Why would candidates give us the "cold shoulder"?

[Section31]

Wrong again. The program is a mess, we lost our best player to graduation, and our conference schedule will be much tougher next season. No heat next year regardless of who is the coach.

I contend we have more APPARENT talent returning than Capel's first year. I wouldn't call you crazy if you disagreed, but the core of this group has some talent.

I agree the conference schedule is tougher, but the same can be said for all the teams in the conference...in fact, the north teams' will feel the increase more than the south...

 

[Big Old Booger]

I contend we have more APPARENT talent returning than Capel's first year. I wouldn't call you crazy if you disagreed, but the core of this group has some talent.

I agree the conference schedule is tougher, but the same can be said for all the teams in the conference...in fact, the north teams' will feel the increase more than the south...

No, I agree. We have talent, but until Osby proves he is better than Davis, it is accurate to say we lost our best player to graduation.

I would also add the talent has some deficiencies, but maybe some of those deficiencies are related to hustle and not talent which can be corrected by good coaching.

 

[Section31]

No, I agree. We have talent, but until Osby proves he is better than Davis, it is accurate to say we lost our best player to graduation.

I would also add the talent has some deficiencies, but maybe some of those deficiencies are related to hustle and not talent which can be corrected by good coaching.

I agree with most all of that. The point is, it's not much different than Capel's first year (next year).

I expect this team to be above .500 if Osby is good. I expect 20+ wins and a trip to the NCAAs if he's great (not Blakesque, but really good).

 

[afaSooner]

Wrong again. The program is a mess, we lost our best player to graduation, and our conference schedule will be much tougher next season. No heat next year regardless of who is the coach.

Tony said the next coach will have a very long leash but imo there's ALWAYS the possibility that things get worse, kids transfer or get kicked off the team, we only win 6 games through half the season, etc. etc., and no one ever contemplates such a thing happening then BAM, the wheels fall off when everyone thought it couldn't get worse.

Yes these things happen. If you hire the wrong guy things can/will get worse, doubt will set in quickly, and the heat will be on. That's yet another reason Joe can't miss on this one. It's a TOUGH TOUGH hire.

And let's not act like next years version of Sooner basketball is doomed from the start or rather WAS doomed even had Capel stayed. OU showed it has some nice pieces to work with. Davis was one of my favorite players based on grit but just because he was able to take his game to another level late, doesn't make him anywhere near irreplaceable. Not when you have Osby & Goff coming in, Cam Clark showing flashes of brilliance, Blair logging valuable minutes showing a propensity to habitually finish at the rim, Pledger showing glimpses of why many considered him a sleeper guard out of HS, etc. etc. The next coach will not be starving for talent besides, it's his job to bring some talent in with him.

I certainly don't buy the 'NO HEAT' argument. There can always be heat.

 

[HeismanWatch]

nm

 

[HeismanWatch]

So do you want us to overpay for someone who may not deserve it? I understand being competitive with an offer but just throwing money at something isn't always the best answer.

What did Kentucky do?

Paying fair market price isn't going to move anyone to OU. You have to sweeten the deal OR find an up and coming coach. It's all about risk, but at least you have a better chance to win some games with a proven coach.

It worked for Kentucky. Memphis gave Calipari a raise to $2.5M, and Kentucky threw $3.5M at him. Who won? Who's in the Final Four?

That's my point...

 

[Soonerpirate12]

I understand that but still though. You have to give credit where credit is due. To say that a coach only won because of a good player is ridiculous. It can be said for every coach in every sport. I know he did not do good without him but the fact still remains that he was good with him and you have to give the coach credit for it. Do you guys think Phil Jackson would have won 11 NBA titles if he hadn't had Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Shaq?

Yes he would've won titles without them! That was a dumb question!

 

[WaymanFan]

If you are at an up and coming basketball school and you have had a lot of success for a small school and all of a sudden, a big time school like OU fires their coach just 2 years after an Elite Eight appearance and they call you. Do you really want to go to a school where the pressure is going to be so heavy on your shoulders to win right away or would you rather stay at your school your at and continue to have success and make bank.

I was all for giving Jeff one more year, but I really don't think that's the reason OU can't find a coach right now. It's a bit misleading to simply say: "OU fired their head coach only two years removed from an Elite Eight." While the statement is factual, there are several other parameters involved. First and foremost, two consecutive losing seasons. Second, another NCAA investigation. Third, a dwindling fan base, and finally, there isn't much returning talent on hand with little help on the horizon. If Joe C can't smooth ALL OF THAT over, he's in the wrong profession.

 

[ByronHoustonsSweatyPalms]

I was all for giving Jeff one more year, but I really don't think that's the reason OU can't find a coach right now. It's a bit misleading to simply say: "OU fired their head coach only two years removed from an Elite Eight." While the statement is factual, there are several other parameters involved. First and foremost, two consecutive losing seasons. Second, another NCAA investigation. Third, a dwindling fan base, and finally, there isn't much returning talent on hand with little help on the horizon. If Joe C can't smooth ALL OF THAT over, he's in the wrong profession.

and if you retained him for one year without a long term commitment he would have been viewed as a lame duck coach. Hind sight is 20-20, but I would advise against looking back now,

 

[oSuJeff97]

It was b/c of Capel and Griffin. Stop taking the credit away from Capel. I don't take away elite 8s and final 4s away from other coach's b/c they had a solid player on their team.

This has been hashed and rehashed, but let me again tell you the difference:

Blake Griffin wasn't "a solid player." Obi Muenelo was "a solid player."

Blake Griffin was/is a once-in-a-generation freak talent. He's the second-best player in the history of the OU program. He was the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft, and he's about to run away with the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

There's talent and then there's TALENT. Blake is the latter.

And I'll tell you this - if another coach had good success with a freak talent like that, but had a losing record without said freak talent, you can bet that he absolutely would get credit taken away. Without question.

 

[daqman]

This has been hashed and rehashed, but let me again tell you the difference:

Blake Griffin wasn't "a solid player." Obi Muenelo was "a solid player."

Blake Griffin was/is a once-in-a-generation freak talent. He's the second-best player in the history of the OU program. He was the #1 overall pick in the NBA draft, and he's about to run away with the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

There's talent and then there's TALENT. Blake is the latter.

And I'll tell you this - if another coach had good success with a freak talent like that, but had a losing record without said freak talent, you can bet that he absolutely would get credit taken away. Without question.

For evidence, just look at the Weber discussions.
EVERYONE credited Bill Self's players for Weber's success.