OU basketball: Coach Lon Kruger likes getting a chance to work with players during summer

The measure, approved in January, allows student-athletes enrolled in summer school to work with their coaches for up to two hours per day, eight hours per week.

“Even more importantly, perhaps, than working with them is that ability to be around them,” Kruger said during Thursday's Big 12 coaches teleconference. “Especially with the new guys coming in, to establish that relationship and maintain that contact consistency throughout the summer.

“Sometimes during the summer, you don't really see them that often. This will give us the opportunity to do that on a more consistent basis and I think as important as the coaching aspect with the basketball is just the time you're spending with them.”

M'BAYE READY TO PLAY

Forward Amath M'Baye made lots of progress during his season off last year, and might start for the Sooners as a junior, Kruger said.

M'Baye, from France, played two seasons at Wyoming before transferring to Oklahoma last April.

As a sophomore at Wyoming, he started 31 games, averaging 12 points and 5.7 rebounds.

“Amath took good advantage of that year in just expanding his game,” Kruger said. “At Wyoming, his real strength was that midrange wide post-up. He worked really hard at improving his ball handling and his ability to make plays off the dribble.”