Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

good job as always keeping us up with the latest info....
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

Well done, Sam. Thanks!

The current list of scholarship players you added at the end of your story made me realize what a nice job our coaches have done in preparing for the future.

Not long ago some of us were worried that with so many players leaving after next season, any success we had the following year would be in the hands (to a great extent) of an inexperienced 2013 freshmen class.

That is no longer the case. Even with the loss of the five seniors on our current roster, there will still be eight returning players, including four seniors, who will give us the experience we thought we'd be missing. Clearly, inexperience in 2013 is no longer a concern.

2012-2013 Season
Seniors
Center Casey Arent
Forward Andrew Fitzgerald
Guard Sam Grooms
Forward Romero Osby
Guard Steven Pledger

Juniors
Center D.J. Bennett
Guard Cameron Clark
Forward Amath M’Baye
Forward Tyler Neal

Sophomores
Forward Ryan Spangler (redshirting)

Freshmen
Guard Isaiah Cousins
Guard Jelon Hornbeak
Guard Buddy Hield
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

Great article. Only thing I will add with my two cents is I don't think Henry ever ends up on campus. Kid has had two shots at qualifying for Div. I and hasn't either time. I see Kruger getting 4 players next year.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

Great article. Only thing I will add with my two cents is I don't think Henry ever ends up on campus. Kid has had two shots at qualifying for Div. I and hasn't either time. I see Kruger getting 4 players next year.

Agreed.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

The thing that excites me about the overhauled roster is how much better the team will get throughout the year practicing against quality competition and having to earn their minutes. Maybe I'm an eternal optimist but this years team wasn't that far off from being a tournament team. With the addition of some quality depth next season should be a fun one.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

The thing that excites me about the overhauled roster is how much better the team will get throughout the year practicing against quality competition and having to earn their minutes. Maybe I'm an eternal optimist but this years team wasn't that far off from being a tournament team. With the addition of some quality depth next season should be a fun one.

I agree with you. I said more than once last season that a lack of "quality depth" was our biggest problem. That wasn't the team's only weakness. But it ranked at the top of the list as far as I'm concerned.

M'Baye and the signees we have coming in should make a huge difference in the quality of the players OU can put on the floor this fall. I think the competition for playing time in practice will increase dramatically. Our starters last season weren't being pushed all that hard for playing time. I believe that will change this year.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

Is Bennett going to sign this week or is he going to visit Ar-Kansas?
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I agree with you. I said more than once last season that a lack of "quality depth" was our biggest problem. That wasn't the team's only weakness. But it ranked at the top of the list as far as I'm concerned.

M'Baye and the signees we have coming in should make a huge difference in the quality of the players OU can put on the floor this fall. I think the competition for playing time in practice will increase dramatically. Our starters last season weren't being pushed all that hard for playing time. I believe that will change this year.

I agree here. I think depth keep this team from postseason play. Had other issues put played good teams close for majority of games. Hopefully next years team has some depth and a spark off the bench.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

It is crazy how much more talented and deep our bench will be next year.

We basically replaced Washington and Honore with Hornbeak, Cousins, Hield, Bennett, Cole, and M'Baye (with Spangler redshirting). That is pretty crazy.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

What a difference a year makes!!
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I find it quite bizarre that people feel as though Kruger is recruiting bench players to a solid bottom division Big 12 team coming off 3 losing years in a row.

He is recruiting starters and major minute contributors. It might not work out that way. But, to think Coach has any plans to sit there on the bench and watch that bunch he had on the court last play a brand of ball that is opposite of what he said he wanted to do, and get beat in the process. Well, that is bizarre.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I find it quite bizarre that people feel as though Kruger is recruiting bench players to a solid bottom division Big 12 team coming off 3 losing years in a row.

He is recruiting starters and major minute contributors. It might not work out that way. But, to think Coach has any plans to sit there on the bench and watch that bunch he had on the court last play a brand of ball that is opposite of what he said he wanted to do, and get beat in the process. Well, that is bizarre.

and i find it bizarre that you think that any of the new guys are going to start ahead of Grooms Pledger Clark M'baye Osby and or Fitz.

5 of those 6 will be the starters mark that down
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

and i find it bizarre that you think that any of the new guys are going to start ahead of Grooms Pledger Clark M'baye Osby and or Fitz.

5 of those 6 will be the starters mark that down

I completely agree. It takes a really special freshman to come in and start over a productive senior. Fact is, our starters were all pretty productive (other than Cam Clark for the first half of the season). The problem was that we had no bench. There will be plenty of minutes for new players, but those minutes will be coming off the bench.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I completely agree. It takes a really special freshman to come in and start over a productive senior. Fact is, our starters were all pretty productive (other than Cam Clark for the first half of the season). The problem was that we had no bench. There will be plenty of minutes for new players, but those minutes will be coming off the bench.

That's how I see it. We don't have to replace starters this year to make the Dance. That said, I could possibly see one of the frosh guards starting for Cam if he struggles like he did for much of last year. But it won't be from day 1.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I bet Cousins-Hornbeak-Hield-Mbaye-Bennett could beat Grooms-Pledger-Clark-Fitzgerald-Osby in a scrimmage.
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I bet Cousins-Hornbeak-Hield-Mbaye-Bennett could beat Grooms-Pledger-Clark-Fitzgerald-Osby in a scrimmage.

When, right now? Not a chance....
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I bet Cousins-Hornbeak-Hield-Mbaye-Bennett could beat Grooms-Pledger-Clark-Fitzgerald-Osby in a scrimmage.

Interesting.....
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

I bet Cousins-Hornbeak-Hield-Mbaye-Bennett could beat Grooms-Pledger-Clark-Fitzgerald-Osby in a scrimmage.

could they?? i'm sure they could they would might have the best overall player (M'baye) .. would they win more than they would lose .. no at least not in oct/nov/dec

could they maybe win more than they lose by feb/march sure i could see that
 
Re: Sooners Round Out 2012 Class with Bennett and Spangler >>> OUHoops.com

could they?? i'm sure they could they would might have the best overall player (M'baye) .. would they win more than they would lose .. no at least not in oct/nov/dec

could they maybe win more than they lose by feb/march sure i could see that

That would be great for the OU basketball program but I just don't see three freshman and and a 1st year JUCO project taking down 4 seniors and a Junior with D1 experience.

We get this every year on here (I know because I am guilty of it as much as the next guy): the new recruits are always "better" than the guys we have coming back.

Osby and Pledger both have a decent chance to end up on one of the all Big12 teams and Grooms led the Big 12 last year in A/T ratio.

I do hope that the new guys come in and make things uncomfortable for the returning starters and for the coaching staff trying to make a rotation. Competition is what this program needs to get back to the dance.
 
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