There's no question this is one of the least talented teams in the league. Anybody that thinks this roster should have won 10-12 games in conference is delusional. The bigger issue, though, is why such a senior-laden team is so lacking in talent. We didn't just lose a trio of guys that started around 100 games for us. There have been major issues with recruiting, development, or both. There's no way around that.
Season is not over yet - but lets review
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There's no question this is one of the least talented teams in the league. Anybody that thinks this roster should have won 10-12 games in conference is delusional. The bigger issue, though, is why such a senior-laden team is so lacking in talent. We didn't just lose a trio of guys that started around 100 games for us. There have been major issues with recruiting, development, or both. There's no way around that.
BoulderSooner
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i think really there are 2 seperate issues .. .
1 this years CJ is what he should have been last season 15 ppg and inconsistant
this years CJ should have a been a first team all big 12 guy
and 2 the expectation of everyone was that Trae was going to be here this season
if those 2 things happen OU has plenty of talent
BCSooners
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Don't forget McGusty was a top 40 player. Still can't believe how bad his attitude and how little effort he displayed.
BoulderSooner
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thanks good point
WichitaSooner
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I think it's also pertinent to note that our struggles, with the exception of the loss in Morgantown, all came against good to great teams. Two of the games that got people the most upset were home losses to KSU and Baylor, partially because of how poorly we played (valid criticism), but also because a lot of people thought those two teams were mediocre at best and would slide down the standings as the season progressed. Obviously that has been proven wrong, as KSU is in first place and Baylor can finish no worse than fourth. In his preview of last night's game, KU's beat writer wrote: "The Sooners are better than their 18-11 record indicates, as many of the team’s good qualities have been hidden while taking on a brutal Big 12 schedule." That's coming from a guy who doesn't have any skin in the game, he isn't pro-Kruger or anti-Kruger, just a guy who covers basketball for a living.
I know it is hard for some people to accept, but with the way power conferences are structured these days, it is entirely possible for good teams to finish under .500 in league play. We are a long way from great, but we also aren't nearly the disaster that some would suggest. It's a four-month season . . . we were really good for the first two months, really bad for one month, and have probably found our true level over the past 3 weeks or so.
I know it is hard for some people to accept, but with the way power conferences are structured these days, it is entirely possible for good teams to finish under .500 in league play. We are a long way from great, but we also aren't nearly the disaster that some would suggest. It's a four-month season . . . we were really good for the first two months, really bad for one month, and have probably found our true level over the past 3 weeks or so.
There are a number of things at work here, and I don't deny that some of it is plain bad luck. Trae Young going pro after one year certainly set us back, and I don't blame Lon for that. Kam was part bad luck and part coaching staff's fault. I think Odomes and CJ were solid recruits that simply didn't/weren't developed as expected. Freeman and Polla were recruiting mistakes, and Shepherd likely was as well. I'll be a little generous and chalk Manyang up to bad luck.
I like Bieniemy and this class coming in. Let's hope they develop.
skyvue
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Freeman's failures are significantly overblown on this board. He's not a star or even a starter, but he's fine as a role player. Every year, a certain faction of our fanbase needs a player to hate on: Freeman is that guy this season.
He's in a virtual tie for 2nd on the team in 3-pt percentage (5.9 to Manek's 6). He averages just .5 turnovers per game. He doesn't shoot many FTs but he makes them at a 75% clip, just a bit lower than Doo, James and Calixte and better than Manek, Reynolds, Bieniemy and Odomes (Polla leads the team in this category at 83%).
His overall shooting percentage isn't great, and I understand he's not as quick as we'd like on defense, but he's not a drag on the team. He's just not. He averages only 11 minutes per game and he's been a decent contributor this season.
Big Old Booger
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I think the larger issue with Freeman is on the defensive side of the ball. He's still just as bad as he was 2 years ago. I can't figure out if it's effort, or coaching or both. Offensively, he's ok. Not bad, but not as good as I had hoped.
I think Polla can be something since he can be physical and he can rebound. He can also make FT's. I think Lon should have played him as much as possible once a few of those games (Baylor for one) became blowouts.
Big Old Booger
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I agree completely. They turned it around and have been playing better. I was one of the posters who was frustrated at 3-9 with a 30 point home loss to Baylor. Overall the season has been a success when you consider we were picked 8th anyway. The other coaches knew we didn't have the talent to finish in the top half. If they think that, then that has to be valid. As one posted pointed out, the fact we had that little talent is a problem but we can discuss that another day.
Big Old Booger
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He does have one win there, don't sell him short!
Technically, he has many wins there but only 1 as the coach at OU. He beat Frank Martin in Frank's last season, I believe.
Your post reminded me that Ty Lazenby is also on scholarship. That's another area of possible upgrade.
thebigabd
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My only issue with Freeman is that he came in during the 2015 recruiting class.
The very same year Joseph Acuil went to Baylor out of Neosho CC without an OU offer. The very same year that Vladimir Broadziansky went to TCU out of of Pratt CC without an OU offer. He was an all-conference player for 3 years. And Acuil was All Big as well.
Pratt CC is in Wichita, KS area.... so is Neosho. Both about 3 hours from Norman.
So two all-conference "bigs" were 3 hours away and didn't get an offer.... but they flew nearly 8,000 miles to offer Matt Freeman.
It just doesn't make any sense.
BUT.... I don't want to ambush this again. I just had to say it. I can't help myself. Its just so ridiculous.
BCSooners
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They were both overseas players. They are already thousands of miles from there home so I don’t think closer to their juco matters. Mason Jones is from DeSoto & Bandoo is from Ontario.
Imagine if Muni had played as well as he did at the end of last year. We would be a much better team. It isn't a stretch for him to play that well. It's amazing what a turned ankle did to him. It looks like he is just out playing with his buds and doesn't mind sitting on the bench. Oh well.
Big Old Booger
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I don't know the kid, obviously, but based on your comments it appears he doesn't like pain. Some kids can play thru pain, and some can't. That's OK but it's probably a good reason he won't have a long pro career (either NBA or international).
BCSooners
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I love his energy, he's gotten better, and seems like a great teammate. That being said he'd rarely get tough rebounds, wasn't good defensively, and just seemed to rarely play with an edge. OU definitely missed him this year and I'm hoping he has a mini resurgence in the post season.
Freeman has lead shoes for feet.
FWIW, Neosho CC isn't in the Wichita area.
Brodziansky only had 3 offers it appears (TCU, Rutgers, and Gonzaga).
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If a kid is good enough to get a Gonzaga offer, more coaches need to start paying attention to him
You would think, but Gonzaga also does an incredible job developing players. I still think Capel accidentally did us a huge favor in not offering Spangler. I've always wondered what Spangler would have been like withouth that year in Spokane.
