Next year's starting line up

[bgrch1350]

I'm not saying he won't start.
He might.
But he won't start because he had a high rating on Rivals.

Cam Clark was rated higher than McGusty by recruiting services, and Kruger didn't start him his junior year. McGusty is not a lock to come in and start as a freshman.

That wasn't his recruit but Clark did start his senior year and was arguably our best player that year.

 

[vbdad]

I like Buford. I have nothing against him.
But if he demands more minutes than Lattin, McNeece, and Freeman, the odds are we aren't ready for the Kansas's, Villanova's and North Carolna's of the worlds.

Lattin will get the most minutes of the post players. Buford will be a good player. He is a swing guy. A 3-4 not a five man. Money and AK are the only true 5's on the team.

Who said we are going to be ready for the big boys next year. We won't be.

 

[Northbase]

It is going to be exciting to see who steps up over the summer. Someone may surprise you. It will be a fun year for Sooner Hoops to see the program grow through the year. By next March, you'll see a team that has jelled.

 

[BCSooners]

Woodard/Strong/Mcgusty
Mcgusty/Grandstaff/Odomes
James/Odomes/Grandstaff
Lattin/Buford/Doolittle/Odomes
Manyang/Mcnease/Lattin

I think Mcgusty is going to have a great career. I see Manyang & Odomes having the most notable improvements. Doolittle beats out Freeman for 5th post minutes based off physicality & rebounding, Freeman still a year away.

 

[Larry72]

Has anyone else noticed that Buford has gotten bigger / heavier as the season went along. He lost some quickness because of it.
I hope that he does not get any bigger.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Other than the returning starters (Jordan Woodard and Khadeem Lattin), I have no idea who else will start. That is a big part of the intrigue. I think that Christian James will win a starting spot, but others on the team will battle him to win the spot. The thing is, no one will sit still. Any of the younger players will have to get better to win a starting spot. It will be a battle to see who improves the most.

 

[sperry]

Writing off Buford is silly. Yes, he wasn't very good this year, but he was a freshman. Isaiah Cousins was a disaster as a freshman, and ended up being a really good three year starter. I expect a big jump from Buford next year.



It's going to be a really interesting season. We have three starters locked in IMO, with Lattin, Woodard, and James, but the every single other spot in the rotation will be up for grabs and have a lot of competition.



Honestly, I have no clue what to expect. If guys like Woodard and Lattin make a big leap in the offseason, we could be really, really good. If there's not much improvement we could finish towards the bottom of the conference.

 

[dksooner]

Has anyone else noticed that Buford has gotten bigger / heavier as the season went along. He lost some quickness because of it.
I hope that he does not get any bigger.

I noticed that as well.

 

[Stikboy]

Does anyone who is in the know regarding recruiting have any idea if we are in on any good big men for '17? That seems to be our main missing piece.

 

[Dr Sleep]

Not going to happen but what i would like, 2 rim protectors.
Woodard
James
Buford
Lattin
Mayang

 

[tooney]

Woodard
James

I haven't seen him play.....but I think Freeman takes Spangler's spot. Especially if he can hit a respectable percentage from the 3.

I'm hoping Manyang progresses enough to be the 5. We need some defensive muscle.

And I think maybe Grandstaff for the other guard.

Four out and one in.....Lattin for Manyang if it doesn't work out.

 

[WTSooner]

Woodard
James

I haven't seen him play.....but I think Freeman takes Spangler's spot. Especially if he can hit a respectable percentage from the 3.

I'm hoping Manyang progresses enough to be the 5. We need some defensive muscle.

And I think maybe Grandstaff for the other guard.

Four out and one in.....Lattin for Manyang if it doesn't work out.

No offense, but there is zero chance of that lineup starting.

 

[tooney]

No offense, but there is zero chance of that lineup starting.

No problem.

I would like to see the four able to hit the threeeeeee and the five able to defend and hold his own against big post men.

Again, I don't know if we have anyone on the team that can fill those spots.

 

[Big Old Booger]

No problem.

I would like to see the four able to hit the threeeeeee and the five able to defend and hold his own against big post men.

Again, I don't know if we have anyone on the team that can fill those spots.

I saw a quote yesterday from Crutchfield (I think) that leads me to believe Lattin will play the 4. I'm guessing they believe he can start to hit jumpers more consistently than he has to this point.

At the 5, I'm expecting Manyang with a lot of McNeace.

Someone posted a few weeks back they expect Doolittle to start at the 4. Buford could be the 3/4/5 but he has to really develop some quicks for the 3 spot.

 

[BCSooners]

I saw a quote yesterday from Crutchfield (I think) that leads me to believe Lattin will play the 4. I'm guessing they believe he can start to hit jumpers more consistently than he has to this point.

At the 5, I'm expecting Manyang with a lot of McNeace.

Someone posted a few weeks back they expect Doolittle to start at the 4. Buford could be the 3/4/5 but he has to really develop some quicks for the 3 spot.

I see Lattin at the 4 next year, heard he can handle it a little as well.

 

[Big Old Booger]

McNeace, if he stays 4 years, has a chance to be pretty darn good before he leaves Norman. He was much better yesterday than the first game he played in early February. He doesn't have the same soft shooting touch as did Stacey King, but he's much more active and seems to be a better athlete. He's going to be better than Jabhari Brown before he leaves. I'm very excited about him.

 

[WTSooner]

If we start Lattin at the 4, A LOT will change in how the team is going to play offense and defense, b/c Lattin is no Spangler. Lattin can't switch onto a guard all game long. Lattin can't shoot out to the 3 point line. And the list goes on.

Now, maybe that's our best option. I wasn't overly impressed with Buford this year, I was just hoping he'd improve enough to slide into Spangler's spot before next year. But if he can't, Lattin may be the best option. I think that is a bad thing for next year's team though. And truthfully, we don't even know if Manyang will be back.

 

[tmeyer3307]

It all depends on AK or Mcnease.. I would like that rotation at the 5 then split Lattin and Freeman/Buford at the 4. Odomes/Grandstaff at 3 and James/Mcgusty at 2 and Woodard/Strong at 1. Play fast pace and sub more maybe next year!! Press a little more I don't know. It will be very interesting and I'm excited.

 

[Stikboy]

Lattin has a nice shot and the coaches have been quoted as saying they think Lattin will be shooting(and making) threes at some point. To dismiss his outside scoring ability is silly knowing that we've actually seen him make them, albeit at a low percentage recently. With alot of work on his own and with the staff i'll bet Lattin can be a good outside shooter. The question is with more of an outside mentality at the 4 how will that affect his bread and butter, which is rim protection.

 

[afaSooner]

Woodard
James
McGusty
Buford
Lattin

I know I'm going to get smoked but I think McGusty starts day one. For one I think you get a combo fwd/guard when he's on the floor so it's almost a 3 guard lineup. For two I like having Woodard, James, Buford, and Lattin in the starting five because all those guys have played significant minutes for the Sooners. I think if there's a freshman capable of coming in and starting it's McGusty.

I actually really like our chances with this starting five next year. Woodard and James have shown they can stroke the three ball. As previously stated I think McGusty can be affective. I think Buford will only get better and has shown some very good potential and ability. Lattin is a warrior and I think he'll improve his offensive game over the off season.

If our bench can develop with guys like McNeace, AK, and Odomes making big improvements and perhaps Freeman and Grandstaff making contributions it should make for an interesting season.