2016-2017 Season Review
Coming off a 29 win season and a Final Four appearance, Oklahoma was expected to take a step back last season after losing Buddy Hield. I don’t think anyone saw the Sooners enduring their worst season since 1980-1981, though. Lon Kruger’s bunch went 11-20 after winning 20+ games the previous four seasons. They went 6-6 in non-conference play with a win over Clemson and dropped games to Northern Iowa, Wisconsin, Wichita State, Memphis, Auburn and Florida. They started 2-10 in Big 12 play and would finish 5-13, which put them in 9th place. Their wins came against Texas Tech, at West Virginia, Texas, Kansas State and TCU. They fell in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament to TCU.
Key Losses
The Sooners lost just one of their top eight scorers, though it was their leading scorer in guard Jordan Woodard. Woodard graduated after putting up 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists (team high), 1.9 steals (team high) per game before tearing his ACL in February. 6’7 forward Dante Buford decided to transfer to UTSA after a sophomore season in which he averaged 3.8 PPG in 10.9 MPG. Guard Darrion Strong-Moore elected to transfer to UA Fort Smith after playing 15.1 MPG during his junior season. He averaged 3.8 PPG as well.
Key Returners
The good news for Oklahoma is they bring back 7 of their top 8 scorers from last season. 6’5 sophomore Kameron McGusty put up 10.9 PPG and 2.2 RPG. McGusty earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Newcomer team honors. Rashard Odomes, a 6’6 junior, averaged 10.1 points. 4.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists (leading returner) per game. 6’7 sophomore Kristian Doolittle averaged 9.1 PPG and 6.2 RPG. He also was 17 for 43 from three (39.5%). The Sooners did get bad news when they found out that Doolittle has been suspended for the fall semester. He will be ineligible to play until December 15. Khadeem Lattin is a 6’9 senior that recorded 8.4 points, 6.3 rebounds (team high) and 2.1 blocks (team high) per game. Christian James, a 6’4 junior, averaged 7.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.1 APG, while 6’10 junior Jamuni McNeace put up 4.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG and 1.2 BPG in 15.5 MPG. McNeace also shot 55.3% from the field. 6’2 sophomore Jordan Shepherd averaged 4.3/1.2/1.5 in 17.0 MPG, while 6’10 sophomore Matt Freeman played 8.9 MPG.
Key Newcomers
Lon Kruger brings in the Big 12’s #2 rated recruiting class. It is headlined by five star PG Trae Young. The 6’2 guard is the ranked #25 overall in the 2017 class and is the #4 PG, according to 247Sports. Young is a talented guard that can put up points in a hurry by knocking down the deep three ball or attacking the rim. He also has good vision and can create for others.
Brady Manek is a 6’9 four star recruit that is the #2 player out of Oklahoma behind Young. Manek is a versatile big that can drain the outside jump shot. He also is agile and has good bounce to his game. Hannes Polla is a 6’11 three star recruit from Finland. Polla is an old school center as he looks to do his work down low in the post. Ty Lazenby is a 6’5 junior from JUCO Northern Oklahoma-Enid. Lazenby averaged 22.9/4.7/2.3 as a sophomore last season. He was a NJCAA First Team All-American.
Final Take
Last year was a brutal season for the Sooners, but things should get turned around very quickly in Norman. They had a lot of young players last year and now most of those guys are back with more experience under their belts. Add in the fact they bring in one of the top recruits in the nation in Trae Young, along with three other very nice additions, and the Sooners should be right back in the NCAA Tournament picture this season. Losing Doolittle for the first part of the season hurts, but Lattin, McNeace, Freeman, Manek and Polla should be able to hold down the fort while he’s gone. Young, McGusty, Odomes, Lazenby, James and Shepherd is a back court group with some punch to it. Look for Oklahoma to be one of the most improved teams in the country and make the Big Dance this season.
Always March 
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