Thank you

[Sawyer]

I appreciate OU's effort against Arkansas. I enjoy seeing Mike Anderson struggle after the way he left MU.

This was my first true extended viewing of OU this season (I watched parts of the SLU game, as well). I don't think you're a tournament team, but the NIT is a realistic expectation. You have the sort of team this year that can win only 18 games but still always seem to be fun to root for. A mediocre team with a bunch of hard working role player types who just do their jobs is almost always fun to watch (just so long as you also have hope that things get better in the future, which is also the case at OU).

I'm not sure how good OU will be under Kruger, but it's obvious you'll never truly be bad. This should be the basement, which has to be a pretty good feeling.

 

[ben]

I would still be thanking for Anderson for the great team you guys have this year....

then after that talent dries up, you'll be as heinous as your football team.

 

[Stikboy]

Thank you for your expert appraisal of our little team. Not sure if we even deserve to be on the court with Missouri, so I'm glad they'll let us actually play the games. Again, thanks for being here.

 

[AdaSooner]

Remember what I said about Mike Anderson. When he was at Mizzou, you were blinded to his failings as a coach. He's a good coach, but only when he has superior athletes and better players than the opponents he faces. He is not someone who will find a way to win by coaching his players to overachieve the way Kelvin Sampson used to do.

 

[steverocks35]

Remember what I said about Mike Anderson. When he was at Mizzou, you were blinded to his failings as a coach. He's a good coach, but only when he has superior athletes and better players than the opponents he faces. He is not someone who will find a way to win by coaching his players to overachieve the way Kelvin Sampson used to do.

Yep, lot's of guys can coach when they have superior athletes at every position. Hell, that's how Mack Brown has made it all these years.

 

[Sawyer]

I would still be thanking for Anderson for the great team you guys have this year....

then after that talent dries up, you'll be as heinous as your football team.

Oh, I'm very thankful for the eight scholarship players Anderson left at Mizzou. He did an exceptional job of filling this roster with his relatives and sons of his friends. Unfortunately he didn't have a few more of them to leave behind.

Not sure I expect the talent to dry up, though. Haith still has a lot to prove, but he's already demonstrated he's a far better recruiter than Anderson was. I know you guys are excited about a transfer you've got sitting out. We have two with similarly impressive resumes (Keion Bell, who averaged nearly 20/game last year at Pepperdine, and Earnest Ross, the leading scorer and rebounder at Auburn as a sophomore).

We also have a high level point guard committed for 2013 who will fill the void left when Pressey leaves.

I don't know how well Haith will do long-term, but whatever failings he has will not be because he lacks talent.

Thank you for your expert appraisal of our little team. Not sure if we even deserve to be on the court with Missouri, so I'm glad they'll let us actually play the games. Again, thanks for being here.

Not sure why you'd take it that way. Considering you've missed the post-season two years in a row, failed to reach .500 in either season and still have many of the same players, I don't think "I don't think you're a tournament team" is really all that insulting. I could see taking "mediocre" the wrong way — probably not the best choice of words — but I haven't seen many people here suggest you're anything other than that.

Remember what I said about Mike Anderson. When he was at Mizzou, you were blinded to his failings as a coach. He's a good coach, but only when he has superior athletes and better players than the opponents he faces. He is not someone who will find a way to win by coaching his players to overachieve the way Kelvin Sampson used to do.

Even now, I wouldn't really agree with that. Anderson's elite eight team wasn't filled with superior athletes and better players than most of his opponents. He doesn't need better athletes or players. He just needs the right athletes/players. Often those are guys other coaches don't even want (Zaire Taylor and JT Tiller being prime examples). His elite eight team absolutely overachieved, and he did a really good job turning the mess left by Quin into a very solid program.

That said, his program is kind of like Nebraska under Frank Solich with the triple option (or Georgia Tech today). He could take a quarterback other coaches didn't want and make a productive player out of him. With the right players, he can roll through most opponents. But when he faced a truly elite program, he'd look silly.

 

[AdaSooner]

But when he faced a truly elite program, he'd look silly.[/QUOTE]

You mean like today?

 

[Sawyer]

But when he faced a truly elite program, he'd look silly.[/QUOTE]

You mean like today?

Today was actually something I've almost never seen out of Anderson. Arkansas didn't press nearly as much as Missouri did. I can really only think of a couple games ever where Anderson backed off. Especially in a game where they weren't keeping pace with OU, you'd think he'd be pressing full bore, not pulling it off.

It's not like they don't have the players, either. They may lack a guy who can run the front end of the press, but they have the guards. They should've been able to figure something out.

Also: I saw this game coming and posted as much on here. This year's OU team is well built to beat this version of Anderson's team.

 

[MNsooner]

Not sure why you'd take it that way. Considering you've missed the post-season two years in a row, failed to reach .500 in either season and still have many of the same players, I don't think "I don't think you're a tournament team" is really all that insulting. I could see taking "mediocre" the wrong way — probably not the best choice of words — but I haven't seen many people here suggest you're anything other than that.

Nobody likes to hear another teams fan call your team mediocre even if you agree. To be honest though, we've won 7 of 8. If it weren't for the fact that we were abysmal last year, I am guessing we would be getting more respect.

 

[Sawyer]

Nobody lies to hear another teams fan call your team mediocre even if you agree. To be honest though, we've won 7 of 8. If it weren't for the fact that we were abysmal last year, I am guessing we would be getting more respect.

True.

I said earlier this year in response to posts about OU being a tournament team that those types of discussions would be premature until you wrap up conference play. Get to the Big 12 season with 10+ wins and things should be looking decent on that front (this was after the WSU game).

Looks like you'll do that with seven wins now and four winnable games left. Houston has four losses, but all have been within 3 points (and they also killed Arkansas, but did it on the road). Cinci will be tough... if they have a full roster. After what happened today I'd expect some suspensions (I have not seen it, but from what I read it sounded bad, and it involved one of their best guys). The other two games are gimmes.

Enter Big 12 play with 11 wins and 20 wins becomes realistic. I doubt that would be good enough to earn a tournament berth, but that's a huge step forward from the past couple years.

 

[MNsooner]

True.

I said earlier this year in response to posts about OU being a tournament team that those types of discussions would be premature until you wrap up conference play. Get to the Big 12 season with 10+ wins and things should be looking decent on that front (this was after the WSU game).

Looks like you'll do that with seven wins now and four winnable games left. Houston has four losses, but all have been within 3 points (and they also killed Arkansas, but did it on the road). Cinci will be tough... if they have a full roster. After what happened today I'd expect some suspensions (I have not seen it, but from what I read it sounded bad, and it involved one of their best guys). The other two games are gimmes.

Enter Big 12 play with 11 wins and 20 wins becomes realistic. I doubt that would be good enough to earn a tournament berth, but that's a huge step forward from the past couple years.

Definitely. The one big concern I have at this point is that how we play on the road is a big question mark. Still, if you are right 20 wins would be a really a good season. It would be enough for an NIT probably. It might be enough that a great Big 12 tournament would get us into bubble conversation. Regardless of the final result, I am glad we have a fun team to watch again.