SoMuchDramaInTheLNC
New member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2010
- Messages
- 238
- Reaction score
- 0
I think we can agree that there were 4 main issues OU fans had with Sampson:
1. Low scoring
2. Tournament troubles
3. Player defections
4. NCAA infractions
Now here we are, in year 4 under Capel. Let's compare Sampson's issues to Capel's:
1. Low scoring
The '09-'10 squad averaged 72 points a game, a 3 pointer above what Sampson's last team averaged. Sampson's 12 teams averaged about 73.8 ppg. Capel's 4 teams have averaged 71.5. So overall, Capel's teams score less than Sampson's, only they don't play defense as well. Awesome.
2. Tournament troubles
Sampson's tournament record was 11-11. He made the tournament every year except '03-'04, when, fresh off of an Elite Eight appearance, he made the NIT with an extremely young team that had player issues. He also has 1 Final Four under his belt. Capel's tournament record is 4-2. He has made the tournament twice in 4 years, both with the program's (arguably) second-best player ever. Fresh off an Elite Eight appearance, with an extremely young team that had player issues, he had the program's first losing season since 1981, missing the postseason for the second time in 4 years. So if he can get there, he's proven he can win (with an all-time great).
3. Player Defections
There were plenty under Sampson, especially in the ill-fated class of '03. I won't mention the '06 class (those weren't anything either coach necessarily did, just player decisions. Those that left were never Sooners). For such a "players' coach", Capel's lost a lot of players in just 4 years:
Bobby Maze
Chris Early
Tony Neysmith
Juan Patillo
Kyle Cannon
TMG (if true)
__?__
4. NCAA Infractions
Kelvin couldn't put down the cell phone, and that problem followed him to Indiana. As a result of his OU violations, Capel's first team struggled. Capel appeared to be doing things the right way until TMZ's report of Tiny accepting money from an agent. Now, Capel didn't have anything to do with this (we assume), but the fact that things like this are coming out has to raise some questions about OU following the rules.
What really sucks is that this comparison is being done in year FOUR of Capel's tenure. By now, he should have established some kind of identity. By that I mean something we do well night in and night out, not that we're a disorganized, unmotivated, underachieving team. Forget the John Blake comparisons; we essentially have Sean Sutton without an Adderall problem. Difference is, Sean never had a Blake Griffin-type player. Like Sean, though, he had some highly touted recruits that didn't pan out or left. Without Blake, Capel is 29-33, which is pitiful. Inexcusable for this caliber of a program.
Before today, I was a huge Capel apologist and fan. But now, I have this gut feeling he's got one more year to prove he can coach without Blake. Otherwise, we're going shopping again.
That is all.
1. Low scoring
2. Tournament troubles
3. Player defections
4. NCAA infractions
Now here we are, in year 4 under Capel. Let's compare Sampson's issues to Capel's:
1. Low scoring
The '09-'10 squad averaged 72 points a game, a 3 pointer above what Sampson's last team averaged. Sampson's 12 teams averaged about 73.8 ppg. Capel's 4 teams have averaged 71.5. So overall, Capel's teams score less than Sampson's, only they don't play defense as well. Awesome.
2. Tournament troubles
Sampson's tournament record was 11-11. He made the tournament every year except '03-'04, when, fresh off of an Elite Eight appearance, he made the NIT with an extremely young team that had player issues. He also has 1 Final Four under his belt. Capel's tournament record is 4-2. He has made the tournament twice in 4 years, both with the program's (arguably) second-best player ever. Fresh off an Elite Eight appearance, with an extremely young team that had player issues, he had the program's first losing season since 1981, missing the postseason for the second time in 4 years. So if he can get there, he's proven he can win (with an all-time great).
3. Player Defections
There were plenty under Sampson, especially in the ill-fated class of '03. I won't mention the '06 class (those weren't anything either coach necessarily did, just player decisions. Those that left were never Sooners). For such a "players' coach", Capel's lost a lot of players in just 4 years:
Bobby Maze
Chris Early
Tony Neysmith
Juan Patillo
Kyle Cannon
TMG (if true)
__?__
4. NCAA Infractions
Kelvin couldn't put down the cell phone, and that problem followed him to Indiana. As a result of his OU violations, Capel's first team struggled. Capel appeared to be doing things the right way until TMZ's report of Tiny accepting money from an agent. Now, Capel didn't have anything to do with this (we assume), but the fact that things like this are coming out has to raise some questions about OU following the rules.
What really sucks is that this comparison is being done in year FOUR of Capel's tenure. By now, he should have established some kind of identity. By that I mean something we do well night in and night out, not that we're a disorganized, unmotivated, underachieving team. Forget the John Blake comparisons; we essentially have Sean Sutton without an Adderall problem. Difference is, Sean never had a Blake Griffin-type player. Like Sean, though, he had some highly touted recruits that didn't pan out or left. Without Blake, Capel is 29-33, which is pitiful. Inexcusable for this caliber of a program.
Before today, I was a huge Capel apologist and fan. But now, I have this gut feeling he's got one more year to prove he can coach without Blake. Otherwise, we're going shopping again.
That is all.
