Catching up with Lon Kruger – pre Texas Tech Game 2

OU head coach Lon Kruger, left, and OSU head coach Travis Ford talk before the Bedlam men's college basketball game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and the University of Oklahoma Sooners at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla., Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Oklahoma has six games remaining in the regular season. Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger expects to see energy and continual progress, even if his team has seen three injuries in the last couple weeks.

Here’s this weeks’ transcript of catching up with the Sooners men’s basketball coach.

Media: Time to go back to work.

Kruger: Guys have done a good job all year of focusing on the next ball game and what you have to do. Tough loss. When you lead a ballgame most of the way and you got it in good shape to finish and it’s going to be tough and then to not finish, it hurts a little bit more. That’s a part of the game. There are going to be some of those during the year and the key is bouncing back from those better than you did the previous one.

 What’s the injury situation look like?

We’ve had a couple guys down here. Casey Arent is probably going to be sidelined for the rest of the season. He has a little strain. He and James (Fraschilla)’s back has been bad. He’s been trying to go but can’t. He’s probably going to be shut down for a while. Buddy’s making progress. He’ll be a while longer, as expected. So we’re down in numbers a little bit but guys are still working at it.

Did you see the energy and activity where you wanted it Saturday?

I thought we opened the game a little frantic. We had some shots early where we were shooting quick and not with the rhythm that you want. That happens with a rivalry-type game sometimes. I thought it was a really good fight. … I thought both teams were working hard at it and players on both sides were making plays.

Have you decided on a point guard for Wednesday?