Roster Changeups

[WichitaSooner]

Wichita- great point bringing up Reaves. I haven't heard anything about his leadership skills. I have heard in practice he is our best player. It is sometimes easier playing in practice than in games but he would help us a bunch this year. He is a very good shooter and as I've been told he is a basketball player. A basketball player seems silly but if you watch some of our seniors you really wonder about them knowing how to play the game.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. And I think Reaves will flourish even more in a less restrictive system. Marshall certainly has his strengths as a coach, but he doesn't exactly give players much freedom offensively. Reaves should be able to show more of his game than he got to show at WSU. And he definitely is going to have better instincts than a lot of our current guys. But as you say, it'll be much tougher for him next year when the lights come on than this year in practice.

 

[WTSooner]

Id rather have a mid-major type of team with 5 true basketball players that can shoot.. than a team with greater athleticism that doesnt know basic basketball.. like when to foul and stuff AND no one can shoot.. like mcnease/odomes

Yes! Recruit more bball players, and less athletes please. We need guys that have skills and a feel for the game. Not guys that are long, or can jump through the roof. If they happen to be both, great. But bball skills should trump all.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I did question not kicking calixte off the team with his pot citation. Should have known we'd have leadership problems.

I don't need the pot people to jump on me either. I just think it shows a lack of responsibility when you just stepped on campus as a senior (your last chance) and you get busted for not just weed, but weed in a moving vehicle.

 

[AdaSooner]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. And I think Reaves will flourish even more in a less restrictive system. Marshall certainly has his strengths as a coach, but he doesn't exactly give players much freedom offensively. Reaves should be able to show more of his game than he got to show at WSU. And he definitely is going to have better instincts than a lot of our current guys. But as you say, it'll be much tougher for him next year when the lights come on than this year in practice.

Reaves will be the beneficiary of a point guard like De’Vion Harmon. The other players will be too for that matter. I’m a huge JB fan. But he and Calixte can’t put pressure on defenses the way Harmon will be able to do.

 

[Soonerinkc]

A basketball player seems silly but if you watch some of our seniors you really wonder about them knowing how to play the game.

my step-son plays 7th grade...he's decent, good shooter....

BUT the post guys...OMG...these kids are clueless. First, they can't catch a ball, consequently can't rebound, BUT if they do they just throw the ball up...craziest thing I've ever seen....

even crazier is I've seen about 3 of OU's do that...just stupid soft throw up passes after a rebound...just drives me crazy.

 

[Soonerinkc]

I did question not kicking calixte off the team with his pot citation. Should have known we'd have leadership problems.

I don't need the pot people to jump on me either. I just think it shows a lack of responsibility when you just stepped on campus as a senior (your last chance) and you get busted for not just weed, but weed in a moving vehicle.

before classes even start...I agreed.

 

[WTSooner]

Reaves will be the beneficiary of a point guard like De’Vion Harmon. The other players will be too for that matter. I’m a huge JB fan. But he and Calixte can’t put pressure on defenses the way Harmon will be able to do.

The problem with that is what do you do with JB? Some are higher on his talents than me, but I don't think he is a very good scorer right now, and probably not next year. I also don't consider Harmon a guy that will be a good scorer early in his career. Mix in Doolittle and Manek, and we're back to having a bunch of guys on the court that struggle to create anything on their own or for themselves. I really don't like the idea of starting Harmon and JB together next year. But we may not have a choice.

 

[AdaSooner]

The problem with that is what do you do with JB? Some are higher on his talents than me, but I don't think he is a very good scorer right now, and probably not next year. I also don't consider Harmon a guy that will be a good scorer early in his career. Mix in Doolittle and Manek, and we're back to having a bunch of guys on the court that struggle to create anything on their own or for themselves. I really don't like the idea of starting Harmon and JB together next year. But we may not have a choice.

I initially thought Lon may bring JB off of the bench next season so he would stay fresh as Harmon’s back up. Now I’m not so sure. When Lon gives a player a starting spot he’s reluctant to take it away. It’s also obvious he really likes Jamal. I do, too. But I don’t see anyway Harmon doesn’t start at the point from the get go.

I think Jalen Hill will help us too. Just checked his stats. He’s averaging 18 and just over 5 on 21-4 team. He’s also shooting 46% from three. At 6’ 7” I think he could play the three, maybe as a back up but play nevertheless.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

The reason Bienemy is playing the point is because Calixte wouldn’t or couldn’t run the offense. Kruger had enough of him not running the plays. The defense is much tougher in conference play than non conference games. We have been terrible with either of them at the point in conference. It is a killer that Christian has lost the ability to shoot. We have absolutely no interior offense which hurts everybody. Doolittle has done his best but playing the 5 isn’t fair to him. Jamuni getting hurt and then losing interest has had a terrible domino effect on the offense. He wasn’t a great scorer but he had to be covered down low.
This team’s biggest problem is a lack of toughness. Baylor’s rebound with forty seconds in the game Manek and James just got pushed out of the way and lost inside position.
Ro does provide some scoring but once he touches the ball all flow to the offense is gone. Although I wouldn’t disagree if you said what flow.

Unfortunately the season is lost and it is time for the seniors to be gone. They have done almost nothing for three years. Hopefully the new guys will change the attitude of the team. Brady and Doo have to be leaders next year!

This is absolutely spot on, especially the stuff about James, McNeace, & Doolittle. Absolutely hit the nail on the head. And that rebound lost was enormous. It shouldn't go unnoticed how the team's outside shooting collapsed right around the time McNeace got hurt and we lost the ability to go inside-outside. Not enough has been made about how huge that injury, and the subsequent what....disappearance? have had on this team.

 

[WichitaSooner]

This is absolutely spot on, especially the stuff about James, McNeace, & Doolittle. Absolutely hit the nail on the head. And that rebound lost was enormous. It shouldn't go unnoticed how the team's outside shooting collapsed right around the time McNeace got hurt and we lost the ability to go inside-outside. Not enough has been made about how huge that injury, and the subsequent what....disappearance? have had on this team.

Yeah, and I think Doo has been very good this season, especially playing out of position. Last season was a lost year for him but he was good as a freshman and has been even better this year. In all the talk about guys who have disappointed or not developed, I think people fail to acknowledge that he has certainly lived up to any reasonable expectations. And he also has been one guy who has consistent tried to fill the leadership void and is very good defensively. I also was happy to hear Lon tonight specifically mention competitiveness in talking about Reaves. We need a big dose of that.

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

Yeah, and I think Doo has been very good this season, especially playing out of position. Last season was a lost year for him but he was good as a freshman and has been even better this year. In all the talk about guys who have disappointed or not developed, I think people fail to acknowledge that he has certainly lived up to any reasonable expectations. And he also has been one guy who has consistent tried to fill the leadership void and is very good defensively. I also was happy to hear Lon tonight specifically mention competitiveness in talking about Reaves. We need a big dose of that.

Doolittle has really had a good year. He's limited and definitely shouldn't be the team's 1st option, but he's come a long way. I thought Manek would progress as much as Doolittle has. It's too bad that he hasn't.

 

[usedtobe1]

The problem with that is what do you do with JB? Some are higher on his talents than me, but I don't think he is a very good scorer right now, and probably not next year. I also don't consider Harmon a guy that will be a good scorer early in his career. Mix in Doolittle and Manek, and we're back to having a bunch of guys on the court that struggle to create anything on their own or for themselves. I really don't like the idea of starting Harmon and JB together next year. But we may not have a choice.

First is a comment on Bienemy: He wasn’t a PG in HS. For never having played the position, he’s doing a hell of a job.

A player that nobody is talking about for next year is Alondes Williams. He’s really good. I think our strongest backcourt might be Harmon, Reaves, and Williams. JB will be better and will get plenty of minutes, too.

I don’t know about our front court. Doo and Manek obviously, but someone bigger has to step up..... I just don’t know who. I’m not a big Freeman fan.

 

[AdaSooner]

First is a comment on Bienemy: He wasn’t a PG in HS. For never having played the position, he’s doing a hell of a job.

A player that nobody is talking about for next year is Alondes Williams. He’s really good. I think our strongest backcourt might be Harmon, Reaves, and Williams. JB will be better and will get plenty of minutes, too.

I don’t know about our front court. Doo and Manek obviously, but someone bigger has to step up..... I just don’t know who. I’m not a big Freeman fan.

Good analysis on our options next season, usedtobe1!

Jalen Hill is a player no one is talking about. He’s a 6” 7” wing who is averaging 46% from three. I think he’ll help us next season.

 

[usedtobe1]

Good analysis on our options next season, usedtobe1!

Jalen Hill is a player no one is talking about. He’s a 6” 7” wing who is averaging 46% from three. I think he’ll help us next season.

I agree on Hill. He’s having a great senior season. I see him as a 3 and he could help us next year for sure.

I’m baffled about the post. I don’t anticipate much from Freeman, Polla, Merritt, or Garang. Maybe Kuath can help. Maybe a grad transfer. We need someone to help with Doo and Manek.

I know he got some criticism because he isn’t playing this season but Iwukafor intrigues me. I see him as a physical clone of Doolittle. Maybe a touch taller. Better rebounder than Doo but not as polished offensively. I’m a big Doolittle fan.... Victor will give us a physical inside presence but may be undersized for the post.

Honestly, I’ve written off this season. I don’t think we will go dancing. Maybe the NIT. We just have too many offensive limitations,

 

[vbdad]

We run plays?!?

Yes we do. We had several very good ones today off inbounding under our basket.

 

[vbdad]

The end of the first half tells you why Aaron isn't playing. The last two possessions he just gives TCU the ball. The second one was after a timeout to set up a play for the final shot of the half.

Although with a 90 seconds to go in the game Jamal decides to attack three guys in the lane. He clearly lost his mind on that play. Two guys did foul him as he lost the ball but it was a horrible decision.

 

[WTSooner]

Yes we do. We had several very good ones today off inbounding under our basket.

lol, this is ridiculous. If Lon has finally realized he has to actually coach this group and influence the games himself for us to win, I'm glad. But let's not act like that has been the case all year, or for the entirety of Lon's tenure at OU.

I didn't get to watch today's game, but it sounds like Lon finally applied some stuff a few of us have been begging for all season. Good. About time.

 

[CMSOONER]

I don’t know about our front court. Doo and Manek obviously, but someone bigger has to step up..... I just don’t know who. I’m not a big Freeman fan.

Outside of Polla and Freeman there isn't anyone bigger than Manek on the roster next year.

 

[vbdad]

lol, this is ridiculous. If Lon has finally realized he has to actually coach this group and influence the games himself for us to win, I'm glad. But let's not act like that has been the case all year, or for the entirety of Lon's tenure at OU.

I didn't get to watch today's game, but it sounds like Lon finally applied some stuff a few of us have been begging for all season. Good. About time.

We run plays all game long and frequently get guys open. They have to convert. We don't run plays with Aaron dribbling the whole shot clock. He does that but it isn't the play.

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree on Hill. He’s having a great senior season. I see him as a 3 and he could help us next year for sure.

I’m baffled about the post. I don’t anticipate much from Freeman, Polla, Merritt, or Garang. Maybe Kuath can help. Maybe a grad transfer. We need someone to help with Doo and Manek.

I know he got some criticism because he isn’t playing this season but Iwukafor intrigues me. I see him as a physical clone of Doolittle. Maybe a touch taller. Better rebounder than Doo but not as polished offensively. I’m a big Doolittle fan.... Victor will give us a physical inside presence but may be undersized for the post.

Honestly, I’ve written off this season. I don’t think we will go dancing. Maybe the NIT. We just have too many offensive limitations,

I agree with you about Victor. He’s the big in our recruiting class who gets me excited.

In case you missed it, his status is a little troubling to me, but I’m hoping it’s nothing to be concerned about. He is not at Sulphur Springs anymore. He and his two adopted brothers left there with plans to enroll at Waco Midway. The brothers are on Midways roster, Victor is not.

CoachTalk says Victor is living in Southlake, “working out on his own.” He doesn’t seem to be concerned about it, that’s on me. Maybe I just don’t understand Victor’s unorthodox approach to being eligible to attend OU this fall? Sure wish someone would ease my mind by explaining how his plan will work?