Starting Five for the first game next year

[seniorsooner]

It would really surprise me if Cade, Pledger and Fitzgerald don't all start the first game.

 

[BigTime]

First game:

Blair
Cade
Pledger
Thompson
Fitz

Conference:

Blair
Cade
TJ Taylor
Thompson
Fitz

Count me in with the TJ Taylor will surprise crowd. The kid works hard on and off the court and has the body to compete at this level. The only thing that remotely worries me is his ankle. I hope that he has the same explosiveness that he had last year before the break. Otherwise, I can't wait for you guys to see this kid play. He is fun to watch and flat out competes.

Cam will be a major factor, but I agree that he is going to need to get stronger because I think Capel will want to use him some at the 4.

Bird will get big minutes, and will be a valuable weapon.

It will be interesting to see how ready Newell is to contribute as a true frosh. I still can't believe that Capel was able to pull Blair out after all the mess we have been through. What a great find to grab a guy that started as a D1 PG last year and put up solid numbers. I hope he is able to come in and defend at a decent level.

 

[OUHoosier]

As strange as it sounds, I think Blair is really the key here. OU's D was so bad last year largely b/c teams could get into the lane at ease against TMG. If Blair is just a solid defender, that will automatically make the D better. And:

Cade is a solid defender and good energy guy.
TJ is known as a defensive/effort tough guy.
Pledger is supposedly losing weight and getting quicker.
Cam is skinny, but a hard worker who will at least try on D.
Newell sounds like a pure energy/scorer that's perfect off the bench.

The perimeter D should be much, much better than last year at the very least. Sadly, the interior looks scary defensively:

Thompson did little at the JUCO level so is this guy the answer at the 4?
Drew better really be making the progress we're hearing b/c he's really it inside that's proven he can even play at this level.
CJ looks like an effort guy, but is he big/athletic enough to play big minutes at this level?
Is Hardrick a D1 player?
Aziz is a project.

 

[T_Neal's Twitter]

Aziz is a project.

LOL I wish we had Aziz my man. I think you are referring to Ahmed.

 

[thebigabd]

PG: Carl Blair
SG: Steve Pledger
SF: Cameron Clark
PF: CJ Washington
C: Andrew Fitzgerald

 

[SoonerBounce13]

PG: Carl Blair
SG: Steve Pledger
SF: Cameron Clark
PF: CJ Washington
C: Andrew Fitzgerald

really? I'm pretty sure the given is Cade

 

[thebigabd]

really? I'm pretty sure the given is Cade

Pledger and Cameron are more talented than Cade.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Pledger and Cameron are more talented than Cade.

you may be right. But from what I saw, Pledger, at this point is not more talented and we haven't even seen Clark yet.

You really think that Cade won't start?

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Pledger and Cameron are more talented than Cade.

ABD, you of all people know it is not always about more talented...

and with what this team did last year, i can assure you they are looking at the more Solid Hard-Working lineup then the most TALENTED...especially when you are talking about a guy like Cade that has been in the lineup for 3 yrs now...not to mention probably the hardest worker...

I would be shocked if he didnt start the first game...

Now later in the season, it is a possibility...but still not likely...

 

[luckyc1423]

ABD, you of all people know it is not always about more talented...

and with what this team did last year, i can assure you they are looking at the more Solid Hard-Working lineup then the most TALENTED...especially when you are talking about a guy like Cade that has been in the lineup for 3 yrs now...not to mention probably the hardest worker...

I would be shocked if he didnt start the first game...

Now later in the season, it is a possibility...but still not likely...

this is just for giggles....how well did we do last year when he was in the starting lineup?
I vote for an all new starting 5!!

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

this is just for giggles....how well did we do last year when he was in the starting lineup?
I vote for an all new starting 5!!

cant argue with that logic

 

[Max Power]

this is just for giggles....how well did we do last year when he was in the starting lineup?
I vote for an all new starting 5!!

Well 4 out of 5 will be new, no tiny, no tmg, no crock, no ryan wright. I still think Cade starts from day one. Now whether or not he holds on to that starting spot is up to him and the guys around him

 

[MichSooner]

As strange as it sounds, I think Blair is really the key here. OU's D was so bad last year largely b/c teams could get into the lane at ease against TMG. If Blair is just a solid defender, that will automatically make the D better. And:

Cade is a solid defender and good energy guy.
TJ is known as a defensive/effort tough guy.
Pledger is supposedly losing weight and getting quicker.
Cam is skinny, but a hard worker who will at least try on D.
Newell sounds like a pure energy/scorer that's perfect off the bench.

The perimeter D should be much, much better than last year at the very least. Sadly, the interior looks scary defensively:

Thompson did little at the JUCO level so is this guy the answer at the 4?
Drew better really be making the progress we're hearing b/c he's really it inside that's proven he can even play at this level.
CJ looks like an effort guy, but is he big/athletic enough to play big minutes at this level?
Is Hardrick a D1 player?
Aziz is a project.

TMG couldn't defend against the clap with a boatload of penicillin. Exciting offensive player, pathetic defensive player. Kinda took the Chuckie Barnett (a very likeable OU player) syndrome to a new level - score 30 but give up 35 points.......