Leading the way for these dust bowlers is the second piece of the puzzle and arguably even more important than even Coach Tubbs is super sophomore Wayman Tisdale.  As a matter of fact the first thing the sweet talking Tubbs did when he got to Norman was travel back home to Tulsa and keep Oklahoma’s greatest basketball prodigy at home.  Tisdale is as gifted of inside scorer as there is in the country.  This 6’9 240 pound lefty has all the moves and the touch to score virtually at will.  He also has the body.  This smooth power forward is also a great bass guitarist who loves his Jazz almost as much as his reverse dunks and turnaround jumpers.  He stormed the league and the country last year becoming the first true freshman to be named First Team All-League in one of the toughest conferences in the country.  Either way he scored.  His very first recruit, Tubbs has made the focal point of his offense Tisdale.  He has also become the vanguard for this program in a short period of time.  There could be no better man to carry the torch for your team.  From the moment Wayman stepped on campus the Sooners were now a basketball program and his impact should never be understated in Norman or the Big 8.  The irony here is that the top recruit the Sooners are bringing in this year is also a power forward.  Blake Griffin, who is the HS player of the year in the Sooner state. Griffin from Edmond is a physical specimen at 6’9 250 and fits the Tubbs mode to the T.  Athletic as can be, Griffin can run the court and will finish with the best of them.  He does not have near the same low post game as The Man but he will learn on the run and be better for it.  Can you imagine how much fun those practices are going to be this fall with these two Moose’s crashing it out down low?  How much PT Griffin gets behind Tisdale is in question but don’t be surprised if Tubbs moves him down to the 3 at times to get both of these guys on the court together.  Sooner Land might be forever known as PFU after this but no matter how good the players are they can’t all play the same role! 

Junior Alvin Adams shares the spotlight with Tisdale and is the perfect complement to his low post dominance.  Born in Lawrence Kansas but raised in Oklahoma (he keeps that Lawrence part a secret, well did) Adams was not a ballyhooed recruit but quickly established himself as the main man in Norman.  That is until Wayman took that first step on campus.  Some say that the Lloyd Noble Center is the place that Alvan built but that Wayman filled and that could be true as Adams put up numbers in his first year here that even Tisdale did not match.  Adams easily stepped into the role of sidekick up front as he has the skills to do whatever it takes to get the job done.  Big enough at 6’9 (that number is extremely popular in Norman and it has nothing to do with Alvan’s brother Bryan) to guard centers, Adams has a nice outside game in an offense that depends on motion and his ability to hit 18 footers.  He may be the best outside shooter for any big man in the country.  He can also score down low but with Tisdale around there really is no need.  Still, a big man who can shoot and rebound and run and guard the other teams center do not fall off trees.  Adams, like Tisdale and his understudy are probably better suited for power forward with their similar heights but he has shown he is not afraid to mix it up with much bigger men.  Of course offense his forte and Tubbs could not have drawn up a player who fits his mold better than this carryover from the John MacLeod days.  Adams is probably the best passing big man in the country and from his high post distributes the ball to the right guy at the right time or screens for a perimeter player on a cut or for a jump shot.  He might not be Walton or Unseld up there but he is damn close and though his scoring took quite a dip last year Adams is every bit of an offensive weapon as the Man down low.  Adams might not get the recognition of some others on this team but he is the heart of this team and he is the most complete player, at least for now, and that includes the guards and wings.   

 Tubbs has several different ways to go to compliment these two superb front court players.  The history of Sooner basketball is littered with great big men.  Two years ago Gerry Tucker, Marcus Freiberger and Don Sidle were the front line and did a fine job but Tubbs has a group of much more athletic and bigger front court players to match up with the likes of Chamberlain and the other Monsters of the Midway conference of America.  And he has a bunch of them.  Tubbs rotated upwards of six guys a night around Adams and Tisdale last year and will do more of the same this season though it probably won’t be the same group.  Sidle and Tucker started last year getting some minutes but quickly gave way to the more athletic underclassmen.  Sidle played throughout the year mentoring Tisdale at the four but did lose his starting job early on to the phenom of a freshman.  Tucker took a role on the deep bench with Adams and Clifford Ray splitting time at the five.  Freiberger never fit Tubbs scheme as he does not move up and down the court well and though he has as much size at 6’11 as any other Sooner, mobility is a huge part of Tubbs scheme.  Tucker became invaluable to Tubbs as a quasi-assistant coach as he knows the game well as don’t forget he once was a dominant low post force in this league and he only goes 6’6.  Tubbs will almost for sure hire him next year after the impact he made this year but the former go to guy here does have one more year in Norman.  That is if the Phillips 66ers don’t pick him up.  Those barnstormers from the AAU are famous for getting guys like Tucker a Dream Job just so they will play for them.  Ray became the defensive stopper down low last year and will continue that role.  A great shot blocker, Ray could match up with a Chamberlain or Kurland better than Adams at least defensively but of course the Sooners are not the hated Cowboys who they have to share this state with.  The boys from Stillwater (Fever Dog anyone) rely on defense and much to Boomer fans chagrin will never let them forget that they have won a national title in basketball.  That was a long time ago when defense ruled and Tubbs is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum of coaching from Henry Iba.  Tubbs knows he has to defend the basket against the giants in the mighty Big 8 and the long-armed Ray is his best bet against big time centers.  His long reach is not just good for blocking shots as he has become a hero of the youth when he saved a Dolphin by reaching his arms down it’s throat to pull out a screw that had lodged there.  Ray compliments the pressing style that Tubbs likes as more of a goaltender but brings absolutely nothing to the offensive end but putbacks and dunks.  Still, his defense is top notch and on this roster is needed.  Gar Heard is also a defensive presence who loves to bang for boards.  A decent offensive option, Heard is well know for his battle with other tough power forwards like Don Smith of Iowa state or Clyde Lovelette of Kansas.  He will not back down and will surprise you with his perimeter game once in awhile.  His clutch 25 footer to tie the game against the Cyclones is already legendary.  Stacey King showed flashes of brilliance underneath and is one of Tubbs first big-time recruits.  The 6’11 230 lefty from Lawton started on the JV and barely played on the varsity but gives the Sooners some size down low for the future.  He got some minutes later in the season and had some solid contributions especially on the defensive end as his presence was definitely felt by other team’s in the key.  He is a cornerstone for the future and Tubbs loves him because he has a great personality but for now is way down on the totem pole of this deep front line.  The talkative King became more of a cheerleader than a player at least for the time being.  Give him his due King did not pout and became the team funny man and the media dug him as well.  He came up with some great quotes during the games to entertain his teammates.  “If you’re scared, buy a dog” and “Torque” became rallying points for the Sooners and of course his most famous after Tisdale set the LNC scoring record with 49 points.  King claimed ‘I will always remember this as the night me and Wayman combined to score 50 points’ after he got a late free throw after Tisdale was taken out of the game to a thunderous ovation.  Don’t get me wrong nobody likes riding the pine but this kid truly just wants to win.  He is too good not to play more even with all of these great big men in front of him. 

As deep as the two post positions are for the Sooners the wings are anything but.  Tubbs has some options but he would really like it if one of his big men was indeed a three.  He is not beyond pushing one of those big bodies into the three spot.  In this league he might just have to do that to hang with the incredible studs ‘manning’ that spot like the 6’10 wunderkid for Kansas who has come in and showed the world you don’t have to be a 6’6 jumping jack to be a wing.  Tubbs has decided to go the unique route of going through the transfer portal to try and get his man.  After last year’s trip to South Carolina to play Clemson (who also boasts a menacing front line) Tubbs somehow talked the less hyped twin brother away from Tigerland.  Sophomore Harvey Grant has transferred in where he played with his aforementioned twin Horace who btw almost got into a brawl with Stacey King during the game.  Grant gives the team a wing player who could play small forward and could run with the more athletic wings in the conference and still has the size to hang with the bigger threes in this league.  A fine shooter with solid range, Grant really is at best getting up and down the court which of course the Sooners preach.  The starting role will not be handed to Grant as there are a couple of guys Grant has to jump over and the line is not short.  Senior Paul ‘Lefty’ Courty has one more year of eligibility and junior Bobby Jack is still in the running when he is not playing baseball and there are a few more Tubbs recruits dare I say it waiting in the wings.  Courty did not fit into Tubbs schemes last year and was losing minutes like a sieve before he got hurt to end his year prematurely. He did qualify for a medical redshirt and will be back.  He is officially the starter but at only 6’3 his chances of staying ahead of Grant and whoever else Tubbs brings in are slim at best.  Courty was a big part of some good teams but his time (and style) has come and gone in Norman.  Jack is a tremendous athlete who is probably better with cleets on then tennis shoes but he can play.  A six five stud who can flat pound a baseball Jacks is a solid scorer but does not get up and down the court near as fast as Tubbs wants.  Both he and Courty will get a shot but in reality they are just holding space until Tubbs puts his guys in and that does not only include Grant.  Sophomore Darryl ‘Choo’ Kennedy will get a chance as well and seems like a good fit as he goes six five but in reality he is more of a post player than a wing.  Tubbs will keep trying to transform him though as he needs all of the big bodies he can get to survive in this league as the Big 8 truly is a Man(nings)’s World!  Speaking of transformation the only other big time recruit coming in this year besides Griffin as a true freshman for Tubbs is swing forward Jeff Webster.  Webster is another Oklahoma kid who at 6’8 232 has the size to play inside and does a nice job in the paint.  He can also take guys out to the perimeter which is what he will be asked to do here.  Webster is not a three point guy but is great at mid-range. He might even get more minutes than Griffin if he can figure out how to guard some more athletic wings and take his range out a foot or two.  Griffin is a way better prospect as his athleticism is off the charts but there are only so many positions on a basketball team and the need in Norman is for wings and if Webster can play the three he will get minutes! 

 Obviously, the Sooners are stacked up front but their back side is not quite as robust and in today’s world it is all about the bass!  Not that these guys were bad just not as good or as deep as the big guys.  Going into the season Senior Lester Lane is the returning starter at point guard.  Lane is a cat quick player who is a leader by nature and knows how to quarterback a team.  He can score especially getting to the hoop and drawing fouls but prefers to set up his teammates once he gets in the er Lane.  His teammates have come to calling Lane Johnny Lujack as he loves to make jump passes to the open receiver.  Funny thing is Lane was a scorer when he first got here and he was also a cornerback on Bud Wilkinson’s legendary football teams.  Things have changed dramatically for Lane as he realized his role on this team was to be the setup guy.  Though he does not get the publicity of his teammates he relishes his role.  After all not everybody can be ‘the man’ and sometimes the man is the guy setting up the guy so that he can be the man. This kid will run all day and just loves playing ball as he has been known to be seen in the Auxiliary gym playing pickup games during the season!  Tubbs has to reel him back at times but he loves his passion and the two are almost kindred souls.   He will lead this team from the point once again and lead is the key word.  Though he does not get much attention Lane has shown he does make his teammates look pretty damn good.  Tubbs is always looking to get better and more athletic and he will be bringing somebody in to learn from Lane and eventually take over this team.  At this point we just don’t know who that somebody is though Tubbs has made it a point to recruit as many point guards as he can and from whatever place he can find them.  Supposedly he grabbed the entire dual point guard backcourt from a JC down in Texas and even stole another point guard on that trip to South Carolina after he had committed to the Gamecocks but before he actually played a game. 

The main area of concern going into the season was the two spot.  Tubbs has some options there with senior Allie Paine, junior John McCullough and Sophomores Tim McCalister and Chuck Barnett in competition for the starting job.  Paine is the incumbent (yes it is the Lane and Paine show in Norman at least to start the season) and can score but at only 6 foot has some issues guarding bigger and more athletic two’s.  None of these kids are exactly David Thompson and Tubbs would like to have a little more athletic type on the wings.  He has apparently recruited some of these types but of course that is to be seen.  Tubbs also wants a bit more perimeter shooting though all three of these cats can but the ball in the hoop.  McCullough is a tough nosed kid who has a diverse skill set and more size at 6’4 and can really handle the ball.  McCalister is a touch smaller at 6’3 with a similar skill set but being a Tubbs recruit might have the upper hand. Both as a matter of fact got some time backing up Lane so the Sooners have some diversity here but Tubbs always wants more.  Chuck Barnett is part of that more and is a 6’4 scorer.  Barnett is a good all-around player but he was the last recruit from the last regime and does not fit Tubbs style.  Tubbs wants long, athletic wings who can run and press all day and is not afraid to go the JC route or even this new portal thing as we can see with Grant to get his man.  The odds are the McC’s (place rap joke here) will split time here but don’t be surprised if someone we have never heard of that Billy falls in love with that has some moxie breaks into the rotation along the way.  This group of perimeter players might not be at the level of let’s say Kansas State and their terrific wings but the Sooners will be fine here.  Just ask Billy?  He’ll tell y’all!

The Oklahoma Sooners have the nucleus to move up the food chain in the tough Big 8.  The Sooners made huge strides last season as they became an offensive juggernaut and looked like they might challenge the mighty Jayhawks for supremacy.  They have a great future with the talent that Coach Billy Tubbs has recruited.  The pieces are all there for a great program including some of the best and quite arguably the largest amount of big men in the country.  He does not have the same problem on the perimeter but there is enough talent there to keep this machine running.  It is just making sure the chemistry works and that the players can continue to progress defensively and that he can find a few wings.  No matter how much you score you have to stop somebody sometime and this team is slowly learning that.  If they figure that part out then watch out because these Sooners will score a bunch of points and about as fun to watch as the first spring practice is in Norman.  None of these cats have great nicknames like the Boz so perhaps that is what this team needs to get the attention of the fans the football team does?  Or at least some grunge band?