What is a reasonable expectation for next season?

[DenverSooner]

Assuming Capel is retained what is a reasonable expectation for next season?

The loss of Taylor hurts because I was really hoping he could be a key contributor. Perhaps that was overly optimistic considering he never played but I at least had hope.

I am just not sure it is reasonable to anticipate OU will be better than teams like OSU, A&M, Baylor, Texas and Missouri next year. (I don't think there is prayer they are better than KSU and KU). If I am correct, I see OU around 8th or 9th in the conference. I don't know if I can take that.

The worst part is that if Capel is not retained, I think OU will get worse before they get better. I hate that this has happened to the OU basketball program. I used to love basketball season now I just want spring football to start.

 

[38red]

Wait until you (& the coaches) see the players play a few games, then put some expectations on them!jmo

 

[DenverSooner]

I neve had to do that in the past. I knew OU would be competitive ever since being a fan. It sucks to watch this horrible product and be concerned that it may be no better next year.

 

[Tony]

I don't know what is reasonable based on what we know now, but Jeff Capel must make the tournament next season if he is still here. There is no way even Joe C could accept missing the tournament for three consecutive seasons.

 

[40 Cal]

Lossing taylor doesn't hurt us. No one knows what he bring to the team. Everyone is just assuming and we all know what you get when you assume. Next year OU should be like 4 to 6 in the big 12. Capel keeps saying that his best player is on the bench (Osby). Also Goff coming in will be nice to have a big, big man.

 

[blankenship4]

damn 4-6 thats a pretty good jump but that prolly about where capel will need to be to keep his job next year

 

[sooner8]

The expectations for next year are cannot be labelled,I expect to challenge for a Big 10 title..Not going to happen,with this coaching staff & players!!As simple as that!!Go Sooners!!!!!!!!!

 

[Crimsonmonarch]

If Capel is able to pull through this season we have a chance to be decent next year. Our roster would look something like

PG- Carl Blair JR
SG- Stephen Pledger JR
SF- Cameron Clark SO
PF Ramon Osby JR
C- Andrew Fitzgerald JR

Bench

PG- Calvin Newell SO
SF- Tyler Neal SO
PF- Robert Goff JR
CF- Nick Thompson SR
CF- C.J. Washington SR
We need to add a shooter badly for 2011, maybe a Josh Richardson or someone like him, a team like that could make the tourney. If Capel could add a guy like Perry Ellis in 2012 then this team could actually make a run at the tourney and maybe even win a game or 3. We should be much better on the front line next year.

 

[seniorsooner]

We either have to make the tournament OR come very, very close and have the prospects for the following season look VERY promising (meaning the players on our current roster all make significant improvements and Capel has some high profile recruits committed for 2012).

 

[skyvue]

Lossing taylor doesn't hurt us. No one knows what he bring to the team.

If we don't know what he brings to the team, then we can't assume we're not hurt by losing him.

Plenty of people who saw him play in high school and AAU expected big things from TJ. Some were more excited about him than Cam. So please stop with the denigration of his talents. He was one of our top two recruits this season, and it hurts to lose him.

 

[schoonerdriver]

Assuming Capel is retained what is a reasonable expectation for next season?

The loss of Taylor hurts because I was really hoping he could be a key contributor. Perhaps that was overly optimistic considering he never played but I at least had hope.

I am just not sure it is reasonable to anticipate OU will be better than teams like OSU, A&M, Baylor, Texas and Missouri next year. (I don't think there is prayer they are better than KSU and KU). If I am correct, I see OU around 8th or 9th in the conference. I don't know if I can take that.

The worst part is that if Capel is not retained, I think OU will get worse before they get better. I hate that this has happened to the OU basketball program. I used to love basketball season now I just want spring football to start.

How much worse could it get? We were picked to finish 11th. Next year we could be picked to finish 10th. :ed

I would like to see a top 6 finish in the league, but I will have to see how the team progresses through the year.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

If Capel is retained then I will expect nothing less than making the tournament next year. If he's fired and a new guy is brought in then obviously expectations would have to be lowered. P.S. - I haven't made up my mind on Capel yet...I'm not thrilled with this season ATTM but did see some improvements in the ORU game so we'll see what ends up happening.

 

[WaymanFan]

I don't know what is reasonable based on what we know now, but Jeff Capel must make the tournament next season if he is still here. There is no way even Joe C could accept missing the tournament for three consecutive seasons.

I'm on record as being a Jeff Capel supporter, but not oblivious to OU's problems. Tony's post sums it up for me as well. We need to go "dancing" next season. The task won't be made any easier by the fact the conference is losing its two worst basketball programs...the Big XII/X will be brutal next year. Jeff needs to bring in two more impact players for next season.

 

[DenverSooner]

I'm on record as being a Jeff Capel supporter, but not oblivious to OU's problems. Tony's post sums it up for me as well. We need to go "dancing" next season. The task won't be made any easier by the fact the conference is losing its two worst basketball programs...the Big XII/X will be brutal next year. Jeff needs to bring in two more impact players for next season.

Well that is a a very dissappointing fact that I had completely overlooked. Next year OU will likely be battling it out with Tech and ISU for last place. That truly sucks.

 

[seniorsooner]

Well that is a a very dissappointing fact that I had completely overlooked. Next year OU will likely be battling it out with Tech and ISU for last place. That truly sucks.

If that is the case then next year will be Capel's last.

 

[NickZepp]

I don't have any idea what our roster will look like. Did anyone think a year ago at this time we would have so much change in our roster?

 

[Krugerfan52]

I don't have any idea what our roster will look like. Did anyone think a year ago at this time we would have so much change in our roster?

Last year was so different because we had such talented guys that had such big egos and thought they could play in the NBA.

I expect most of these guys to be back next year. In my mind we can win 20 games next year, and then if we keep the core 25 games the following year which would be the senior year where we could see this starting lineup.

PG - Blair - senior
SG - Pledger - senior
SF - Osby - senior
PF - Fitz - senior
C - Goff - senior

 

[40 Cal]

If we don't know what he brings to the team, then we can't assume we're not hurt by losing him.

Plenty of people who saw him play in high school and AAU expected big things from TJ. Some were more excited about him than Cam. So please stop with the denigration of his talents. He was one of our top two recruits this season, and it hurts to lose him.

Umm sorry, but I am not assuming its fact that he has done nothing for this team. So him leaving doesnt hurt this team. Also what you did in high school and aau means nothing in college. I am not going to keep giving a kid credit when he quit.

 

[bgrch1350]

If we don't know what he brings to the team, then we can't assume we're not hurt by losing him.

Plenty of people who saw him play in high school and AAU expected big things from TJ. Some were more excited about him than Cam. So please stop with the denigration of his talents. He was one of our top two recruits this season, and it hurts to lose him.

I never watched him play but I heard from many sources that he was a mid major type of player. What I do know is the fact that he didn't help us out this season. And I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that he wouldn't start over Pledger or Cam. So replacing him might not be as hard as you may think.

 

[bgrch1350]

Expectation wise...too me...depends on Osby. I expect everyone to improve but I haven't seen Osby play. Is he going to be good or great? Same thing for Goff. How good will he be. Fitz improves his defense and rebounding, and we get some better outside shooting...we could be really good.

I do know that Mizzou is going to be really good since they are only losing one guy.
KU is going to be good but how good depends on who stays and who departs.
OSU will be good if Johnson comes in.
Tex is going to be good but how good???
K-ST should start heading back down the pole
Baylor is losing Dunn and most likely Jones. They have no one to stretch the defense. This should be the year to find out if Drew is a solid coach.
TT and ISU sucks
aTm will always compete...doesn't mean they will win.
OU will return all but one player...bringing in a top transfer and a top juco player...and should expect at least 2 more players to join the team.

I am very excited about this team next year. I expect big things.