Steve Henson

[WichitaSooner]

Oh, and follow up question. If I don't have the info to know I'm right, how do YOU know I'm wrong?

I specifically said in my post that I wonder how any of us can claim to know, and I include myself in that. And I also have said multiple times that he does deserve some of the blame for things. I just think it is silly for people to keep acting like they definitively know what goes on behind the scenes. The talk about the assistants seems especially crazy to me. Pure speculation. Maybe it is accurate, but it is nothing more than a guess.

I do disagree with your Xs and Os comment. I can't tell you how many times I've heard opposing coaches single out that specific trait when talking about Lon. Self and Huggins in particular talk about how he does a great job finding mismatches. I don't claim to be a guy who can watch a game and immediately diagnose plays and Xs and Os, but I'll take those two guys at their word.

And in what way could you look at Dixon and think he has a better track record than Kruger? Dixon isn't exactly a young pup, he's been a head coach for a long time. How many deep runs has he made? He is a good coach, don't get me wrong, but in no way would he be an upgrade.

 

[JBaker]

I don’t understand those of you just willing to let the coaches off the hook so easily. A LOT of coaching staffs could take this exact same roster and get better production out of it.

This coaching staff just allowed our team to look totally unprepared in attacking a zone against a team that has run zone defense for years, with seemingly no adjustments ever made, to the tune of a 30-point home loss to a team that couldn’t score on Stephen F. Austin.

 

[TINY]

I don’t understand those of you just willing to let the coaches off the hook so easily. A LOT of coaching staffs could take this exact same roster and get better production out of it.

This coaching staff just allowed our team to look totally unprepared in attacking a zone against a team that has run zone defense for years, with seemingly no adjustments ever made, to the tune of a 30-point home loss to a team that couldn’t score on Stephen F. Austin.

This is pure BS. This roster is pure trash by our standards. There is only 1 4-star player per rivals and 0 top 100 players per 24/7. They have a bottom 3 roster in conference (osu and wvu are the only worse ones). I don’t think much of a couple of our assistants, but this team is basically maxing out their potential right now.

 

[WTSooner]

This is pure BS. This roster is pure trash by our standards. There is only 1 4-star player per rivals and 0 top 100 players per 24/7. They have a bottom 3 roster in conference (osu and wvu are the only worse ones). I don’t think much of a couple of our assistants, but this team is basically maxing out their potential right now.

It's not hard to go to 247's site and look at recruiting info, to see that your statement is incorrect.

It's coaching.

 

[TINY]

It's not hard to go to 247's site and look at recruiting info, to see that your statement is incorrect.

It's coaching.

It evidently is hard for you since there is not a single top 100 player on this team per 24/7’s national rankings. The team has very mediocre talent by OU standards. We all knew it going into the season when our 2 elite talents left the program (and our best big man) and were replaced by 2 mediocre grad transfers. The recruiting has been abysmal for the past few years outside of landing Trae and Mcgusty. This incoming class should make us a legit top 25 team again.

 

[thebigabd]

The next coach at OU should be Grant McCasland from North Texas. He's 42, with a lot of head coaching experience, Big 12 ties, junior college connections, and an 80% win percentage as a head coach.

He has deep recruiting ties in Texas... was a junior college head coach in Texas (winning national championships), was an assistant at Baylor during their best run, and at North Texas won 20 games in his first season last year, and has them at 19-4 this year so far. He won 20 games as the head coach of Arkansas State before going to North Texas as well.

He has won 80% of his games as a head coach.

In his first season at North Texas they broke school records for points scored, 3 pointers made, and total rebounds..

In C-USA this year they are
#5 in scoring offense
#2 in scoring defense
#1 in scoring margin
#1 in 3pt defense
#2 in rebounding margin
#2 in FG percentage
#3 in FG defense

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Grant McCasland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_McCasland

UNT Biography (I like his socks in the photo)
https://meangreensports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=3&path=mbball

 

[AdaSooner]

The next coach at OU should be Grant McCasland from North Texas. He's 42, with a lot of head coaching experience, Big 12 ties, junior college connections, and an 80% win percentage as a head coach.

He has deep recruiting ties in Texas... was a junior college head coach in Texas (winning national championships), was an assistant at Baylor during their best run, and at North Texas won 20 games in his first season last year, and has them at 19-4 this year so far. He won 20 games as the head coach of Arkansas State before going to North Texas as well.

He has won 80% of his games as a head coach.

In his first season at North Texas they broke school records for points scored, 3 pointers made, and total rebounds..

In C-USA this year they are
#5 in scoring offense
#2 in scoring defense
#1 in scoring margin
#1 in 3pt defense
#2 in rebounding margin
#2 in FG percentage
#3 in FG defense

Well done, Big A! You make a great case for Grant McCasland as OU ‘s next coach. I think it’s time to give this topic more attention. If I don’t see a dramatic change at every level, including coaching, in our program next season, I will be for bringing in a new head coach.

No more excuses about a lack of talent. The players on our roster right now may not be final four worthy. But they have proven, at least to me, they’re a lot better than a thirty point loss at home to Baylor, followed by a loss to an undermanned WV team a week later. It should be obvious to everyone that those poor performances, not to mention a twenty point beat down in the LNC by K-State, went beyond an absence of talent.

Our opponents in every game were ready to play—another way of saying they were well prepared when the games started. OU’s players were clearly not ready. Makes me wonder what the heck our coaches were doing in practice prior to those games?

By the way, welcome back!

 

[TINY]

The next coach at OU should be Grant McCasland from North Texas. He's 42, with a lot of head coaching experience, Big 12 ties, junior college connections, and an 80% win percentage as a head coach.

He has deep recruiting ties in Texas... was a junior college head coach in Texas (winning national championships), was an assistant at Baylor during their best run, and at North Texas won 20 games in his first season last year, and has them at 19-4 this year so far. He won 20 games as the head coach of Arkansas State before going to North Texas as well.

He has won 80% of his games as a head coach.

In his first season at North Texas they broke school records for points scored, 3 pointers made, and total rebounds..

In C-USA this year they are
#5 in scoring offense
#2 in scoring defense
#1 in scoring margin
#1 in 3pt defense
#2 in rebounding margin
#2 in FG percentage
#3 in FG defense

Sounds like a winner, thanks, ABD!

 

[coolm]

Well done, Big A! You make a great case for Grant McCasland as OU ‘s next coach. I think it’s time to give this topic more attention. If I don’t see a dramatic change at every level, including coaching, in our program next season, I will be for bringing in a new head coach.

No more excuses about a lack of talent. The players on our roster right now may not be final four worthy. But they have proven, at least to me, they’re a lot better than a thirty point loss at home to Baylor, followed by a loss to an undermanned WV team a week later. It should be obvious to everyone that those poor performances, not to mention a twenty point beat down in the LNC by K-State, went beyond an absence of talent.

Our opponents in every game were ready to play—another way of saying they were well prepared when the games started. OU’s players were clearly not ready. Makes me wonder what the heck our coaches were doing in practice prior to those games?

By the way, welcome back!

wow ada ... you're usually much more positive. not that I blame you at all. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

I think my biggest complaint at the moment is I don't feel the urgency by this staff. This is a crucial period and it's as if they couldnt care less if we save this season or not. I had watched Baylor and knew they were getting much better and we didnt seem to do a thing in response. I think the coaches have lost this group and it doesn't fill me with hope regarding a new group of youngsters coming in next season.

 

[WTSooner]

It evidently is hard for you since there is not a single top 100 player on this team per 24/7’s national rankings. The team has very mediocre talent by OU standards. We all knew it going into the season when our 2 elite talents left the program (and our best big man) and were replaced by 2 mediocre grad transfers. The recruiting has been abysmal for the past few years outside of landing Trae and Mcgusty. This incoming class should make us a legit top 25 team again.

You keep throwing out that top 100 crap. OU has never had, or rarely, more than 1 or 2 of those guys at a time, and we've had more success.

But I'll attack your point a different way. I don't have time to do this with every teams, but let's look at TT. They are currently 16th in the country and already two full games in front of OU in the Big 12. What studs do they have? They have three 4* players on their roster. One of them isn't playing this season. One of them is averaging 5 points per game in a role off the bench. And the third one is their third leading scorer at 10.5 ppg. The two scoring more are a 3* kid and an unranked kid out of HS.

I'll do one more. KSU. Currently 1st in the Big 12, not a single 4* player on their roster. Obviously, no top 100 players.

Outside of KU, nobody in this league is leaps and bounds more talented than OU. Baylor is probably noticeably more talented, but that would be it. Everybody else is pretty comparative, ESPECIALLY when you look at where their production is coming from. Meaning, a few teams have some 4* kids, or top 100 kids, that simply aren't contributing much to their winning.

 

[AdaSooner]

wow ada ... you're usually much more positive. not that I blame you at all. I agree with you wholeheartedly.

I think my biggest complaint at the moment is I don't feel the urgency by this staff. This is a crucial period and it's as if they couldnt care less if we save this season or not. I had watched Baylor and knew they were getting much better and we didnt seem to do a thing in response. I think the coaches have lost this group and it doesn't fill me with hope regarding a new group of youngsters coming in next season.

Coolm, this is not the new me, it’s the real me. I hide my true feelings sometimes...until I’ve had my fill of something I can’t take anymore. This is one of those times.

I think our coaches have lost this team. The team chemistry and solid defense I was so proud of not long ago are practically nonexistent now. The adults our kids were counting on for encouragement and guidance don’t seem to have a clue about what to do to stop the bleeding. If that’s frustrating to me, I can only imagine how the players feel.

 

[TINY]

You keep throwing out that top 100 crap. OU has never had, or rarely, more than 1 or 2 of those guys at a time, and we've had more success.

People keep acting like this season has been a disaster, when, in fact, we are squarely in the tournament field right now. What more were you expecting through 22 games? And ou’s best teams have almost always had multiple top 100 players on them. The teams that contend in March tend to have more elite recruits than the ones sitting at home..

But I'll attack your point a different way. I don't have time to do this with every teams, but let's look at TT. They are currently 16th in the country and already two full games in front of OU in the Big 12. What studs do they have? They have three 4* players on their roster. One of them isn't playing this season. One of them is averaging 5 points per game in a role off the bench. And the third one is their third leading scorer at 10.5 ppg. The two scoring more are a 3* kid and an unranked kid out of HS.

So tech has a more talented roster and they are better than us? How is that attacking my argument?

I'll do one more. KSU. Currently 1st in the Big 12, not a single 4* player on their roster. Obviously, no top 100 players.

Credit KState as they are definitely a better team than what their recruiting would suggest. Kudos to bruceketball for being the exception, although wade and sneed were both 4* players on rivals.

Outside of KU, nobody in this league is leaps and bounds more talented than OU. Baylor is probably noticeably more talented, but that would be it. Everybody else is pretty comparative, ESPECIALLY when you look at where their production is coming from. Meaning, a few teams have some 4* kids, or top 100 kids, that simply aren't contributing much to their winning.

4/5 Stars (per Rivals) for teams ahead of us in conference:

Kansas - loaded
Iowa state - 5 4* players and 1 5* player
KState - 2 4* players
Baylor - 4 4* players
Tech - 3 4* players
TCU - 5 4* players
Texas - 8 4* players in their last 2 classes alone

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[coolm]

The team chemistry and solid defense I was so proud of not long ago are practically nonexistent now. The adults our kids were counting on for encouragement and guidance don’t seem to have a clue about what to do to stop the bleeding. If that’s frustrating to me, I can only imagine how the players feel.

I was thinking the same yesterday. I feel sorry for them. You could see the frustration on their faces and I saw zero answers from the coaches. This school pays Lon too much money for this. I'd rather get a fiery disciplinarian and a couple of home boy recruiter assistants if this style isn't getting us any further than what we're seeing now and the last few years.

 

[Big Old Booger]

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If we only win 1 more conference game, which is very possible, we aren't in the tournament field. No way 4-14 in the big 12 gets you in. No way.

 

[TINY]

If we only win 1 more conference game, which is very possible, we aren't in the tournament field. No way 4-14 in the big 12 gets you in. No way.

No doubt about that. I’m not sure we make it to the dance but let’s see it play out first.

 

[hoopsaustin]

I don't want anyone associated with kruger imo. Outside hire imo

 

[ousooners1baby]

Haven't posted in some time so be gentle. Watching recently makes me wonder if Lon coaches at all. I respect him but as Ada said when enough is enough it is time to get real. I used to stay up when I worked night shift to listen to Bob call the holiday games. I would not miss a game and just listen if I only had that option. That's been the norm for about 30 years. Now, I really don't care to watch and that saddens me terribly. I wouldn't listen if you paid me and it has nothing to do with Toby. Just imagining them not playing defense and throwing up shots is more than i can stand.

 

[BCSooners]

Haven't posted in some time so be gentle. Watching recently makes me wonder if Lon coaches at all. I respect him but as Ada said when enough is enough it is time to get real. I used to stay up when I worked night shift to listen to Bob call the holiday games. I would not miss a game and just listen if I only had that option. That's been the norm for about 30 years. Now, I really don't care to watch and that saddens me terribly. I wouldn't listen if you paid me and it has nothing to do with Toby. Just imagining them not playing defense and throwing up shots is more than i can stand.

They play defense

 

[ousooners1baby]

Correct. I actually meant offense. They give considerable amounts more effort this season on D.