Summer Q&A with Lon Kruger

[skyvue]

Make no mistake about it. I'm directing this at you. You are the one that started this. You did't agree or like what I had to say about a basketball topic. Your stated objective at that point was to "put this guy in his place."

You're fully entitled not to like me, of course, but I have no idea what you're talking about here. I virtually never mention grammar and spelling on this board or any other. There's no point; it's a losing game.

I've been online since the early 1990s, and I've mentioned grammar or spelling in a public setting like this no more than half a dozen times, and probably fewer than that.

What's more, I'll donate fifty dollars to charity if you can show me a post in which I stated that my objective was to "put this guy in his place." Sorry, but that's sheer delusion.

I'll not respond to the rest of your insulting rhetoric, except to point out that for someone who frequently points fingers at others for not being "civil," you seem to have a good deal of difficulty maintaining a civil tone yourself.

 

[skyvue]

Actually, a little further research reveals that, in fact, one of my very few posts about grammar was indeed directed at you. If that offended you, I sincerely apologize.

However, if you wish to revisit that now-closed thread, you'll find that my comments were the least of your concerns. One poster noted one of your misspellings before I did, others called you "an idiot" and the "new resident board clown." Others responded with strings of laughing emoticons.

Not sure what might have inspired all that enmity? In addition to the now-familiar antagonistic tone you employed throughout the thread, it might have been this pithy statement on your part:

"My positions are considered universal truths outside of this closed community."

http://ouhoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22759

Funny enough, that thread in which you dished out and received so much grief was off the mark, anyway: It touted the "fact" that Rotnei Clarke was coming to OU.

 

[garyeb2]

Actually, a little further research reveals that, in fact, one of my very few posts about grammar was indeed directed at you. If that offended you, I sincerely apologize.

However, if you wish to revisit that now-closed thread, you'll find that my comments were the least of your concerns. One poster noted one of your misspellings before I did, others called you "an idiot" and the "new resident board clown." Others responded with strings of laughing emoticons.

Not sure what might have inspired all that enmity? In addition to the now-familiar antagonistic tone you employed throughout the thread, it might have been this pithy statement on your part:

"My positions are considered universal truths outside of this closed community."

http://ouhoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22759

Funny enough, that thread in which you dished out and received so much grief was off the mark, anyway: It touted the "fact" that Rotnei Clarke was coming to OU.

You are so transparent that you should change your screen name to Saran Wrap.

 

[garyeb2]

Since we have wandered far from topic, I'll make an observation.
You seem to be a person who can't take constructive criticism.

Depends on the source.

 

[AdaSooner]

You can always tell when we're in the middle of the summer doldroms and there is not much to talk about. :facepalm

OUHoops had a good idea by posting the Kruger Q & A session. Surely there is more to the topic than what we have already discussed.

 

[garyeb2]

You can always tell when we're in the middle of the summer doldroms and there is not much to talk about. :facepalm

OUHoops had a good idea by posting the Kruger Q & A session. Surely there is more to the topic than what we have already discussed.

OK. How about this one? With Kruger sometimes you have to read between the lines. Or, just think about what he didn't say.

Kelvin was always hyping and touting his players. It was generaly the pretty good ones. But, there were several of them. Kruger said that M'baye was a special player. That is good. Now we have a Kruger benchmark. After watching M'baye, going forward, we will know what that means.

And the other thing is Grooms. Kruger hasn't done much knocking of his players. It is always work hard willing to learn stuff. He says that they need to be tougher and have more effort. But, doesn't single anyone out. But, at least 3 times now, he will say something nice about Grooms. Then point out his shortcomings.

I'm thinking that Grooms is on notice that his shooting woes need to be solved from the get go.

.

 

[AdaSooner]

OK. How about this one? With Kruger sometimes you have to read between the lines. Or, just think about what he didn't say.

Kelvin was always hyping and touting his players. It was generaly the pretty good ones. But, there were several of them. Kruger said that M'baye was a special player. That is good. Now we have a Kruger benchmark. After watching M'baye, going forward, we will know what that means.

And the other thing is Grooms. Kruger hasn't done much knocking of his players. It is always work hard willing to learn stuff. He says that they need to be tougher and have more effort. But, doesn't single anyone out. But, at least 3 times now, he will say something nice about Grooms. Then point out his shortcomings.

I'm thinking that Grooms is on notice that his shooting woes need to be solved from the get go.

.

Spot on observations, all, at least in my opinion. Kruger has proven to be a master in public relations/coach speak. One has to believe that he would be a good politician if he decides on a new career path after his coaching days are over. For my part, I hope that never happens. There aren't many politicians I care to know, beyond what I see on televison.

As I recall, LK put Grooms on notice at the end of last season when he called attention to the fact that he needed to improve his shooting in the off season. If Blair had been a better ball handler and a more consistent shooter in his own right, I believe that Grooms would have seen his playing time cut last year. With Cousins and Hornbeak waiting in the wings, something tells me that they will get their chance early and often if Sam's shooting woes continue.

 

[BigTime]

Spot on observations, all, at least in my opinion. Kruger has proven to be a master in public relations/coach speak. One has to believe that he would be a good politician if he decides on a new career path after his coaching days are over. For my part, I hope that never happens. There aren't many politicians I care to know, beyond what I see on televison.

As I recall, LK put Grooms on notice at the end of last season when he called attention to the fact that he needed to improve his shooting in the off season. If Blair had been a better ball handler and a more consistent shooter in his own right, I believe that Grooms would have seen his playing time cut last year. With Cousins and Hornbeak waiting in the wings, something tells me that they will get their chance early and often if Sam's shooting woes continue.

I agree that Grooms needs to be able to hit open jumpers and finish lay ups or he will find himself sitting more this year. He had it pretty good last year with Blair and Franklin behind him.

 

[AdaSooner]

I agree that Grooms needs to be able to hit open jumpers and finish lay ups or he will find himself sitting more this year. He had it pretty good last year with Blair and Franklin behind him.

No doubt about it, BT! If Blair had been more consistent on offense and he had not been a turnover machine, Grooms minutes might have been cut last year. I think that will change with Cousins and Hornbeak on our roster this season. Sam will have to find a way to score from somewhere, whether it's from deep, short-range jumpers or driving the lane. Otherwise, he will sit and sit often. JMHO.

 

[BoulderSooner]

as long as sam plays good D takes care of the ball and runs the team he is going to play over 25 min a game most nights in the 30's

 

[BigTime]

as long as sam plays good D takes care of the ball and runs the team he is going to play over 25 min a game most nights in the 30's

I tend to agree but I also think he most likely worked really hard on his shot this summer and improved his confidence with it.

 

[AdaSooner]

I tend to agree but I also think he most likely worked really hard on his shot this summer and improved his confidence with it.

I hope that's true. If you're right and Sam's shot has improved a few percentage points from his dismal 20% average from three last season, it will be very difficult for a true freshman to cut into minutes too much. His shooting woes aside, he was as solid as the majority of point guards in the Big 12.

What I'm saying is that if our opponents don't see him as a scoring threat, Coach Kruger will not let defenders back off and allow him to take uncontested shots the way teams did last season.