Starting lineup chatter and some recruiting updates

[OUHoops]

Talked to some people and found out some stuff:

* There's been a lot of talk of Isaiah Cousins getting a lot of time on the Red Team (first unit) at point guard, which always includes Osby, Fitzgerald and M'Baye, and that appears to be more than an experiment at this point. Well, it looks like as of today, Cousins and Hornbeak do have the inside track to start alongside M'Baye, Osby and Pledger, with Clark, Hield, Fitzgerald and Grooms in the rotation off the bench. So we'll see how that pans out as obviously there's still time for that to change.

* As Kruger said in his press conference today, junior college big man D.J. Bennett will redshirt. The thinking is that he's too good of a prospect to waste a year getting spot minutes behind Osby, M'Baye and Fitz inside. So Arent or Neal will get the second big man off the bench spot depending on the matchup/situation.

* As expected, Julius Randle made the trip to Norman. Heard the visit went great despite a disappointing scrimmage crowd. OU may hold the scholarship in the spring if Randle goes elsewhere, but they're still out there looking at jucos and prep school kids for the right guy. Haven't seen any quotes from Randle from other sources yet, except for one picture (see below) he posted. He also has a blog on http://www.usatodayhss.com that he updates, so keep an eye on that.

* Two other unofficial visitors who were in Norman last Saturday to watch the scrimmage were 2014 prospects Jordan Cornsih, a 6-4 guard from New Orleans (Brother Martin), and Myles Turner, a 6-8 big man from Euless, Texas (Trinity HS). Cornish tweeted this about his trip: "Great time in Norman , thanks for showing mad love fans #boomersooners!"

* In case you missed it last week, during the Saturday of the Kansas football game, Allonzo Trier and Nick Babb watched the scrimmage in the Fieldhouse. Babb is a 6-4 2014 guard from Arlington, Texas (Martin HS), and Trier as many of you know is a 6-0 2015 guard who home schools in OKC. Babb is the brother of Iowa State guard Chris Babb.

* Unfortunately, I'm still searching for info on what other big man targets are on the radar to sign in this class other than Randle. Also heard there may not be serious interest in Treshawn Bolden right now, who has been saying OU and Auburn are in his final two, but I'm sure they'll keep an eye on him this season.

* There's also a chance of OU just holding that last scholarship if they don't get Randle or find someone they really like. The thought has been they're looking to use it on a big man, but with M'Baye, Spangler, Bennett, Neal, Hamilton, Elliot and Cole set to be on the roster next year, they have plenty of options and could save that ship for next season or use it on a transfer next summer if they don't find the right guy this fall or spring.

Last but not least, here are some interesting recruiting photos from this past weekend...

* Picture from Randle's twitter...

* Turner, Randle and Cornish...

* Cornish and Durant...

 

[BigTime]

Great stuff, Hoops. Thank you!

I wonder if Kruger and company would look to land an impact transfer if Randle decides to go elsewhere?

 

[AdaSooner]

Thanks for the heads up, OUHoops! Great stuff!!!

:clap

 

[StatGeek]

Thanks OUHoops

 

[McJacknife]

Kevin Durant... assisting in Sooner hoops recruiting.


BWAHAHAHAHA awesome stuff.

 

[WTSooner]

Some random thoughts:

- As much, uh, disagreeing as we've done over the potential starting lineup, going back to the end of last season, it's kind of funny that we may start a lineup that nobody predicted. I don't think most of us saw Grooms losing the starting pg spot from day 1, some had Pledger going to the bench for a frosh, and anybody that had Cam not starting, had M'Baye starting in his place. Maybe we should all just shut up and let Coach do his thing.

- Still not sold on Grooms falling all the way to the third pg spot. If he doesn't start, I'd think he would get the backup minutes.

- Seen some people say that Bennett redshirting is good, b/c we don't need many minutes from the 4th big. I'm not sure that is true. In the big games, assuming no foul trouble, it might be. But there will be several games where we will go 4-5 deep inside. Maybe Cam gets some of those minutes, but I just seem to remember a handful of games a year that we need quality minutes from a 4th and 5th big men, due to foul trouble or injuries. And I don't trust Arent, or Neal (as a 4) much either. This year Bennett is competing for minutes with Osby, M'Baye, Fitz, Arent, and Neal. In two years, he'll be competing with Spangler, Cole, Hammond, Elliot, Hamilton, and anybody else that we sign between now and then. I'd rather just see him play this year.

-That girl with Randle in the picture above.....is that his host at OU, or a person he brought with him?

- Nick Babb.....he a good shooter?

- This is just my opinion, but offensively, I don't think there is much of a difference between the 2 and 3 positions. I don't know how much our half-court offense is going to change, but last year, after the initial pass by the pg, in our motion offense, the 1, 2, and 3 players all did the same thing. Their movements, where they went on the floor, were all identical.

- Does Kevin Durant really need to be on our sideline, talking to our recruits? While he may not be saying anything to them at all, I KNOW he isn't pimping our program over UT's. Maybe I'm biased b/c I'm not a Thunder fan, and don't care for Durant's UT shenanigans when he first got to the Thunder, but I just don't care to have him interacting with our recruits down on the field.

I'm ready to get this season started.

 

[CoachTalk]

Starting line up is still up for grabs, wouldnt shock me if Grooms starts for awhile then takes a back seat for the remainder.
I can only dream about Randle in a OU Jersey
and small edit, Trier goes to NOAH in Tulsa Now.

 

[BoulderSooner]

i will go with kruger on the RSing if he think bennett is a player and can improve for next years team it sounds good to me

 

[AdaSooner]

Kevin Durant... assisting in Sooner hoops recruiting.


BWAHAHAHAHA awesome stuff.

I'd like to believe that about Kevin, but think it's more likely he was showing Randle how to make the hook 'em horns sign when no one was looking.

 

[luckyc1423]

So are we going to attack OUHOOPS for posting something simliar to what GAry posted? Everyone attacked gary for real simililar comments'

I remember post's like "no way a 2-3 year starter, a senior, will come off the bench."

"No way a freshman will start over our experienced players"

Some people think they actual know more than another person posting on the forum. Its quit funny. Noone knows more than another person, we will find out as the season goes along.

I hear all the time "you have no credibility posting like that" do we need credibility to post on a forum?

 

[AdaSooner]

Lucky, everyone is entitled to an opinion. It's the same for posters who express an original thought and for those who disagree.

That said, we're all capable of taking things too far at times. I have been guilty of that myself. But in the end, the majority of posters here are Sooner fans who share similar goals when it comes to our favorite basketball team. I would like to think that the bitter dispute we saw last week is over now, and that everyone is ready to enjoy the season ahead.

My comments are in no way meant to start the debate again. If it does, I'll delete every post. No one is going to destroy another perfectly good thread, especially one started by the guy who pays the tab so we can all have a place to discuss basketball.

 

[WaymanFan]

Lucky, everyone is entitled to an opinion. It's the same for posters who express an original thought and for those who disagree.

That said, we're all capable of taking things too far at times. I have been guilty of that myself. But in the end, the majority of posters here are Sooner fans who share similar goals when it comes to our favorite basketball team. I would like to think that the bitter dispute we saw last week is over now, and that everyone is ready to enjoy the season ahead.

My comments are in no way meant to start the debate again. If it does, I'll delete every post. No one is going to destroy another perfectly good thread, especially one started by the guy who pays the tab so we can all have a place to discuss basketball.

:clap :clap :clap


Personally, I appreciate all the reports that I've read the past few weeks from those who attended the practices and scrimmages. I haven't read a bad one yet, and I certainly enjoyed the one in this thread from OUHoops.

 

[campbest]

So are we going to attack OUHOOPS for posting something simliar to what GAry posted? Everyone attacked gary for real simililar comments'

I remember post's like "no way a 2-3 year starter, a senior, will come off the bench."

"No way a freshman will start over our experienced players"

Some people think they actual know more than another person posting on the forum. Its quit funny. Noone knows more than another person, we will find out as the season goes along.

I hear all the time "you have no credibility posting like that" do we need credibility to post on a forum?

Grooms isn't a 2-3 year starter, he was recruited as a stop-gap since our primary ball handler was going to be Carl freaking Blair. Still think Grooms starts the season, but his PT may dwindle a bit depending on how the freshmen adapt to the level of play. Little different than having a 15pt/game scorer backing up a true frosh.

 

[vbdad]

Grooms isn't a 2-3 year starter, he was recruited as a stop-gap since our primary ball handler was going to be Carl freaking Blair. Still think Grooms starts the season, but his PT may dwindle a bit depending on how the freshmen adapt to the level of play. Little different than having a 15pt/game scorer backing up a true frosh.

Talking about Fitz being a three year starter.

 

[WTSooner]

Talking about Fitz being a three year starter.

I don't know of any poster that didn't think M'Baye starting for Fitz wasn't a possibility. In fact, most thought that would probably happen.

 

[boksooner]

I don't know of any poster that didn't think M'Baye starting for Fitz wasn't a possibility. In fact, most thought that would probably happen.

Maybe he was referring to Pledger? There was a healthy debate about whether Pledger would continue to start.

 

[WTSooner]

Maybe he was referring to Pledger? There was a healthy debate about whether Pledger would continue to start.

And according to most reports, he is still starting alongside the two freshman.

Like I said above, I'm pretty sure NOBODY had this, assuming it holds, as the starting lineup for game 1.

 

[boksooner]

And according to most reports, he is still starting alongside the two freshman.

Like I said above, I'm pretty sure NOBODY had this, assuming it holds, as the starting lineup for game 1.

Only two returning starters and neither of them is Grooms? I'm pretty sure you're right.

 

[ouleopard]

The assistant coaches have said that Bolden had one of the worst AAU summers a
player could have and they are not recruiting him unless he has a monster year.

 

[seniorsooner]

That girl with Randle in the picture above.....is that his host at OU, or a person he brought with him?

Was wondering that myself. I bet she's pretty valuable when it comes to recruiting. lol