Point guard

[jaymOU]

Keep reading a lot of posts on this board talking about Cousins and Hornbeak's upside and ability. Convince me. I don't like either running the point - right now - and they really haven't shot the ball very consistently either. I like Jalen better Isaiah but just marginally. Athletically they are a vast improvement, but I am not sure either has a true position.

I am convinced OU needs - first and foremost - a point guard. I don't remember a lot of freshman point gaurds who can start and win in the Big 12. Maybe a few at KU, but not off the top of my head. TMG sort of did it at OU, but he was pretty inconsistent too.

So is OU putting all of their PG eggs in the Woodard basket next season? Is that a realistic expectation to place on a HS kid? Do you see IC and JH as being a legitimate backup plan?

 

[DenverSooner]

they really haven't shot the ball very consistently either.

Hornbeak actually has a respectable shooting percentage but his attempts have been limited. I would like to see him be a little more assertive but you have to remember he is under a lot of pressure starting at pg as a true freshman. His primary job is to run the offense, not turn the ball and defend. I am hoping his offense will pick up and next season he will be a kid that can score in double figures on a fairly regular basis.

 

[AdaSooner]

Keep reading a lot of posts on this board talking about Cousins and Hornbeak's upside and ability. Convince me. I don't like either running the point - right now - and they really haven't shot the ball very consistently either. I like Jalen better Isaiah but just marginally. Athletically they are a vast improvement, but I am not sure either has a true position.

I am convinced OU needs - first and foremost - a point guard. I don't remember a lot of freshman point gaurds who can start and win in the Big 12. Maybe a few at KU, but not off the top of my head. TMG sort of did it at OU, but he was pretty inconsistent too.

So is OU putting all of their PG eggs in the Woodard basket next season? Is that a realistic expectation to place on a HS kid? Do you see IC and JH as being a legitimate backup plan?

First, Hornbeak and Cousins are combo guards who played the point this year. Je'lon played there some his senior year in high school, but was not a starter at that position. The starting PG, Emmanuel Mudiay, a 2014 recruit, is being recruited by every major program in the country right now. Hornbeak was the starting two guard. He was also the back up to Mudiay at the point. As far as I know, Cousins didn't see any time at the point until his senior year in high school. So, the only true point guard we have this year is Sam Grooms. Sam does a pretty fair job of running th offense, he's just not much of a threat to score.

Fast forward to next year when Jordan Woodard will be at OU. Some feel that he will start to begin the season. I'm not so convinced of that, but do feel that he will move into the starting role by conference time or at some point of the season. He definitely has the tools to do it.

The good news is that he doesn't have to start from day one. The presence of Hornbeak and Cousins, who will almost certainly improve in the off season, will allow Kruger to work him into the rotation, free of the pressure of running the offense from the get-go. Having said all of that, LK proved this year that he will not hesitate to start a freshmen if he has confidence in his ability to do the job.

And, by the way, if you'll check Hornbeak's stats you'll see that he is a much better shooter/scorer than you may realize.

 

[jaymOU]

Okay, I went and looked it up.

Hornbeak has a 1 to 1 assist to turnover ration - not good
Is shooting 41% from the floor and 38.5% from 3
Averaging 5 points a game. Every other player averaging over 20 minutes a game is a double-digit scorer.

I like Hornbeak better than Cousins, but I am not ready to give him the keys to next year's offense and depending on freshman has rarely ever worked out for OU.

 

[KBaden145]

All 3 FR will be much better next season and I think Woodard will be a better PG next season than Cousins or Hornbeak have been this season.

 

[soonerfud]

I really like Hornbeak, and think he has a great upside. I'm not sure Lon feels he HAS to have a true point guard on the floor all the time. Would he like to have that guy? I'm sure he would. But I have stated on here before, I'm not sold on Cousins just yet. I just don't see what his future position is. He looks nothing like a real creative point guard, and hasn't shot it nearly well enough to be a starting 2. So hopefully he improves either his playmaking or shooting greatly(or both) before next year or I see him getting passed up.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Most freshmen improve dramatically between their freshmen and sophomore years. It's way too early to make judgements about any of these freshmen.

 

[AdaSooner]

Okay, I went and looked it up.

Hornbeak has a 1 to 1 assist to turnover ration - not good
Is shooting 41% from the floor and 38.5% from 3
Averaging 5 points a game. Every other player averaging over 20 minutes a game is a double-digit scorer.

I like Hornbeak better than Cousins, but I am not ready to give him the keys to next year's offense and depending on freshman has rarely ever worked out for OU.

I didn't say his assist to turnover ratio is good. I agree, that's a problem he'll have to correct if he wants to play the point next year, even in a back up role.

But, unlike Grooms, he's at least a threat to score, which is likely why he's our starting point guard this year. That, and the fact that Je'lon is a better on-the-ball defender. His size gives him an advantage Sam can't match. He also ranks second on the team in steals.

That said, I doubt if Coach Kruger is ready to give him the keys to next year's offfense either. If Lon thought Hornbeak or Cousins was the answer, he wouldn't have worked so hard to sign Jordan Woodard. Woodard is clearly our point guard of the future. The only question is whether he'll start there to begin the season or if he will be worked into that role after the season gets underway? IMO, Hornbeak will be more valuable as the two guard. With Pledger no longer around, we'll need his ability to score and shoot the ball from deep a lot more than what he'll bring to the table at the one.