My Take on Next Years Team

[cowboysooner]

I think Kauth and Manek play the 5 and 4
I think Doo moves out to the wing, where is started out this year
I think JB starts.

I haven't seen enough of the other players to have an opinion yet.

Reeves, Williams, harmon and Hill all sound pretty good at the wing positions, just don't know much about them

VI, Garang and Merritt all sound athletic and long, but again, I just have seen a few snippets of film, so don't know how much they will contribute.

If everything stays the same and we get a different result on 2 or 3 shots in each game, this years team wins 24 or 25 games, including the Virginia game.

There are valid complaints that have been lodged where we need to improve in certain areas, but this teams wasn't very far from winning 24-25 games and being a high seed in the NCAA tourney. All in all, it was a good year, and IMO, our best three players are back.

BTW, usually wrong, but I like Kauth and expect a lot more from his than most of you appear to expect. I think he is a good player and could be really good with development and playing time.

Just don't know what to think of Polla. My opinion of his potential changes daily. We will just have to see what he looks like next year.

 

[thebigabd]

Doolittle was a really good player in the paint, that is where he belongs. IMO.

 

[WTSooner]

Doolittle was a really good player in the paint, that is where he belongs. IMO.

Agreed. He can't play outside, against "guards".

No way Kuath starts along side them.

 

[WichitaSooner]

I'm not saying that Doo's best position is on the wing. But for those who seem to think that he isn't remotely capable of playing there occasionally -- what does he lack there compared to, say, James, or even RO? Doo is a better dribbler than James, is quicker, and is a better defender. RO is a very good defender and can obviously drive the ball to his left, but Doo is a better shooter and handles the ball well. Again, I am not saying that is where he should play most his minutes, but I don't think it would be a disaster if we play him there for a few minutes depending on substitution patterns, foul issues, etc.

 

[AdaSooner]

Doolittle was a really good player in the paint, that is where he belongs. IMO.

Agreed. I think Doo is more comfortable from 17 and in, where he can work his magic with a variety of the moves he was successful at last season. He’s not a three, so I see no reason to revisit an experiment that didn’t work two years ago.

 

[BCSooners]

Agreed. I think Doo is more comfortable from 17 and in, where he can work his magic with a variety of the moves he was successful at last season. He’s not a three, so I see no reason to revisit an experiment that didn’t work two years ago.

I think he’s a 4/5 as well, but he was the starting 3 at the beginning of the year.

 

[AdaSooner]

I think he’s a 4/5 as well, but he was the starting 3 at the beginning of the year.

I’m not saying Doo can’t play the three. I AM saying he’s so much better at the four, I think it’s foolish to put him in a position where he is obviously not at his best and not nearly as comfortable. I also think we’ll have several options at the three next season, whereas our options at the four may be a little thin.

 

[BCSooners]

I’m not saying Doo can’t play the three. I AM saying he’s so much better at the four, I think it’s foolish to put him in a position where he is obviously not at his best and not nearly as comfortable. I also think we’ll have several options at the three next season, whereas our options at the four may be a little thin.

Agreed, our guards should be better next year and good for quite a while.

 

[vbdad]

We should be much at guard and wing positions next year.

 

[OU92Grad]

I’m not saying Doo can’t play the three. I AM saying he’s so much better at the four, I think it’s foolish to put him in a position where he is obviously not at his best and not nearly as comfortable. I also think we’ll have several options at the three next season, whereas our options at the four may be a little thin.

Four? He didn’t put up any stats at the four this year. He scored as an undersized 5

 

[AdaSooner]

Four? He didn’t put up any stats at the four this year. He scored as an undersized 5

Ok, have it your way.

 

[mict085]

Four? He didn’t put up any stats at the four this year. He scored as an undersized 5

Not really. OU doesn’t have a 5 position. They use a four, sometimes two 4’s but they don’t play a 5 position.

 

[oudna]

I think Doo slimmed down a little this year anticipating to play 3

I’d like to see he and Manek adding 10 lbs and staying at 5/4.

 

[oudna]

Not really. OU doesn’t have a 5 position. They use a four, sometimes two 4’s but they don’t play a 5 position.

Unless you’re only playing with 4 players, someone is at the 5 defensively (which was Doo)

But yes modern basketball is moving away from post play

 

[CMSOONER]

Why can't Doolittle fill the role Odomes played this season? Defense isn't as good, but offense is better and Doolittle can't possibly shoot worse from 3.

 

[Eielson]

Why can't Doolittle fill the role Odomes played this season? Defense isn't as good, but offense is better and Doolittle can't possibly shoot worse from 3.

He could replace Odomes, and that would be an improvement. But then who would replace Doolittle's role from this year?

 

[CMSOONER]

He could replace Odomes, and that would be an improvement. But then who would replace Doolittle's role from this year?

Let's say Kuath for the sake of argument. Just because Doolittle is penciled in as a 3 doesn't mean he can't play the same role(ish) he played this year. Dominating smaller players in the post instead of bigger players.

 

[tmeyer3307]

Doo can start and play at the 3.. I kind of agree and think the best lineup would be with an actual center. Even if it's just for 10-15min a game. Doo can defend any 2,3,4 in the big 12.. He can't bang with legit big men though.

Only reason he stays at the 5 and logs most of his minutes there in my mind would be because Williams or Hill really help with rebounding and are legit players that need to be on the court.

 

[oudna]

Doo can defend any 2,3,4 in the big 12.. He can't bang with legit big men though.

I like him better vs 5s than 2s

He’s a good interior defender. Almost Spangler like. Doesn’t play above the rim but leverages well.

 

[thebigabd]

OU could play that Baylor zone defense and have Doo, Manek, and Kuath on floor at same time... Baylor has done that in the past when they have a shot blocker.

But Kuath needs to be a good enough player to anchor a defense, block shots, stay on the floor, etc for that to work.