Matt Korcheck

[StatGeek]

Osby might have been the best player in the gym last year but Pledger is the best player on this team.

I just laugh how you guys continue to write off current players. Fitz has avg 12ppg in the big 12 the past 2 seasons while MBaye avg 12ppg and 5rpg last season in the MWC...a way weaker conference. He also shot 16% beyond the arc as well...so you can write off him playing the 3.

You guys can pencil in who ever you guys want...come next season...the starters will be the same starters that are starting this year. Osby and Fitz will still get the majority of the post minutes.

Why don't you take a moment to read how the players and the coaching staff are talking about using him next year, I promise it will do you some good.

 

[AdaSooner]

I will take that bet.

Me, too. I'll even give odds to anyone who wants them.

M'Baye will start, and he'll average well over 20 mpg. No starter on the current team is averaging less than 26 minutes per game this year. If Coach Kruger wants to see the best players on the floor, as I believe he does, I think it's reasonable to assume that a 6' 9" ultra-athletic guy who reportedly can play three positions will not come off the bench next season.

It's not like all of our starters are playing so well they have their positions already sewed up. I have no idea who Amath will replace in the starting lineup? But I could name three players on this team who need to step up their game if they want to start next season.

Kruger wants to win a lot more than he wants to be a buddy with these kids. He's smart enough to know that he cannot possibly keep everyone happy by playing favorites, nor would I want him to try. We've been down that road and it didn't work out too well.

 

[garyeb2]

Osby might have been the best player in the gym last year but Pledger is the best player on this team.

I just laugh how you guys continue to write off current players. Fitz has avg 12ppg in the big 12 the past 2 seasons while MBaye avg 12ppg and 5rpg last season in the MWC...a way weaker conference. He also shot 16% beyond the arc as well...so you can write off him playing the 3.

You guys can pencil in who ever you guys want...come next season...the starters will be the same starters that are starting this year. Osby and Fitz will still get the majority of the post minutes.

What is the definition of insanity? Is it, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result?

OU is at least 2 new starters away from being an upper division team. My 2 are probably different than most of the other posters. But, still, we need a starting talent upgrade plus a productive bench.

 

[TINY]

Arent part 2

disagree. look at this kid's offers, Arent did not have Auburn and Baylor offers IIRC.

This kid looks like he has a little nastiness to him, too, which is something we need to add in the post.

 

[Sooner23]

Recruit this stiff, but not Dre Wright of Lawton?.....

Nailed it.

 

[bgrch1350]

Me, too. I'll even give odds to anyone who wants them.

M'Baye will start, and he'll average well over 20 mpg. No starter on the current team is averaging less than 26 minutes per game this year. If Coach Kruger wants to see the best players on the floor, as I believe he does, I think it's reasonable to assume that a 6' 9" ultra-athletic guy who reportedly can play three positions will not come off the bench next season.

It's not like all of our starters are playing so well they have their positions already sewed up. I have no idea who Amath will replace in the starting lineup? But I could name three players on this team who need to step up their game if they want to start next season.

Kruger wants to win a lot more than he wants to be a buddy with these kids. He's smart enough to know that he cannot possibly keep everyone happy by playing favorites, nor would I want him to try. We've been down that road and it didn't work out too well.

You assume that the players that are playing right now won't get better. It happens every year.

We also heard that Osby could/would play some time at the 3. He's racked up 0 mins at that spot.

Every year people have said Fitz wouldn't start and yet he has started the past 2 seasons and he has had 30mpg.

Like I said...MBaye will be a great addition. But you guys are putting a lot of expectations into a player that was Wyoming's 2nd leading scorer, who only avg 12ppg and 5rpg in the MWC for a team that went 10-21(3-13 conf). This is the same Wyoming team that is currently 20-9(6-7 conf) w/o MBaye.

 

[SoonerInJersey]

Mbaye will be getting around 18mins a game.

35 minutes this year for Neal, CJ, Arent and Honore. Then add in times in the first half where we had to play Osby and / or Fitgerald with 2 fouls, and times in the second when one or the other had four fouls. Mbaye will be able to get starter minutes out of all that.

 

[bgrch1350]

I hear that he's a good 3pt shooter but yet the facts show that he's horrible...last year he was 8-49 from beyond the arc..thats shooting 16%.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I'll just say this: If there is any player on this team that is likely going to finish with a losing record has a starting spot "locked up" next year, I will be very disappointed in the direction of the program. You don't play as poorly as we have in conference and have guys penciled in anywhere on the floor for any amount of minutes.

 

[garyeb2]

I'll just say this: If there is any player on this team that is likely going to finish with a losing record has a starting spot "locked up" next year, I will be very disappointed in the direction of the program. You don't play as poorly as we have in conference and have guys penciled in anywhere on the floor for any amount of minutes.

Exactly

 

[rickjames]

Athletically, Fitz isn't even in the same universe as M'Baye. That's actually a pretty big deal, we lack it majorly this year besides Osby.

 

[Sam]

Haven't read all of this thread. But M'Baye is the goods. That's all.

 

[bgrch1350]

Athletically, Fitz isn't even in the same universe as M'Baye. That's actually a pretty big deal, we lack it majorly this year besides Osby.

Athletically, he's not even in the same universe as Washington.

 

[campbest]

Athletically, he's not even in the same universe as Washington.

Claiming he will only play 18min a game is just as stupid as someone proclaiming him all Big XII...18 minutes is peanuts for this team.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Claiming he will only play 18min a game is just as stupid as someone proclaiming him all Big XII...18 minutes is peanuts for this team.

That is where I am at on this deal. Unfortunately our team played terribly down the stretch, I'm pretty sure that there will be more than 18 minutes available for a 6'8" dude that is athletic. But that is obviously pure speculation.

 

[152219]

Fitz has played his butt off for the Sooners, but I think even he would admit he is limited athletically and it affects him on the court at least 6-12 times/game. Fitz would be an incredible bench player for an upper level team. Put him on KU's team as a bench player and I still think he is averaging 10 points/game in the league. If everything we hear about M'baye is correct, it will take some pressure off Fitz next.

 

[vbdad]

Unless he gets hurt M'Baye will play at least 30 minutes a game. Most likely he starts at the three because Osby and Fitz are two of our best players. He will play in the post some too when we bring in bench players at the wing.

He is the best player in practice at this time.

 

[DenverSooner]

Someone is giving you some faulty information. M'baye could play #3, #4, or #5 better than the current starters. Osby is good enough and will probably be better next season. So, there isn't any reason for him to play there even tho he is probably a natural college #4.

Mike Baldwin and Eschbach, two reporters with access to the coaching staff have both said recently that it was their belief that he would start at the #3. The team will certainly be better if that is the case. After catching most of the early practices, that looked like the plan to me too. He has the mobility and range to be good in that spot.

My personel preference would be that Cam gained some offensive consistancy, M'baye bulked up alittle and moved inside to displace Fitz. Kruger is getting alittle offensive production out of Fitz. But, M'baye is a superior offensive weapon and he can rebound and defend.

M'baye is the best player in the gym. You won't find anyone to say differently. He will get 30-35 min.per game.

M'Baye doesn't have to start or play any particulary position because he has a skill set that will allow him to play mutliple positions. He can play 10 minutes at the 3, 4 and 5 allowing him to average 30 minutes a game. Fitz, Osby and Clark can all still play 30 minutes a game. If Hield or Hornbeak can give OU 20 minutes a game (and be productive) they are a much better team. (I am not suggesting Pledger only plays 20 minutes a game), raterht I think everyone plays slightly less than 30 so that OU is well rested and able to play really hard for 40 minutes as a team. Grooms will play about 30-35 minutes a game and Blair will be his backup.

 

[AdaSooner]

You assume that the players that are playing right now won't get better. It happens every year.

We also heard that Osby could/would play some time at the 3. He's racked up 0 mins at that spot.

Every year people have said Fitz wouldn't start and yet he has started the past 2 seasons and he has had 30mpg.

Like I said...MBaye will be a great addition. But you guys are putting a lot of expectations into a player that was Wyoming's 2nd leading scorer, who only avg 12ppg and 5rpg in the MWC for a team that went 10-21(3-13 conf). This is the same Wyoming team that is currently 20-9(6-7 conf) w/o MBaye.

No, I assume our players will improve every year. Any player who is not self-motivated and willing to work on his game in the off season, should have his scholarship removed.

As for Fitz, I'm not among those who have said he wouldn't start. He has been the most consistent player on the team in making his patented short range jump shots. That alone makes him valuable to the team. At the same time, anyone with two good eyes can see that his game is limited. Still, I believe there is a good chance he will start again next year, mainly because there is no one better to replace him.

That doesn't change anything where M'Baye is concerned. He'll start somewhere.

 

[DenverSooner]

Matt speaks. He said to James Hale that he is interested in OU and they have stood out the most. If any of you ever consider a pay site, I would encourage you to consider OUinsider. James does a good job and they are starting to cover basketball a little bit more.