What has impressed you the most about Kruger

[BigTime]

thus far as the Sooners head basketball coach?

Mine: The alumni game. It was impressive how many guys he was able to get to commit and come back in such a short period of time on the job. He made the event fan friendly and it showed by the over 4K that came to the LNC on a non football Saturday. Very impressive and I hope it continues to progress each year.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

Opening practices. I will admit I had my doubts that he would actually follow through on his word. Very impressed to see that he has, and this is the kind of thing that will build a fanbase over time.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Thus far, it's been the way he's reached out to the fans and how they have responded. The Alumni weekend was great and he got a great reception from the fans. I think he was taken aback by it a little bit.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Seeing the football program as an asset and not as an impediment to success. I think it really bothered Capel and I suspect it bothered Kelvin a little more than he let on. I just don't see Kruger as being a big ego guy and I like the way he has ingratiated himself with within the athletic department as a whole...which is generally an indicator of future success [see Sheri Coale for best example of that]. Institutionally, OU has an opportunity to consistently be in the Top 25 of any sports in which it chooses to compete at the D-1 level, and for the most part it is. I think that CLK will have OU Basketball back to that level shortly.

 

[bocabull]

He's 59 and in the shape of a 35 year old. That is called leading by example.

 

[AdaSooner]

Honestly, I can't think of anything about Coach Kruger that hasn't impressed me. If I had to pick one, it's his communications skills. He seems to have the unique ability to connect with everyone he meets and make them feel special.

Believe me, few people can do that without coming across as phony as a politician's handshake on election day. That tells me Lon Kruger is the genuine article.

 

[thebigabd]

Putting players in the right spots.

 

[DenverSooner]

He's 59 and in the shape of a 35 year old. That is called leading by example.

I noticed that watching clips of practice. The guy is in substantially better physical shape than Capel was and he is well over 20 years older. It is pretty sad to watch how fat we are getting as a society.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I noticed that watching clips of practice. The guy is in substantially better physical shape than Capel was and he is well over 20 years older. It is pretty sad to watch how fat we are getting as a society.

I will say this in Capel's defense: He has Crohn's Disease and that can play havoc with the concept of 'eating right', depending upon what foods the patient has issues with. My mother suffers from it and there are few if any fresh fruits and veggies that she can eat.

 

[DenverSooner]

I had a friend with Crones. I know that is a pretty serious condition but when you look at society it sure seems like a lot of us must have Crones because are some fat people.

 

[Tydude]

he had all open practice and let the public watch it normally regular coaches will not let that happen

 

[Soonerman]

By far his communication and outreach to the fanbase. He and I have actually emailed back and forth over some things, and let me tell you, when a D1 basketball coach takes time out of his day to address concerns and tries to get something done with a student he's never met before, it leaves an impression.

I am ready for some Sooner basketball!!!

 

[Mutron76]

Putting players in the right spots.

Damn right. Newell was never able to get in to a groove and I felt he could have helped at the two. Its not like what we were running was working. Neal was probably where he had to be considering the team makeup last year but I sure wanted him on the floor more and out on the perimeter a little more.

 

[SoonerinNC]

Can do attitude.

Really in this day of shady dealings and NCAA mess ups it is refreshing to see someone who seems like a real person and who seems to do the right things and things right.

We may not have a great year but I think we will really enjoy the season.

Also seems to know talent and how to use it. Picking off M'Baye was a great move.

 

[OUhoops11]

Seeing the football program as an asset and not as an impediment to success. I think it really bothered Capel and I suspect it bothered Kelvin a little more than he let on. I just don't see Kruger as being a big ego guy and I like the way he has ingratiated himself with within the athletic department as a whole...which is generally an indicator of future success [see Sheri Coale for best example of that]. Institutionally, OU has an opportunity to consistently be in the Top 25 of any sports in which it chooses to compete at the D-1 level, and for the most part it is. I think that CLK will have OU Basketball back to that level shortly.

The football program itself did not bother Capel. It was pretty well documented that he loved OU football and used it extensively for recruiting. The thing that bothered him is that OU football fans would not support OU basketball. And certainly, taht bothered Kelvin as well.

 

[AdaSooner]

The football program itself did not bother Capel. It was pretty well documented that he loved OU football and used it extensively for recruiting. The thing that bothered him is that OU football fans would not support OU basketball. And certainly, taht bothered Kelvin as well.

Very true, OUhoops11. But Capel and Sampson made the mistake of letting fans know how much it bothered them. They tried to keep it to themselves, but were unable to hide their true feelings.

Remember the incident at a McDonald's when Blake was a freshman (or it could have been his sophomore year)? As I recall, it was a stopover in an Oklahoma town during a road trip to play Arkansas. Capel made it clear that he was not happy when fans in that town (don't remember the name now) failed to recognize the basketball team.

I'd bet my last dollar that Coach Kruger would have embraced the opportunity to talk to those fans and win them over before he was through. That's the difference in a mature reaction to something that gets under your skin, and one that only makes matters worse.

Capel did not endure himself to fans in Oklahoma. He did at first, but that went away after the initial attempt. I have no idea why? But we both know things began to change after the first two years. Much of what happened after that was his own fault. For one thing, he spent way too much time talking about Coach K and Duke. It was like the people in this state really cared about the Blue Devils or their coach.

 

[NickZepp]

I think he's done a better job of connecting with the fans and the former players. I'm sure Capel was okay with connecting with alumni and former players. But he really seemed isolated from the fans. Even though he had the twitter page it didn't seem like he really did anything with it. Kelvin and Billy really had fans behind them in their own ways. Capel really didn't have that. You don't see any posters anywhere saying JC got raw deal or that we made a mistake in firing him, nor do you see anyone wanting him back.

 

[StatGeek]

I have been pleased with everything I have seen, but what has really impressed me the most is his consistent effort & focus on involving students & fans. I think these efforts will really payoff over time and the culture of the LNC will be transformed as a result.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

FYI, Kruger came over and talked to myself and the 6 other students that were on the floor about 40 minutes before the game. Thought that was a really nice gesture.

 

[OKUman]

For me, for the first time in a long time the guys looked like they knew what to do and where to go on defense. Hell under the last coach they couldn't guard anyone, and yes I know that team is not as good as they will see, but it's a start. Knowing you assignment and keeping in good defensive position at all times goes a long way toward a better team.