After having their entire season cancelled over the course of mere hours, Lon Kruger finally had an opportunity to speak to the media via teleconference to take a peek behind the curtain of the Sooners past 48-72 hours.
“This is uncharted waters,” Kruger told media members Friday evening. “It’s a crazy time, it’s unsettling, it’s a little bit scary.”
Due to the pandemic outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Big 12 and NCAA went from fanless games at their respective tournaments to the full cancellation of the tournaments in less than a day. The Sooners left Kansas City Thursday morning after learning that the Big 12 Tournament cancelled the remainder of the men’s and women’s tournaments less than 24-hours after commissioner Bob Bowlsby made the announcement that the Big 12 would play their tournament games in front of a limited crowd of family and essential personnel. Just hours before the team was supposed to play six-seeded West Virginia, Oklahoma was on their way back to Norman, Okla.
“On the ride home, we learn that the NCAA Tournament was cancelled,” Kruger said Friday. “They handled it well…They totally understand the gravity of the situation and they understand that the primary concern is the health and safety of student-athletes and the staff and the fans.”
Of course, everyone’s season came to an abrupt end but for one Sooner, his entire collegiate career ended under circumstances nobody could have predicted.
Kristian Doolittle, the lone senior on the team, posted a good-bye to Sooners fans via social media after learning that his days of playing in crimson and cream were officially over.
“In Kristian’s case, you compliment him on all he’s accomplished and thank him for all he’s contributed,” Kruger said. “It’s disappointing that he’s not going to be able to finish it with actual participation.”
With all of the uncertainty that lies ahead of not just the Big 12 or the NCAA, but the nation and the entire world, Kruger told media throughout the interview that he believes the decision to cancel all of the post-season for basketball was the right call.
“Of course, there’s a disappointment of not being able to continue to participate, but it pales by comparison in significance of the event,” said Kruger. “What’s going on worldwide is much much much more significant than our disappointment to not being able to play.”
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