Observations and Questions Re: Practice

[SoonerinNC]

Looks like Grooms has had little work with the big guys as the three freshman guards have had a lot of work with them. It is hard to project a freshman starting as a point guard. Is Kruger doing this because he knows Grooms can step in anytime. And maybe he feels that he will need the 3 frosh for depth and figures that they will develop better working with the better inside players.

No way are Hield and Cousins only 6-3.

I hear they want to redshirt Bennett but it appears to me that he is bypassing Arendt. The light seems to have turned on for him.

M'Baye's game seems to be emerging. He is going to be a really tough matchup. Love his quick moves and mid-range jumper. Really gets it off quick. Very quick off his feet and that will help in rebounding. Very mobile for a guy his heighth. Haven't seen his long range game yet.

Clearly a lot of time with pressure defense and pushing the ball.

Osby is money as usual.

Last but not least I am very impressed with Spangler. He seems to hold his own inside and is usually in good position for a layup under the hoop, a put back, a rebound and even shows some good mid-range touch. Wish he could play this year.

Of course it all depends on how they do when the lights are on.

 

[ksSooner13]

Looks like Grooms has had little work with the big guys as the three freshman guards have had a lot of work with them. It is hard to project a freshman starting as a point guard. Is Kruger doing this because he knows Grooms can step in anytime. And maybe he feels that he will need the 3 frosh for depth and figures that they will develop better working with the better inside players.

Grooms told me he is having a lot of knee and shin pains, most likely taking things easy on him right now...

 

[TheGimper]

Grooms told me he is having a lot of knee and shin pains, most likely taking things easy on him right now...

He didn't practice at all on Monday, I assume do to those injuries.

 

[ksSooner13]

He didn't practice at all on Monday, I assume do to those injuries.

I talked to him after practice Monday, this is exactly what he told me

 

[Sam]

M'Baye's game seems to be emerging. He is going to be a really tough matchup. Love his quick moves and mid-range jumper. Really gets it off quick. Very quick off his feet and that will help in rebounding. Very mobile for a guy his heighth. Haven't seen his long range game yet.

M'Baye and Pledger could form a very deadly two man game partnership this year.

 

[KBaden145]

I'm starting to see a lot of chemistry with 4 of Pledge, MBaye, Ro, and Fitz, especially offensively.

 

[AdaSooner]

I'm starting to see a lot of chemistry with 4 of Pledge, MBaye, Ro, and Fitz, especially offensively.

Is Fitz sharing the ball more, or is he still taking nearly every shot that comes his way inside fifteen feet?

Don't get me wrong, Drew can make those shots when they're not forced. I just think he would be a lot more effective if he passed the ball back out and reset to receive it again.

 

[garyeb2]

Is Fitz sharing the ball more, or is he still taking nearly every shot that comes his way inside fifteen feet?

Don't get me wrong, Drew can make those shots when they're not forced. I just think he would be a lot more effective if he passed the ball back out and reset to receive it again.

Ada, this is a different deal. A completly different dynamic than last season. Kruger is insistant that players get their shots within the context of the offense. There have been a couple of days where it looked like that Osby was the 1st option and he was getting the ball early in the possession in a position to score. But, they have already worked on the 2nd and 3rd option if something wasn't open.

Yesterday, with Pledger lining up on the court in what was simular to where you would have a #3, he was the 1st option alot and if not open he sent it somewhere else. Fitz is getting his shots within the context of the offense.

The players that aren't willing to go along are easy to identify. They wear white shirts. Among many other issues, that is what kept Calvin in trouble last year. Kruger couln't practice his offense. Everytime the ball came to Calvin he jacked it. He hit his shot often enough that he could never understand what he was doing wrong. This edition of the Sooners has no Calvins.

 

[campbest]

Is Fitz sharing the ball more, or is he still taking nearly every shot that comes his way inside fifteen feet?

Don't get me wrong, Drew can make those shots when they're not forced. I just think he would be a lot more effective if he passed the ball back out and reset to receive it again.

Fitz is GREAT in the short corner jumper, especially against a 2-3 zone which I think we may see some of this year. Especially if Clark, Grooms, Hield, etc don't knock down more perimeter jumpers.

 

[AdaSooner]

Ada, this is a different deal. A completly different dynamic than last season. Kruger is insistant that players get their shots within the context of the offense. There have been a couple of days where it looked like that Osby was the 1st option and he was getting the ball early in the possession in a position to score. But, they have already worked on the 2nd and 3rd option if something wasn't open.

Yesterday, with Pledger lining up on the court in what was simular to where you would have a #3, he was the 1st option alot and if not open he sent it somewhere else. Fitz is getting his shots within the context of the offense.
The players that aren't willing to go along are easy to identify. They wear white shirts. Among many other issues, that is what kept Calvin in trouble last year. Kruger couln't practice his offense. Everytime the ball came to Calvin he jacked it. He hit his shot often enough that he could never understand what he was doing wrong. This edition of the Sooners has no Calvins.

Thanks, Gary! You answered my question in the part in bold print. That's good to know. IMO, Fitz took way too many shots last year when he was double-teamed or out of position to execute his best moves. If he gives up the ball more and takes those shots in the flow of the offense, he'll be a better player and the team will benefit from it.

 

[campbest]

The players that aren't willing to go along are easy to identify. They wear white shirts. Among many other issues, that is what kept Calvin in trouble last year. Kruger couln't practice his offense. Everytime the ball came to Calvin he jacked it. He hit his shot often enough that he could never understand what he was doing wrong. This edition of the Sooners has no Calvins.

Nothing against Calvin, but his a solid example of a player who excels in the "DO HIM" offense.

 

[KBaden145]

Thanks, Gary! You answered my question in the part in bold print. That's good to know. IMO, Fitz took way too many shots last year when he was double-teamed or out of position to execute his best moves. If he gives up the ball more and takes those shots in the flow of the offense, he'll be a better player and the team will benefit from it.

One thing about Fitz is he is moving so well on defense and on offense that those looks he is getting are better bc he's beating the defender to his spot. I don't think that happened as much last season. He's also working the high post just inside the free throw line with nice looking turn arounds and jump hooks. Looks like a different player to me.

 

[AdaSooner]

Good to hear, KB. If Fitz has improved his footspeed since last year, that alone will make him a better player. That's especially true on defense, where he has been prone to picking up unnecessary fouls after getting caught out of position.

 

[KBaden145]

Good to hear, KB. If Fitz has improved his footspeed since last year, that alone will make him a better player. That's especially true on defense, where he has been prone to picking up unnecessary fouls after getting caught out of position.

He's done a great job with his body but, Ada, I think this is all about effort. He's playing like a SR should. Balls out, in a manner of speaking. He's playing like he knows this it for him. Good to see.