NorthCarolinaSooner
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2009
- Messages
- 1,055
- Reaction score
- 786
First off, I don't post much but I read the board daily for information. I enjoy it and I enjoy a lot of the posts I read.
Secondly, I don't have a answer or a 'quick fix' to our problems. I probably have a different perspective than most of you do because I actually coach basketball for a living, albeit at the high school level although I coached college basketball briefly but not at the DI level.
I do have a hard time seeing some posters having nothing but negative things to say about Capel or his team but I can understand their frustrations. I do, however, believe OU is a lot closer to being competitive than most of you realize. There are some decent pieces in place but it is really hard to compete at a high level with OUr lack of size and athletic ability in the paint. The good news is Goff will be here next year and I believe that is a big step in the right direction. I believe Jurick would be a nice addition and would help a lot in that aspect as well. If Capel can add him or someone similar then OU will be MUCH better next year. I already think they will be MUCH improved next year with the additions of Goff and Osby......basketball, much more than many sports, can be hugely affected by the addition of ONE really good player....the addition of two could make an ENORMOUS difference.
The only negative I would say as far as Capel is concerned is the issues we have with the roster HAVE to lie directly at his feet. He has gotten in on some MAJOR talent and reeled in some of it. (Willie Warren, Tiny Gallon and TMG) The only issue with that is every one of those guys had question marks and negatives before he even got them. Capel knew in advance that more than one of them considered themselves NBA prospects while they were still in high school and had considered turning pro after one year before they ever stepped on campus. He HAD to know because all you had to do was read or listen to some of their interviews before they arrived. Capel has always seemed to get one or MAYBE two high level kids and then take flyers on some really talented high school kids that were big make-or-break kids that never seemed to pan out. He lost many of those (obviously) to transfers, etc for whatever reason....I don't really blame him directly but a kid who leaves needs to be replaced by QUALITY kids. He has taken a LOT of flyers on big men who never pan out....it is simply my opinion that JUCO big men who don't have great stats at the JUCO level aren't going to come in and give you a lot. Orlando Allen, etc fit that bill......Jurick has decent stats so I withhold judgement on him....I like his rebounding numbers and if he came in and averaged 10 pts and 10 rbs I would consider him a SOLID Big XII guy and I could live with that. I just feel like Capel has passed up on some kids who could have been really solid 4 year guys (like Joh Roberson) in the HOPEFUL pursuit of the bigger fish.....maybe he should scale back on the idea of the McD's AA type kids and go in search of the dozens of really quality players in Texas and Oklahoma, etc that could make OU a GOOD team. Throw in a JUCO here and there that can play. I just feel like if you are going the JUCO route you are probably better off getting a REALLY knowledgable JUCO guy to be one of your assistants...someone who can bring in the JUCO talent because of their contacts at that level. Again, this is all just my opinion.
I'm not so sure why Capel is scouring the world so hard for a PG when we would probably be better off with a really solid scoring SG......unless the plan is to play Osby at the 3 and Cam at the 2.....then it would make sense.
Seriously, I think OU will be MUCH improved next year. I think we are fine with Capel and I am not one of those guys calling for his head. I just hope he learned from the last couple of years and reevaluated his strategy on recruiting a little. I would much rather make a strong living on those really good 'second tier' guys rather than the elite McD-type 'studs'.......winning games will bring those types of players faster than anything else. If you could show those kids we are yearly tournament caliber and on the verge of taking that next step rather than starting from scratch every year then you might get one to supplement at VERY GOOD team and actually make some noise in the tournament.
Just one man's opinion.
Secondly, I don't have a answer or a 'quick fix' to our problems. I probably have a different perspective than most of you do because I actually coach basketball for a living, albeit at the high school level although I coached college basketball briefly but not at the DI level.
I do have a hard time seeing some posters having nothing but negative things to say about Capel or his team but I can understand their frustrations. I do, however, believe OU is a lot closer to being competitive than most of you realize. There are some decent pieces in place but it is really hard to compete at a high level with OUr lack of size and athletic ability in the paint. The good news is Goff will be here next year and I believe that is a big step in the right direction. I believe Jurick would be a nice addition and would help a lot in that aspect as well. If Capel can add him or someone similar then OU will be MUCH better next year. I already think they will be MUCH improved next year with the additions of Goff and Osby......basketball, much more than many sports, can be hugely affected by the addition of ONE really good player....the addition of two could make an ENORMOUS difference.
The only negative I would say as far as Capel is concerned is the issues we have with the roster HAVE to lie directly at his feet. He has gotten in on some MAJOR talent and reeled in some of it. (Willie Warren, Tiny Gallon and TMG) The only issue with that is every one of those guys had question marks and negatives before he even got them. Capel knew in advance that more than one of them considered themselves NBA prospects while they were still in high school and had considered turning pro after one year before they ever stepped on campus. He HAD to know because all you had to do was read or listen to some of their interviews before they arrived. Capel has always seemed to get one or MAYBE two high level kids and then take flyers on some really talented high school kids that were big make-or-break kids that never seemed to pan out. He lost many of those (obviously) to transfers, etc for whatever reason....I don't really blame him directly but a kid who leaves needs to be replaced by QUALITY kids. He has taken a LOT of flyers on big men who never pan out....it is simply my opinion that JUCO big men who don't have great stats at the JUCO level aren't going to come in and give you a lot. Orlando Allen, etc fit that bill......Jurick has decent stats so I withhold judgement on him....I like his rebounding numbers and if he came in and averaged 10 pts and 10 rbs I would consider him a SOLID Big XII guy and I could live with that. I just feel like Capel has passed up on some kids who could have been really solid 4 year guys (like Joh Roberson) in the HOPEFUL pursuit of the bigger fish.....maybe he should scale back on the idea of the McD's AA type kids and go in search of the dozens of really quality players in Texas and Oklahoma, etc that could make OU a GOOD team. Throw in a JUCO here and there that can play. I just feel like if you are going the JUCO route you are probably better off getting a REALLY knowledgable JUCO guy to be one of your assistants...someone who can bring in the JUCO talent because of their contacts at that level. Again, this is all just my opinion.
I'm not so sure why Capel is scouring the world so hard for a PG when we would probably be better off with a really solid scoring SG......unless the plan is to play Osby at the 3 and Cam at the 2.....then it would make sense.
Seriously, I think OU will be MUCH improved next year. I think we are fine with Capel and I am not one of those guys calling for his head. I just hope he learned from the last couple of years and reevaluated his strategy on recruiting a little. I would much rather make a strong living on those really good 'second tier' guys rather than the elite McD-type 'studs'.......winning games will bring those types of players faster than anything else. If you could show those kids we are yearly tournament caliber and on the verge of taking that next step rather than starting from scratch every year then you might get one to supplement at VERY GOOD team and actually make some noise in the tournament.
Just one man's opinion.
