Steven Pledger helps OU to hot start [SoonerSports.com]

[OUHoops]

http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/121611aab.html

 

[AdaSooner]

Q: Percentage wise, you're one of the best shooting guards in the country. To what do you attribute your success this year?
A: "I think it comes from just putting up a lot of shots on off days. This past summer I put up a lot of shots. Even when I went home I still continued to get a lot of shots up so I could stay consistent. I would put up about 500 shots a day and I still have to do that so I can keep that consistency."

Putting up several hundred shots every day is nothing new for Steven. I remember reading an article about his practice regimen, right after he signed with OU, that talked about his commitment to spending long hours in the gym to work on his shooting. Assuming everything I read back then was accurate, he has been doing that since he was in his mid-teens.

Q: What do you think is the biggest difference in your game from last year to this year?
A: "Being patient. Being patient is something that I have learned to do. Also, I do whatever I have to do to get open and knock down shots. I really work around my teammates to get open and catch defenders not paying attention. Doing things like that and being patient are what have really helped me get good looks."

I brought this up several weeks ago. It doesn't matter if the patience he has demonstrated this year is coaching, something he has done on his own or a little of both. Steven's maturity as a player is light years ahead of where he was last season. Truly great to see how far he has come in every aspect of the game!

 

[BigTime]

Here is the Iowa State game that he was talking about:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0XHqwQu42w&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0XHqwQu42w&feature=related[/ame]