Preseason Coach's poll is out

[Sam]

Sam I don't know if Tech will be better or OU will be better. My gut says OU. But the list of lineups you put for both teams screams 10th, 11th or 12th in the Big 12. At this point in year 5 that's not a good thing, IMO.

I agree on paper that they're both bottom of the barrel of the Big 12 talent wise. Which is the point I was trying to make since Abd believes the Tech team will be competitive in Big 12 play (competitive in my eyes is at least 5-8). And yes, it is concerning that in the 5th year this is the stage we're in at OU. Good news or maybe it's just the kool-aid I have been drinking, I think the future is looking up.

 

[Romulus]

Sam, get the chant going
"We're #11"


Other side

"In the Big 12"

Very catchy

 

[sybarite]

It is interesting that we are so ready to throw basketball coaches under the train. Some people hated Kelvin, and his name was mud for a long time. But, he was an outstanding coach, while his NCAA nemesis is outstanding at nothing.

Now, it is Capel. He had a bad year. A good number of these young superstars have a lot of "I" in them. He just happened to get some that had no interest in anything other than "I." I regard it as a low probability item that becomes a higher probability if you are a bit too anxious to build a top tier program too quickly. It's not unlike throwing kerosene on a fire to get it going. It can explode on you.

I've seen enough to think that Capel can recruit and can coach. His teams look good, when they have a decent attitude. Don't forget that Sampson had a team or two that underachieved due to stars. I want toi see this year and probably next year. If I see something working, I'll keep Capel. There aren't many real good coaches that could work wonders at OU.

 

[NickZepp]

I'm just not sure about his recruiting based completely on what he's brought in. The guys he's actually brought in have a really bad record overall. That's been his biggest problem.

 

[boksooner]

I'm just not sure about his recruiting based completely on what he's brought in. The guys he's actually brought in have a really bad record overall. That's been his biggest problem.

Is that a recruiting problem or a development problem?

 

[FaithfulSooner]

This is one of those threads that will be funny to look at after the season is over. Especially the comments of bigabd. Please don't run off. BOOMER SOONER BABY!!!

 

[SoonerNorm]

A few short months ago the situation for the OU basketball program looked very bleak. Several on here were talking about who our next coach was going to be; how coaches were jumping ship; that we were going to get nailed by the NCAA, etc. Obviously, it was the lowest of lows in the minds of many basketball fans.

I now fast forward just a few weeks later and things didn't look nearly so grim. Capel was back signing players, early commitments stayed the course, we find out that we are in on some great players for 2011 and beyond. Everyone's spirits rose sharply.

That brings us to this season and how we will finish. Of course, I have no idea but, I do think we will be better than the coaches predicted. An 8th place finish would not surprise me at all. People have been wrong about this program in the past and I think some are wrong about it now. I like what I am hearing about players getting after it on the court and trying to get better. Some have lost weight and improved their conditioning. I think this team is getting it....there is no alternative to hard work. If they keep that attitude all year, it will go a long way of putting this program right back on track of where it has been in the past.

 

[OULad]

I'm just not sure about his recruiting based completely on what he's brought in. The guys he's actually brought in have a really bad record overall. That's been his biggest problem.

He inherited a bad team, and there is no doubt last years team had a lot of talent, but their egos could not get along. Tiny, TMG and WW are all really good basketball players. I dont doubt his ability to recruit.

 

[NickZepp]

He inherited a bad team, and there is no doubt last years team had a lot of talent, but their egos could not get along. Tiny, TMG and WW are all really good basketball players. I dont doubt his ability to recruit.

I think AJ, Taylor Griffin, Tony Crocker, Keith Clark, Longar Longar, Nate Carter, David Godbold and Mike Neal were pretty good as far as talent goes. Not near as anemic as you imply. I think he did a bad job in a couple areas that year, but it could have been a lot worse.

In that first class he recruited Bobby Maze who was pretty good at Tennessee.

The next years class is probably his best so far. Blake Griffin and Cade Davis, both are/were good players, Blake is one of the best in OU history. Omar Leary was a solid backup as well. Then you have Tony Naismith who left early, and the kid from West Viriginia that was kicked off the team. Ryan Wright transferred in this year and he was a solid backup type player that was forced to start as a senior.

Next class was Orlando Allen who was nothing but a bench player, Kyle Cannon left after a year, Ray Willis never really did much of anything left after 2 years. He at least showed flashes. Juan Patillo was solid but left after a year. Willie Warren was great at times horrible at other times left after 2 years.

Then you have last years disaster which I don't really have to go through do I? At least we still have Fitzgerald and Pledger around both showed signs of being solid players. But that team last year looked like they didn't want to be around one another. And I'm not sure Gallon or Mason-Griffin were really that good. TMG could get hot at times but then he would turn the ball over a bunch and not get the team involved when he was trying to score points.

There's only one player he's recruited that stayed for more than 2 years in Cade Davis, and Omar Leary and Ryan Wright are the only 2 transfers that stayed as long as they were supposed to. A big problem with Jeff's recruiting is that none of his players stay that long and there's always a lot of turnover.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

There's only one player he's recruited that stayed for more than 2 years in Cade Davis, and Omar Leary and Ryan Wright are the only 2 transfers that stayed as long as they were supposed to. A big problem with Jeff's recruiting is that none of his players stay that long and there's always a lot of turnover.

I'm finding it harder and harder to argue this point.

That being said, I think that Coach Capel is taking a more hands on approach in recruiting and the Gallon, TMG debacle may end up being a good thing if he can put more emphasis on character kids (which he seems to have done).

Just a couple of other points, I'm also sick of people acting like his first year was a complete failure. Clark got hurt, and most of the real "talent" on the team was young. He was late in finding the Carter train and riding it, but he was probably still trying to figure out who the heck some of his guys were. I remember feeling really good about that season in retrospect.

The other thing that is getting on my nerves is the constant, Capel has sucked without Blake Griffin. We sucked last season, that is it. Capel has a track record of winning without Blake Griffin at VCU, and I'm sure he'll get back to that point soon. I really am sick of hearing that Capel can't coach, he did a good job at VCU (recruited well there too) and other than last season, he has done a good job at OU.

 

[thebigabd]

I now fast forward just a few weeks later and things didn't look nearly so grim. Capel was back signing players, early commitments stayed the course, we find out that we are in on some great players for 2011 and beyond. Everyone's spirits rose sharply.

Selective memory.. I remember watching all of our tier-2 recruits like Aziz Ndaiye, Jawanza Poland, Marquise Carter, and JP Olukemi go to Washington, South Florida, Gonzaga, and Oklahoma State.

But, I think they did a good job getting the guys they did afterward and I am pretty excited to see them all play. Hopefully a few of them like Nick Thompson, Neal, and CJ are diamonds in the rough.

 

[BigTime]

Selective memory.. I remember watching all of our tier-2 recruits like Aziz Ndaiye, Jawanza Poland, Marquise Carter, and JP Olukemi go to Washington, South Florida, Gonzaga, and Oklahoma State.

But, I think they did a good job getting the guys they did afterward and I am pretty excited to see them all play. Hopefully a few of them like Nick Thompson, Neal, and CJ are diamonds in the rough.

OU didn't lose out on JP Olukemi. The Sooners landed Cameron Clark then Olukemi went to OSU. Selective memory yourself.

 

[thebigabd]

OU didn't lose out on JP Olukemi. The Sooners landed Cameron Clark then Olukemi went to OSU. Selective memory yourself.

Oh, ok. Well then OU lost out on the high school tier-1 guys and then Marquise Carter, Jawanza Poland, and Aziz Ndaiye.

 

[BigTime]

Oh, ok. Well then OU lost out on the high school tier-1 guys and then Marquise Carter, Jawanza Poland, and Aziz Ndaiye then.

Every team loses out on recruits every season (unless you are Coach Cal). Aziz hurt the most imo.

 

[thebigabd]

Every team loses out on recruits every season (unless you are Coach Cal). Aziz hurt the most imo.

Yes, every team loses on recruits. But it isnt all that common to miss most of your first target and second target guys. Especially for a guy like Capel who has a good recruiting reputation. Of course, they got Newell late which REALLY helped.

I was pumped about next years squad when it looked like OU was going to get Carter and Poland, and Aziz for a time... They seemed like locks at the time. I couldnt believe all 3 went elsewhere.

PG: Marquise Carter/Calvin Newell
SG: Jawanza Poland/Steve Pledger
SF: Cameron Clark/Cade Davis
PF: Andrew Fitzgerald/CJ Washington
C: Aziz Ndaiye/Nick Thompson

That lineup was REALLY close to happening.

But, my original point was to keep all that mind with this years team. I (or anyone else) still have no idea what to call this years massive recruiting class. Normally when you lose out on most of your top targets and take so many guys late its not good, but Nick has impressed and they got a very high quality guy in Calvin Newell. I havent heard him mention CJ but its early.