Oklahoma Sooners MBB | Expectations Vs Reality: Cameron Clark

Heading into the season, one thing was certain...the Oklahoma Sooners needed to find scoring options after a few key departures. All eyes turned toward the up and coming sophomore class brought in by Lon Kruger. However, with the attention squarely focused on that group, it would be another player rising to the occasion early on.

Throughout his career, Cameron Clark has been touted as an athlete able to create mismatches due to his size and ball handling skills. Although glimpses of dominance shined through, Clark's true potential remained untapped evidenced by a diminishing scoring average over the course of three seasons at Oklahoma. That single stat line moved Clark down the list when talk swirled about who could possibly replace the scoring Oklahoma was losing.

To answer that question Kruger had an answer. The solution manifested itself in moving the 6-7 senior to the four spot permanently allowing him to re-enter the starting lineup. It was a change that paid dividends as Clark took on the then #1 Michigan St. Spartans single-handedly, pouring in a career-high 32 points early in the season. This feat was once again matched later against the Kansas Jayhawks.

In one outing, the outlook upon Clark's season took a drastic swing for the better. The Sooners were looking for a scoring option and Clark came through on multiple occasions producing his best season to date.

In conclusion, the obvious verdict is that Clark far exceeded the expectations placed upon him coming into this season. By nearly tripling his scoring output from a season ago, there is a case for this talented player being labeled as the most improved. One thing is for certain, due to Clark's athleticism, fans will miss rim the rattling dunks and experience brought to the hardwood.