Practice Observations 10/15/2011

[Sam]

Just going to do this bullet point style because the voice of Gus Johnson calling Baylor-Texas A&M is turning me into ADHD.

- Practice was from 10:00 Am to 12:47ish

- Seemed to be less learning and more action today. Actually did some 5 on 5 toward the end.

- Grooms and Newell are the two fastest/quickest players on the team. Great end to end speed.

- Grooms was very vocal today, even when not in drills he was encouraging teammates and coaching.

- Blair's handles look better this year, more in control, he's also vocal.

- Pledger with another solid practice. Looks leaner, had a few nice takes. Still shooting well.

- Osby looked better today, he looks like a face up 4 right now. His body type reminds me of Joey Graham. 6'6, 6'7 and a wide athletic body (big shoulders). Finished a really nice dunk today through M'baye.

- Fitz got the same low post game going today, little bit of a fadeway J, and did Fitz things down low.

- M'Baye, best player today, just looked great. Couple nice slams, protected the rim on defense, hit some tough jumpers on pull ups. As I said yesterday he's 6'8, long, lean, athletic and SKILLED. Has some big time potential.

- Clark another quiet practice, not bad just didn't stand out to my amateur eye. He knocked down some jumpers.

On Blair vs Grooms.
Blair looks better than he did last year, more confident with the ball. He looks to be a leader on the team. He won't give up the point guard spot without a fight but Grooms is going to be hard to hold off. Grooms is built similar to TMG, but 6'0 and is just so quick and fast. Great handles and knocked down some open jumpers.

On Osby's leadership
I think him, Blair and Grooms are the most vocal leaders for the team so far.

 

[WTSooner]

Is Grooms built like Quannis, or not quite that thick?

 

[OUsky]

Sam, this is awesome... thanks.

 

[NYC-Fool]

Thanks Sam... these reports are great.

 

[OKURanger]

Thank you Sam.

 

[BigTime]

These are fantastic. Thanks!

 

[AdaSooner]

Terrific report, Sam. Thanks!

Much like last year with Osby, your observations about M'Baye makes me wish he was eligible to play this season. Considering LK's fondness for transfers over the years, I have a feeling that may be a theme we hear often.

 

[WillJennings]

I was sitting next to Sam yesterday and it is fascinating how reading scouting report prior to the scrimmage really matched up to the action of the scrimmage.

I know we have seen a lot of hype on this message board about transfers that have to sit out a year, but Amath M'baye has the most pro potential on the roster. He is exactly what the coaching staff is looking for when they look at post players. He's long, strong, versatyle and has a high motor.

 

[soonermule]

Haven't been here in a while, but it seems to be the same old story our best player is not eligible this year and our best one we had last year is not exactly tearing things up this year.

 

[skyvue]

Haven't been here in a while, but it seems to be the same old story our best player is not eligible this year and our best one we had last year is not exactly tearing things up this year.

I have to admit, I had the same thought. After all the fuss over Osby last year, I was expecting him to be dominating these early practices, but the reports I'm reading here don't sound like that. I, too, was left thinking, "Really? We have to wait a year to get M'Baye eligible before we make our upward move?"

 

[MsProudSooner]

Haven't been here in a while, but it seems to be the same old story our best player is not eligible this year and our best one we had last year is not exactly tearing things up this year.

Is it a case of the observer exaggerating a player's potential or are kids in their redshirt year more relaxed because they feel no pressure?

 

[Sooner04]

Osby very well could've been dominating practices last year, but that's an indictment of just how UN-talented our roster had become.

I went into the Sunday scrimmage skeptical of M'Baye. My skepticism went south for the winner very quickly upon taking my seat. Dude's a player.

 

[thebigabd]

So whats the deal on Osby? From what I have heard/read this is what I am getting, and I would appreciate someone confirming this:

1.) He is not blowing up in practice

2.) It is not obvious that he is the best player, even at this point. For example, back in the day I went to some preseason stuff and I could tell right off the bat that Taj Gray and Terrell Everett were the best players on the team. You guys arent seeing that out of Osby.

3.) CJ Washington has an inch or two on him, which puts him around 6'5'' or 6'6'', instead of the listed 6'8''.

Most were expecting something like 13-14 ppg and 5-7 rpg from him. Thats pretty major production. Do you guys think he is that kind of player?

 

[05790]

It depends on what the coaching staff feels gives the team the best chance to win. Some of the things you are seeing out of players in the first three days of practice you may not see when the season begins. We as fans can speculate who will dominate and who will not but, it is all about production when the lights come on.

 

[AdaSooner]

While I'll admit that I expected a glowing report about Osby, I think it's way too early to write him off as a bust. In the practice highlight videos I saw, he seemed to be forcused more on getting his teammates involved than becoming a dominating force.

Romero was the most impressive (personality wise) player I met at the Legend's event. He is obviously a people person, which is one of the reasons I said that he would be a leader this year. Maybe he's too nice. But I'm betting he has the ability to turn "nice" off when the lights come on and we'll all see more of this:

[ame="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQW0spGh6tA"]http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQW0spGh6tA[/ame]

 

[Sid]

2013​

 

[Northbase]

Are practices closed from here-on-out? Maybe some open scrimmages?

 

[Sam]

Are practices closed from here-on-out? Maybe some open scrimmages?

Practice is still open, they go at 2 PM today. Been busy with multiple things, will likely post a nice detailed updated featuring some thoughts from Sunday, Monday and today later tonight.