Was at a dinner last night and Coach Underwood, Larry Reece and others were there. Several people spoke. I thought I would share as much info as I could remember. Ibarules may have more to add.....he is younger and has a better memory....just not as good looking as me.
First...Larry Reece told a great story. Some of the info has been out before. Holder asked Larry to go to Tulsa (Larry and the Sutton's have remained close) and ask Eddie and Sean who they would recommend. They recommended Brad Underwood. Then Sean told Larry he wanted to again connect with OSU and it was time to heal. Larry asked if he could bring Holder back over to meet and that is what happened. I think there has been a lot of healing.
Underwood was pursued by UNLV, but turned them down. He didn't know about OSU. He told his agent he wasn't taking calls and really had to interest in moving again. Then he got a call from his AD who told him Mike Holder called and asked permission to talk. That changed everything. The day after his team lost in the NCAA (Notre Dame got very lucky) an OSU plane picked him and his wife up and headed to Stillwater. The agreement was made that day. He went back and told the AD and his team and got back on the plane and headed to Stillwater.
You can tell his respect for Iba and Sutton is tremendous. As a player and coach he has never been in GIA when it wasn't packed. That has to again be the case. He is doing everything to get 4,500 students to the games. He said the reason we have beaten KU 4 straight is that those games the house is full.
While playing in college at KSU Jack Hartman told him to introduce himself to Iba. He wasn't very good defensively. Iba asked him if he knew how to anticipate and move his feet? Problem was from that day forward Hartman yelled "drop that damn trailer and move your feet".
He wants this year to be about seniors Hammonds and Forte. He thinks we can be pretty good. Even Sweet 16. Said this might be KU's best team.......lot's of experience and probably the best player in the country. He picked WV second....said Huggins thinks he is really good and he never says that. He and Huggins are really close. He said Texas has great talent. Texas Tech returns the most scoring. Said maybe after the first 2 it is wide open.
On the freshman.
Averette-really goes after Evans. Going to be good, but might drive you crazy. Only 5-10, but he might dunk over everyone or throw it up in the stands.
Dziagwa-needs to gain some weight, but is a tremendous shooter with good upside.
McGriff-said he plays really hard and weighs 235 pounds. Has the body and lot's of ability. He will play a bunch.
N'Guessan-has some ability, but needs 25 pounds.
Waters-you can tell he thinks he is going to be great...maybe even play in the NBA. 6'6 with great skill and understanding of the game. Might move to PG next season.
Of course his son Tyler Underwood is a walkon and so is a guy named Trey Reeves from Gans, Oklahoma.
I'm sure I will remember more later.
First...Larry Reece told a great story. Some of the info has been out before. Holder asked Larry to go to Tulsa (Larry and the Sutton's have remained close) and ask Eddie and Sean who they would recommend. They recommended Brad Underwood. Then Sean told Larry he wanted to again connect with OSU and it was time to heal. Larry asked if he could bring Holder back over to meet and that is what happened. I think there has been a lot of healing.
Underwood was pursued by UNLV, but turned them down. He didn't know about OSU. He told his agent he wasn't taking calls and really had to interest in moving again. Then he got a call from his AD who told him Mike Holder called and asked permission to talk. That changed everything. The day after his team lost in the NCAA (Notre Dame got very lucky) an OSU plane picked him and his wife up and headed to Stillwater. The agreement was made that day. He went back and told the AD and his team and got back on the plane and headed to Stillwater.
You can tell his respect for Iba and Sutton is tremendous. As a player and coach he has never been in GIA when it wasn't packed. That has to again be the case. He is doing everything to get 4,500 students to the games. He said the reason we have beaten KU 4 straight is that those games the house is full.
While playing in college at KSU Jack Hartman told him to introduce himself to Iba. He wasn't very good defensively. Iba asked him if he knew how to anticipate and move his feet? Problem was from that day forward Hartman yelled "drop that damn trailer and move your feet".
He wants this year to be about seniors Hammonds and Forte. He thinks we can be pretty good. Even Sweet 16. Said this might be KU's best team.......lot's of experience and probably the best player in the country. He picked WV second....said Huggins thinks he is really good and he never says that. He and Huggins are really close. He said Texas has great talent. Texas Tech returns the most scoring. Said maybe after the first 2 it is wide open.
On the freshman.
Averette-really goes after Evans. Going to be good, but might drive you crazy. Only 5-10, but he might dunk over everyone or throw it up in the stands.
Dziagwa-needs to gain some weight, but is a tremendous shooter with good upside.
McGriff-said he plays really hard and weighs 235 pounds. Has the body and lot's of ability. He will play a bunch.
N'Guessan-has some ability, but needs 25 pounds.
Waters-you can tell he thinks he is going to be great...maybe even play in the NBA. 6'6 with great skill and understanding of the game. Might move to PG next season.
Of course his son Tyler Underwood is a walkon and so is a guy named Trey Reeves from Gans, Oklahoma.
I'm sure I will remember more later.
