Non Conference Stretch Run

[pnkranger]

What do you all want to see from the team between now and conference season. Here are my thoughts:

* Bench contribution: Bennett has got to get in game shape and show he can contribute. Hornbeak needs to engage...and Tyler Neal needs to give up his dreams of being a Washington General. Booker needs minutes...

* Defense: We've got to show we can stop dribble penetration with the new rules.

 

[Stikboy]

I would LOVE to see Bennett be able to spell Spangler effectively. Meaning that when he comes in we have an offensive inside presence and as a half court offense, we won't have to settle for 3s or guards driving. Now I realize that may be too much to ask. I like Bennett's athleticism and defense but I fear there will not really be any offensive, post-up threat while he's in there. So, that's a real bad thing, but didn't ISU do that last year? Or did they have a Big I have forgotten about. I realize we cannot shoot the 3 ball like them...

 

[garyeb2]

What do you all want to see from the team between now and conference season. Here are my thoughts:

* Bench contribution: Bennett has got to get in game shape and show he can contribute. Hornbeak needs to engage...and Tyler Neal needs to give up his dreams of being a Washington General. Booker needs minutes...

* Defense: We've got to show we can stop dribble penetration with the new rules.

I'm sorry. I woke up in a bit of a contrarian mood.

*What I want to see over the next 8 games is for them to simply win. No matter how they do it.

*Spangler is better than Bennett. If he can get thru a 30+ game schedule playing 30+ minutes a game, I'm all for it. Bennett in his 10 or so minutes a game has been a solid contributor. He hasn't been scoring for the most part because the guards aren't throwing him the ball. They aren't going to Spangler as much as they need to either. On the trip to Europe Bennett and Spangler were on the floor together about half the time. Maybe we will see some of that going forward. If we do, I think fans will have more appreciation of Bennetts ability. He will look a lot better when he has some help inside. Osby did.

Hornbeak is a good player. He shows it every day in practice. He will be fine. Tyler is in the midst of his best year ever. It is getting harder for his detractors to pick out a few plays to use to jab him.

*With the new rules it is harder for every team to defend dribble penetration well.

 

[sheepdog]

If they are better than their opponents I don't want to see them play down to their level, but rather put the game out of reach early on in a decisive manner, and then be able to get the 2nd team players more game experience.

 

[pnkranger]

I'm sorry. I woke up in a bit of a contrarian mood.

*What I want to see over the next 8 games is for them to simply win. No matter how they do it.

*Spangler is better than Bennett. If he can get thru a 30+ game schedule playing 30+ minutes a game, I'm all for it. Bennett in his 10 or so minutes a game has been a solid contributor. He hasn't been scoring for the most part because the guards aren't throwing him the ball. They aren't going to Spangler as much as they need to either. On the trip to Europe Bennett and Spangler were on the floor together about half the time. Maybe we will see some of that going forward. If we do, I think fans will have more appreciation of Bennetts ability. He will look a lot better when he has some help inside. Osby did.

Hornbeak is a good player. He shows it every day in practice. He will be fine. Tyler is in the midst of his best year ever. It is getting harder for his detractors to pick out a few plays to use to jab him.

*With the new rules it is harder for every team to defend dribble penetration well.

Gary, I don't disagree with anything you've said. I think most here will vouch for me that I am not a "nit picker" as players go, and that I understand the typical fluctuations of performance in a college season. My point was not to start a negative thread but instead to talk about where we need to improve.

* My point about Neal was that he's got to know his role. He's not the guy who's going to make the flashy play. If he plays within himself he can be effective...if he gets too creative, he's going to hurt us.

* My point about Hornbeak was less about talent and more about drive. In the MSU game he looked content to just throw the ball around the perimeter, but last year he was always the warrior on the court who wasn't timid or tentative against anyone. I want to see his fire.

* As for Bennett/Spangler, I agree with your point about Spangler playing a ton of minutes, but I need to see Bennett contribute more not because I want Spangler playing less, but because at some point we're going to get hit with two 7 footers in the post, and we're going to have to play Bennett and Spangler together. He needs to get some floor time...

* Defensively, you're right. It's harder to defend. But comparatively, our defense is worse this year (ranked 109 by Ken Pom)...we are not defending the rim once our guards get beat.

 

[DenverSooner]

Neal has actually made several flashy plays in his career. I have no problem with him using his athleticism to score and think he should do it more often. His teammates are not lying when they say he is the best athlete on the team. I want Neal to be in control but beating people on the base line, finishing on some breaks, making back door cuts, etc. are all things he can and should do. He also needs to hit his 3 point shot. If he can come off the bench and knock down 1 three a game that would be huge. With his size and vertical he should be able to get good looks, he just needs to ball to fall like it did in high school so he has confidence in his shot.

 

[tycat947]

I'm sorry. I woke up in a bit of a contrarian mood.

*What I want to see over the next 8 games is for them to simply win. No matter how they do it.

*Spangler is better than Bennett. If he can get thru a 30+ game schedule playing 30+ minutes a game, I'm all for it. Bennett in his 10 or so minutes a game has been a solid contributor. He hasn't been scoring for the most part because the guards aren't throwing him the ball. They aren't going to Spangler as much as they need to either. On the trip to Europe Bennett and Spangler were on the floor together about half the time. Maybe we will see some of that going forward. If we do, I think fans will have more appreciation of Bennetts ability. He will look a lot better when he has some help inside. Osby did.

Hornbeak is a good player. He shows it every day in practice. He will be fine. Tyler is in the midst of his best year ever. It is getting harder for his detractors to pick out a few plays to use to jab him.

*With the new rules it is harder for every team to defend dribble penetration well.

:clap

 

[AdaSooner]

*I would like to see OU press more.

Our full court press has been a lot better than I expected. We used it effectively against Seton Hall to erase a six point lead late in the game and come away with a win. I think LK waited a little too long to bring the heat, but it worked out in the end.

The team also came from 18 down against MSU by pressing full court. That was the biggest surprise of all, because MSU is a veteran team with good guards. Still, there is no doubt OU's pressure gave the Spartans fits in closing the gap to 4, with three or four chances to cut deeper into their lead.

I realize we don't have the depth to press full court for all or most of the game. But, I would like to see LK bring the pressure earlier in certain situations, to get easy buckets and kick start our offense when things aren't going our way.

 

[pnkranger]

Also, Gary...you've seen more practices than anyone here. Where do you think we need to improve in the rest of the non conference?

 

[BCSooners]

I thought his teammates called Neal the best dunker, not the best athlete. Could be wrong, but that's what I thought I remember.

 

[DenverSooner]

I thought his teammates called Neal the best dunker, not the best athlete. Could be wrong, but that's what I thought I remember.

He was voted the best athlete on the team this year according to a comment made on TV during a game this season. I don't know why it is such a shock to people that Tyler Neal could be the best athlete on the team. Every kid on the team is an elite athlete.

 

[garyeb2]

Also, Gary...you've seen more practices than anyone here. Where do you think we need to improve in the rest of the non conference?

I left a little early, but, I just walked in the door from today's practice. I asked Buddy this morning what he learned from the NY trip. He said we learned that we are good enough to play with anyone. I told him that I knew that before they left to go up there. He laughed and went on to his work.

But, I'm serious about that. Both as a group and individually they have looked much better in the practice gym than they have in games. I don't think that they have played a good complete game yet. What they have to learn and improve on is how to grasp a high level of intensity and hold on to it for 40 minutes. They are young and they haven't done that yet.

Past that they just need to work on the details. They have some limitations that will likely keep them from the top of the conference or the national polls. They will have trouble with good teams that are bigger all season. With the exception of Hornbeak, there is a pretty good drop off in talent from the starters. Tyler and Bennett probably can and will get some better as the season goes along. But, Kruger will have to layer in some talent over the next year or two for the team to be really good.

I think we have a good team that will have a good season. But, there are a handful of teams around that are just better. Probably nothing can be done about that this season.

 

[Stikboy]

Gary, have you seen UT play this year yet? Based on what you just wrote, I'd like to know how you think OU matches up with them(this year).

 

[garyeb2]

Gary, have you seen UT play this year yet? Based on what you just wrote, I'd like to know how you think OU matches up with them(this year).

I have watched parts of two of their games. They have looked some better than I have would have suspected. Their young big, Ibeh?, looks much improved. Osby punked him last season. They look to have good young guards, but, not as good as ours. This year we will have to beat them and everyone else with guard/wing play.

Probably Texas up a notch and Kansas ST. down one from the early predictions. I like OU in both games.