Looking Back: OU Situation in April 2011

[SoonerTraveler]

Sometimes, I find it interesting to look back on RECENT history. Shortly after Lon Kruger's arrival at OU, here was the situation.

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APRIL 30, 2011: With all the comings and goings to the basketball roster over the past several weeks, here is a roster summary.

> Nick Thompson and Kyle Hardrick will not return for 2011-12 season.
> Jeff Capel signee Robert Goff has been released from his OU LOI.
> JUCO players Sam Grooms and Casey Arent have been added.
> Wyoming transfer Amath M’Baye has been added and will redshirt as a transfer.

2011-12 Roster (as of April 29, 2011)
Eleven (11) Scholarship Players

Senior
C.J. Washington ... 6-7, 209 Forward ... Stringtown, OK / Connors State JC

Juniors
Romero Osby ... 6-8, 225 Forward ... Meridian, MS / Mississippi State
Andrew Fitzgerald ... 6-8, 226 Forward ... Baltimore, MD
Casey Arent, C, 6’10, 240, Sierra CC, Rocklin, CA
Steven Pledger ... 6-4, 212 Guard ... Chesapeake, VA
Carl Blair Jr. ... 6-2, 209 Guard ... Houston, TX / University of New Orleans
Sam Grooms ... 6-1, 200 Guard ... Greensboro, NC / Chipola College, FL

Junior/Redshirt/Transfer
Amath M’Baye ... 6-8, 210 Forward ... Paris France/Semi Valley, CA/Wyoming

Sophomores
Cameron Clark ... 6-6, 189 Guard/Forward ... Sherman, TX (Sherman HS)
Tyler Neal ... 6-7, 215 Forward ... Oklahoma City (Putnam City West HS)
Calvin Newell Jr. ... 6-1, 193 Guard ... Philadelphia, PA (Strath Haven HS)

Freshmen
(None)

Walk-on Players
Barry Honoré ... Senior, 6-7, 258 Forward ... Garland, TX / Southern Univ.
T.J. Franklin ... Senior, 5-11, 177 Guard ... Fort Worth, TX North Crowley HS
James Fraschilla ... Freshman, 5-10 Guard ... Dallas Highland Park

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That first OU team coached by Lon Kruger went 15-16 (5-13 in the Big-12 Conference).

Now the Sooners are competitive against Top-10 rated teams, especially inside the LNC. The remaining players from that original group (Cam Clark and Tyler Neal) are both big contributors to the current success of the program.

Coach Kruger is a class act and a fine coach. OU basketball is meaningful again. OU basketball is fun again.

Then there is this:
http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArt...60&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31000&ATCLID=209307378

 

[MNsooner]

We are certainly more talented now, but the biggest difference is that we have an identity. It seemed like with Capel and during Kruger's first year we mostly let other teams determine the style of play. This season and last we have been able to force other team to play our game. I'm looking forward to seeing the KSU game because they want to grind it out a bit more. If manage to make them play at our pace we have a really great shot.