Practice Observations 10/29/2011

[thebigabd]

I love these pre-season conversations.

But, I love it even more when they come to an end and we see who is the on the floor.

 

[garyeb2]

I would think most of the time, Pledger and Newell guarded each other. They are the 2 scholarship "shooting guards" we have. Blair and Grooms probably guard each other a bunch. Cam and Neal. Osby and M'Baye.

That is pretty close except for Calvin and Pledger. The play would always start with Kruger coaching the redshirts and Henson coaching the white shirts.

The redshirts were Pledger,Grooms,Clark,Osby,and Fitz with Calvin in a red shirt and standing on the sidelines. Everyone else was a white shirt. After a run thru or two, Calvin would come in for Pledger. Then Calvin would stay in while Clark came out and Pledger came back in.

After all six looked liked they got it, Arent and Tyler would switch to red shirts and go with usually Osby,Newell, and Grooms until that group was working well. Then Blair would switch to a red shirt so he could get some reps with the 1's.

Calvin has been the 6th man since practice started. Over the last several days Calvin has been in earlier and for longer. Friday he was in 1st and Pledger was the 6th man on the sideline.

The change that Sam reported for Saturdays scrimmage was that the six redshirts were Grooms,Calvin,Clark,Osby, and Fitz with Tyler in a redshirt on the sideline. And I think he reported that Arent and Blair at some point switched to redshirts to get reps with the 1's.

I chose to draw inferences from the way Kruger groups players together.

 

[AdaSooner]

That is pretty close except for Calvin and Pledger. The play would always start with Kruger coaching the redshirts and Henson coaching the white shirts.

The redshirts were Pledger,Grooms,Clark,Osby,and Fitz with Calvin in a red shirt and standing on the sidelines. Everyone else was a white shirt. After a run thru or two, Calvin would come in for Pledger. Then Calvin would stay in while Clark came out and Pledger came back in.

After all six looked liked they got it, Arent and Tyler would switch to red shirts and go with usually Osby,Newell, and Grooms until that group was working well. Then Blair would switch to a red shirt so he could get some reps with the 1's.

Calvin has been the 6th man since practice started. Over the last several days Calvin has been in earlier and for longer. Friday he was in 1st and Pledger was the 6th man on the sideline.

The change that Sam reported for Saturdays scrimmage was that the six redshirts were Grooms,Calvin,Clark,Osby, and Fitz with Tyler in a redshirt on the sideline. And I think he reported that Arent and Blair at some point switched to redshirts to get reps with the 1's.

I chose to draw inferences from the way Kruger groups players together.

Enjoyed the good, easy-to-follow recap on the practice rotation. I'm just not sure if we can draw anything from it, except what appears to be an ongoing attempt by LK to find the right combinations. Is that how you see it, or have you already penciled in your starters in tonight's game?

Judging by what I've seen, read and heard, I think it's a safe bet that Osby, Pledger, Fitz and Clark will start. The missing piece seems to be who will get the nod at the point, Blair or Grooms? If Kruger had been at OU last year, my money would be on Blair, mainly because he would have a leg up in his grasp of the offense. In this case, Carl's only advantage is that he played D-1ball last season.

It will be interesting to see who gets the first shot in tonight's game. But even that may not mean anything going forward. Unlike last year, we have at least eight to nine players who can play a little, which should create a lot more competition for playing time in practice and in games.

 

[campbest]

Pledger will start.

 

[DenverSooner]

I doubt our last staff's ability to motivate on the defensive end of the floor.

What is there to motivate? Play great defense or don't play at all. That is what good coaches do. If you can play defense you better score and rebound like Blake Griffin or have Jeff Capel for a coach. Nobody played for Tubbs that couldn't defend. Nobody played for Sampson that couldn't defend. They did it differently but defense came first.

 

[garyeb2]

Oh, I'm in the Grooms was the starting point guard from the day they signed camp. The reporting that Sam has done on Grooms and Blair has been accurate and I agree with everything that he has said.

It is what he hasn't said that I believe to be the difference maker. Carl has turned the ball over in practice. He has turned it over alot. Grooms doesn't. I think Carl will continue to get approx. the same 25% of the practice reps with the 1's. And he will probably get enough game minutes with the 1's to stay sharp. But, Grooms is the guy.

Arent seems to be the first choice off the bench for the bigs. Even though I've been his biggest cheerleader, I honestly can not say he has done a great deal to this point to separate himself from CJ.

I understand that Pledger is a fan favorite on this board. But, Calvin has shown too much in practice to sit on the bench. I think that the best Pledger can hope for is a 50/50 split on minutes until game performence sorts them out.

And the same for Tyler. He has been much improved too.

 

[BigTime]

Oh, I'm in the Grooms was the starting point guard from the day they signed camp. The reporting that Sam has done on Grooms and Blair has been accurate and I agree with everything that he has said.

It is what he hasn't said that I believe to be the difference maker. Carl has turned the ball over in practice. He has turned it over alot. Grooms doesn't. I think Carl will continue to get approx. the same 25% of the practice reps with the 1's. And he will probably get enough game minutes with the 1's to stay sharp. But, Grooms is the guy.

Arent seems to be the first choice off the bench for the bigs. Even though I've been his biggest cheerleader, I honestly can not say he has done a great deal to this point to separate himself from CJ.

I understand that Pledger is a fan favorite on this board. But, Calvin has shown too much in practice to sit on the bench. I think that the best Pledger can hope for is a 50/50 split on minutes until game performence sorts them out.

And the same for Tyler. He has been much improved too.

From what I have gathered, Pledger has done nothing to deserve NOT to start. In the end, I hope you are right about Calvin. If Calvin is as good as you've projected then we will be in much better shape having three legit Big 12 wings (Cam, Pledge, and 40 Cal).

I still don't see Neal as a guy that keep up with Big 12 wings on the defensive end. Hope I'm wrong though. Luke Axtell part deux?

 

[bocabull]

we all know Grooms/Blair and Cam aren't 3 point specialists.....

Why do people keep stating that Pledger is our best shooter as fact? Go look up who our best returning 3 point shooter is. It's the same guy who is our best midrange shooter.

Cameron Clark.

 

[DenverSooner]

Why do people keep stating that Pledger is our best shooter as fact? Go look up who our best returning 3 point shooter is. It's the same guy who is our best midrange shooter.

Cameron Clark.

I think people are saying it (mistakenly) because the percentage differences between the two is not huge (althoug it is significant .373 for Clark to .350 for Pledger) and Pledger took almost 3 times the shots.

If Newell and Neal are playing to the point of pushing to start that is great news. Pledger played in all 32 games and averaged 30 minutes per game. It would be outstanding to be able to bring a guy off the bench that can score 10 points a game, especially if the starter is a better player (regardless of point production, the better player is not always the guy that scores the most).

 

[DenverSooner]

Arent seems to be the first choice off the bench for the bigs. Even though I've been his biggest cheerleader, I honestly can not say he has done a great deal to this point to separate himself from CJ.

This is not good news. I hoope the reason is because CJ is bringing it and ready to contribute at a Big XII level. I fear the reason is that neither of them are really ready to play major minutes in the Big XII. OU absolutely must rebound better this year. Cade Davis was the leading rebounder last year and we just can't have a guard leading this team in rebounding (Fitzgerald and Davis actually tied at 5 per game but given the size difference and position, I intentionally said Cade Davis was the leading rebounder. Fitzgerald must average 7 boards a game. I hope one of the assistant coaches is on his @$$ in every scrimage and game about how many boards did you get, why do guards rebound better, and I think your sister rebounds harder that you do. Andrew has to decide that despite his lack of a big vertical he is getting 7 boards a game or someone is going to die.(die may be a tad strong but you get the point))

 

[schoonerdriver]

I say play the better defender. Pledger hasn't shown me enough to say he is the better defender between the two. Newell has the tools to be better but he didn't show anything last year with the little time he saw the court.

 

[Tony]

From everything I have heard, I think it is highly unlikely Pledger starts tomorrow night.

 

[thebigabd]

Why do people keep stating that Pledger is our best shooter as fact? Go look up who our best returning 3 point shooter is. It's the same guy who is our best midrange shooter.

Cameron Clark.

Because Pledger hasnt really shown an ability to do anything else. Hopefully Pledger turns out to be Tim Heskett or Kelley Newton as an upper-classmen. That would be fantastic.

I usually like to put athletes on the floor if they have similar skill. Seems like Newell and Pledger shoot about the same, so that tells me to put the better ball-handler, defender, and athlete on the floor and bring Pledger off the bench for his shooting.

 

[BigTime]

From everything I have heard, I think it is highly unlikely Pledger starts tomorrow night.

Any particular reasons stated?

 

[AdaSooner]

Why do people keep stating that Pledger is our best shooter as fact? Go look up who our best returning 3 point shooter is. It's the same guy who is our best midrange shooter.

Cameron Clark.

That's true, Pledger has not put the shooting prowess that earned him that reputation coming out of high school on display so far. He shot well over the 40% mark during his prep career. His stroke is still there. I think it's a matter of getting his confidence back by knocking down a few treys.

But when his shots aren't falling, he needs to contribute in others ways, better defense is one of them. I would also like to see Steven ball fake the defender and drive the lane more. He showed he has a mid-range game last year, just not often enough.

 

[Tony]

Any particular reasons stated?

Not playing well enough.

 

[AdaSooner]

Not playing well enough.

Huuum! Well, if that's the case, I'm glad to see it. I grew weary of watching players dog it on the court for two straight seasons, with no price to pay. Three cheers for LK if he is going to expect players to earn their playing time in practice.

I hope that carries over to the games as well. Don't want to play defense, box out on rebounds and hustle after loose balls? Come sit with me and watch the game from the bench, young man!

 

[Tony]

I don't think it's an effort thing, I had just heard he'd been getting outplayed. But what do I know. I haven't actually seen any of the practices and there's a quote from Kruger in tonight's story OUHoops linked that says he's doing really well. I guess we will find out soon enough.

 

[garyeb2]

This is not good news. I hoope the reason is because CJ is bringing it and ready to contribute at a Big XII level. I fear the reason is that neither of them are really ready to play major minutes in the Big XII. OU absolutely must rebound better this year. Cade Davis was the leading rebounder last year and we just can't have a guard leading this team in rebounding (Fitzgerald and Davis actually tied at 5 per game but given the size difference and position, I intentionally said Cade Davis was the leading rebounder. Fitzgerald must average 7 boards a game. I hope one of the assistant coaches is on his @$$ in every scrimage and game about how many boards did you get, why do guards rebound better, and I think your sister rebounds harder that you do. Andrew has to decide that despite his lack of a big vertical he is getting 7 boards a game or someone is going to die.(die may be a tad strong but you get the point))

I've let some things go unattended just so that I could go to alot of these practices. It is just great that coach Kruger has opened up practice so that ordinary fans like myself can see and learn how he prepares a team and actually witness them get better week to week.

I don't have a coach's understanding of basketball. Alot of what I have watched, I simply do not understand. On Arent, my opinion is (and it is just that) is that he is merely going thru an adjustment phase. They coach the bigs to bang each other hard and often. On both offense and defense the bigs are required to be very physical.

I would guess that in JC Casey was always the biggest player and he has never experienced anywhere close to the level of contact that he gets everyday in practice. I'm not saying that he isn't up to it. Just that he is still adjusting to it. I haven't quit on him and there is no evidence the coaches have.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't think it's an effort thing, I had just heard he'd been getting outplayed. But what do I know. I haven't actually seen any of the practices and there's a quote from Kruger in tonight's story OUHoops linked that says he's doing really well. I guess we will find out soon enough.

I haven't been at practice, but that goes against everything I've read, practice report-wise, until the last day or so. If Pledger isn't working hard, then Newell should start. Effort has been a big problem in recent years. LK needs to change that. Hopefully Pledger starts doing the right things, b/c I think he brings more to the table. If we go all season with Newell starting, IMO, I think this team will be 3-5 games worse off. That is my opinion.