When was the last time OU had a surprise team?

[coolm]

... and I mean surprise on the GOOD side.

Usually it's about the Sooners trying to live up to preseason expectations. This season there were literally NO expectations and this group has been so much fun to watch - and they've been very successful.

wondering when the last time we had that happen? it would seem to have been awhile.

 

[NickZepp]

Maybe Sampson's first year.

Sent from my galaxy s2

 

[WaymanFan]

I think most would equate a pleasant surprise with a great coaching job. Billy's two best coaching jobs were in 1984 and 1990. Kelvin's two best were 1995 and 2000. So, to answer your question, the year 2000. It was a great coaching job because we unexpectedly lost Ryan Humphrey and expectedly lost three other starters to graduation/attrition from a team that was the "last one in" to the Dance. That 2000 team was a very unexpected #3 seed.

If OU can win their last two (and they should), Coach Kruger can get us to a #4 seed with some damage in the conference tournament. That would be a very unexpected surprise based on the expectations at the start of the season.

 

[JBaker]

Last year?

 

[AdaSooner]

This team is easily the biggest surprise for me in so many years I can't think of the last one.

No one (and I do mean NO ONE) expected OU to be this good. Yet, here we are in a tie for second in the Big 12, a lock for the dance, and sticking out our chest with pride after completing a sweep on two of our biggest rivals.

Truly an amazing season!

 

[coolm]

agreed with Ada! that's exactly how I feel. very happy about this season!!!

 

[NickZepp]

I think a lot of OU fans expected a bit more. I remember reading here that most fans thought 20 regular season wins was about right. We are probably slightly better than that and should have 23 wins. But outside of OU fans a lot of people weren't predicting wins, mostly because of Osby leaving. But returning the 3 young guards was huge. The experience they had mixed with the improvement all 3 have had, add to that Clark's improvement most of the year. And finally you have Spangler and Woodard being good. We probably knew going in that Spangler would be a rebounding presence but he's been better on offense than most would have thought. The way they've come around as a unit is amazing.

 

[DenverSooner]

I think a lot of OU fans expected a bit more. I remember reading here that most fans thought 20 regular season wins was about right. We are probably slightly better than that and should have 23 wins. But outside of OU fans a lot of people weren't predicting wins, mostly because of Osby leaving. But returning the 3 young guards was huge. The experience they had mixed with the improvement all 3 have had, add to that Clark's improvement most of the year. And finally you have Spangler and Woodard being good. We probably knew going in that Spangler would be a rebounding presence but he's been better on offense than most would have thought. The way they've come around as a unit is amazing.

THey said that thinking the Big XII would be down overall not up.

 

[NickZepp]

THey said that thinking the Big XII would be down overall not up.

That's true also. I don't think people realized how good the conference would be top to 2nd to bottom. TCU completely sucks so lets not count them. People probably thought OSU would be better than they've been also. But really outside of Kansas being way better in conference play. There isn't a huge difference between the 4 teams after them. And there really isn't a huge difference between OSU, Baylor, and WVU also.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Terrell Everett and taj gray's first year.

 

[MI Sooner]

THey said that thinking the Big XII would be down overall not up.

Yeah, I figured we'd be fighting with KSU and ISU for the 4th and (maybe) 5th bids with KU, OSU, and Baylor being locks. As of now, 6 teams besides us are in. And we have 8 wins over them.