OUSKINS
1/10/2010, 11:44 AM
Not going to spend a lot of time disecting the Baylor game because there isn't much to disect-- plus it might make me ill having to go over that game again. The first 8-9 minutes were great and then it became an embarrassing debacle. A 30-6 run to end the half? Really?
There's no point in analyzing the team as it stands now-- honestly and without exxageration, if we stay on our current trajectory, I see us winning 3 or 4 games in conference and having a losing season. I certainly hope that changes and I'm mildly hopeful that we'll play better at home, but right now, there is really no evidence to suggest we're going to improve at all.
My thoughts right now are on the big picture....my brother-in-law and I have debated this a bit...he thinks Capel might be a good recruiter/bad coach. I disagree and here's why:
This is Capel's 4th season. In his 1at season, he had an empty cupboard-- a team completely void of talent. That team did play tough though and somehow managed a winning record. Nate Carter was by far as our best "big man" and he stood all of 6'4.
In year two, Capel got Blake, but most still expected NIT at best. Instead, we pulled off some great early wins (at West Virginia) and surprised most people by getting a #6 seed in the Dance. Again, most people picked St. Joe's to upset OU in the first round, but we beat them handily before gettting toasted by Louisville. And remember, one huge win from that year came in Stillwater when Blake was hurt.
Year three played out as most expected....OU was a consistent top 10 team all year. #2 seed in the Dance and made the Elite 8, bowing out to the eventual champs. And that team did have a stroke of bad luck when Blake missed our two biggest regular season games (UT and KU)-- and in those games, OU still held firm and gave respectable efforts.
So, for three years I think the evidence is strong to suggest that Capel can coach. He did well with the scraps left behind from Sampson and he did well with the first batch of players he brought through.
Now, something has gone terribly wrong. Capel has made a major error somewhere along the line in either recruiting, coaching, or both. This team is a mess right now. Capel certainly isn't in the dark about the problems. He has routinely called them out, referenced "spoiled AAU" players, and we all read about how he's kicked them out of the lockeroom and refuses to let them wear OU gear in practice. He's put guys on the bench and he's done everything in his power to "break them down." It appears nothing is working.
One thing might be that the talent is overrated-- maybe some of these guys aren't as good as advertised? But even if that's true, it really doesn't explain a 31 point loss to a team that has never beaten you before. If OU was struggling a bit, showing signs of youth, and a little behind the learning curve, I think we could all accept that. But to be so utterly non-competitive is unnaceptable no matter the circumstances.
Capel needs to do WHATEVER he needs to do to remove the current toxic atmosphere. Probably not a whole lot he can do the rest of THIS year, but if things don't improve, and if certain players don't clean up their act, then Capel might need to cut some people loose after this year. Even if it means setting ourselves back a season or two, I'm all for it, if Capel deems it necessary.
If Capel has indeed made judgement errors on these players, then he can hopefully recognize that and do what he needs to do to rectify the situation.
I hope it doesn't come to that. I still have hope that maybe we've got some immature guys that just need to be taught "how" to play and that it's simply going to take time to get things fully ironed out.
If this season has ANY chance of being salvaged (which is highly doubtful in my opinion) we pretty much must beat OU in Norman Monday night. If we manage to get a W against the Pokes, then maybe we can start talking. But right now, I'll be surprised if we get within 10.
There's no point in analyzing the team as it stands now-- honestly and without exxageration, if we stay on our current trajectory, I see us winning 3 or 4 games in conference and having a losing season. I certainly hope that changes and I'm mildly hopeful that we'll play better at home, but right now, there is really no evidence to suggest we're going to improve at all.
My thoughts right now are on the big picture....my brother-in-law and I have debated this a bit...he thinks Capel might be a good recruiter/bad coach. I disagree and here's why:
This is Capel's 4th season. In his 1at season, he had an empty cupboard-- a team completely void of talent. That team did play tough though and somehow managed a winning record. Nate Carter was by far as our best "big man" and he stood all of 6'4.
In year two, Capel got Blake, but most still expected NIT at best. Instead, we pulled off some great early wins (at West Virginia) and surprised most people by getting a #6 seed in the Dance. Again, most people picked St. Joe's to upset OU in the first round, but we beat them handily before gettting toasted by Louisville. And remember, one huge win from that year came in Stillwater when Blake was hurt.
Year three played out as most expected....OU was a consistent top 10 team all year. #2 seed in the Dance and made the Elite 8, bowing out to the eventual champs. And that team did have a stroke of bad luck when Blake missed our two biggest regular season games (UT and KU)-- and in those games, OU still held firm and gave respectable efforts.
So, for three years I think the evidence is strong to suggest that Capel can coach. He did well with the scraps left behind from Sampson and he did well with the first batch of players he brought through.
Now, something has gone terribly wrong. Capel has made a major error somewhere along the line in either recruiting, coaching, or both. This team is a mess right now. Capel certainly isn't in the dark about the problems. He has routinely called them out, referenced "spoiled AAU" players, and we all read about how he's kicked them out of the lockeroom and refuses to let them wear OU gear in practice. He's put guys on the bench and he's done everything in his power to "break them down." It appears nothing is working.
One thing might be that the talent is overrated-- maybe some of these guys aren't as good as advertised? But even if that's true, it really doesn't explain a 31 point loss to a team that has never beaten you before. If OU was struggling a bit, showing signs of youth, and a little behind the learning curve, I think we could all accept that. But to be so utterly non-competitive is unnaceptable no matter the circumstances.
Capel needs to do WHATEVER he needs to do to remove the current toxic atmosphere. Probably not a whole lot he can do the rest of THIS year, but if things don't improve, and if certain players don't clean up their act, then Capel might need to cut some people loose after this year. Even if it means setting ourselves back a season or two, I'm all for it, if Capel deems it necessary.
If Capel has indeed made judgement errors on these players, then he can hopefully recognize that and do what he needs to do to rectify the situation.
I hope it doesn't come to that. I still have hope that maybe we've got some immature guys that just need to be taught "how" to play and that it's simply going to take time to get things fully ironed out.
If this season has ANY chance of being salvaged (which is highly doubtful in my opinion) we pretty much must beat OU in Norman Monday night. If we manage to get a W against the Pokes, then maybe we can start talking. But right now, I'll be surprised if we get within 10.