OU basketball objective this season - earn NCAA Tournament bid

BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Sunday, November 11, 2012
11/11/12 at 6:01 AM

NORMAN - Steven Pledger has contributed 1,022 points and 178 3-pointers to Oklahoma basketball while making 59 starts in three years. Still, he does not care.

It's so much more about what Pledger has not done, and that's why after a recent practice, he insisted: "If we don't play in the tournament then it's four years wasted."

A few weeks ago, coach Lon Kruger brought to everyone's attention the lack of NCAA Tournaments on his five seniors' resumes. He said it matter of factly, explaining why it was such a natural goal for the group.

Since then, those seniors have made it more personal. They have upped the ante on the 2012-13 season that begins Sunday with a 2 p.m. home game against Louisiana-Monroe.

"Ever since I came to the University of Oklahoma, I expected to be in the tournament," Andrew Fitzgerald said. "It's a must that we go this year."

It hasn't happened since 2009, Blake Griffin's last season at OU. Pledger and Fitzgerald arrived the following summer. Sam Grooms and Casey Arent transferred from junior colleges in 2011. Romero Osby arrived via Mississippi State in 2010.

He, at least, reached the NCAA first round as a Bulldogs freshman in 2009. He rather liked it.

"It's just the atmosphere," Osby said. "You get a police escort everywhere you go. You eat well. They treat you like a king, just for making it in the tournament."

There isn't anything like it in college basketball, which is why March has driven OU's two four-year seniors crazy the past three years.

"Every time I watch it I get mad," Pledger said, "so I stop watching."

"The first I watched last year was when Kansas played in the Final Four," said Fitzgerald, who felt like he owed old pal Thomas Robinson that courtesy. "Other than that, I didn't watch at all. I just got a feeling in my gut like, 'Dang, we should be playing in the NCAA.' I used it as motivation for next year."

Now that next year has arrived, the Sooners plan on being one of the 68 teams that frustrated outsiders choose not to watch.

"Everything that we're doing now is preparing us to win in March. That's kind of what we go by," Osby said. "We want to get back to the NCAA tournament as players. Coach wants to get back there. That's where he's used to being."

Kruger has been there with Kansas State, Florida, Illinois and UNLV the past quarter century. Thus, the Sooners tune in when he tells them November habits lead to March appearances.

"It's our attitude," Fitzgerald said. "We're really competitive with each other."

"Guys never walking," Osby said, "always being ready to fight for every possession."

"Making extra passes, getting on the boards," Pledger said, "things like that."

It helps, of course, to have talent. OU's has been upgraded since Kruger's first season. That, as much as anything, has everyone hopeful.

Or maybe hopeful isn't the right word.

Asked if this season will be a failure without an NCAA Tournament appearance, Osby replied: "Yeah. That's my opinion. Because it's my last year. I want it for all the seniors. I want it for Cam Clark, who hasn't made it. Tyler Neal, who's been here three years. I want it for them. I want it for Coach, too. He deserves it as well.

"But it's gotta come from us."

Louisiana-Monroe at OU

2 p.m. Sunday, Lloyd Noble Center

TV: FSOK-27

Radio: KAKC am1300

ULM (0-0)

		Ht.	Pt.	Rb.
F	James	6-6	-	-
F	Brown	6-7	-	-
G	Hansberry	6-0	5.8	2.3
G	Mackey	6-4	5.8	1.6
G	Olatayo	6-4	-	-

Oklahoma (0-0)

		Ht.	Pt.	Rb.
F	M'Baye	6-9	-	-
F	Osby	6-8	12.9	7.3
G	Cousins	6-3	-	-
G	Pledger	6-4	16.2	3.9
G	Hornbeak	6-3	-	-

(averages are from 2011-12 season)

Original Print Headline: Tourney bid is OU's objective

Guerin Emig 918- 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com

Associated Images:

A top goal for Oklahoma and head coach Lon Kruger (right) is to make the NCAA Tournament this season. SUE OGROCKI / AP

Pledger