OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The start of preseason practice is always an exciting time of the year for basketball coaches and players, but it’s likely few teams are as ready for the season to begin as the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Not only do the Cowboys want to put last season’s tailspin — from a 15-1 start to a 22-13 finish and a first-round National Invitation Tournament loss — in the rearview mirror, they also would like memories of a tumultuous offseason to fade.
During a three-month span from April to June, Oklahoma State players Terrell Harris, Obi Muonelo and Marcus Dove were arrested — Harris for trying to use a fake identification, Muonelo for being underage in a Stillwater bar and Dove for drunken driving.
In September came the unexpected transfer of Kenny Cooper, who was expected to be the Cowboys’ starting center this season.
“It wasn’t our best summer, that’s for sure,” Sutton told The Associated Press. “But I think all of our guys, our problems that we had are problems that they’ve learned from.”
Among those practicing for the Cowboys on Friday — the earliest practice could begin under NCAA rules — was Dove, who had been indefinitely suspended by Sutton following the player’s arrest. Sutton said Dove, who practiced on a “limited” basis Friday, likely would be reinstated to the team “at some point over the weekend.”
“He’s done everything that he’s supposed to do,” Sutton said. “I outlined some things that he had to get done and he got them accomplished. There’s no question he’s remorseful for using bad judgment and I think he’s learned a lot from it.”
Dove is expected to enter a plea in Payne County District Court on Nov. 19. The plea deal calls for Dove to pay a $500 fine, have an alcohol abuse evaluation, perform 30 hours of community service, take a life skills course and attend a victim impact panel, according to court documents.
Meanwhile, Cooper’s departure left the Cowboys without an experienced big man. Before the season opener on Nov. 9 against Prairie View A&M, Sutton said the Cowboys must try to speed the development of players who could potentially step in at center, including two freshmen, 6-foot-8 freshman Martavius Adams and 6-foot-11 Ibrahima Thomas.
“We’ve got good experience in the backcourt, and I think that’s important, because when you have experienced guards, they can play to the strengths of each one of those (inside) players and stay away from some of their weaknesses,” Sutton said.
At Oklahoma, second-year coach Jeff Capel said he’s curious to see how much the Sooners have improved since they went on a four-game exhibition tour in Canada early last month.
Oklahoma finished 16-15 last season and failed to receive a berth in either the NCAA tournament or the NIT for first time since 1981. That 25-year postseason run had been the longest in NCAA Division I.
Capel’s recruiting class for this season included Blake Griffin, who played in the McDonald’s All-America game after a standout career at Oklahoma Christian School in Edmond.
“I know our team so much better this year than I did last year,” Capel said. “Last year heading into our first practice I was just trying to figure everyone out. I was trying to learn everyone, trying to learn their games, and they were trying to figure out what a practice under me was going to be like.
“Our older guys can possibly teach our younger guys a little bit more now. There’s more familiarity with everything.”
The Sooners’ season opener will be at home against San Francisco on Nov. 8.
Tulsa coach Doug Wojcik said that following a 20-11 season, the next logical steps for the Golden Hurricane are to beat a team from a Bowl Championship Series league, get to the top of Conference USA and make a postseason tournament.
“It’s just the natural progression of our program,” said Wojcik, who is entering his third season at Tulsa. “It would be nice to have a big win. That would energize our fan base.”
Tulsa will have as many as three chances to beat a BCS-league team this year. The Golden Hurricane will play on the road against two Big 12 Conference opponents, Oklahoma and Colorado, and could also play Maryland on Nov. 12 in the CBE Classic if they beat Hampton in the season opener the day before.
Wojcik said returning guards Rod Earls and Ben Uzoh could develop into team leaders for Tulsa.
Tulsa’s crosstown rival, Oral Roberts, is coming off consecutive NCAA tournament appearances but must replace two of the better players in school history, three-time Mid-Continent Conference player of the year Caleb Green and Ken Tutt.
Three starters will return from last season’s 23-11 team for coach Scott Sutton — point guard Adam Liberty, forward Yemi Ogunoye and center Shawn King.
The Golden Eagles will open at home on Nov. 9 against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Source: www.sportingnews.com
