Krisitan Doolittle – Syndication Server

Kristian Doolittle bids farewell to Oklahoma basketball

After signing with an agent on Saturday, Kristian Doolittle officially said goodbye to Oklahoma basketball on Monday.

"𝘐 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦."@kristiandoolit1 reflects on his incredible career at Oklahoma.#BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/BttoEzlslL

— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) April 20, 2020

The four-minute video released on Twitter, Doolittle sat down to reflect on his four years as a Sooner.

“He’s had some ups and downs, some peaks and valleys and through it all, he’s risen above all of that to be the senior, the player he is today,” Doolittle’s father, Dwayne said.

Those peaks and valleys have defined his career at Oklahoma.

In 2016-17, Doolittle was a hotshot freshman averaging 9.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Following an academic suspension for the first half of the season in 2017-18, Doolittle only tallied 2.9 points and 4.3 boards per game. Earning Big 12 comeback player of the year in 2018-19, Doolittle blazed back in his junior season averaging 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds as he began to take on the role as the team’s leader.

As the Sooners’ lone senior, Doolittle took the role on head-on while averaging 15.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game before his career was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What lies ahead for Doolittle is pro basketball, but where he will be playing and what jersey he will be wearing has yet to be seen. The NBA Draft is set for June 25.

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Three reasons why Oklahoma beat Iowa State 90-61

Oklahoma (16-8, 6-5) scored 50 points in the second half to pull away from Iowa State (10-14, 3-8)…

Oklahoma (16-8, 6-5) scored 50 points in the second half to pull away from Iowa State (10-14, 3-8), who trailed the Sooners by just one, to beat the Cyclones 90-61.

DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE

The Sooners came out of the break with a vengeance, shutting down the Cyclones offense and going on a 6-0 run before Iowa State took a timeout to stop the bleeding. Oklahoma forced 15 turnovers and snagged eight steals to help seal an easy win.

SPARK PLUG

Over the past few games, there has been a guy or two that has stepped up and made plays offensively to get the Sooners going. Tonight, that man was alondes Williams. All of his 14 points came in the second half, including an emphatic dunk that got a mostly empty Lloyd Noble Center to their feet.

His play over the past month has shown how deadly he can be, come tournament time.

team basketball

Oklahoma passed the ball well in the blowout over Iowa State, racking up 17 team assists. moving the ball is easy to do when the Sooners have three guys averaging double-digits, but Oklahoma made it look like a walk in the park against the Cyclones. All five starters finished the night in double-digits with Kristian Doolittle leading the way with 20 points.

The Sooners’ next matchup comes on Saturday as they head to Phog Allen Fieldhouse to take on No. 3 Kansas at 11a.m. CT on ESPN.

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Three takeaways from Oklahoma’s 90-61 win over Iowa State

Oklahoma (16-8, 6-5) put together their first consecutive wins since beating Kansas State and Texas to open Big 12 play…

Oklahoma (16-8, 6-5) put together their first consecutive wins since beating Kansas State and Texas to open Big 12 play, beating Iowa State (10-14, 3-8) 90-61.

The Cyclones hung with the Sooners for a full half before Oklahoma stepped on the gas to open the final 20 minutes, opening up a 29 point lead in the final period of play.

DOO WHAT YOU DOO

Kristian Doolittle had a solid performance, yet again finishing with his second-straight 20+ point performance. The senior finished the night with 20 points, six rebounds, and two assists to follow up his dominant 27-point game against then-ranked No. 13 West Virginia last Saturday. With outstanding back-to-back efforts, Doolittle should be feeling good heading into Phog Allen Fieldhouse on Saturday.

ALONDES WILLIAMS…SHEESH

Put Alondes Williams in the NBA Dunk Contest.

WE HAVE LIFTOFF.

Alondes Williams throws it down with authority. 😱 pic.twitter.com/KgjoWq0FHJ

— OUHoops (@ouhoops) February 13, 2020

Williams was a sparkplug in the second half, scoring all of his 14 points in the final 20-minutes. Over the past month, Williams has shown that he can be an x-factor as March quickly approaches.

STARTERS HAD AN APPETITE

For the first time all season, all five Oklahoma starters scored in double-digits. Austin Reaves and Jamal Bieniemy both finished with 12-points, Williams with 14-points, Brady Manek had 18-points while Doolittle led the way with 20-points.

The Sooners head up to play Kansas at 11 a.m. on Saturday on ESPN.

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Three keys for Oklahoma basketball against Iowa State

Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) and Iowa State (10-13, 3-7) square off in a mid-week Big 12 battle for the second and final time of the regular season.

This is a must-win for the Sooners as they have No. 3 Kansas and No. 1 Baylor following the matchup against the Cyclones tonight. For the game to fall in Oklahoma’s favor, here is what needs to happen.

STAY CONSISTENT

The Sooners played their best game of the season last Saturday in their 69-59 win over West Virginia. If Oklahoma wants to have a puncher’s chance against the top-tier teams in the Big 12, they need to dominate against the teams that are bottom dwellers. Building off of Saturday’s performance will be crucial to pulling out a mid-week win.

MANEK BEING A MANIAC

Brady Manek has been on an absolute tear over the past two weeks. When he is not feeling it offensively, he plays dominant defense against some of the best big men in the league. When he is feeling it offensively, Manek continues to be a force on defense, feeding off the energy he creates on the offensive end of the court. Where he goes, the team goes. Having much better body language and energy following the Sooners’ road loss to Kansas State, the team goes where Manek goes.

FIND AUSTIN

Manek has been missing in spurts this season, so has Kristian Doolittle. Even Jamal Bieniemy, De’Vion Harmon, and Alondes Williams have found themselves as the season has progressed. One guy, who has yet to be truly seen in Big 12 play? Austin Reaves. The sharpshooter has been a shell of himself since non-conference play and is nearly unrecognizable since his days at Witchita State. Getting Reaves into the flow of the offense while Doolittle and Manek are on fire could push the Sooners deep into the NCAA Tournament.

Oklahoma and Iowa State are set to tip-off at 8p.m. CT on ESPN2. For more broadcast information, click here.

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When, where, how to watch, how to stream Oklahoma-Iowa State

Oklahoma (15-8, 5-5) has an opportunity to get back over five-hundred in Big 12 play against Iowa State (10-13, 3-7).

The Sooners, coming off a huge win last Saturday over then-ranked No. 13 West Virginia (18-5, 6-4), giving Oklahoma a boost in this week’s bracketology. Trying to avoid a mid-week slump and a season sweep by the Cyclones, the Sooners take the court looking to continue their momentum.

With back-to-back games against No. 3 Kansas and No. 1 Baylor on the horizon, Oklahoma needs to take advantage of a struggling Iowa State team who just lost their best player to injury.

The Sooners are in primetime once again with a late tip-off, showcasing arguably the best basketball conference in the nation.

WHERE: Norman, Oklahoma (Lloyd Noble Center)

WHEN: 8:00 p.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

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When, where, how to watch, how to stream Oklahoma-Oklahoma State (Bedlam)

Oklahoma (13-7, 3-4) and Oklahoma State (10-10, 0-7) battle for a bit more than just state pride on Saturday.

Oklahoma (13-7, 3-4) and Oklahoma State (10-10, 0-7) battle for a bit more than just state pride on Saturday. Both the Sooners and Cowboys come into the game struggling, giving the game an extra level of meaning.

Oklahoma is still looking for their offense. Coming off of three straight games of 62 or fewer points, the Sooners have slipped on offense. To compensate, Oklahoma has held its past three opponents to under 63 points.

The Cowboys have had quite a rollercoaster of a season themselves, starting the year 9-3 before going winless so far in Big 12 play. Oklahoma State picked up their tenth win against Texas A&M in the Big12/SEC Challenge, beating the Aggies 73-62.

Despite the records, Bedlam is getting prime treatment. Here is where you can catch the game.

WHERE: Norman, Okla. (Lloyd Noble Center)

WHEN: 2:00 p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: ABC

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

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3 takeaways from Oklahoma’s 61-57 loss to No. 1 Baylor

Oklahoma (12-6, 3-3) dropped a heart breaker to No. 1 ranked Baylor (16-1, 6-0) on Monday night, 61-57.

The Sooners did nearly everything they needed to do to win but fell just short as Austin Reaves had a three-pointer clank off the rim with just seconds left that would have given the Sooners a lead with three seconds and change left to play. In fact, Oklahoma was about three objectives away from pulling off one of the biggest upsets in program history.

THE SOONERS ARE CLOSE

I know Oklahoma fans are tired of hearing this following the beatdown that was the Peach Bowl, but the Sooners are close. Losing to No. 6 Kansas at home and No. 1 Baylor on the road by 18 total points is nothing to shake your head at. Oklahoma really only lacks size and strength in the paint which would put them in Sweet 16 talks from the beginning of the season. Lon Kruger has this team on the right trajectory. With Jamal Bieniemy, De’Vion Harmon, Brady Manek, and Kur Kuath all coming back next season, the Sooners will only be THAT much more fun to watch as they develop.

REBOUNDS ARE A NECESSITY

Oklahoma could not buy a rebound if they had unlimited funds. The Sooners were outrebounded 46-36 total and allowed 18 offensive rebounds for Baylor. If Oklahoma wants to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament and maybe upset a team or two in the Big 12, they need to box out and take away second chances when on defense.

WHERE IS AUSTIN?

Remember when Austin Reaves was on an absolute heater about a month ago?

Yeah neither do I.

The guard has been far from what became his usual offensive output as he scrounged up just eight points against the Bears.

The Sooners were just a couple Austin Reaves or Kristian Doolittle shots away from pulling off the upset against Baylor but could not get either to get hot when the team needed them most.

If Oklahoma wants to string Big 12 wins together, Reaves needs to be a force on offense.

The Sooners are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 25 when they face off against Mississippi State at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City at 1p.m. The game has yet to be announced but will be on the ESPN network.

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Oklahoma falls short against No. 1 Baylor, 61-57

Oklahoma (12-6, 3-3) was not supposed to be a factor for Baylor (16-1, 6-0) on the road, but they were.

The Sooners hung tough from the opening tip to the final buzzer but it just was not enough to upset the No. 1 team in the nation.

Brady Manek continued his scoring ways, finishing with 21 points on 7 of 13 shooting. Accompanying his 21 points were 10 rebounds, which were scarce against the Bears.

Just when things seemed in hand for Baylor, Oklahoma came back to cut the lead to a sweat-able margin. The Bears’ biggest lead of the second half was 11 while the smallest lead two when Manek made a layup with just 42 seconds left to make it a one-possession game.

Manek was just about the only bright spot on the Sooners offense, but there were flairs from others that make for a promising future. Victor Iuwakor and Kur Kuath gave the Sooners great minutes. Combining for just two points, their offense was not their motive. Kuath kept Baylor away from the rim blocking four shots and hauling in two boards in just eight minutes of action. Iwuakor grabbed four boards and an assist in his 10 minutes but gave a spark with his pure athleticism. Oklahoma looked to be flowing well on both ends of the court when he was on the floor.

Kristian Doolittle was once again not a huge factor on the offensive side of the court. He finished with just eight points alongside Austin Reaves. The duo are the fourth and eighth leading scorers in the Big 12 respectively but have been rather dormant over the past two to three games.

Despite losing three of their past four, the Sooners do look like a tournament team. With losses to Kansas and Baylor that have come down to the final minutes, Oklahoma should not be hard on themselves.

The Sooners are back in action on Saturday as they play Mississippi State as part of the Big 12 vs SEC Challenge. The game will be played in Oklahoma City at the Chesapeake Energy Arena and can be found on ESPN’s network. Tip-off is set for 1p.m. CT.

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3 keys for Oklahoma basketball against Baylor

Unranked Oklahoma (12-5, 3-2) heads to Waco, Texas, to take on the freshly appointed No. 1 Baylor Bears (15-1, 5-0).

The road test will not be easy for the Sooners as Baylor is one of the toughest defenses in the nation, allowing just 58.6 points per game. However, Lon Kruger will counter with a trio of scorers who account for three of the Big 12’s top-10 scorers. Kristian Doolittle (No. 4), Brady Manek (No. 7), and Austin Reaves (No. 8) are going to have to be their best against the Bears.

STAY ELITE ON DEFENSE

Baylor only allows 58.6 points per game. The best way to counter their defense is with equally elite defense. Oklahoma has kept four of their last five opponents under 70 points. Baylor has only surpassed 70 points once in their past five games. For the Sooners, the goal should be to lock down the Bears and not force themselves into a shooting contest. If the latter takes place, Oklahoma could get run out of the gym before the first half is over.

FEED DOO

Kristian Doolittle will be the cornerstone once again for the Sooners. However, Doolittle has not been as dominant over the past two games for Oklahoma. Against Kansas, he faced a near-impossible task of defending Udoh Azubuike, getting into foul trouble for much of the second half. Doolittle managed 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Against TCU, Doolittle took the back seat to Brady Manek’s 31 point outburst. Doolittle finished with 11 points and four rebounds on just nine shots.

Doolittle will have to be the main point of offense against Baylor to allow more floor space for the likes of Manek, Austin Reaves, and De’Vion Harmon.

SOONER MAGIC

This will be Oklahoma’s highest-ranked opponent since they played No. 2 Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The program has yet to defeat a No. 1 ranked team on the road since the AP Poll was introduced in 1949.

However, top-ranked teams have had a tough time picking up wins this season. The No. 1 ranking has turned into somewhat of an unwanted achievement as five teams were ranked No. 1 and lost before Christmas. With the Bears coming close to being upset by Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Baylor showed that they can be caught off guard.

With what happened the last time a Sooners team traveled to Waco, Lon Kruger’s crew cannot be counted out until the final buzzer sounds.

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Oklahoma cruises to an easy victory on a historic night, beat TCU 83-63

Oklahoma (12-5, 3-2) found their rhythm against TCU (12-5, 3-2) to the tune of an 83-63 victory.

Arguably their most complete game of the season, Lon Kruger’s squad allowed the Horned Frogs to have the lead for just 31 seconds.

Brady Manek started out hot and didn’t let up. The junior shot 7-of-9 from 3-point range, setting new career highs for points (31) and made 3s (seven) while exiting to a standing ovation with just under a minute left after making two free throws that put him in the 1,000 point club.

“It’s pretty cool,” Manek told reporters postgame.
Growing up as a fan of OU, the Sooners, and coming to games and now playing here and I’ve reached that mark. Got to give it up to my teammates over the years. They’ve found me. A lot of my points have been catch-and-shoot, so I got to give it up to them.”

Manek knew he was close, but was sweating out while at the free-throw line with under a minute left to officially hit the 1,000 point mark.

“I knew I was close. I didn’t know exactly how close, but I knew I was close,” Manek said. “We couldn’t get a guy subbed in over there and it was frustrating. I was ready to shoot the free throw.”

The frustration turned into laughter as he drew a collective chuckle out of Lon Kruger, Kristian Doolittle, Austin Reaves, and the media. Manek left the court after making both free throws to a standing ovation as the eighty-seven hundred fans were alerted to his achievement.

With three proficient scorers that can go off on any given night, it’s easy to keep feeding the hot hand. However, the Sooners did exactly the opposite. Oklahoma made the extra pass, finding the open man on what seemed like every possession. A season-high 20 assists, Oklahoma moved the ball effectively.

“I thought that was the best ball movement we’ve had for a while,” Kruger said postgame. “I thought guys did a really good job driving and kicking and making the extra pass. They’ve been doing a pretty good job of that, but you got to make shots to create the assist.”

The Sooners have a quick turnaround as they head to No. 2 Baylor (15-1, 5-0) on Monday night. The Bears got a scare on Saturday against Oklahoma State, leaving Stillwater, Okla. with a 75-68 win.

Oklahoma and Baylor will be broadcasted on ESPN at 8p.m. CT.

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