Things I didn't know

[cowboysooner]

Went to practice Friday, and here are some of the things I didn't know but learned on Friday:

1) c. james can really, and I mean really, climb the ladder. For a kid with his build, he can really get up.

2) Doolittle has a nice outside shot. Didn't see it the couple times I saw him play in high school. Out of fear of "pre-call no fall", I am scared to say what I think, but what the heck, he is going to be a monster. Will be one of the top 5 new players in NCAA this year.

3) Freeman needs some meat on his bones, but he will be able to play inside. He is tough and will bang. Not sure when, this year or later?, but kid will be a decent player.

4) McGusty has a better offensive game, and better outside shot, than any freshman of the kruger era. Could see him in the league down the road.

5) Odomes' shot fundamentals have improved, but don't know if we will see him shoot too much. He catches the ball in better position, and his motion is much quicker. Just overall looks improved, as does Lattin and McNease.

I could be dreaming, but I think we will be better than some think this year.

 

[skyvue]

Thanks for the report! Great stuff!

 

[Stikboy]

Thanks Cowboy. Were Buford and Strong practicing?

 

[usedtobe1]

Nice feedback. Thanks

 

[cowboysooner]

Buford didn't practice. Strong did practice. I was impressed and think he will contribute.

Practice is broken up and not like a game, so it is tough to tell too much, but I thought he looked like he belonged.

Lon said the other night on the Sports talk show that we could be better defensively this year. I see that, and think we will.

Offensively, when you are talking about kids carrying a team that have never been responsible for winning and losing, you never know. Can they and will they be capable of scoring enough against good teams and when it counts. These are the unanswered questions. But, it looks possible to me.

Limited sample size (one practice), but McGusty might have to play for us to score like we need to. Our starters can't stop him, so maybe knowbody else can. We will see.

But, all in all, I love the length and athleticism. We are also much taller than any team I can remember. lattin, McNease and Freeman are legit tall. Doolittle is just a little shorter than Lattin and, now that I have stood right next to him, I can say he is at least 6'7 and might be taller. Then, we will ultimately have Buford. Odomes and McGusty are really tall and long for guards. Chris James is a big kid as well. So, lots of height all around.

I have bought my mini pack and am fired up to see it all unfold.

 

[coolm]

I have bought my mini pack and am fired up to see it all unfold.

exactly! I love seeing a team form together over a season!!

 

[Larry72]

Thanks for the great detail Cowboy. I like to hear the emphasis on D. Villanova won it all because great individual and team D. Any improvement we make will help in W/L.

 

[AdaSooner]

Great stuff, cowboysooner! Thanks for an early look at our players through your eyes.

Tuesday night can't get here soon enough!

 

[geeoh]

For Odomes I think his jump shot is something that is just going to have to keep improving over the years. For now, however, he seems to be extremely apt at driving and getting to the rim. That should be his game.

 

[vbdad]

I went to practice yesterday (Monday). Odomes shot the ball more from the outside than I expected. He was hitting them yesterday.
Shepard gets into the lane very well for a young guy. He was finishing fairly well.
Khadeem is the leader of this team without a doubt.
McNease is truly a freak athletically. He is going to get plenty of time this year.
Doolittle didn't do much but he doesn't look like a freshman and he is in the starting lineup.
Buford was very limited.

 

[Larry72]

Thanks dad

 

[piehole]

Thanks Cowboy and vb!

 

[sperry]

I'm very excited about this team. I think we'll take our lumps this year, but the next two years we should be really freaking good. Especially if Trae Young matriculates.

 

[AdaSooner]

Re: Things I didn't k

I went to practice yesterday (Monday). Odomes shot the ball more from the outside than I expected. He was hitting them yesterday.
Shepard gets into the lane very well for a young guy. He was finishing fairly well.
Khadeem is the leader of this team without a doubt.
McNease is truly a freak athletically. He is going to get plenty of time this year.
Doolittle didn't do much but he doesn't look like a freshman and he is in the starting lineup.
Buford was very limited.

Vbdad, did you see anything to suggest that Woodard may be able to move to the two on occasion the way he did last year? In other words, did Strong or Shepherd get the opportunity to run our offense in the practice you watched? If not, maybe the answer to that question will be revealed in tonight's exhibition game.

Thanks for the info! Your take on the team as well as the players is always interesting to me.

 

[vbdad]

Re: Things I didn't k

Strong looks like he will play the point some. He is the fastest of the guards. Hopefully his shoulder holds up. Shepard is thin but looks like in time he will be a player.