Three more games

[usedtobe1]

Lon confirmed Dec. 16th return date for Doolittle yesterday.

OK that's what I thought all along. It surprised me that he could practice while finals were still going on. The problem is OU plays WSU in Wichita the day he returns. I doubt he plays in that game. They have 3 games in his first 6 days back, but the game after that is against TCU on 12/30. Not much time to get in the flow, but Lon has to get him some minutes to get him ready for B12 play. We need his physical presence and defense in the paint. Something that Manek and Freeman can't do as well.

This article confirms his return date: http://www.normantranscript.com/spo...cle_695232b4-b617-5150-ae92-040a4eb2ff1e.html

 

[WichitaSooner]

Crap. WSU has tons of depth in the frontcourt and is a very good rebounding team. Was really hoping he'd be back for that game, even if he didn't play a ton of minutes. A very tough game just got that much tougher.

 

[Soonerinkc]

I may be the one who gave that impression when I said Doolittle may be a little “rusty” when he returns. You’re right when you say his timing with his teammates could be off some. That’s definitely part of what I meant. But, I also think there is also a difference in conditioning and “game shape.” Getting into game shape is the final tweaking a conditioned athlete goes through you can’t always get from practice sessions and team workouts.

I’ll admit that “rule of thumb” as I see it, may not be the same for everyone.

no worries man...I still think he'll be "game" ready. I mean, he's 20 yrs old. Hell, I'm 53 (unfortunately don't work out everyday) and I play ball once a week and yeah, the first trip or two is rough but usually end up running fine...

*full court old man ball..but we do run.:woot

 

[slappy in OP]

Maybe we could have him in the WSU game for limited minutes just to get some rebounds and defend? Regardless, it will be good to have him back.

 

[chuckb]

I may be the one who gave that impression when I said Doolittle may be a little “rusty” when he returns. You’re right when you say his timing with his teammates could be off some. That’s definitely part of what I meant. But, I also think there is also a difference in conditioning and “game shape.” Getting into game shape is the final tweaking a conditioned athlete goes through you can’t always get from practice sessions and team workouts.

I’ll admit that “rule of thumb” as I see it, may not be the same for everyone.

I'm sure I gave that impression, too. No one said he'd be sitting around eating bon-bons. That characterization of what I said or what anyone I read said is ludicrous. But practicing in a gym is different from bodying up against Big 12 athletes. The notion that he's going to step in day 1 and dominate is ridiculous. Everyone else on the court for OU and for our opponents will have played 8 or 10 games against Division 1 athletes the first day Doolittle steps on a court against another D1 athlete. It's going to take a few games before he's up to speed.