Most Improved Big 12 Players

[campbest]

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.

This. It's not like our roster went through some huge overhaul athletically.

 

[garyeb2]

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.

That is probably about right. Except that good teams don't have players like Pledger,Bair, and Fitzgerald playing significant minutes. Bad teams have players like Pledger,Blair and Fitzgerald playing significant minutes. Even with the limited reasources next season, those three should see less play and by the time they are seniors, not much at all.

 

[luckyc1423]

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.

With that lineup yes you are right we wont run. But I dont think its a foregone conclusion that blair will start the entire season over grooms (blair will prob start the season though). Grooms from what my co-worker has told me is very good (compared to what we had last year).
And the entire time Fitz has been in the linup we have been a loosing team. He is terrible on defense and the boards and that really hurts us.

I could see lineups like this that are run and gun

1 grooms
2 newell
3 clark
4 osby
5 arent/washington

if arent is in the game he would be more of a defensive presence...so in my opinion you dont slow down the game to get him involved because he will be weak on offense anyways. Let grooms, newell, clark, and osby run and gun while have arent to bang the defensive boards and clog the lane.

 

[garyeb2]

My goodness luckyc1423. A poster on this board I actually agree with. Guys like Fitz,Blair,Pledger, and Neal are not void of skills and do alot of things really well. It is just that they are slow and not particularly athletic. That hurts them defensivly and is probably the reason for Fitz's foul trouble. They all may get better in some area's, but, they won't get quicker. Fitz in particular. When he doesn't have to be the "guy" and is put into a position that allows him to do the things he does well could be a really fine player. Kruger is a great coach and and will do a much better job of utilizing the available talent than the old guy did. I'd put the over/under number for wins next season at 19.

 

[DenverSooner]

What about Perry Jones at Baylor? Don't people expect to see significant improvement from the big fellow? Obviously he was pretty good last year so being the most improved my be difficult but he will also likley have the most ability to demonstrate his improvement as a starter.