Oklahoma players relieved to have a new coach in place

"I was in shock," said guard Steven Pledger. "I know we had two bad years, but I didn't think they'd get rid of him like that."

Three weeks later, Lon Kruger was introduced as OU's new coach at McCasland Field House, where Kruger played in the early 1970s wearing Kansas State purple.

"It's been kind of weird," said forward Tyler Neal. "I thought they'd give Coach Capel one more year. You have to take it and run with it. I didn't know much about Coach Kruger but have found out he's been to the (NCAA) Tournament a lot of times."

That was the common response among players Monday at the press conference officially introducing Kruger as Sooners coach.

Concerns were eased some when Kruger met with the team Sunday night. This afternoon, the Sooners will have their first practice.

Still, it was an unexpected change. Capel recruited everyone on the roster.

Romero Osby, a junior forward who sat out last season, transferred from Mississippi State because of Capel.

"I was pretty shocked with what happened," Osby said. "But I understand it's a business. It's not about me. It's about my teammates and the university and taking the basketball program to another level."

Kruger, 58, will be point guard Carl Blair's third coach in three seasons. Blair transferred to OU last year after New Orleans dropped to Division III.

"It's going to be different for all of us," Blair said. "We've talked about it among each other. We've been sitting around waiting two or three weeks to get a new coach. Now we know who's in charge. We're excited to get started."