Just throwing this out there based off of a few minutes of film I watched and some interviews from rivals. Again, hard to take much from this but here's some thoughts.
Doollittle, Manek, James, Odoms and McNeace look like they're in great shape. I hope Doo has a bounce back year after what had to be a frustrating period for him last season.
Hannes looks like he's dropped considerable weight which should only help with his mobility. I understand the boards questioning for the fighting Finn but we don't need major minutes out of him. Let's be honest, it's Jamuni time this year but I'll give Hannes some credit for his conditioning. He just needs to be a serviceable reserve on certain nights and match ups.
Calixte looks quick on the court. I know he's got some question marks as well but I feel better about him than some other last minute PG we've added in the past. We'll see, he's small but he's not frail. He's not afraid to take into the trees, just gotta make sure he doesn't cause a forest fire by smoking to many of them. I kid I kid.
Miles Reynolds kinda reminds me of former OU guard transfer Jason Williams from a few years ago. Heady kind of player, crafty with his floater and decision making.
I think Lon really likes what Austin Reaves brings to the team. I think we all could probably quote a typical, almost generic answer Lon can give to reporters questions. What's the term I'm trying to describe? Oh yeah, coach speak. That said, Lon was almost gushing about Austin and how he's doing so far. Talked about his work ethic and attitude. I think there was some reports questioning those things while at Wichita State but Lon, in his own way really complimented Austin's attitude and approach. I look forward to seeing him in a OU jersey this following year and think we've added a talented and overlooked player to the fold.
Jamal Bieniemy is another player Lon praised a little more then usual. I think he'll be an active player on the court. We need guys that make the unselfish winning plays that add up through out the coarse of the game. I think he could be a Je'lon Hornbeak type of player but with more of team first attitude. A really solid 4 year guy that will help us win a lot of games. His shooting looked liked it's improved so that's already a good sign. Some guys continue to get better and haven't yet plateaued or peaked. I hope and think thats the case for Jamal.
Now on to the player I know most love to question, Kur Kuath. Well, Ty and Hannas are in the running depending on the day but you're not going to find many excited about Kur on any of the message boards. The doubters may be proven right but I still think the guy could surprise some of you. I'm not saying he's an all big-12 projection but he'll cause some problems with his length alone. I saw three pick and roles he guarded and each one he defended differently and correctly. I was so frustrated last year watching us get JV'ed on the pick and roll that seeing those three plays out of Kuath gives me some hope. You're not going to win every play but 3 or 4 stops a game can get you a win. Sure, his weight will come into play on certain match ups but I think he'll be able to cause some havoc and win some of those battles as well. If we can get good guard play, it will only make it easier for Kur on the offensive side. Here's a quote from Kruger On Kur:
“Been outstanding. He’s already got bigger and stronger since he’s been here. Put on some weight. Good instincts, good shot blocker, rim protector. He’s quickly improving offensively so we feel really good about where he’s at.”
In addition to recent news about Alondes Williams, here's a tweet about a 6’7” late blooming guard Gerald Drumgoole. Says OU is getting involved along with Minnesota, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Middle Tennessee and South Carolina. I'm not sure what to think about either of these guys but the coaches are still peeling that onion. I'll admit I may shed a tear if we don't add Tyson Etienne but it might put us in a better position to land some of the talent coming up the next couple years locally. At least that is what I'm telling myself.
https://twitter.com/Andrew__Slater/status/1044635008059801607
