Chat with Lon Kruger

Kruger has led his collegiate teams to the postseason in 17 of his last 21 seasons.
Welcome to SportsNation! On Wednesday, first-year Oklahoma head men's basketball coach Lon Kruger stops by to chat about the college basketball season.
Kruger has his Sooners standing 7-1 for Oklahoma's best start in three years, the last time Oklahoma made it to the NCAA tournament. Saturday's win 78-63 over Arkansas gave Kruger 486 wins in his 25-year career.
Kruger joined Oklahoma after seven seasons at UNLV, where he made four trips to the NCAA tournament.
Send your questions now and join Kruger Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET!
More Special Guests: Previous chats | SportsNation
Buzzmaster (2:20 PM)
Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger will be here at 2:30 p.m. ET to take your questions!
Buzzmaster (2:31 PM)
Coach is here!
Josh (Yukon, OK)
How are you liking Norman so far?
Lon Kruger (2:32 PM)
Loving Norman. My wife and I grew up in Kansas and it feels very familiar and comfortable. The people have been outstanding.
DougE (Mustang, OK)
What memory stands out the most from your time at Kansas State playing and/or coaching at Lloyd Noble against OU?
Lon Kruger (2:32 PM)
Not many fond memories, because Coach Tubbs' teams were good and hard to beat. Most significantly, just the respect we had for the OU teams and the great crowds the success they were having at that time.
Irv (VA)
Are you excited that the majority of your team and minutes being played will return for next year?
Lon Kruger (2:33 PM)
Very pleased by that. Always experience is valuable quality. For the most part our players are a year older and playing better. We'd expect that progress to continue this season and on to next season.
Andrew (Ridgefield, CT)
What is about this team that they were so quickly able to adapt to your style of coaching and translate that to wins on the court?
Lon Kruger (2:34 PM)
Most importantly, they've been able to generally work hard from Day 1. Not cutting corners. They've invested time before practice, after practice. They want a good basketball team and they understand how much work we have to do.
Josh (Yukon, OK)
How do you feel about recruiting guys who are viewed as "one and done"?
Lon Kruger (2:35 PM)
If they fit into our program, we'd love to have one and done players, as would most. If you have a quality of player like that that can go on to the NBA, most would want him. But also one that would fit into our program and want to get a degree.
Adam (Oklahoma)
Coach, with the future of OU bball looking bright, has there been any talk of renovations to LNC or a new arena?
Lon Kruger (2:36 PM)
Haven't heard much conversation about a new arena. Lloyd Noble has some age to it, but is still a really good college venue. It was built in the mid-1970s. A lot of new arenas have been built since. Some conversations, but nothing of significance.
Josh (Yukon, OK)
You and S. Pledger playing horse, who wins?
Lon Kruger (2:36 PM)
Pledger for sure! Especially if there is any movement involved.
Bob Stoops (Switzer Center)
Lon, If you had to pick one of my football players to play for you who would it be? And why?
Lon Kruger (2:37 PM)
A lot of very good athletes on the football team, I'm not familiar with their basketball abilities. We could use some more size, which I'm sure we could find on that football team.
Rory (oklahoma city)
Biggest influence on developing your coaching philosophy?
Lon Kruger (2:38 PM)
It starts with my parents. Growing up, they were outstanding. High school coach had a very good experience with him. I played for coach Hartman at Kansas State. Very fortunate to have mentors like that in your younger years. I couldn't ask for anything better.
Cory (Dallas, TX)
Everyone is talking about how your team is running on the offensive side. However, can you touch on the defensive philosophy that you and your coaching staff has?
Lon Kruger (2:39 PM)
Typically, we want to pressure the ball. We want to speed the opponent up as much as possible. This year, we've bounced back and forth with what this group is comfortable with. We've extended it and pulled back to provide some more congestion on the inside.
Jess (Norman,Ok)
Who has been the most pleasant surprise on the team so far
Lon Kruger (2:40 PM)
Their willingness to work has been great from day one. When you inherit a group, you like that. We like that they've been ready to work from the start. Their confidence is high and that re-enforces the hard work.
James (Norman)
What's your favorite Las Vegas show you saw in your seven years out there?
Lon Kruger (2:41 PM)
A lot of good shows in Vegas and we saw them all. Momma Mia was great. Jersey Boys is fantastic. You get to go down Cirque de Soleil in water is fantastic. You can go down the list a long way.
TC (Norman, America)
You have coached/played on many campus throughout the US. Leaving OU out of the mix who has the best facilities?
Lon Kruger (2:42 PM)
They've all had good facilities. Kansas State in the late 80s was new. Illinois was not new, but very traditional and a lot of history. UNLV is still the largest for sure, over 18,000 is a large number for a college campus.
John (norman)
How important is confidence in basketball?
Lon Kruger (2:43 PM)
Confidence may be as important as anything in athletics. Anyone who has played realizes you can't perform at your highest level if you don't have confidence. If you worry about mistakes or letting something go, you probably can't achieve what you can.
Sadieogrady (Del City )
They had you so busy when you first took the coaching position, did you ever get a break to go back to Las Vegas and get your stuff?
Lon Kruger (2:43 PM)
Still in the process. We're moving it here piece by piece. We'll get it all here by the first of the year.
Andrew (Ridgefield, CT)
You seem to give a lot of players minutes. Do you think that will continue to be the case as you get into Big12 play?
Lon Kruger (2:44 PM)
It will continue. A lot of guys step forward at separate times. They're working hard in practice and getting results. So we'll continue to play people.
Cory (Dallas, TX)
Most people thought one of the issues this year would be rebounding. What are you doing in practice that is helping this team come up with a great rebounding edge against your opponents?
Lon Kruger (2:45 PM)
Guys have focused on rebounding. There's comments and conversation about rebounding. The guards are doing a good job of getting in to rebound.
Curtis (FL)
Coach, I think we're all very excited about what we're seeing out of the team. What was the biggest change that you thought needed to be made with this group?
Lon Kruger (2:46 PM)
Not necessarily a change, but they have to trust each other, have confidence in each other. We always talk about doing things for others on the court. We're concerned more about WE than I.
Lon Kruger (2:47 PM)
Thanks for your participation! We love your support of the Sooners. If you're in the area, we'd love to have you stop by practice and meet the guys.
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