What is our upside for this season?

[BoulderSooner]

Upside is Top 3 or 4 in conference and a #4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. I'm always an optimist, but our team is going to look dramatically different next year, and CLK is a Top 5% D-1 coach.

Said it in several threads, but he could have won more games last year junking some things up, instead he stayed the course. I'm actually pretty excited about next year.

this

 

[BigTime]

I'll respectfully disagree, and hopefully my tone isn't one that is saying that CLK did the wrong thing when in fact it is intended as the opposite. While I think we win a few more games last season with a junk defense that fit the players talents, I prefer the stability that CLK brought and never deviated from.

Also, while I think that any coach wants to win games, I truly believe that last season was about teaching and building for this season and going forward. I love Kelvin and I'd be willing to bet that he would have had last seasons team in contention for an NCAA berth becuase we'd be lock down on defense, but I like what CLK is bringing to the table just as much.

I see your point, Mr B, but I have a hard time agreeing that Kruger wouldn't try to do anything possible to win some of those conference games. It would have helped get some fans back and we had a decent shot at making it to the NIT if we had pulled off a few of those home wins against the Big 12's elite.

 

[luckyc1423]

Since you seem to want to have a civil discussion, I'll respond. I think some ground has been gained. When I started down this road, Pledger was being compared to Hollis and every other really good one that has come thru the program. Greatness was bestowed and predicted for him.

You and others seem to now have a more reasonable view of him. The inferences that you drew from what I've said are yours. I'm not responsible for that.

And I know that this may come as a surprise to many. But, this message board is only one of several communities of OU basketball fans. People have been arranging themselves into communities since the beginning of civilization. It is quite common for like minded people to so organise themselves. The majority opinion within this community is sometimes the minority opinion in other communities.

I have some ties to the community and those ties allow me to interact with lifelong season ticket holders or tip in club members or ex OU coaches or fans in general. It is not uncommon for people outside of this community to be of the opinion that Osby is the only player from last years team good enough to be a player on a good OU team.

There may be some great basketball minds in this community. But, there is no reason to weight those opinions any higher than what I know to be knowledgeable basketball thinkers in a different community.

Sure Pledger has improved every year. The last 4/5 games last season were, I thought, the best of his time here. His scoring was down. But, he had a couple of good rebounding games and his effort looked to have ticked up. I actually saw him bounce the ball with his left hand. He did it twice. He took a step to the left at hit two open shots. The stunned defended just stood there frozen. It was a move he hadn't seen or expected and he didn't know what to do.

But, don't try to convince me Pledger is anything more than a defensive liability. I know people get tired of hearing this. But, if they are, make whatever effort that it takes to get to the practice gym and see for yourself. Until then, trying to tell me that I don't know what I see is a waste of time. How many days in a row does it take watching players like Blair punk him one on one does it take to figure that out. He has never defended at a Big 12 level.

Pledger is a good shooter and I'm sure that Kruger will use him in a way that makes the team better. I have said this before and I'm sticking to it. If you have a basketball team that has Pedger as the best scoring option and Fitz is the man in the middle, you have a team that is in alot of trouble. While both Pledger and Fitz have usefull skills, that statement is accurate.

I agree with alot of things you say. I have been saying it for a few years im not a huge fan of fitz or pledger. I really believe fitz needs to be coming off the bench.

The only thing early I didnt agree with is you made this statement "The only player from last years roster that could play on a good OU basketball team is Osby"

I slightly disagree with that. Although I am not a huge pledger fan I can still see his value. He is a strong enough shooter to be able to contribute in some way. Should he get 20-30 minutes a game, no. But in certain situations like when teams are playing zone he is a very valuable player to have on the roster. Sharp Shooters can be valuable on every roster.

 

[WTSooner]

I slightly disagree with that. Although I am not a huge pledger fan I can still see his value. He is a strong enough shooter to be able to contribute in some way. Should he get 20-30 minutes a game, no. But in certain situations like when teams are playing zone he is a very valuable player to have on the roster. Sharp Shooters can be valuable on every roster.

Tim Heskett started a lot of games for OU teams that made the Dance.

Please tell me what skills he had, that Pledger does not. And please take into account that Heskett was a part of a team that played great TEAM defense. That isn't necessarily a direct reflection on his individual defense.

 

[campbest]

Tim Heskett started a lot of games for OU teams that made the Dance.

Please tell me what skills he had, that Pledger does not. And please take into account that Heskett was a part of a team that played great TEAM defense. That isn't necessarily a direct reflection on his individual defense.

This. Quality team defense also includes being able to hide or make adjustments for players who may not be as good on that end of the floor, but bring a significant attribute in another area. OU's on ball defense for the most part is fine, would like to see a bit more pressure but we just don't have the personnel (not just Pledger). It was the rotations that got us in trouble last year.

As for upside, if this team is not on the bubble this year, will be very disappointed. Anything greater than that is gravy.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

I'm pretty sure that Pledger would play somewhere between 20-30 minutes per game for every single other team in the conference this coming up season except for maybe Baylor but only because I can't predict or comprehend what goes through the mind of Drew. Not saying he'd necessarily be a star on those teams or the first scoring option like he was at OU last season, but he'd see plenty of floor time based solely on his ability to stretch a defense with his perimeter shooting.

Do I think that Pledger is 1st team all-conference "great" player material, no, but he is certainly a "good" player as compared to his peers in the conference. I think that is the crux of people's issues with Pledger, he was/is a "good" player that was forced out of necessity into trying to be a "great" player. Just because he wasn't "great" doesn't make him "terrible" overall like is being indicated and I'd be really surprised if any one of the newcomers dramatically impact the number of minutes that Pledger plays...although I hope it happens because that would mean that at least one of those players is "great" or at least as "good" as Pledger is. I'd love to get an Alex Burks type freshman surprise, we deserve it!

 

[WTSooner]

I'm pretty sure that Pledger would play somewhere between 20-30 minutes per game for every single other team in the conference this coming up season except for maybe Baylor but only because I can't predict or comprehend what goes through the mind of Drew. Not saying he'd necessarily be a star on those teams or the first scoring option like he was at OU last season, but he'd see plenty of floor time based solely on his ability to stretch a defense with his perimeter shooting.

Do I think that Pledger is 1st team all-conference "great" player material, no, but he is certainly a "good" player as compared to his peers in the conference. I think that is the crux of people's issues with Pledger, he was/is a "good" player that was forced out of necessity into trying to be a "great" player. Just because he wasn't "great" doesn't make him "terrible" overall like is being indicated and I'd be really surprised if any one of the newcomers dramatically impact the number of minutes that Pledger plays...although I hope it happens because that would mean that at least one of those players is "great" or at least as "good" as Pledger is. I'd love to get an Alex Burks type freshman surprise, we deserve it!

Yep.

Pledger might not be our Minor/Brewer/Najera/Hollis/Ace, but I certainly think he could be our Ere/Heskett/Detrick/Selvy type guy. No reason he can't be the 2nd or 3rd best offensive player on a pretty good team.