That will be better the problem this year is that the league is better. So we might go 5-13 again in conference but that’s not equal to last year’s 5-13. People need to just get off the NcAA tourney train because that’s not going to happen (unless the NcAA does something weird this year). Watch for improvement, watch for some big upsets, watch how we do mentally on the road and look forward to next year when Ty Hunter gets here and pretty much everyone is back.
How good can this team be?
- Thread starter Cyinthenorth
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That will be better the problem this year is that the league is better. So we might go 5-13 again in conference but that’s not equal to last year’s 5-13. People need to just get off the NcAA tourney train because that’s not going to happen (unless the NcAA does something weird this year). Watch for improvement, watch for some big upsets, watch how we do mentally on the road and look forward to next year when Ty Hunter gets here and pretty much everyone is back.
We have depth, flexibility, height, shooting, a few better individual defenders.
I don’t know why people don’t think this team is better than last years. I’d take it over last years hands down, especially if you’re factoring in the Halliburton injury.
I just wish we had Hinson too.
I don’t know why people don’t think this team is better than last years. I’d take it over last years hands down, especially if you’re factoring in the Halliburton injury.
I just wish we had Hinson too.
No doubt. I just know it's almost a completely new slate of players and that is going to mean inconsistency for a good while.
#1 thing this team needs IMO is a 4/5 with a respected ability to pass/score in the post. They don't grow on trees, obviously. But until somebody steps up there or we reincarnate as a tough rebounding team we look like we might be easy to defend against.
I’m sticking with 15-10 and NCAA 8 or 9 seed. Like the Johnny Orr years. We have too much youth to be better and too much talent to be worse. The team will improve as the season moves on. Also, the Big 12 teams aren’t exactly “knocking out of the park” this year so far.
This is the deepest the Big 12 has ever been in my opinion. There are fives team in the league that have the potential to make the Elite 8 or Sweet 16. All five are currently in Kenpom’s Top 10. Oklahoma State is a borderline Top 25 squad and Oklahoma is a tournament squad. TCU is comparable to us and Kansas State is a bad squad. But it would be very surprising if we went better than 4-10 against the Top 7 teams in the conference.
Finally got around to watching Sundays game. Wow.
Impressive, but not in a good way. Got destroyed on the offensive glass against a weaker opponent was the first thing that stood out to me. My other big observation, and I know it was his first game in over a year, but Javan Johnson looked like he should be coming off the bench... for UAPB.
Offensively they looked a little lost and out of sorts. To be expected in game one I suppose, given this seasons strange circumstances. Freshmen all looked great, especially Dubar. Was that rahshon Clark out there?
Impressive, but not in a good way. Got destroyed on the offensive glass against a weaker opponent was the first thing that stood out to me. My other big observation, and I know it was his first game in over a year, but Javan Johnson looked like he should be coming off the bench... for UAPB.
Offensively they looked a little lost and out of sorts. To be expected in game one I suppose, given this seasons strange circumstances. Freshmen all looked great, especially Dubar. Was that rahshon Clark out there?
The conference season is going to be brutally difficult, even with improved talent and chemistry on the team.
The top 5 teams in the conference are all much better than we are and we will be solid underdogs in all 10 games, both home and away. We might get 1 upset win out of those 10 games.
Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are probably a little better than us. So we might take them at home. Two more conference wins.
TCU and KSU are equivalent or worse than we are. So we might get 3 wins from them.
That's 5-6 conference wins, even with improved talent and better chemistry. 10-11 wins total this season is realistic. I would be happy with that as long as it looks like the team is growing and has potential next year. Anything beyond that would be a pleasant surprise.
Why do people think Javan Johnson will be good? Where does this come from?
He's played what, 4 major conference teams in his entire career, and barely averaged double figures for Troy?
Is one year off with our coaching staff, playing against our talent level, going to magically transform him into a b12 stud, nevermind a legit starter for us??
I think expectations for JJ are just waaaay off base. Why do our fans to this to themselves??
He's played what, 4 major conference teams in his entire career, and barely averaged double figures for Troy?
Is one year off with our coaching staff, playing against our talent level, going to magically transform him into a b12 stud, nevermind a legit starter for us??
I think expectations for JJ are just waaaay off base. Why do our fans to this to themselves??
Might be only favored in a few games at home. TCU, KSU, OU and OSU. Maybe one road game, KSU.
It's fandom 101. Those that are bullish on this team point to getting JJ and our freshmen class.
As you've mentioned JJ was a marginal player on a bad team in a bad conference that has had minimal success in the games he's played against major conference teams.
As for the freshmen, it's a good class. But if you look at history:
Xavier Foster is the composite 73 overall on 247. In 2019, the 73 overall player was Donovan Williams who went to Texas and averaged 3 PPG as a freshman
Dudley Blackwell is the composite 170 overall on 247. In 2019 the 170th overall player was Keeshawn Barthlemey at Colorado who redshirted.
Dubar was 173 on 247. In 2019 the 173rd overall player was Liam Mcchesney who went to Utah State who appears to have redshirted in 2019 and has not registered a point in 2 games in 2020.
Jaden Walker was 314 on 247. In 2019 the 314 ranked player was Jordyn Adams who went to Austin Peay and averages 17.4 PPG as a freshman.
So long story short, these guys could develop into something good, but history would seem to indicate that an immediate impact may be a longshot.
17.4 as a freshman! Now my expectations for Walker are through the roof. And we gotta get the #314 player EVERY year!
I am expecting a Talley with a jumper from JJ. Talley was productive in the big 12.
I know it has been one game, but holy **** he looked like the reincarnation of Terrence Lewis out there on Sunday. I hope he is much closer to the player that a lot of fans think he can be as opposed to the one we have seen to this point. He offered nothing offensively. Didn't pay attention to his defense much. Had some nice passes.
Honestly, the closest look to T-Lew was Blackwell on the defensive end. You could see him thinking about where he was supposed to be rather than being there. I am going to give him a pass though. Very little offseason, early in the year. Not writing him off at all.
Yeah didn't mean Johnson reminded me of T Lew on the defensive end. He was probably fine there. It was more on offense, where you can tell there's a little bit of skill and natural ability there, but perhaps very unrefined and he doesn't seem to know how to use it to his advantage. The season is still getting started. Certainly not writing JJ off either.
Becaus Prohm talked about him one time and told us he’s really improved. When will people learn to speak coach speak?
I was hoping he’d be like our 7/8. Not a starter.
Talley scored 24 points in 15 conference games his senior year.
