Thoughts on the game

[cowboysooner]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I view Sam the way Coach does, that is, I think he is a good player. I doubt he is an NBA guy, but he is a good power 5 big IMO.

It was a first game and I thought we looked a little lost early, but as the game wore on, I thought Miles and Elvis looked like the good college players they are and have been elsewhere. It is no fluke, Goodine and Jones can shoot. You saw what Goodine could do in the game.

Not sure what to think on Taylor and Cole yet. They both looked pretty good in the scrimmage, but not as polished in the game.

As far as Los and Oweh go, I thought both would develop into really good players in time, whether that was here or somewhere else. I wanted both to stay, particularly Los. Sophomore slump is a real thing and common. The commitment level of college athletics is substantial. But alas, it is the portal and NIL era. As for Cooper, I hope he proves my talent evaluation skill wrong, because I didn't think much of his game.

My biggest takeaways from the game are that Sam and Wague, will collectively, make us better than last year at the 5. And, with Fears and Moore, we will have at least two really good players. I think Fears is just electric. Hopefully, Moser continues to handle him correctly and not put too much on him until he gets further in the year. Confidence is a tricky thing.

 

[cbertus6]

It is why I put it in quotes. Hate meaning he doesn't get the respect he deserves.

If he is being spoken about as being a weakness because he is, then it means he doesn't deserve the respect of being spoken about as a strength. I don't think you'll find a single person who will say a negative thing about Sam Godwin the person, but Sam Godwin the basketball player is not a starting caliber 5 man on a team that wants to be taken seriously. A role player that can give you 10-12 minutes? Sure. A starter? No way. That is not hate, it's just an evidence-backed opinion.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Maybe hate is a little strong, but disrespect isn’t. Sam plays hard, rebounds well, and has improved over his time at OU. He’s not a star, but a team needs players like Sam to be successful.

I have yet to see anyone on this board question his hustle or rebounding. Everyone respects that a ton. And yes, those are things teams need. But pointing out that his overall game isn't ideally suited to being a starter at this level isn't disrespect.

 

[NorthCarolinaSooner]

I am one of these "haters". Fully admit.

Love the kid, happy he is a Sooner, but man do I wish we had Achor Achor or another solid 5 starting in front of him. As an off the bench big, sparking a 2nd unit, give me all the Sam please. As my starting 5 with Wague as his backup in SEC play? Oof.

I see us playing a lot of smallball with his early foul trouble this year.

Maybe I am just projecting at our massive failure to acquire a proper (big) need in the portal.

I think that isat least partially addressed in the upcoming recruiting class. We are definitely getting bigger

 

[sooner333]

Sam had a career high in minutes. He also had 13 defensive rebounds when his previous career high was 7 (against a solid opponent, BYU).

 

[SoonerDutch]

I have never seen anyone critical of Godwin TBH, mainly just realistic that he’s not an ideal starting 5 for a team in a top tier P5 league.

If you want me to **** on a player, would take Godwin all day over Groves lol.

 

[skyvue]

I'm a big Sam fan and have been all along. I gave up trying to sway the naysayers. One thing about this fan base (perhaps it's all fan bases, I don't know: They like to have things made simple--to have one guy they can point to who, if only he weren't on the team or if only he weren't starting, we'd be golden. For some, back in the day, it was Reaves; no matter what he did, it wasn't enough to satisfy them, and there have been other guys singled out in similar fashion over the years.

We've played two scrimmages against quality teams and a regular season game against an unknown quantity (LU has as many new players as OU does, so who knows how good they'll be? Probably not very good, but it remains to be seen), and Sam has been a standout each time.

 

[skyvue]

Bad lighting, decrepit looking seats and structure. I realize it's not really fair to compare a mid-tier NCAA team to an NBA team but this is getting downright embarrassing. If I was a recruit it would be a big reason to pass on the Sooners and apply elsewhere.

People have long complained about the color of the seats; now they're suffering from decrepitude? Do you really think that's a factor that sways a player--the seats in the arena? And it's funny but I had no trouble whatsoever following the action last night, so the lighting couldn't have been that bad.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Maybe hate is a little strong, but disrespect isn’t. Sam plays hard, rebounds well, and has improved over his time at OU. He’s not a star, but a team needs players like Sam to be successful.

No one is saying otherwise IMO. I think most wish he would be a really good backup/glue guy tho on our team as opposed to heavily relied on as a starter. Everyone on this board is cheering for him! (I loved the and 1 dunk - but to be fair, he almost missed it.. likely bc he's limited athletically)

 

[hoopsaustin]

Fears is the most talented guard at OU since Trae. Very impressed

Wague was active and athletic. Liked his energy

Goodine has a confident 3 ball

Elvis - was okay. Not a starter IMO

Miles - looked great in 2nd half.

Moore and Sam are as good or better than last year

If Jones is the best shooter on the team, call me encouraged!

I’m cautiously optimistic

I'm here on almost everything too.

I'm not optimistic yet tho because the competition. Other than the team looked like it had good chemistry. It will be something to monitor tho as we can't play 10-11 guys all year (but they are all practically seniors, so someone is going to get their bball dreams dashed this year)

Moser needs to play Fears as much as possible

Cole isn't ready.

Idk what Taylor's role will be. Glue/hustle/energy guy with minor mins? Idk what to think of him.

Forsythe looked quick imo but he's not a factor this year.

 

[NorthCarolinaSooner]

I'm here on almost everything too.

I'm not optimistic yet tho because the competition. Other than the team looked like it had good chemistry. It will be something to monitor tho as we can't play 10-11 guys all year (but they are all practically seniors, so someone is going to get their bball dreams dashed this year)

Moser needs to play Fears as much as possible

Cole isn't ready.

Idk what Taylor's role will be. Glue/hustle/energy guy with minor mins? Idk what to think of him.

Forsythe looked quick imo but he's not a factor this year.

I think Fears needs major minutes too. He looked good.

I'm really curious how Jadon Jones looks. Who loses minutes when he is healthy?

I didn't think Taylor looked bad...probably something similar to what you are guessing....hustle, defense, etc

Forsythe I think will be a kid who earns time as he goes and develops into a really good role player. I don't think he'll ever be the "man" but a solid contributor.

 

[hoopsaustin]

I think Fears needs major minutes too. He looked good.

I'm really curious how Jadon Jones looks. Who loses minutes when he is healthy?

I didn't think Taylor looked bad...probably something similar to what you are guessing....hustle, defense, etc

Forsythe I think will be a kid who earns time as he goes and develops into a really good role player. I don't think he'll ever be the "man" but a solid contributor.

How long is jones out? What's he hurt with?

 

[NorthCarolinaSooner]

How long is jones out? What's he hurt with?

Back injury...PM said possibly a couple of weeks

 

[SoonerBounce13]

If he is being spoken about as being a weakness because he is, then it means he doesn't deserve the respect of being spoken about as a strength. I don't think you'll find a single person who will say a negative thing about Sam Godwin the person, but Sam Godwin the basketball player is not a starting caliber 5 man on a team that wants to be taken seriously. A role player that can give you 10-12 minutes? Sure. A starter? No way. That is not hate, it's just an evidence-backed opinion.

I disagree. He was second in the big 12 in offensive rebounds playing 20 minutes a game. He is an elite rebounder.
He isn't the problem and is a big 12 starting caliber big. The problem is the weak supporting cast

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I have never seen anyone critical of Godwin TBH, mainly just realistic that he’s not an ideal starting 5 for a team in a top tier P5 league.

If you want me to **** on a player, would take Godwin all day over Groves lol.

Sampson would 100% start a player like godwin. And I think most big 12 teams would as well.

 

[steverocks35]

People have long complained about the color of the seats; now they're suffering from decrepitude? Do you really think that's a factor that sways a player--the seats in the arena? And it's funny but I had no trouble whatsoever following the action last night, so the lighting couldn't have been that bad.

Everything looks a thousand years old. I followed the action fine it just looks so dated and dark. I don’t know, it’s just the comparison that was shocking. I guess it didn’t help that there were like 12 people at the game.

I realize it’s an old complaint but it’s not a good look for the program.

 

[One More Rebound]

Fears should be getting ALOT of run during this non conference. Needs to work out some kinks and get adjusted to college game. Very high potential

Jeremiah just had his eighteenth birthday. The sky's the limit for him.

 

[skyvue]

Everything looks a thousand years old. I followed the action fine it just looks so dated and dark. I don’t know, it’s just the comparison that was shocking. I guess it didn’t help that there were like 12 people at the game.

I think the only people who care about OU's arena being old are a certain faction of the fans (mostly the ones who are watching from home). How long have the Thunder had that arena? And they already insist it must be replaced. Comparing a collegiate basketball arena at a football school to an NBA arena is not even apples and oranges--it's apples and recliners.

I think you could ask 10,000 opposing fans and recruits around the country about the state of the LNC and less than 1% would have an opinion. I know they're doing a big revamp right now, but KU's arena is many decades older than the LNC and they've done ok for themselves.

If some big donor wanted to step up and pay for a new arena, that would be great. But I think the impact of the LNC on OU's success--or lack thereof--in hoops has long been vastly overstated on this board.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Idk what Taylor's role will be. Glue/hustle/energy guy with minor mins? Idk what to think of him.

seems like the back up 4 man min .. so in big games what 5-7 min a game ..

 

[hoopsaustin]

seems like the back up 4 man min .. so in big games what 5-7 min a game ..

Wish he were 6'8 instead of 6'6