Top 5 most important players for next year

[thebigabd]

1.) Carl Blair - OU needs a point guard next year, and with Newell being a freshman and this guy being a D-1 transfer I imagine he is the most important player heading into next year. If Newell turns out to be better, then he would be #1.

2.) Steven Pledger- Pledger has a lot of talent.. He is big, a decent athlete, and can shoot the lights out. He needs to live up to that reputation next year. If he is a double figure guy next year OU has a chance to surprise. I am thinking Pledger is going to break out this year.

3.) Andrew Fitzgerald- Like Pledger, OU needs Fitz to get better and more consistent. He can hit jumpers and score a little bit, but he couldn't defend or rebound to save his life last year. Also like Pledger, I think he can have a really solid year next season.

4.) CJ Washington/Nick Thompson- The two juco forwards need to pan out... If they dont, OU will be playing 4 guards all the time and probably get slaughtered on the glass in Big 12 play. These guys are both hard workers, good athletes, and bring a different skillset. I will be happy if Thompson can hit some 3's and rebound.. I will be happy if Washington just grabs 5 or 6 boards a game and gets trash buckets to the tune of 7 or 8 points a game.. Anything more is gravy.

5.) Cameron Clark- The star of the recruiting class needs to live up to the hype and have a really good season. Its a new, young, unestablished team so he has every opportunity to come in and have a big impact. Double figure scoring from him is important if this team is going to the NIT or NCAA.

 

[TINY]

1.) Carl Blair - OU needs a point guard next year, and with Newell being a freshman and this guy being a D-1 transfer I imagine he is the most important player heading into next year. If Newell turns out to be better, then he would be #1.

2.) Steven Pledger- Pledger has a lot of talent.. He is big, a decent athlete, and can shoot the lights out. He needs to live up to that reputation next year. If he is a double figure guy next year OU has a chance to surprise. I am thinking Pledger is going to break out this year.

3.) Andrew Fitzgerald- Like Pledger, OU needs Fitz to get better and more consistent. He can hit jumpers and score a little bit, but he couldn't defend or rebound to save his life last year. Also like Pledger, I think he can have a really solid year next season.

4.) CJ Washington/Nick Thompson- The two juco forwards need to pan out... If they dont, OU will be playing 4 guards all the time and probably get slaughtered on the glass in Big 12 play. These guys are both hard workers, good athletes, and bring a different skillset. I will be happy if Thompson can hit some 3's and rebound.. I will be happy if Washington just grabs 5 or 6 boards a game and gets trash buckets to the tune of 7 or 8 points a game.. Anything more is gravy.

5.) Cameron Clark- The star of the recruiting class needs to live up to the hype and have a really good season. Its a new, young, unestablished team so he has every opportunity to come in and have a big impact. Double figure scoring from him is important if this team is going to the NIT or NCAA.

If Washington averages 8 and 6 I will be extremely pleased! Those are good numbers.

Also, I wouldn't mind a 4-guard line-up with Blair, Clark, Cade, Pledge or T.J. Those guys have the size and desire (especially Cade and Blair) to rebound the ball. This season, the 4-guard line-up was not good with TMG in there at 5-9.

Do you think that kind of line-up could have success in the big 12 at times, ABD?

 

[Cheno]

I think Cam Clark is #1. If he's the real deal from day one OU can have a decent squad.

 

[bgrch1350]

Number 1...We need a PG. Newell, Blair, or/and Taylor. The fact that Blair has one year of college experience really means nothing to me. Its not like there was competition for that starting spot at UNO. I've seen plenty of guys who have played 3 years for a college get beat out by freshmen all the time. Nothing against Blair, but people are already deeming him as a starter when he hasn't earned it yet.
The PG spot right now is the most open spot on the team. I'm just glad that 3 guys are competing for the spot instead of one guy be given the spot b/c of no other challengers.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I think Cam Clark is #1. If he's the real deal from day one OU can have a decent squad.

Yep. You get a blue chip that plays like a blue chip from day one, things can look a lot better for next year.

 

[Max Power]

I'm going to go with CJ as number 1 because I feel defense and rebounding need the most improvement from last year. His hustle and attitude on that end of the floor will need to be high so that the rest of the team can feed of that and bring it on that end. Like a coach once told my team, If you give up 80 you have to score 81, if you give up 40 you only have to score 41

 

[NickZepp]

1) Cade Davis
2) Carl Blair/whoever is our PG.
3) Stephen Pledger
4)Andrew Fitzgerald
5)unknown freshmen/newcomer.

 

[OKURanger]

I'm surprised that fans have forgotten about Cade already. I think next year's team starts with him and what he brings.

 

[Seymore Cox]

The most important thing isn't player's individually, but needing depth.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Hard for me to say which guys are the most important because we really dont know who is good and who is not at this point...

But the premise of this thread is spot on, a PG is going to be very important because we are going to need a leader and you would think the guy with D1 experience would be the one to fill that role...guess we will see...

Second for me is the play of Taylor and Clark...like you said, probably more about Clark because most seem to think he will be an impact guy...this is more of an indication of the future for me, i've accepted the fact it is more likely we have a losing season than a winning season...

Other than that we need our returners in Cade, Fitz and Pledger to really make up the slack in leadership and scoring...i think all 3 of these guys have the potential to be double digit scorers...

Dont expect a whole lot out of the Juco guys this season, those players usually take a season to get acclimated then most of their production comes in their senior season...i do think we MUST have some type of production though, hopefully on the boards more than anything else...

Gonna be a long year, but will be intersting...that's for sure...

 

[Sam]

I'm surprised that fans have forgotten about Cade already. I think next year's team starts with him and what he brings.

Cade is the one consistent on this team. Doesn't matter if it is raining, snowing, or he's sick we know what we are going to get from him. I fully expect him to get anyway from 10-14 points, 4-7 rebounds, 2-3 steals etc a game. In expecting that I do not feel like I am stepping out a limb at all because he is proven.

It is the other 12 scholarship players on the roster that are the question marks and the keys. Cade may be the most experienced and proven player on the team but what he does isn't going to make or break the season. It is going to be how the others players compliment him.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

Cade is the one consistent on this team. Doesn't matter if it is raining, snowing, or he's sick we know what we are going to get from him. I fully expect him to get anyway from 10-14 points, 4-7 rebounds, 2-3 steals etc a game. In expecting that I do not feel like I am stepping out a limb at all because he is proven.

It is the other 12 scholarship players on the roster that are the question marks and the keys. Cade may be the most experienced and proven player on the team but what he does isn't going to make or break the season. It is going to be how the others players compliment him.

Love that Cade is the leader and senior on this team...wouldnt have picked another guy for the job...

There isnt a guy that will work harder and sacrifice everything for the team...

I could seriously see him averaging 15 a game...he's gonna get the minutes, and he has the experience...plus knowing he is a leader and the team needs that scoring really helps a guys confidence, no doubt he has the green light this year...

 

[luckyc1423]

The most important thing isn't player's individually, but needing depth.

See, I think we have plenty of depth... I just don't think we have any players we can give them the ball and they can go score

depth:
pg: tj, blaire, Newell
sg: tj, Cade, pledger
sf: Cade, cam, Thompson
pf: Thompson, other recruit(forgot his name), Fitzgerald
c: Fitzgerald, other recruit

 

[JBaker]

^Washington and Ahmed.
Washington is much more big time than Thompson.

 

[luckyc1423]

The most important thing isn't player's individually, but needing depth.

See, I think we have plenty of depth... I just don't think we have any players we can give them the ball and they can go score

depth:
pg: tj, blaire, Newell
sg: tj, Cade, pledger
sf: Cade, cam, Thompson
pf: Thompson, other recruit(forgot his name), Fitzgerald
c: Fitzgerald, other recruit

 

[Krugerfan52]

I'm not really that worried about PG play as much as I am our inside play/rebounding. I think Blair can get the job done, and Newell can come in and spell him with some scoring kind of like how Bobby Maze spelled AJ when they were here Capel's first year.

What I'm worried about is not being able to rebound or defend inside and going with 4 guard lineups all the time which puts you at a constant disadvantage. I'm also worried that neither Washington nor Thompson will have a post-up game, leaving Fitz as our only option inside. (I dont think Neal or Ahmed will be ready this year).

However, I'm not worried about the following year at all. I'm very excited about it. I just think this year will be another tough year with so little height and so little experience.

 

[NickZepp]

I'm not really that worried about PG play as much as I am our inside play/rebounding. I think Blair can get the job done, and Newell can come in and spell him with some scoring kind of like how Bobby Maze spelled AJ when they were here Capel's first year.

That actually didn't work that well because AJ basically didn't play well then was benched for a few games. Then AJ started to play better later in the year and Maze was basically benched and that's why he ended up leaving after Leary was brought in.

 

[SoonerDan74012]

2.) Steven Pledger- Pledger has a lot of talent.. He is big, a decent athlete, and can shoot the lights out. He needs to live up to that reputation next year. If he is a double figure guy next year OU has a chance to surprise. I am thinking Pledger is going to break out this year.

3.) Andrew Fitzgerald- Like Pledger, OU needs Fitz to get better and more consistent. He can hit jumpers and score a little bit, but he couldn't defend or rebound to save his life last year. Also like Pledger, I think he can have a really solid year next season.

The most important thing you forgot to add from these two will be to REMAIN OFF THE POLICE BLOTTER LOL!!!!!

5.) Cameron Clark- The star of the recruiting class needs to live up to the hype and have a really good season. Its a new, young, unestablished team so he has every opportunity to come in and have a big impact. Double figure scoring from him is important if this team is going to the NIT or NCAA.

I freaking hope so because this program needs something to fall their way and having live up to his top 30 ranking would be fantastic!!

 

[CokeSooner]

Cade is the one consistent on this team. Doesn't matter if it is raining, snowing, or he's sick we know what we are going to get from him. I fully expect him to get anyway from 10-14 points, 4-7 rebounds, 2-3 steals etc a game. In expecting that I do not feel like I am stepping out a limb at all because he is proven.

It is the other 12 scholarship players on the roster that are the question marks and the keys. Cade may be the most experienced and proven player on the team but what he does isn't going to make or break the season. It is going to be how the others players compliment him.

I agree Cade has proven himself, but I think it's really important he put up more consistent numbers this year.

 

[sharp1]

The most important thing you forgot to add from these two will be to REMAIN OFF THE POLICE BLOTTER LOL!!!!!



I freaking hope so because this program needs something to fall their way and having live up to his top 30 ranking would be fantastic!!

I wish we could find out the backround of some of these posters