I'm not advocating Evans as my top guy for the job, but I wouldn't be opposed to it if some Joe C. struck out on several of his top candidates.
I went and watched his UCO team play last night and Sunday night and was very impressed with his coaching and in-game decisions. He can definitely coach.
His team got into early foul trouble, including his best player who picked up his fourth about midway through the second half, and he finessed it beautifully subbing him offense for defense whenever possible and managed to keep his team in the game until the last minute. I realize most coaches do this, but he was doing it with multiple players throughout the last five minutes.
His team, which already had a size disadvantage, was pretty much overmatched the last five minutes of the game yet I thought he kept them in it. I also thought he ran good sets to get his best remaining scoring threats in a position to score and keep them in the game. To be honest, I saw more stuff like that last night than I ever saw from Capel. I'm no basketball expert, just making an observation.
On Sunday his team was in the midst of blowing a 20-point lead (cue the his team blew a 20-point lead so he's not our guy reply) and he made the adjustment to start getting the ball to his best player, a 6-3 guard named Dontae Williams, on the block against a smaller guard and that helped them stop the run. Then they started double-teaming the guard down low and he was able to find the open man on the perimeter or cutting to the lane and they blew the game open late.
Again, I'm by no means a basketball expert but I liked what I saw. And I'm not saying "Hire Terry!" but I wouldn't lose sleep over it if he some of our other top options said no and he was hired. From what I saw, there's more to him than just being a former Sooner who happens to be a coach. He can coach and has won at every level.
As for his style of play, they definitely push the ball offensively whenever they can. On defense, they like to pressure the inbounds pass after a made basket, then they fall back and then pressure the ball with a double-team after it gets across the halfcourt line. That style wouldn't work well at all, IMO, with what OU has returning next year. But if it's a long-term hire it would be fun to watch.
If it doesn't work out for him at OU, I would love to see him get a chance at Tulsa or Wichita State if Marshall ends up elsewhere. I would also love to see him as an assistant at OU, but I'm not sure if that would be an option for him.
Again, not saying he's my top guy. There are 4-5 guys I would hire ahead of him. But I would be extremely intrigued if some things didn't work out and we ended up with Evans.
Sam was at the game too last night so hopefully he'll chime in with his two cents.
