Thoughts on the game

Sampson would 100% start a player like godwin. And I think most big 12 teams would as well.
Not even close to being true of modern Kelvin Sampson. He prioritizes length and athleticism in recruiting and playing bigs. Sam is not a bad athlete, but he is far from a springy, rangy guy who can hound opposing bigs and be a defensive menace. Kelvin would love his effort, but Sam would not fit what Houston does defensively.
 
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

Yes, that is the only stat he led anything in last year. (1st in big12 in off reb)

Sports-reference has him in no other category top 20 in big12 for 2023-24 season.

2022-23 season(big12):
-17th in blocks

6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 apg in 23-24
 
Yes, that is the only stat he led anything in last year. (1st in big12 in off reb)

Sports-reference has him in no other category top 20 in big12 for 2023-24 season.

2022-23 season(big12):
-17th in blocks

6.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.0 apg in 23-24
Yeah, it would be like saying JM was a stud because he was essentially automatic from the foul line. Sam is a great offensive rebounder, but it’s one part of the game.
 
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
I mean last year he was playing next to a guy currently starting for Houston, a guy currently starting for Kentucky, Waldo (arguably our best player the last month of the season), and Jalon Moore who is arguably our best player. I don’t think the weak supporting cast argument is a reasonable one tbh
 
I mean last year he was playing next to a guy currently starting for Houston, a guy currently starting for Kentucky, Waldo (arguably our best player the last month of the season), and Jalon Moore who is arguably our best player. I don’t think the weak supporting cast argument is a reasonable one tbh
lol ok

and I was specifically meaning the supporting cast In the front court
 
Not even close to being true of modern Kelvin Sampson. He prioritizes length and athleticism in recruiting and playing bigs. Sam is not a bad athlete, but he is far from a springy, rangy guy who can hound opposing bigs and be a defensive menace. Kelvin would love his effort, but Sam would not fit what Houston does defensively.
Kelvin talked glowingly about Sam last year after Houston game. Sam would have a roll at Houston. I mean he only had 17 points and 7 rebounds against Sampson bigs. I mean he took Los who only scored 6 and 4 assists. I kid on last part.
 
Kelvin talked glowingly about Sam last year after Houston game. Sam would have a roll at Houston. I mean he only had 17 points and 7 rebounds against Sampson bigs. I mean he took Los who only scored 6 and 4 assists. I kid on last part.
The comment was that Sam would START for Houston. He wouldn’t. And I don’t think Kelvin would base a decision on one game. Sam has been in college for four years and that game was obviously not the norm. And there is nothing unusual about a coach praising an opponent who played well. Doesn’t mean that kid would start for his program.
 
The comment was that Sam would START for Houston.
Kind of. It was that he would start for Sampson. Wasn't meant as a definitive he would start every year for every sampson team. But I don't think sampson would have any issues starting a player like Godwin...depending on what other bigs were on the roster
 
Kind of. It was that he would start for Sampson. Wasn't meant as a definitive he would start every year for every sampson team. But I don't think sampson would have any issues starting a player like Godwin...depending on what other bigs were on the roster
The only way he would start for current day Sampson is if Kelvin missed out on every big he was recruiting to play the style of defense Kelvin wants, and/or if the roster was gutted by injuries. Regardless of whether you think Sam is good enough, he just doesn’t fit their style.
 
The only way he would start for current day Sampson is if Kelvin missed out on every big he was recruiting to play the style of defense Kelvin wants, and/or if the roster was gutted by injuries. Regardless of whether you think Sam is good enough, he just doesn’t fit their style.
I think it depends. He definitely fits Sampson's energy & rebounding style. Can he play defense the way Sampson wants? That's the question, but we won't know unless he plays for him.

I will say I thought Godwin was a horrific defender his 1st year at OU, he has improved tremendously.
 
lol ok

and I was specifically meaning the supporting cast In the front court
....... Jalon Moore and Waldo were the guys playing the 4 the most and arguably our two best players by the end of the season. I don't think you're helping your case here.
 
The comment was that Sam would START for Houston. He wouldn’t. And I don’t think Kelvin would base a decision on one game. Sam has been in college for four years and that game was obviously not the norm. And there is nothing unusual about a coach praising an opponent who played well. Doesn’t mean that kid would start for his program.
I think the Sam that played late last season would have started for last years Houston team. Don’t know enough about this years. I was not impressed with the forwards from Houston last year. Sampson played a lot of 4 guard lineup if I remember. Both Godwin and Moore had more rebounds than any single player for Houston. To bad they did not secure the last rebound.

Edit: I guess I thought J’wan Robert’s was a guard. He did pretty good against us. Listed at 6foot 8. Think Sam has more length.
 
I think the Sam that played late last season would have started for last years Houston team. Don’t know enough about this years. I was not impressed with the forwards from Houston last year. Sampson played a lot of 4 guard lineup if I remember. Both Godwin and Moore had more rebounds than any single player for Houston. To bad they did not secure the last rebound.

Edit: I guess I thought J’wan Robert’s was a guard. He did pretty good against us. Listed at 6foot 8. Think Sam has more length.
Not only is Roberts a big, he is, according to Kelvin, their most important player. Started and played 27 minutes per game and averaged double figures, plus 7 boards. Averaged 10 and 8 the prior season. Zero chance Sam starts over him, he would have been fighting for minutes as their third big. Sam scored in double digits once in our final 11 games, despite Hugley missing several games. People are acting like that Houston game was how he played all year or even down the stretch, and it simply wasn't.
 
The comment was that Sam would START for Houston. He wouldn’t. And I don’t think Kelvin would base a decision on one game. Sam has been in college for four years and that game was obviously not the norm. And there is nothing unusual about a coach praising an opponent who played well. Doesn’t mean that kid would start for his program.
I think the Sam that played late last season would have started for last years Houston team. Don’t know enough about this years. I was not impressed with the forwards from Houston last year. Sampson played a lot of 4 guard lineup if I remember. Both Godwin and Moore had more rebounds than any single player for Houston. bad they did not secure the last rebound.
Not only is Roberts a big, he is, according to Kelvin, their most important player. Started and played 27 minutes per game and averaged double figures, plus 7 boards. Averaged 10 and 8 the prior season. Zero chance Sam starts over him, he would have been fighting for minutes as their third big. Sam scored in double digits once in our final 11 games, despite Hugley missing several games. People are acting like that Houston game was how he played all year or even down the stretch, and it simply wasn't.
According to the box score, only 1 other big played, everyone else for Houston was a guard. That other big played less the 15 minutes and had 1 free throw. I would say sam could have done that. ALl others with minutes when I went through the box score were guards. This Sam could not play for others needs to stop. Is he the best center or forward out their no. but he would be 2nd best on most big 12 teams last year.
 
I think the Sam that played late last season would have started for last years Houston team. Don’t know enough about this years. I was not impressed with the forwards from Houston last year. Sampson played a lot of 4 guard lineup if I remember. Both Godwin and Moore had more rebounds than any single player for Houston. bad they did not secure the last rebound.

According to the box score, only 1 other big played, everyone else for Houston was a guard. That other big played less the 15 minutes and had 1 free throw. I would say sam could have done that. ALl others with minutes when I went through the box score were guards. This Sam could not play for others needs to stop. Is he the best center or forward out their no. but he would be 2nd best on most big 12 teams last year.
And you guys need to stop changing your argument. Saying he would start, then saying he would possibly start, then saying he would be the second best big, etc.

He would be a guy who plays 8-12 mins per game on most good teams. If a good team had all sorts of injury issues or just had awful bigs, sure, he could get more minutes. We have two years of evidence to know what our post production looks like. Has there ever been a time we have gone into a game against a team with good bigs where you feel like we have an advantage or are on equal footing? Go back and check his game log from last year. His offensive numbers are mediocre at best, and his defense is fine but not much more. He is an elite offensive rebounder, plays his ass off, and loves OU, and is an important part of our team. But he will struggle in the new conference against good players, just like he did in the Big 12.
 
I believe Sam had COVID last year as well. He never quite seemed the same after that. I think hes an excellent player, and would get some time at almost any school. That doesnt mean hes a star or would start everywhere. We should be happy to have a player like that.
 
Sam is a good player for us. I’d take him on the team every year and feel great about it. The problem is who his back up is. Last year Big John was a good back up when he was healthy. This year we have a bigger question mark.
 
I believe Sam had COVID last year as well. He never quite seemed the same after that. I think hes an excellent player, and would get some time at almost any school. That doesnt mean hes a star or would start everywhere. We should be happy to have a player like that.
You don’t think excellent is a reach for a guy who averaged 7 pts and 5 boards and is nothing special defensively?
 
You don’t think excellent is a reach for a guy who averaged 7 pts and 5 boards and is nothing special defensively?
Phew! Nearly an hour passed before you tried to shoot down that positive comment. I was afraid something dire had happened to you.
 
Phew! Nearly an hour passed before you tried to shoot down that positive comment. I was afraid something dire had happened to you.
Phew, nearly an hour passed before you resumed your pearl clutching.
 
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