Poll: Lon's Future at OU

[thebigabd]

I would evaluate the assistants on the Baylor staff. Someone there is doing an amazing job of evaluating/recruiting/developing players. Maybe Scott Drew is the genius and it ends there. But I would at least give the assistants a look.

Grant Mcasland was on Baylor staff for years and is now coaching North Texas

 

[daqman]

Not a bad idea. Baylor was the perennial conference bottom feeder once, a game OU counted as a W before the season got underway. I remember when the knock on Scott Drew used to be “he can recruit but he can’t coach.” Did Drew find his coaching mojo or did he bring in well-qualified assistants who are making him look good?

Baylor has always recruited fairly well, but somebody (maybe more than one) is doing one heck of a job with player development. Didn’t I hear an announcer say their team is made up mostly of players who were redshirted? I realize you’ve got to do a good job of identifying and filling needs. But, the majority of their players aren’t super stars. They’re just really good basketball players.

I used to view Baylor/Drew just like Texas/whoever, good talent, terrible coach, easy win at home, winnable game on the road. Not anymore. So what changed?

 

[BoulderSooner]

I used to view Baylor/Drew just like Texas/whoever, good talent, terrible coach, easy win at home, winnable game on the road. Not anymore. So what changed?

they got better ... they are a 1 seed and #2 in the country

 

[daqman]

Grant Mcasland was on Baylor staff for years and is now coaching North Texas

Mcasland may be the guy. How many of the current Baylor players did he recruit. OTOH, he's been gone a couple years. Who's responsible for the outstanding player development over the past few years? I don't know the answers to these questions but someone does. Joe C needs to be investigating and building a plan.

 

[stormspencer]

I think we need somebody hard nosed. Beard would be a GREAT fit. We need somebody that preaches defense and toughness, since we'll rarely have elite talent. Somebody that can win with less. Coach kids up. Have a good offense with only 3-4 real scorers in the 6-7 deep.

Agree 100%. OU is rarely going to land the generational superstar although it's has happened twice in the last decade (because they were in our own backyard). We need a developer and someone to hold individual players accountable. Maybe Lon does hold the players accountable in his own way (in practice), it just doesn't appear to be the case at times.

 

[daqman]

they got better ... they are a 1 seed and #2 in the country

Thank you, Captain Obvious.

 

[AdaSooner]

The announcers said that Baylor didn't have a top-50 guy on the roster. Amazing evaluation and player development.

It’s no secret that I have not been happy with player development for sometime. IMO, we failed to take advantage of our FF run by bringing in quality players who could help us maintain our position at or near the top.

I blame that on Lon’s coaching staff. He’s ultimately responsible, of course, but his assistants have to be his eyes and ears as well as his sales team on the recruiting trail. You can’t stay at the top by recruiting mostly projects. Yes, there have been some successes. Trae is a given, but he wasn’t around too long. I would put JB on that list, too. But like other Kruger players over the years, the flashes of brilliance he showed as a freshman have faded a bit this season. I still believe he will be really good before he’s through. The same is true of De’Vion Harmon.

I haven’t given up on the other newcomers on this team. But after watching OU play down to the competition in way too many games lately, my confidence in our staff’s ability to develop and coach our players has taken a serious hit.

 

[daqman]

They either said they have 10 or will have 10

They have 5 players on the roster who redshirted.
4 redshirted because they are transfers.

 

[CMSOONER]

I'm voting yes because I don't believe Lon has control of his players on the court. Also because of lack of offensive scheme/vision and Identity. This team plays way to my much 1 on 1 basketball and forces to many bad shots. We don't have an offense that creates open shots for shooters. We have a high pick and roll offense and that is it, otherwise the offense if pretty static and resorts to 1 on 1.

I've been in Lon's corner until this year. What I mentioned I see as pretty consistent throughout his tenure here including the FF run. That team just made buckets and had individual players who made plays. There still was no offensive scheme.

 

[oketex]

There needs to be a poll for SC and her little sunny boy

 

[thebigabd]

Has anything changed for anyone since the time of this thread?

 

[steverocks35]

Has anything changed for anyone since the time of this thread?

Not for me... I really respect Coach Kruger as a person and he's been a great coach, but it would not break my heart if he retired.

 

[CoachTalk]

I was told the taking of several projects will soon be ending... It was a Crutchfield thing.

We will see. I dont mind taking a 1-2 but 3-4 is a bit much. Give me a 4 year HS player from Okla texas vegas IDC...

 

[steverocks35]

I was told the taking of several projects will soon be ending... It was a Crutchfield thing.

We will see. I dont mind taking a 1-2 but 3-4 is a bit much. Give me a 4 year HS player from Okla texas vegas IDC...

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Max Power]

I was told the taking of several projects will soon be ending... It was a Crutchfield thing.

We will see. I dont mind taking a 1-2 but 3-4 is a bit much. Give me a 4 year HS player from Okla texas vegas IDC...

This is good news if true

 

[WTSooner]

I think we've taken some project HS kids too.

I also don't mind having 1-2 on the roster, but we don't need 4 at a time. HS or JUCO. I'd still like to see us go after tougher, gamer types, as opposed to the athlese that Lon seems to like in recent years.

 

[oudna]

OU has an armpit of a fanbase.

Not appealing for big-time coaches or players.

Lon keeping OU in the tourney nearly every year is an accomplishment.

He deserves better, rather than vice versa.

 

[MJSooner]

Not for me... I really respect Coach Kruger as a person and he's been a great coach, but it would not break my heart if he retired.

I'm kind of close to Steve on this one. I really like Kruger, think he is a great example for our program, and appreciate the kind of kids he seems to get. W don't have any issues off the court, and if we do, they seem to keep it internal and process the guy off the team. That in itself is a huge deal. I also can be thankful that we have had success, making the tourney basically every year and finishing about 20 wins or more most every year. Lon is doing a lot with the hand he has been dealt and not every coach could do what he has done here, and not many would be willing to come here and make it a long-term job.

But I also agree with Ada, the whole assistant issue bothers me as I don't think we have great assistants. Even Crutch had his faults. It doesn't seem like they build those tight tight relationships, player development has not been good, and the team makes too many mental mistakes and key moments. That is coaching. If Lon takes more of the CEO role on the staff, then part of the staff's ability is on him. If he IS hands-on and in control, it's on him.

Similar to Steve, I like Kruger and support him, but if HE decides to retire, not forced out, I would be ready to move on. But I also don't think he should be fired.

 

[WTSooner]

Has anything changed for anyone since the time of this thread?

Nope. I didn't truly ever believe Lon would be on the hot seat this year, but the TT, WVU, and TCU comeback wins pretty much ensured he wouldn't be on it soon.

I don't think Lon is the answer, but he's going to get to stick around as long as he wants. He'll do just enough to keep some fans happy. If he sticks around another 5 years, he'll probably have another really good season or two. We should be past the risk of having another terrible season in the next several years, especially if we land any of those 2021 kids. I'm still pretty "bleh" on the program and Lon right now. But I guess it could be worse.

 

[daqman]

No. Nothing has changed. His seat should be hot. He should retire/move on.
Finishing 3rd in a pathetic conference with little chance of going anywhere in the tournament for the 4th year in a row and not much changing next season doesn't change anything.