OU Final Four Notebook

FRIENDLY FACES IN HOUSTON

The Sooners had two practices on Friday. The second was viewed by thousands of basketball fans at NRG Stadium, site of the Final Four. The first was held at the brand new Guy V. Lewis Basketball Center on the University of Houston campus and viewed by a much smaller group. Among those in attendance at the morning session were some very familiar faces to longtime OU fans, including former head coach Kelvin Sampson (now head coach at Houston) and All-American guard Hollis Price (on Sampson's UH staff).

Sampson, who coached OU from the 1994-95 through 2005-06 seasons and took the Sooners to the 2002 Final Four, just completed his second season in charge of the Cougars. This year's squad finished 22-9 and tied for third in the American Conference (12-6 record). Asked what it was like to watch his former program practice in the Lewis Center, Sampson smiled before responding.

"It's surreal. I'm having all these flashbacks," he said. "I've only seen these kids on TV, so I've never seen them before. Of course I've known Lon Kruger for 30 years. But just watching them practice and interact with each other, you get a sense of why they're special: they're a team. But Lon's always had that wherever he's been."

Near the beginning of the workout, Kruger called Sampson over to address the Sooners. What did he say?

"When you go to the Final Four everyone tells you, 'Make sure you enjoy it.' Well you're not going to enjoy it until long after it's over, because then you'll look back and appreciate it. My message was two-fold. One, make sure you play for each other and when you walk out there in front of 60,000 people tomorrow, it's going to seem like a dream. But that game is still played between the lines, and OU does a great job of that. And then No. 2, don't ever think your best isn't good enough. You're good enough to win this thing. You don't have to play any better than you are. I think if they play their best they're going to win the whole thing."

OU's leading scorer on that 2001-02 team, Price said he has kept close tabs on this year's Sooners.

"For them to make it to the Final Four and for me to finally get to see them in person is a lot of fun," commented Price. "Every game that came on TV, I got to see us play. I say 'us' because I'm still a Sooner even though I work at a different school. I'm still a Sooner and I tuned in whenever I could to watch the 'Buddy Hield Show.' The only player I've seen who is close to him right now is Steph Curry, with the way they both shoot and compete, and their smarts. I told someone earlier this week that Buddy is bigger, stronger and a better shooter than I was when I played there. And that says it all about Buddy."

SHOOT TO THRILL

One of the hottest topics of conversation in Houston the last two days has been the shooting environment at NRG Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans. The mammoth venue cites a basketball capacity of 72,200. Previous hoops events at NRG Stadium, including the 2011 Final Four in which Connecticut beat Butler 53-41 in the championship game, have yielded less-than-stellar shooting percentages, especially from 3-point range.

With the Sooners trotting out one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country and being led by perhaps the nation's most lethal long-distance marksman in Buddy Hield, how will OU fare in Saturday's 5:09 p.m. CT semifinal against Villanova?

Hield, who is shooting .465 from deep and leads Division I with his 4.1 treys per game on the year, was seen draining 15 consecutive 3-point attempts in a closed practice Thursday. Asked Friday in OU's locker room about his thoughts on shooting inside the stadium, Hield acknowledged it's different than he's used to. But he also didn't seem too concerned.

"Looking from one end of the court to the other, it looks like the other rim is lower than it is because of the raised floor," explained Hield. "But as you walk to the other end it starts to change. We just have to look at the rim and trust our muscle memory when we're 20 feet away. With me, I'm always good at blocking things out. And I feel like how it's dark in background, that helps you focus on the rim.

"You just have to be confident. If you're a shooter, you're a shooter and there should be no excuse. If I shoot an airball everyone will probably blow it up and say it's because of the depth perception. No. If I shoot an airball, I shoot an airball. That's how the game goes. But I'm not worrying about it. I'm just going to lock into the rim and try to make shots."

BALANCING ACT

It's been a game of balance for the Sooners since arriving in Houston, focusing on the reason they are here while mixing in the fun and excitement of college basketball's biggest stage.

Over the past two days, in addition to practices, the team has spent its mornings in photo shoots and visiting with throngs of media. The Sooners attended the NCAA Final Four Salute dinner on Thursday evening and have enjoyed their free time with friends and family, or in the team hotel's players' lounge.

"I think Coach Kruger has kind of split our time up pretty well," senior forward Ryan Spangler said. "We have time in the day where we can hang out with our family and friends. That's the time when you take in the Final Four and cherish it. Then you have time when you have practice and film. That's the time when you lock in and focus on the game. We want to take this Final Four in, but at the same time we have to stay focused and get ready for tomorrow."

With Saturday just one day away, the team is dialing in on the game against Villanova.

"My excitement level is really at an all-time high right now," said sophomore Khadeem Lattin, who is from Houston. "I just can't wait, but you just really have to stay focused. We know we're here for a reason and we need to get two more wins. Everything that's going on is crazy and awesome and fun, but we know what we're here for."

HIELD WINS OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY

Around noon Friday, just before the Sooners' open practice, senior Buddy Hield was named the recipient of the 2015-16 Oscar Robertson Trophy as national player of the year at a news conference inside NRG Stadium.

Hield, who was joined by Oscar Robertson, U.S. Basketball Writers Association President Pat Forde of Yahoo! Sports and OU head coach Lon Kruger, said it was a childhood dream to be named national player of the year.

"It's an honor to accept this award in front of all these people," Hield said. "I couldn't have done it without all of my teammates. I'm just happy to accept this award, and coming from Oscar Robertson, it means a lot."

Robertson and Forde raved about Hield, not only for his on-the-court success, but also for his fun-loving personality that has captured the attention of the college basketball world.

"Buddy Hield is richly deserving of the Oscar Robertson Trophy. He is a thrilling shooter and scorer who has led his team to the pinnacle of college basketball success, the Final Four," said Forde. "Like Oscar himself, he also is a complete player capable of filling the stat sheet in a number of categories. But most importantly, Buddy is a self-made star from very humble beginnings in the Bahamas who has seized the four-year opportunity college basketball has provided to make himself the best he can be. The sport is better because of Buddy."

Hield's honor came on the heels of being named the Sporting News Player of the Year, as well as a unanimous AP All-America selection. The Sporting News presented him with his award in OU's locker room after Friday's practice. Hield quickly called the entire team to the middle of the room for a group picture with the trophy.