Practice 7/29/13

[garyeb2]

Spangler's accuracy from mid-range is improving. He actually hit 2 of 3 from the 3 pt. line. Buddy was an absolute menace defending the perimeter. He had a least a half dozen deflections, slap a ways, or steals. He had his shot again today. Cousins was very good on both sides of the ball. It is like the light has just magically come on for him.

They worked quite a bit on transition offense today. They basically have two plays with the same look. On one they overload to one side then eventually swing the ball to the weak side to an open guard for a 3. The other clears out the lane for a trailing big. It all looked good in practice.

They are working against a 24 second shot clock. I can only assume that is what they will have in Europe. The floor was taped to reflect other changes that they will have. It is an NBA 3 pt. line and the lane looks to be about 2.5 ft. wider. The biggest change other than the shot clock are the goal tending rules. I understand that they really don't have any.

They finished up with a series of 3 minute full court games with refs and a clock. The line ups changed some and the kids were tired from a hard practice. But, they were fun for the players and fans.

During this segment Buddy, Cousins, and to some degree Tyler shined. Woodard made a couple of steals and drives to the bucket that only good players make. It got ragged toward the end. But, the players were gassed.

They improved again and the practice was spirited. Good signs.

 

[KBaden145]

Gary, you made a point earlier about Booker. He struggles at times some of the one on one stuff but he stands out more when they go 5 on 5. I like him.

Woodard does struggle with the pressure Cousins, Hornbeak, and Hield apply but they are suffocating.

Cam looked good but left early. Did you see why?

Spangler is a load inside but also showed good range.

I like what Neal is doing. He may help this year.

Bennett can really play but he will struggle to score outside of putbacks and dump downs.

Very impressed with 3 the Hard Way today. They are confident and much stronger. They all really have a presence about them when they are out there.

Our best 5 is as Gary said; Hornbeak, Cousins, Hield, Clark, and Spangler. Hooker, Bennett, and Woodard will play a lot.


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[garyeb2]

Gary, you made a point earlier about Booker. He struggles at times some of the one on one stuff but he stands out more when they go 5 on 5. I like him.

Woodard does struggle with the pressure Cousins, Hornbeak, and Hield apply but they are suffocating.

Cam looked good but left early. Did you see why?

Spangler is a load inside but also showed good range.

I like what Neal is doing. He may help this year.

Bennett can really play but he will struggle to score outside of putbacks and dump downs.

Very impressed with 3 the Hard Way today. They are confident and much stronger. They all really have a presence about them when they are out there.

Our best 5 is as Gary said; Hornbeak, Cousins, Hield, Clark, and Spangler. Hooker, Bennett, and Woodard will play a lot.


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Cam has been suffering from back spasms for several days. He was back in the training room getting treatment. It probably wouldn't hurt if he took a day or two off.

And I agree, any team that has a better set of guards will be a top twenty or better type. I've mentioned to a couple of my buddies that Booker may be better than I think he is. Most of the teams that we play won't have defenders like Buddy, Hornbeak, and Cousins up into him all the time. And Woodard will probably be able to run circles around ordinary defenders.

 

[BCSooners]

Love what I'm reading, thanks gary

 

[Stikboy]

Good job guys, look forward to these!

Question: Does this back spasm thing seem like it could affect Cam over the long term(season)?

 

[garyeb2]

Good job guys, look forward to these!

Question: Does this back spasm thing seem like it could affect Cam over the long term(season)?

I have no idea. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to hear what I did.

 

[KBaden145]

Good job guys, look forward to these!

Question: Does this back spasm thing seem like it could affect Cam over the long term(season)?

As long as there isn't anything structurally wrong it shouldn't. Like Gary suggested, rest and a day off should go a long way.


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[BigTime]

Thanks gary

 

[Glc68]

Love the insight you give us Gary. Not much of a poster myself but i enjoy the updates. Thanks for the reporting and Boomer Sooner!

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I made my first practice Monday and concur with Gary’s excellent report. I have a few general observations to add.

If you are a good player, then the improvement between your freshman and sophomore years is noticeable. Based on this one practice that I have seen, all three sophomore guards are good players. They carry themselves with more maturity and confidence, and they have added physical strength.

As Gary has previously pointed out, the new walk-on players bring a lot to practice. They are better than recent walk-on players, and the team will be better for it.

There was a lot of energy and enthusiasm at practice. If you can fit it into your schedule, I highly recommend that you attend these open practices. The players are happy that you are there.

Isaiah Cousins! My goodness, he appears to have improved by leaps and bounds. Just based on this one practice, he looked like a “go-to-scorer” that could get points on anybody. He certainly does not have classic form, but a bunch of shots were going through the rim. IMHO, Isaiah was the offensive player of the day.

D.J. Bennett is very active and has lots of hops. He should be a very good rebounder. Spangler is also strong, athletic and active. They work hard and they look like they have played basketball all their lives. Post play should be OK, at least.

It is tough being a freshman guard, especially when you are going against those three sophomore guards. I saw good things from Woodard and Booker. They will both be good players. Coach Kruger is slowly developing a wealth of guards.

Booker looks like a natural at the free throw line. I hope he gets there a lot during his career.

I hope Cam is OK. He was having a good practice before he hurt his back.

Tyler looks like he is primed for his best season yet.

I was not disappointed with anybody. This group of guys has the potential to be better than last year’s team. I am pumped about the upcoming season!

 

[WTSooner]

Did we lose as many walk-ons as we have new ones this year? Who left? Kruger early in the season. Who am I forgetting?

 

[KBaden145]

Did we lose as many walk-ons as we have new ones this year? Who left? Kruger early in the season. Who am I forgetting?

Kruger and one other. James is still there. The big wing, Mankin I think his name is, can play a little. He honestly looked better to me yesterday than Cole did.


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[WTSooner]

Forgot that Cole was a walk-on last year.

 

[garyeb2]

Did we lose as many walk-ons as we have new ones this year? Who left? Kruger early in the season. Who am I forgetting?

The big forward type, Steve N., is now on the training staff. Last season they had 3 walkons and Cole. This season they have three new walkons plus James.

 

[ksSooner13]

one walkon is a former manager, one is from norman,ok, and the other has some story that I do not now

 

[garyeb2]

one walkon is a former manager, one is from norman,ok, and the other has some story that I do not now

Here is the story as I heard it. The kid's first name is Austin. I understand that he is a soph. He was already on campus going to school. His former HS school coach called the basketball office and told them that they had a pretty good ball player on campus that wanted to walk on. They brought him in, worked him out, and signed him up.

I'm not saying that he will be one of those walk on, earn a ship, become a star type Cinderella stories. But, I am saying that the kid can play some. If any of the walkons ever get an important minute, it will be him.

 

[KBaden145]

He is just some time in the weight room from Tyler Neal. Kid knows where to be and how to play. He's 6-6, 6-7 and a wing forward, so not your typical walk-on.

 

[boutaroust]

Thanks to all of you who have attended practices and have taken the time to share your observations with the others on this board. We truly appreciate it.
It's entertaining and exciting info.

Have you seen anything to give you confidence that we will be able to do a better job breaking a full court press defense? We had some serious problems with that last year when teams who had the talent and the smarts to bring it, did so.

Grooms, about our only reasonably dependable press breaker last year, is gone.

Cousins came close to letting his futility destroy his confidence in his game, or so it seemed to me, Will he, and or Hornbeak come with the skills and confidence to deal with this shortcoming from last season?

Can Woodard get it done, and will his overall game allow him to be on the floor enough to be a "press breaker"? What do we do if he's injured?

Booker doesn't seem to be a candidate for that job.

Have our youngsters gained enough confidence and skills to execute a team system to break a press, without having to depend on a designated "press breaker"?

 

[garyeb2]

Thanks to all of you who have attended practices and have taken the time to share your observations with the others on this board. We truly appreciate it.
It's entertaining and exciting info.

Have you seen anything to give you confidence that we will be able to do a better job breaking a full court press defense? We had some serious problems with that last year when teams who had the talent and the smarts to bring it, did so.

Grooms, about our only reasonably dependable press breaker last year, is gone.

Cousins came close to letting his futility destroy his confidence in his game, or so it seemed to me, Will he, and or Hornbeak come with the skills and confidence to deal with this shortcoming from last season?

Can Woodard get it done, and will his overall game allow him to be on the floor enough to be a "press breaker"? What do we do if he's injured?

Booker doesn't seem to be a candidate for that job.

Have our youngsters gained enough confidence and skills to execute a team system to break a press, without having to depend on a designated "press breaker"?

They work on breaking the press everyday. Hornbeak and Cousins look like they are going to be fine. Woodard is a smart player with good court vision and he is more likely to pass the ball out of trouble than try to dribble out.

 

[KBaden145]

Thanks to all of you who have attended practices and have taken the time to share your observations with the others on this board. We truly appreciate it.
It's entertaining and exciting info.

Have you seen anything to give you confidence that we will be able to do a better job breaking a full court press defense? We had some serious problems with that last year when teams who had the talent and the smarts to bring it, did so.

Grooms, about our only reasonably dependable press breaker last year, is gone.

Cousins came close to letting his futility destroy his confidence in his game, or so it seemed to me, Will he, and or Hornbeak come with the skills and confidence to deal with this shortcoming from last season?

Can Woodard get it done, and will his overall game allow him to be on the floor enough to be a "press breaker"? What do we do if he's injured?

Booker doesn't seem to be a candidate for that job.

Have our youngsters gained enough confidence and skills to execute a team system to break a press, without having to depend on a designated "press breaker"?

I think people need to get the idea of a 'press breaker' out of their minds. Breaking concerted full court pressure is a team effort. It's obvious from the practice I attended and Gary's observations, breaking pressure AND applying pressure have been a major emphasis. I believe Kruger really truly wants to force tempo and be good in transition on offense and defense. Woodard and Booker has struggled at times with the SO guards and the pressure they apply defensively. I don't believe this is deficiency or anything but FR struggling with new level of play, speed, and quickness. Plus, these 3 SO are really good, as good a group defensively as we have had in quite awhile. Woodard and Booker will be better for it.