Oklahoma State University Athletics
Q and A with head Coach Eddie Sutton
August 14, 1999 | Cowboy Basketball
Aug. 14, 1999
Can the team carry its momentum from the end of 1998-99 over to the start of the 1999-2000?
I hope it continues. I think it can, and I hope it does. Every season's a new season, though. You never know with young people from day to day what their attitude is. But I would think we'd have to be pretty optimistic the way we played. We'll miss Adrian Peterson, but we have a good nucleus returning, plus we're going to get some help with some of the new players.
The past couple of seasons have seen OSU carry a deep backcourt and a somewhat thin front line. This season, that trend appears to have reversed itself, although the bulk of the teams experienced players are on the perimeter.
We'll be much deeper up front, but it's true that we have more experience with our guards. It's very possible that if those big guys prove that they belong in the starting lineup, we could play with three guys on the perimeter and two big guys, but we could still go with Doug, Joe, Glendon, Desmond and one big guy. Until you get them out there and practice, I dont think you can make that determination.
What are the team's goals for the upcoming year?
You always have a goal of trying to win the conference championship and getting into the NCAA Tournament. But I think the Big 12 is going to be a lot stronger this year because most of the teams were pretty young a year ago. From top to bottom, there's no doubt that its going to be a much better conference.
How do you feel about the construction on Gallagher-Iba Arena?
Everyone's really excited, and it will be wonderful when its completed. Everybody's going to have to be patient, because it will be a bit of a road block during the season. But when it's finished next season, it will be a fantastic facility.
What effect will the changes to your coaching staff have?
We lost two excellent coaches in Paul Graham and Randall Dickey, but I think Jimmy Williams and Kyle Keller will do a wonderful job for us. Jimmy, in particular, gives us something maybe that we havent had. Hes worked with a lot of big people at a lot of the different places hes been, and I think thats a real plus.
Talk about your expectations for Desmond Mason next year.
I think that, going into the season with the way he finished last season, he would have to be the one that you'd say is our most promising prospect. But when you look at Joe Adkins, Desmond and Doug Gottlieb are all players who have proven themselves.
Doug Gottlieb set all kinds of conference and school records for assists last season. Do you expect more of the same from him in his senior year?
He's a great passer, a marvelous passer. He has the ability to deliver the ball to the right people at the right time, and we have some people who can finish well in broken-floor situations. If he improves his shooting, he can be an very good player.
Do you expect Joe Adkins and Glendon Alexander to handle the scoring load lost by Adrian Petersons graduation?
Joe ought to have a better year. With Peterson not being here, I think hell be called upon to get a few more shots, although Glendon will certainly get a few as well. Glendon played great in the Big 12 Tournament.
Do you expect Alex Webber's improvement to continue, and who will lead the newly bulked-up front line?
He played well the last 10 games of the season, and if he plays like that, I'll be happy. He'll have some competition, though, with Andre Williams, Jason Keep and Roy Candley. I'll tell you somebody who played well for us last year, and I expect it to continue, and that's Brian Montonati. Fredrik Jnzn has been playing in Sweden this summer, and hes excited about coming back, so I hope he's able to help us. For the time he played, I thought his defensive rebounding was really good last year. Andre is really a good shot-blocker, and he doesnt lack for confidence.
Your only newcomer in the backcourt is Daniel Lawson.
I think Lawson has a chance to help us. He was pretty highly recruited. Hes a pretty good athlete, so I think he has a chance to play, but hes a really good shooter.
