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Aug. 1, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- This marks the eighth and final week of the Oklahoma men's basketball team's summer skills and strength/conditioning program, and, according to the man who probably matters most, June and July have been a big success.

Jozsef Szendrei, the team's strength and conditioning coach, is not necessarily the easiest guy on campus to please. So when Szendrei, who was a member of OU teams that won three consecutive Big 12 Tournament titles (2001-03), says he's happy with the way the Sooners have worked the last two months, you take note.

"The summer has been great," said Szendrei, who's starting his fourth year on the Sooners' staff. "Luckily, I have a good group of upperclassmen with five seniors and some others like (juniors) Cameron Clark, Amath M'Baye and Tyler Neal. We have a good tone, a great base. And those guys are hungry to feel success."

Szendrei stresses hard work, order, discipline, efficiency and camaraderie during his workout sessions. He says he also tries to incorporate basketball movements into his exercises, and aims to produce the same intensity required to win games at the Big 12 level.

Szendrei says he can't wait for the start of practice in mid-October.

"Practices are going to be great, you can already tell," he said. "We have guys in the gym all the time; we have gym rats. That pushes guys who weren't coming to the gym before -- because they were comfortable with their situation -- to get out of their comfort zone and push themselves."

An interview with Szendrei and highlights of the Sooners' July 27 early morning workout can be viewed in the video player above.

The first official day of NCAA basketball practice is Friday, Oct. 12.