What is the biggest weakness as a team this year?

[BigTime]

Going into the season, what would you say the biggest weakness is?

- PG/Lead guard depth?
- Post scoring?
- Inexperience off the bench?
- 3 point shooting from the PG position?
- Other?

One thing that I thought hurt the club last year was that there seemed to be a some mental breakdowns down the stretch of close games (and when the Sooners had a big lead) that seemed to add a few Ls/near Ls.

 

[CoachTalk]

I really think Post scoring or even the threat of them scoring... We've got to get something from them. If not, itll be pressure city on our guards.

 

[thebigabd]

Post scoring. Everything else is rock solid.

 

[TheMont]

Half-court offense in general. Need to see a lot of improvement from last year.

 

[AdaSooner]

I would agree that post scoring may be at the top of the weakness list. But, the usually optimistic side of me thinks it may be too early to write off Lattin's improvement as a scorer, or to assume that Manyang is a shot blocker and paint defender only, with little or no game on offense. We may not see it until he is fully recovered from his injury. I just find it hard to buy into the theory that a 7 footer with his length and athleticism is going to be a one trick pony.

Now, to the main reason I have a good feeling about this team's post play: Dante Buford. WTSooner and a few others have said all along that he would play the four this year. Where he plays doesn't matter to me. I see him as a potential match up nightmare for defenders, whether he is out on the wing or posting up with his back to the basket. In other words, Cam Clark, only with what I believe to be more skills. And, don't forget Jamuni McNeace. He may not be ready to have a breakout season, but I honestly believe he will at least contribute in a back up role as a defender, rebounder and shot blocker.

This will still be a guard-oriented team. I see that as a good thing. Good guards, and this team has an ample supply of them, are key to any successful college team these days.

 

[usedtobe1]

I agree Ada. I've thought for some time that Buford is a taller version of Cam Clark, and is a better rebounder. I know Kruger promised to give him some minutes on the wing, but I bet half of his minutes this season will be in the post. He may our best post offensive player.

I'm also agreeing that post scoring is an area of concern. I'm not as sold on Lattin and Manyang having a low-post scoring touch.

 

[campbest]

Shot selection in the half-court.

Who picks up the void left by Thomas?

 

[WTSooner]

This is all kind of the same thing, but I'd say a) half-court offense, b) scoring from the guards in the half-court, excluding 3 point shooting, and c) back to the basket scoring from our posts.

Possibly rebounding or post defense, depending on whom plays the most. If Spangler, Lattin, and say Buford are our top three posts, that is a pretty small post rotation. It's a solid one, but it's small.

 

[zeptrey]

This is all kind of the same thing, but I'd say a) half-court offense, b) scoring from the guards in the half-court, excluding 3 point shooting, and c) back to the basket scoring from our posts.

Possibly rebounding or post defense, depending on whom plays the most. If Spangler, Lattin, and say Buford are our top three posts, that is a pretty small post rotation. It's a solid one, but it's small.

You may be forgetting a person 7ft tall in that rotation.

 

[WTSooner]

You may be forgetting a person 7ft tall in that rotation.

That's why I said "possibly", and "if" those other three were getting more minutes. I could see Manyang not playing even 20 minutes a game. And I could see him starting and being a force.

 

[zeptrey]

20 minutes isn't bad for a four man post rotation. This may be the deepest the post has been in a while but I'd have to agree that the post could be the weakest part of the squad. Can't wait for the season to find out.

 

[JBaker]

I just hope we are better at finishing around the rim. I feel like we've missed so many layups the last few years, and don't really have anybody that has excelled at finishing in traffic.

 

[AdaSooner]

20 minutes isn't bad for a four man post rotation. This may be the deepest the post has been in a while but I'd have to agree that the post could be the weakest part of the squad. Can't wait for the season to find out.

One thing we won't have to wait for is the knowledge that this team will have a legitimate 7 foot center this season.

A former OU assistant told me recently that Manyang is several inches taller than Spangler. So, even if AK is not an offensive juggernaut, he will be a big (no pun intended) help in the middle on defense and in adding to our post depth.

 

[usedtobe1]

One thing we won't have to wait for is the knowledge that this team will have a legitimate 7 foot center this season.

A former OU assistant told me recently that Manyang is several inches taller than Spangler. So, even if AK is not an offensive juggernaut, he will be a big (no pun intended) help in the middle on defense and in adding to our post depth.

Looking at it another way, Spangler really isn't much taller than Buford. Maybe an inch. Manyang is really tall but the practice I watched early this summer showed me he plays pretty physical and isn't quite as skinny as I expected. He's gonna help a lot so I hope he completely heals from his stress fracture before fall practices begin.

I think we really have a 5-man post rotation. McNeace is going to get some minutes too and he may be our 2nd tallest player. I honestly think he has better offensive moves than Lattin or Manyang, but he may not be as strong (based on one practice). What that does is let them all play more aggressively on the defensive end and not worry too much about fouls. It's a nice luxury to have.

 

[ocugolfsooner]

Something we have struggled with the past couple years is someone who can just go score when we need a basket. Buddy's handles and finishing haven't been good enough for him to just go get a basket on his own. They tried some of it with Thomas last year, but he wasn't real good at it either.

We have suffered from not having a slasher who can finish at the rim. I'm hoping Buddy, Woodard and Cousins all improve in this area, or that at least one of them improves significantly.

 

[SoonerinNC]

We need that guy who can take over the game at the end. Kruger's approach has been to go with Woodard. He really didn't excell at it but the fact that Kruger continually went with him for the final shots in several games tells me that Kruger thinks Woodard has that capability.

Also we need more inside scoring than we have had.

 

[AdaSooner]

Something we have struggled with the past couple years is someone who can just go score when we need a basket. Buddy's handles and finishing haven't been good enough for him to just go get a basket on his own. They tried some of it with Thomas last year, but he wasn't real good at it either.

We have suffered from not having a slasher who can finish at the rim. I'm hoping Buddy, Woodard and Cousins all improve in this area, or that at least one of them improves significantly.

We've got one. His name is Rashard Odomes. I'm just not sure he will be ready to do it at a high level his freshman season.

Buford is pretty darned good at it too. I think he may be the difference maker this season. He's a great athlete with some impressive hops. He's also accustomed to playing down low, because he had no choice on his high school team. He can play the wing, too, which is why I said sometime ago that he could be a match up nightmare for most teams.

 

[usedtobe1]

Yep. Odomes and Buford are both going to be very good. Odomes surprised me with his moves in the one practice where I watched him. He has good change of direction and is very aggressive. I think Buford is our best scorer in the post. He doesn't have Odomes wiggles, but he is a very good slasher and is bigger than Odomes.

 

[Darwin]

I would really like one of our bigs to excel at the pick and pop. It would help space the floor better and create mismatches. Ryan was doing this early last season but lost confidence in his shot.

 

[BCSooners]

Creating for others. Our teams assist to turnover ratio was poor. Seems like our guys get tunnel vision.