Three Points: From Behind the Arc

NORMAN -- With the start of official practice set to begin on Oct. 10, the Sooners have been hard at work during individual workouts. With 12 of 13 letterwinners returning, OU brings back 81 percent of its scoring from a year ago - including 100 percent of all 3-pointers made last season.

Senior guard Peyton Little, junior guard Gabbi Ortiz and senior guard Derica Wyatt discussed what their offseason was like in the gym, what they've improved on and who has stood out during OU's workouts so far.

SENIOR GUARD PEYTON LITTLE

Peyton Little

1. What have you improved on the most during the offseason?
“Well, we've really been working on shot rhythm because shooting is all about having a rhythm. So for us we've really been focusing on the four different beats of our shots. When you catch it and bring it down into beat two, then up beat three, and finish beat four. So it's really been all about rhythm and making sure we're hitting all those beats of our shots and making sure the ball goes in.”

2. There are a lot of good 3-point shooters on this team, how much do you think that will help the team?

“Definitely, we have a lot of shooters and I think for us the whole beats of our shot the more that we've been practicing it throughout the summer and continuing into the fall it's just been a really big focus and I think you can tell we're much better shooters in practice whenever we have that rhythm.”

3. Who progressed the most during the offseason and during summer camp?
“I'll give you two people. I really think Nesi [LaNesia Willaims] is a much improved player and she's really just taken the necessary strides and really run away with it developing her game. She's getting more of an outside shot and I think we'll be able to see her step up and hit some of those this year. And then T.T. [T'Ona Edwards] is also surprising me with just the rhythm of her shot because she hasn't been one to just sit out there and shoot the ball but this whole rhythm and beats of the shots has really helped her and I've seen a big improvement with her shot.”

JUNIOR GUARD GABBI ORTIZ

1. How have individual workouts been prior to the start of official practice?
“They've been great. We're getting a lot of reps and we've spent a lot of hours in the gym. A lot of repetition and pushing each other and I think we've seen some of the results and how they've translated onto the floor. We're real zoned in and I think we're feeling a lot better.”

2. What was one piece of advice Coach Coale gave you during the summer that stuck with you?
“I would say for me it's always about leadership. Individually just making the others around me better and when I'm being vocal and leading the ones around me and making them better and focusing on what they're doing my gameplay and what I do comes after that. When I focused on that in Spain and slowed down and tried to get other people open and my shots followed.”

3. What part of your game have you improved the most?
“Just a lot of game speed rhythm and getting my rhythm back. I think we were doing new footwork that we did this summer really helped to get that same rhythm in every shot I take. Sometimes I'd get off balance or try to rush my shot and that's when I become streaky and in Spain I had a lot more flow and that really helped.”

SENIOR GUARD DERICA WYATT

1. What was the key to your success down the stretch a year ago from the 3-point line?
“I think for me it's just having confidence. Being so up and down can be a struggle but when I found my groove I got my confidence and I was able to put the ball in the basket and that's what this team needs me to do.”

2. Who's one player that has caught your eye during individual workouts?
“Probably EJ [Ijeoma Odimgbe]. She's jumped so much from last year to this year. Obviously, she has a long way to go like everyone else but it's just her attention to detail and willingness to learn that shows she's trying to be better for us.”

3. What is one thing you that you learned last year that will make a difference this season?
“That our depth can really help us. We have 15 girls on this team that can really play. I don't think there's much of a drop-off when our starting five walk off floor and the next five come in. I think that will be a very powerful thing for us this year.”

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SENIOR GUARD PEYTON LITTLE

JUNIOR GUARD GABBI ORTIZ

SENIOR GUARD DERICA WYATT

Players Mentioned

Peyton Little

Ijeoma Odimgbe

Gabbi Ortiz

Derica Wyatt

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics