Two freshman could start?

[WTSooner]

Amath is not never has been and never will be a "center" on the college level

Depends how you define center. Does he have the offensive game of a traditional center? No. Is he probably our best/biggest post defender, and could he defend most of the centers (5's) we'll play against? Absolutely.

If Osby and M'Baye start as our 4/5 combo, M'Baye is probably going to defend the 5 spot. That would be my guess at this point, at least.

 

[campbest]

Pledger isn't coming off the bench.

 

[playmakr]

I don't think anyone should be surprised that a team who can't even break .500 would have starters from those teams relegated to coming off the bench if better talent is brought in. With that said, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[DenverSooner]

A few things struck me. First, why does everyone (or almost everyone) assume Heild could only start for Pledger. I think he could start over Cam just as easily as Pledger.

Second, someone said Cam hasn't doen much. I disagree. Cam has started in the Big XII as a freshman and sophomore. That is a big accomplishment. He is the only player on the team that started as a true freshman. Cam has not been an All-Big XII player but he has been a consistent contributor. When the Texas high school coach said he could start as a true freshman, he was correct.

Third, if Heild can effectively be a 6th or 7th starter (regardless of when he enters the game), OU should be pretty good. Assume that Pledger, Cam and Heild all have similar levels of talent and all play about 26.66 minutes a game. That would be a really good thing. Presumably it offers more scoring but even more importantly it mandates that players don't take off a possession on the defensive end. When there is a guy on the bench that is rested and capable, you better play defense or someone is headed to the scorer's table.

Fourth, I doubt Cousins starts but I hope he plays 10-15 minutes a game and more in some of the non-conference games. OU has to have a pg ready for next season so OU needs him to get some experience. The reason I doubt he starts is Grooms has three years of college experience, including a full season in the Big XII. He was quite good with the exception of his shooting. A slight improvement in his shooting (which I am hoping happens) will make it very difficult to put him on the bench.

Finally, if OU has an 8 man rotation of Pledger, Osby, Fitzgerald, Clark, Grooms, M'Baye, Heild and Cousins and all 8 are arguably talented enough to start in the Big XII, OU should be a solid team that makes the NCAA Tournament. OU will have Arent, Bennett, Neal and Hornbeak behind that 8 man rotation. We know Neal has shown some ability and at a minimum can contirbute in a limited role. Arent can at least give OU a big body if foul trouble becomes a huge factor (and it really shouldn't this season with Fitzgerald, M'Baye and Osby). Hopefully Bennet and Hornbeak are capable players.

 

[Soonerman]

Only way I see Pledger not starting is if he pulls some off the court stuff or gets hurt.

 

[campbest]

Second, someone said Cam hasn't doen much. I disagree. Cam has started in the Big XII as a freshman and sophomore. That is a big accomplishment. He is the only player on the team that started as a true freshman. Cam has not been an All-Big XII player but he has been a consistent contributor. When the Texas high school coach said he could start as a true freshman, he was correct.

Not buying this, no one has pumped Cam's ability more than I and he has been a bit of a let down. The "well he started in the Big XII" argument is weak, someone has to play the position. Judging by how awful our talent and depth was this past year(s), that isn't saying much. The only thing Cam has been consistent with is leaving me wanting more by not shooting the ball well and rebounding well below his natural given ability. Hopefully year 2 under Kruger will show some more improvement, but he is running out of time and in jeopardy of being recruited over as a senior.

 

[MNsooner]

Cam might make a big jump. Between Sophomore and Junior year is when a lot of players figure it out.

 

[skyvue]

he is running out of time and in jeopardy of being recruited over as a senior.

Two words: Stacy King.

I'm not guaranteeing that kind of improvement from Cam, but neither am I ruling it out.

 

[garyeb2]

Cam seems to be just the kind of player that Kruger likes to recruit. The long athletic type. He has had a year to coach him and Kruger has said that fans should expect to see a different Cam this season.

I tend to take Coach at his word.

 

[bgrch1350]

I wouldn't write off Cam just yet...We get him for 2 more seasons. His potential is still huge. Him losing his starting spot a few games this past seasons probably has given him the right mindset to enter this offseason with a solid work ethic and a chip on his shoulder.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't see how anybody can say his potential is huge at this point, but I do think he will play better. He is what I said he was coming out of HS.....a nice athlete, that really doesn't have any above average skills. He doesn't shoot it all that well. He doesn't handle it all that well. Not a great rebounder. He does defend pretty well, I guess. Everybody waited for Crocker to turn into more, and he never did. I see Cam following the same career path. Not that that is the worst thing in the world, but many folks certainly had a much higher ceiling for both of those guys. It's why I'd rather recruit, for the most part, guys that are more skilled, and less athletic.

 

[campbest]

Cam might make a big jump. Between Sophomore and Junior year is when a lot of players figure it out.

It's possible, but from my experience it seems the biggest jump is made by the middle of the sophomore season (full summer on campus, etc.). At a certain point you are what you are. If anything this applies to Cam more because he has gotten TONS of playing time.

 

[DenverSooner]

Crocker was a four year starter at OU on a great 8 team. In my opinion that is an impressive resume. How many four year starters can you name at OU? Certainly there have been some but it would not be long list over the last 25 years. A lot of that is due to the fact that OU has used a lot of juco players but I don't think you can discount the fact that a guy starts four years in college. It is a big accomplishment in my opinion.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Hopefully some of the newcomers will break into the starting lineup but I am not counting on it except for M'Baye who I think is probably as good as Osby.

To me the more important thing is that the newcomers provide quality depth so that Kruger can go all out on defense and play the uptempo offense that he likes. He will probably need to go at least 9 deep to do that.

It is easy to forget that Pledger improved his off the bounce and mid range offense last year. It will be hard to bench a 16.1 point per game scorer.

I don't remember anyone torching us that much inside last year. I do remember games that a hot hand from the outside hurt us badly.

 

[25mob]

I think Cam can excel in the role of doing a little bit of everything for this team.

There are already three primary scorers so he needs to score when the opportunity presents itself.

There are going to be teams that are bigger than OU so it's important that he helps rebound on both ends of the floor.

At times he will be asked to guard the opponents best perimeter player so he'll be counted on to make like tough for them by playing great defense.

 

[NickZepp]

I think Clark is probably too talented to lose his starting job but he's the only guy that I can see losing his starting job to anyone due to inconsistency. The rest of the guys that will start have pretty well proven themselves as solid players. Don't see 2 freshmen starters this year unless injuries happen.

 

[25mob]

I think Clark is probably too talented to lose his starting job but he's the only guy that I can see losing his starting job to anyone due to inconsistency. The rest of the guys that will start have pretty well proven themselves as solid players. Don't see 2 freshmen starters this year unless injuries happen.

Do you think Cam will be more consistent if he is used more in a utility role?

 

[WTSooner]

Do you think Cam will be more consistent if he is used more in a utility role?

Will his role really change that much? Last year he should have been a scoring option behind Pledger/Osby/Fitz. This year it'll be the same, or add M'Baye instead of Fitz.

Cam seemed to really struggle to let the game come to him in a passive role. His best games are when he comes out and is aggressive shooting the ball. The problem is, he is inconsistent in doing that, and when he isn't hitting, he hurts the team.

Not sure what the "fix" is on a situation like that. Seems to me he needs touches and shots to contribute, but he shouldn't be stealing shots from most starters. Maybe if you put him on the bench, he and Fitz can score when the starters are resting? I don't know.

 

[25mob]

Will his role really change that much? Last year he should have been a scoring option behind Pledger/Osby/Fitz. This year it'll be the same, or add M'Baye instead of Fitz.

Cam seemed to really struggle to let the game come to him in a passive role. His best games are when he comes out and is aggressive shooting the ball. The problem is, he is inconsistent in doing that, and when he isn't hitting, he hurts the team.

Not sure what the "fix" is on a situation like that. Seems to me he needs touches and shots to contribute, but he shouldn't be stealing shots from most starters. Maybe if you put him on the bench, he and Fitz can score when the starters are resting? I don't know.

you make some really good points. it really is a head scratch-er to me because when i watched the games last year it seemed as if Cam felt like he had to be a top scorer instead of just a role player.

Hopefully with another year under his belt he can mature mentally because the physical tools are there.

 

[NickZepp]

Cam just doesn't handle the ball well enough to attack the basket. If he can get to where he can attack the basket more, maybe he can be a type of guy we can rely on with that role. But the thing is that he has bad handles, that's pretty hard to correct at this point. And he just doesn't shoot well enough to have that as his game.