Men's Basketball Summer Preview

June 29, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - The college men's basketball season is four months away, but University of Oklahoma returning players and newcomers are keeping plenty busy preparing for Jeff Capel's second season as OU head coach.

The Sooners hope to make dramatic improvement on last year's 16-15 overall and 6-10 Big 12 Conference records. To help achieve their goals, OU players are working hard during summer strength and conditioning sessions and are spending significant time on their own refining their on-court skills.

Capel recently visited with SoonerSports.com to reflect on his first season at Oklahoma and to look ahead to what promises to be an exciting season of OU basketball. Among several other topics, the head coach addressed potential team strengths and weaknesses, the incoming recruiting class and the Big 12 Conference.

Check back next week when Capel gives his player-by-player breakdown.

Summer Preview PDF

What are your thoughts on your first season at OU now that you've had three months to digest it?
"I thought we did some good things, had some good moments. Certainly, I thought our guys played hard. We were in a very good position at one point within the conference at 15-8 overall and 5-3 in the league. From that point on I think we ran out of gas a little bit. I think our team got a little mentally fatigued. But we laid a pretty good foundation for playing hard and for some of the things we'll do defensively this year and in the future.

"I expect us to be better in a lot of areas this year. Having more depth will allow us to have more competition in practice and allow us to run more. We'll also be able to extend our defense more. We were able to do that in spots last year, but not as consistently as I like."

You said when you were hired that your teams would play as fast as your personnel would allow you to. Were you able to play as up-tempo as you wanted to last year?
"No, we weren't. I thought at times we did, but overall we didn't. There were times when we'd get a defensive rebound and I'd be yelling, 'Run! Go!' And some of our players were giving me the hand signal that we need to slow it down. We certainly weren't able to do a lot of the things I like to do. But I think you have to coach your personnel. I'm able to change and we coached our guys last year in a way that gave us the best chance to win games. If you look at things, we were right there in a lot of games and just couldn't get over the hump. That's where added depth this year will help.

"Last year we couldn't really practice as much as I wanted or do some of the things I like to do in practice. We were down to nine guys sometimes, counting walk-ons. When you're preparing for Texas A&M and you have a walk-on trying to simulate Joseph Jones, it doesn't give you the greatest picture of what you're trying to do. That's nothing against our walk-ons because I love them and they do a great job for us. But added depth will really help us in practice this year. We'll be able to really get after each other with more bodies - more talented bodies."

Longar Longar

Frontcourt
Longar Longar (6-11, 232, Sr., C)
Taylor Griffin (6-7, 236, Jr., F)
Keith Clark (6-8, 242, So., F)
Beau Gerber (6-7, 224, So., F)
Blake Griffin (6-10, 239, Fr., F)
Ryan Wright (6-8, 240, Jr., F)

What are some of the team's strengths?
"I think we should be a great rebounding team. With guys like Longar Longar, Taylor Griffin and Blake Griffin on the inside, and David Godbold and Tony Crocker doing well on the boards as guards, rebounding should be an area in which we're really good.

"Also, when you become a good rebounding team, it increases your chances of becoming a good running team. We'll definitely be more athletic than we were. All of our new guys, with the exception of Omar Leary, are very good at elevating off the floor. They're all good athletes. With that, we should really be able to get out on the wings and run. All of our post guys can run.

"Then, having a guy like Omar - a true point guard - will really help us. We also feel very comfortable with the ball in Austin Johnson's hands. I think A.J.'s better when we're running. Those two guys, along with Tony Neysmith, will help with ball handling. Omar and Tony will help take some pressure off Austin. When you have to bring the ball up against pressure all game long and get into the offense, it really wears you down if you're not used to it. I thought that happened to A.J. some last year."

Tony Crocker

Backcourt
David Godbold (6-5, 221, Sr., G)
Austin Johnson (6-3, 161, Jr., G)
Omar Leary (5-10, 170, Jr., G)
Tony Crocker (6-6, 191, So., G)
Cade Davis (6-5, 197, Fr., G)
Tony Neysmith (6-5, 195, Fr., G)

Do you have any concerns about the upcoming year?
"Shooting is an area where there might be some questions. We lost a good 3-point shooter in Michael Neal and another senior who shot very well from the floor in Nate Carter. Those two guys were experienced, played in a lot of big games and made some big shots.

"But at the same time we think we have some guys who will be able to put the ball in the hole. Longar Longar shot a great percentage last year and we look for him to continue to do that. David Godbold showed in spurts what he can do. If he commits himself this summer, he can increase his scoring average. Tony Crocker is our leading returning scorer on the perimeter and he led us in 3-point percentage. We look for him to become an even more consistent shooter. And Austin Johnson shot the ball well, especially early in the season and at home. He struggled a little bit the second half of the year as he wore down a little bit from injuries and different things he went through.

"As far as our newcomers, Cade Davis can shoot the basketball. Tony Neysmith is good mid-range. He needs to work on expanding his range, and he's doing that. He's getting better. Blake Griffin will be able to create different scoring opportunities. Blake can drive, he can handle it, he can pass it, he can run. Those skills should help him get open looks, and help his teammates get open looks. And Omar Leary shot 45 percent from 3-point range over his two years in junior college. So while we lost a couple of good shooters from last year, we feel we've got some guys who are capable of putting the ball in the basket."

How big of a benefit will familiarity of your players be for you in your second year?
"I think that will help. Last year we were all learning each other. When I was hired in April 2006, we had six guys who could go through individual workouts. Michael Neal and Austin Johnson were hurt. And even with those six guys, I couldn't really get to see all of the things they could do. But now, I know our returning players. I've seen them in practice for a year. I know who they are and I know what their strengths are.

"With that said, I'm looking for some change. Hopefully they're different - in a good way - when they come back for school. That means they've really dedicated themselves and worked hard on their games in the summer. I'm a big believer that in order to become good you have to fall in love with the process of being good. That's what I've talked about with our team since the season ended - the process of becoming a good basketball team. You have to work. You have to work every day, you have to work at a high level and you have to prepare at a high level. If we do that this summer I think we have the chance to be pretty good."

Similarly for the returning players, will their familiarity of you and your system be beneficial for them?
"I really think so. Hopefully our returning guys will be able to talk to the new guys about the ways we do some things - especially defensively and with some of our offensive sets. Those will be the same, but hopefully we'll be able to play a little bit differently on offense. I hope we can get out and run more, I hope our motion offense will be better. We really didn't run a lot of motion the last month and a half of the season because I don't think it really fit our personnel. We were better when we ran sets. But, yes, I think the fact that our returning players know what to expect this year will definitely help us."

Taylor Griffin

How do you feel about your inside game?
"I think our post guys will be very good. Longar Longar has the chance to have a very good senior year. He played very well in the last game of his junior year against Kansas and he had some great moments at various points of the season. The thing we've talked to him about is being more consistent. I like the way I hear he's been working this summer. He's put on some weight, gotten stronger. This is a big year for him. I think he'll be better because he'll be better prepared. He knows what to expect now. I think Taylor Griffin will be better. He played a lot of minutes last year but was kind of up and down. For guys who haven't played a lot, that's to be expected.

"Getting Keith Clark back will be big for us. I really thought he was starting to turn the corner when he hurt his knee. He was getting in better shape and was playing very well. And we think Blake Griffin has the ability to be an impact player for us as a freshman. He's very talented and we certainly hope he can score the ball for us, but there are so many things he can do. He's a very good passer and rebounder, and has the chance to be a good defender. So we feel really good about our post guys and the opportunity they have to hopefully make up one of the best frontcourts in the league."

Blake Griffin

Your recruiting class was ranked high nationally. How do you grade your class?
"I think we filled needs. Blake is the most heralded of the group and is one of the best big guys in the national class. We were able to sign two other high school players in Cade Davis and Tony Neysmith who are all good athletes and have a pretty good basketball I.Q. Cade and Chris can really shoot the ball and Tony has a good feel. All three of the freshmen have the potential to be good defensive players. Just as important, I hope they can all be really good teammates. All four of them have won.

"We signed a juco point guard in Omar Leary. This is not taking a shot at anyone, but I like having a guy who's a point guard. That's what Omar is. He's not a 2, he's not a combo. He's played point his whole life. Then we also bring in Ryan Wright, a transfer who can't play in games this year but will be able to practice with us. He's a big, athletic guy with experience.

"I feel really good about our class. I'm excited about these guys, I think they're all good players and they all want to be good. They all really want to be at Oklahoma and they're proud to wear the OU on their chest and represent this university."

Is there a possibility that any of the newcomers will redshirt?
"Not right now. All of those guys have an opportunity to come in and have an impact. It's about how hard they work, how hard they compete. It's about beating out others. I promise one thing and that's opportunity. I promise that we're going to work with them and give them every chance to be successful. It's about who wants it the most. We'll have competition in practice now. Last year we had some guys who, no matter what they did in practice, knew they were going to play. We just didn't have a lot of bodies. That shouldn't be the case this year. These young guys are hungry to come in here and have an impact. I think the returning guys are hungry, too. Nobody wants to go through another 16-15 season. That's why I told our players that this is the most important summer of their basketball careers. Hopefully they approach it accordingly."

How do you feel about player leadership with this group?
"That's an area where we have to improve. The guy with the most playing experience on our team is David Godbold. He's started off and on since his freshman year and has played in some big games. Our hope is that he and Longar Longar, our other senior, can take this team by the horns and guide it. It's important for any good basketball team to have good player leadership. You have to have it. I've expressed the need for it in my conversations with our players this summer. I think we have some guys who have the potential to be very good leaders. Blake Griffin and Cade Davis could be good in that department. Will it happen as freshmen? It absolutely could. It would be nice because we need that from different guys."

How has new assistant coach Oronde Taliaferro adapted to the program?
"Oronde is going to be great for us. He hit the ground running in terms of recruiting and getting to know our guys. I think he's going to be a great ambassador for the University of Oklahoma and for our basketball program. With his connections in college basketball, as well as high school and AAU, I think he's going to have a big impact for us. Plus, he fits with our staff so well. Losing a coach like Rod Barnes is a big blow, but we offset it with the hiring of Oronde. Oronde and Rod are different, but they're equally good. Oronde will bring a lot to our program."

Your wife gave birth to your first child in April. How difficult is it to balance work responsibilities with the huge task of raising a daughter at home?
"You know, it's not really that hard. Luckily for me, I have an amazing wife who understands my work responsibilities. She grew up in a similar situation where her father was an attorney and was involved in politics. She knows about time commitments with her career as well, also being an attorney. So she understands what I do and that makes it easy.

"I will say that things are a little different now, though. When I go on the road, I'm a little more excited about getting back to see our daughter. I like watching her grow and I don't like to miss anything. When I'm gone, my wife has to send me pictures of our daughter every day or let me listen to her cry on the phone. It's not really an adjustment with my job, as much as it's an adjustment with my life. It's an incredible blessing and the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me."

What are your thoughts on the non-conference schedule?
"It's not completed yet, but we will have a very, very challenging schedule. We have a chance to play against six high-major teams, with one of those games being at home. We start a four-year deal with Arkansas by hosting them this year. They made a coaching change, but it's a program that has made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and will be one of the most talented teams in the SEC. They return all of their starters from last year's team. We start a Big 12/Pac-10 series this year on the road against a very, very talented USC team. They're coming off an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance and bring in a great recruiting class headlined by O.J. Mayo. We play at West Virginia, which will be a very challenging game. Bob Huggins is the new coach for a team that won 27 games and the postseason NIT last year.

"We don't know our All-College opponent yet, but that will be a tough game. That's an event that excites us every year. We also will play in the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament early in the season. We'll play two home games against what are right now unknown opponents. If we're fortunate enough to win those two games, we will go to Madison Square Garden to play two games against potential opponents Connecticut, Kentucky and Memphis. We also play Tulsa at home and we play at TCU, as well as face some other quality opponents.

"We're going to be challenged very early. We've got a lot of new players and we're going to have to do a lot of growing up quickly."

What were your impressions of the Big 12 Conference your first time through it?
"I thought our league was very underrated last year and was as good as or better than any conference in college basketball. We had three teams that legitimately had a shot to get to the Final Four in Kansas, Texas and Texas A&M. Our league had the most clutch player in Acie Law. It had the best and most exciting player in Kevin Durant. I thought we had the best games in college basketball, with the Texas at OSU game, Texas at Kansas, Texas A&M at Kansas, Texas A&M at Texas. And we played in some really good games against Texas Tech and Kansas here in Norman. There were so many great games in our league.

"We had four teams make the NCAA Tournament and it should have been five. I've always been impressed with the league from afar, but having the chance to go through it, see some of the venues and see the fan support, it's a very good league with very good coaches and really talented players. Hopefully we start to get the respect on a national level that we deserve as one of the premier conferences in college basketball."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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