Villanova should be the model for this program

[sperry]

Load up on guards and 3 point shooting. Develop high school guards over a 4 year period. Always have 3 guards on the floor, sometimes 4. This is how our first final four run happened, bringing in 5 guards in Lon's first two recruiting classes. But we've cut back dramatically, adding a lot more big men and wings to our roster.

This is how you win big as a program that's never going to sign 5 star one and done wings and post players. We should be signing 2-3 guards every year. Let them compete and the guys who aren't up to snuff will transfer out. Villanova is a higher profirle program than us now, but when they recruited the guys who have fueled this run, they were on a similar level to us as a program.

 

[Matthew G]

Load up on guards and 3 point shooting. Develop high school guards over a 4 year period. Always have 3 guards on the floor, sometimes 4. This is how our first final four run happened, bringing in 5 guards in Lon's first two recruiting classes. But we've cut back dramatically, adding a lot more big men and wings to our roster.

This is how you win big as a program that's never going to sign 5 star one and done wings and post players. We should be signing 2-3 guards every year. Let them compete and the guys who aren't up to snuff will transfer out. Villanova is a higher profirle program than us now, but when they recruited the guys who have fueled this run, they were on a similar level to us as a program.

Need to recruit shooters. Idc if you are a wing that's a shooter or a guard that's a shooter. Give me some catch and shoot players. You can develop them into drivers if need be, but this team lacks a catch and shoot player. James is a driver. Odomes is a driver. McGusty is a 1 dribble and shoot. Doolittle is a driver, etc. etc. Give me a catch and shoot guard and wing.


Kruger's an NBA coach, so he should continue the NBA style offense that relies on 3 point shooting rather than inside work, but he needs shooters.


FWIW, Manek is a catch and shoot 4 guy, which is why everyone is excited for him in the future, but we need more guys who can catch and shoot, and then run an offense that gets those guys open, rather than playing 1 on 1 ball like we did this year.

 

[CoachTalk]

Everyone knows more than HOF legend.

 

[sooner8]

We as fans really don't know more,we like to think we do.What we don't understand is why the HOF coach has stumbled for 2 years in a row,when after Buddy,Isaiah,& Spangler, we haven't continued the success that Villanova has??They may be a basketball school,but that is no excuse for the downfall:OU-logo:

 

[coolm]

Alabama's not helping their guards out at all. They're just standing there and if the guards can't beat their guy off the first step then nothing happens.

this is bad coaching Avery.

and buy a damn team hairbrush. your kids look like sideshow bob.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Everyone knows more than HOF legend.

I love this dumb argument

 

[sperry]

Everyone knows more than HOF legend.

What on earth are you talking about? If you're talking about Lon (who is neither an HOFer nor a legend), than of course I don't know more than him. But he's also not going to be the coach here in a year or two if he doesn't figure something out. His first two recruiting classes made sense for what OU should be doing. Buddy, Isiah, Jelon, Jordan, Booker. 5 guards in his first two classes. Since then, in 4 recruiting classes, he's signed James, Shepherd, Trae and 3 mediocre JUCO guys.

 

[oudna]

Load up on guards and 3 point shooting. Develop high school guards over a 4 year period. Always have 3 guards on the floor, sometimes 4. This is how our first final four run happened, bringing in 5 guards in Lon's first two recruiting classes. But we've cut back dramatically, adding a lot more big men and wings to our roster.

This is how you win big as a program that's never going to sign 5 star one and done wings and post players. We should be signing 2-3 guards every year. Let them compete and the guys who aren't up to snuff will transfer out. Villanova is a higher profirle program than us now, but when they recruited the guys who have fueled this run, they were on a similar level to us as a program.

I think we are playing 3 guards at all times

 

[sperry]

I think we are playing 3 guards at all times

Odomes is listed as a guard, and he plays defensively like a guard, but his offensie game is basically that of an old school 3.

 

[DenverSooner]

He signed Woodard, McGusty and Odomes (maybe you call Odomes a wing). Their may have been more that I don’t recall. I don’t necessarily disagree that OU needs more shooters but you left a few guys out b

 

[AdaSooner]

Everyone knows more than HOF legend.

Coach, what do you think we should do? A once promising season this year went south in a hurry when we lost six straight games and twelve of the last sixteen. That was on the heels of a disappointing losing season last year.

I don’t know how anyone can blame fans who care deeply about OU basketball for being disappointed with the last two seasons? I know some of the reasons this team fell apart at the seams, and so do you. But, knowing that doesn’t give me much hope for next year. If our coaches don’t sign a grad transfer point guard who is a substantial upgrade to what we’ve got now, I think next year’s team will struggle to make the dance again.

What would you do if you were in Lon’s shoes? Like it or not, he was the architect of two straight disappointing seasons. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad OU was in the dance again. I was disappointed in the way this year’s team finished the season.

Can you give me a reason to believe next year will be better? I know Lon is a HOF coach who guided us to a final four two years ago. But, there is no Buddy, Ryan or Isaiah on next year’s team that I can see. Do you know something I don’t? I still trust Lon to stop the bleeding. I just don’t see how he’s going to do it with what he’s got to work with.

 

[Eielson]

Everyone knows more than HOF legend.

Nobody in here said they know more than Jay Wright.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think the kid at Oregon changing his mind really hurt OU.

 

[ouboomer]

Nova does have some impressive team ball movement and most of their backups are in the game now

 

[inoref]

Different level programs..OU can not recruit those types of kids that Villanova has. It would be nice do so and end Kansas run in the big 12

 

[oudna]

Odomes is listed as a guard, and he plays defensively like a guard, but his offensie game is basically that of an old school 3.

He’s definitely not a big

He’s just a guard that can’t shoot (yet he tries to take a hero 3 with 1 minute left in season, I digress)

I like his new role coming off the bench, defensive stopper

Lack of 3-point shooting was the downfall of the squad

Manek, James and Young went from >40% to <30% and the wins ceased

 

[sperry]

He signed Woodard, McGusty and Odomes (maybe you call Odomes a wing). Their may have been more that I don’t recall. I don’t necessarily disagree that OU needs more shooters but you left a few guys out b

You are right on McGusty, I missed him. Woodard was in Lon's 2nd class though.

 

[sperry]

He’s definitely not a big

He’s just a guard that can’t shoot (yet he tries to take a hero 3 with 1 minute left in season, I digress)

I like his new role coming off the bench, defensive stopper

Lack of 3-point shooting was the downfall of the squad

Manek, James and Young went from >40% to <30% and the wins ceased

I'm not saying he's a big. He's very much the traditional small forward. 6'6" guy whos offensive game is driving to the basket and cutting. I like him in the role of a 10-12 minute garbage man/energy guy off the bench. A guy who can provide some fresh legs and harass the opposing teams best perimeter scorer.

 

[sperry]

Different level programs..OU can not recruit those types of kids that Villanova has. It would be nice do so and end Kansas run in the big 12

Go back and look at their recruits. Brunson was a highly regarded 5 star guard, but the rest of these guys were in the top 50-100 range, which is exactly where OU has historically gotten players in.

And yes, Villanova has elevated their program above where OU has been. But when they were recruiting these guys they were very much in the neighborhood of a team like OU.

 

[thebigabd]

Yea... OU can't recruit like that. OU needs to really build a team and not recruit the best available player. Fill out roles on the team and get good, fundamental players. You can nab your star player every now and then but the heart of the team needs to be good, tough players.

As for next season.... what are the needs? I think rebounding, defense, and shooting are needed. Of course, you need a point guard or some kind of combo guard to fill that role assuming Trae Young is gone.

Couple of juco names floating around... Antun Maricevic and Ricky Torres... These guys fit what OU needs next season.

Antun is from Croatia, playing at Casper CC. Averages 16/8, can shoot, 83% foul shooter, and is 6'10'' 245.. Supposed to be like Vladimir Broadziansky down at TCU. Fits right in at PF next to McNease. OU does not have a Croatian Sensation, and I think I speak for everyone saying they need one. Maryland, Wichita State, UCONN, OSU, and a few others are after him now and his recruitment is opening up.

Ricky Torres is a 6'3'' combo guard from Missouri West Plains CC... Shoots 43% from the 3pt line and averages 17 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds per game... Recruitment starting to open up and has offers from Virginia Tech, Washington State, and a few others early in the period.

Add a couple guys like that to Kur Kuath and Jamal Bienemy and you had a heck of a recruiting class for OU. Nothing too fancy, but good, solid basketball players to fill roles.