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View Full Version : is this the most talented OU team evar?



jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/28/2005, 09:00 AM
we go 9 deep of TALENTED players and i haven't even seen austin johnson in action yet.

Sooner04
11/28/2005, 02:28 PM
I'm ready to see Austin Johnson play because he can, supposedly, drive to the basket. I've seen three games with Chris Walker and he hasn't driven into the paint once.

And in terms of pure "talent", we're probably behind the team with Gar Heard and Clifford Ray. Those two were very solid NBA players for a long time.

In terms of overall talent, this bunch is uber deep. Now let's see if Sampson can distribute the minutes without causing a bunch of discontent.

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/28/2005, 02:59 PM
the biggest issue that you have with a deep team is hitting the wall late in the season. i watched it happen to kansas many many years under roy williams.

CobraKai
11/28/2005, 03:03 PM
The thing I love about this team is that we can score from almost anywhere, and it is hard to shut us down by taking out one player. Too many of our past teams could be completely neutralized by shutting down Minor, or Erdmann, or Brewer, or Price, etc. We have about 6 guys that could be the "man" on any given night.

Sooner04
11/28/2005, 03:07 PM
Sampson has said on quite a few occasions that what made the 2002 team so good is we had three guys who could go for 20 every night (McGhee, Price, Ere) while still playing really good team defense.

This team has three guys who could go for 20 (Gray, Everett, Neal) and a fourth who could go for 15 (Bookout). When you have that many options on the floor and on the bench, things really look bright. Couple that with a devastating bunch of rebounders and you've got a lot of opportunities to put the ball in the hole while keeping the other team to one and done possessions.

OUgradJeff
11/28/2005, 03:12 PM
I'd say our most talented team ever was the 1988 squad. You had 3 guys who were NBA starters in Mookie, Stacy King, & Harvey Grant.

We also had Ricky Grace, who is in the Hall of fame in the Australian pro leagues & played in several olympics for Australia.

Sooner04
11/28/2005, 03:15 PM
I'd say our most talented team ever was the 1988 squad. You had 3 guys who were NBA starters in Mookie, Stacy King, & Harvey Grant.

We also had Ricky Grace, who is in the Hall of fame in the Australian pro leagues & played in several olympics for Australia.
I wanted to say '88, but people always rag on me for holding the Tubbs teams in too high of a light.

Also, what I really liked about the game Saturday night was how many shots we took. Granted, they weren't falling (I think we shot about 40%), but I'm pumped about the opportunities. We took 40 shots in first half. I'd bet there were some games under Sampson where we didn't take that many in a game.

We had 65 points with ten minutes to go and went ice cold for the rest of the game and STILL got to 81. I've been saying all year if we average 80 a game we'll be incredibly hard to beat. That's a tall order for Sampson, but remember, the '02 team averaged 78 and they went seven deep. This bunch goes nine, possibly ten.

OUgradJeff
11/28/2005, 03:16 PM
the biggest issue that you have with a deep team is hitting the wall late in the season. i watched it happen to kansas many many years under roy williams.

What? It's talented teams that have NO depth that you worry about hitting a wall.

What happened to Kansas was the pressure of being considered one of the greatest teams ever. That & in the NCAA tournament, it just takes one off game & your season is over.

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/28/2005, 04:12 PM
What? It's talented teams that have NO depth that you worry about hitting a wall.

What happened to Kansas was the pressure of being considered one of the greatest teams ever. That & in the NCAA tournament, it just takes one off game & your season is over.

you'd think, but that isn't the way it normally works. the more depth you have, the later in the year you hit the wall. there is just this 3 game period where you have no energy whatsoever. normally for us that is right around the beginning of big 12 play which is why we always start in an 0-2 hole. part of it is that we always seem to have newcomers playing on the road and the emotional fatigue just catches up with you.

with more depth you try not to overstress anyone before finals and the holidays and then start to ramp up minutes after the break.

Sooner04
11/28/2005, 04:17 PM
there is just this 3 game period where you have no energy whatsoever. normally for us that is right around the beginning of big 12 play which is why we always start in an 0-2 hole. part of it is that we always seem to have newcomers playing on the road and the emotional fatigue just catches up with you.
Actually, we're quick Big 12 starters. We usually hit the wall in early February, then peak in early March and proceed to a second round NCAA Tournament train wreck.

TopDawg
11/28/2005, 04:51 PM
This team has three guys who could go for 20 (Gray, Everett, Neal) and a fourth who could go for 15 (Bookout). When you have that many options on the floor and on the bench, things really look bright. Couple that with a devastating bunch of rebounders and you've got a lot of opportunities to put the ball in the hole while keeping the other team to one and done possessions.

I like all the different looks we can give people. Walker and Longar might be the only two in our 10-deep that can't play two positions. And we've got the type of athletes and body-types to allow us to go quick without going short and to go big without going slow.

I think a big key for us will be Walker developing an outside game. Has he taken a shot from the perimiter yet? Our 2002 team turned the corner when Quannas became a threat from behind the arc and if Walker can provide us with that same threat, it'll be huge for us.

crawfish
11/28/2005, 05:00 PM
I wonder who on this team will get a chance in the NBA?

Gray, for sure, should be a first-rounder. Everett may get some interest if he builds on his point guard skills - he's the right size.

Not sure if we have a third this year.

Sooner04
11/28/2005, 05:04 PM
Our 2002 team turned the corner when Quannas became a threat from behind the arc and if Walker can provide us with that same threat, it'll be huge for us.
Quannas really didn't start pouring it in from outside until the next year.

The 2002 team turned the corner when the light went on for Aaron McGhee. Once he started burying every 15-foot jumper he looked at, that team began to roll.

TopDawg
11/28/2005, 05:04 PM
Not sure if we have a third this year.

Griffin?

TopDawg
11/28/2005, 05:20 PM
Quannas really didn't start pouring it in from outside until the next year.

The 2002 team turned the corner when the light went on for Aaron McGhee. Once he started burying every 15-foot jumper he looked at, that team began to roll.

Sure, Quannas' numbers the following year are more impressive, but I remember that as being more of an extension of the end of the 02 season than a "new thing" in 03. I haven't found a site that makes it easy to look at his outside production game-by-game, but he clearly became a much bigger part of our offense, scoring-wise, against Kansas in 2002.

Yeah, it's clear that McGhee turning it on was what made that season special, but I think Q opening up our offense a little more was part of what helped McGhee hit his stride.

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/28/2005, 06:15 PM
the thing about walker is that he is a glue guy, but he can only be on the court with certain lineups. taj or bookout have to be on the floor and it helps to have neal or everett on the opposite wing. the key is that he can get the ball into the paint and more importantly, stop crap going the other way. that frees up guys to crash the boards. if you put him in with say longar then you could end up with a doug gottlieb daring him to shoot situation.

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/28/2005, 07:28 PM
last year

Sat, Jan 29 Iowa State at Ames, Iowa 66 - 74 (L) ESPN+

Wed, Feb 02 Texas A&M Norman 69 - 65 (W) ESPN2

Sat, Feb 05 Texas Tech Norman 81 - 88 (L) ESPN+

Mon, Feb 07 Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla. 67 - 79 (L) ESPN

Sat, Feb 12 Missouri at Columbia, Mo. 65 - 68 (L) OT ABC

2004

Sat, Jan 03 Princeton at Oklahoma City 58 - 55 (W) ESPN2

Sun, Jan 11 Connecticut at Storrs, CT 59 - 86 (L) CBS

Wed, Jan 14 Oklahoma State at Stillwater, OK 56 - 77 (L) ESPN Plus

Sat, Jan 17 Missouri Norman 75 - 79 (L) OT ABC

Mon, Jan 19 Texas Tech at Lubbock, TX 47 - 67 (L) ESPN

2003 (we had a ton of guys that had been on campus for at least a year this year)

n, Jan 13 Oklahoma State 5 24 at Stillwater, Okla. 46 - 48 (L) ESPN

Sat, Jan 18 Iowa State 5 - Ames, Iowa 70 - 60 (W) ESPN Plus

Mon, Jan 20 Texas Tech 7 - Norman 69 - 64 (W)
(OT) ESPN

2002

1/19/02 at Kansas L 67 - 74 5 - 4 16,300 Lawrence

1/21/02 Missouri W 84 - 71 6 - 18 11,409 Norman

1/26/02 at Texas Tech L 79 - 92 6 - NR 15,098 Lubbock

1/30/02 Oklahoma State W 58 - 53 6 - 9 12,145 Norman

2001

12/30/00 (4) vs SMU W 1 OT 79 - 78 8,471 Oklahoma City

1/6/01 at Iowa State L 80 - 100 12,747 Ames

1/9/01 Texas A&M W 78 - 65 19 - NR 9,764 Norman

1/13/01 Kansas L 61 - 69 11,183 Norman

1/16/01 at Texas Tech L 59 - 60 9,550 Lubbock

1/20/01 at Kansas State W 1 OT 64 - 63 10,251 Manhattan

2000

1/11/00 Baylor W 76 - 43 10,844 Norman

1/15/00 at Texas L 66 - 79 15,123 Austin

1/19/00 at Colorado L 80 - 88 6,023 Boulder

1/22/00 Iowa State W 2 OT 80 - 75 10,925 Norman

1999

1/16/99 at Cincinnati L 59 - 72 NR - 13,176 Cincinnati

1/20/99 Nebraska L 81 - 96 NR - 11,607 Norman

1/23/99 at Kansas State L 51 - 66 NR - 12,571 Manhattan

1/25/99 Texas L 60 - 64 NR - NR 11,560 Norman

1/30/99 at Texas Tech W 72 - 54 NR - 7,672 Lubbock

King Crimson
11/28/2005, 08:14 PM
i think the games we lose this year will be a product of outside shooting. if Neal is the only one who can stroke it beyond the arc, then shutting down one guy is something the better teams/coaches can do.

i really think Bookout is the key. people are going to sag on Taj (a la Tech last year) and if you've got fouls to give, Bookout didn't beat anyone from the stripe last year.

Free throw shooting is key for a team with a front line emphasis.

OUgradJeff
11/28/2005, 09:10 PM
I wonder who on this team will get a chance in the NBA?

Gray, for sure, should be a first-rounder. Everett may get some interest if he builds on his point guard skills - he's the right size.

Not sure if we have a third this year.

I don't know if we have any NBA talent on this team. Think of the great players we've had under Sampson & only Najera made it. Here's who didn't make it:
Ryan Minor
Nate Erdmann
Corey Brewer
Hollis Price
Aaron McGee

I don't think Gray has an NBA body. I think Everrett is in the same boat plus he isn't much of a shooter.

OUGreg723
11/28/2005, 09:35 PM
Next year will be the most "Talented" OU team ever. 2007 could be a NC run. Maybe even next year too. Alot of great players are coming to town. Watch out for Scottie Reynolds. He's gonna be NUTS.

NickZeppelin
11/28/2005, 09:58 PM
85 had Darryl Kennedy, David Johnson, Wayman Tisdale, Anthony Bowie, and Tim McCalister, Dave Sieger was also on the roster but wouldn't play till the later 80's.

88 and 89 had most of this lineup Mookie Blaylock, Ricky Grace, Harvey Grant, Tyrone Jones, Stacey King, Terrance Mullins, and Dave Sieger. Sieger and Grant weren't on the 89 team but 89 saw the arrival of Skeeter Henry, Terry Evans, William Davis, Kermit Holmes

CobraKai
11/29/2005, 10:38 AM
Godbold can drop 15 on any given night too.

NickZeppelin
11/29/2005, 11:33 AM
I'm not even sure this is the most talented team under Sampson. But I think this is a very talented team. If James and Clark are near as good as advertised next years team may be more talented with the addition of Mayfield too. We won't have a Gray type player probably. But James is basicaly a 6-8 guard who can play some as a post.

CobraKai
11/29/2005, 02:56 PM
Which Sampson team do you think was more talented? Are you talking about starting 5, or top to bottom?

PDXsooner
11/29/2005, 06:22 PM
I wanted to say '88, but people always rag on me for holding the Tubbs teams in too high of a light.

Also, what I really liked about the game Saturday night was how many shots we took. Granted, they weren't falling (I think we shot about 40%), but I'm pumped about the opportunities. We took 40 shots in first half. I'd bet there were some games under Sampson where we didn't take that many in a game.

We had 65 points with ten minutes to go and went ice cold for the rest of the game and STILL got to 81. I've been saying all year if we average 80 a game we'll be incredibly hard to beat. That's a tall order for Sampson, but remember, the '02 team averaged 78 and they went seven deep. This bunch goes nine, possibly ten.

blasphemy. the 87-88, 88-89, and 89-90 OU teams were as loaded as any i've ever seen. the problem was, tubbs liked to play his starters like 35 minutes each, so you had potential all-americans riding the pine...

king, grant, blaylock, grace, jackie jones, skeeter henry, anthonty martin, william davis, mike "helicopter" bell, etc etc etc,

jkm, the stolen pifwafwi
11/29/2005, 07:25 PM
which ones were the potential all-americans riding the pine?

Harry Beanbag
11/29/2005, 07:35 PM
which ones were the potential all-americans riding the pine?


Ski?

soonervegas
11/30/2005, 04:18 PM
I went to the OU and Belmont game the other night and what a coo by OU getting Godbold. That guy is an absolute stud and only a soph. Amazing how no one really wanted him. If you look at our starting lineup Bookout is the 4th best player out there....and Bookout's a pretty good player.

GottaHavePride
11/30/2005, 05:58 PM
I don't know if we have any NBA talent on this team. Think of the great players we've had under Sampson & only Najera made it. Here's who didn't make it:
Ryan Minor
Nate Erdmann
Corey Brewer
Hollis Price
Aaron McGee

I don't think Gray has an NBA body. I think Everrett is in the same boat plus he isn't much of a shooter.
Didn't Ryan Minor go the MLB route instead of NBA? I don't know if I'd lump him in there...

PDXsooner
11/30/2005, 06:13 PM
jkm - i don't know, but it sounds good.

Remembering Tom Stidham
11/30/2005, 06:14 PM
Stacey King started in the NBA? I don't remember that. His teammates in Chicago seemed to like him but lacked respect for his ability. Following the final play-off game between the Knicks and Chicago, I visited with Stacey. He was FAT. I poked him in the tummy and mentioned his weight. He laughed it off, but I suspect that was one of his problems.

josh09
11/30/2005, 07:47 PM
what time is the game tonight people?

picasso
12/1/2005, 10:04 AM
blasphemy. the 87-88, 88-89, and 89-90 OU teams were as loaded as any i've ever seen. the problem was, tubbs liked to play his starters like 35 minutes each, so you had potential all-americans riding the pine...

king, grant, blaylock, grace, jackie jones, skeeter henry, anthonty martin, william davis, mike "helicopter" bell, etc etc etc,
yep, that '90 team had 7 or 8 guys that could light it up. you forgot Damon Patterson.

OUgradJeff
12/2/2005, 07:45 PM
Didn't Ryan Minor go the MLB route instead of NBA? I don't know if I'd lump him in there...

He only went to baseball after a year in the CBA & still no NBA team wanted him.

OUgradJeff
12/2/2005, 07:49 PM
Stacey King started in the NBA? I don't remember that.

Aside from a few starts in his years with the Bulls, he started for the Minnesota Timberwolves later on.