for being judge and jury, then turn around and present your own opinion as settled fact in the next sentence. . . .

 

[Big Old Booger]

His son is qualified 3rd asst spot.

Tons of playing, winning, coaching for it. Let it go.

I would be curious of the other 9 conference teams 3rd assistant. I would bet Kevin has the least experience COACHING of all of them.

Director of basketball operations, OK, I can see that one or even another support spot to get him on staff and get his feet wet. He replaced Hill or Henson, both of which had many years of college coaching experience.

 

[skyvue]

If Lon hadn't said those things, you guys would be trashing him for it. But since he said them, you're using his remarks to defend your previous trashing of him.

That's a pretty sweet setup you've got there.

 

[thebigabd]

If Lon hadn't said those things, you guys would be trashing him for it. But since he said them, you're using his remarks to defend your previous trashing of him.

That's a pretty sweet setup you've got there.

Being right is always a sweet setup.