Interesting thread with lots of diverse opinions, but everyone has a pretty low ceiling - mostly figuring a .500 conference finish and a first round NCAA exit is about as good as OU can do.
I'll be the sunshine pumper, fan boy, OU homer, unrealistic fan...........
I believe OU will be better than last year and finish above .500 in conference. Here is why:
* OU will be better at the 5 - Muni (better every year) and Polla, who I think will make a big jump as he gets accustomed to the speed of the college game. He did grab six rebounds in like 4 minutes against KU. I like his size and footwork and believe he will be more than serviceable. I know, most of you are down on Polla, but I think he will be better next year. Muni will average 10 points and maybe 7 rebounds. That's good.
* Chemistry will improve - it virtually has to. Blame it on Trae, McGusty, Shepard, James, Lon, whoever, it was bad after Stillwater last year. I believe that was the watershed moment for OU last year. Yes they beat KU a few days later, but the remainder of the season was mostly a disaster. I love graduate transfers as they bring maturity as much as talent. Think about the guys OU has had in football at WR over the last three or four years. Consistent producers without having to be the star. I think Reynolds and Caxlite will bring this energy (both mental and physical) to the team.
* Offensive options will be better. Lost your best offensive player, but there will be more options next year. James and Odomes - two seniors who need to, flatly, play better. I think they both do some things very well and are limited in other areas. I think LK uses them more effectively next year. I believe James leads the team in scoring and Odomes will be OU's version of Andre Roberson, with a little more scoring punch. There were times last year where I wanted OU to clear out for Odomes much like Sampson used to clear out for Nolan Johnson. If Odomes gets to his left hand - he can really score around the basket. It's too late for him to use his right hand, but just be one-handed, use his big frame and long arms and be an offensive threat in some sets. If your opponent switches, like OU does, then switch until Odomes gets their worst perimeter defender and let him go to work. James tried, to often for me, to be a driver. I love him as a standstill shooter, but I would want to limit his dribbling - like no more than 2 dribbles.
*Manek and Doo - both should be better. Manek will be in his second year and Doo will be in his "second" full year. Players make their biggest jump (generally) between year one and year two. Manek benefitted a bunch from right-on-the-money passes from Trae last year - he will need to be more creative this year, which I think he can do. Don't know what happened to Doo on offense last year, but he was a guy who scored 28 at Texas as freshman. He can score and I think he will get his mojo back.
Okay, I know this is riddled with speculation and conjecture, girded by hope and prayer and bathed in optimism, but I plan to be right in early March of 19. Come on, who is with me!
