Capel excited to get started
NCAA men’s basketball teams can begin practice today. For coaches, it’s a long awaited opportunity to work with players after being restricted from summer workouts, limited to two hours a week the past month.
“I guess you can look at it sort of like Christmas Day for coaches,” said OU coach Jeff Capel. “It’s the exciting part of the year.”
Capel has approximately one month to sort through a revamped roster that includes nine new players, including eight that are eligible this season.
“It’s going to be tough,” Capel said. “When you have a lot of new guys, a lot of new faces, it’s always that way. But every year is like that. Even if you have a veteran group coming back you feel that way. Coaches are usually paranoid about a lot of different stuff.
University of Oklahoma men's head basketball coach Jeff Capel smiles during a news conference in Norman, Okla., Friday, April 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
“All of us feel at times that we don’t have enough time or you worry about are you prepared enough. We’re going to work at it and take advantage of it. Our guys have had great attitudes and are very receptive listeners and learners. Our goal is to get better every day.”
Reports are players worked extremely hard over the summer, a stark contrast to last year’s talented team that formed a shaky foundation during the off-season, falling far short of expectations with a disappointing 13-18 season.
The Sooners will be led by senior guard Cade Davis, who will continue to wear a mask for another month after being hit in the cheek by teammate Cameron Clark in workouts in September.
“(Thursday) actually was the first day that I get to go full bore, go all out, full contact,” Davis said. “I’m excited about it. It’s about time.”
Davis, the Sooners’ only returning starter who averaged 9.9 points, said he was fortunate the freak accident wasn’t worse.
“I was just shooting the gap, trying to steal a pass,” Davis said. “(Clark) turned and braced for impact. It just got me square on the side (of my face). If it had been any more towards the front I probably would have had to have surgery. I kind of got a glancing blow. But it hurt bad.”
Capel said he’s anxious to get started with a group that’s drawn rave reviews for their off-season workouts.
“It’s a clean slate for everyone,” Capel said. “We’re not coming in with an notions ‘This guy is going to do this or that guy is going to be a starter.’ We’re coming with ‘Let’s see who we are.’ It should be exciting for everybody. They’ve worked very hard up to this point. I don’t see that changing. I don’t see that changing one bit.”
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