Oklahoma (5-0) played host to Maryland Eastern Shore (0-6) in the second leg of the Hall of Fame Classic campus rounds. The Sooners let the Hawks hang around much longer than they wanted to but pulled away late, winning 91-64.
OKLAHOMA IS NOT A FIRST HALF TEAM
The Sooners continue to play lackluster basketball in the opening 20 minutes and struggle to find their stroke from the floor. Oklahoma trailed The Shore 38-37 heading into halftime. Maryland Eastern Shore averaged 52.8 points a game coming into Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners blew a 12-point lead in the closing 8:35 of the first half, allowing The Shore to take the lead with 32 seconds remaining in the half.
“We would like to play all 40 minutes, we haven’t done that yet,” head coach Lon Kruger told reporters postgame. “So that’s probably going to be the focus (over) the next couple days in practice.”
KUR KUATH IS A PAINT SEALER
Kur Kuath put on a shot blocking performance you only see on instructional DVDs.
Securing three of the team’s six blocks, Kuath drew the awe of the crowd each time he swatted a ball from the air.
As he develops, Kuath will be a defensive weapon for the Sooners in the paint. For what he lacks in physicality, he makes up for in length by tenfold. His ability to go up and get a ball has to make Lincoln Riley wanting him as his next pass catcher.
THIS TEAM IS CLOSE OFF THE COURT
With the game well in hand, Kruger sent out some of the walk ons. Keller Casey, Blake Seacat and Read Streller all recording minutes tonight. Streller, a Bartlesville, Oklahoma, native, recorded his first career points on two foul shots.
“He’s been here for two years, been an awesome teammate for us,” Manek said about Streller postgame. “I live with him so I see him all the time. He’s my boy. Big Read … he knocked them down like it was nothing.”
Coach Kruger quickly chimed in, telling Manek that he “might have to change the rules around the house now,” drawing a laugh from both reporters and his players.
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