**********OU-Kansas State Game Thread**********

[WTSooner]

What is all this talk about Steven being covered?

He had 2-3 really good looks at the basket early on, he just wasn't hitting. Then we stopped trying to get him the ball. I think that is what frustrated him, LK picked up on that, and benched him late.

 

[Big Old Booger]

What is all this talk about Steven being covered?

He had 2-3 really good looks at the basket early on, he just wasn't hitting. Then we stopped trying to get him the ball. I think that is what frustrated him, LK picked up on that, and benched him late.

What game were you watching? KSU had us covered the entire night with stifling defense. 2-3 really good looks proves my point. When he got the ball the other defender was in his shorts most of the time.

 

[WTSooner]

What game were you watching? KSU had us covered the entire night with stifling defense. 2-3 really good looks proves my point. When he got the ball the other defender was in his shorts most of the time.

Those 2-3 good looks were in the first 5 minutes of the game. After that, yes, KSU tightened some things up, but we also stopped running as many screens for him.

To suggest Pledger is incapable of getting open at all, or scoring on tough defense, after what he did last year, is silly. The biggest difference is last year, Grooms got him the ball on time. Our freshman aren't doing that this year.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Those 2-3 good looks were in the first 5 minutes of the game. After that, yes, KSU tightened some things up, but we also stopped running as many screens for him.

To suggest Pledger is incapable of getting open at all, or scoring on tough defense, after what he did last year, is silly. The biggest difference is last year, Grooms got him the ball on time. Our freshman aren't doing that this year.

Silly in your opinion. Pledger is what he is, IMO, a marginal college talent but a great shooter especially if open. If he has to make a move to get a shot or drive to the bucket then he is in trouble.

Nobody is to blame for Pledger's poor play but Steven. He's the same as he was 4 years ago. Not to mention he's so lazy with the ball. Terrible passes.

He's improved defensively but he's still not very good. Him on McGruder or Spradling is a huge mismatch for KSU

 

[WTSooner]

He's the same as he was 4 years ago.

That is just silly.

Just last game he hit 2 or more jumpers off the bounce. He had a 9 rebound game earlier this year. He is second on the team in steals.

Some of you formed an opinion on Pledger 2-3 years ago, and can't see, or won't let yourselves see, his improvements. He isn't perfect, but WAY more often then not, the only knock on Steven this year has been that his shots aren't falling. His defense is much better. His effort is much better. And he's doing the little things far more frequently than he has in the past.

Was his effort a little lacking in the 2nd half tonight? Sure. But I believe Hield got pulled in the 2nd half for the same thing. It happens. And it hasn't happened very often to Pledger this year. But I get it. Somebody has to be the whipping boy, right? Haven't read one negative word about Osby or M'Baye, but that Steven Pledger, he sure did suck tonight.

smh

 

[Big Old Booger]

That is just silly.

Just last game he hit 2 or more jumpers off the bounce. He had a 9 rebound game earlier this year. He is second on the team in steals.

Some of you formed an opinion on Pledger 2-3 years ago, and can't see, or won't let yourselves see, his improvements. He isn't perfect, but WAY more often then not, the only knock on Steven this year has been that his shots aren't falling. His defense is much better. His effort is much better. And he's doing the little things far more frequently than he has in the past.

Was his effort a little lacking in the 2nd half tonight? Sure. But I believe Hield got pulled in the 2nd half for the same thing. It happens. And it hasn't happened very often to Pledger this year. But I get it. Somebody has to be the whipping boy, right? Haven't read one negative word about Osby or M'Baye, but that Steven Pledger, he sure did suck tonight.

smh

I think most are tired of watching him play half-ass. He has talent but he has to want to do it. 4 years of the disappearing act gets old. Maybe it's not fair to Steven, but he has shown flashes of being very good but then he goes right back to mediocrity the next game. I can't recall another player like him.

The difference in Hield and Pledger is Hield has 3 years left and Kruger is building a program. Hield probably gets more slack because of this.

I don't really have a complaint with M'Baye or Osby tonight. Sure both made turnovers but both were hustling on both ends of the floor. To ask why nobody complained about them is, to use your words, silly.

I thought Fitz played one of his better games this year. He is rebounding of late like we all thought he could the previous 3 years. Grooms looked very good in the 2nd half when he played. Cousins looked better than he has in a long time. Clark looked the same to me as he always has -- tons of potential but very passive.

 

[dksooner]

Pointless to argue with wt about Pledger. Very simple, when he hits his first couple of shots he plays with good effort, when he doesn't he plays very lackadaisical and with little effort. Same as he did four years ago. We expect more from seniors like him and Fitzgerald, no reason for fitz to be an awful free throw shooter this year, that's an area you should improve on each year. Hopefully they will turn it around!

 

[WTSooner]

Well, the proof is in the pudding. You guys are suggesting more often than not, or at least frequently, he doesn't play with effort.

I point to the minutes played this season, and the points scored, Steven's stats, and his Ken Pom efficiency numbers, and say obviously LK disagrees with you.