Sophomore Class

[thebigabd]

So you don’t have any names?

I’m generally curious.

I don't know what the point in giving you names is... I have always done so, and you come up with reasons for why they wouldn't do as well as Kruger and then we debate that.

I could be wrong on this, but have you ever proposed any realistic replacement names when Kruger retires?

 

[thebigabd]

I remember all too well the same kind of posts, season after season, ragging on Coach Sampson. Now, in the eyes of some (including some who ragged on him, I'm guessing), he is top drawer, aces, can do no wrong. Few, if any, have copped to having been wrong about him.

It's so easy to call for the dismissal of a coach and imagine that the next guy will be amazing but better coaches than Lon Kruger don't grow on trees, and if Kruger's replacement didn't have us in the Sweet 16 or better within two or three years, the same posters would be calling for him to be shown the door, too (and don't claim you would't -- he would NOT be inheriting the dumpster fire that Kruger did).

On the football board, posters were screaming for Mike Stoops to be brought back, and then it wasn't long after his return before they were screaming for him to be fired again, and no one (that I've ever seen) has ever once copped to having been wrong about him returning. They just pretend they never demanded it and hope no one calls them on it.

One of Kruger's loudest critics on this board is actually pushing for us to hire a two-time loser with the NCAA as his replacement. Mind-boggling.

I listed many names, the gentlemen you reference being one of them. As I have stated, I think he has developed a lot in his 7 years at Tulsa and would do an excellent job at Oklahoma.

 

[stormspencer]

Boise State is a horrible basketball job with absolutely no history. Under rice they have done a good job.

Only MWC school with five seasons of at least 11 league wins.
Only Boise State head coach to amass eight 20-win seasons

And they are 10-1 this year with their only loss being to Houston.

So far this year they are #2 in MWC in offense, #3 in defense, #1 in scoring margin, #1 in FG defense, #3 in rebounding margin, #4 in offensive rebounding, #1 in turnover margin, #1 in assist/turnover ratio, #2 in assists, #2 in steals...

He's not my first pick, but I would interview him. Seasoned coach. Good success at a terrible basketball program. And he's very critical of attendance. He does all sorts of goofy stuff in the community to try and increase attendance at home games. Like wading across the Boise River, riding horses across campus to get people in the stands and get attention, vowing to get thrown out for celebrating if they get a big win if its sold out, lol.

Guys who are good producers at crap basketball programs is a key indicator for me.... If you can win at Boise State, you can win here.

I would love to see Lon riding a horse across campus.....that is some creativity right there.

 

[skyvue]

I listed many names, the gentlemen you reference being one of them. As I have stated, I think he has developed a lot in his 7 years at Tulsa and would do an excellent job at Oklahoma.

You gave him a heaping helping of ABD love, despite his struggles with running a clean program.

 

[CoachTalk]

I don't know what the point in giving you names is... I have always done so, and you come up with reasons for why they wouldn't do as well as Kruger and then we debate that.

I could be wrong on this, but have you ever proposed any realistic replacement names when Kruger retires?

Hadnt put a lot of thought into it. Ill try and do so and get back to you...

 

[thebigabd]

I would love to see Lon riding a horse across campus.....that is some creativity right there.

Speaking of.... Leon Rice and the Broncos moved to 11-1 last night. They are 7-0 in Mountain West play... They have won games this year by 31, 37, 11, 24, 37 (New Mexico), 52 (San Jose State), 19 (Air Force), 23 (Wyoming).

They beat New Mexico 89-52... San Jose State 106-54.

Another school record for Leon Rice... 11 straight wins.

I'd talk to him.

 

[BCSooners]

Speaking of.... Leon Rice and the Broncos moved to 11-1 last night. They are 7-0 in Mountain West play... They have won games this year by 31, 37, 11, 24, 37 (New Mexico), 52 (San Jose State), 19 (Air Force), 23 (Wyoming).

They beat New Mexico 89-52... San Jose State 106-54.

Another school record for Leon Rice... 11 straight wins.

I'd talk to him.

Again if the job comes open hit him up. I'm not pushing LK out the door if he's retiring in 2-3 years since he's done a great job getting OU back on track & still doing a solid job.

 

[AdaSooner]

Speaking of.... Leon Rice and the Broncos moved to 11-1 last night. They are 7-0 in Mountain West play... They have won games this year by 31, 37, 11, 24, 37 (New Mexico), 52 (San Jose State), 19 (Air Force), 23 (Wyoming).

They beat New Mexico 89-52... San Jose State 106-54.

Another school record for Leon Rice... 11 straight wins.

I'd talk to him.

I’m sold! I accepted your challenge and did a search on Leon Rice. I didn’t have a clue who he was. I do now.

There’s a lot to like about Rice. He’s my kind of guy...down to earth, genuine by all accounts, an outgoing personality people are attracted to, among a long list of positives I could name. He’s a fly fisherman, too. Fly fishing is the purest form of the art of catching fish, especially trout. Idaho is a good state for fly fishing for trout. He would miss that in Oklahoma.

Among the numerous things I was impressed with when I read the article below! Leon Rice was an assistant for eleven years under the Zag’s Mark Few. I was sold as soon as I read that! He’s 57 and his base salary is $705,292 annually.

When it’s time for Lon to go, Leon Rice would be the first coach I would call if I was Joe C!

https://www.idahopress.com/blueturf...cle_a1fb5d2c-9f90-536d-90fc-9158fe532160.html

 

[skyvue]

When it’s time for Lon to go, Leon Rice would be the first coach I would call if I was Joe C!

The fact that he'd be 60 or so (assuming the Fire Kruger crowd doesn't get their wish right away) doesn't bother you?

Whenever Coach Kruger departs, I'd think I'd rather have his replacement be someone not so close to retirement age.

 

[thebigabd]

The fact that he'd be 60 or so (assuming the Fire Kruger crowd doesn't get their wish right away) doesn't bother you?

Whenever Coach Kruger departs, I'd think I'd rather have his replacement be someone not so close to retirement age.

Well, the context was who you would want to replace Kruger right now... I wouldn't have a problem bringing in a guy like Leon Rice at 57. Straighten up the program for a decade or so and move on. Lots of coaches around that age.

I am not saying he is 100% the guy... But I would interview him.

 

[CoachTalk]

Well, the context was who you would want to replace Kruger right now... I wouldn't have a problem bringing in a guy like Leon Rice at 57. Straighten up the program for a decade or so and move on. Lots of coaches around that age.

I am not saying he is 100% the guy... But I would interview him.

This make you laugh out loud?

 

[AdaSooner]

The fact that he'd be 60 or so (assuming the Fire Kruger crowd doesn't get their wish right away) doesn't bother you?

Whenever Coach Kruger departs, I'd think I'd rather have his replacement be someone not so close to retirement age.

Bother me? Not really. Kruger was around Rice’s current age when he took the job. Retirement age now is several years older than when Lon was hired.

 

[skyvue]

Straighten up the program for a decade or so and move on.

"Straighten up the program..."

One major complaint about our future Hall of Fame coach is that he supposedly can't recruit; why do you think a coach nearing 60 who has been coaching in Idaho would suddenly bump up the recruiting?

 

[thebigabd]

"Straighten up the program..."

One major complaint about our future Hall of Fame coach is that he supposedly can't recruit; why do you think a coach nearing 60 who has been coaching in Idaho would suddenly bump up the recruiting?

Yea, that would be a consideration for sure.

When I say straighten up the program, I mean hopefully make us more competitive in the league... Which is the primary objective.

 

[CoachTalk]

I will say I dont think retirement is too far off.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Yea, that would be a consideration for sure.

When I say straighten up the program, I mean hopefully make us more competitive in the league... Which is the primary objective.

I love how you act like your personal, arbitrary goal is, as an accepted matter of fact, the primary objective. I’d posit that if given a choice, 90 percent of college basketball fans, coaches, and players would consider making the NCAA tournament more important than conference record. But it is well established that you and a few others are determined to pretend like nonconference games don’t exist and have no value.

 

[skyvue]

When Sampson was our coach, tourney performance was all that mattered (to a certain faction of fans). I think most of those quick to critique are quite nimble and could shift focus on the fly.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Again if the job comes open hit him up. I'm not pushing LK out the door if he's retiring in 2-3 years since he's done a great job getting OU back on track & still doing a solid job.

You have a different definition of solid. I’d save average to below average

 

[thebigabd]

When Sampson was our coach, tourney performance was all that mattered (to a certain faction of fans). I think most of those quick to critique are quite nimble and could shift focus on the fly.

I have long argued that the conference tournament holds special significance because tournaments are how champions are crowned in basketball. The national champion is decided by tournament. Automatic bids to the NCAA Tournament are awarded to conference tournament champions. They don't name a regular season national champion....

When Iowa State fans go into their arena.... They see cut down nets, championship rings, and championship banners hanging from the rafters when from when they won the conference tournament in 2019, 2017, 2015, and 2014.

OU has not hung any conference related material since 2003. OSU has more recent hardware than we do.

So you guys can brag about our non-conference championships all you want, but it doesn't matter... Nobody brags about their random non-cons. And OU's aren't that impressive anyway.

 

[skyvue]

You have a different definition of solid. I’d save average to below average

Check to see how many programs have been to the NCAA tourney at least seven out of the past eight seasons (I'm counting last year's tourney that didn't happen, because OU was going to be in it).

And then go through and see how many of those teams played the level of non-conference foes that Coach Kruger has consistently scheduled. Eliminate those who didn't.

Then go through and see how many of the remaining teams played in a top 3 conference year in and year out. Eliminate the ones who didn't.

Next, eliminate those teams who didn't make the Sweet Sixteen.

And then, eliminate those teams that didn't make it to the Final Four. Your list will now be very short.

Finally, check the dictionary for its definition of "average" ("below average" is not even worthy of a response).