Reaction to post-idaho board comments

[cowboysooner]

First, without a tall dominant inside player, we shouldn't be expected to dominate average teams. With shooting being an inexact science and no dominate interior players, we will have to be on our game to win against anyone.

Second, Grooms looks like the real deal to me.

Third, don't agree Neal looked that bad, although I agree he will need to find some mental intensity to get minutes.

Fourth, Osby is a good college 4 or power forward. Just what I hoped he would be. He is very unselfish. I dont' know why, but I thought he would be selfish.

Fifth, from a coaching perspective, nothing beats a close game as a coaching aid, provided you win.

Sixth, Cam is the real deal and has greatly improved since last year. I know he missed his shots, but he didn't force a single one. I liked all of his shots and he will make his share as the year goes on. He defended, played with effort, rebounded well for a small forward and stayed within the team concept. I wouldn't sell cam short based upon this one game. I can't think of a better athlete at the 3 in the country, maybe better player, but he is what you want.

Seventh, we could have used bird.

Lastly, hard to put your finger on it, but I just like what I am seeing. Think by conference we will be a good defensive team and a team that doesn't turn the ball over much. This will allow us to win a few and compete in all the games. I also think we will be a good free throw shooting team. Arguably, Osby, Clark and Grooms will be about as good as anyone else in conference at their positions by years end. Most jucos take a year to acclimate. For example, Blair. Cam/Bird at the 2/3, blair/newell at the 1/2, grooms at the 1, osby/neal at the 4, fitz/arent/honore at the 5. It seems to me this is how it is shaping up, and it really isn't that bad.

 

[SoonerinNC]

I agree. I like what I am seeing. I think we will soon develop a sense of what we are going to see on the court. The last few years I never developed a feel for what kind of game we were playing like I did with Tubbs and Sampson.

This year the identity seems much more clear. We are going to play hard and create pressure and get open shots. If we hit them we are going to create problems for other teams.

 

[DenverSooner]

First, without a tall dominant inside player, we shouldn't be expected to dominate average teams.

Why? OU has dominated teams like Idaho State in the past without a tall dominant inside player in the past. OU has a way to go but I don't think OU has to have a dominant inside player to dominate inferior opponents.

 

[soonersublime]

Idaho St is getting the snot beat out of them right now by North Dakota (the Duke of the North).

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

i havent read any of the posts from after the game, but i assume it was mass chaos...

i have one question:

Why do people really think this team was going to be much if any better than last years team?

I know Kruger is going to turn this thing around, but talent-wise we arent in any better position than we were last year...and in most cases its about jimmy's and joes, not x's and o's...

I was suckered into believing Osby was going to be a difference maker and after a few practices viewed and two/three games i can see he is a solid player but not that game changing type of player right away...if it happens at all...

I will enjoy watching this team improve and find an identity, unlike the past few years...that is what i am lookin forward to the most...but i feel sorry for those that let the expectations of a new season get to you...

 

[TheGimper]

i havent read any of the posts from after the game, but i assume it was mass chaos...

i have one question:

Why do people really think this team was going to be much if any better than last years team?

1) Romero is a huge upgrade at the 4 over Cade Davis.
2) Arent is an upgrade at the back-up post position over Nick Thompson.
3) The Grooms/Blair combo at PG is much better than the Blair/Newell combo at PG.
4) Clark, Newell, and Pledger have all looked to have made solid improvements over last season.
5) Tyler Neal got a hair cut.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

1) Romero is a huge upgrade at the 4 over Cade Davis.
2) Arent is an upgrade at the back-up post position over Nick Thompson.
3) The Grooms/Blair combo at PG is much better than the Blair/Newell combo at PG.
4) Clark, Newell, and Pledger have all looked to have made solid improvements over last season.
5) Tyler Neal got a hair cut.

Osby is bigger at the 4 yes, and i believe he will get better as season progresses...but wont give us more scoring than Cade did, will rebound better....

Too early to know if Arent is an upgrade (although it shouldnt take much)

I dont know about much better, but i will agree better

Newell looks better, Pledger i feel could be our best player (felt that way last year too though)

Neal's haircut is an improvment...

These things dont make us much better, but they should make us better....that's my point thought...even with these changes we dont get to a level that would make expectations rise above a possible NIT team...and those types of teams struggle against Low D1's and play up for High D1's...it's just gonna be another up and down season...that's all i'm sayin

 

[TheGimper]

Osby is bigger at the 4 yes, and i believe he will get better as season progresses...but wont give us more scoring than Cade did, will rebound better....

However, you could argue that Romero will be a much more efficient scorer than Cade Davis. He'll take higher percentage shots and take less questionable looks. He will also be a better defender in the paint than Cade was...

 

[MercedeSooner]

i havent read any of the posts from after the game, but i assume it was mass chaos...

i have one question:

Why do people really think this team was going to be much if any better than last years team?

I know Kruger is going to turn this thing around, but talent-wise we arent in any better position than we were last year...and in most cases its about jimmy's and joes, not x's and o's...

I was suckered into believing Osby was going to be a difference maker and after a few practices viewed and two/three games i can see he is a solid player but not that game changing type of player right away...if it happens at all...

I will enjoy watching this team improve and find an identity, unlike the past few years...that is what i am lookin forward to the most...but i feel sorry for those that let the expectations of a new season get to you...

That Capel talk about Osby really felt like Capel just trying to blow smoke up peoples butts regarding the future of the team to save his own job. I mean seriously Osby played 2 years at Miss St, not exactly a powerhouse, and averaged 4 and 2. Anybody expecting him to suddenly become a star is crazy.

In regards to last year's vs this year's team Osby does bring some size and athleticism inside, last year our interior play was the most embarrassing I have ever witnessed as a long standing OU fan. Hard to complain about his 17 10 and 2 blocks against ISU but I think if he can finish the year around 12 7 and 2 he'll have more then met expectations for this team.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Why do people really think this team was going to be much if any better than last years team?

Short answer:

1) I expect Osby's presence to shore up the interior a little bit.
2) I expect Kruger's coaching experience to make them better on offense and defense. Not great - but a little bit better.
3) Last year's team seemed to lack resilience. Did they ever fall behind by 10 points and come back to win the game as they did against Idaho State? I hope that Kruger can make them a more resilient team.

I hopeful that those three things bring a few more victories than last year.

 

[soonersublime]

I think we are a much better team then last year, NIT yes, NCAA maybe we will see how well the team grows.

Shooting will be key, I think Osby is a real inside threat, we were missing Pledger in the Idaho st. game. Osby seems to be a solid 12-14pt 8-10 rebound per game guy which is SOLID and something we definitley didn't have last year. Fitz is going to have to step up a lot if we are going to make the NCAA's.

Perimeter wise Cameron Clark is leaps and bounds better then last year. Instead of living on pure athletisism he is starting to grow with fundamentals.

Idaho St is somewhat of an abberation, They came out red hot and we came out cold as ice.

My way to soon to predict prediction is we are a bubble team, finish 6th in Big 12(10) and win somewhere around 19 games going into the Big 12 tournament needing at least 1 win to make NCAA's.

 

[j2d2]

I've seen enough to believe that Kruger's intelligence, ability and experience (especially his experience) will mean a big improvement for us. How far it will get us this year I dont know because I am not familiar enough with our competition to judge. NIT at least, but, even if we made it into the dance, I doubt we would get far (but I can accept that).