Next years team!

[stormspencer]

No I cannot blame them, but also based upon the confluence of talent we have here and an off-season 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...

I guess we have a fundamental difference in belief regarding the "confluence of talent" that we actually have. I think we have some good, young talent (McGusty and Doolittle), but as the season has progressed, we have not seen this team come together like we all would have liked. And I do expect us to be better next season, but how much better?....barely, alot, somewhere in the middle? Who knows?

Regarding our holes, we can all agree that numero uno is a very good to elite PG. Regarding our other holes, I list them below in no particular order:

• Rebounding - Doolittle is our best rebounder. It seems that Lattin and McNease prioritize blocking shots (whom both are good at) over rebounding. They need to learn that getting position on defense is, at times, more important than trying to block anything and everything that comes into the lane. Mental recognition of tough shots/angles and having restraint would be a good first step.
• Outside Shooting - in this day and age of the game, you need at least one, but probably two sharpshooters from the outside (one who starts and one off the bench).
• Physicality/Strength - as mentioned above, Lattin and McNease are excellent athletes....but finesse guys. And they seem to either get pushed around too easily and/or are not strong enough with the ball to rebound effectively. Candidly, I wish both would put on another 10 lbs or so in the off-season.

If we could improve upon 3 (or even 2) of those aspects within our team structure next season, I will feel a bit more optimistic about this team's future.

 

[stormspencer]

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.

Reread my post. I didn't say they wouldn't improve nor would they "not" be better. I said I don't trust this group yet. And when you don't trust a team, I believe it is fair to take a "prove it to me" or "show me you can do it" approach. I bet if you polled each and every player on this team, they would likely agree with me.

What I just laid out above is that exact mindset that coaches like Calipari, Self and Pitino have when they have a young team. I don't think I'm out in left field on this one guys (and Lady).

 

[Chaser728]

Reread my post. I didn't say they wouldn't improve nor would they "not" be better. I said I don't trust this group yet. And when you don't trust a team, I believe it is fair to take a "prove it to me" or "show me you can do it" approach. I bet if you polled each and every player on this team, they would likely agree with me.

What I just laid out above is that exact mindset that coaches like Calipari, Self and Pitino have when they have a young team. I don't think I'm out in left field on this one guys (and Lady).

You're lack of trust is warranted and honestly right now I expect collapse when they are up in these current games, as well as I am sure the boys on the team do as well... my point is that these things which we are not ready to trust are learnable traits and OU has a coach which knows how to change a culture. Thus my optimism. To each his own in this regard... I can respect that for sure.

As far as "confluence" of taken I I also meant for it to also modify an off-season training program... perhaps poor sentence structure there... but the talent we have is noted by experts and I believe they will make jumps this offseason.

Your explanation of the other hole makes sense and I will admit rebounding concerns me most and assuredly makes me miss Spangler... see where you're coming from and appreciate your response.

 

[stormspencer]

You're lack of trust is warranted and honestly right now I expect collapse when they are up in these current games, as well as I am sure the boys on the team do as well... my point is that these things which we are not ready to trust are learnable traits and OU has a coach which knows how to change a culture. Thus my optimism. To each his own in this regard... I can respect that for sure.

As far as "confluence" of taken I I also meant for it to also modify an off-season training program... perhaps poor sentence structure there... but the talent we have is noted by experts and I believe they will make jumps this offseason.

Your explanation of the other hole makes sense and I will admit rebounding concerns me most and assuredly makes me miss Spangler... see where you're coming from and appreciate your response.

I appreciate your point of view. And yes, we do miss Spangler.

 

[MsProudSooner]

And I do expect us to be better next season, but how much better?....barely, alot, somewhere in the middle? Who knows?

My issue is with folks who seemed to set their expectations way too high and then act like a child who candy was stolen when their expectations aren't met.

 

[Stikboy]

I guess we have a fundamental difference in belief regarding the "confluence of talent" that we actually have. I think we have some good, young talent (McGusty and Doolittle), but as the season has progressed, we have not seen this team come together like we all would have liked. And I do expect us to be better next season, but how much better?....barely, alot, somewhere in the middle? Who knows?

Regarding our holes, we can all agree that numero uno is a very good to elite PG. Regarding our other holes, I list them below in no particular order:

• Rebounding - Doolittle is our best rebounder. It seems that Lattin and McNease prioritize blocking shots (whom both are good at) over rebounding. They need to learn that getting position on defense is, at times, more important than trying to block anything and everything that comes into the lane. Mental recognition of tough shots/angles and having restraint would be a good first step.
• Outside Shooting - in this day and age of the game, you need at least one, but probably two sharpshooters from the outside (one who starts and one off the bench).
• Physicality/Strength - as mentioned above, Lattin and McNease are excellent athletes....but finesse guys. And they seem to either get pushed around too easily and/or are not strong enough with the ball to rebound effectively. Candidly, I wish both would put on another 10 lbs or so in the off-season.

If we could improve upon 3 (or even 2) of those aspects within our team structure next season, I will feel a bit more optimistic about this team's future.

Bravo, one of the most succinct and accurate posts i've seen. To expound on the outside shooting, OU needs another very good outside shooter/scorer in the starting lineup and preferably someone who can get their own shot too. And like you said one coming off the bench. If James could figure it out by next year as well as stop all the boneheaded plays, then we'd have 1 out of 2.

 

[Soonermarty]

My issue is with folks who seemed to set their expectations way too high and then act like a child who candy was stolen when their expectations aren't met.

I had tournament expectations. I honestly didn't think we'd drop off like this year as bad as we did. I was critical of Spangler at times throughout his career but as the saying goes the grass isn't always greener. Man do we miss his presence inside. To be completely honest, I am surprised at the lack of leadership especially from JW. To me I think that's been one of the most disappointing issues with this years team is lack of a leader.

 

[ocugolfsooner]

I had tournament expectations. I honestly didn't think we'd drop off like this year as bad as we did. I was critical of Spangler at times throughout his career but as the saying goes the grass isn't always greener. Man do we miss his presence inside. To be completely honest, I am surprised at the lack of leadership especially from JW. To me I think that's been one of the most disappointing issues with this years team is lack of a leader.

JW and Lattin have been the biggest disappointments and it's not close. James has been disappointing as well, but the first two guys were supposed to be our leaders this year and they have provided close to 0 leadership based on what I've seen. Woodard has be un-reliable, whether his issues are physical or mental I'm not sure. I've heard the rumors. Lattin still plays like a freshman, and a un-disciplined one at that.

 

[skyvue]

I felt all along (and posted to that effect more than once) that we'd sorely miss Spangler. I take no pleasure in my fears having proven to be well-founded. I wish I'd been dead wrong.

In fact, with everyone else we have in place, I'm not sure he's not the one player I wouldn't love to have had back this season, even over Buddy (though it's a tough call).

 

[chuckb]

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.

Yes, they have and yes, they did and yes, it will.

Hield and Cousins showed a lot of potential as freshmen but they were wildly inconsistent and people complained here all the time that they would never be D1 players.

 

[sybarite]

I have not been dismayed by our young players at all. I've been pleasantly surprised by McNeace, McGusty, Doolittle, and Odomes. I have only really been disappointed in Jordan's lack of leadership as a senior. He seemed to have more stability as a freshman and sophomore than as a senior. He made some critical last second errors. But, then, Jordan had some problems that may have caused this. He was a favorite for what he did do, and I think we have to appreciate what he did. There was simply no replacement for what he had been.

 

[stormspencer]

I felt all along (and posted to that effect more than once) that we'd sorely miss Spangler. I take no pleasure in my fears having proven to be well-founded. I wish I'd been dead wrong.

In fact, with everyone else we have in place, I'm not sure he's not the one player I wouldn't love to have had back this season, even over Buddy (though it's a tough call).

Well stated....agree 100%.

 

[WaymanFan]

My issue is with folks who seemed to set their expectations way too high and then act like a child who candy was stolen when their expectations aren't met.

MsProudSooner, who on this board set high expectations for this team? As I said in my previous post, nearly everyone would have been more than satisfied by making the NCAA Tournament. After our out-of-conference woes, most would have been fine making the NIT. I wouldn't call these unreasonable expectations.

I'm with Stormspencer...no doom-and-gloom attitudes...just want this team to give us some reason to think we'll be back in the Dance next year.

 

[skyvue]

just want this team to give us some reason to think we'll be back in the Dance next year.

Here's the reason: How many games have we lost in which quite literally one play could have made the difference -- one more shot made, one less turnover committed, better defense on a given play, a bit less luck for our opponents (see texas and oswho games)?

One would have to think the team will be not be the least bit improved to believe next season won't be better. I understand the concern over the PG position (I'm concerned about it myself), but that (or an unforeseeable string of injuries) is the only factor that could convince me we won't be better next season. And if we're better, we're very likely in the dance. We've gotten smoked start to finish only once this season and we lost decisively on the road to Wisconsin (though we gave them all they wanted for three quarters of the game). Otherwise, every game we've played has been winnable -- many of them eminently so.

If you think we'll be no better next year, then yeah, you've every reason to feel gloomy about our prospects. But if you think we're going to be improved by even 10-20% (however you wish to quantify that), then you've every reason to feel hopeful.

 

[Chaser728]

MsProudSooner, who on this board set high expectations for this team? As I said in my previous post, nearly everyone would have been more than satisfied by making the NCAA Tournament. After our out-of-conference woes, most would have been fine making the NIT. I wouldn't call these unreasonable expectations.

I'm with Stormspencer...no doom-and-gloom attitudes...just want this team to give us some reason to think we'll be back in the Dance next year.

To be fair there were many who thought we'd be in the thick of the conference race... I was one of them. Clearly I was wrong about my expectations... however I'm not gonna throw this team under the bus due to high expectations. I believe in Lon and his process long term.

 

[Eielson]

I felt all along (and posted to that effect more than once) that we'd sorely miss Spangler. I take no pleasure in my fears having proven to be well-founded. I wish I'd been dead wrong.

In fact, with everyone else we have in place, I'm not sure he's not the one player I wouldn't love to have had back this season, even over Buddy (though it's a tough call).

Spangler over Buddy? That post got out of hand in a hurry.

 

[aliasou]

Is this Hannes? I know it is a little snippet, but he looks a little more fleet of foot than I expected. I also like the aggressiveness down low even though he was whistled for a foul... if this is Hannes that is. https://mobile.twitter.com/sJacas/status/811241839932174336/video/1

 

[Adreid4]

Is this Hannes? I know it is a little snippet, but he looks a little more fleet of foot than I expected. I also like the aggressiveness down low even though he was whistled for a foul... if this is Hannes that is. https://mobile.twitter.com/sJacas/status/811241839932174336/video/1

Yes, that's him...

 

[AdaSooner]

Is this Hannes? I know it is a little snippet, but he looks a little more fleet of foot than I expected. I also like the aggressiveness down low even though he was whistled for a foul... if this is Hannes that is. https://mobile.twitter.com/sJacas/status/811241839932174336/video/1

I loved the defender's reaction after Hannas ran into him. He bent over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath, no doubt saying to himself, "somebody remind me not to do that again!" :ez-laugh:

Good find, aliasou!

 

[Stikboy]

Bigfoot exists!

You'd think since he has signed with a school like OU, and the prevalence of social media and the internet, that we'd have tons more stuff on him.... So odd!