Why did we start the season with a 4 guard lineup?

[htownSOONER]

I know I was not the only one on here asking this in December and January. There was no reason to not be playing a solid rotation of Fitz, Wright, Gallon 20-30 minutes a game each every game this year. I know the year would have started off slow, but the light would have come on for all 3 had we started earlier in the season.

Crocker played hard all year, but he belonged playing the 3, not the 4. Obviously, Capel now agrees.

I think that was the biggest coaching mistake of the year.

 

[Sooner79]

Fitz couldn't play defense, Tiny couldn't stay out of foul trouble and Tony showed the ability to give us the rebounding effort we needed.

 

[sooner333]

Well, you have to remember Willie was our best player. He had to start. TMG starts because he's the point guard. Then you start Crocker at 4. Gallon starts at C. That leaves either Fitz, Wright, or Davis to start in the other position. Davis was probably needed for defense more than anything.

Losing Warren made things different.

 

[Tony]

We didn't start the season with a four guard lineup. Tiny Gallon and Ryan Wright started like the first five games together. It wasn't until the second game in Alaska, after losses to VCU and whoever that we first used four guards.

Back to my cave.

 

[DenverSooner]

I know I was not the only one on here asking this in December and January. There was no reason to not be playing a solid rotation of Fitz, Wright, Gallon 20-30 minutes a game each every game this year. I know the year would have started off slow, but the light would have come on for all 3 had we started earlier in the season.

Crocker played hard all year, but he belonged playing the 3, not the 4. Obviously, Capel now agrees.

I think that was the biggest coaching mistake of the year.

It is easy at this point to say Capel made a mistake but if you go back to the beginning of the year and watch the games, I don't think he did. Fitzgerald was too slow. The announcer today said Fitzgerald has lost 30lbs this season. It is making a huge difference in his play.

 

[htownSOONER]

I hear what everybody is saying, but why not let them go out there and get their butt kicked in the non conference season, get better and get some experience.

I hated 4 guard lineups yesterday, I will hate them tomorrow. They are gimmick offenses that remind me of Texas Tech in football.

 

[sooner333]

I here what everybody is saying, but why not let them go out there and get there but kicked in the non conference season, get better and get some experience.

Because at the time we didn't know what was in store for us. If we just throw in the towel for non-conference, it's hard to make the NCAA tournament even with a massive turnaround. If we knew then what we know now, I'm sure things would have been handled differently. But I can't fault Capel for not knowing that we'd slide this far, even if he should have seen a bigger drop than he expected.

 

[Cheno]

OSU runs 4 guards and they are good. Capel was just searching all year with this team.

 

[FaithfulSooner]

Kind of like ku was searching for the bus after the osu game right? BOOMER SOONER BABY!!!:ez-roll:

 

[thebigabd]

Fitz has lost 30 pounds since November and is learning how to play at this level.

 

[SoonerfanTU]

Fitz has lost 30 pounds since November and is learning how to play at this level.

This. Plus he's had, what, 5 months of practice and games to get better?

 

[FaithfulSooner]

That is the goal right? Very happy with his progress. Hope he's not injured to bad. Some very nice high low action between him and Tiny today. BOOMER SOONER BABY!!!

 

[jmizzy4ou]

It is easy at this point to say Capel made a mistake but if you go back to the beginning of the year and watch the games, I don't think he did. Fitzgerald was too slow. The announcer today said Fitzgerald has lost 30lbs this season. It is making a huge difference in his play.

Exactly. Capel tried alot of combinations early. Obviously the bigs are starting to play well together. At the time, the 4 guard line-up was the best option.

 

[Darwin]

4 guard lineup I want to see. TMG, H Price, C Brewer, M Blaylock, B :bgriff624_jpg_xs: Griffin.

 

[outest]

I know I was not the only one on here asking this in December and January. There was no reason to not be playing a solid rotation of Fitz, Wright, Gallon 20-30 minutes a game each every game this year. I know the year would have started off slow, but the light would have come on for all 3 had we started earlier in the season.

Crocker played hard all year, but he belonged playing the 3, not the 4. Obviously, Capel now agrees.

I think that was the biggest coaching mistake of the year.

I agreed and said the same thing for months. Got bashed and got the same answer.
The thing I don't like about the 4 guards offense is we got out-rebounded both offensively and defensively. OU would get so hard defending for one opponent's offensive possession only to see them coming up with another offensive rebound. Everybody said Fitz just lost 30 pounds and started to play with confidence. You don't think that he will get this far earlier in the season if he had played at the beginning of the year.

 

[buttermaker1]

I agree my starting five would have included 2 bigs Gallon and Wright. Two 6-9 guys. If a 4 guard lineup was so great everyone would be doing it.

 

[topcat]

I heard Jeff say yesterday that the team lacked commitment last summer. It obvious when a player looses 30 lbs during the year. These kids need to step up the off season conditioning. They should've shown up in shape and ready to go instead of 30 lbs over weight. Jeff mentioned it was from a lack of leadership. He's right. The HC can't be in charge of off season conditioning workouts. Team leaders have to lead and we had none.

If that doesn't change, we will be in the same boat next year.

I don't have a problem with 4 guards but you better be able to play solid ball pressure D and hit the glass. Nova seems to do OK with it.

 

[campbest]

I agreed and said the same thing for months. Got bashed and got the same answer.
The thing I don't like about the 4 guards offense is we got out-rebounded both offensively and defensively. OU would get so hard defending for one opponent's offensive possession only to see them coming up with another offensive rebound. Everybody said Fitz just lost 30 pounds and started to play with confidence. You don't think that he will get this far earlier in the season if he had played at the beginning of the year.

Fitz played a combined 58 minutes against ISU and Colorado...grabbed a total of 2 rebounds.

 

[sooner333]

I heard Jeff say yesterday that the team lacked commitment last summer. It obvious when a player looses 30 lbs during the year. These kids need to step up the off season conditioning. They should've shown up in shape and ready to go instead of 30 lbs over weight. Jeff mentioned it was from a lack of leadership. He's right. The HC can't be in charge of off season conditioning workouts. Team leaders have to lead and we had none.

At what point did Darby leave, and how long did it take to hire Szendrei? Perhaps the turnover in the strength coach was a problem.