University of Oklahoma Athletics
Photo by: photo shevaun williams
Men's Basketball Season Preview
November 03, 2019 | Men's Basketball
Hoops season is here, and there is a lot to be excited about in Lon Kruger's ninth season at the helm of the Sooners men's basketball program.
The Sooners are coming off their sixth NCAA Tournament in the last seven seasons and bring back a core of three returning starters. Coupled with one of the most highly-touted recruiting classes in Kruger's tenure, the Sooners boast an intriguing young roster filled with length and athleticism.
"I'm excited about the group," said Kruger at the team's annual media day last week. "They've worked hard since June. They've had a lot of energy, great enthusiasm...it's fun to watch this group grow and become a better basketball team each day, and we're excited about doing that."
The only senior on the Sooner roster, forward Kristian Doolittle continues to show progress in his game throughout his career in Norman. Winner of the Big 12's inaugural Most Improved Player award last season, Doolittle led the Sooners throughout conference play in 2018-19 with team-high Big 12 averages of 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds to go with 2.1 assists.
Manek enters his junior year as the Sooners' leading returning scorer. Manek was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection during his sophomore campaign by averaging 12.2 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting .469 from the field and .358 from behind the arc.
In the last 27 years, only four Sooners have scored more total points as underclassmen (freshman plus sophomore seasons) than Manek (741 points): Blake Griffin (1,278), Trae Young (876), Willie Warren (868) and Buddy Hield (756).
He ranks fifth in program history in steals by a freshman (47) and eighth in assists by a freshman (119).
In addition to the starting three, the Sooners also return a pair of players coming off of redshirt seasons. Forward Kur Kuath saw action in only six games last year before being sidelined by a back injury. Guard Austin Reaves, a transfer from Wichita State, will be eligible to play this season after sitting out last season due to the NCAA's transfer policy.
Reaves started in OU's exhibition last week and is a proven shooter who led the American Athletic Conference in 3-point percentage during conference play in 2017-18 by shooting at a .451 clip (37-for-82). Kruger is excited for Reaves to see his first game action since 2018 and about the improvements he's made to his game since joining the Sooners.
"Austin really took full advantage of that redshirt year," said Kruger. "At Wichita State, he was more a catch-and-shoot guy. A very good shooter there. Last year he really worked hard putting the ball on the floor, driving, getting separation, free throw shot and being efficient at the rim, put on 15-20 pounds. In every way I thought he really took full advantage of the year where he didn't prepare for games, but where he could prepare for the next year, and he did a good job with that."
The Sooners brought in a recruiting class listed in the top 20 nationally by Rivals (No. 14) and ESPN (No. 20). Both sites list Oklahoma's incoming class as the second best in the Big 12. The rookie class is comprised of guards De'Vion Harmon (Denton, Texas) and Alondes Williams (River Grove, Ill.), forwards Anyang Garang (Adelaide, Australia), Jalen Hill (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Victor Iwuakor (Sulphur Springs, Texas) and centers Rick Issanza (Kinshasha, Congo) and Corbin Merritt (Tallahassee, Fla.).
Kruger knows that it's a process to acclimate so many newcomers to the program, but is happy with the progress they've made so far.
"That's a process," said Kruger. "They've done a really good job. The five freshmen take pride in helping each other, they hang together [a lot], they support each other in a good way. It's a good group from the chemistry standpoint. They like playing, they like getting to the gym and supporting each other. I think that will grow with each ballgame throughout the year."
Anyang Garang (forward, 6-8, 190) joins the Sooners from the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia. Garang was exposed to a lot of international experience through the Academy, including events like exhibition games at the NBA G-League Winter Showcase, NBA Global Camp Italy, Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star and the NCAA's Next Generation Sunday at the 2018 Final Four.
De'Vion Harmon (guard, 6-5, 201) is the highest-rated member of the freshman class and was listed as a top-50 prospect by most recruiting services. Harmon has also competed on the international stage, winning gold medals at both the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup as the starting point guard of Team USA.
Jalen Hill (forward, 6-7, 225) came to OU as a four-star recruit out of Las Vegas. The forward was named the 2019 Gatorade Nevada Boys Basketball Player of the Year and was runner-up for the same honor in 2018.
Rick Issanza (center, 7-1, 230) is the tallest member of the Sooners roster. After growing up in Congo, Issanza comes to Norman from Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Victor Iwuakor (forward, 6-7, 216 is an athletic four-star prospect who was listed in the top 90 of ESPN.com's top 100 recruits. He was named his district's defensive MVP in 2017 and overall district MVP in 2018 while playing for Sulphur Springs High School in Texas.
Corbin Merritt (center, 6-9, 245) joins Oklahoma's squad from Daytona State College in Florida. Merritt redshirted his freshmen season at Daytona due to an injury and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Alondes Williams (guard, 6-5, 205) is a junior college national champion who accumulated over 1,000 points in his two seasons at Triton College in the Chicago area. As a sophomore for Triton he averaged 17.0 points and shot 40.4% from 3-point range.
Molinari brings over three decades of college coaching experience to the Sooner bench, including 20 seasons as a head coach at the Division I level. He comes to Norman after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Nebraska for the past five seasons. As a head coach at Northern Illinois (1989-91), Bradley (1991-02), Minnesota (2006-07) and Western Illinois (2008-14), Molinari compiled over 300 victories, three conference titles and nine postseason appearances. As an assistant, Molinari has reached the NCAA Tournament on 10 occasions.
Molinari will be inducted into Bradley University's Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 induction class. Molinari served 11 seasons (1991-2002) as the head coach at Bradley. He led the Braves to five NIT appearances along with a run to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Bradley captured three 20-win seasons under Molinari and amassed a total record of 174-152 (.534). He was named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in 1996. His 110 career Missouri Valley Conference victories remain the most in Bradley history.
In October, Molinari was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame along with the rest of the 1990-91 men's basketball team. As the head coach, Molinari led the Huskies to a 25-6 record that season - which still stands as the most wins in program history.
Williamson was born and raised in Beggs, Okla., and boasts over two decades of coaching experience, including eight seasons in the Big 12. He has spent 15 of his last 18 seasons coaching and recruiting for colleges in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Williamson joins the Sooners after one season at Miami. Prior to his time with the Hurricanes, he spent the previous five seasons under Tubby Smith at Texas Tech (2013-16) and Memphis (2016-18).
As a player, Williamson was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Tulsa under Smith and helped lead the Golden Hurricane in back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 1994 and 1995. He earned both All-MVC First-Team and All-MVC Defensive-Team accolades.
As with recent seasons, Kruger is not holding back when scheduling Oklahoma's non-conference slate. OU is one only three major-conference teams to play seven of their first 10 games coming away from home.
OU's schedule was rated the seventh toughest at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season and the Sooners have another chance to add to that in 2019-20, facing a challenging double round-robin schedule in the Big 12 along with non-conference matchups against Minnesota, Oregon State, Stanford, Butler or Missouri, Wichita State, Creighton, UCF and Mississippi State.
The season officially begins on Tuesday when the Sooners host UTSA at Lloyd Noble Center. The 7 p.m. CT contest will air on Sooner Sports TV and the Sooner Radio Network. Tickets start at just $10 and can be purchased on SoonerSports.com/Tickets.
The Sooners are coming off their sixth NCAA Tournament in the last seven seasons and bring back a core of three returning starters. Coupled with one of the most highly-touted recruiting classes in Kruger's tenure, the Sooners boast an intriguing young roster filled with length and athleticism.
"I'm excited about the group," said Kruger at the team's annual media day last week. "They've worked hard since June. They've had a lot of energy, great enthusiasm...it's fun to watch this group grow and become a better basketball team each day, and we're excited about doing that."
RETURNING CORE
Oklahoma's backbone will be its trio of returning starters - Jamal Bieniemy, Kristian Doolittle and Brady Manek. Doolittle and Manek both ranked in OU's top three for points, rebounds and blocks last season while Bieniemy led the Sooners in both assists and steals.The only senior on the Sooner roster, forward Kristian Doolittle continues to show progress in his game throughout his career in Norman. Winner of the Big 12's inaugural Most Improved Player award last season, Doolittle led the Sooners throughout conference play in 2018-19 with team-high Big 12 averages of 13.9 points and 7.8 rebounds to go with 2.1 assists.
Manek enters his junior year as the Sooners' leading returning scorer. Manek was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection during his sophomore campaign by averaging 12.2 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting .469 from the field and .358 from behind the arc.
In the last 27 years, only four Sooners have scored more total points as underclassmen (freshman plus sophomore seasons) than Manek (741 points): Blake Griffin (1,278), Trae Young (876), Willie Warren (868) and Buddy Hield (756).
Jamal Bieniemy is one of three returning starters. The guard is coming off an impressive freshman campaign.OU's only scholarship freshman in 2018-19, Bieniemy showed composure beyond his years when promoted to the starting point guard position by Lon Kruger. Bieniemy boasted an assist/turnover ratio of 2.53 in 2018-19, which ranked third in the Big 12 and fourth nationally among major-conference freshmen.
He ranks fifth in program history in steals by a freshman (47) and eighth in assists by a freshman (119).
In addition to the starting three, the Sooners also return a pair of players coming off of redshirt seasons. Forward Kur Kuath saw action in only six games last year before being sidelined by a back injury. Guard Austin Reaves, a transfer from Wichita State, will be eligible to play this season after sitting out last season due to the NCAA's transfer policy.
Reaves started in OU's exhibition last week and is a proven shooter who led the American Athletic Conference in 3-point percentage during conference play in 2017-18 by shooting at a .451 clip (37-for-82). Kruger is excited for Reaves to see his first game action since 2018 and about the improvements he's made to his game since joining the Sooners.
"Austin really took full advantage of that redshirt year," said Kruger. "At Wichita State, he was more a catch-and-shoot guy. A very good shooter there. Last year he really worked hard putting the ball on the floor, driving, getting separation, free throw shot and being efficient at the rim, put on 15-20 pounds. In every way I thought he really took full advantage of the year where he didn't prepare for games, but where he could prepare for the next year, and he did a good job with that."
After sitting out all of last season as a transfer from Wichita State, Austin Reaves is ready to return to game action and make an impact for the SoonersJalen
BIG EXPECTATIONS FOR A BIG CLASS
Oklahoma's 15-man roster features nine new faces in 2019-20. OU has welcomed in five freshmen, two JUCO transfers and a pair of freshmen walk-ons. Kruger believes the seven new scholarship players form the largest incoming class of his 34 year collegiate coaching career.The Sooners brought in a recruiting class listed in the top 20 nationally by Rivals (No. 14) and ESPN (No. 20). Both sites list Oklahoma's incoming class as the second best in the Big 12. The rookie class is comprised of guards De'Vion Harmon (Denton, Texas) and Alondes Williams (River Grove, Ill.), forwards Anyang Garang (Adelaide, Australia), Jalen Hill (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Victor Iwuakor (Sulphur Springs, Texas) and centers Rick Issanza (Kinshasha, Congo) and Corbin Merritt (Tallahassee, Fla.).
Kruger knows that it's a process to acclimate so many newcomers to the program, but is happy with the progress they've made so far.
"That's a process," said Kruger. "They've done a really good job. The five freshmen take pride in helping each other, they hang together [a lot], they support each other in a good way. It's a good group from the chemistry standpoint. They like playing, they like getting to the gym and supporting each other. I think that will grow with each ballgame throughout the year."
Anyang Garang (forward, 6-8, 190) joins the Sooners from the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia. Garang was exposed to a lot of international experience through the Academy, including events like exhibition games at the NBA G-League Winter Showcase, NBA Global Camp Italy, Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in Los Angeles during NBA All-Star and the NCAA's Next Generation Sunday at the 2018 Final Four.
De'Vion Harmon (guard, 6-5, 201) is the highest-rated member of the freshman class and was listed as a top-50 prospect by most recruiting services. Harmon has also competed on the international stage, winning gold medals at both the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup as the starting point guard of Team USA.
Hill and De'Vion Harmon are two big pieces of OU's rookie class.
Jalen Hill (forward, 6-7, 225) came to OU as a four-star recruit out of Las Vegas. The forward was named the 2019 Gatorade Nevada Boys Basketball Player of the Year and was runner-up for the same honor in 2018.
Rick Issanza (center, 7-1, 230) is the tallest member of the Sooners roster. After growing up in Congo, Issanza comes to Norman from Bella Vista Prep in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Victor Iwuakor (forward, 6-7, 216 is an athletic four-star prospect who was listed in the top 90 of ESPN.com's top 100 recruits. He was named his district's defensive MVP in 2017 and overall district MVP in 2018 while playing for Sulphur Springs High School in Texas.
Corbin Merritt (center, 6-9, 245) joins Oklahoma's squad from Daytona State College in Florida. Merritt redshirted his freshmen season at Daytona due to an injury and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Alondes Williams (guard, 6-5, 205) is a junior college national champion who accumulated over 1,000 points in his two seasons at Triton College in the Chicago area. As a sophomore for Triton he averaged 17.0 points and shot 40.4% from 3-point range.
TWO MORE NEW FACES
Not only did the Sooners add plenty of new faces to their roster, Lon Kruger also brought on a pair of new assistant coaches in Jim Molinari and Pooh Williamson.Molinari brings over three decades of college coaching experience to the Sooner bench, including 20 seasons as a head coach at the Division I level. He comes to Norman after most recently serving as an assistant coach at Nebraska for the past five seasons. As a head coach at Northern Illinois (1989-91), Bradley (1991-02), Minnesota (2006-07) and Western Illinois (2008-14), Molinari compiled over 300 victories, three conference titles and nine postseason appearances. As an assistant, Molinari has reached the NCAA Tournament on 10 occasions.
Molinari will be inducted into Bradley University's Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2020 induction class. Molinari served 11 seasons (1991-2002) as the head coach at Bradley. He led the Braves to five NIT appearances along with a run to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Bradley captured three 20-win seasons under Molinari and amassed a total record of 174-152 (.534). He was named the Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in 1996. His 110 career Missouri Valley Conference victories remain the most in Bradley history.
In October, Molinari was inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame along with the rest of the 1990-91 men's basketball team. As the head coach, Molinari led the Huskies to a 25-6 record that season - which still stands as the most wins in program history.
Williamson was born and raised in Beggs, Okla., and boasts over two decades of coaching experience, including eight seasons in the Big 12. He has spent 15 of his last 18 seasons coaching and recruiting for colleges in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Williamson joins the Sooners after one season at Miami. Prior to his time with the Hurricanes, he spent the previous five seasons under Tubby Smith at Texas Tech (2013-16) and Memphis (2016-18).
As a player, Williamson was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Tulsa under Smith and helped lead the Golden Hurricane in back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in 1994 and 1995. He earned both All-MVC First-Team and All-MVC Defensive-Team accolades.
Pooh Williamson (pictured) and Jim Molinari also enter their first year with the Sooners.
THE ROAD AHEAD...
The young Sooners will be thrown into the fire right away.As with recent seasons, Kruger is not holding back when scheduling Oklahoma's non-conference slate. OU is one only three major-conference teams to play seven of their first 10 games coming away from home.
OU's schedule was rated the seventh toughest at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season and the Sooners have another chance to add to that in 2019-20, facing a challenging double round-robin schedule in the Big 12 along with non-conference matchups against Minnesota, Oregon State, Stanford, Butler or Missouri, Wichita State, Creighton, UCF and Mississippi State.
The season officially begins on Tuesday when the Sooners host UTSA at Lloyd Noble Center. The 7 p.m. CT contest will air on Sooner Sports TV and the Sooner Radio Network. Tickets start at just $10 and can be purchased on SoonerSports.com/Tickets.
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