Summer workouts

[WichitaSooner]

Anyone have any info on how things are going? Is anyone looking better (or worse) than expected? It seems like usually by this point of the summer, some of the insiders have some info to help us pass the time till practice officially starts. Any updates would be much appreciated, as always!

 

[vbdad]

I've heard the point guard from Maine plays like a point guard. Reynolds is most likely a backup but absolutely great kid who is a real plus for the program.
Reaves shoots very well and knows how to play basketball.
Christian James has thinned up again and playing well.
Manek has filled out some and now has much longer hair.
Jamuni looks great but still has moments where disappears.

They seem to be working hard and enjoying practice.

 

[Stikboy]

When is Kuar Khan arriving?

 

[vbdad]

His last test was a few days ago so hopefully soon.

 

[Stikboy]

Thanks

 

[cowboysooner]

Much appreciated Vbdad. I have been in withdrawal from my basketball addition and was getting a little shakey.

BTW, if Manek makes himself look more like Larry Bird did in the 70s, then maybe he will play more like him.

Also, James is my breakout player prediction this year. I say (hope) he assumes some leadership and gains the consistency to be really good. We'll see.

So VBDAD, who do you predict starts this year.

 

[BCSooners]

Thank you VBDAD!!!

 

[WichitaSooner]

Thanks for the info. I am hopeful that the two grad transfers will make a big difference. Even if Reynolds comes off the bench, he could be a great addition -- last year's team obviously had several guys who weren't happy with their roles, but it doesn't sound like that will be a problem with him. I would love to be proven wrong, but I am not counting on James having a breakout season -- I think he will likely improve his numbers slightly from last season because he will get more shots, but not take a huge jump. He really needs to work on finding consistency throughout the season and not getting so down when shots aren't falling.

 

[AdaSooner]

As an FYI, Vbdad has been a trusted friend and one of my most reliable sources over the years. You can take anything he tells you to the bank. It’s good to know he will continue to be a source of information the board can count on.

Thanks, Vbdad!

 

[WTSooner]

Reynolds is most likely a backup but absolutely great kid who is a real plus for the program.

If that is true, we may be in some trouble unless somebody else is much better than expected. IMO, we needed him to be a better option than Odomes.

A starting lineup of the kid from Maine, James, Odomes, Manek, and McNeace doesn't do much for me.

 

[BCSooners]

If that is true, we may be in some trouble unless somebody else is much better than expected. IMO, we needed him to be a better option than Odomes.

A starting lineup of the kid from Maine, James, Odomes, Manek, and McNeace doesn't do much for me.

Defense needs to be on the court to start the game to disrupt other teams best scorer early. It's more important who finishes games than who starts. Just bc Odomes doesn't shoot well some of y'all act like he doesn't impact the game in a big time way.

 

[colston15]

If that is true, we may be in some trouble unless somebody else is much better than expected. IMO, we needed him to be a better option than Odomes.

A starting lineup of the kid from Maine, James, Odomes, Manek, and McNeace doesn't do much for me.

It's a helluva lot better than one with Young and McGusty.

 

[AdaSooner]

If that is true, we may be in some trouble unless somebody else is much better than expected. IMO, we needed him to be a better option than Odomes.

A starting lineup of the kid from Maine, James, Odomes, Manek, and McNeace doesn't do much for me.

Don’t forget that four members of that lineup started at times last season. If Calixete’s presence at the point improves the team chemistry, who knows how much better this team can be? I think it’s safe to say the team chemistry can’t possibly be any worse.

It should also be noted that James, Odomes, Manek and McNeace aren’t the only options. Don’t forget about Doolittle in the starting lineup. Freeman might start in some situations. The backups aren’t that bad either.

I agree with Colston15. We’ll miss TY’s ability to score. We will not miss the dissension attributed to Young, McGusty and Shepherd in the second half of the season. If this group comes together as a team and sells out on defense, as they reportedly agreed to do in their post season team meeting last year, I think they may surprise a lot of people.

 

[WTSooner]

Defense needs to be on the court to start the game to disrupt other teams best scorer early. It's more important who finishes games than who starts. Just bc Odomes doesn't shoot well some of y'all act like he doesn't impact the game in a big time way.

We need better team defense. Odomes played last year, and his individual defense didn't do jack b/c the team defense was so bad.

And without Young, we really can't afford a black hole offensively at the 3 spot. OU shouldn't need to start a guy so limited offensively. If we do, that is a problem.

 

[WTSooner]

It's a helluva lot better than one with Young and McGusty.

We'll see about that.

 

[WTSooner]

Don’t forget that four members of that lineup started at times last season. If Calixete’s presence at the point improves the team chemistry, who knows how much better this team can be? I think it’s safe to say the team chemistry can’t possibly be any worse.

It should also be noted that James, Odomes, Manek and McNeace aren’t the only options. Don’t forget about Doolittle in the starting lineup. Freeman might start in some situations. The backups aren’t that bad either.

I agree with Colston15. We’ll miss TY’s ability to score. We will not miss the dissension attributed to Young, McGusty and Shepherd in the second half of the season. If this group comes together as a team and sells out on defense, as they reportedly agree to do in their post season team meeting, I think they may surprise a lot of people.

Chemistry wasn't our biggest problem last year, talent was. And we returned a lot of that same talent.

Yes, those 4 guys started some last year, and we weren't very good. If not for Young bailing us out on some of the nights he got hot, we would have been much worse. I personally don't think Calixete will be more than average/passable. He might be, I'm just not counting on it. And he isn't really known as a good defender either. And Doolittle replacing Manek doesn't really change much. Different player, same outlook, IMO.

We'll see. But if Reynolds is already being relegated to a reserve role, I'm not very optimistic.

 

[Sooner04]

When is Kuar Khan arriving?

Hopefully after his eligibility is exhausted elsewhere.

 

[coolm]

Chemistry wasn't our biggest problem last year, talent was. And we returned a lot of that same talent.

sorry, but attitude was our biggest problem last year and it suffered greatly due to bad chemistry among other things. If it was talent then we wouldn't have won those games at the beginning of the season either.

this team needs someone to run the point and everyone to play defense. if they get those 2 things down the rest will fall into place eventually. if not then it will be sad.

 

[AdaSooner]

Chemistry wasn't our biggest problem last year, talent was. And we returned a lot of that same talent.

Yes, those 4 guys started some last year, and we weren't very good. If not for Young bailing us out on some of the nights he got hot, we would have been much worse. I personally don't think Calixete will be more than average/passable. He might be, I'm just not counting on it. And he isn't really known as a good defender either. And Doolittle replacing Manek doesn't really change much. Different player, same outlook, IMO.

We'll see. But if Reynolds is already being relegated to a reserve role, I'm not very optimistic.

Team chemistry was a much bigger problem than you realized. Why do you think McGusty and Shepherd left the team when the season was over? They weren’t the only ones involved. The body language was all too obvious in the last half of the season..

Vbdad and others in the know may want to weigh in on that topic.

 

[WTSooner]

I've read the reports/stories. I'm not saying there weren't issues. But most of those issues weren't issues until we started losing. And just b/c you fix chemistry, talent doesn't automatically go up. This isn't an overly talented OU team. Sorry, it's just not. And I don't buy that the team defense is going to be drastically different either. First, it's hard to change that in one offseason. Second, I think we have too many guys that either don't really have it in them to be good defenders, or have been bad/mediocre defenders for so long that I don't think they can improve much at this point.

I was pretty down on this roster before just now. I guess I was hoping we'd hear that the two transfers were way better than maybe we were hoping, or at least both good enough to start. Was hoping that both the new guys would start with James. I get that it doesn't matter who starts, per se, but this isn't the NBA, typically the best 5 guys start.

We'll see. With the lack of talent, roster turnover (so many new guys), and tough schedule, I'm not really expecting much. Maybe they'll surprise me.