|
September
23rd, 2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Oklahoma
Sooners
Overall Rank:
#48
Conference
Rank: #6 Big 12
2005-06:
20-9, 11-5, 3rd
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 How many
shooting guards and small forwards can
Oklahoma have on the
floor at the same time? The answer very easily could be four or
five if new Coach Jeff Capel wants to put his most talented
players on the court. There are options at the point and post
positions, but every one of those spots that gets filled, knocks
another talented wing to the bench. Considering the fact that
it should take Coach Capel himself until January to figure out
the starting lineup, it is probably not worth the effort for
anybody else to try and take a stab at it.
Who’s Out:
One
thing we do know is that the Sooners’ starting five will be
without Kevin Bookout, Taj Gray and Terrell Everett. Bookout
and Gray were fabulous players up front and combined to average
25.3 points and 14.6 rebounds. The next highest on the board
department was 3.7 per game and that was from fellow departing
guard Everett. In addition to the rebounds, Everett tacked on
12.7 points and 6.9 assists per contest. Seldom used Michael
Ott has left the program. With all those departures, it is easy
to see why the proven talent is only left on the wings.
Who’s In:
Combo guard
Bobby Maze will get a shot at running the point. He has
quickness and the ability to run with the new uptempo style of
play. Tony Crocker has the folks in Norman the most excited.
The 6-5 shooting guard needs to become stronger during the
offseason, but he has a nice stroke and is a pest on the
defensive end. Crocker could very well be starting right away,
if there is a spot for him. Keith Clark can play many
positions, but the 6-8, 245 pounder will see most of his minutes
at the four this year, or maybe even the five. Clark can get on
the glass and do the dirty work under the basket or step out and
hit the mid-range jumper. Walk-on Beau Gerber will provide some
emergency depth in the paint.
Who to Watch:
Austin Johnson started 13 games last year and is one of the
options to start at the point. Chris Walker started seven games
before falling out of favor with Coach Sampson and with the
regime change comes a new opportunity for Walker to earn
minutes. Michael Neal, David Godbold and Nate Carter anchor the
plethora of talented wings. Sharpshooting Neal averaged 12.4
points per game last year. Godbold averaged 5.7 points per game
in 24 starts and his defense will be tough to keep off the
floor. Carter provided a spark off the bench last year, but is
expected to play a bigger role this year. At 6-6, Carter has
the size and strength to play at the four, but would preferably
be on the wing.
Final
Projection:
The only problem
with playing Carter at the four is then Coach Capel would need a
true five to at least provide a post presence. The only choice
is the disappointing Longar Longar. After heading to Oklahoma
as a much heralded recruit, Longar averaged just 7.2 minutes per
game as a sophomore last season. Sophomore Taylor Griffin
showed promise as a freshman and doesn’t lack in the strength
department, but at 6-7, he’s undersized to play the five.
Unfortunately for the Sooners, Griffin will be forced to play
the five quite a bit. Despite all the frontcourt concerns, the
Sooners have talent. On the offensive end they will run and
size isn’t needed for that, although better shot selection than
last year would be helpful. On the other end of the floor, the
guards are a terrific group of defenders. If they can use that
defense to stop the opposition from dumping the ball inside
continuously, they’ll be on the bubble come March. With
apologies to Crocker, the projected starting five…
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NIT
Projected
Starting Five:
Austin Johnson,
Sophomore, Guard, 3.0 points per game
Michael Neil,
Senior, Guard, 12.4 points per game
David Godbold,
Junior, Guard, 5.7 points per game
Nate Carter,
Senior, Forward, 6.0 points per game
Longar Longar,
Junior, Center, 2.1 points per game
|
