Point Guard play

[mattham4]

Re: Poiont Guard play

What would TMG have anything to do with my thought on us having little to no talent at the PG spot this year?

It is pretty obvious we are very limited at that position, any former player, coach or involved fan of basketball can see that...

We are running our team with a PG that started for a Low Major D1 team last year...has below average quickness as well as below average dribble skills...his positives are that he seems calm but lately when the offense breaks down a little he dribbles all over the place and puts up a desperate shot...

Newell is a Freshman that has below average dribbling skills and isnt very skilled in running an offense or being patient...Could be an excellent scorer, but is still learning how to play at the right speed...

Both of these guys are not starting point guards at this level at this time...not saying that they cant improve and someday be starters...but have been behind the 8-ball all year with them as point guards...that is pretty clear...

Capel cant just overnight make a player a better dribbler, or learn how to move their feet quicker...or learn the proper speed to play at...that comes from gametime and offseason work...which these guys have had a limited time at OU...

I think Capel did an excellent job with Austin Johnson as he grew as a Sooner, but we really havent had a point other than him that has been here more than a year to see them evolve as a player...

Easy there big fella, the TMG reference was a pre-emptive statement for you or anyone else who might have excused the PG situation because TMG should have been the PG on this team this year.

I understand your points about what Capel (or most other coaches) isn't capable of or would be expected to do with D-1 athletes.

The fact is that Capel signed those two players (Blair and Newell) to play the position and as you've pointed out, they're not even close to what is necessary to play in a program like OUrs.

Whose fault is that? Shouldn't a former PG understand that the #1 job of a PG is the ability to handle the ball and get other players involved in the offense and subsequently recruit someone who at least has those basic skills?

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Re: Poiont Guard play

Easy there big fella, the TMG reference was a pre-emptive statement for you or anyone else who might have excused the PG situation because TMG should have been the PG on this team this year.

I understand your points about what Capel (or most other coaches) isn't capable of or would be expected to do with D-1 athletes.

The fact is that Capel signed those two players (Blair and Newell) to play the position and as you've pointed out, they're not even close to what is necessary to play in a program like OUrs.

Whose fault is that? Shouldn't a former PG understand that the #1 job of a PG is the ability to handle the ball and get other players involved in the offense and subsequently recruit someone who at least has those basic skills?

Everthing is ultimately Capels fault because when you are a Manager, Coach or whatever leadership position, you are responsible for the situation you create...i believe that is what you are getting at, and i dont disagree...i just think with what he has on his team this year, what he is dealing with between the lines there isnt much he can do...

He obviously needs to do better in the recruiting and evaluating faze of college basketball...there is ZERO debate on that...

 

[mattham4]

Re: Poiont Guard play

Everthing is ultimately Capels fault because when you are a Manager, Coach or whatever leadership position, you are responsible for the situation you create...i believe that is what you are getting at, and i dont disagree...i just think with what he has on his team this year, what he is dealing with between the lines there isnt much he can do...

He obviously needs to do better in the recruiting and evaluating faze of college basketball...there is ZERO debate on that...

I hear ya and agree that we're just devoid of talent at too many spots on the floor.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: Poiont Guard play

That's where you went wrong then...

First of all, thinking a player at a low major could come in and be anything but a spot filler or second option at PG as a sophomore on a Major Division 1 team...he is basically Barry Honore at PG

and second, listening to any hype about any freshman recruit before anything has been proven...

That sounds like something Nick would say. Recruiting hype might not mean everything, but it's right far more often then it's wrong.

As for Blair, there are plenty of players at smaller D1 schools that could contribute at OU, or other larger D1 schools. I never expected Blair to come in and dominate, or have a ton of sucess. I did expect Capel to put him in a position to have some sucess, and to be able to lead the team.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Re: Poiont Guard play

That sounds like something Nick would say. Recruiting hype might not mean everything, but it's right far more often then it's wrong.

As for Blair, there are plenty of players at smaller D1 schools that could contribute at OU, or other larger D1 schools. I never expected Blair to come in and dominate, or have a ton of sucess. I did expect Capel to put him in a position to have some sucess, and to be able to lead the team.

Maybe if the people you are listening to about recruiting hype arent associated with the team they are going too...in no way was he a guy that was going to come in and just take the team by storm, you could see that in his high school footage (Newell)...

And with Blair, you are right, he can contribute...off the bench...but not be expected to come to a Major Division 1 team and be expected to lead right away as the starting PG...there is a reason he didnt go to this level right out of high school...

Plain and simple, if anyone had any higher expectations of these two they were fooling themselves...

I personally think Blair has played as good or better this year than expected...

Newell also...

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: Poiont Guard play

Maybe if the people you are listening to about recruiting hype arent associated with the team they are going too...in no way was he a guy that was going to come in and just take the team by storm, you could see that in his high school footage (Newell)...

And with Blair, you are right, he can contribute...off the bench...but not be expected to come to a Major Division 1 team and be expected to lead right away as the starting PG...there is a reason he didnt go to this level right out of high school...

Plain and simple, if anyone had any higher expectations of these two they were fooling themselves...

I personally think Blair has played as good or better this year than expected...

Newell also...

I didn't have much of an expectation for Blair this year because IMO he was an unknown commodity. As the season has progressed, his game isn't any better than it was back in November, which is very disappointing. He still dribbles off his foot and allows the defender to take the ball away far too much often than he should be after 28 games.

I like Newell and think if he had played more he would be even better than he is now. He is by far the better defender of the 2.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Re: Poiont Guard play

I didn't have much of an expectation for Blair this year because IMO he was an unknown commodity. As the season has progressed, his game isn't any better than it was back in November, which is very disappointing. He still dribbles off his foot and allows the defender to take the ball away far too much often than he should be after 28 games.

I like Newell and think if he had played more he would be even better than he is now. He is by far the better defender of the 2.

I thought throughout the year he has progressed...(not in dribbling skills, those are horrid)...but in his confidence and just overall game...

Doesnt mean he is good enough to be a starter on a good team, i have just seen improvment...when he first stepped on the court in November he was TERRIBLE...no defense and i didnt have any confidence in him running the team...