Tag: Brady Manek

3 takeaways from Oklahoma’s 82-80 win over North Texas

Oklahoma (7-1) rode out the rollercoaster that was North Texas (3-6) with Kristian Doolittle calling “game” with just seconds on the clock.

Oklahoma (7-1) rode out the rollercoaster that was North Texas (3-6) with Kristian Doolittle calling “game” with just seconds left on the clock. The 82-80 victory means a short bus ride home to Norman for the Sooners. Here is three takeaways from the win over the Mean Green.

DOOLITTLE IS THE MAN

Senior forward Kristian Doolittle did a lot tonight. finishing with 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Doolittle hit the eventual game-winner with 13.5 seconds left in the game. Doolittle stretched the floor nailing all three of his three-point attempts. It is clear that the team’s performance depends on Doolittle and that he can carry a team through the ebbs and flows of the game.

DE’VION HARMON HOMECOMING

The freshman guard from Denton, Texas got to play in a familiar arena tonight.  Living just 10 minutes from the North Texas campus, Harmon found himself in familiar territory against the Mean Green. Harmon, who battled foul trouble all night, finished the game with a quiet 11 points and only one assist. It may have been nerves as he played in front of his hometown for the first time since high school but Harmon was almost forgettable in the win.

WHERE DID EVERYONE GO?

Outside of Doolittle, Austin Reaves was the only other noticeable presence on the floor for Oklahoma. Reaves’ 22 points keeps him on pace as the Sooners’ leading scorer for the season. Brady Manek did seal the deal for Oklahoma, splitting free throws at the end of the game and finishing with 16 points. Outside of the big three, there were not any Sooners that stood out. Only two of Oklahoma’s 82 points came off the bench via Jalen Hill. The Sooners continue to struggle behind the line, going 9-24 tonight.

Oklahoma’s next game is next Saturday, December 14 as they head up to Wichita, Kansas to play Wichita State. Tip-off is set for 5p.m. CT and can be found on ESPN2.

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3 takeaways from Oklahoma’s 77-66 win over Missouri

After a total disaster last night, losing to Stanford (8-0), 73-54, Oklahoma (6-1) came back tonight against Missouri (4-3)…

A tale of two nights.

After a total disaster last night, losing to Stanford (8-0), 73-54, Oklahoma (6-1) came back tonight against Missouri (4-3), dominating for the most part of the night and coming away with a 77-66 win.

Here are three takeaways from tonight’s Sooners performance.

REAVES IS FUN

Transfer junior guard, Austin Reaves is fun to watch but has to be a nightmare to guard. Leading all scorers with 19 points, Reaves torched torched the Tigers with 10 rebounds, three assists and a steal before fouling out late in the game.

Reaves’ production has been a catalyst for Oklahoma so far this season.

THE SOONERS FINALLY STARTED HOT

FINALLY.

Oklahoma had a night and day difference in shooting the ball from last night to tonight. After going scoreless for over six minutes against Stanford on Monday, Kruger’s crew came out shooting lights out.

Brady Manek was four of four from deep before the under 16 media timeout, giving him 12 points before the first commercial. Manek cooled off, finishing with 17 points, one rebound and one assist.

EVERYBODY SCORES

Okay, maybe not everybody but it was close.

Kur Kuath was the only Sooner tonight that saw the floor and did not score. Eight Oklahoma players recorded at least one point and four of those eight recorded 10 or more.

Having multiple guys that can put the ball in the basket will be a huge benefit as the season progresses. Unlike seasons past, if the Sooners have multiple guys that can put up 12 or more, Oklahoma will be in great shape come conference play as teams cannot key in on just one or two guys defensively.

The Sooners next game comes next Thursday, Dec. 5 on the road against North Texas. The broadcast can be found on Facebook via CBS Sports Network. Tip-off is set for 7p.m. CT.

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3 takeaways from Oklahoma’s 73-54 loss to Stanford

Oklahoma (5-1) drops their first game of the season, losing to Stanford (7-0), 73 to 54.

Oklahoma (5-1) drops their first game of the season, losing to Stanford (7-0), 73 to 54.

Here is what went wrong, allowing the Sooners to lose.

SLOW START

Yet again, Oklahoma started slow, but this time it costed them the game. The Sooners had to wait nearly six minutes to get their first bucket of the game before Austin Reaves finally got them on the board.

Oklahoma did a wonderful job from that point on to halftime, cutting the lead to nine before allowing the lead to balloon to 13 at the break.

POOR EFFORT DEFENSIVELY

Being behind the eight ball from the get go did not help, but the Sooners had a poor defensive performance against the Cardinal.

Allowing Stanford to shoot 10 of 25 from behind the arc, the Sooners were lit up from downtown once again.

Oklahoma was also taken to school as they were out rebounded 51-32. The extra possessions for the Cardinal were taken advantage of, allowing the lead to swell and keep the Sooners out of the game.

WHAT ARE THREE POINTERS?

Being a jump shot team only works when the lids retaken off the baskets. Oklahoma shot four of seventeen from deep, shooting themselves out ever having a shot at a comeback.

Moving forward, Sooners like De’Vion Harmon and Jamal Bieniemy are going to have to makes shots when they shoot to allow more room on the floor for volume scorers like Reaves, Brady Manek and Kristian Doolittle.

Oklahoma will have a quick turnaround, playing Missouri (4-2) tomorrow to close out the Hall of Fame Classic. Broadcast details have yet to be released.

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When, how to watch Oklahoma-Stanford

Two undefeated’s clash in Kansas City, MO. tonight as Oklahoma (5-0) takes on Stanford (6-0) in the second half of the Hall of Fame Classic.

Two undefeated’s clash in Kansas City, Missouri tonight as Oklahoma (5-0) takes on Stanford (6-0) in the second half of the Hall of Fame Classic.

The Sooners and Cardinal meet for just fourth time in program history, with tonight’s matchup being the first meeting since the 1997 NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma is looking for their second win against Stanford,  the first coming in 1951 which was also in Kansas City.

All-time, the Sooners are 7-1 against PAC-12 opponents under Lon Kruger’s tutor-ledge.

The Cardinal and Sooners share four common opponents this season with both schools defeating William & Mary and Maryland Eastern Shore as part of the Hall of Fame Classic. Oklahoma has already beat PAC-12 foe, Oregon State this season, 77-69. Stanford will host Kansas on Dec. 29.

Here’s everything you need to know about Oklahoma’s game against Stanford.

WHERE: Kansas City, Mo.

WHEN: 8:30p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN2

HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network—KOKC AM 1520 and KRXO 107.7 FM in OKC, KMOD FM 97.5 and KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa (click here for more options if not in either of those markets)

HOW TO STREAM: WATCH ESPN app

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3 keys for Oklahoma basketball against Stanford

Oklahoma (5-0) heads north to take on Stanford (6-0) as part of the Hall of Fame Classic.

Oklahoma (5-0) heads north to take on Stanford (6-0) as part of the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City, Kansas.

Both the Sooners and the Cardinal have two common opponents, with both beating William & Mary and Maryland Eastern Shore handily. With both teams coming in undefeated, here is what Oklahoma needs to do to keep their perfect record in tact.

START HOT

The Sooners have had a tough time getting into rhythm early. For Oklahoma to hang with a highly talented PAC-12 team, they need to hit shots early and match the energy that the Cardinal come out with from the start.

Head coach Lon Kruger and his staff have done a fantastic job of adjusting at halftime so far this season, but the Sooners have had to battle for wins that they should easily have cruised through over the first month of the 2019-20 campaign.

BE PHYSICAL

Playing physical is something that Oklahoma will have to do eventually, once Big 12 play begins. The Sooners have yet to show that they can use their size and athleticism on either end of the court.

Guys like Kristian Doolittle, Victor Iwuakor and Kur Kuath will be players to watch beginning tonight as they build towards becoming more physical.

REBOUND, REBOUND, REBOUND

In hand with playing physical, Oklahoma has to rebound well. The Sooners average 41.0 boards a game to the Cardinal’s 35.2. Tonight will be a much better test as to what Oklahoma will face the rest of the season.

Oklahoma and Stanford will tip-off at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN 2.

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3 takeaways from Oklahoma’s 91-64 win over Maryland Eastern Shore

Oklahoma (5-0) played host to Maryland Eastern Shore (0-6) in the second leg of the Hall of Fame Classic campus rounds.

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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3 takeaways from Oklahoma versus William and Mary

Oklahoma (4-0) welcomed William & Mary (4-1) as the first leg of the Hall of Fame Classic campus rounds.

Oklahoma (4-0) welcomed William & Mary (4-1) as the first leg of the Hall of Fame Classic campus rounds.

The Tribe hung around for much more than the Sooners would have liked, but nonetheless Oklahoma pulled away late thanks to some clutch defensive stops and scoring from Austin Reaves among others to win 75-70.

SLOW STARTS

Oklahoma has yet to play a full solid forty minutes. With a young team built around two main veterans it’s bound to happen but the Sooners haven’t jumped out to a good start so far this season. Head coach Lon Kruger noted the slow start post game, telling reporters, “I didn’t think we opened with the energy that William & Mary opened with.”

Kruger went on to say that the Sooners need to match if not exceed the energy that their opponent starts the game with, especially at home.

SOONERS LACK PHYSICALITY

From the opening tip it seemed as though that the Sooners took William & Mary lightly and it showed.

Oklahoma trailed the Tribe in not just rebounds, but in points for the vast majority of the night. In fact, the Sooners gained their first lead of the night with 13:08 left in the second half, only to relinquish the lead on the ensuing play, allowing a wide open corner three.

Defensively, Oklahoma was bullied on the low block by William & Mary’s Andy Van Vliet and Nathan Knight. The duo combined for 46 points and 21 rebounds.

“He’s (Knight) a really good player. He got it going, he got in a rhythm early and was able to sustain that through out the game,” Krisitan Doolittle told reporters postgame. “We just didn’t key in on him as much as we needed to,”.

Knight finished with 30 points and eight rebounds.

DE’VION HARMON IS MORE THAN A SCORER

Freshman guard, De’Vion Harmon continues to demonstrate why he was a five-star recruit. Harmon finished with eight points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

“De’Vion’s good to do that. He’s not going to be necessarily measured by how many points he scores.” Kruger told reporters postgame. “De’Vion had four good days of preparation coming into this where he really worked on distributing the ball and moving the ball and I thought he was great at that tonight.”

Having a guard that can take the back seat and not force shots will be paramount once conference play begins. The Sooners had just four turnovers on the night, a vast improvement on teams of recent history.

Oklahoma is back in action on Thursday as they play host to Maryland Eastern Shore (0-0) in the second leg of the Hall of Fame Classic Campus Rounds.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on FOX Sports Southwest.

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3 keys for Oklahoma against Oregon State

Nothing quite like an OU-OSU matchup in November.

Oh, wait… it’s not the same OU-OSU I was thinking of.

Nothing quite like an OU-OSU matchup in November.

Oh, wait… it’s not the same OU-OSU I was thinking of.

Oklahoma (2-0) and Oregon State (2-0) are facing off for the fifth time ever as part of the Phil Knight Invitational. The Sooners lead the series with a perfect 4-0 record against the Beavers. The last matchup came in 2000 when the schools played in the Big Island Invitational in Hilo, HI.

Both teams are off to solid starts to the season with Oklahoma winning its games against UTSA (85-67) and Minnesota (71-62). Oregon State comes off victories over Cal State Northridge (87-67) and Iowa State (80-74).

Here are three things the Sooners need to do in order to remain undefeated against the Beavers.

STOP TRES TINKLE

Although it sounds simple, Oregon State senior forward Tres Tinkle, has been an unstoppable force through two games.

Leading the Beavers in points per game (26.0), rebounds per game (10.5) and assists per game (5.5), Oklahoma is going to have to key in on Tinkle, forcing the Beavers to have anyone else beat the Sooners.

KEEP IT LOW SCORING

Oregon State is 15-0 when scoring more than 80 points in a game over the past three seasons. Oklahoma may have to change their pace to slow the game down and keep the Beavers in front of them. The Sooners, under Lon Kruger have played both up tempo and slow during his tenure.

FORCE THE BEAVERS OFF THE THREE POINT LINE

Oregon State has been unconscious as a team from three point territory so far this season. The Beavers are shooting 46.3 percent from deep as a team and Tinkle is shooting 69.2 percent from three on his own.

The Sooners have two options: Run Oregon State off the three point line or make over half of their attempted threes. The prior being the much more reliable and realistic option for Oklahoma.

Tip-off is set for 10 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

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