Players improving from last season

[BigTime]

What are some indivdual improvements that you have noticed thus far from our returning players as compared to last season?

Pledger: Looks to anticipate better on the defensive end, looks to be in better shape, post moves.

Cam: Getting better rotation on some of his shots (a couple of those threes on Friday looked really good).

Blair: Shot looks better to me from deep

Neal: Looks to be in better shape with some good weight put on

What have you seen thus far?

 

[Perk's Scowl]

Newell look more comfortable, but that is gone now.

Cam definitely looks more assertive, and we really need him to keep attacking. I like all of your assessments.

Fitz may have regressed, though he may be a shade better defensively.

 

[MNsooner]

Cams on the ball defense has become exceptional.

Fitz is better defensively

Pledger is better at everything.

 

[brumFTW]

Pledger: He's definitely shown his scoring ability, but what has really impressed me is his judgment on deciding when to make the extra pass.

 

[TheGimper]

I can't believe no one has mentioned that Fitz's rebounding seems to be improved.

 

[DenverSooner]

I can't believe no one has mentioned that Fitz's rebounding seems to be improved.

Is it? http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2011-2012/teamcume.html

He is averaging 5.8 boards a game. I think he averaged 5 last season. However, it will be tougher to rebound in conference play so I am not sure he has really improved. I hope I eat these words because OU needs him to be improved on the boards.

 

[TheGimper]

Is it? http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2011-2012/teamcume.html

He is averaging 5.8 boards a game. I think he averaged 5 last season. However, it will be tougher to rebound in conference play so I am not sure he has really improved. I hope I eat these words because OU needs him to be improved on the boards.

He's also sharing my boards with Osby and the improved rebounding guards this season. Aside from the first game, Fitz has been far more aggressive going for missed shots.

 

[NormanPride]

Yeah, Fitz is starting to put it together. If he consistently rebounds, he could be a fairly consistent double double guy by the end of the year. I know, that sounds far fetched, but he can already score really well, and he is a great guy at positioning himself. He just has to want it REALLY BAD.

 

[DenverSooner]

Yeah, Fitz is starting to put it together. If he consistently rebounds, he could be a fairly consistent double double guy by the end of the year. I know, that sounds far fetched, but he can already score really well, and he is a great guy at positioning himself. He just has to want it REALLY BAD.

I would love to see Andrew Fitzgerald be a double double guy but I really don't think that is going to happen. I think 10+ points and about 7 boards is much more realistic. Andrew is a very effective scorer but he is not a dominating rebounder. 10 boards a game is huge. Not one player averaged 10 boards a game in the Big XII last season. http://www.big12sports.com/ViewContent.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10410&CONTENT_ID=120029

I would love to be wrong about this but I just think an expectation of 10 boards a game is not realistic.

 

[AdaSooner]

Pledger: Steven is not just a spot-up shooter anymore. He's more of a complete player, plus his defense is so much better. I'm not saying he doesn't have room to improve. But he is a much different player than he was last season.

Fitz: TheGimper is right, Fitz's newfound commitment to rebounding is very encouraging. He is also not as foul prone as he was last season, which is another signal that he is maturing as a player.

Clark: Cam seems to be coming into his own of late. He's more aggressive now, and he's playing with a lot more confidence. His defense is also much improved!

 

[badger]

I like how Osby is no longer on the bench

 

[DenverSooner]

Pledger: Steven is not just a spot-up shooter anymore. He's more of a complete player, plus his defense is so much better. I'm not saying he doesn't have room to improve. But he is a much different player than he was last season.

Fitz: TheGimper is right, Fitz's newfound commitment to rebounding is very encouraging. He is also not as foul prone as he was last season, which is another signal that he is maturing as a player.

Clark: Cam seems to be coming into his own of late. He's more aggressive now, and he's playing with a lot more confidence. His defense is also much improved!

I agree. I think OU is going to return 5 really solid players. With M'baye already on the bench and assumed to be a starter, OU should have a really strong 7-9 man rotation. Two have a great 7 deep, OU just needs one guy from Blair, Neal, Arent, Hornbeak, Hield and Henry to rise above the others. Ideally, Hornbeak or Hield will be that player because OU is thin in that position. I think both guys have the talent.

I am not sure where OU is on scholarships, but I would love to see Kruger get a really good 3 point shooter from the juco ranks. A guy that can come off the bench and knock down open 3 point shots would be a huge plus for this team next sesason.

 

[AdaSooner]

I like how Osby is no longer on the bench

:ez-roll:

Funny how that works. Romero is vastly improved as a player since we saw him last year.

 

[WTSooner]

I am not sure where OU is on scholarships, but I would love to see Kruger get a really good 3 point shooter from the juco ranks. A guy that can come off the bench and knock down open 3 point shots would be a huge plus for this team next sesason.

Not to rehash old arguments, but if Rotnei Clark has transferred, he'd be sitting out this year, and eligible to play next year. He'd have been perfect, if he bought into coming off the bench.

 

[campbest]

Not to rehash old arguments, but if Rotnei Clark has transferred, he'd be sitting out this year, and eligible to play next year. He'd have been perfect, if he bought into coming off the bench.

Big "if" in my opinion.

 

[DenverSooner]

Not to rehash old arguments, but if Rotnei Clark has transferred, he'd be sitting out this year, and eligible to play next year. He'd have been perfect, if he bought into coming off the bench.

Yes he would.

 

[MNsooner]

:ez-roll:

Funny how that works. Romero is vastly improved as a player since we saw him last year.

I know what you mean. It felt like he didn't really have a real impact during game time.

 

[badger]

I know what you mean. It felt like he didn't really have a real impact during game time.

He definitely had a role last year though. No matter how bad things were going, no matter how many losses, the one player that would always get mentioned was Osby. Felton J. the Third would be all like "Best player on the team!"

And then, Billy, bless his heart, during the first exhibition told us all what we were thinking... it went something like this: "Back when I was coaching the best players were always the ones that were injured, ineligible or redshirting."

 

[MNsooner]

He definitely had a role last year though. No matter how bad things were going, no matter how many losses, the one player that would always get mentioned was Osby. Felton J. the Third would be all like "Best player on the team!"

And then, Billy, bless his heart, during the first exhibition told us all what we were thinking... it went something like this: "Back when I was coaching the best players were always the ones that were injured, ineligible or redshirting."

:ez-laugh:

On a serious note, I hope M'Baye isn't being set-up to disappoint. I've said it before, but transfers always get overvalued. People see them practice and they usually look like the best player out there because they try harder since they don't have games to save themselves for.

 

[AdaSooner]

He definitely had a role last year though. No matter how bad things were going, no matter how many losses, the one player that would always get mentioned was Osby. Felton J. the Third would be all like "Best player on the team!"

And then, Billy, bless his heart, during the first exhibition told us all what we were thinking... it went something like this: "Back when I was coaching the best players were always the ones that were injured, ineligible or redshirting."

I agree 100%. My cutsie remark above was not meant to downplay Osby's value to the team last year. He was the biggest cheerleader on OU's bench, the first to greet and encourage his teammates, and reportedly one of the hardest workers in practice.

I'll repeat what I said a couple of weeks ago. Capel was right, Romero was the best player on our roster last year. With all due respect to the other four starters this season, he's still the best player.