Observations from today

Do you mean the posts that asked why Isaiah was ever offered a scholarship?

These second half swoons are disappointing for me too. But anyone who thought we wouldn't miss a beat after losing three high caliber senior starters is out of touch with reality.

There is no question that this team is talented. They have the potential to be good, maybe even this season. Still, it should be obvious by now that this team is not a finished product, and that it's highly likely we're going to experience more disappointmenting losses before the season is over. My advice is to embrace the progress this young team makes and enjoy the ride.

Yeah, posts like that!
 
Do you mean the posts that asked why Isaiah was ever offered a scholarship?

These second half swoons are disappointing for me too. But anyone who thought we wouldn't miss a beat after losing three high caliber senior starters is out of touch with reality.

There is no question that this team is talented. They have the potential to be good, maybe even this season. Still, it should be obvious by now that this team is not a finished product, and that it's highly likely we're going to experience more disappointmenting losses before the season is over. My advice is to embrace the progress this young team makes and enjoy the ride.

Bingo. Team has good talent, will improve this year & next year. Still a very competitive team. I still think we make the tourney.
 
I'm still excited about the potential of this team. I like their hustle on defense and overall athleticism. The half court offense has been a little disappointing. I still think they will be a much better team in a month.

Honestly, my expectations/hopes were to go 9-3 in non-conference games, 10-8 in conference play, and win a game in the conference tourney to give us 20 wins and a ticket to the NCAA tournament. That may not happen now.

I'm kind of mixed on how some of the players have started the season as compared to what I expected via practice report expectations. Woodard, Odomes, and Doolittle have exceeded my expectations. Even McNeace is playing better than I expected. I'm not yet a buyer on Lattin's offensive progress mainly because of his questionable shot selections. He's really good defensively but I don't feel comfortable with him shooting with the game on the line. I did expect more of James ..... think he is trying too hard and needs to dial it back a notch on defense to keep out of foul trouble. I kind of expected McGusty to come along a little quicker, but think he needs more minutes to develop his confidence. Same with Freeman. I think Strong will do fine. I like his defense and quickness. I just don't think Buford is qick enough to play a wing, and like Doolittle a lot better at the 4.

Just my early thoughts..... but I'm enjoying watching them develop this year. Losing to Wichita State was no embarrassment. They're a good, well coached team and that game could have gone either way.. we've really only had one bad loss to UNI.
 
Guys they just need to learn to play for 40 mins instead of 25 and that will come with time. Don't get down on them yet.
 
I could go along with Odomes as the 6th man, to get another shooter in the starting line-up.
 
I could go along with Odomes as the 6th man, to get another shooter in the starting line-up.

The problem with that is Odomes is our best defensive player as well as our best driver. He's not only quick, he is big and physical. You give up some of that when you bring in McGusty ....... and they're already taking James or Odomes off the floor when we have in Strong and Woodard together.
 
The problem with that is Odomes is our best defensive player as well as our best driver. He's not only quick, he is big and physical. You give up some of that when you bring in McGusty ....... and they're already taking James or Odomes off the floor when we have in Strong and Woodard together.

I think it's a bit overstated and he doesn't do that much on the boards.

I'd reduce Strong's role also.
 
I could go along with Odomes as the 6th man, to get another shooter in the starting line-up.

Odomes is hands-down one of the team's 5 best players and his minutes should reflect that. He may never be a great shooter but he contributes in other ways. Freeman's a better shooter but certainly doesn't warrant minutes over Odomes.

The offense will struggle when James & Woodard aren't hitting their shots because we don't have the shooting we had last year. McGusty needs to get more minutes and I can't see how Buford is helping the team at all right now. But this team will improve and will struggle at times in the meantime.
 
Odomes is hands-down one of the team's 5 best players and his minutes should reflect that. He may never be a great shooter but he contributes in other ways. Freeman's a better shooter but certainly doesn't warrant minutes over Odomes.

The offense will struggle when James & Woodard aren't hitting their shots because we don't have the shooting we had last year. McGusty needs to get more minutes and I can't see how Buford is helping the team at all right now. But this team will improve and will struggle at times in the meantime.

I think I'd start McGusty over Odomes.

Odomes would still be getting 20+ minutes. He's a good one-on-one defender. And plays with big energy. But he doesn't shoot, rebound or pass.
 
I think I'd start McGusty over Odomes.

Odomes would still be getting 20+ minutes. He's a good one-on-one defender. And plays with big energy. But he doesn't shoot, rebound or pass.

Odomes is not just a good on the ball defender, he's better at it than anyone on our roster. He also puts a lot of pressure on defenses with his ability to score off of the dribble drive. I think it would be a mistake to replace a player with his skill set in the starting lineup.

I don't think there is any question that Rashard has been told to drive the lane at every opportunity. That's not because he can't make shots from the perimeter. I remember reading somewhere that he had something like a 48% average from three his senior year in high school. I know for certain that he was 2 of 4 from three and 10 of 11 from the free throw line when he scored 37 points in the Faith Seven All-Star game two years ago. The kid can shoot. His role is to drive the lane because he's good at it.
 
Looks like an NIT year. Certainly the team will finish over 500% overall but will have a tough go to reach 9-9 in the conference. Think OU will be closer to 7-11. Just a rebuilding year and hopefully the team will improve as the season goes by.
 
Just let Woodard do whatever he wants this year and try to bring the young guys along. Play fast and exciting and hope Young likes the group of guys coming back.
 
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Odomes has shown flashes of great driving and creating a little. But for a wing, his lack of outside shooting is going to really hurt us. He won't be able to drive like that against good teams that much. .

I completely disagree with this statement. Against two of the better defensive teams we will face - Wiscy and WSU - Odomes was able to get to the rim. His outside shot is a problem, but his playmaking and ability to get two feet in the paint are more than enough to make up for this.

What this team really needs is to find a way to play Jordan off the ball. He is their most consistent threat to score. Whether it's Shepard, Strong-Moore or even McGusty, until someone else is at the point this team will struggle to score. I would not be opposed to trying Odomes at the four. He would be a tough matchup there for sure. Woodard, Shepard, James, Odomes and Lattin - I'd like to try this lineup.
 
Bottom line is if he's a 6-6 wing that can't shoot he needs to be getting 6.5 rebounds a game, 2-3 steals and throw some blocks in there. WSU threw his "stuff" a couple of times at the rim as well as CJ's. All our guys need to get much stronger finishing. I just remember sitting there with the team behind agonizing over the fact that nobody besides Woodard felt they could make a 3 point shot. McGusty can and has confidence. OU doesn't have an inside presence that can pack any defense in, it is what it is. So, they better be able to shoot from outside. And when I say that I don't mean Woodard jacking them all from NBA distance with a guy in his face.
 
Strong is not the answer, so far, at the point. And, he will never make another 3 until he corrects the mechanics on his shot. He is falling away on all his jumpers. Coaching needs to get that corrected.
 
Here's my take from being at the game:

1. We didn't play very well. Shooting was terrible today.
2. WSU punched us in the mouth during their run in the second half and our inexperience really showed.
3. I'm not sure why McGusty didn't play more. In a game where you are struggling to score, put in a guy that can score. None of these guys are untouchable like Buddy except Woodard. If you aren't performing, you can sit by coach and see what the other guy can do.

This team does have a lot of athletes and depth. I think we need to use it and play that way. Pressing, trapping and getting some easy baskets would do wonders for this group. The WSU guards looked shaky with the ball the whole game yet we didn't pressure and trap them very much. It's going to be tough in the Big 12. Hopefully, they improve and can pull off a couple of upsets and earn a bid.
 
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