History:
One of the top college basketball teams in the 1980's under Billy Tubbs, the University of Oklahoma was a Big 8 powerhouse, winning 30 or more games 5 times and competing for a National Championship in 1988 against Kansas. After early exits from the NCAA Tournament in the 90's, OU turned to Kelvin Sampson who won a Big 12 regular season Championship as well as 3 Big 12 Tournament Championships.
The 2002 Sooners made a Final Four run, and Sampson directed the team to postseason tournaments in every season as Head Coach, with 10 NCAA Tournament appearances. Sampson's tenure again brought the Sooners to national basketball prominence before he left for Indiana. In 2006, OU hired Jeff Capel, former Head Coach at Virginia Commonwealth. But after early success, highlighted by the career of future NBA star Blake Griffin, Capel was let go following the 2010-2011 season. Veteran coach Lon Kruger was brought in to rebuild the program.
Also, get information on the women's program.
Also, get information on the women's program.
2011-2012 Season:
Back to back losing seasons ended Jeff Capel's 5-year stay at the University of Oklahoma, many criticizing the team's overall talent level. And while the first year under Kruger was an improvement, the team finishing at 15-16 overall, only 5 wins in conference play show work is yet to be done.
Location:
The Sooners play in Lloyd Noble Center on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman Oklahoma. Opening in 1975, the arena was renovated in 2001 and now seats 12,000 fans.
Tickets:
Tickets for Oklahoma Sooners Men's Basketball games can be purchased online at SoonerSports.com or by calling the OU ticket office at (800) 456-4668. Prices are typically around $17-$22, and family packs that include a hot dog, soda and t-shirt with admission are available by calling the ticket office.
Primary Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Lon Kruger - since 2011
Led UNLV, Illinois, Florida and Kansas State to a combined 13 NCAA Tournament Appearances
Assistant Coach: Steve Henson - since 2011
Longtime Kruger Assistant
Assistant Coach: Lew Hill - since 2011
UNLV Assistant under Kruger
Assistant Coach: Chris Crutchfield - since 2011
Former TCU and ORU Assistant Coach
2012-2013 Roster:
32 Arent, Casey 6-10 223 Center SR
31 Bennett, D.J. 6-8 210 Forward JR
21 Clark, Cameron 6-6 208 Guard JR
25 Cole, C.J. 6-6 225 Forward FR
11 Cousins, Isaiah 6-3 182 Guard FR
4 Fitzgerald, Andrew 6-8 238 Forward SR
13 Fraschilla, James 5-10 150 Guard SO
1 Grooms, Sam 6-1 203 Guard SR
3 Hield, Buddy 6-3 199 Guard FR
5 Hornbeak, Je'lon 6-3 180 Guard FR
12 Kruger, Jarrod 6-1 181 Guard SO
22 M'Baye, Amath 6-9 208 Forward JR
15 Neal, Tyler 6-7 229 Forward JR
14 Noworyta, Steve 6-7 200 Forward FR
24 Osby, Romero 6-8 232 Forward SR
2 Pledger, Steven 6-4 219 Guard SR
00 Spangler, Ryan 6-8 227 Forward SO
31 Bennett, D.J. 6-8 210 Forward JR
21 Clark, Cameron 6-6 208 Guard JR
25 Cole, C.J. 6-6 225 Forward FR
11 Cousins, Isaiah 6-3 182 Guard FR
4 Fitzgerald, Andrew 6-8 238 Forward SR
13 Fraschilla, James 5-10 150 Guard SO
1 Grooms, Sam 6-1 203 Guard SR
3 Hield, Buddy 6-3 199 Guard FR
5 Hornbeak, Je'lon 6-3 180 Guard FR
12 Kruger, Jarrod 6-1 181 Guard SO
22 M'Baye, Amath 6-9 208 Forward JR
15 Neal, Tyler 6-7 229 Forward JR
14 Noworyta, Steve 6-7 200 Forward FR
24 Osby, Romero 6-8 232 Forward SR
2 Pledger, Steven 6-4 219 Guard SR
00 Spangler, Ryan 6-8 227 Forward SO
2012-2013 Outlook:
Most analysts say there's a clear improvement at Oklahoma since Kruger took over. The talent is deeper and, overall, the team is athletic. Best of all, it's led by several upperclassmen with several years of experience, guys like Steven Pledger, Tyler Neal and Andrew Fitzgerald. Still, most aren't yet ready to proclaim the team back to the ways of postseason play. 2012-2013 is likely to be a dogfight for the Sooners in a tough Big 12.
2012-2013 Schedule:
11/02/12 vs. Washburn
11/07/12 vs. Central Oklahoma
11/11/12 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
11/16/12 at UT Arlington
11/22/12 vs. UTEP 6:00 p.m. CT
11/23/12 TBD 4:30 or 6:30 PM CT
11/25/12 TBD TBA
11/28/12 at Oral Roberts 7:00 p.m. CT
11/30/12 vs. Northwestern State 7:00 p.m. CT
12/04/12 at Arkansas 6:00 p.m. CT
12/15/12 vs. Texas A&M 1:00 p.m. CT
12/18/12 vs. Stephen F. Austin 7:00 p.m. CT
12/29/12 vs. Ohio 7:00 p.m. CT
12/31/12 vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2:00 p.m. CT
01/05/13 at West Virginia 3:00 p.m. CT
01/12/13 vs. Oklahoma State 2:00 p.m. CT
01/16/13 vs. Texas Tech 7:00 p.m. CT
01/19/13 at Kansas State 3:00 p.m. CT
01/21/13 vs. Texas 8:30 p.m. CT
01/26/13 at Kansas 3:00 p.m. CT
01/30/13 at Baylor 6:00 p.m. CT
02/02/13 vs. Kansas State 5:00 p.m. CT
02/04/13 at Iowa State 6:00 p.m. CT
02/09/13 vs. Kansas 3:00 p.m. CT
02/11/13 vs. TCU 6:00 p.m. CT
02/16/13 at Oklahoma State 12:30 p.m. CT
02/20/13 at Texas Tech 6:00 p.m. CT
02/23/13 vs. Baylor 4:00 p.m. CT
02/27/13 at Texas 8:00 p.m. CT
03/02/13 vs. Iowa State 12:30 p.m. CT
03/06/13 vs. West Virginia 8:00 p.m. CT
03/09/13 at TCU 4:00 p.m. CT
11/07/12 vs. Central Oklahoma
11/11/12 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
11/16/12 at UT Arlington
11/22/12 vs. UTEP 6:00 p.m. CT
11/23/12 TBD 4:30 or 6:30 PM CT
11/25/12 TBD TBA
11/28/12 at Oral Roberts 7:00 p.m. CT
11/30/12 vs. Northwestern State 7:00 p.m. CT
12/04/12 at Arkansas 6:00 p.m. CT
12/15/12 vs. Texas A&M 1:00 p.m. CT
12/18/12 vs. Stephen F. Austin 7:00 p.m. CT
12/29/12 vs. Ohio 7:00 p.m. CT
12/31/12 vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi 2:00 p.m. CT
01/05/13 at West Virginia 3:00 p.m. CT
01/12/13 vs. Oklahoma State 2:00 p.m. CT
01/16/13 vs. Texas Tech 7:00 p.m. CT
01/19/13 at Kansas State 3:00 p.m. CT
01/21/13 vs. Texas 8:30 p.m. CT
01/26/13 at Kansas 3:00 p.m. CT
01/30/13 at Baylor 6:00 p.m. CT
02/02/13 vs. Kansas State 5:00 p.m. CT
02/04/13 at Iowa State 6:00 p.m. CT
02/09/13 vs. Kansas 3:00 p.m. CT
02/11/13 vs. TCU 6:00 p.m. CT
02/16/13 at Oklahoma State 12:30 p.m. CT
02/20/13 at Texas Tech 6:00 p.m. CT
02/23/13 vs. Baylor 4:00 p.m. CT
02/27/13 at Texas 8:00 p.m. CT
03/02/13 vs. Iowa State 12:30 p.m. CT
03/06/13 vs. West Virginia 8:00 p.m. CT
03/09/13 at TCU 4:00 p.m. CT
