now comes the endless speculation bout who plays and how much do they play. If rebounding, defense and scoring are the three principal requirements, then Fitz will lose minutes. M'Baye and now Bennett will get those minutes as well as spelling Osby. Even Arendt will get into the act. It wouldnt surprise me if he didnt make huge progress this year and summer. Whatever happens, I expect us to make the tournament.
Recruiting is over for next years's team and
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WTSooner
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I don't think Fitz will lose many minutes to Bennett or Arent. He will probably lose some to M'Baye, assuming he plays the post and not the wing. I don't see Arent doing much this year. His struggles have nothing to do with adjusting to D1, or things he can really improve on. He is just physically limited. He is tall, but not overly athletic or skilled. JMO.
I won't say that I expect us to make the tournament, but I certainly think that is something our team can achieve. Wouldn't surprise me to make it, I'm just not ready to "expect" it.
I won't say that I expect us to make the tournament, but I certainly think that is something our team can achieve. Wouldn't surprise me to make it, I'm just not ready to "expect" it.
I like Bennett's length to provide some interior defense that is sorely needed.
If any or all of the freshman guards can contribute consistently from the 3-point line, OU will make the tournament easily.
That's the key, more weapons from the perimeter and more depth.
If any or all of the freshman guards can contribute consistently from the 3-point line, OU will make the tournament easily.
That's the key, more weapons from the perimeter and more depth.
I don't know about making the tournament easily...
Baylor, KU, Texas, ISU, KSU, WVU, OSU all have either great or good chances to make the tournament. That's 7 teams right there, not including OU. I think we have a shot, but it's still going to be an uphill battle.
Easily was probably a poor choice of words. I do believe OU will be a factor for an NCAA Tournament bid.
AdaSooner
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For the first time in well over two years, I like our chances to make the dance next season.
Here's why:
a) Six of our top eight players from last season will be back, giving us more experience at every position. I'm counting on all of them to be better, too, mainly because I know there's not a slacker in the group. In other words, I'm confident every player on the team will work hard to improve this summer.
b) Depth will be key. Bennett and Cousins, along with the addition of M'Baye, Hornbeak and Hield will give us the much-needed "quality" depth we were sorely lacking last season. There are some unknowns, to be sure, with three of the additions to our roster coming in as true freshmen. But from everything I've learned about the newbies, I believe they'll be up to the task.
c) I have confidence in the reports from posters who have seen M'Baye play. They all say he's the real deal, and I believe them. His presence alone will give us a lot more options, especially on the offensive end.
d) I"m also counting on Grooms to be more of a scoring threat. His contribution to the team will be immeasurable if he can improve his shooting. But, even if he doesn't, I believe the junk defenses we saw last year will be a thing of the past. Every team we played knew going in that the way to stop OU from scoring was to dog Pledger all over the court, and double-down on Osby and Fitz. If M'Baye, Hornbeak, Hield and Cousins are anywhere close to their reputations as scorers/shooters, our opponents will be more cautious about game-planning to stop one or two players.
Like I said, there are some unknowns at this point. But with the addition of Cousins and Bennett in the late signing period, I'm as close as I have been in sometime to making a bold prediction that OU will be dancing again next season. I'll let you know for sure in early November when the practice sessions are underway.
Here's why:
a) Six of our top eight players from last season will be back, giving us more experience at every position. I'm counting on all of them to be better, too, mainly because I know there's not a slacker in the group. In other words, I'm confident every player on the team will work hard to improve this summer.
b) Depth will be key. Bennett and Cousins, along with the addition of M'Baye, Hornbeak and Hield will give us the much-needed "quality" depth we were sorely lacking last season. There are some unknowns, to be sure, with three of the additions to our roster coming in as true freshmen. But from everything I've learned about the newbies, I believe they'll be up to the task.
c) I have confidence in the reports from posters who have seen M'Baye play. They all say he's the real deal, and I believe them. His presence alone will give us a lot more options, especially on the offensive end.
d) I"m also counting on Grooms to be more of a scoring threat. His contribution to the team will be immeasurable if he can improve his shooting. But, even if he doesn't, I believe the junk defenses we saw last year will be a thing of the past. Every team we played knew going in that the way to stop OU from scoring was to dog Pledger all over the court, and double-down on Osby and Fitz. If M'Baye, Hornbeak, Hield and Cousins are anywhere close to their reputations as scorers/shooters, our opponents will be more cautious about game-planning to stop one or two players.
Like I said, there are some unknowns at this point. But with the addition of Cousins and Bennett in the late signing period, I'm as close as I have been in sometime to making a bold prediction that OU will be dancing again next season. I'll let you know for sure in early November when the practice sessions are underway.
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skyvue
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Why would you give oswho a better shot than OU at making the tourney?
WTSooner
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While I personally don't care much for OSU's roster or coach, you have to admit they probably have more raw talent/athleticism than OU has. Rankings-wise, Nash and Smart will be the two highest ranked players on the floor of either team.
Like I said, I don't necessarily see it playing out like that, but I could certainly see the case being made.
I never said any of those teams were a given. They all of questions. Will KU be just as strong losing Robinson and Taylor? Baylor with Acy and Jones III? KSU with Frank Martin? WVU with Kleiza? ISU with White?
My reason for including OSU are primarily the reasons WT listed. I also believe there offensive sets will be more effective without having to rely on a single shooter.
I agree but one hope I have is the Sooners should handle pressure better. Grooms was the only ball handler we had last year. Pledger is a spot up shooter but was shaky putting the ball on the floor. Even our backup PG had problems. The 3 new guards should help because Cam was the only one who could really penetrate a defense .... and he was inconsistent shooting from the outside. All 3 of the new guards have a lot of promise and at least one of them should be able to play at the D1 level next season.
SoonerinNC
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No question depth was an issue. No further evidence than being in a position to win so many games in the last 5-10 minutes that we lost. No production from the bench and diminished production from key players over that time frame.
Add to that the emergence of Iowa State, Missouri and the development of the Texas frosh and the league just got tougher in 11-12. Also the loss to the conference fo Nebraska and Colorado, who looked pretty good in a weak conference, would have given the Sooners a chance at a few more wins.
M'Baye is likely a starter somewhere. If so Fitz or Clarke are likely to be coming off the bench as a sixth man. Both are somewhat streaky and might fit that role well.
Having said that, fans have been predicting bench time for Fitz for the last two years with the opposite being true. It is easy to overhype newcomers but the reality of things is that we probably do not have anyone coming in who is a potential all-american. So we can expect the bumps, bruises and required time to adjust to Division I big conference basketball for most if not all of them. Several of them could be very good producers in time and I think that is how Kruger wants it.
Cousins or Heild need to provide adequate backup to Grooms who needs to improve his shooting.
M'Baye must be as advertised
Fitz and Pledger are unlikely to change much but Pledger needs to get open for more shots and keep improving his inside game which came a long way this year.
I'll settle for the Osby we saw the last part of the 11-12 season.
Clarke has to improve his consistency or he may not even be the sixth man.
Neal needs to convert his abilities to game situations.
Bennett should be adequate as a 3rd or 4th inside player. I don't expect much change from Arendt but would love to be pleasantly suprised.
I think we have a shot at the dance. Kruger is the X factor.
Add to that the emergence of Iowa State, Missouri and the development of the Texas frosh and the league just got tougher in 11-12. Also the loss to the conference fo Nebraska and Colorado, who looked pretty good in a weak conference, would have given the Sooners a chance at a few more wins.
M'Baye is likely a starter somewhere. If so Fitz or Clarke are likely to be coming off the bench as a sixth man. Both are somewhat streaky and might fit that role well.
Having said that, fans have been predicting bench time for Fitz for the last two years with the opposite being true. It is easy to overhype newcomers but the reality of things is that we probably do not have anyone coming in who is a potential all-american. So we can expect the bumps, bruises and required time to adjust to Division I big conference basketball for most if not all of them. Several of them could be very good producers in time and I think that is how Kruger wants it.
Cousins or Heild need to provide adequate backup to Grooms who needs to improve his shooting.
M'Baye must be as advertised
Fitz and Pledger are unlikely to change much but Pledger needs to get open for more shots and keep improving his inside game which came a long way this year.
I'll settle for the Osby we saw the last part of the 11-12 season.
Clarke has to improve his consistency or he may not even be the sixth man.
Neal needs to convert his abilities to game situations.
Bennett should be adequate as a 3rd or 4th inside player. I don't expect much change from Arendt but would love to be pleasantly suprised.
I think we have a shot at the dance. Kruger is the X factor.
hoopsaustin
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the two most important factors i believe are osboy and m'baye:
i think osby will significantly improve. he still seems very raw but at times shined
i so hope m'baye is as good as people have been saying..
im bettign that the majority of our returning players will not improve:
pledger did well this year but other than that the rest of the players have low ceilings, id really like to be a fan of Fitz but his lack of athleticism is too much to overcome. i swear he has a 4 inch vertical
im really excited about our new players:
i think this cousins guy was a steal, im really banking on him starting over grooms
and i love the addition of the big guy, i really hope hes more of a Udoh than a Orlando Allen
we have to hit on hornbeak or hield, we are due getting a great guard
i think osby will significantly improve. he still seems very raw but at times shined
i so hope m'baye is as good as people have been saying..
im bettign that the majority of our returning players will not improve:
pledger did well this year but other than that the rest of the players have low ceilings, id really like to be a fan of Fitz but his lack of athleticism is too much to overcome. i swear he has a 4 inch vertical
im really excited about our new players:
i think this cousins guy was a steal, im really banking on him starting over grooms
and i love the addition of the big guy, i really hope hes more of a Udoh than a Orlando Allen
we have to hit on hornbeak or hield, we are due getting a great guard
BoulderSooner
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0.0001% chance that cousins starts over grooms at any point next season
WTSooner
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Agreed.
Kruger has said on more than one occasion that Cousins could start over Grooms. I'm not saying it's going to be happen, but the fact that he's repeated this sentiment makes it more than a 0.0001% chance.
Sam Grooms - 28 mpg
Steven Pledger - 28 mpg
Amath M'Baye - 28 mpg
Romero Osby - 28 mpg
Andrew Fitzgerald -22 mpg
Cam Clark - 22 mpg
Isiah Cousins - 15 mpg
D.J. Bennett - 12 mpg
Tyler Neal - 7 mpg
Buddy Hield or Jelon Hornbeak - 6 mpg
Casey Arent - 4 mpg
I'm assuming that either Hield or Hornbeak will red-shirt. If they don't that's a great thing IMO because it means they took a significant amount of minutes away from someone else which would make the team that much more improved.
Steven Pledger - 28 mpg
Amath M'Baye - 28 mpg
Romero Osby - 28 mpg
Andrew Fitzgerald -22 mpg
Cam Clark - 22 mpg
Isiah Cousins - 15 mpg
D.J. Bennett - 12 mpg
Tyler Neal - 7 mpg
Buddy Hield or Jelon Hornbeak - 6 mpg
Casey Arent - 4 mpg
I'm assuming that either Hield or Hornbeak will red-shirt. If they don't that's a great thing IMO because it means they took a significant amount of minutes away from someone else which would make the team that much more improved.
WTSooner
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There is no way the starters only average 28 minutes/game. Over the last 5 years, there has never been a season where there weren't at least 3 players that averaged more than 28 minutes/game, and most of those seasons there were 4-5 players.
I expect Pledger, Osby, and M'Baye (if he is as good as Osby was this year) to average between 30-33 minutes/game. Grooms will likely be in that group as well, though only if he shoots a bit better.
I expect Pledger, Osby, and M'Baye (if he is as good as Osby was this year) to average between 30-33 minutes/game. Grooms will likely be in that group as well, though only if he shoots a bit better.
I'm confused here. I thought the consensus on this board was this team needed quality depth because the top players simply ran out of gas causing an already thin margin of error to all but disappear. Last year Pledger, Grooms, and Osby averaged in that 30-33 minutes/game category. If you throw in M'Baye into that group for this year it eats up a lot of minutes for the reserves that were recruited and appear to be much needed.
I'm willing to concede I'm off by a minute or two here or there but I tried to get my minutes to equal the 200 game minutes available.
I'm willing to concede I'm off by a minute or two here or there but I tried to get my minutes to equal the 200 game minutes available.
