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First-year University of Oklahoma head coach Pete Hughes isn't making any guarantees, but he likes the direction his young Sooners are going early this spring.
The Sooners had one of the nation's better clubs in 2013 with a 43-21 overall record and two of the country's best arms in righthander Jonathan Gray and lefthander Dillon Overton. Those two are gone this spring, and Hughes and the Sooners have had to compensate for those departures. As difficult as that might seem, OU is pleased with the progressions made by Corey Copping, Adam Choplick, and, especially freshman righthander Jake Elliott, who's been an instant impact arm.
Hughes also is pleased with the direction of the offense with surprising junior Mac James leading the charge, while the only major concern remaining is the defense, which has been shaky at times this spring.
We caught up with Hughes this week, and he discusses his overall club, the pitching staff, the offense, prospects, his and the program's transition into a new era, and much more.
Q: Moving across the country from Virginia Tech to Oklahoma, how has the transition been both from your standpoint, and the program?
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