OU on the rise with Lon Kruger [ESPN]

[OUHoops]

Here you go:

OU on the rise with Lon Kruger

 

[OUhoops11]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

Kruger isn't likely to compete for a national title with the Sooners. But his teams will be in the hunt for the postseason on a regular basis.

With all due respect to Katz, why isn't Kruger likely to compete for a national title? I'm not saying we are going to be regular fixtures in the Final Four, but I certainly don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for us to have a realistic shot of winning a bracket at least once.

 

[bocabull]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

With all due respect to Katz, why isn't Kruger likely to compete for a national title? I'm not saying we are going to be regular fixtures in the Final Four, but I certainly don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for us to have a realistic shot of winning a bracket at least once.

Agreed. Next year for instance we are going to be loaded with talent & experience. If everybody takes another step forward it will be one of the elite OU teams of alltime.

 

[OUhoops11]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

Agreed. Next year for instance we are going to be loaded with talent & experience. If everybody takes another step forward it will be one of the elite OU teams of alltime.

Not sure I'm ready to proclaim that we will be world beaters at any time, but I think it's a little odd to dismiss any chance Kruger may have of competing for a championship 9 games into his career at Oklahoma.

 

[JBaker]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

With all due respect to Katz, why isn't Kruger likely to compete for a national title? I'm not saying we are going to be regular fixtures in the Final Four, but I certainly don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for us to have a realistic shot of winning a bracket at least once.

Yeah... Kruger has taken two different schools to the Elite Eight, and OU was in the Elite Eight 3 years ago.
I'd consider that competing for a National Title...

 

[boksooner]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

Not sure I'm ready to proclaim that we will be world beaters at any time, but I think it's a little odd to dismiss any chance Kruger may have of competing for a championship 9 games into his career at Oklahoma.

OU is not in the Big East or ACC and they are not Indiana or Kansas, ergo they cannot compete for National Titles. It's science (sort of)

 

[Tony]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

"solid coaching hire"

"a bit bland"

"Kruger isn't likely to compete for a national title with the Sooners. But his teams will be in the hunt for the postseason on a regular basis"

WHO ELSE IS FIRED UP!?!

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

Not sure I'm ready to proclaim that we will be world beaters at any time, but I think it's a little odd to dismiss any chance Kruger may have of competing for a championship 9 games into his career at Oklahoma.

No doubt...... One super talented player can elevate a program to elite status. I remember how Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, and Tim Duncan made their teams instant contenders, as well as Blake here.

LK has experienced enough success that one would expect him to do the same here, IMO......

 

[Shooterms]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

Cool story. Great photo!

 

[geeoh]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

"solid coaching hire"

"a bit bland"

"Kruger isn't likely to compete for a national title with the Sooners. But his teams will be in the hunt for the postseason on a regular basis"

WHO ELSE IS FIRED UP!?!

I was expecting to have to read the entire article to find these POS statements, but Andy saved me the trouble of reading his article by putting them all right at the beginning.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

With all due respect to Katz, why isn't Kruger likely to compete for a national title? I'm not saying we are going to be regular fixtures in the Final Four, but I certainly don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for us to have a realistic shot of winning a bracket at least once.

I wonder if the comment isn't directed at OU's basketball program more than Kruger's coaching prowess? Maybe Katz is saying OU will never really compete for NC's in basketball.

I don't know if this is what he's saying but I know Katz has a major woody for KU/Duke/UNC/Kentucky. Just like some of the national football writers probably don't think Mizzou, aTm, or OSU will ever compete for a football national title. Not to compare our basketball program to their football programs, though.

I am one that believes we can compete for NC's in basketball but we probably need to catch lightning in a bottle to do it. Kind of like getting a big instate stud who likes the idea of staying instate. (Griffin, Tisdale, King, etc.) Those don't come around often so maybe that is what he's saying? Just a thought.

 

[sdcloud9]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

What if OU signs Julius Randle? Not saying they will but a kid like that can get you to the promised land with a solid supporting cast.

OU has proven they can reach the Final Four. They can do it again with LK at the helm.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

IMO if you are making Elite 8's and Final 4's, and finishing the regular season as top 12 teams, then you are competing. And OU has done that our fair share of times over the last 10 years.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

IMO if you are making Elite 8's and Final 4's, and finishing the regular season as top 12 teams, then you are competing. And OU has done that our fair share of times over the last 10 years.

Not sure if you are replying to my post, but I agree with you. If you notice, though, the teams we had that legitimately competed for an NC had a big stud who was an instate player (Tisdale in 85, King in 88, and BG in 2009). The 2002 team is the exception and they could have won it all in our (ou fans) minds, but I don't think the national media folks ever thought anybody would beat the Maryland/KU winner.

I probably should have worded my post differently though. I think we can compete for NC's and I think Kruger will before he's done.

 

[DenverSooner]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

With all due respect to Katz, why isn't Kruger likely to compete for a national title? I'm not saying we are going to be regular fixtures in the Final Four, but I certainly don't think it's out of the realm of possibility for us to have a realistic shot of winning a bracket at least once.

I agree. Acting like OU will be doing well to be in the hunt for the post season really ignores what has happened at OU over the last 30 years. OU was in the great 8 three times last decade. If all Kruger does is be in the hunt for the NCAA Trounament, he will not make it at OU. The fans will turn on him. At OU 20 wins and an NCAA Tournament is expected not hoped for.

 

[boksooner]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

Not sure if you are replying to my post, but I agree with you. If you notice, though, the teams we had that legitimately competed for an NC had a big stud who was an instate player (Tisdale in 85, King in 88, and BG in 2009). The 2002 team is the exception and they could have won it all in our (ou fans) minds, but I don't think the national media folks ever thought anybody would beat the Maryland/KU winner.

I probably should have worded my post differently though. I think we can compete for NC's and I think Kruger will before he's done.

That would be a weird position to take, considering that OU had beaten both of those teams that year.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

That would be a weird position to take, considering that OU had beaten both of those teams that year.

I agree. Remember though, OU beat KU in the Big 12 tourney finals (lost to KU in AF by double-digits), but OU was rewarded with a 2 seed while KU was a 1. Seems like Duke was the overall #1 seed and Maryland was also a 1 seed and the overall 2 seed (KU was 3, Cincy 4 and OU 5).

Anyway, it seemed to me all we heard all week before the final 4 was the KU/Maryland game was the real championship game. I did not live in the Big 12 area at the time, so where I was living (Alabama) that was how the press down there was talking about it.

 

[Sooner04]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

I agree. Remember though, OU beat KU in the Big 12 tourney finals (lost to KU in AF by double-digits)

Lost to KU by seven in Allen Fieldhouse. Selvy missed a trey with about 90 seconds to go that would've cut it to a one-possession game. We made a big run on them in the second half.

I was there!

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

Lost to KU by seven in Allen Fieldhouse. Selvy missed a trey with about 90 seconds to go that would've cut it to a one-possession game. We made a big run on them in the second half.

I was there!

Thanks for the correction. So, we were down big at the half or early 2nd half then? Maybe that's what I remember. I know I couldn't watch the game because it wasn't carried in Alabama and none of the sports bars would turn it on for me and I didn't have the means to listen over the internet.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: ESPN/Andy Katz story on OU and Lon Kruger

I think we would have spanked both Maryland and KU had we played them again. We were just tougher than Maryland, and matched up pretty well with them.