The Right Track

[cowboysooner]

IDK if we can salvage the season and make the NCAA, but I do think the changes for the Kansas game put us on the right track.

First, McNease has consistently and fairly dramatically outplayed Lattin at the 5 this year and should be starting based upon play. Lon appreciates Lattin signing with OU (his first big signee) and being a good team player for 4 years. It is hard to bench a senior like Lattin, and I appreciate that. But, when you have lost 8 in a row and the season is on the line, you have to make this change). Lattin still has a place in the rotation and should have.

Second, our starting lineup has led to Trae's decline (at least in part). McGusty and McNease are our two best offensive players other than trae. CJ is ok sometimes but inconsistent and can be guarded. Manek is a freshman that disappears on the road and at time at home, due mainly to his being a freshman). In conference, other teams have just taken away everyone but trae, guarded him individually very physically, and this has been a good receipe. If we can get a couple more primary scorers, this will over time free Trae up.

Third, our starting lineup is defensively deficient. Odomes is good, but Manek can't guard in the post and Trae doesn't defend much at all.

I think the best lineup, for now (manek a year or two from now), is the lineup that gives us the best chance to win. With Doolittle and Mcnease, we have two guys that can a least give us a chance to defend in the post, and with McNease and mcGusty, we have three primary scorers and with CJ a decent fourth option that, like trae, will get more good looks and have less pressure with two other primary offensive options.

Just my opinion.

 

[OU92Grad]

Lol. McGusty has had one great game and one okay game in 26 and he is one of our two best offensive players other than TY. He "disappeared" in 24 games. You obviously have only watched the last three games. I love me some Jamuni but to call him a offensive player is crazy. Stats don't lie. I suggest you look at the season and Big 12 stats to see who has performed. CJ (4th option???????) and Manek are by far the next best offensive players not named TY. Doo earned a start Monday night after coming off his worst performance of his career against Texas. He looks very uncomfortable offensively out on the court.

 

[cvangild]

92, I don't GAF what McGusty has done the previous how many ever games. He IS our 2nd best scorer on this team WHEN he is consistently give quality minutes! Now I don't really know what's been up with him this season that has caused his minutes to decline as much as they have. I know the death of his very close friend has surely impacted his game mentally...but I personally believe coming off the bench has busted his confidence and when he did get into the games, he was never in there long enough to get into ANY offensive groove.

When he starts and gets quality minutes, he is a much more effective scorer than CJ or Manek. He can shoot the 3 and can drive the ball. Don't forget, he averaged nearly 15 points/game last year during Big 12 games and shot it at solid shooting %'s. I've heard some say he only scored because SOMEBODY had to. THat's BS. He scored and was efficient doing it. I personally believe by KM NOT getting quality minutes, is part of the reason we are on this $hitty streak. He should have NEVER been losing minutes to Lazenby or SHeppard at the two spot.

 

[OU92Grad]

I agree with the fact that he should be getting consistent minutes. He has proven that if he gets over 20 min a game he produces.

 

[BoulderSooner]

lattin has outplayed mcnease almost all season

 

[MichaelM]

McGusty, McNeace, and James are the only players other than Young who can create a shot one-on-one. Odomes too if the defense lets him go to his left. Everyone else needs to catch the ball in position to score or they never will. Even Shepherd, a capable dribbler, doesn't seem to have the confidence to make a move on a defender.

So I like the thought process of getting multiple creators on the court at the same time.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

lattin has outplayed mcnease almost all season

I don't agree with that.
Their per 40 numbers are pretty dang close.

 

[coolm]

lattin has outplayed mcnease almost all season

mmmm, I dont agree with that.

 

[BCSooners]

lattin has outplayed mcnease almost all season

I agree.

 

[Price is Right]

Give me Muni all day over Lattin and it's not even close. We could, should and have run offense through Muni in the post at times this year and he has had success. Would anyone here want us running through lattin in the post for offense?

 

[steverocks35]

McNeace can do everything Lattin can on the defensive end AND he can score on the other end. He's a much better player at this point.

 

[usedtobe1]

McGusty isn’t nearly the defensive player that CJ and Odomes are. He gets lost as much as Trae does. He can score the ball but gets kind of wild some times. JMHO.

I’m OK with him getting more minutes .... and even starting. Try something different.

 

[sperry]

McNease is miles ahead of Lattin.

 

[WichitaSooner]

The other thing worth remembering is that Muni still has a lot of potential growth ahead given his inexperience and athletic ability. Lattin, on the other hand ... not so much. Yet another reason to give Muni the majority of the minutes the rest of the way.

 

[sooner333]

I think that it's the right track because the key to our early success--surrounding Trae with spot up shooters--is no longer working because the shots are not going in and defenses have adjusted. McGusty is not a spot up shooter (and I think he didn't really buy in to the role as one, leading to some bad games and bad decisions), but he can get to the basket and will have an easier time doing so with Trae on the floor.

 

[BCSooners]

If you want to give Jamuni more minutes bc of potential & scoring ability then I completely agree. But to say right now he is better than Lattin just goes to show you only look at one side of the court.

 

[WichitaSooner]

If you want to give Jamuni more minutes bc of potential & scoring ability then I completely agree. But to say right now he is better than Lattin just goes to show you only look at one side of the court.

Lattin might be better defensively, but he is not as good on defense as some would suggest. He got worked over repeatedly by a high school senior in Lawrence, and that was not all that much of an anomaly.

 

[steverocks35]

If you want to give Jamuni more minutes bc of potential & scoring ability then I completely agree. But to say right now he is better than Lattin just goes to show you only look at one side of the court.

What game are you watching? Lattin's defense is awful, just putrid. Might as well put in the guy that can at least score.

 

[allday92]

Lattin is better defensively, but not so much better as to justify him playing over McNeace. They're both bad defenders, one can at least catch lobs, and play with his back to the basket on the offensive end.

 

[coolm]

Lattin is better defensively, but not so much better as to justify him playing over McNeace. They're both bad defenders, one can at least catch lobs, and play with his back to the basket on the offensive end.

I agree with ad