We're a team with one #1 and a couple of #3s and #4s

[cyberthoth]

Tonight really exposed something basic that's wrong with this team.

There's really no one to take the slack when Tre has a bad night. As much as we want to believe Manek is that player or James is that player they aren't. They can both score some points when the pressure is off because Tre is killing it.

Neither is dependable when Tre is failing. They just don't have that ability to take over even in spurts like you'd want a #2 to do.

At our core this is what was wrong last year. We had no #1s or #2s just a bunch of good #3s and #4s. It's the difference between a 1st round exit in the tourney this year vs a Final 4 run if we run into a team that can slow Tre down. If we're going to amount to anything substantial someone else has to show the ability to take over.

I don't know if that player is on the team. Maybe Doolittle could be that player. Maybe if Lon started him and gave him more minutes. Maybe Manek will grow into that player.

What we know is James isn't that player. Neither is Lattin or Odomes or Shepherd or Freeman. I don't think McGusty is that player either though in fairness he hasn't been given a real shot.

Does anyone else think maybe shortening the bench a bit might help give someone the room to grow into a #2 be it McGusty, Manek or Doolittle?

 

[oudna]

McGusty has it in him but he needs the ball in his hands

His game isn’t a spot-up shooter, as his current role seems to dictate

 

[BoulderSooner]

12 to's by a PG no team in the NCAA is winning vs a good team

 

[sperry]

This is a huge overreaction. Trae basically sabotaged that game with his 12 turnovers plus another 6 or so shots that were essentially turnovers. He'll play smarter going forward.

 

[cjhsooner]

Games like this should make Trae realize he needs to stay to work on his overall PG game. He is in no way a 2 in the pros. So he has to get a better feel for the position. It's more than just assists and points.

 

[tmeyer3307]

Manek is just a pure spot up shooter(Good one). Teams are starting to close out harder on him and are forcing him to pass or drive. He's not good yet at that or low post offense.
Agree about McGusty. He must have the ball in his hands to create and I don't think him and Young play super well together.

James is just average and settles for jump shots all game usually. Like what he brings on the defensive end and rebounding.

Odomes has been playing pretty well I thought. He is the best defensive player on the team and actually hit a shot or two last night. I have never seen him finish with his right hand! Don't know how that is possible that he has made it this far without a jump shot or a right hand.

Lattin/Mcneace are both so up and down. Can be great one week and then awful the next.

Doolittle needs to play more and more... Think he is the difference maker if we make a deep run.

Shep, Freeman and Lazenby give you nothing at this point(minute killers)

Kstate also played perfect! Gotta get a win Saturday now.

 

[WTSooner]

Young's teammates were 11-20 without him last year. That is all you need to know about his supporting cast.

 

[sperry]

Young's teammates were 11-20 without him last year. That is all you need to know about his supporting cast.

That was primarily due to a lack of a point guard. Turns out we have a point guard this year.

 

[CoachTalk]

Back away from the Cliff. IT's going to be OK.

 

[thebigabd]

I remember back in the day when OU fans would be thrilled to be in the top 25... It was just kind of expected that you lose some games, but you win enough to get in the tournament and everyone is happy.

This is a top 10/15 team... At this point it's not about winning every game, that isn't going to happen in basketball.... You just do well enough to position for the tournament and see what happens.

Losing a game doesn't mean there is something critically wrong with these guys.... it's basketball. Even in the NBA, sometimes some scab team beats the Warriors. It just happens.

 

[MercedeSooner]

This team has been overachieving to a certain extent - we're bound to lose a game here or there when we shoot poorly especially on the road. Most important thing is that our guys learn from this and get tougher, you just cannot come out with the energy we had on the road in conf play especially when you have a target on your back like OU and Trae.

The 1 thing I am really hoping is that Lon starts to tighten up the rotation to a certain extent, Freeman almost single handedly let KSU go on that run in the 1st half. In most cases especially when he doesn't have it he shouldn't be playing minutes over Doolittle.

 

[oudna]

Young's teammates were 11-20 without him last year. That is all you need to know about his supporting cast.

True but the 2 best players were freshmen and their growth has been stunted substantially this year for various reasons

 

[oudna]

I remember back in the day when OU fans would be thrilled to be in the top 25... It was just kind of expected that you lose some games, but you win enough to get in the tournament and everyone is happy.

This is a top 10/15 team... At this point it's not about winning every game, that isn't going to happen in basketball.... You just do well enough to position for the tournament and see what happens.

Losing a game doesn't mean there is something critically wrong with these guys.... it's basketball. Even in the NBA, sometimes some scab team beats the Warriors. It just happens.

Amen

 

[CoachTalk]

True but the 2 best players were freshmen and their growth has been stunted substantially this year for various reasons

???

 

[oudna]

???

Doolittle was suspended
McGusty not playing as much, doesn’t have the ball, etc

 

[chuckb]

They've got to defend. Period. Take care of the ball and defend. They can overcome a bad shooting night from Trae if they take care of the ball and defend. Last night they did neither.

 

[Darwin]

They've got to defend. Period. Take care of the ball and defend. They can overcome a bad shooting night from Trae if they take care of the ball and defend. Last night they did neither.

It bears repeating.

 

[DenverSooner]

Manek had 12 last night and Odomes had 16. I think OU has enough supporting cast to beat anyone. Last night was just unfortunate. Nothing would fall for OU and everyone was hot for KSU.

My personal opinion is the guys, particularly Trae, tried to do too much when they were having a bad shooting night. They will learn to turn to defense and getting the ball inside on nights like this rather than trying to hit the homer in pass.

I hated the result last night but it is a long season.

 

[AdaSooner]

Does anyone else think maybe shortening the bench a bit might help give someone the room to grow into a #2 be it McGusty, Manek or Doolittle

Yes, yes I do!

I’m surprised we haven’t settled on a nine or ten man rotation this deep into the season. Doolittle delayed that some, of course. And, then, there are the inconsistencies we’ve talked about, especially with our bigs. But I would like to see a shorter bench so our best players can settle into their roles faster.

 

[Boomer!Sooner!]

They are fine. Both Manek and James are ("2s"). I honestly have no clue what you mean, by two except that they score 12-15 a game. Trae struggled last night, but it was bound to happen, not just because he is a freshman. Everyone has off games. Also, you aren't ever going to beat a team on their home court when they shoot 75% from the field in the second half. They weren't all wide open shots either (although the were killing us off the drive), they were hitting tough, contested shots.

Also, can we stop with the Trae needs to come back for year 2. If you are a guaranteed lottery pick you have to go. Plus, the NBA is way better at getting people ready for the next level. The don't have class to deal with and have so much more money they throw at everything. If Trae isn't in the lottery, it could be smart to do so, but he will be.