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Dance Lessons |
After a three-year NCAA Tournament hiatus, the goal among OU players this season is to make it to the "Big Dance." As they prepare for their exhibition opener on Friday night at 7, the Sooners think their postseason aspirations are achievable.
"Our goal, as with every team in the Big 12 if you ask them now, is to play in the NCAA Tournament," head coach Lon Kruger said. "Certainly you want to compete for a conference championship, compete for as high a standing in the conference as possible, but the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament is a goal of every player and team in the Big 12, and that should be our goal too."
With all five starters and 88 percent of their scoring returning from last year, Kruger and the Sooners know the goal of an NCAA Tournament is an attainable one. In their final season, OU's seniors want to experience March Madness for the first time. Anything less will be a letdown.
"It would be more of a disappointment if we don't make the tournament this year, but we are just going to take it one game at a time," senior Andrew Fitzgerald said. "We are working hard. We have a lot of work that we need to be doing. It's going to be a fun process for us."
The Sooners have put in the effort during the summer and the first few weeks of fall practices. Now, they look to extend that work ethic into the season. Success in that regard should pay off with wins, and a real shot at accomplishing the goal put in place at the beginning of the year.
"That's a realistic goal, and a healthy goal," Kruger said. "We're not downplaying it. That's the goal we want our guys to have every year and I think this year is more legitimate, more reasonable than perhaps a year ago. We have to learn what that means and take steps to get to that point. But this group should have that as a goal."
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Eager M'Baye |
Junior forward Amath M'Baye (pronounced uh-MOTT EM-by) has described last season as "a great year and a terrible year at the same time."
After transferring to OU from Wyoming, the Bordeaux, France, native practiced with the Sooners last season but did not play in games due to NCAA transfer rules. Getting back on the court this season, M'Baye was voted by his teammates as a captain and will be one of the Sooners' go-to players (named Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year). The year off was both good and bad for a guy who made the most of his free time but hated not getting to play under the lights.
"I think it was a blessing in disguise," M'Baye said. "I got a lot of time to work on a lot of things that I wouldn't have been able to work on if I was playing. The time spent away was sort of like a retreat, where I could just work on my game and get better. It was definitely hard, don't get me wrong, but it was something I needed and something I needed for my game to expand. I'm glad it's finally over now."
When the Sooners were preparing for their next opponent, M'Baye was instead focused on refining his skills. Watching his teammates on the court on game days was torture, though, which makes M'Baye even more anxious to hit the floor this Friday for OU's exhibition opener against Washburn at 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center.
"I can't wait," he said. "I learned a lot. I think I've never grown so much basketball-wise as I did last year, but the fact I couldn't be on the court helping my teammates was really hard. I can't wait. I'm just counting the days, and I'm just really excited."
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Family Leader |
Senior forward Romero Osby, voted by teammates as the Sooners' best vocal leader and leader by example, doesn't just guide his basketball family. The Meridian, Miss., native married his wife, Shalonda, over the summer and the two have a daughter who turns three in December.
"Having a family at home, it's just like with your teammates," Osby said. "They're your family. You have to have patience with certain people and certain things. One thing being a father and being a husband, you have to have patience. You can't dwell on certain things. There are certain things you should just teach and lead by example with. It kind of goes on the court where I try to lead by example."
Osby was also voted on by teammates as one of three team captains for the 2012-13 season, something he holds in high regard and a position he's clearly comfortable with.
"It's a real honor," Osby said. "That means your teammates look up to you. They appreciate you working so hard and they see your hard work paying off. That's really a good feeling." |
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UP NEXT
The Sooners host two exhibition contests starting with Washburn on Friday night:
| Date |
Opponent
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Time (CT)
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| 11/2 |
vs. Washburn
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7 p.m.
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| 11/7 |
vs. UCO
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7 p.m.
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 Tickets | Full Schedule
 MOST RECENTLY
Oklahoma held a pair of open-to-the-public scrimmages the past two weekends. OU won both!:
QUOTABLE
Senior F Romero Osby
"It's a motivation because we feel like we can do a lot better than (seventh in the league), but in this league you have to prove it every night and we understand that. We're just doing our best to get better every day to be able to prove that when the season comes around."
Senior F Andrew Fitzgerald
"To take our time, one game at a time, and take advantage of the opportunities we have. From a players' and coaches' perspective, there are a lot of expectations for us. I think as a group we are really trying to exceed those expectations that they perceive for us."
Junior F Amath M'Baye
"High expectations mean you've been doing a good job of doing what you do, so that's the way I see it. I see it with a lot of pride. I'm really excited people expect a lot from me. It's a lot of pressure, but there is always going to be pressure for me in this world of basketball in college or once you become a pro. You just have to focus on your game and helping your team the best way you can."
TEAM NOTES
The Sooners welcome back the Big 12's leading returning scorer (Steven Pledger; 16.2 ppg), leading returning rebounder (Romero Osby; 7.3 rpg) and second-leading assists man (Sam Grooms; 6.0 apg).
OU returns 88 percent of its scoring, 81 percent of its rebounds and 78 percent of its assists from last season.
In OU's two public intrasquad scrimmages, the freshman guard trio of Buddy Hield, Isaiah Cousins and Je'lon Hornbeak didn't disappoint. Hield averaged a team-high 18.0 points as well as 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per scrimmage. Cousins averaged 12.5 points, 3.0 boards and 3.0 assists while going 5-for-7 from 3-point range. Hornbeak averaged 7.5 points.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Senior F Andrew Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald has started OU's last 64 games and is just 97 points shy of becoming the school's 38th member of the 1,000-point club.
Senior G Steven Pledger
Pledger ranks sixth in school history with 178 3-pointers (the record is 259) and 34th with 1,022 points. He has scored at least 30 points in a game three times in his career (twice last year).
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Head Coach Lon Kruger
Kruger is looking to become the first Division I coach to take five programs to the NCAA Tournament (Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV).
MEDIA DAY COVERAGE
The men's hoops team participated in its annual media day on Monday. Check out full coverage by clicking here and take a look at the video content below:
 Head Coach Lon Kruger
Senior Captain Andrew Fitzgerald
Senior Captain Romero Osby
Junior Captain Amath M'Baye
Senior Sam Grooms
Senior Steven Pledger
Junior Cameron Clark
Junior Tyler Neal
Freshman Je'lon Hornbeak
FIELD HOUSE SERIES
OU's Nov. 7 exhibition game against Central Oklahoma and Dec. 31 regular season contest versus Texas A&M Corpus-Christi will be played as part of the inaugural Field House Series inside the 84-year-old venue. For more, click below:
Field House Series Home Page
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