Rothstein Files: Big 12 Offseason Notebook

BigTime

The Red Wig
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
11,629
Reaction score
16
Source Link

5. WHO IS THE SLEEPER?

Oklahoma. Lon Kruger has a legitimate chance to have the Sooners in contention for an NCAA Tournament bid in just his second year on the job. Oklahoma returns key pieces from last year’s team in leading scorer Steven Pledger and bouncy forward Romero Osby while adding a high level transfer in former Wyoming star Amath M’Baye. Kruger also added two under the radar freshmen in Isaiah Cousins and Buddy Hield, a 6-3 combo guard that should really add some pop offensively. No one expected the rebuilding process in Norman to happen quickly but this team has a chance. Kruger has assembled a good blend of experience and youth and if M’Baye can emerge as a legitimate go to option next to Pledger, Oklahoma basketball may be back much earlier than most people expected.

BIG 12 PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS

1. KANSAS

THE SKINNY: We learned after last season that it’s beyond foolish to pick against Bill Self.

2. TEXAS

THE SKINNY: The Longhorns sophomore class is beyond special.

3. BAYLOR

THE SKINNY: Scott Drew has one of the better perimeters in all of college basketball.

4. OKLAHOMA STATE

THE SKINNY: A fertile base of talent has been accumulated in Stillwater — now can it mesh?

5. WEST VIRGINIA

THE SKINNY: Bob Huggins should begin the Mountaineers’ Big 12 tenure with his annual tradition — a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

6. OKLAHOMA



THE SKINNY: Lon Kruger has the Sooners way ahead of schedule in year two.

7. KANSAS STATE

THE SKINNY: Bruce Weber inherits a talented team from Frank Martin, but who plays power forward?

8. IOWA STATE

THE SKINNY: The Cyclones don’t have another Royce White but they’re talented enough to compete for another NCAA bid.

9. TEXAS TECH

THE SKINNY: A massive roster turnover should make the Red Raiders much more competitive.

10. TCU

THE SKINNY: There’s a long road ahead of Trent Johnson.
 
Anyone else getting a feeling that this might be a pretty good offensive team?
 
It is interesting that he mentions cousins and not Hornbeak.

I agree I think this team will be much better on the offensive end. I expect slight improvement from Pledger, Osby and Fitzgerald on the offensive end. I am hoping that Clark, Neal and Grooms will have a more notable improvement.

I think all 6 guys will be improved defensively, particularly playing team defense. When you combine that with the addition of four fairly talented players, I think OU has a chance to be a respectable team.
 
It is interesting that he mentions cousins and not Hornbeak.

I agree I think this team will be much better on the offensive end. I expect slight improvement from Pledger, Osby and Fitzgerald on the offensive end. I am hoping that Clark, Neal and Grooms will have a more notable improvement.

I think all 6 guys will be improved defensively, particularly playing team defense. When you combine that with the addition of four fairly talented players, I think OU has a chance to be a respectable team.

1. I agree and I'm hoping that the slight you improvement comes in efficiency and open looks. Pledger had to force the issue on offense on occasion and teams could sag on Fitz. Someone else is going to absolutely have to take the pressure off of those guys, not sure how we get there, but it has to happen. I know they take some heat for other reasons, but I feel like those guys are two legitimate scoring options on any team under the right circumstances.

2. I think that we will be better overall on defense because CLK has had them playing in his system the entire time he has been here. I've posted this before, but I think we win a few extra games last season if we had played to protect Fitz. Instead, we consistently had him flaring out to deny on the perimeter and then expecting him to get back to the blocks to defend, certainly not his strength, but CLK never deviated. I think many coaches coming in would just work for the immediate, but CLK [IMHO anyway] was clearly focused on teaching for the future and I think the dividends to that approach start to show this season.
 
Back
Top