More than enough talent to win...

[FaithfulSooner]

Nice try abd. I appreciate you giving Coach Capel credit, but this team will need chemistry to come together. There are some nice looking pieces to it, but there is lots of work to be done. BOOMER SOONER BABY!!!

 

[Mr.B!!!]

An abd setup? Have I done something like that before?



Really?

I really don't disagree with what you are saying, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Experience is still going to be an issue with these guys, and I have no idea where the points are going to come from.

 

[SoonerDAZE]

Cameron Clark is a top 25 talent (regardless of ranking) and should NOT be lumped in the bucket with the rest of the roster. That's no indictment on the rest of the talent, more so, it's a simple nod to Cameron's talent. He IS special. There really hasn't been a player at OU with the body, and diverse offensive game he has.

Just to clarify, he's only about 6'5", but he's VERY long and VERY bouncy, and it shows up in all aspects of his game. True elite-level talent.

TJ is special as well, but has yet to show he can get back to his pre-injury levels of explosiveness and aggressiveness. If he does, he is a similarly elite-level talent. It's just hard to tell how long that process will take. He is physically prepared to play in the Big12, if he can get it back!

 

[Soonercuda]

An abd setup? Have I done something like that before?



Really?

Come on...you are a smart guy, just be honest and admit you are trying to build unreasonable expectations so you can then bash Capel when we are in the bottom part of the Big 12 standings.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Cameron Clark is a top 25 talent (regardless of ranking) and should NOT be lumped in the bucket with the rest of the roster. That's no indictment on the rest of the talent, more so, it's a simple nod to Cameron's talent. He IS special. There really hasn't been a player at OU with the body, and diverse offensive game he has.

Just to clarify, he's only about 6'5", but he's VERY long and VERY bouncy, and it shows up in all aspects of his game. True elite-level talent.

TJ is special as well, but has yet to show he can get back to his pre-injury levels of explosiveness and aggressiveness. If he does, he is a similarly elite-level talent. It's just hard to tell how long that process will take. He is physically prepared to play in the Big12, if he can get it back!

DAZE, what is a reasonable expectation with respect to Cam's production next season?

 

[thebigabd]

Come on...you are a smart guy, just be honest and admit you are trying to build unreasonable expectations so you can then bash Capel when we are in the bottom part of the Big 12 standings.

So you dont think there is enough talent to go 8-8 in the Big 12 and win 12 games in the non-conference with this bunch?

 

[Mr.B!!!]

So you dont think there is enough talent to go 8-8 in the Big 12 and win 12 games in the non-conference with this bunch?

I don't think there is enough experience.

 

[SoonerNorm]

So you dont think there is enough talent to go 8-8 in the Big 12 and win 12 games in the non-conference with this bunch?

No... you will be much happier if your reduce your expectations.

 

[waynepayne]

This. Which is why that our record will not be significantly improved. I think we will see guys playing hard which will be a welcomed change BUT, you will see a lot of youthful mistakes. That cannot and will not be avoided. So, yes, I see some talent on the roster but anyone who thinks this team will far exceed the record of last year's team is going to be sadly disappointed. Guys new to D-1 basketball usually are not great players and we will be relying quite a bit on guys who have never played one minute on the D-1 level. So, if you want to accept the fact this team is not going to be very good, hang around and watch them progress and play hard and think about the better days ahead in the next 2-3 years. But, if you are expecting instant gratification from a record close to that of KU, then you are going to spend a large part of the off season complaining.

fify.


I agree with Norm, Mr. B and others. There is a LOT of work for this team to accomplish before we start setting those kind of expectations.

 

[Soonercuda]

So you dont think there is enough talent to go 8-8 in the Big 12 and win 12 games in the non-conference with this bunch?

No. Anything is possible but that is not a reasonable expectation.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

No. Anything is possible but that is not a reasonable expectation.

Certainly not a bar to set as to whether Jeff is a good coach or not. There is some irony here, a big part of the success of our team will be dependent on the play of JUCO players. abd, what do you expect a reasonable contribution from Washington and Thompson to be?

 

[coolm]

Currently running a 6 minute mile, which apparently isnt better than middle school girls track runners.

rather silly IMO. you train for different things. it's not all just under the label of "running".

 

[Mr.B!!!]

rather silly IMO. you train for different things. it's not all just under the label of "running".

It was a joke from another thread.

 

[SoonerDAZE]

DAZE, what is a reasonable expectation with respect to Cam's production next season?

Good question. It will depend on two things: 1. How hard will he work on the things he knows he has to between now and October? 2. Will he be able to earn the respect of his teammates in a small amount of time, so he feels confident enough to impart his talents and skills and impose his will?

Both of those things can be said for all incoming freshmen; however, it's exaggerated and emphasized for someone with elite talent. In my opinion, that's what made Durant such a star in Austin - he recognized both and made a concerted effort in both areas. Not easy for most.

That said, I know he's down here working awfully hard right now, so that says a lot for number 1. As for number 2, he does have a little bit of that dominant alpha male mentality that's necessary to come in as a freshman and dominate like Durant, John Wall, or Michael Beasley.

Not sure he has enough of that at 18 years old; but, with the lack of a star on this team, it won't surprise me if he doesn't average high teens in points, close to 10 rebounds (a large number of those will be offensive), and a couple of steals.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Good question. It will depend on two things: 1. How hard will he work on the things he knows he has to between now and October? 2. Will he be able to earn the respect of his teammates in a small amount of time, so he feels confident enough to impart his talents and skills and impose his will?

Both of those things can be said for all incoming freshmen; however, it's exaggerated and emphasized for someone with elite talent. In my opinion, that's what made Durant such a star in Austin - he recognized both and made a concerted effort in both areas. Not easy for most.

That said, I know he's down here working awfully hard right now, so that says a lot for number 1. As for number 2, he does have a little bit of that dominant alpha male mentality that's necessary to come in as a freshman and dominate like Durant, John Wall, or Michael Beasley.

Not sure he has enough of that at 18 years old; but, with the lack of a star on this team, it won't surprise me if he doesn't average high teens in points, close to 10 rebounds (a large number of those will be offensive), and a couple of steals.

That's great, thanks DAZE.

Do you believe that he is a two year and out talent?

 

[Sam]

That's great, thanks DAZE.

Do you believe that he is a two year and out talent?

Not Daze but based on the handful of times I've watched Cameron play I think he has that potential but I am not sure if he will be. He has the athletic ability to play in the NBA without a doubt, I am just not sure if he will be a 2 and done. It depends on how big his jump is from year 1 to 2. I think realistic expectations for Cameron as a freshman would be 12-15 points and 6-8 rebounds. If he makes the jump to 20 and 8 a game he would be a lotto and be gone after 2. But I think/hope right now he is a 3 year type which would be great for OU to have a backcourt of ...
PGs
SR Carl Blair
JR Calvin Newell
SGs
SR Steven Pledger
JR T.J. Taylor
SF
JR Cameron Clark
To keep that core group together and build around them in 2012-13 season would be the best thing that can happen to Sooner Basketball. The talent and pieces of that could/should be enough to challenge for a Big 12 title if the post play is up to task.

 

[NickZepp]

I'm going to treat it like last year and take the wait and see approach. We should always have the talent to win games though. We should never be as bad as we were last year.

 

[SoonerDAZE]

Do you believe that he is a two year and out talent?

No, not necessarily. I do believe he has that kind of bounce and length, but way too early to tell if all will come together for that to happen. Somewhere along the line, he'll have to put on significant weight and have to pick up more ball handling skill.

He handles very well in the open court and can put the ball on the deck one or two dribbles in the half court, but cannot handle it well enough to play the two in the NBA (which is where he'll have to play).

The numbers he puts up next season (and possibly the year after), whatever they are, will be skewed somewhat in the minds of NBA brass when evaluating him for the next level simply because of the context of talent around him. He could score in the high teens and pull down 10 boards and NOT be considered a 1st round lock because of that.

 

[Dr Sleep]

i expect the team to make the NCAA tourny.

 

[Sooner Quick]

I see what big is saying and agree to an extent. There is enough "talent" wise to win games. It all depends on how the team gels and works together. See last year, that team had more than enough talent to compete in the Big 12 but they just never could gel on or off the court.