Sooner Scoop article on Ryan Spangler

[OUHoops]

http://oklahoma.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1490688

 

[AdaSooner]

Terrific article! I don't know how anyone who reads it with an open mind to the kind of game Spangler will bring to the team next year can't be excited about the possibilities. At the very least, I think he will be our energy guy to replace what Roe brought to the team. If you go by the reports of what he is like in practice, he could also be one of next year's vocal leaders.

Most of the posters here seem to forget or don't know that Ryan was a big time player in high school. Several posters on this board felt that OU should have signed him back then. And why not? Take a look at the numbers he put up his senior year. For that matter, check out his stats throughout his high school career:

Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year and fourth-team Parade All-American as a senior ... Led Class 4A in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage his senior year ... Averaged 29.2 points, 17.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting .714 from the field (312-for-437) and .720 from free throw line (180-for-250) ... Averaged 26.4 points and 18.2 rebounds as a junior to lead Class 3A ... Shot .673 from field and added 3.5 assists per outing his junior season ... Averaged 24.2 points and 15.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore to rank second and first, respectively, in Class 3A ... Averaged 13.9 points and 7.8 boards as a freshman ... Finished career with 2,513 points (23.7 average), 1,564 rebounds (14.8) and 313 assists (3.0) while shooting .670 from the field ...

Question for those who saw Ryan play in high school and in practice the past few months. Aside from rebounding and working his tail off on hustle plays, what are his greatest strengths? He scored a lot of points in high school. He had to do more than score on missed shots and offensive rebounds. Does he have a short range game? Can he put the ball on the floor and score off of the dribble?

 

[CoachTalk]

Terrific article!

Question for those who saw Ryan play in high school and in practice the past few months. Aside from rebounding and working his tail off on hustle plays, what are his greatest strengths? He scored a lot of points in high school. He had to do more than score on missed shots and offensive rebounds. Does he have a short range game? Can he put the ball on the floor and score off of the dribble?

I think he can do all of those things. He is a good athlete. I know in HS coaching againist him and watching him play, he can shoot all the way to the 3pt line. It has been a couple years but I know his game has only gotten better.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I liked this part of the article:

Spangler doesn't like flash. He doesn't crossover defenders, and he doesn't windmill dunk. He doesn't play the game like it's a mad-dashing, rim crashing, thunder-cracking Holcombe Rucker Park bonanza.

He'd rather just crash the boards. He'd rather get the easy lay-ups because he knows an easy lay-up is worth just as many points as a tomahawk jam.

"Nobody does it anymore," Spangler said. "Everybody wants to be flashy and score all the points, but I've learned that if you rebound and run you're going to get easy lay-ups just off offensive rebounds."

His style of play hasn't earned him 100,000 YouTube hits, but it did earn him an opportunity to play at Gonzaga after winning the Oklahoma Class 4A scoring and rebounding titles. He left Spokane, Wash., and transferred to the Division-I program closest to his home in Blanchard, Okla.

He didn't become the Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year by depending solely on talent, on an uncanny ability to create shots, drive to the basket or lighting up the scoreboard with points. He earned that award by placing one quality above all others, the one quality every coach in every sport demands of his players: hustle.

The manner he's learned to demonstrate hustle on the court is to rebound you, to chase down the loose balls you're too tired, too pretty, too frail, to throw your body after.

You see, to Spangler's thinking, if you're willing to run all game, if you're willing to be that one big man who runs the floor in transition and box out for your guards, you're going to end up with easy buckets you might not have scored if you didn't.

 

[garyeb2]

Spangler is not the accurate shooter Osby is away from the basket. Probably never will be. But, he is plenty good enough to go play a Big 12 conference schedule.

 

[AdaSooner]

I liked this part of the article:

Me, too. When you think about it, there's a lot to like and to get excited about with Ryan Spangler. I love effort guys like him who are successful because they outwork everyone else. But he's obviously not lacking in the skills he needs to be a really good player in time, maybe even next year.

I also like the fact that he's only a sophomore with three years left to develop his game. If Cam ends his career with a great season, and those two get some help from Bennett and Hamilton, our front court may not be that bad after all.

I didn't forget about Neal or Cole, I just have no idea what to expect from them next season.

 

[MercedeSooner]

If Spangler can bring us anything close to what McGary brings to Michigan we'll be more then fine.

 

[AdaSooner]

Spangler is not the accurate shooter Osby is away from the basket. Probably never will be. But, he is plenty good enough to go play a Big 12 conference schedule.

I had an idea Osby was the best shooter, although he continued to get better as his career and even last season progressed. Maybe Ryan will improve, too, if he continues to work on his shot.

What about Spangler's technique and his release, Gary? Does he have the form necessary to develop his perimeter game?

 

[luckyc1423]

I would be willing to wager quit a bit that our post play will not be that good next year. Doenst matter how you sunshine pump it we lost nearly everyone at the post position.

There is no replacement for osby at all. Spangler may have the same energy but osby was our go to scorer. There is noone on the team as athletic as mbaye. There is no other post player that can hit jumpshots like fitz.

Our post play will struggle at times, we will severely be out rebounded come big 12 play. We have to hope our guard play is strong enough but even then at guard we are incredibly young. Folks need to prepare themselves for NIT at best next year.

I mean we lost our best 3 players. We are expecting a freshman to come in and play point, and bring in two new post players. There is way to many IF's on this team.

Only hope is guard play. I see alot of four guard sets in our future.

 

[Capel's Mustache]

I love his attitude. He and Buddy have such great attitude & work ethic. I know we will be down a little bit next year but its going to be a really easy bunch to cheer for. Team chemistry should be tremendous.

 

[garyeb2]

I had an idea Osby was the best shooter, although he continued to get better as his career and even last season progressed. Maybe Ryan will improve, too, if he continues to work on his shot.

What about Spangler's technique and his release, Gary? Does he have the form necessary to develop his perimeter game?

Osby was 1st team all conference. I don't know that Spangler will ever get that good. It is OK if he doesn't.

Spangler has good shooting form. But, Osby was a real accurate shooter for a big. I don't expect Spangler to be that good. Spangler will surely be better than most of the players in the conference at his position right now. He won't do anything but improve as time goes along.

Having Spangler on the floor is a good thing. Expecting him to be Osby's equal or better probably isn't too realistic.

 

[AdaSooner]

Osby was 1st team all conference. I don't know that Spangler will ever get that good. It is OK if he doesn't.

Spangler has good shooting form. But, Osby was a real accurate shooter for a big. I don't expect Spangler to be that good. Spangler will surely be better than most of the players in the conference at his position right now. He won't do anything but improve as time goes along.

Having Spangler on the floor is a good thing. Expecting him to be Osby's equal or better probably isn't too realistic.

I understand what you're saying and agree with you. For the record, I'm not expecting Spangler to be as good as Osby. As you said, Roe was first team all Big 12, the first player we've had since Blake to achieve that honor. I'm fine with knowing that we'll have a big who will refuse to be outworked by any PF he faces next year. That's enough for me, at least for now.

My comparison between Romero and Ryan centered around their work ethic, the energy they bring to the floor, and to the possibility that Spangler may fill the void left by Roe as one of our vocal leaders next year. I wasn't suggesting that he will be anywhere close to Osby's level on the offensive end.

 

[garyeb2]

I understand what you're saying and agree with you. For the record, I'm not expecting Spangler to be as good as Osby. As you said, Roe was first team all Big 12, the first player we've had since Blake to achieve that honor. I'm fine with knowing that we'll have a big who will refuse to be outworked by any PF he faces next year. That's enough for me, at least for now.

My comparison between Romero and Ryan centered around their work ethic, the energy they bring to the floor, and to the possibility that Spangler may fill the void left by Roe as one of our vocal leaders next year. I wasn't suggesting that he will be anywhere close to Osby's level on the offensive end.

And I understand people's concerns. Last season we were really good in the post. Next year we will probably drop off all the way to good in the post.

For the next team to equal or surpass this past one, guard play and scoring will have to pick up some. I can't think of a reason in the world why it won't.

 

[pnkranger]

I don't think we can overstate this enough:

If our post players are better rebounders and defenders next year, we don't need them to score 25 ppg among the starters.

 

[25mob]

I don't think we can overstate this enough:

If our post players are better rebounders and defenders next year, we don't need them to score 25 ppg among the starters.

this is a really really good point.

 

[Max Power]

I don't think we can overstate this enough:

If our post players are better rebounders and defenders next year, we don't need them to score 25 ppg among the starters.

This

If your starters give up 24 in the paint they have to score 25. If they give up 15 they only have to score 16.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't think our bigs were major defensive liabilities.

Not saying they possessed game-changing skills like shot blocking, or anything. But on the whole, I thought they defended pretty well. Especially Osby.

While it'll be nice to have a bigger, stronger guy like Spangler in there, how many teams have somebody for him to match up against? They days of the big strong post players is pretty much over.

We will miss Osby's offense. Not necessarily b/c of his average points per game, but b/c he was one of two guys that could score in bunches, and he was a guy that could consistently get tough buckets. THAT is what will be tough to replace.

 

[originalsooner55]

I don't think we can overstate this enough:

If our post players are better rebounders and defenders next year, we don't need them to score 25 ppg among the starters.

I totally agree

 

[DenverSooner]

I didn't forget about Neal or Cole, I just have no idea what to expect from them next season.

I would really like to see Neal have a good year

 

[KBaden145]

We're going to look different next season inside. Except for possibly Clark, none of the bigs currently on the roster will be able to take the other teams bigs out to the perimeter and shoot over them or drive by them like MBaye and Ro. They are much more traditional in their skill set and ability. Spangler can shoot it just not as good as Ro . He will have to work for his points off posts and put backs. Nothing wrong with this group. Just different than the 2 we had this year. It is a mistake to think we won't rebound and defend in the post at least as good and more likely better than this year.