Practice 9/30-10/1

[garyeb2]

Yesterday was more drills and conditioning. 4 on 4 in the half court was as much fun as it got. There wasn't much new or different to talk about. It has all been about defense all the time so far. Houck's tweet is correct. They are aggressive, on the ball, and going hard at it.

Today was more fun. They got after it pretty good full court 5 on 5. Booker caught a 5 stitch cut above his eye and Tyler got himself a golf ball size mouse under an eye. Spangler got pretty tired of Cam coming over his back after rebounds. Cousins temper flared and there was still a ball stuck in the rafters of the practice gym when I left. Buddy kept playing hide and seek with the team trainer. He isn't suppose to be going full speed full court till Thursday. Buddy would put himself in and Alex would walk thru catch him and walk him off the court. As soon as the coast was clear Buddy would put himself back in and then they would do the walk off again. It was a good day and a good practice.



Bennett was in a walking boot. Nothing big. He should be good to go by Thursday. His absence moved Hamilton up in the rotation. I'm never going to try to pass Hamilton off as a dominate center that will move OU into the national championship picture. But, I do like him a little more every day. He has decent hands, moves his feet well, and can rebound in his area. He is a strong presence in the middle and looks like an adequate defender. I can't picture him as a scorer. But, he isn't helpless inside of 6-8 feet. Hamilton is going to be OK and will probably get plenty of minutes.

During the summer exhibition games Spangler and Bennett were on the floor together at least half the time. And they will probably spent a lot of time on the floor together once the season starts. Hamilton needs to be ready to go in 5 weeks, he seems to be catching on to the schemes pretty well, and there seems to be confidence all around that he will be OK and ready to go.

 

[CoachTalk]

Thanks Gary. Im going to try and make it up in a couple weeks and catch a Thunder practice as well.

 

[Stikboy]

Thx for the report.

 

[Capel's Mustache]

Appreciate it Gary

 

[j2d2]

Good work. Good report and thanks.

 

[AdaSooner]

Thanks, Gary!

Great news about Hamilton. While it would be nice if he turns out to be a player who competes for a starting position, he was brought in to improve our post depth and to come off of the bench in a back up role. If he can give the team some quality minutes this season, he will have met my expectations.

 

[snydrosooner]

I know the last few years we basically ran a 2 Forward and 3 guards. Hamilton is listed as a Center on the official roster. Will we Hamilton be playing as a forward, or will we run with a true center and 2 forwards?

 

[AdaSooner]

I know the last few years we basically ran a 2 Forward and 3 guards. Hamilton is listed as a Center on the official roster. Will we Hamilton be playing as a forward, or will we run with a true center and 2 forwards?

Gary may be able to answer that question better than me. My guess is that Hamilton will be used strictly as a back up for Spangler and Bennett. That is, providing he develops into a solid role player Coach can depend on to come in and at least hold his own. This team is so deep at the guard/wing positions, I doubt if we'll see three post players on the floor at the same time this year.

 

[WTSooner]

I know the last few years we basically ran a 2 Forward and 3 guards. Hamilton is listed as a Center on the official roster. Will we Hamilton be playing as a forward, or will we run with a true center and 2 forwards?

Eh. Some of that labeling doesn't really apply to current day college basketball, IMO.

That said, the only way you'd ever see OU play a center and 2 forwards is if Cam is getting time as the 3, and you consider him a forward. No other way that happens with the current roster, I wouldn't think.

 

[CoachTalk]

I know the last few years we basically ran a 2 Forward and 3 guards. Hamilton is listed as a Center on the official roster. Will we Hamilton be playing as a forward, or will we run with a true center and 2 forwards?

Get that old thinking out of your head..! the days of PG,SG,SF,PF,C are long gone!

Id say most teams are more 3 guards a hy-4 (who most are more guards than posts) and another "big"...

 

[garyeb2]

I know the last few years we basically ran a 2 Forward and 3 guards. Hamilton is listed as a Center on the official roster. Will we Hamilton be playing as a forward, or will we run with a true center and 2 forwards?

What WT said is mostly right. Positions and roles are more blurred in today's game and will be for OU this coming season. Kruger doesn't take me or any other practice watcher into his confidence and explain what he trying to accomplish with his players. But, he does leave a lot of clues laying around.

The last two seasons with Osby and M'Baye and before with Osby and Fitz Kruger's intention was to play a two man two on two game with his bigs in and around the paint. They were suppose to be interchangeable with one setting up high and the other low on one possession and then switching the next time. It hasn't ever worked out exactly like that. Fitz couldn't rebound and M'Baye lacked interior toughness so Osby by necessity took on the dominant role.

As I mentioned earlier, Spangler and Bennett were on the court together about half the time during the exhibition games. I think he would like to do that this season. But, without a quality big to come off the bench, he won't be able to show that look for many minutes a game. So, Hamilton is a key. If his development is slow we could see one lineup and if it is rapid we could see a different look.

Even if Hamilton comes on strong, I'm guessing that Cam will see some time at the #4 against some teams and matchups. That works sometimes. If Hamilton flops, Cam will probably spend most of his time at the #4. One of the clues laying around is that Cam has been getting lots and lots of perimeter defense work and coaching. And Hamilton is being handled like a guy that is already in the rotation.

Some fans don't like the idea of Cam playing a guard spot. And I am also aware of some of his limitations. But, Booker has yet to offer up any evidence that he is ready to be much help this season. And Tyler of course, is Tyler.

Just from watching the way Kruger is grouping and rotating them thru. I think he is planning to have 3 bigs (Spangler, Bennett, and Hamilton) for two positions. And 5 guards (Woodard, Hornbeak, Cousins, Buddy, and Cam) for 3 positions. That is a tight 8 man rotation with Hamilton the only one that really doesn't have a chance to start. It may not work out that way. Hamilton could flop, Booker could start making shots, Tyler could blossom, or I could be just plain wrong.