Most Improved Big 12 Players

[thebigabd]

In no particular order, I think you will see these players step up and have fans saying "where did these guys from?".. Hopefully Newell, playing his natural position, is able to use his quickness and athletic ability to score instead of trying to learn point guard.

1.) Calvin Newell (Oklahoma)
2.) Jaye Crockett (Texas Tech)
3.) Jordan Henriquez (Kansas State)
4.) Kourtney Roberson (Texas A&M)
5.) Markel Brown (Oklahoma State)

 

[ksSooner13]

In no particular order, I think you will see these players step up and have fans saying "where did these guys from?".. Hopefully Newell, playing his natural position, is able to use his quickness and athletic ability to score instead of trying to learn point guard.

1.) Calvin Newell (Oklahoma)
2.) Jaye Crockett (Texas Tech)
3.) Jordan Henriquez (Kansas State)
4.) Kourtney Roberson (Texas A&M)
5.) Markel Brown (Oklahoma State)

From what Lon has said publicly and what Calvin has said to some of us when we hung out, I think he is going to have a great year at the 2 behind Pledge

 

[thebigabd]

From what Lon has said publicly and what Calvin has said to some of us when we hung out, I think he is going to have a great year at the 2 behind Pledge

Why behind Pledge?

 

[garyeb2]

Why behind Pledge?

Newell has some upside and it would be no big surprise to see him snag Pledger's minutes. But, your question is appropriate. There are a couple of realistic lineups that leave Pledger on the bench. Remember, he is slow. And virtually anyone can beat him off the dribble.

 

[ouboomer]

Newell has some upside and it would be no big surprise to see him snag Pledger's minutes. But, your question is appropriate. There are a couple of realistic lineups that leave Pledger on the bench. Remember, he is slow. And virtually anyone can beat him off the dribble.

Kruger's style of play will help Newell's game alot. Newell is not a half court offense point guard, he is a scoring guard with the chance to be a good defender.

 

[Sawyer]

Ricardo Ratliffe.

 

[sharp1]

Newell has some upside and it would be no big surprise to see him snag Pledger's minutes. But, your question is appropriate. There are a couple of realistic lineups that leave Pledger on the bench. Remember, he is slow. And virtually anyone can beat him off the dribble.

I wonder why Pledger guarded Jordan hamilton, Burke, Higgins, Dunn....Go back and watch any game footage and tell me who got beat more often off the dribble...I'll give you a hint...it wasn't Pledger

 

[garyeb2]

I wonder why Pledger guarded Jordan hamilton, Burke, Higgins, Dunn....Go back and watch any game footage and tell me who got beat more often off the dribble...I'll give you a hint...it wasn't Pledger

I don't need to go back and watch any film. I have already watched the Games. And i'm not going to waste my time defending obvious conclusions.

 

[scrybe]

Arrogance runs rampant around these parts.

Anyway, though (unlike some others here) I don't claim to be an expert, I will be more than a little surprised to see Calvin take major minutes from Pledger. Steven will be a junior this season and I expect we'll see him mature into the shooter/player almost everyone thought he'd be when he came to OU. I'm a huge Newell fan and I fully expect him to someday become a major contributor/scorer at the 2-guard spot. But he'll require more seasoning before he's ready to wrestle the starting job away from Pledger. On the other hand, if I'm wrong, it means the Sooners will be really good – and deep – at the 2-guard spot.

Just MHO.

 

[5hrenergy]

I would throw in one of KU's highly rated players (since Self has them winning the league every year) that haven't had a chance to shine but will this year with the amount of PT available and missing on recruits. Either Elijah Johnson or Jeff Withey will put up pretty good numbers that I think most people are not expecting.

 

[Boomah]

From what Lon has said publicly and what Calvin has said to some of us when we hung out, I think he is going to have a great year at the 2 behind Pledge

What did Kruger say about Newell? Haven't been around here much recently and missed it.

 

[ksSooner13]

What did Kruger say about Newell? Haven't been around here much recently and missed it.

It was on one of his radio interviews where he said Newell would not be playing the PG and would be returning to his natural 2 position

 

[Soonerman]

Carl Blair

#ayechoooo

 

[Sawyer]

I would throw in one of KU's highly rated players (since Self has them winning the league every year) that haven't had a chance to shine but will this year with the amount of PT available and missing on recruits. Either Elijah Johnson or Jeff Withey will put up pretty good numbers that I think most people are not expecting.

I could see Johnson. Withey... no way in hell.

 

[thebigabd]

Carl Blair

#ayechoooo

ayechooo?

 

[Dignon003]

I'm hoping that JP Olukemi is on this list in regards to his shooting.

 

[DenverSooner]

I'm hoping that JP Olukemi is on this list in regards to his shooting.

I don't know if he will be the most improved but I suspect his game will be much better (and it was pretty good last year).

 

[DFWHoopster]

I could see Johnson. Withey... no way in hell.

Yeah- I watched some Withey in the Athletes in Action tourney recently played in Europe on webcast. The team included Spradling (KSU), Withey (KU), Jefferson (Baylor) and Walton (Baylor) from the Big 12. Also Austin Default (Colorado) and Scottie Wilbekin (Florida) were on the team.

Withey didn't look like he belonged with that group. There were a couple of close games and Withey was on the bench during the closeout stretch while those other guys and William Mosley (NW St) played.

He certainly didn't look the part of a good big 12 player. But anything can happen in six months I guess.

 

[Soonerman]

ayechooo?

Hoop or Die!!

 

[WTSooner]

I don't see in Newell what some of you seem to see. He was terrible defensively last year. Not bad. Not below average. TURRIBLE (thanks Charles). I also don't think he is very skilled offensively. Athletic? Absolutely. Skilled? Not really. And I'm not sure I see a bunch of room for improvement.

But even if he is better (and I do think he'll be better), I expect Pledger to be quite a bit better as well. Those of you that think we will run a bunch next year will likely be mistaken. This team isn't yet built for that type of game. Cam could do it. Maybe Osby. But guys like Fitz, Arent, Blair, and Pledger aren't going to excel in that type of game.