Sutton's New Best Friend Helping Toughen Up Cowboys

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Sean Sutton thought he got too soft on his Oklahoma State players once attrition started to take its toll in his first season as head coach. <br/><br/>Upon arriving at training

Friday, November 2nd 2007, 7:44 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Sean Sutton thought he got too soft on his Oklahoma State players once attrition started to take its toll in his first season as head coach.

Upon arriving at training camp in year two of Sutton's tenure, they met his newest assistant coach: The treadmill. The introduction wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.

Placed at one end of the practice court, the treadmill awaits any player that breaks one of Sutton's cardinal rules.

The treadmill provides the kind of discipline Sutton probably couldn't afford to institute late last season, when a series of dismissals and early defections left the Cowboys short-handed. An injury to guard Obi Muonelo only made things worse.

The offseason brought the early departure of guard JamesOn Curry to the NBA and the exit of all three of Oklahoma State's primary post players from last season. Mario Boggan, the team's leading scorer, and David Monds finished their eligibility and Kenny Cooper transferred.

Sutton brought in reinforcements in the form of a seven-man recruiting class, immediately making the Cowboys a much deeper and younger squad.