Next years team!

[BoulderSooner]

I think we can expect polla to get 3rd string center min next season .. the cj cole min when our first 2 bigs are in foul trouble ..

 

[opsooner]

We have improved this year but we don't know how to win yet. Most worried about PG next year. That guy has to be great for us to be good in LK's offense. Other guys then have to step up. No doubt potential is there but need that critical piece.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[coolm]

Pritch-arrrrrrrrd! (shakes fist at the heavens)

yeah this is where that really hurts.

I am sorry but I disagree about "the point having to be so good in Lon's offense". It's an open offense so they just need someone who can pass and move. they don't really have to facilitate. ballhandling would be nice though.

 

[AdaSooner]

While I would like to see OU sign a true point guard in our 2017 class, a combo guard with really good ball handling skills would be fine in our offense. Isaiah Cousins proved that.

 

[usedtobe1]

I think we can expect polla to get 3rd string center min next season .. the cj cole min when our first 2 bigs are in foul trouble ..

I think Polla is a lot better than Cole. I actually think he will get some decent minutes as a backup. Just my opinion of course. There just isn't any video of him playing.
http://www.hoopseen.com/news/player/201609/hannes-polla-ready-be-oklahoma-sooner

This one shows his stats against Greece in the 18U European championships. Finland plays a tough schedule.
http://www.fiba.com/europe/u18/2016/news/underdogs-russia-finland-grab-quarterfinals-spots-trio-remain-undefeated

This one talks about him being a high major D1 prospect as a sophomore. If you remember, the staff was recruiting a center out of Minnesota when Polla visited. After seeing Polla and getting his commitment, they quit recruiting the Minnesota center.
http://netscoutsbasketbball.com/blog/national-prep-school-invitational-day-2-recap/

 

[AdaSooner]

I think Polla is a lot better than Cole. I actually think he will get some decent minutes as a backup. Just my opinion of course. There just isn't any video of him playing.
http://www.hoopseen.com/news/player/201609/hannes-polla-ready-be-oklahoma-sooner

This one shows his stats against Greece in the 18U European championships. Finland plays a tough schedule.
http://www.fiba.com/europe/u18/2016/news/underdogs-russia-finland-grab-quarterfinals-spots-trio-remain-undefeated

This one talks about him being a high major D1 prospect as a sophomore. If you remember, the staff was recruiting a center out of Minnesota when Polla visited. After seeing Polla and getting his commitment, they quit recruiting the Minnesota center.
http://netscoutsbasketbball.com/blog/national-prep-school-invitational-day-2-recap/

Nice find, usedtobe1! There is something to be said for being as big as Hannas Polla. Give him a year or two in OU's strength and conditioning program, and he could be an immovable force down low. A player with unique size and strength can be effective even if he is not the most talented guy around.

No one thought Bryant "Big Country" Reeves would be as good as he would prove to be later on in his career, when he averaged 8.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg his freshman season at Okie State. Before someone jumps to conclusions and thinks I'm comparing Polla to an OSU icon, the only comparison I'm making is in the similarity in their size. Hannas is listed as an inch shorter and ten pounds lighter than Big Country's 7 feet, 275. I think that listing was Bryant's senior season.

My point is simply that it's impossible to predict what a kid with Polla's size will be by his second or third season in the program.

 

[coolm]

My point is simply that it's impossible to predict what a kid with Polla's size will be by his second or third season in the program.

when you're talkin about ole boys that big you're getting to the "stand in the paint and raise your arms" size that just can't be taught. you can use some incredibly big stiffs and manage a useful, decent defensive scheme.

 

[61sooner]

In reality, this team is just bad. Bottom feeder in a so-so conference. Other teams win with young players. OU doesn't seem to any idea how to win a close close game.

 

[Chaser728]

In reality, this team is just bad. Bottom feeder in a so-so conference. Other teams win with young players. OU doesn't seem to any idea how to win a close close game.

For a post that claims to be stating reality it is not very close to its aim. First, typically teams with this much youth either have low expectations (think TTU a few years back) or high expectations (think UK)... this teams success coupled with the talent which this team is ripe with have created unrealistic expectations... Second, in reality this is one of the best conferences in D1 BBall... Third in reality we need to trust Lon and his process.

 

[Max Power]

In reality, this team is just bad. Bottom feeder in a so-so conference. Other teams win with young players. OU doesn't seem to any idea how to win a close close game.

We are in one of the best conferences in the country, and have the #2 ranked SOS. Most young teams wont win a lot of games that way. Not every one can be Kentucky. If that is the baseline you are setting for OU basketball you should quit watching now

 

[Chaser728]

We are in one of the best conferences in the country, and have the #2 ranked SOS. Most young teams wont win a lot of games that way. Not every one can be Kentucky. If that is the baseline you are setting for OU basketball you should quit watching now

Well said!

 

[stormspencer]

I want to be excited about next year's team, but I am a little worried at this point. While winning is contagious, so is losing. I'm at a loss as to why this team is not better with two starters from a Final Four team. We also had four up-and-coming sophomores, three of which got quite a bit of playing time in reserve roles last year. Most of us thought the ceiling was winning a game or two in the NCAA tournament. Most also thought the floor was an NIT berth. With six guys back (not counting Cole or walk-ons), I don't think those were unreasonable expectations.

We don't seem to have anyone coming in who will be an "immediate impact" player. So, we're counting on McGusty and Doolittle to carry us. No doubt they will continue to put in the work and get better. However, we still need a PG, still need one of those sophomores to become at least an "Honorable Mention All-Big XII" type of player, and need Lattin to play like a senior leader. I hope we get all that, but it's a lot to ask for right now.

This is a good post and pretty much summarizes my thoughts. Until we break the vicious cycle of losing close games, I just don't trust this group. We will likely have one or two noticeable holes going into next season, and thus, I'm going to take a "wait and see" approach. But with the season we are experiencing, can you blame fans for not being very optimistic?

 

[MsProudSooner]

This is a good post and pretty much summarizes my thoughts. Until we break the vicious cycle of losing close games, I just don't trust this group. We will likely have one or two noticeable holes going into next season, and thus, I'm going to take a "wait and see" approach. But with the season we are experiencing, can you blame fans for not being very optimistic?

Has everyone forgotten how we struggled to win close games early in Buddy & Isaiah's tenure? They had to learn how to do that and they did. This team will do the same.

 

[Chaser728]

This is a good post and pretty much summarizes my thoughts. Until we break the vicious cycle of losing close games, I just don't trust this group. We will likely have one or two noticeable holes going into next season, and thus, I'm going to take a "wait and see" approach. But with the season we are experiencing, can you blame fans for not being very optimistic?

No I cannot blame them, but also based upon the confluence of talent we have here and an offseason of training, can you blame fans for being optimistic? Do I think we will be able to unseat KU? No... but to assume that we will have similar results seems to be a bit of a reach. This is a hard working group who will put in the work with an experienced leader at the helm... trust the process but understand there will be growing pains even next year...

I am confused when you 1 or possibly 2 holes. I know the one, but what would be the other hole considering we only have one senior who truly contributes? It is def a big hole but I can only think of one...

 

[Chaser728]

Has everyone forgotten how we struggled to win close games early in Buddy & Isaiah's tenure? They had to learn how to do that and they did. This team will do the same.

Yeah I was thinking about this... we may not have had as many losing streaks like this, but we had a larger upper class, and a vocal senior leader in Roe... also, that upper class group had lost a bunch the year before and was learning to win that year...

 

[skyvue]

I can remember one poster (whom I've not seen here in a while -- perhaps he got shown the door) ranting on and on because Kruger kept playing Hield and Cousins even though we were struggling. And if I recall correctly, that season's schedule (non-conference, at least) was quite a bit easier than this year's.

 

[stormspencer]

Has everyone forgotten how we struggled to win close games early in Buddy & Isaiah's tenure? They had to learn how to do that and they did. This team will do the same.

I looked up the schedule for Buddy/Isaiah's freshman year. They lost a couple of close games...yes, but that team also won 20 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Trying to somehow conclude that this team will automatically "learn how to win" is, at this point, making a fairly big jump in speculation. I certainly hope they learn how to win (and soon), but it's a stretch to assume that they will do so unequivocally.

 

[skyvue]

I looked up the schedule for Buddy/Isaiah's freshman year. They lost a couple of close games...yes, but that team also won 20 games and went to the NCAA tournament.

That team also had more returning talent and played a weaker schedule.

 

[Chaser728]

That team also had more returning talent and played a weaker schedule.

Exactly

 

[Chaser728]

I looked up the schedule for Buddy/Isaiah's freshman year. They lost a couple of close games...yes, but that team also won 20 games and went to the NCAA tournament. Trying to somehow conclude that this team will automatically "learn how to win" is, at this point, making a fairly big jump in speculation. I certainly hope they learn how to win (and soon), but it's a stretch to assume that they will do so unequivocally.

Right. To assume they will not have bumps and growing pains next year is ridiculous... but to assume they will not make any progress Or at the very least only a few is also ridiculous.