Next year's starting line up

[BigTime]

I think James has a lot of potential but I don't know what he has done to have this much confidence in him. Making wide open 3's are nice but Buddy and Cousins are gone so he won't get those open shots like he did this year.

The 4 guys I know that will start is Woodard, McGusty, Buford, and Lattin. The 5th position is up in the air. It might be James. I think you all need to start buying into McGusty and how good he is going to be.

As for leading scorer, don't forget about Woodard.

McGusty and Buford are not locks to start.

James did a tad bit more than "making wide open 3's". He showed he could get to the rim, rebound, defend with a showing of quick hands and anticipation, he showed vision and nifty passing, he knocked down clutch FTs, and he has a Big 12 ready body.

James is a much greater lock to start than the two you mentioned. Only Jordan and Lattin have a higher probability imo

 

[WTSooner]

I think James has a lot of potential but I don't know what he has done to have this much confidence in him. Making wide open 3's are nice but Buddy and Cousins are gone so he won't get those open shots like he did this year.

The 4 guys I know that will start is Woodard, McGusty, Buford, and Lattin. The 5th position is up in the air. It might be James. I think you all need to start buying into McGusty and how good he is going to be.

As for leading scorer, don't forget about Woodard.

Because you can just see the potential in James. Not saying he is going to be Buddy, or Cousins, or Woodard next year, but the kid has potential oozing out of him. As for not getting wide open looks, why not? He wasn't always on the court with two of those better guards. Sometimes it was Woodard and Walker. Grandstaff is one of the best pure shooters OU has ever had. He will space the floor. Woodard will space the floor. McGusty/Strong will space the floor, or drive and create opportunities. I'm not worried about getting open looks for our guards.

And McGusty and probably Buford aren't locks to start. I could see McGusty starting, mainly b/c Grandstaff isn't eligible from day 1. But he is far from a lock.

 

[152219]

Because you can just see the potential in James. Not saying he is going to be Buddy, or Cousins, or Woodard next year, but the kid has potential oozing out of him. As for not getting wide open looks, why not? He wasn't always on the court with two of those better guards. Sometimes it was Woodard and Walker. Grandstaff is one of the best pure shooters OU has ever had. He will space the floor. Woodard will space the floor. McGusty/Strong will space the floor, or drive and create opportunities. I'm not worried about getting open looks for our guards.

And McGusty and probably Buford aren't locks to start. I could see McGusty starting, mainly b/c Grandstaff isn't eligible from day 1. But he is far from a lock.

James will end up being an All Big 12 performer before he leaves Norman IMO.

 

[bgrch1350]

Because you can just see the potential in James. Not saying he is going to be Buddy, or Cousins, or Woodard next year, but the kid has potential oozing out of him. As for not getting wide open looks, why not? He wasn't always on the court with two of those better guards. Sometimes it was Woodard and Walker. Grandstaff is one of the best pure shooters OU has ever had. He will space the floor. Woodard will space the floor. McGusty/Strong will space the floor, or drive and create opportunities. I'm not worried about getting open looks for our guards.

And McGusty and probably Buford aren't locks to start. I could see McGusty starting, mainly b/c Grandstaff isn't eligible from day 1. But he is far from a lock.

I don't deny the potential.

Buford was consistent in playing time for the majority of the year but James is more of a lock based on potential?

McGusty is a top 5 SG in the country and you think that James is a lock to start over him based on having one year of experience? Nobody that plays behind Walker the majority of the year is a lock to start.

 

[vbdad]

I'd be shocked if James isn't a starter. Jordan stays at the 2 and plays like this year.

 

[bgrch1350]

James will end up being an All Big 12 performer before he leaves Norman IMO.

Thats a huge statement since Kruger has McGusty and Grandstaff at those positions next year. Not to mention, Doolittle might be playing the 3 as well. And we are in on some top talent in the 2017 class who could come in and start right away.

I think James and Odomes both have potential but you guys are talking James up like he did something all year. He was playing behind Walker all year long besides the very end. I'm not bashing the kid, I'm saying...what are you all basing this on? Outside of the West Virginia game, I just see a good player with a lot of potential. I don't see anything that says he's going to be a stud next year or he is a lock to start.

I see Woodard and Lattin as locks to start for obvious reasons. I see Buford as a starter b/c he was the 6th man for most of the year playing behind Spangler. I see McGusty b/c he's the 5th best shooting guard in high school right now and ranked #33 in the country and has really good high school numbers.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't deny the potential.

Buford was consistent in playing time for the majority of the year but James is more of a lock based on potential?

McGusty is a top 5 SG in the country and you think that James is a lock to start over him based on having one year of experience? Nobody that plays behind Walker the majority of the year is a lock to start.

I don't think James and McGusty are competing for the same position.

McGusty is a 2. James more of a college 3.

 

[WTSooner]

I'd be shocked if James isn't a starter. Jordan stays at the 2 and plays like this year.

The ONLY way that happens is if Strong is ready to start at pg from day 1.

I'm not ready to assume that.

Woodard is a pg, and probably needs to be playing there, unless Strong is just too good not to start.

 

[bgrch1350]

I don't think James and McGusty are competing for the same position.

McGusty is a 2. James more of a college 3.

McGusty is taller than James...And Kruger put Hield at the 3 his whole career so i think wings are wings and they are all playing the 2 and the 3

 

[BigTime]

I don't deny the potential.

Buford was consistent in playing time for the majority of the year but James is more of a lock based on potential?

McGusty is a top 5 SG in the country and you think that James is a lock to start over him based on having one year of experience? Nobody that plays behind Walker the majority of the year is a lock to start.

Buford was ANYTHING but consistent with playing time. When James finally got his chance in Big 12 play, he never looked back.

You are obsessed with recruiting rankings man. You need help.

If it came down to James vs McGusty for one spot (which thankfully it doesn't) then James would easily start over him on day one. Very little doubt in my mind.

James is proven but McGusty is not.

I disagree with almost everything you post on this board...it is uncanny.

 

[BigTime]

I don't think James and McGusty are competing for the same position.

McGusty is a 2. James more of a college 3.

There was no difference in 2 vs 3 in Kruger's system this year.

 

[bgrch1350]

Buford was ANYTHING but consistent with playing time. When James finally got his chance in Big 12 play, he never looked back.

You are obsessed with recruiting rankings man. You need help.

If it came down to James vs McGusty for one spot (which thankfully it doesn't) then James would easily start over him on day one. Very little doubt in my mind.

James is proven but McGusty is not.

I disagree with almost everything you post on this board...it is uncanny.

1) When James finally got his chance in Big 12 play, he never looked back? Obviously you don't know what you are talking about.

2) Buford was ANYTHING but consistent with playing time. Again, Obviously you don't know what you are talking about.

Go look at their minutes before making statements like these.

Of course you disagree. You make statements with no knowledge of what you are talking about.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I just see a good player with a lot of potential. I don't see anything that says he's going to be a stud next year or he is a lock to start.

The statement was by the time he is done in norman

 

[BigTime]

1) When James finally got his chance in Big 12 play, he never looked back? Obviously you don't know what you are talking about.

2) Buford was ANYTHING but consistent with playing time. Again, Obviously you don't know what you are talking about.

Go look at their minutes before making statements like these.

Am I crazy here? Or is this guy living in a bizzaro world?

How many minutes would Dante Buford played if he were a freshman guard behind Hield, Cousins and Woodard?

Buford showed flashes but was wildly inconsistent all year going stretches of games where he either didn't play or barely played.

James went from barely playing/not playing to being the first guy off the bench in the final four and having a larger role than Walker for the NCAA tournament!

 

[bgrch1350]

The statement was by the time he is done in norman

I know. I'm not saying its not possible. I think it is possible.

 

[bgrch1350]

Am I crazy here? Or is this guy living in a bizzaro world?

How many minutes would Dante Buford played if he were a freshman guard behind Hield, Cousins and Woodard?

Buford showed flashes but was wildly inconsistent all year going stretches of games where he either didn't play or barely played.

James went from barely playing/not playing to being the first guy off the bench in the final four and having a larger role than Walker for the NCAA tournament!

He played behind Spangler who averaged 32 mpg and managed to work in playing time when Lattin was out and Spangler was in over 2 centers.

James played 5 minutes in the first round game of the tournament.

He only played 4 more minutes than Walker in the final 4.

 

[BigTime]

He played behind Spangler who averaged 32 mpg and managed to work in playing time when Lattin was out and Spangler was in over 2 centers.

He couldn't take meaningful minutes from Spangler who was playing on one leg since January...

Hell Kruger even experimented with having James play the 4. Lol

 

[soonerjunky]

I don't think James and McGusty are competing for the same position.

McGusty is a 2. James more of a college 3.

I don't see James as a 3 at all. He is listed at 6'4" and I think that's being generous. He looks like a ideal PG (Size). I would bet he could play some point. He seems more composed that cousins as a freshman. If you remember Cousins was terrible as a freshman, now he's pretty good. I'm not saying he can or will play PG, just he is more capable of playing the 1 than the 3. McGusty and James seem to play the same position, McGusty seems to be a little more of an athlete and a little taller. With that said I see James at the 2 and McGusty at the 3, maybe both at the 2 (McGusty off the bench).
If I was coach I would try
1. James 2. Woodard 3. Grandstaff 4. Lattin 5. AK/Jamuni

 

[soonerjunky]

He couldn't take meaningful minutes from Spangler who was playing on one leg since January...

Hell Kruger even experimented with having James play the 4. Lol

Buford had a few nice moments, but mostly inconsistent. As of now, I would say he had a disappointing year. Let's call it a underachievement year. I would think Freeman will move ahead of him.

 

[skyvue]

Buford did get more consistent minutes during the regular season: From mid-February forward, he played double-digit minutes in every regular-season game, while James was up and down -- single digits in minutes for two or three games, double digits for a couple of games, then back to single digits.

But in the tourney, James played significantly larger role: After playing just five minutes against CSU Bakersfield, he played 14, 28, 26, and 12 minutes in the remaining games. Buford played 18 minutes against CSU Bakersfield, but dropped to 7, 7, 13, and 8 minutes in the rest of the tourney games.

The two players' stats were remarkably similar, considering Buford played so many more minutes on the season (442 total minutes to James' 330). Buford averaged 3.5 ppg, 1.8 rebounds and .6 assists. James scored 3 ppg while also averaging 1.8 rebounds and .6 assists.