Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

January 14, 2013

BIG 12 MEN'S BB: Sooners headed in right direction

JOHN SHINN CNHI News Services

NORMAN — It’s been years since an Oklahoma basketball team truly progressed throughout a season. Since Blake Griffin left following the 2009 season, the three teams that followed were worn down to a nub by the rigors of Big 12 Conference.



What happens in February and March will ultimately decide if that string is over. But the Sooners’ 77-68 victory over Oklahoma State Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center was a display of how far they’ve progressed this season.



Winning wasn’t shocking, but OU holding off its Bedlam rival was.



The offensive execution was exactly what Sooner coach Lon Kruger was looking for: lots of layups and wide open 3-pointers that came within the design of the offense.



“We’re shooting the ball a lot better,” Kruger said.



Statistically, it could have been better. OU only shot 43.1 percent for the game. But going 8-for-13 from 3-point range and 19-for-21 from the free-throw line was impressive.



The offensive improvement didn’t start on Saturday. The victory was more than OU’s fourth straight, it was the third time in the last four games the Sooners (11-3, 2-0 Big 12) have scored at least 70 points.



Games like Saturday’s have been rare for a team that got off to a hot start by winning defensive struggles.



But several things have started to click in the last two weeks. One is typical for college basketball teams. The holiday break allows gives teams about three weeks without school and that time is heavily spent in the practice gym.



The Sooners have gotten crisper on the offensive end in their last four games because of the extra work.



Forward Amath M’Baye is the prime example. He scored 15 points Saturday on 5-for-9 shooting and none of the shots looked forced. In mid December, the junior seemed to be lost on the floor.



“I’m starting to feel great,” he said. “Just the fact that I’m able to work with my teammates and my teammates are able to work with me. I take issue to make sure I know every play or philosophy to know where the ball is supposed to go. I think that I’m start to feel real comfortable in it.”



It was M’Baye’s alley-oop dunk off an inbounds play with 4 minutes left that stretched OU’s lead out to 13 points and put the game away.



It was a play OU looks for every time it inbounds the ball underneath its basket, but involves timing and reading the defense and all the other things that come with extended time on the court.



OU made them throughout the game.



The 17 points Romero Osby finished with were typical. The 15 points from freshman guard Buddy Hield were not. He was 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Freshman guard Je’lon Hornbeak was 2-for-2 from beyond the arc before twisting his ankle midway through the second half.



There are still other pieces that can fall into place. Guard Sam Grooms and forward Cameron Clark were the only bench players to score. OU won despite its bench being outscored 21-11. It was one of the few times that’s happened all season. Forwards Andrew Fitzgerald, Tyler Neal and guard Isaiah Cousins are capable of more than they showed Saturday afternoon.



“I think the depth is a big key,” Kruger said. We have veteran guys coming off the bench, and last year we didn’t quite have that ability to sustain anything good that we had going. We have Andrew, and Sam came in today and plays great in a critical stage, and I think Cousins is a talented freshman that is going to get better and better. Cameron is doing a great job off the bench, as well as Tyler Neal, a veteran guy, coming in. That depth is important in sustaining good play.”



Until that all starts to click, the ceiling isn’t going to get in the way.



In that sense, OU’s right where it hoped it would be in the middle of January.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • DSC_0047web.jpg Verdigris’ Hanslovan commits to ORU

    One of the biggest decisions of her upcoming senior year is finally behind Verdigris High School soccer standout Caitlyn Hanslovan.
    The four-year letterwinner and three-time Class 4A state champion forward announced Tuesday that she will commit to playing NCAA Division I soccer at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa.

    May 22, 2013 2 Photos

  • DSC_0209web.jpg RSU's Loy earns third-straight Academic All American honor

    Rogers State senior outfielder Katrina Loy was named to the Capital One Academic All-America College Division Softball Third Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • DSC_0202web.jpg Area players earn All-Region baseball awards

    The awards keep piling up for Verdigris High School graduate Blake Battenfield.
    After being named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Large East team earlier this week, Battenfield and numerous other players from Rogers County earned OCA All-Region accolades.
    Battenfield was joined by his teammate, Ryan Hurd, who was a senior outfielder/shortstop for the three-time Class 3A state champion Verdigris Cardinals.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • RSU's Reyes, Apolinar compete in NAIA Track/Field National Championships

    Rogers State student-athletes Oscar Reyes and Maria Apolinar will compete in the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships which are set to take place in Marion, Ind., from May 23–25.

    May 23, 2013

  • Wal-Mart FLW anglers head to Grand Lake

    The Walmart FLW Tour on Grand Lake presented by Castrol will visit the Grove, Okla., area June 6-9 for the fifth event of its 18th season. Hosted by the Grand Lake Association, the tournament will feature a full field of the world’s best bass pros and co-anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 cash in the Co-angler Division.

    May 23, 2013

  • OU, OSU, Tulsa join forces on 2013 Oklahoma Disaster Reliefs Shirts

    The University of Oklahoma has partnered with Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa to utilize logos from all three institutions to develop the 2013 Oklahoma Disaster Relief Shirt. Net proceeds from the sale of the shirts will be donated directly to the United Way to aid disaster relief and recovery efforts across the state of Oklahoma.

    May 23, 2013

  • Strong offseason raises bar for Tulsa Shock

    Are the pieces finally falling in place for the Tulsa Shock?
    Time will tell, but if the preseason prognostications of the league's general managers are any indication, Tulsa finally looks like a playoff contender. A survey found the Shock as the WNBA's most improved team.

    May 23, 2013

  • LeBron, Heat top Pacers in Game 1 of East Finals

    It could have been the perfect matchup to cap an unforgettable game. LeBron James driving to the rim to face Roy Hibbert, one play to decide Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

    May 23, 2013

  • MLB: Francona expects emotional return to Fenway Park

    Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona is bracing for a lump in his throat and maybe a tear or two.
    He's going back to Boston.
    For the first time as an opposing manager, Francona will walk into famed Fenway Park to face the Red Sox, the team he led to two World Series titles during eight seasons.

    May 23, 2013

  • MLB: Rockies option Rutledge to Triple-A Colorado Springs

    The Colorado Rockies have optioned infielder Josh Rutledge to Triple-A Colorado Springs, with outfielder Michael Cuddyer potentially coming off the disabled list Friday.

    May 23, 2013