Silver linings 2014-15

[furge]

> We got BIGS coming in. Lattin, Buford, and McNease give us big bodies and fifteen fouls. Guard-killing matchups like teams that go 6'0-6'7-6'7-6'8-6'9 will not have such an easy time next year.

> We only lose two seniors this year. Granted, Cam was second on the team in PPG and Tyler Neal improved to legitimate impact-player status as a senior. But it's not like we lost the guy who assumed starting PG duty (Grooms), our best shooter (Pledge), the best all-around player and an NBA caliber guy (Romero) in a single stroke. Not to mention, I don't see an M'Baye analogue as a surprise draft declaration or transfer on the roster. This team returns a hell of a lot more next season.

> Extra minutes for high-ceiling guys. Namely DJ Bennett and Frank Booker.

> We still have a scholly open, so we don't even know what kind of piece we can add in the late signing period.

I HATE losing in the first round of the tourney, to teams who haven't played anyone of note all year, as much as any Sooner basketball fan. But at least our squad is still relatively young and has about as bright a future as any in the conference.

 

[quick release]

Great post.

 

[ben]

It really is true. We are going to be better next year. I know people probably want to vomit when I say that after such a ****ty loss, but it's true. Keep the faith in Kruger, he hasn't reached his ceiling yet.

 

[WTSooner]

DJ Bennett is not a high ceiling guy.

 

[KBaden145]

DJ Bennett is not a high ceiling guy.

True but he's going to get better.


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[quick release]

Bennett and booker are quality role players. Booker I would say is potentially a high ceiling guy.

 

[sdcloud9]

OU basketball does have a nice future, I agree.

But it's putting a lot of pressure on these young bigs to at worst, protect the rim defensively and at best, score some in the paint.

If not, it's the same team with the same weaknesses.

True, they are a year older but that won't help if guys are forced to play out of position, especially Spangler on the inside.

 

[furge]

DJ Bennett is not a high ceiling guy.

Based on production this year, I'd say you have a point.

But he came from a bad JUCO league, after all, had a nasty foot injury prior to the season, and hasn't played the kind of minutes that build confidence. He does have great physical tools. I'm thinking Juan Pattillo-like numbers for him next year, which may be critical in close games against teams with physical frontcourts.

 

[CobraKai]

DJ Bennett is not a high ceiling guy.

He is better than I thought he'd be. I pegged him as a casey arent class filler and he is far more than that. He isn't going to be a star by any means, but there is a spot on this team for him.

 

[furge]

OU basketball does have a nice future, I agree.

But it's putting a lot of pressure on these young bigs to at worst, protect the rim defensively and at best, score some in the paint.

If not, it's the same team with the same weaknesses.

True, they are a year older but that won't help if guys are forced to play out of position, especially Spangler on the inside.

This is one very important reason why Bennett needs to take a step forward. Put Ryan at his natural position and don't force him to protect the rim, and his foul rate would naturally come down. He can and WILL be more aggressive on both ends of the floor. I wouldn't be shocked if he averages 3+ more PPG with similar RPG numbers. If not DJ, then certainly one of the freshman bigs can take the defensive heat inside in many of our games.

 

[stormspencer]

> We got BIGS coming in. Lattin, Buford, and McNease give us big bodies and fifteen fouls. Guard-killing matchups like teams that go 6'0-6'7-6'7-6'8-6'9 will not have such an easy time next year.

> We only lose two seniors this year. Granted, Cam was second on the team in PPG and Tyler Neal improved to legitimate impact-player status as a senior. But it's not like we lost the guy who assumed starting PG duty (Grooms), our best shooter (Pledge), the best all-around player and an NBA caliber guy (Romero) in a single stroke. Not to mention, I don't see an M'Baye analogue as a surprise draft declaration or transfer on the roster. This team returns a hell of a lot more next season.

> Extra minutes for high-ceiling guys. Namely DJ Bennett and Frank Booker.

> We still have a scholly open, so we don't even know what kind of piece we can add in the late signing period.

I HATE losing in the first round of the tourney, to teams who haven't played anyone of note all year, as much as any Sooner basketball fan. But at least our squad is still relatively young and has about as bright a future as any in the conference.

I think it is unreasonable to expect too much of a contribution from those freshman big bodies that are coming in next year. Lattin would have the best chance, but I'm afraid we are going to find ourselves in the same predicament as this year (not having enough strength inside) when it comes to postseason and our interior play. I just hope we can win a game or two in the tourney next year...or else I might just lose my mind.

 

[furge]

I think fifteen extra fouls against the NDSU bigs would've been great to stop their 11-0 run before halftime. Big bodies in a rhythm are killer in tourney games.

 

[stormspencer]

I think fifteen extra fouls against the NDSU bigs would've been great to stop their 11-0 run before halftime. Big bodies in a rhythm are killer in tourney games.

The only flaw in your theory is that they hit their FTs at a 91% clip tonight. It may he stemmed some of the momentum, but as a whole, we've pretty much sucked to close the 1st half all year.

 

[MercedeSooner]

DJ Bennett is not a high ceiling guy.

I agree he's not and while we re bringing in some bigger guys none are going to magically cure our defensive problems. I really hope this loss lights up that bulb in Kruger's head to do whatever it takes to bring a rim defender in to help our embarrassing defense - next year we are going nowhere again until we can play some semblance of defense.

 

[furge]

The only flaw in your theory is that they hit their FTs at a 91% clip tonight. It may he stemmed some of the momentum, but as a whole, we've pretty much sucked to close the 1st half all year.

To be fair, it's not anti-NDSU bias affecting this statement. Players in excess of 6'5 shoot FT's at a lower efficiency in general, and who knows who we might draw next year. It woulda been great to have Lattin/Buford/McNease this year, but our tourney draw next year is a totally hypothetical beast.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think one other thing people fail to realize is the coaches originally thought they would have M'Baye for this season. Then they thought they would have Avilla and Hamilton. The coaches had to figure out how to compete with an exceptionally thin front court and they did that. This was a great coaching job under the circumstances.

 

[MI Sooner]

Having a shot blocking threat in the paint is huge. Our guards repeatedly beat their man off the dribble only to turn away at the rim or get in the air with no good options. If NDSU beat us off the dribble, it was an uncontested layup most times.

 

[CoachTalk]

I think it is unreasonable to expect too much of a contribution from those freshman big bodies that are coming in next year. Lattin would have the best chance, but I'm afraid we are going to find ourselves in the same predicament as this year (not having enough strength inside) when it comes to postseason and our interior play. I just hope we can win a game or two in the tourney next year...or else I might just lose my mind.

It's not unreasonable. Woodard and booker came in right away this year. The trio of guards came in right away and was expected to play.
Lon and staff expect it.

 

[campbest]

> We only lose two seniors this year. Granted, Cam was second on the team in PPG and Tyler Neal improved to legitimate impact-player status as a senior. But it's not like we lost the guy who assumed starting PG duty (Grooms), our best shooter (Pledge), the best all-around player and an NBA caliber guy (Romero) in a single stroke. Not to mention, I don't see an M'Baye analogue as a surprise draft declaration or transfer on the roster. This team returns a hell of a lot more next season.

Appreciate what Clark has done, but not sure there has been a more erratic player since I have been following OU closely.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Appreciate what Clark has done, but not sure there has been a more erratic player since I have been following OU closely.

tony crocker was pretty erratic