Lack of seasoned starters causes preseason worries for Sooners
By Mark Button
Kansan sportswriter
Oklahoma coach Billy Tubbs has his work cut out for him this year, and he knows it.
"We have a long way to go and a lot of work to do." Tubbs said. "I think we're going to have a big struggle early because we have so many new players."
Seven new players to be exact. Also, two of the 16 Sooners sat out last year.
Of the five players with significant playing experience, junior forward Jeff Webster, 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, and sophomore forward Ryan Minor, 6-7 and 215 pounds, are the standouts.
As a freshman in 1990, Webster took the Big Eight Conference by storm, scoring 18.8 points and grabbing 5.5 rebounds each game, becoming the league's newcomer of the year. His numbers dropped off a bit his sophomore season, but he remained a consistent force for the Sooners. Last season, he scored nearly 17 points and grabbed nearly 7 rebounds a game.
Webster is the only returning starter from last year's disappointing Sooner team, which tied for fifth in the conference and failed to reach the NCAA's postseason tournament for just the third time in Tubbs' 13 years with the team.
Oklahoma
Last Year: 20-12
Big Eight Finish: 7-7, tied for fifth place
Coach: Billy Tubbs
Record at Oklahoma: 318-119 (13 years)
Strength: Senior forward Jeff Webster. An outstanding shooter — 16.5 points a game last year — who must work on his defense and rebounding, Webster will be the team's undisputed leader. He is the lone retuming starter and must score even more if the Sooners are to be successful. Look for sophomore forward Ryan Minor to help out Webster.
Weakness: Take your pick. Tubbs has four unproven junior-college transfers and two freshmen on this year's team. Gone is solid point guard Terry Evans. Senior center Ken Conley underwent knee surgery during the summer and will not perform at 100 percent this season. Tubbs admitted that his team would struggle early.
KANSAN
The Sooners are predicted to finish fifth in the conference, but Webster said he was not concerned with predictions.
"Right now, that's all on paper," he said. "In the Big Eight, any team can win any night. I feel we have some talented people,
and we'll surprise some of those people who swept us to the side."
Minor, who Tubbs said was probably the most consistent player in practice so far, can score close to the hoop and from the perimeter. However, his best attributes are his abilities to rebound and defend against players bigger than he.
"Ryan will be one of the best players in the conference before he's through here," Tubbs said.
Of the new players, Tubbs said, he is most impressed with junior-college transfer point guard John Ontjes and redshirt sophomore guard Dion Barnes.
Ontjes dished out 15 assists, and Barnes scored 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting in the team's first scrimmage.
Only time will tell which of the nine new Sooners will fit into Tubbs' game plan this season.
"The only way to find the strengths and weaknesses of your players is to go to war with them," Tubbs said.
Renee Knoeber/KANSAN Kansas senior forward Patrick Richey finesses a reverse layup against Oklahoma's Ryan Minor. Kansas came up short as Oklahoma stole a victory in Allen Field House 80-77.
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November 17, 1993 University Daily Kansan • COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
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