Shaka Smart - Redemption

[thebigabd]

For those who tout recruiting class ratings our guys are pretty decent. Do they rival that of Duke or Kentucky? Clearly not and that is to continue. You think Dayton or San Diego State rate in the top 5 because of crowds?

No, they rate in the top 5 because of good roster management, good player development, etc.

 

[TINY]

For those who tout recruiting class ratings our guys are pretty decent. Do they rival that of Duke or Kentucky? Clearly not and that is to continue. You think Dayton or San Diego State rate in the top 5 because of crowds?

Those are not the programs we are trying to emulate. Both very solid programs but not better than ou consistently. We need to look get to the level of the Villanova type teams. They land mostly 4 star players and load up on guards.

 

[cjhsooner]

well it's one thing to SAY "strive for greatness" or whatever gung ho statement you want to support ... but quite another to actually DO it.

great programs have a good home court advantage. we don't. great programs have fan support. we don't. don't expect it unless everyone does their part and that includes fans.

If OU put a quality product on the floor, the fans would show up better. But not knowing whether the team will actually show up or not gives fans pause about getting excited. OU can play well 1 game, and the next play like dog poop. Can't blame the fans for not like the Jekyll & Hyde nature of this team, especially when the good is not very good, anyway.

 

[thebigabd]

Those are not the programs we are trying to emulate. Both very solid programs but not better than ou consistently. We need to look get to the level of the Villanova type teams. They land mostly 4 star players and load up on guards.

Wrong. OU needs to follow the Purdue model. OU is not going to get Villanova talent or win like that, in my opinion. Big, old school, tough defense, good shooting, efficient, etc. Great team basketball.

Of course they aren't having a good year this season... But their last 5 seasons were:

21-13... finished 3rd in Big 10
26-9... finished 3rd in Big 10
27-8... finished 1st in Big 10
30-7... finished 2nd in Big 10
26-10... finished 1st in Big 10

OU can follow the Purdue model, which I would argue isn't that different than Sampson.

"it’s the “underrated recruits” that have helped Purdue’s surge. The 2018 senior class had one top-100 recruit (Isaac Haas), but went down as one of the best classes in school history. "

"The 2018-19 season featured one player that was ranked in the top-100 (Nojel Eastern), but reached the Elite Eight and won the Big Ten Championship. Painter's vision and construction of rosters is among the best in the country, signing players that fit the way he wants to play. "

2018:
The Boilermakers once again led the way with a lethal offense, ranking fourth nationally in offensive efficiency and setting a Big Ten record for 3-pointers made (365). Purdue finished the season ranked No. 8 in the final USA Today Coaches poll, its highest final ranking since 1994.

2017:
The Boilermakers' offense was ranked No. 2 nationally in efficiency and became the first Big Ten team in 25 years to average at least 76.5 points per game in conference play.

2016:
Purdue led the league in scoring offense and scoring margin, while also pacing the league in 3-point percentage, free throw percentage and rebound margin. Purdue finished in the top 100 nationally in 12-of-16 categories

 

[stormspencer]

Lost a bunch of players to injury.... Reels off 5 in a row to get a bid. They end the year with OSU in Austin. Win that and they are a hot team on a 6 game streak going into the postseason.

Andrew Jones, matt Coleman, Royce Hamm, Febres, Kai Jones, Brock Cunningham, Courtney ramey, will Baker, Jericho Sims, and Liddell ALL return... The entire roster.

I wonder what its like going into the postseason on a winning streak?

But in a way, Shaka has been fortunate to go on this run. If it weren't for injuries (Sims, Febres), he would've continued to run the same offense and play the same rotation....likely with the same average to below-average results. Over the last 5 games, he has been forced out of that and compelled to play "small ball". It's worked quite well for their roster makeup. But it makes you think, why wasn't he doing this all along?

I wouldn't call that good coaching....I would call that good fortune.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Better record
Better conference record
Likely to finish season on a 6 game winning streak with a depleted roster
Per ESPN last night, now a lock for the NCAA Tournament

they are not close to a lock and OU is above them in the S curve ..

 

[Sooner Cal]

Smart outcoached Lon the final 30 seconds. What the heck were the coaches telling the team in the final 2 timeouts? It certainly wasn't to play pressure defense.

Frankly, it was only appropriate that Texas hit a 3 to win after the way OU played defense on UT's final 2 or 3 possessions. Lots of basketball games are one on the final shot. We gave them the final shot with 0.6 seconds left on the clock. That's a blink. Any pressure at any time in those last UT possessions and OU wins.

As for whether this was as bad as a SC team, well the coaching in the final minute was about the same as I've seen with the women.

I think these adults are letting students run the show. whether it is the Interim President or these coaches. If you don't expect maturity, you don't get maturity. These are all good young people by all indications, but they are treated like kids. This isn't getting them ready for life, it's cashing a great paycheck.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Smart outcoached Lon the final 30 seconds. What the heck were the coaches telling the team in the final 2 timeouts? It certainly wasn't to play pressure defense.

Frankly, it was only appropriate that Texas hit a 3 to win after the way OU played defense on UT's final 2 or 3 possessions. Lots of basketball games are one on the final shot. We gave them the final shot with 0.6 seconds left on the clock. That's a blink. Any pressure at any time in those last UT possessions and OU wins.

As for whether this was as bad as a SC team, well the coaching in the final minute was about the same as I've seen with the women.

I think these adults are letting students run the show. whether it is the Interim President or these coaches. If you don't expect maturity, you don't get maturity. These are all good young people by all indications, but they are treated like kids. This isn't getting them ready for life, it's cashing a great paycheck.

In the last four possessions, we got two stops due to playing very good defense. The driving layup that we allowed was awful, I’ll give you that. Made that way too easy on them. The last shot was a contested, hurried three that a dude missed by more than a foot and was fortunate it banked it. So I would say we played good defense on three of the four possessions.

 

[steverocks35]

In the last four possessions, we got two stops due to playing very good defense. The driving layup that we allowed was awful, I’ll give you that. Made that way too easy on them. The last shot was a contested, hurried three that a dude missed by more than a foot and was fortunate it banked it. So I would say we played good defense on three of the four possessions.

We allowed them to roll the ball nearly to half-court which saved them at least 5 seconds, that was an epic coaching mistake.

 

[mict085]

well it's one thing to SAY "strive for greatness" or whatever gung ho statement you want to support ... but quite another to actually DO it.

great programs have a good home court advantage. we don't. great programs have fan support. we don't. don't expect it unless everyone does their part and that includes fans.

OU has had a great program for a long time until recently. Am I to understand you don’t think OU is capable of being a great program anymore? We have done it before and we can do it again. We were the 2nd best program in the big12/big 8 for 25 years. We have been one of the worst, outside of 1-2 good seasons, for more than a decade now.

I will say that it’s past time for the OU leadership to reinvest into the program. The program is stagnant. The LNC is out dated and the worst gym in the big12. Anyone that says the LNC isn’t part of the problem is fooling themselves and has their heads in the sand. Lon Kruger is a great person but the game has passed him by and it’s time for him to retire. His big12 record is indefensible.

The program is stagnant. There is no positive momentum. There is little to no hope or excitement about OU basketball. Recruiting has been and continues to be not good enough. Roster construction and management continues to be a problem. I hate that Lon hasn’t been more successful but I don’t believe he’s the guy to run the program any longer.

 

[inoref]

OU has had a great program for a long time until recently. Am I to understand you don’t think OU is capable of being a great program anymore? We have done it before and we can do it again. We were the 2nd best program in the big12/big 8 for 25 years. We have been one of the worst, outside of 1-2 good seasons, for more than a decade now.

I will say that it’s past time for the OU leadership to reinvest into the program. The program is stagnant. The LNC is out dated and the worst gym in the big12. Anyone that says the LNC isn’t part of the problem is fooling themselves and has their heads in the sand. Lon Kruger is a great person but the game has passed him by and it’s time for him to retire. His big12 record is indefensible.

The program is stagnant. There is no positive momentum. There is little to no hope or excitement about OU basketball. Recruiting has been and continues to be not good enough. Roster construction and management continues to be a problem. I hate that Lon hasn’t been more successful but I don’t believe he’s the guy to run the program any longer.

Not saying it shouldn't happen saying no way Joe gets rid of Lon this year

 

[mict085]

Not saying it shouldn't happen saying no way Joe gets rid of Lon this year

Sadly, I agree. I don’t think there’s any chance Joe forces Lon out. This year or any year. We are stuck.

 

[thebigabd]

I think this will be the year Shaka turns it around... He found an identity and has the players to execute it. They are tough now, and have talent around that toughness. Fran described it well... They were a country club team, but now they are a bunch of junkyard dogs...

They shouldn't fire him, and I don't think they will.

 

[BoulderSooner]

I think this will be the year Shaka turns it around... He found an identity and has the players to execute it. They are tough now, and have talent around that toughness. Fran described it well... They were a country club team, but now they are a bunch of junkyard dogs...

They shouldn't fire him, and I don't think they will.

i hope they don't

 

[WichitaSooner]

I think this will be the year Shaka turns it around... He found an identity and has the players to execute it. They are tough now, and have talent around that toughness. Fran described it well... They were a country club team, but now they are a bunch of junkyard dogs...

They shouldn't fire him, and I don't think they will.

Five games. Five. Yet you are willing to say that sample size, which only occurred because injuries forced him to change his lineup and play guys he had buried on the bench, outweighs several seasons?

 

[BoulderSooner]

We have been one of the worst, outside of 1-2 good seasons, for more than a decade now.

this is simply not true

last 10 years* (we will count this season OU and UT in) NCAA bids

KU 10
KSU 7
OU 7
BU 7
UT 7
WVU 7
ISU 7
TT 4
OSU 4
TCU 1

Sweet 16's last 10 years this year pending
KU 6
BU 3
WVU 3
OU 2
TT 2
ISU 2
KSU 1

Final 4's last 10 years this year pending
KU 2
TT 1
OU 1

 

[thebigabd]

Five games. Five. Yet you are willing to say that sample size, which only occurred because injuries forced him to change his lineup and play guys he had buried on the bench, outweighs several seasons?

I don't know...

Year 1
20-13 overall record (11-7, tie for fourth in Big 12 Conference). UT advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed

Year 2
11-22.... last place in the Big 12.

Year 3
19-15 overall record. Advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed.

Year 4
During the 2018-19 season, Texas posted a 21-16 mark and won the NIT Championship

Year 5
Currently 19-11, ranked 3rd in the Big 12, currently projected at 11 seed.

The difference between Lon and Shaka is that Shaka is earlier in his program development than Lon. He's had 4 years. Lon Kruger has been at OU double the amount of time.

Seems like you can't fire a guy who finishes 10-8 in sole possession of 3rd place if they beat OSU... Texas Tech has to play Kansas to finish the season, so it seems that if Texas beats OSU at home, and Kansas beats Tech on the road, that Texas would be in sole possession of 3rd place in the Big 12 and 20-11. Likely locked into the NCAA Tournament, and returns an entire roster for the next season.

I'd give him a stay of execution until next year... if they are still fringe, or suck, etc next year, make a move. He might have to consider doing some redshirts next year though because of positional log jams.

Of course, they may turn around and lose to OSU and get bounced from the NCAA Tournament field or something. They still need to win that game.

 

[BoulderSooner]

I don't know...

Year 1
20-13 overall record (11-7, tie for fourth in Big 12 Conference). UT advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 6 seed

Year 2
11-22.... last place in the Big 12.

Year 3
19-15 overall record. Advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 11 seed.

Year 4
During the 2018-19 season, Texas posted a 21-16 mark and won the NIT Championship

Year 5
Currently 19-11, ranked 3rd in the Big 12, currently projected at 11 seed.

The difference between Lon and Shaka is that Shaka is earlier in his program development than Lon. He's had 4 years. Lon Kruger has been at OU double the amount of time.

Seems like you can't fire a guy who finishes 10-8 in sole possession of 3rd place if they beat OSU... Texas Tech has to play Kansas to finish the season, so it seems that if Texas beats OSU at home, and Kansas beats Tech on the road, that Texas would be in sole possession of 3rd place in the Big 12 and 20-11. Likely locked into the NCAA Tournament, and returns an entire roster for the next season.

I'd give him a stay of execution until next year... if they are still fringe, or suck, etc next year, make a move. He might have to consider doing some redshirts next year though because of positional log jams.

Of course, they may turn around and lose to OSU and get bounced from the NCAA Tournament field or something. They still need to win that game.

the other difference of course is that shaka took over a program where the previous coach had been to the dance 15 of the previous 16 years (and the last 2 in a row)

lon took over a team that had gone 13-18 and 14-18 the 2 previous years and got put on probation ride before his first game started


shaka started with a roster of 1 5 star 5 4 stars 6 total top 100s kids plus Isiah Taylor as a soph PG


lon started with a roster of 0 5 star 3 4 star 3 3 top 100 kids plus transfer Osby thats it

 

[Soonerinkc]

We allowed them to roll the ball nearly to half-court which saved them at least 5 seconds, that was an epic coaching mistake.

Amen... the most amazing thing I’ve seen... on multiple occasions. JUST PUT 1 guy up to make them pick the damn ball up.

 

[mict085]

this is simply not true

last 10 years* (we will count this season OU and UT in) NCAA bids

KU 10
KSU 7
OU 7
BU 7
UT 7
WVU 7
ISU 7
TT 4
OSU 4
TCU 1

Sweet 16's last 10 years this year pending
KU 6
BU 3
WVU 3
OU 2
TT 2
ISU 2
KSU 1

Final 4's last 10 years this year pending
KU 2
TT 1
OU 1

Losing seasons
OU - 7