Oklahoma State University Athletics
Motivated Offseason For Cowboy Hoops Team
July 08, 2015 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – Most college students wouldn't be too excited if their alarm clock went off at 6 a.m. every day, especially if it meant lifting weights, an agility workout or pounding the steps of Boone Pickens Stadium.
But most college students aren't Oklahoma State senior guard Jeff Newberry. He and his Cowboy basketball teammates happily kissed their summers goodbye in favor of gut-wrenching hard work.
"When we lost in the NCAA Tournament last year it left a really sour taste in our mouths," Newberry said. "That's what's fueling me this offseason. This is my senior year and Phil Forte's senior year, and we're just trying to lead this team. We have a ton of younger, talented guys, and I'm making it my mission to get all of them ready for the season. What's making it easier is that all of these young guys want it just as bad as we do."
Per NCAA rules, the Cowboys are allowed to spend eight structured hours working out each week during the summer. Those eight hours are typically split into two hours on court with the coaching staff and six hours with strength and conditioning coach Jake Manzelmann.
Each day begins at 7 a.m. with a quick agility workout to improve coordination – both hand-eye and footwork. The team will often jump rope, run cone drills, race through hopscotch-like ladder exercises, or even catch and chase tennis balls during these agility workouts.
Conditioning is an important aspect of college basketball, so running is key component of the agility workouts. Sometimes the agility workout is substituted with a team sprint or stadium stair run.
That session is immediately followed by a weights workout that is tailored to each player's needs. Guards and posts do different things on the court, so their weights routine is meant to maximize their potential.
After a shower, the student-athletes head to class for the rest of the morning. They also have plenty of time to get a study hall session in at the Academic Center located in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Their afternoons are spent on court either with the coaching staff or on their own. Each position group will have individual workouts to hone their skills, and once a week the entire team can get together for a practice.
"It's a ton of work, but coach loves to tell us that luck is when preparation meets opportunity," Newberry said. "We want to be prepared for our opportunity this season."
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