OU Announces It Will Televise Preseason Basketball Practices

Last year the Oklahoma men's basketball team opened up its gym doors to fans when it streamed its preseason practices on the Internet. Now the OU Athletics Department has something new in store for its men's and women's basketball teams and fans this preseason – live television.

Starting Oct. 3, four OU basketball practices (two men's and two women's) will be televised live in HD on Sooner Sports TV while also being streamed live on the Internet. Thursday's first installment of the "OU Sooner Practice Report" will showcase Lon Kruger's men's squad and feature an up-close-and-personal feel.

Four cameras will be utilized during the shows to bring viewers an inside look at Oklahoma practice: one mid-court high cam, two center-hung high robo cams and one on-court cam. Kruger and women's head coach Sherri Coale will wear microphones during the workouts.

The basketball practice shows will air live from 2 to 3 p.m. CT the first four Thursdays in October on FOX Sports Oklahoma and nationally on FOX College Sports Central. The shows will be streamed live on SoonerSports.tv from 2-4 p.m. CT. Men's practices will air Oct. 3 and 17, while women's practices will be shown Oct. 10 and 24.

"We are so thankful to our coaches for allowing such unprecedented access to practice and to FOX for allowing fans all over the nation to experience what our student-athletes go through as our teams prepare for the season," said Brandon Meier, OU's assistant athletics director for broadcast operations.

"Going live will create a few challenges on the production side, but we wanted to give fans a raw, unedited look into our programs. What an exciting way to start the OU basketball season, which will feature 24 men's and women's telecasts on Sooner Sports TV."

Sooner Sports TV reporter Jessica Coody will host all four practice shows. She will be joined on the men's shows by OU radio analyst Mike Houck, and on the women's shows by former OU player Lyndsey Cloman.

Men's and women's basketball season tickets, single-game tickets and mini-plans are now on sale at the OU Athletics Ticket Office. Fans may call (800) 456-4668 or visit SoonerSports.com for more information or to order.