Predictions for Next Year

[sooner8693]

I really hope I am wrong, but I think next season will be Lon’s last. I don’t see how OU will compete in the Big XII.

Agree 100%. Basing what is coming back from this years teams performance for next year, I'm seriously afraid OU finishes dead last in the Big XII. And likewise, I hope I am totally wrong.

 

[OULad]

If the chemistry is better next years team could be better. Have to wait and see who we sign late.

 

[coolm]

If the chemistry is better next years team could be better. Have to wait and see who we sign late.

this is how I feel too. I am intrigued to see how we progress.

 

[TINY]

I really hope I am wrong, but I think next season will be Lon’s last. I don’t see how OU will compete in the Big XII.

I personally think his leash is longer than that especially if we have a top 20 recruiting class coming in, which I believe we will have. Joe C allowed Pete Hughes to miss the NCAA tournament 3 years in a row in baseball and he kept his job. Part of that is due to Joe C being averse to paying someone to go away while also being tasked with making a splash hire. It is bad business, just ask KU’s AD who was paying 3 different football coaches for several years.

This doesn’t even account for the fact that Hughes had earned no good will prior like Kruger has. In the hierarchy of high paid coaches potentially on the chopping block, Kruger is a distant third behind Mike Stoops and Sherri Coale.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I'll say it right now, we easily surpass 11 wins.


Personally, I see us doing equal to this year (18 wins, 9th in the Big 12), if not better. Won't say better yet until I see who we get in transfers and schedule wise, but I'll definitely say we easily surpass 11 wins. Experience will carry us a long ways.

With all due respect, I don't see any way we get to 18 wins unless we load up in the non-con and win 14 or 15 games. Every player is flawed on this team except James but he's a crybaby. That 2016 team, the only flaw they had was a short SG (Woodard) who was an excellent scorer and Lattin (major flaws). The big 4 of Buddy, Cousins, Spangler, and Woodard were all very good college players in the roles they played.

Our only chance to have a decent season is to find a PF who can rebound and play physical. I thought Doolittle could do it but he played so dumb this year and his body language is horrible. He regressed.

 

[152219]

With all due respect, I don't see any way we get to 18 wins unless we load up in the non-con and win 14 or 15 games. Every player is flawed on this team except James but he's a crybaby. That 2016 team, the only flaw they had was a short SG (Woodard) who was an excellent scorer and Lattin (major flaws). The big 4 of Buddy, Cousins, Spangler, and Woodard were all very good college players in the roles they played.

Our only chance to have a decent season is to find a PF who can rebound and play physical. I thought Doolittle could do it but he played so dumb this year and his body language is horrible. He regressed.

Doesn't help that Doolittle spent the summer and fall semester playing in a church league instead of playing at OU and being coached by Kruger & Company.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Doesn't help that Doolittle spent the summer and fall semester playing in a church league instead of playing at OU and being coached by Kruger & Company.

I agree but what bothered me most was his body language. He seemed to be mentally out of it all season long. The season turned when he went back into the roster even though he's a massive upgrade for Freeman even as bad as he (doolittle) played this year. That's how bad is Freeman.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

I love how so many people here seem to be an expert on body language. Not only can they read the body languages of all the different players on the court and the bench but they can also interpret exactly what that body language means. One person's a whiner because of his body language. Another is jealous of Trae Young because of his body language. I wonder why these people don't take these incredible interpretive skills to Vegas to make lots of money gambling or maybe have some sort of HBO special or TV show where they read and interpret everyone's body language so they can divine what people are thinking and feeling.

 

[BanjoCharley]

I love how so many people here seem to be an expert on body language. Not only can they read the body languages of all the different players on the court and the bench but they can also interpret exactly what that body language means. One person's a whiner because of his body language. Another is jealous of Trae Young because of his body language. I wonder why these people don't take these incredible interpretive skills to Vegas to make lots of money gambling or maybe have some sort of HBO special or TV show where they read and interpret everyone's body language so they can divine what people are thinking and feeling.

+1

 

[thebigabd]

A lot of it depends on the rest of the league too...

Teams who "should" get worse:

• Texas Tech
• TCU
• WVU

Teams who "should" get better:
Kansas State
OSU
Kansas
Iowa State

Where does OU fall in that list? A lot depends on who OU signs and what happens with guys like Polla and Shepherd. If you told me OU signed these guys for next year, I would say they will be on the "should get better" list:

Devonte Bandoo - 6'3'' 190 - (Hutchinson CC)
-Averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists per game for Hutchinson CC. Plays with a few other D1 players. Shooting 44% from the 3pt line, 50% from the field, and 82% from the foul line.

Ricky Torres - 6'3'' 180 - (Missouri West Plains CC)
-Combo guard averaging 17 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebonds per game for Missouri State West Plains.. Starting to rack up offers. Shoots 43% from 3pt line, 50% from the field.

Antun Maricevic - 6'10'' 240 - (Casper CC)
-Stretch 4 averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds per game. Also starting to rack up offers. Maryland, UCONN, BYU, OSU, and many others recruiting him. Shoots 83% from foul line. Potentially like a Vladimir Broadziansky from TCU.

Kur Kuath 6'9'' 180 - (Salt Lake CC)
-Already committed... Averaging 11 points and 8 rebounds per game this season. Great athlete but potentially raw.

OU would probably have to shed Lazenby and Freeman to make this happen... But they need to bring in more shooters and a couple of impact players and a recruiting class LIKE this one would do that. Torres solves the point guard problem as well, and Bandoo is a combo guard as well.

If OU signed this class (or something like it), they could easily turn it around and put an NCAA Tournament team on the floor next year.

 

[AdaSooner]

Bigabd, you left out a recruit I really like, PF Austin Trice. Last I heard he’s set to visit OU April, 13th.

 

[Soonercpa2011]

osu = not better.

Lose their point guard (who was pretty good), Solomon, Shine and Carroll

 

[thebigabd]

Bigabd, you left out a recruit I really like, PF Austin Trice. Last I heard he’s set to visit OU April, 13th.

Yep, he is a crazy athlete. He would be an impact player. Need those guards though... I'd like Bandoo and Torres, and I know Lon has been watching them play. Very high percentage 3pt shooters, good size, and versatile combo guards.

Sometimes when I hone in on a couple of juco players and they don't sign with OU, I still track them just to see if they flaked out or sucked or whatever. Will be interesting to track Bandoo and Torres regardless of where they end up.

 

[thebigabd]

Bandoo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd7M1oY2qHo

Torres:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gxVcTBafeI

Trice:

https://youtu.be/gvTE1fHO9WE?t=11

Maricevic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl2qjAHxyPU

 

[TINY]

Thanks, ABD. Just watched bandoo and dude can fly. The second video from 2016 after the one u posted was more impressive to me.

Just watched Torres, and I say we take them both!

 

[AdaSooner]

Yep, he is a crazy athlete. He would be an impact player. Need those guards though... I'd like Bandoo and Torres, and I know Lon has been watching them play. Very high percentage 3pt shooters, good size, and versatile combo guards.

Sometimes when I hone in on a couple of juco players and they don't sign with OU, I still track them just to see if they flaked out or sucked or whatever. Will be interesting to track Bandoo and Torres regardless of where they end up.

I want all three. Something tells me we may have room for them when the dust finally settles on our season.