Sooners Preview the Season at Media Day

With one week remaining before the Sooners open the 2016-17 season, head coach Lon Kruger and OU student-athletes previewed the upcoming year at the team's annual media day. Kruger and the Sooners met with local media members before Tuesday's practice at the Lloyd Noble Center.

“I've said many times that this is the best time of year,” said Kruger. “The time between the first practice of the fall and the first game is the time to get better individually and as a group, and nobody is worried about results of games, minutes or playing time. This group has done that. This group has done a really good job of focusing individually things they need to work on.

The Sooners open the season on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. CT in a home exhibition game against Washburn. OU begins the regular season at home against Northwestern State on Nov. 13 at 4 p.m.

A media day notebook is featured below. Full quotes from Kruger's press conference and featured player quotes are available here.

COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP

After losing a core group of players in Isaiah Cousins, Buddy Hield and Ryan Spangler, many of the Sooners were asked about the leadership roles on the 2016-17 squad. While many players pointed specifically at junior forward Khadeem Lattin and senior guard Jordan Woodard, they also identified that it will take a team effort to replace the impact last year's seniors had on both the court and in the locker room.

“I think the leadership will be a collective when it comes to being vocal,” said Woodard. “Guys don't have a problem with telling one another this needs to get done. My job is staying within myself but letting guys know where they need to be, as a point guard.”

Even younger players like Dante Buford have been speaking up and showing strides in leadership throughout preseason practice.

“I feel like everyone's stepping up in their own ways,” said Buford. “I'm trying to be more vocal toward my teammates, things like that—get them energetic, get them going…I think one of our other main leaders is Khadeem. He gets us going every day, so yeah, I think since (last year's senior class is) gone, someone has to step up.”

Lattin has fully embraced his role as a vocal leader. As one of two returning starters, he now faces an opportunity to step up both his game and the impact he has on his teammates.

“The guys have definitely appointed me as a leader,” said Lattin. “At first, it was rocky just because I wasn't quite comfortable with the new position, but I got used to it. I embraced it. Everyone has just taken a real following to it, so it's been a nice role.”

WOODARD AS A TOP THREAT

Woodard will be making his return to the point guard position this season and enters the year as the top returning scorer from last season's Final Four squad. Woodard averaged 13.0 points on .416 shooting, including .455 percent from 3-point range – the second best in the Big 12. In the post-Buddy Buckets era, Woodard will now be viewed as one of the Sooners' top offensive threats by OU opponents.

“Jordan's role will be largely different from last year,” said Kruger. “When you've got those other three guys around (Hield, Cousins and Spangler) and the primary targets on their backs, Jordan played extremely well and had a great year. He's a smart guy and now, his senior year, the target is going to be squarely on his back. He's worked hard in preparation and knows that challenge that lies ahead but he's looking forward to it. He's a guy that's competitive and wants to do well individually, but more importantly, wants the team to do well so it will be fun to watch.”

Woodard isn't afraid of the new target on his back. He's embracing it.

“It's going to be fun,” said Woodard. “It's going to be a challenge to have that target on your back but I'm going to try to grind more and do more for the team. Coach wants me to do more and it starts in practice getting that consistency and it will translate to the game.”

YOUNGER PLAYERS EMBRACE NEW ROLES

One theme coming out of Tuesday's media day is younger players accepting the challenge of serving in larger roles this upcoming season. One player Kruger expects to see make a big leap is sophomore guard Rashard Odomes. The 6-6 guard saw a promising start to the 2015-16 season, including a 15-point performance against McNeese State. As the Sooners got deeper into the season and Kruger's rotation shortened, Odomes saw less playing time but continued to put in the work for when his number would be called.

“Rashard Odomes is going to be a big factor for us,” said Kruger. “He hasn't gotten to play a lot in conference games but has got to play in non-conference games and maintained a great attitude of working hard every day to get better. I talked to him several times during Big 12 play last year about not getting minutes but told him to keep working at it. He always said, 'Hey Coach, I understand, I'm going to work at it and I'm going to be ready when my time comes.' He did that, worked hard during the season, worked hard during the spring, summer, and fall and has continued to take on that role of the blue collar guy, who gets on the floor after loose balls, takes charges, attacks the glass every time. Points will come when they do but defensively sticking his nose in there and being the defensive guy, Rashard has done a great job of doing that.”

Kruger also commented on more aggressive play from sophomore guard Christian James in a recent scrimmage. James says that aggression on offensive is a part of how he expects to play this season.

“It's my game,” said James. “I'm a big guard. I like to try to use my body against smaller people, try to get to the rim. Pretty much, I like being on attack.”

GOING LOW

After a season of record-breaking performances behind the 3-point line, the Sooners are predicting more play in the paint this upcoming year. Lattin has worked on his offensive game throughout the offseason while other young big men like center Jamuni McNeace will find new ways to get involved in the post.

“Khadeem and Jamuni both will play more of a role offensively,” said Kruger. “They've both always been there defensively but Jamuni has definitely improved that aspect of his game as well. We'll have a little more focus, it won't take much to add more focus on throwing the ball inside because we didn't do it much last year. We'll throw the ball inside and hopefully get a little bit more production out of that.”

The key to the Sooners' low-post offense could be in Lattin's defensive success and athleticism translating on the defensive end. Known as a shot blocker and defensive stopper, Lattin has been working on his shot and range to add versatility to his game and options to OU's offense.

“Khadeem will be much more of a scorer this year,” said Kruger. “He can do that. People who haven't seen him very much might be surprised by what they see out of Khadeem. We need him to get more touches and he's much more comfortable shooting the basketball. Last year he didn't get a lot of those opportunities so he's worked hard in preparation to step forward offensively and I'm confident he can do that.”

“Personally, I really worked on having a few post moves and a few moves on the right block that I'm really comfortable with, facing up and just being able to get to spots that I'm really comfortable at,” said Lattin. “We've worked tirelessly in the offseason doing that.”