Omaha and Ball State

[cowboysooner]

First and regarding the Omaha game, I thought we had a better than normal crowd, and the team looked much better than last year on offense. No defenses, but presumably we will improve under Lon. Man we need to.

Shepard is markedly improved from last year and he and Trae both represent a substantial upgrade from last year. Manek showed a high ceiling and Freeman is improved. It will be interesting to see what Lon does with Doolittle when he returns. Does he let him compete and take minutes from Manek and Freeman at the 4, or move him to the wing and let him compete with Odomes and Lazenby. Does he redshirt him? might be a good move. I think the kid is really good so it might be difficult to redshirt him. This being said he has 11 kids to find minutes for as it is.

Been reading about Ball State, they have been a pretty good team for the last couple years and it sounds like they anticipate being improved this year. So, Wednesday's game might be a good one.

 

[BCSooners]

First and regarding the Omaha game, I thought we had a better than normal crowd, and the team looked much better than last year on offense. No defenses, but presumably we will improve under Lon. Man we need to.

Shepard is markedly improved from last year and he and Trae both represent a substantial upgrade from last year. Manek showed a high ceiling and Freeman is improved. It will be interesting to see what Lon does with Doolittle when he returns. Does he let him compete and take minutes from Manek and Freeman at the 4, or move him to the wing and let him compete with Odomes and Lazenby. Does he redshirt him? might be a good move. I think the kid is really good so it might be difficult to redshirt him. This being said he has 11 kids to find minutes for as it is.

Been reading about Ball State, they have been a pretty good team for the last couple years and it sounds like they anticipate being improved this year. So, Wednesday's game might be a good one.

No chance Doolittle moves to the wing. OU has 5 good guards to split time with, so I believe he'll root either Manek or Freeman out of playing time when he gets back to form (probably Freeman).

 

[vbdad]

Doolittle won't redshirt and likely will play inside but he will be given a chance to compete at the wing also. LK thinks he is capable of playing it at some point.

Ball State is good and could beat us.

 

[usedtobe1]

IMO Doolittle will be the starter in conference play at the 4 with Manek as his backup. Especially when Lon gets down to a 8-9 man rotation. I think Freeman, Lazenby, and Polla get minutes very sparingly.

 

[Stikboy]

I will be happy to have Doolittle back as he has attributes that Manek doesn't. But Manek can do some things Doolittle can't. All I will say is I hope when he gets back he is a more assertive scoring presence, consistently.

 

[Capel's Mustache]

No doubt. Ball State is a salty squad

 

[stormspencer]

Ball State lost their season opener to Dayton 78-77 (Dayton is a decent squad). According to Kenpom, they play at a pretty decent pace (#56, OU is #26), so I would expect another relatively high scoring game.

 

[chuckb]

IMO Doolittle will be the starter in conference play at the 4 with Manek as his backup. Especially when Lon gets down to a 8-9 man rotation. I think Freeman, Lazenby, and Polla get minutes very sparingly.

I agree though I think it will take some time for Doolittle to be game ready. I'm sure he'll be in shape but it'll take a while before he's ready to go end to end with the best big men in the Big 12. But we'll be better with him in the game, though I like Manek a lot.

 

[skyvue]

Ball State lost their season opener to Dayton 78-77 (Dayton is a decent squad). According to Kenpom, they play at a pretty decent pace (#56, OU is #26), so I would expect another relatively high scoring game.

I don't know how much they have back, but Dayton won their conference (Atlantic 10) last season.

 

[usedtobe1]

I agree though I think it will take some time for Doolittle to be game ready. I'm sure he'll be in shape but it'll take a while before he's ready to go end to end with the best big men in the Big 12. But we'll be better with him in the game, though I like Manek a lot.

I agree with you. That's why I said Doolittle would start in conference play. Also, they say a player improves most between their freshman and sophomore seasons, so I expect an even better player than he was last season. I also agree Doolittle and Manek have different strengths and weaknesses, so in some situations Manek might be the better option. Finally, I think it's possible they both be on the court with one of them playing the 3 in some situations..... although neither of them play defense like Odomes.

 

[stormspencer]

Omaha loses to New Mexico tonight....by 32.

 

[scrybe]

I see no way Doolittle can be kept out of the starting lineup, at least by the time conference play begins. He's simply one of our five best players, regardless of which position LK chooses to play him.

May sound crazy, but it appears to me that Lon's biggest problem is giving everyone sufficient playing time to keep them all happy and in the fold. The Sooners' roster is packed with kids who can play ball and most of them would either start or play significant minutes on plenty of D1 teams. Surely, someone will wind up with a redshirt on their back.

I'm certainly glad we've got an abundance of talent on this team, and I'm glad it's Kruger, and not me, having to decide who plays and who rides the bench.

Right now, I just want to beat Ball State, which probably won't be an easy task.

 

[NMSooner'80]

Omaha loses to New Mexico tonight....by 32.

It was 35-34, UNM, at halftime. I think the altitude got ‘em eventually. I also think OU softened up Omaha some by playing at that fast tempo.

 

[tycat947]

It was 35-34, UNM, at halftime. I think the altitude got ‘em eventually. I also think OU softened up Omaha some by playing at that fast tempo.

Thanks!

 

[AdaSooner]

Omaha loses to New Mexico tonight....by 32.

Omaha had a much better game at #18 Louisville tonight, losing by nine (87-78).