Oklahoma basketball: Newcomers could make things different for Sooners this season

"They both go," Pledger said. "They go after it."

Hield said Pledger made the freshman aware that they haven't been able to leave a mark on the Sooners program and they need this to be the year that it changes.

Hield called it a learning process. It's something that's being built — brick-by-brick. That's what Kruger is known for doing with programs — that's what he did at UNLV and the four other programs before that he helped rebuild.

Within four years of taking over those five programs, Kruger led them to winning seasons — and all to an eventual 20-win season.

That's also how Grooms knows this season will be different from the last three. They have the pieces — the big guys, the athletic ability, the defense. Now, all they need to do is start to showing everyone just how Kruger's tools helped.

"You want to be a part of something that is rebuilding," Grooms said. "You don't want to be a part of something that's always been there.

"I was looking the other day that we had a 15-16 season last year. With the ability we have, we can get above 20 this year. That's a point guard's dream. I want to win 20 games. I want us to win.

"It's like a dream."