Tag: Lon Kruger

4 takeaways form Oklahoma’s 83-73 loss to Creighton

Oklahoma (7-3) dropped another on the road, losing to Creighton (9-2) 83 to 73.

Oklahoma (7-3) dropped another on the road, losing to Creighton (9-2) 83 to 73. The Sooners had three of their five scorers in double-digits but could only muster 12 total points outside of Brady Manek, Kristian Doolittle and Austin Reaves.

ONE-MAN SHOW

I think it’s fair to say that the Sooners are a one-man show so far this season. Kristan Doolittle’s performances this season are what is keeping Oklahoma above water. At the half, Doolittle had 13 of the Sooners’ 38 points and eight of the teams 19 rebounds. As the lone senior on the squad, Doolittle has shown great leadership but it seems to be falling on deaf ears so far. He finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds in 35 minutes.

DEFENSE NEEDS WORK

Stop me if you’ve heard this before but there’s a defensive problem in Norman. The Sooners lacked effort defensively and it showed. The eye test alone would tell you that Oklahoma is slow and sloppy. Transition points came very easy for Creighton, especially to start the second half. It seemed as though the only reason the Bluejays did not score was when they got in their own way.

In the second half, the Sooners were simply bullied by the Jays. Lose balls, rebounds, you name it, Creighton wanted it more than Oklahoma.

HARMON & BIENIEMY NON-EXISTENT

A combined 0-14 halfway through the second half, the backcourt duo of Jamal Bieniemy and De’Vion Harmon were essentially ghosts against Creighton. Harmon did not even have a recorded stat until 5:54 left in the second half when he made his first shot of the night. Harmon finished with three points on one of seven shooting in 22 minutes. Bieiemy tallied three rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes but was 0-8 from the floor.

CREIGHTON MADE IT RAIN

It was elementary for the Bluejays. They were not ran off the three-point line and made the Sooners pay for it. Coming into tonight, Creighton had made 10 or more three-pointers in eight of their 10 games. They continued the streak against Oklahoma making 12 of their 35 attempts.

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3 keys for Oklahoma against Creighton

Following a road loss to Wichita State (9-1), Oklahoma (7-2) squares off against Creighton (8-2) in Omaha.

Following a road loss to Wichita State (9-1), Oklahoma (7-2) squares off against Creighton (8-2) in Omaha.

START HOT

I know I sound like a broken record but the Sooners absolutely need to put a full 40 minutes together. Against the Shockers, Oklahoma was ice cold to start the game and down the stretch. The Sooners need to make shits early and often to gain confidence not just tonight, but for the rest of the season.

GET ON TRACK

Oklahoma has had a slow start to the season, allowing teams that have no business keeping the game close within striking range. The Sooners must put together a win against Creighton, no matter what. With an initial NET ranking at No. 37, the season is set to only get harder for Oklahoma. With a win tonight, no matter how they do it, it will bode well for the Sooners moving forward.

STAY HEALTHY

Obviously something everyone hopes for every game but with Big 12 play right around the corner, Oklahoma can not afford any injuries. Just two games separate the Sooners from the Big 12. As this team continues to mesh, staying healthy with be a major key to playing better.

Oklahoma and Creighton are set to tip-off at 7:30p.m. CT on Fox Sports One.

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Oklahoma debuts at No. 37 in initial NET rankings

Oklahoma (7-2), albeit a sluggish start to the 2019-20 season, is off to a solid start when it comes to the NET rankings.

Oklahoma (7-2), albeit a sluggish start to the 2019-20 season, is off to a solid start when it comes to the NET rankings.

NET is the NCAA’s replacement for the RPI ranking system and was implemented prior to last season (2018-19). It is a major component in the selection committee’s process when determining at-large bids and seeding in the NCAA Tournament and is updated daily.

Sitting at 7-2 and debuting at No. 37 bodes well for the Sooners. With a rigorous non-conference schedule and playing in arguably the toughest conference in the country, Oklahoma can stay above water by just simply winning. Like Al Davis famously said: “Just win, baby!”

The Sooners are the fifth highest-ranked team from the Big 12, sitting behind Kansas (No. 2), Baylor (No. 5), West Virginia (No. 12) and Texas Tech (No. 35). Other notable Big 12 schools include Oklahoma State at No. 41and No. 45 Texas before a sharp drop off with Iowa State coming in at No. 82, TCU at No. 87 and Kansas State at No. 131.

NET rankings do not reflect how good or bad a team is but rather use data and strength of schedule to formulate an adjusted ranking.

Oklahoma heads to Creighton on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Tip-off is set for 7:30p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on Fox Sports 1.

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3 takeaways from Oklahoma’s 80-75 loss to Wichita State

Oklahoma (7-2) came up cold against Wichita State (9-1), losing 80-75 on the road. Here are three takeaways from the loss.

Oklahoma (7-2) came up cold against Wichita State (9-1), losing 80-75 on the road. Here are three takeaways from the loss.

reaves’ “homecoming”

Transfer junior, Austin Reaves was welcomed back to Wichita with a flurry of boos by the Shocker faithful when introduced pregame. Reaves played two seasons for Wichita State for two seasons before transferring to Oklahoma.

Reaves, much like the rest of the Sooners, started the game cold but hit key shots down the stretch to keep Oklahoma in it. Reaves finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

LIDS REMAIN ON THE BASKETS

The Sooners continue to struggle to consistently hit shots, starting and ending the game colder than an arctic blast rolling through the Sooner State. Oklahoma shot a hair over 35% in both the first and second half with the three-point shot bailing them out and keeping things closer than they should have been. With Big 12 play quickly coming up, the Sooners will need to capitalize on open looks while also not settling for poor shots. Oklahoma finished the game shooting 37.5% from the floor and 45.2% from deep.

DEFENSE EXPOSED

The book may officially be out on the Sooners defense. Wichita State had too many second-chance opportunities and was able to capitalize on Oklahoma’s somewhat sloppy defense. The Shockers shot an average 40% from the floor but were able to weather the storm with 13 offensive rebounds and 35 defensive rebounds, keeping the tempo and momentum in their hands for the majority of the game.

Oklahoma’s next game comes Tuesday, Dec. 17 as Kruger’s squad heads to Omaha, Nebraska to take on Creighton. Tip-off is set for 7:30p.m. CT on Fox Sports 1.

3 keys for Oklahoma basketball against Wichita State

It has been nine days since we last saw Oklahoma (7-1) on the hardwood…

It has been nine days since we last saw Oklahoma (7-1) on the hardwood. With finals week behind them, the Sooners are set to take on Wichita State (8-1) in the Sunflower State.

LET AUSTIN REAVES EAT

The Sooners’ leading scorer is very familiar with the Shockers as he played for Wichita State in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Not necessarily a “revenge game” but definitely a game Reaves wants to perform well in. Averaging 17.6 points per game, Reaves has been a bright spot in Oklahoma’s offense. Feed Reaves and let him show the Shockers what they’re missing.

SHOW DOMINANCE

The Sooners have yet to put together a full 40 minutes, allowing teams that should not hang around, to do just that. Oklahoma has to put together a full 40 for the Sooners to have a chance. Wichita State is good and they are even better at home. The Shockers are 1-1 this season against Big 12 opponents, losing to West Virginia 75-63 on a neutral site and beating No. 25 Oklahoma State in Stillwater 80-61. It will not be easy but Oklahoma needs to learn how to put together a full game.

LOCKDOWN THE PAINT

The Sooners can get beat from behind the arc and that’s fine. When it’s the other team’s night to get out, it’s the other team’s night to get hot. However, what Oklahoma cannot allow is easy buckets in the paint or second-chance buckets. Forcing shots outside the paint and winning the rebound battle will be huge if the Sooners want to have a chance.

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

After a nine day break for finals, Oklahoma (8-1) faces off against Wichita State (9-1). Here is everything you need to know about the game.

After a nine day break for finals, Oklahoma (8-1) faces off against Wichita State (9-1).

Wichita State comes off a fantastic road win over No. 25 Oklahoma State at Gallagher-Iba Arena, dominating the Cowboys 80-61.

The Sooners owe Kristian Doolittle big time after he nailed a dagger three-pointer against North Texas to allow Oklahoma to keep their one-loss record.

A homecoming game of sorts for Austin Reaves, the Sooners will be put to the test as the Shockers are one of the better mid-major teams in the country. They’re no Villanova or Georgetown but Wichita State are competing alongside conference foes, Memphis, Tulsa and SMU as all are off to fantastic starts to the season.

WHERE: Wichita, Kansas (Intrust Bank Arena)

WHEN: 5:00 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 app

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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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When, where, how to watch, how to stream Oklahoma-Missouri

Following their first loss of the season, Oklahoma (5-1) hits the hardwood against a familiar foe in Missouri (4-2).

Following their first loss of the season, Oklahoma (5-1) hits the hardwood against a familiar foe in Missouri (4-2).

Both teams lost last night as part of the Hall of Fame Classic, setting up a Stanford-Butler championship game following the Sooners and Tigers.

Oklahoma is 113-97 all-time against Missouri and have not played them since they left for the SEC in 2014.

Last night’s 73-54 loss to Stanford was a struggle for the Sooners for all 40 minutes. Oklahoma did not score until Austin Reaves hit a two pointer almost six minutes into the game.

After an abysmal performance last night, Kruger’s crew has a chance to rebound both literally and figuratively. Here’s everything you need to know about Oklahoma’s game against Missouri.

WHERE: Kansas City, Mo.

WHEN: 6:00 p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: ESPNNEWS

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 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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