Oklahoma Sooners Basketball: Interview with Kristian Doolittle
By Alex Eddy
We interviewed Oklahoma University forward Kristian Doolittle ahead of the team’s 2017-18 NCAA Basketball season
Kristian Doolittle is 6-foot-7 small forward for the Oklahoma Sooners. Doolittle averaged nine points and six rebounds in 25 minutes during his freshman season in Norman, Oklahoma.
With the 2017-18 NCAA Basketball season getting into full swing soon, I chatted with Oklahoma’s Kristian Doolittle to discuss his freshman season, his eagerness to get back on the court, and more.
Q: Last year, you had a really successful freshman season. You ranked fourth in points per game for the Sooners, second in rebounds, and you led the team in 3-point field goal percentage. With the way that the basketball game today is transitioning, do you think versatility is the most impressive part of your game?
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Doolittle: Yeah, definitely. Being able to transition from guarding guys larger than me and then being able to create my own off the dribble or getting my own shot off with people smaller than me. So, with my size, I’m kind of in the middle of being between a bigger guard or forward or a wing, so I really can do all three. And that’s what I take pride in, that’s what I work on non-stop. I work out everyday from 8 to 3, so I have been working on my game a lot. And I am just excited to start playing.
Q: You had a really successful season individually, so did some of your teammates, but collectively as a team, you guys had a down year for your program. 11-20 was the record for the year. Do you think it was kind of a rebuilding year, and how was the morale around the team having this type of season?
Doolittle: Well, coming in from offseason, we felt really confident that we were going to be able to put out a better record than what we did last year, So, it humbled ourselves because we all had high expectations, but you know, a team that really hasn’t played with each other, new teammates (and everyone else was relatively new to playing), so the chemistry wasn’t there at the beginning of the year. And, we lost a lot of close games, and we would lose leads, so it just showed that we didn’t have someone who would step up for us.
Jordan Woodard got hurt and he was really a go-to guy for us. But now, we’ve all had a year to play with each other, the chemistry is there for sure, we know our own tendencies, and then we know our teammates’ tendencies.
Q: Unfortunately, you are suspended for the fall semester (academics). Can you maybe think of one thing you can point to and say, this is what led to my academic issues, or is it a multitude (a build-up) of things over time?
Doolittle: I would say it was a multitude of things. With OU, you really get two chances. Two chances for academic integrity violation. And I made the same mistake twice, so it was really nothing I could do about that. I had to write a paragraph. I could have taken it to a trial, but then potentially, I could have placed a further suspension. And I get back December 9th, so it’s not really a full semester. Originally, I was supposed to come back January 15th, but I guess they switched to December 9th, so my first game will be at Wichita State.
Q: Now, how involved are you with the team? Practices, workouts with your teammates and that sort of thing.
Doolittle: I’m not at the practices or the workouts, but I do see my teammates from time to time. I’ll be playing pickup from time to time, just whenever I feel like driving down on the weekends, if my workout schedule doesn’t interfere with it. I keep in touch with all the guys, we are all close. It’s not like I don’t hear from them or anything.
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Q: Is there any sort of vibe you can sense with Trae Young coming in, and how excited everyone is with him coming to Norman?
Doolittle: Yeah, everyone is really excited. He deserves it, you know, he puts in a lot of work. Being one of the top recruits in Oklahoma history, in terms of the University. So, everyone has hope again in Oklahoma basketball, since our disappointing season last year. So, him coming creates a new buzz for OU basketball, and with the improvement of everyone else on the team. So, we are excited for the year, we have high expectations for ourselves, and a very different mentality. And we are taking it more seriously than we did last year.
Q: Is there a part of Trae’s game that maybe the average fan doesn’t know about, that they will be able to see this year?
Doolittle: He’s a great passer. You know, he’s rather known for his scoring ability. He looks for his shot, but then he’s always looking for the next pass, if he doesn’t create for himself. But at the same time, when he creates for himself, he’s creating for others. And that’s just hard to stop. He needs someone’s attention on defense. He really makes it easier for everyone else.
Q: You’re from Oklahoma, Trae is from Oklahoma, is there a pressure when you guys are growing up to play for the Sooners? How does it work growing up in Oklahoma, and that basketball program is in the back of your head all the time?
Doolittle: Yeah, I have been playing with Trae since I was in 3rd grade. So, we go way back. Being from Edmond, we are kind of in between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, so those are the two schools that everyone is looking at. You know, you go to the football games on Saturdays, and either you go up North, or you go down South, so it is really split. But, there is really no pressure going to an in-state school. They would ask from time to time about OU, if it was known that they were recruiting you, ask you about it and everything. Because most of the people went to OU.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to a student-athlete when it comes to balancing academics and whether it is basketball or another sport, what is the biggest thing you can think of and say this should be the number one priority?
Doolittle: Take advantage of the tutor sessions that are given. There are plenty of times to study, even when it seems like there won’t be any. The Academic Center at OU is open all the time. There may not be anyone to work there with you, but it’s just a way to get away, get whatever you need to get done, like studying for tests and all that stuff.
Q: Favorite activity in Norman to do outside of basketball?
Doolittle: I like going to Pickleman’s on the corner. The campus corner, that is where all my activities are. I like going and getting a barbecue chicken pizza.
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After reaching the Final Four in the 2015-2016 season, the Sooners had a disappointing year in 2016-2017. With Trae Young and other recruits coming to Norman, along with established players improving their game, Oklahoma will look to get back to the NCAA tournament.
There is no doubt that Kristian Doolittle will have an incredible impact on the court when he is back, and there is no doubt that he cannot wait to suit up and to start playing again.