Why Should This Not Surprise Us

[IronHorseSooner]

Please read the link:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/4889684

Tell me what frontcourt is listed (I will give you a hint...they wear burnt orange) then tell me what one is NOT listed. This is journalistic irresponsibility. However, another writer seems to think different:

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/4864550

So which is it guys?

Bookout and Gray just might be the BEST frontcourt in the country. They have an ungodly field goal percentage, play good defense, rebound well (do I need to go on.......), and Gray just might be the best player in the entire conference. Not to say that these other front courts are not good, but as someone who has watched a lot of college basketball (and this not a homer comment), I can say that Bookout and Gray are better. Most of these front courts listed have great "potential," but have yet to prove that they can consistently get it done. If Gray and Bookout get that "high-low" game going, it's a work of art. I guess this will be just more motivation. This is another example of hype being more important than results.

[Salt City Sooner]

"Achilles' heel: Selfish play. Transfers Nate Carter and Mike Neal put up big numbers at the University of California at Riverside and Lon Morris junior college respectively. But at Oklahoma, both will be expected to pass first and shoot second. If they rise to the challenge, so too will the Sooners."

He could NOT be more off in that assessment. Kelvin's already said that he wouldn't be surprised if Nate led the team in scoring, & having seen Neal play firsthand, I can guarantee he was NOT brought in to pass first. He's a good all-around player, but his #1 strength is that shot, period. When he gets in rhythm he can make that hoop look like a horsetank.

[AustinTXHorn]

They're going off of potential, not results. McRoberts hasn't even played a game in college and he's half of the #1 there. Don't think I agree with doing that.

With that said, the potential that Buckman and Aldridge have is probably better than Bookout and Gray. Buckman really found himself last season and Aldridge is a projected lottery pick (possibly after this season). But with that said, he's unproven.

If you're going on proven results, Gray and Bookout would have to be #1 right now.

[OklahomaTrombone]

Isn't it time for ****man to graduate?

[okienole3]

No, you are confused.
Klutz=Buckman=Boddicker

[AustinTXHorn]

Isn't it time for ****man to graduate?

Senior this year.

[AustinTXHorn]

No, you are confused.
Klutz=Buckman=Boddicker

Buckman averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game in Big 12 play last year. Boddicker and Klotz were nothing more than good 6th men.

[GDC]

With that said, the potential that Buckman and Aldridge have is probably better than Bookout and Gray.

You re so full of cow **** your eyes are burnt orange. That is a ludicrous statement.

[IronHorseSooner]

Another point that I forgot was that Bookout and Gray beat what was considered by many to be the best frontcourt going into last season- UCONN (Boone/Villanueva/Gay), and played pretty well against Shelden Williams last year (the Duke game was lost, for the most part, in the back court). I don't disagree that many of these frontcourts will be great, but this is a pre-season ranking, which, logically, should be based, largely, on last year's results. Even on potential AND results, OU should be up there along with UT, and everybody else, especially if they included all three front court positions. UT= Aldridge, Buckman, and Tucker. OU= Gray, Bookout, and Carter. I would like to see this when they have back court ratings....What's going to make Bookout and Gray even better this year is having a sniper like Neal and having big guards. Teams are not going to be able sag in a zone, or double (or even triple)the post. If teams go straight man, GAME OVER. Gray and Bookout are too efficient. What makes this team so different than other OU teams is that there are two legitimate inside threats, AND dangerous guards. They will be able to beat you either way. What KS has done in the schedule this year is brilliant. He knows that teams like Texas and Kansas, in conference, are stronger inside (even though Gibson is a great guard). However, he has scheduled West Virginia, Villanova, and Alabama. These are good perimeter teams (even their big men are more perimeter-related (see Pittsnogle and Sumpter)). If they can consistently beat both types of these teams, this will be the year KS can hang the first national title banner in Lloyd Noble.

[stoopified]

Speaking of frontcourtplayers ,has everybody forgotten about L2?Sampson said last year that people will be suprised this year to find out how good he really is.

[okienole3]

Buckman averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game in Big 12 play last year. Boddicker and Klotz were nothing more than good 6th men.

I said that tongue in cheek, sort of. My point was that:

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[AustinTXHorn]

I said that tongue in cheek, sort of. My point was that:

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In that case, you are correct. All three are rich, pretty boy, preppy white men.

Difference is that Buckman isn't one for cheap shots though. Boddicker and Klotz on the other hand...

[okienole3]

CORRECT!

[GDC]

pretty boy?