Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson update

[Big Old Booger]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

My deal with Blair is that while he isn't particularly good at anything, he isn't absolutely terrible at anything either IMHO. I think that he will probably improve over the summer, but not sure how much "upside" he has.

We still need two PG's on the roster in a big way so there is competition for the position and depth, and I sure hope we are looking hard next year for another one.

Steve Henson and Lon Kruger can coach PG's. I wouldn't at all be surprised if Blair is improved by 100% next season and ends up being a decent player.

To do that, he has to improve his defense, his ballhandling and his shooting. It's going to be a pretty stiff chore for him, but we have the coaches now who can develop PG's. I would guess the kid is willing to work or he wouldn't be here.

I'd love for him to prove me wrong (I have been pretty critical of Blair).

 

[boksooner]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

One of the biggest benefits of getting another point guard is that it allows Newell to play SG full time. I don't know if Newell will ever be a special player, but he is a SG and not a PG.

 

[cwilson]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

This is a good thread and I agree that Blair will be the guy for the season barring injury or some completely unseen turn of events. I think PG is the one position you can't usually run out and grab a guy. I think the staff will focus on getting their "prototypical" PG out of the next class and developing him.

Also, I've heard from another site that the staff is evaluating Richardson today and that with an offer a commitment would likely follow shortly, thoughts?

 

[seniorsooner]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

I think PG is the one position you can't usually run out and grab a guy.

Granted that was some time ago but Kelvin proved this theory wrong several times via the JUCO route.

 

[CMSOONER]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

Any word on his visit today?

 

[Sam]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

From Tyler Neal's twiter

Getting ready to hoop with this recruit that's in town for the weekend. Gotta keep taking steps forward! #SoonerBasketball
2 minutes ago

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

Getting it in early in the a.m. on a saturday!!!! Good stuff.:clap:clap

 

[Top Dog]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

From Tyler Neal's twiter

Awesome.....Good idea to have him play with others. Hopefully, it goes well...

 

[stoopified]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

Steve Henson and Lon Kruger can coach PG's. I wouldn't at all be surprised if Blair is improved by 100% next season and ends up being a decent player.

100%? So you are expecting 16 ppg and 9.2 apg? If he follows typical progression(like AJ for example) I could see 10 ppg and 6apg ,the key is improving A/To ratio to 2-1 or better.I picked AJ as an example because Blair's stats last year mirror AJ's combined er-so combined numbers and AJ had a2+-1 a.to ration as a junior and senior.He was SERVICEABLE and that is my hope for Carl.Likelihood of finding a high caliber pg in spring to replace him is slim.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

100%? So you are expecting 16 ppg and 9.2 apg? If he follows typical progression(like AJ for example) I could see 10 ppg and 6apg ,the key is improving A/To ratio to 2-1 or better.I picked AJ as an example because Blair's stats last year mirror AJ's combined er-so combined numbers and AJ had a2+-1 a.to ration as a junior and senior.He was SERVICEABLE and that is my hope for Carl.Likelihood of finding a high caliber pg in spring to replace him is slim.

Very good/rational post. Some of the expectations are a little lofty, IMO, but that is usually the case when a new coach is hired after a coach that many wanted gone. Reality is that LK has alot of work ahead of him, and the returning guys will surely improve, but expecting a coach to breath on them and improve them 100% at anything is probably not realistic.

I'm in the camp of believing that Blair was well on his way to being servicable, and I believe that he will be a pretty decent PG before he departs.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

100%? So you are expecting 16 ppg and 9.2 apg? If he follows typical progression(like AJ for example) I could see 10 ppg and 6apg ,the key is improving A/To ratio to 2-1 or better.I picked AJ as an example because Blair's stats last year mirror AJ's combined er-so combined numbers and AJ had a2+-1 a.to ration as a junior and senior.He was SERVICEABLE and that is my hope for Carl.Likelihood of finding a high caliber pg in spring to replace him is slim.

100% was probably an overstatement, but if he can hit some shots and not dribble off his leg every other trip down the floor then that is a huge improvement to me.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

Very good/rational post. Some of the expectations are a little lofty, IMO, but that is usually the case when a new coach is hired after a coach that many wanted gone. Reality is that LK has alot of work ahead of him, and the returning guys will surely improve, but expecting a coach to breath on them and improve them 100% at anything is probably not realistic.

I'm in the camp of believing that Blair was well on his way to being servicable, and I believe that he will be a pretty decent PG before he departs.

I'm not expecting Lon to lay hands or breathe on Blair and poof he's improved. However, if you think the coaching he is going to get is not light years better than Capel and his craptacular staff was going to provide then you are misguided. Capel was not a great coach so he needed a good staff and he didn't have that. I would bet at least 2 of his staff members won't be coaching D-1 next year, probably even 3. If Betts finds a job I feel sorry for the fans of the team who hired him. A cadaver could do more than him.

 

[Sam]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

Friend of mine told me he saw Grooms in Price (business hall) this afternoon, said he was talking to a professor, seemed to be enjoying himself.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

Friend of mine told me he saw Grooms in Price (business hall) this afternoon, said he was talking to a professor, seemed to be enjoying himself.

That is good news. :clap

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

I'm not expecting Lon to lay hands or breathe on Blair and poof he's improved. However, if you think the coaching he is going to get is not light years better than Capel and his craptacular staff was going to provide then you are misguided. Capel was not a great coach so he needed a good staff and he didn't have that. I would bet at least 2 of his staff members won't be coaching D-1 next year, probably even 3. If Betts finds a job I feel sorry for the fans of the team who hired him. A cadaver could do more than him.

I heard the same types of absolute statements when KS left. People were saying how much better we would be offensively, and at the time JC was looking pretty good coming out of VCU. The truth is probably that no coach is ever as good as Sooner fans make them out to be, and probably none are as bad, except for maybe Blake.

I never attended practices, and I never watched JC and his staff coach one practice, so for me to say anyone else will be light years would be just a personal opinion. Time will tell.

 

[coolm]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

1. I seriously doubt that Henson and LK are more versed on being a point guard than JC. Now some other factors may give Blair a boost ... but to suggest JC can't relate to a guard is silly.

2. I like the fact LK is talking more to Richardson. Honestly I don't care if it throws off a teams' composition you should always offer local "stars". There are just too many positives to not do it.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

1. I seriously doubt that Henson and LK are more versed on being a point guard than JC. Now some other factors may give Blair a boost ... but to suggest JC can't relate to a guard is silly.

2. I like the fact LK is talking more to Richardson. Honestly I don't care if it throws off a teams' composition you should always offer local "stars". There are just too many positives to not do it.

Agree 100%.

 

[WTSooner]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

1. I seriously doubt that Henson and LK are more versed on being a point guard than JC. Now some other factors may give Blair a boost ... but to suggest JC can't relate to a guard is silly.

Capel obviously knows the game of basketball. That doesn't mean he can teach it well. Or teach it well to all players.

 

[Nooneb]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

You're right, Booger. There isn't an uncommitted point guard left out there who can come in this year (either as a freshman or JC transfer), replace Blair in the starting lineup and take the Sooners to the dance. Maybe someone like the kid at Duke (Kylee Something-or-other?) could be that guy, but there's no one like him available.

I disagree, I think there is one who MIGHT be able to do this. Pierre Jackson.

 

[MichSooner]

Re: Sam Grooms set for official visit to OU on Friday & Josh Richardson upd

1. I seriously doubt that Henson and LK are more versed on being a point guard than JC. Now some other factors may give Blair a boost ... but to suggest JC can't relate to a guard is silly.

2. I like the fact LK is talking more to Richardson. Honestly I don't care if it throws off a teams' composition you should always offer local "stars". There are just too many positives to not do it.

I agree 100%.