Hooping it up With Cade Davis

Sept. 13, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - Like Ryan Minor and Kevin Bookout before him, freshman Cade Davis doesn't think his small-town Oklahoma background will necessarily keep him from achieving big things in an OU basketball uniform.

Davis, from Elk City in the far western part of the state, enjoyed a stellar high school career and averaged 23.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists a game last year for the 24-1 Elks. Now Davis brings his game to an emerging Oklahoma squad full of young talent.

Can Davis contribute as a true frosh? If his Labor Day weekend performance in Canada (when OU played four exhibition games) is any indication, the answer is a definite "yes." The 6-5, 197-pounder averaged 11.3 points, 5.0 boards and 2.8 assists while playing a team-high 27 minutes a contest. He shot .355 from 3-point range and led the squad with 11 treys.

SoonerSports.com caught up with Davis one week after the basketball team's return from Canada to get his thoughts on the trip, the upcoming season and how he's adapting to college life.

Q. How is your freshman year going so far with class and basketball workouts?
A. "Everything is going great so far. It's been a pretty big transition from high school to college. You have to manage your time and try to get a lot of work in at the gym, which takes up a lot of the time. Classes I guess are going well."

Q. What's your favorite class so far?
A. "Sociology class is really interesting to me. I like it a lot. Other than that, I don't really have a favorite."

Q. How much, if any, is the college game different from your high school years at Elk City, or is it a little too early to tell?
A. "It's so much more fast paced. Up in Canada it was even more different because they had a 24-second shot clock instead of the 35-second shot clock that we have here. That made an even bigger difference on how the game was played. The physical nature and the pace of the game are the big differences."

CBSsportsline.com Article on Davis and the Sooners

Q. How was the exhibition trip to Canada beneficial to the team?
A. "We got more of a feel for each other and a feel for how we all play. We developed good chemistry with one another, which is always important to have on a basketball team. Plus, it was a really fun trip. We went and played and we worked hard, but it was a good trip to go and have fun with one another. It was a good team-building trip."

Q. What did the trip do for you, personally?
A. "Personally, just getting that first little taste of college basketball and knowing what I need to do to get better. I got to see a little more of how the game is actually supposed to be played. It was a good experience for me to get the playing time with my teammates."

Q. Upperclassmen have talked about your ability to shoot the ball. Is that your best asset as a basketball player?
A. "Yeah, one of the reasons Coach Capel wanted me to come here is because he thought I could shoot. I think seeing the floor and giving the ball up to teammates will help me a lot to get the ball back for open shots."

Q. Why did you commit to Oklahoma?
A. "Coach Capel was pretty much the deciding factor. Once I met with him in person, I really enjoyed talking to him. He is a great guy and a great coach. That pretty much sold OU. I have always wanted to come here and play because I have always been a fan. I am from Oklahoma, so all those factors went into why I decided on OU."

Q. What are some memories you have as a child of coming to OU games or watching on TV?
A. "I have memories of watching them on TV. I remember watching Ryan Minor play. He was also a kid from western Oklahoma, so he was an inspiration because he showed that it could be done. He played in an even smaller class than I did. I also remember watching Hollis Price and that group of players. OU was always really fun for me to watch growing up."

Q. How successful do you think this year's team can be?
A. "I think we can be really successful with the guys we have coming back. Our biggest strength this year is going to be our post guys. If we establish our post game and our guards are able to shoot the ball this year, then I think we have a chance to be really good. We have guys with experience coming back like Tony (Crocker), A.J. (Austin Johnson) and David Godbold. All of those guys are great leaders for this team. I think we are going to be really successful if we work hard and do things right."

Q. What expectations have you set for yourself for this season?
A. "I want to come in and give good minutes to the team. It's whatever I can do to help. Whether it's setting up my teammates or being able to knock down an open look, my purpose is to be the player my team needs me to be. If I come in and play solid and keep it simple, then I think I can be successful."

Q. What can fans expect out of the group of newcomers this year?
A. "We love to push the ball. We love to get out and run, so I think fans will see a lot more fast-paced games and I also think we are really exciting to watch. With Blake Griffin, you are going to get to see an All-American play. I can tell he is going to be really good in all of his years here. I think fans will enjoy watching all of the newcomers play."

Q. What games on the schedule are you most anticipating playing this year?
A. "I'm really looking forward to the USC game and playing against O.J. Mayo and that group of players. I'm looking forward to playing against West Virginia, who is always a really solid ball club, real different. I'm also really looking forward to playing Gonzaga because I have been a fan of Adam Morrison in the past and all those guys. They can really shoot the ball and run their offense.

"It's good to play some better competition, and I think that is what we are really looking forward to. It makes the year really fun. OSU is going to be fun to play against because I know some of the guys that went up there. It's always a big rivalry and I am really excited to go to Stillwater and play."

Q. Besides playing basketball, what's your favorite thing to do?
A. "I enjoy hanging out with my friends. I also like to play pool a lot. I like to hang out with my family when I get to."

Q. How do you like playing for a head coach who has played at a major college and was a guard like you are?
A. "I think it's awesome because he relates not only to me, but to everybody. He's a young coach and he is really into his players. Being from Duke, he has a great background with great experience of being a winner. He has great knowledge, and it's one of the big reasons why it was an easy decision to come here."

Q. Can Coach Capel beat you in a shooting contest?
A. "It's close. But he's getting up there in age and there's new talent coming in. So I think I would have to vote for myself on that one just because I think I have the confidence and the shooter mentality over him right now."

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