Sooners not in Lunardi's 2014 early bracketology

[BigTime]

On ESPN. No big surprise but I hope our 3 soph guards use stuff like this as motivation to work.

 

[CompOUnder]

It will take a small miracle for this group to make the dance next year. Just not enough talent.

 

[WTSooner]

I wouldn't call it a miracle, but it is probably unlikely.

 

[skyvue]

I wouldn't call it a miracle, but it is probably unlikely.

I'm not for a moment guaranteeing we'll make it to the dance, but neither am I prepared to write the team off.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I'm not for a moment guaranteeing we'll make it to the dance, but neither am I prepared to write the team off.

No kidding. This is almost a year down the road.

 

[hoopsaustin]

this is pathetic attitude. i expect next year to be better sans Osby

 

[WTSooner]

this is pathetic attitude. i expect next year to be better sans Osby

You don't lose your three best players and get much better as a whole.

We might be better defensively. Should, probably. But we won't be anywhere near as efficient on offense, especially in the halfcourt. I'd bet on that.

I "might" have bought that we could have been better with M'Baye sticking around. When he left, as late as he did in the process, that really hurt our upside potential next year.

 

[BigTime]

It will take a small miracle for this group to make the dance next year. Just not enough talent.

Glad to know how our resident aggies feel.

Please note: the above poster has yet to say anything positive about Lon or this team. I realize that making the dance next year looks very difficult at this juncture (an impact transfer could chance that). I am not calling everyone who thinks OU will not make the dance an aggie.

 

[coolm]

pure HILARITY to write off next seasons' team already.

With the guards returning like that they could be anywhere from mediocre to salty depending on how anything inside comes together.

Lots of reason to have hope for next season.

 

[pnkranger]

pure HILARITY to write off next seasons' team already.

With the guards returning like that they could be anywhere from mediocre to salty depending on how anything inside comes together.

Lots of reason to have hope for next season.

I tend to agree. I am not at all worried on the interior. If we can improve our interior defense, rebounding, and toughness (not Osby, but M'Baye and the others), which were weak areas, we should be fine. We'll have better size with Spangler, Bennett, Hamilton, and Avila.

With the guards, we will be very good defensively. Cam, Hield, Cousins, and Hornbeak are all + defenders, and Woodard seems to be in the same mold. If we can get any consistent scoring from the perimeter, we'll be okay.

 

[DenverSooner]

OU is going to struggle to score points next year so they better play really good defense.

 

[WTSooner]

OU is going to struggle to score points next year so they better play really good defense.

That is how I see it as well. Not a knock on the guys, the talent is there, I just don't think the experience is. Expecting those guys to step up on offense and replace what Osby, Pledger, and M'Baye did last year is asking an awful lot.

Be interesting to watch the style of play next year.

 

[OKhoops]

Lunardi didnt have OU in at the beginning of this year either, how did that work out for him?

 

[j2d2]

On paper it's probable that we wont score as much or as easily next year, but it's just as likely that we will be a better defensive team and I would bet that we will rebound better. Those two improvements are enough to carry us to the tourney. Defense and rebounding will carry a team a long way.

 

[bgrch1350]

On paper it's probable that we wont score as much or as easily next year, but it's just as likely that we will be a better defensive team and I would bet that we will rebound better. Those two improvements are enough to carry us to the tourney. Defense and rebounding will carry a team a long way.

its going to be a bad year. Get ready for it

 

[BoulderSooner]

we will be in the big dance next season

 

[hoopsaustin]

its going to be a bad year. Get ready for it

shuuuuuuuuuuuuut up :facepalm

 

[SoonerinNC]

We will miss Osby, but who doesn't lose key players. The others we will lose are:

A shooting guard who had trouble getting open against good teams.

A power forward who had a decent base line shot but weak defensively.

Another forward who was hot and cold and never developed the scoring I expected.

A point guard who had about a five game run and then basically disappeared.

We have a real point guard coming in and a real pure shooter who appears to be a pretty good athlete.

Two big men who have so-so juco stats but appear to be the athletic kind that Kruger prefers.

And three returning freshmen with upside and three redshirts who all could contribute. Don't sell Cole short. He can hit the basket from outside and seems to have a pretty good overall game.

I think we will have a different type team but probably one that better fits Kruger's approach to the game.

Not surprised that we will be underrated again. Who is rated high other than Kentucky when you lose 4 starters and 5 overall.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I see nothing but good things for next year, IF we can get good guard play. Personally, I think we are a much more up tempo team next year. Woodard and Booker should be interesting, both fill substantive needs but will need to step up as freshman for the team to get to the dance. Should be fun, and Lon has made OU Basketball that again.

 

[TheGimper]

We will miss Osby, but who doesn't lose key players. The others we will lose are:

A shooting guard who had trouble getting open against good teams.

A power forward who had a decent base line shot but weak defensively.

Another forward who was hot and cold and never developed the scoring I expected.

A point guard who had about a five game run and then basically disappeared.

We have a real point guard coming in and a real pure shooter who appears to be a pretty good athlete.

Two big men who have so-so juco stats but appear to be the athletic kind that Kruger prefers.

And three returning freshmen with upside and three redshirts who all could contribute. Don't sell Cole short. He can hit the basket from outside and seems to have a pretty good overall game.

I think we will have a different type team but probably one that better fits Kruger's approach to the game.

Not surprised that we will be underrated again. Who is rated high other than Kentucky when you lose 4 starters and 5 overall.

I like that this post points out weaknesses in every player we lose, but says nothing but strengths of all returning and incoming players. It's great that we lost 4 weak players and only gained strengths.