Veterans counting on newcomers to push things forward

[OUHoops]

http://normantranscript.com/ousports/x674154466/Veterans-counting-on-newcomers-to-push-team-forward

 

[AdaSooner]

Lots of good stuff in this article. Among them, this comment from Grooms stood out:

“It’s a lot. They bring intensity every day. Sometimes, when you’re younger, you want to do things to impress the coaches and they do that every day.”

I get what Sam is saying. But the thing he seems to be missing is that the veterans on this team may need to "impress the coaches" if they want to keep their job. That's the main difference this year. Amath and the three freshmen guards have brought competition for playing time to the practices this season that were practically non-existent last year.

Pledger nailed it:

“I can think of about five or seven games where if we do the little things, we win,” Pledger said. “Win those games and the whole season’s different.”

I think most of us agree that last year could have been different if the depth we have now (and M'Baye) had been available to get us over the hump.

 

[WTSooner]

Ada, LOVE that comment by Pledger that you quoted. I've been saying that very thing since last season ended. I know our final record didn't make it appear so, but we really weren't that far off from an NCAA birth last year. I really believe that. And a lot of those problems have been fixed.

No bench last year, we have a very deep bench this year.

Terrible shooting from Cam and Grooms last year, I think both will shoot it better this year, and if they don't, we have guys on the bench that will.

Defense wasn't always up to par last year, we add a ton of athletic guys that should be able to defend.

I'm really excited about this team. Seems like they are buying into what LK is teaching. That, plus the energy the young guys have added, and I really think an NCAA Tourney birth is possible.

 

[AdaSooner]

WT, I can confirm what you've said over the past few months. You weren't alone, either. A number of posters, including me, felt the same way. I preached about our lack of "quality depth" until I sounded like a broken record...an annoying one at times I'm sure.

 

[KBaden145]

WT, I can confirm what you've said over the past few months. You weren't alone, either. A number of posters, including me, felt the same way. I preached about our lack of "quality depth" until I sounded like a broken record...an annoying one at times I'm sure.

It was an obvious flaw, especially after Newell quit on us. Defense suffered as a result, as well. Not, only have we fixed those areas, I believe they could end up being strengths.