Step Back and think

[CoachTalk]

We were a 10vs7. We weren't suppose to win. We are in the 2 me year of an almost complete rebuild.
There are worst things that could've happen, see georgetown, 3 5 seeds that went home, a 2,3,4 that went home already.

Saying all that I felt we had a good shot to win, if we play anywhere close to our "avg" games this year, we do. But it didnt happen.

Those folks that get on here and have a complete meltdown after every single loss, including games we are suppose to win and games that no one thinks we are going to win. Teams are going to have great games and just awful games, it doesn't have to ruin the season. These kids are learning to deal with adversity.

I think that "sucicide" mentality needs to change, do you want our players thinking like this after each game? Of course not.
I know I'm just a HS coach but I tell my players all the time "you can't too high on wins or too low during losses" it's a long season, they'll be peaks and valleys all year.

READ MY RANTING OR NOT. This was a good year for OU, and I have no doubt that it will only get better. Thanks again to this group of men as a whole and look forward to next year.

 

[Cleavon Little]

Kruger is the same way. Tubby Smith after beating Indiana, same way. Peaks aren't as high nor are the valleys as low as they seem. Keep working hard and good things will happen. I bet you are a good coach.

 

[AdaSooner]

Coach, thanks for putting this season into perspective! You're right, this was a very successful season by any measurement you want to use. A quick look at the evidence proves that.

Three years ago: 13 - 18 overall; 4 -12 in the Big 12 (no post season play)
Two years ago: 14 - 18 overall; 5 - 11 in conference (no post season play)
Last year: 15 - 16 overall; 5 - 13 in conference (no post season play)

This year's team finished the season 20-12 overall; 11-7 in conference, good for 4th place in the Big 12 and a trip to the NCAA tourney.

Rebuilding a team is often a marathon, not a sprint. I'm not a patient person by nature. But when I allow myself to take a good look at the season just ended, I realize that this was definitely a step in the right direction.

 

[coolm]

ty coach. I get tired of the gloom and doom also. It's like some don't remember where we were (or weren't more specifically) a few years back.

Probably because they were busy discussing football.

 

[bgrch1350]

Its not about losing to SD St. Its about only having one guy that produced. M'Baye shooting three 3's. Hield shooting three 3's.

M'Baye took some really bad shots.

 

[Cleavon Little]

M'Baye took some really bad shots.

Agreed, but save this sentiment for another thread. We're being positive on this one.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Coach, thanks for putting this season into perspective! You're right, this was a very successful season by any measurement you want to use. A quick look at the evidence proves that.

Three years ago: 13 - 18 overall; 4 -12 in the Big 12 (no post season play)
Two years ago: 14 - 18 overall; 5 - 11 in conference (no post season play)
Last year: 15 - 16 overall; 5 - 13 in conference (no post season play)

This year's team finished the season 20-12 overall; 11-7 in conference, good for 4th place in the Big 12 and a trip to the NCAA tourney.

Rebuilding a team is often a marathon, not a sprint. I'm not a patient person by nature. But when I allow myself to take a good look at the season just ended, I realize that this was definitely a step in the right direction.

:clap:clap:clap

I had my doubts early in the season, but clearly we are ahead of schedule, and that alone makes me HAPPY!!!!!

 

[Sid]

Coach, thanks for putting this season into perspective! You're right, this was a very successful season by any measurement you want to use. A quick look at the evidence proves that.

Three years ago: 13 - 18 overall; 4 -12 in the Big 12 (no post season play)
Two years ago: 14 - 18 overall; 5 - 11 in conference (no post season play)
Last year: 15 - 16 overall; 5 - 13 in conference (no post season play)

This year's team finished the season 20-12 overall; 11-7 in conference, good for 4th place in the Big 12 and a trip to the NCAA tourney.

Rebuilding a team is often a marathon, not a sprint. I'm not a patient person by nature. But when I allow myself to take a good look at the season just ended, I realize that this was definitely a step in the right direction.

I agree. The Sooners played their hearts out last night. For the first time in 4 years they looked like a legitimate MM team. Now that the drought is over, what are your minimum expectations for the team next season?

 

[MsProudSooner]

I agree. The Sooners played their hearts out last night. For the first time in 4 years they looked like a legitimate MM team. Now that the drought is over, what are your minimum expectations for the team next season?

I think that all depends on how our inside game develops.

 

[furge]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but were we not picked in the preseason to finish in the bottom three of the Big XII this season?

Sustaining success means never being fully satisfied with the results, but attaining success means working at the pace of the process and accepting results as it byproduct. We wound up with a team of grinders this year and Lon put 'em into a tournament berth. I also would've liked at least one tourney win -- but consider that a group of sportswriters with a lot less OU bias than this board has were basically saying we'd be lucky to win six games IN CONFERENCE.

It's not the end. We're way ahead of schedule, guys.

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree. The Sooners played their hearts out last night. For the first time in 4 years they looked like a legitimate MM team. Now that the drought is over, what are your minimum expectations for the team next season?

Sid, I think it's too early to tell. A lot will depend on how much progress the players coming back make in the off season. Clearly, our guards and wings have to improve their perimeter shooting. Osby will be a huge loss. But, IMO, no one else on this year's team will be all that difficult to replace. Some here will disagree, but one only has to look at the stats in last night's game to confirm what I'm saying.

I think Woodard is our point guard of the future, although it could take him a while to adjust to the speed and physicality of the college game before he's ready to take over that spot. I really like the two guard, Frank Booker, who committed to OU earlier this week. He could be a key to our perimeter shooting, providing he adapts quickly to the challenges he'll face at the next level.

The big question is, can our bigs as a group make up for the loss of Romero Osby. If anyone doubts how much we'll miss Roe next year, they didn't watch last night's game.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I think Woodard is our point guard of the future, although it could take him a while to adjust to the speed and physicality of the college game before he's ready to take over that spot.

And may I be the first to say that no one should b!tch if he gets a lot of minutes early in the season next year!

 

[Cleavon Little]

The big question is, can our bigs as a group make up for the loss of Romero Osby. If anyone doubts how much we'll miss Roe next year, they didn't watch last night's game.

We were already shorthanded with Osby. Amath has a ways to go still mentally. I have a hunch Spangler is going to be good and M'Baye is going to improve.

 

[ouwxman]

We certainly exceeded or at least met most people's expectations for this season. I'm disappointed we couldn't have developed more consistency offensively, and we peaked right before the tournament. Nonetheless, the future looks bright with this freshmen class and the incoming class. I am concerned about our offense next year, but hopefully M'Baye and Spangler can replace Osby's production. We also need improved outside shooting. I think my expectations for next year are probably slightly lower. But, if we get good performances from the new players and the freshmen progress, then we may find ourselves in the NCAA tournament again.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

We were already shorthanded with Osby. Amath has a ways to go still mentally. I have a hunch Spangler is going to be good and M'Baye is going to improve.

This is what I think too. M'Baye a little better, Spangler bringing some toughness, and we have four pretty nice guards to build around. Bennett has a year in the program, Cam will probably be the same Cam we've seen. We will absolutely miss Ro' but I think there is plenty of room for guys to step up their game next season.

 

[bocabull]

I think we went as far as Osby & Pledger could take us. Two seniors who have been on the roster 3 & 4 years.

This was not 2 years into a rebuilding, this was the final year of the last rebuilding after WW, TMG, & Tiny left us short handed.

Next year will be year 2 with the Hield, Cousins, Hornbeak roster. I don't see much improvement coming. People who think Spangler is going to replace Osby are kidding themselves. Hield should be able to surpass Pledger which helps.

But Kruger is 60 years old. His coaching won't improve. His recruiting wont improve. Each year he's 1 season closer to taking his $17 million OU retirement fund back to that country club house he built back in Vegas.

 

[Cleavon Little]

Hate to break it to you but no one cares what you think. Your few insightful opinions are buried under the truckload of manure that spews from your keyboard. Keep on validating stereotypes.

 

[AdaSooner]

We certainly exceeded or at least met most people's expectations for this season. I'm disappointed we couldn't have developed more consistency offensively, and we peaked right before the tournament. Nonetheless, the future looks bright with this freshmen class and the incoming class. I am concerned about our offense next year, but hopefully M'Baye and Spangler can replace Osby's production. We also need improved outside shooting. I think my expectations for next year are probably slightly lower. But, if we get good performances from the new players and the freshmen progress, then we may find ourselves in the NCAA tournament again.

Agreed. I didn't mean to suggest that the cupboard will be bare next year with Roe not around. Far from it. The key, of course, is if Amath will continue to develop his game in the off season to the point that he'll come in determined to make next year's team his own, just as Osby did the last two years? I think Spangler has the potential to continue the toughness, great effort and work on the boards that Romero brought to the team this year. I'm not sure about how good he'll be on offense. If Bennett and Hamilton can give us quality minutes, our front court could still be pretty good.

 

[CoachTalk]

I think we went as far as Osby & Pledger could take us. Two seniors who have been on the roster 3 & 4 years.

This was not 2 years into a rebuilding, this was the final year of the last rebuilding after WW, TMG, & Tiny left us short handed.

Next year will be year 2 with the Hield, Cousins, Hornbeak roster. I don't see much improvement coming. People who think Spangler is going to replace Osby are kidding themselves. Hield should be able to surpass Pledger which helps.

But Kruger is 60 years old. His coaching won't improve. His recruiting wont improve. Each year he's 1 season closer to taking his $17 million OU retirement fund back to that country club house he built back in Vegas.

Your life must be just miserable.

 

[bocabull]

Your life must be just miserable.

Actually quite the opposite. When you step outside the bubble and objectively analyze trends, causes, effects & likely outcomes life is quite serene.

It's when you build up false hope for unlikely outcomes, rationalizing failures, looking for excuses, that life becomes turbulent.

When it comes to sports & politics unfortunately only 10-15% of the country is able to remove themselves from the homer bubble.