OU, Capel Hold First Practice

NORMAN, Okla. - Friday marked the first day of the 2006-07 collegiate men's basketball season that teams could take the court as an entire squad for workouts, and new Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel seized the opportunity.

The 12-man OU team worked out for an hour on the Bruce Drake Practice Court, taking advantage of an NCAA rule instituted last year that allows full squads to practice for up to two hours a week until the official start of practice in mid-October.

Capel said he will designate one hour a week for team practices and the use the other hour for individual player workouts.

"With today being our first day to work out as a team," said Capel, "we focused on getting up a lot of game shots and worked on passing and ball handling. We taught some drills that incorporate running, thinking and being able to make good decisions at a high speed.

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"I felt really good about it. The guys worked hard, showed great spirit and were anxious to be out there together. Because of that, it was a really good practice."

Less than two months remain until the Capel era officially begins. The Sooners open the 2006-07 season when they host Norfolk State at Lloyd Noble Center. OU will also play a pair of home exhibition games on Oct. 31 against Oklahoma Christian and Nov. 5 against Central Missouri State.

For great deals on men's basketball tickets, call the OU Athletics Ticket Office during normal business hours at (800) 456-4668.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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