Backgrounder ou men’s Basketball

Backgrounder OU Men’s Basketball

Overview:
The University of Oklahoma Men’s Basketball team is striving for the first National Championship. Through practice and study tables team members are able to learn about basketball as well as advance their academic careers. The team is able to not only provide entertainment to spectators, but also to learn key values as individuals. The goal for athletes is to develop their basketball skills while also developing character.
“Basketball at OU gives a sense of pride not only to the athletes and coaching staff participating in the sport, but also to other students and sports fans.” Head Coach Lon Kruger stated. The OU men’s team claims 21 Conference Titles as well as 26 trips to the NCAA Tournament. They have made it to the final four of the tournament four times, the most recent being in 2002. The OU men’s team has also competed for the National Championship twice, in 1947 and 1988.
The OU men’s team is also a strong financial presence on campus. They are the second largest contributor of revenue, coming in only behind football, among athletic programs. They are also featured on national television multiple times a year providing great publicity for the university.
Each player, coach, and staff member of the University of Oklahoma is governed by one simple mission statement. “The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department inspires champions today and prepares leaders for tomorrow by providing an excellent environment to enable student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal aspirations.” Members of the organization challenge each other to be champions on and off the court.
OU has many other sports programs available for students to participate in as well as for sports fans to enjoy. The university has 21 NCAA recognized sporting events, the most popular of which is football. Competing with the men’s basketball team for recognition is the women’s basketball team, baseball, softball, gymnastics, track and field, rowing, and many other sports. However, according to the fiscal revenue statement from the 2011-2012 school year, men’s basketball is one of the two sports on campus, along with football, that make more money than it costs to run for the University.

History:
OU started its first men’s basketball team in 1907; they had seven games and were over 500 for the season. In 1928, they won their first Conference title in the Old Mountain Valley Conference. In 1939, OU made their first showing in the NCAA tournament and made it to the Final Four. OU played Holy Cross in their first NCAA Championship game, in 1947. OU played their last NCAA National Championship Game against Kansas, in 1988. The last time OU men’s basketball has participated in the NCAA tournament was in 2009.

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  lkruger@ou.edu
  
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  (405) 325-4732
  
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  Twitter @LonKruger
  

Biography:

Fact Sheet:

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  In 1907, the University of Oklahoma started the first men’s basketball team.
  
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  The University of Oklahoma men’s basketball team won their first conference title in 1928. They played in the Old Mountain Valley Conference.
  
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  From 1929-1947, the University of Oklahoma won six conference titles in the Big 6 conference.
  
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  The University of Oklahoma had its first showing in the NCAA tournament in 1939 and made it to the Final Four.
  
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  In 1947, the University of Oklahoma played in its first National Championship game against the Holy Cross University.
  
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  In 1949, the University of Oklahoma won a conference title in the Big 7 conference.
  
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  From 1979-1990, the University of Oklahoma won six conference titles in the Big 8 conference.
  
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  The University of Oklahoma playing in their second National Championship game in 1988, against Kansas University.
  
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  From 2001 to currently the University of Oklahoma has won four conference titles in the Big 12 conference.
  
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  In 2002, the University of Oklahoma played in its last showing of the Final Four in the NCAA tournament.
  

Players Successes from the University of Oklahoma Basketball Team

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  From 1910-2009, 30 Sooners have been honored with All-American Awards.
  
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  45 former Sooners have been drafted into the NBA, from 1949-2010.
  
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  From 1982-1997, the University of Oklahoma has had 38 players join the 1,000-point club, scoring at least 1,000 points in their careers at OU.
  
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  Four players from the University of Oklahoma have had their jerseys honored, from 1997-2008.
  

Recent Season Records of the University of Oklahoma

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  The University of Oklahoma 2012-13 season results were 20 wins and 12 losses.
  
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  The University of Oklahoma 2011-12 season results were 15 wins and 16 losses.
  
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  The University of Oklahoma 2010-11 season results were 14 wins and 18 losses.
  
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  The University of Oklahoma 2008-09 season results were 30 wins and 6 losses.
  
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  Infographics
  

Works Cited