Tag: Soo

Limping into Gallagher-Iba Arena, Oklahoma heads back to Norman, Okla., with a black eye.

The Sooners had their backs against the wall following two losses to projected one-seeds Kansas and Baylor over the past week. With no games coming easy in the Big 12, Oklahoma laid an egg against bitter rival Oklahoma State.

The Sooners got out to a hot start, leading the Cowboys by 10 with 11:34 remaining in the first half. From there, the Sooners were in for a world of hurt while surrounded by ‘America’s brightest orange’.

After shooting over 50% to start, Oklahoma could not buy a basket slipping all the way down to 38% shooting when the final buzzer sounded.

Despite being down by just six points at the half, the body language of Oklahoma’s veterans Brady Manek and Kristian Doolittle set the tone as to where the game was going to go for the final 20 minutes.

“Brady’s been here before,” Lon Kruger told reporters postgame. “He knows he’s gotta bounce back and get his head up and keep working to make shots.”

Doolittle took a shot to the face while battling for a rebound and was unable to compose himself to keep pushing following the accidental contact. Kruger feels confident that the duo can help reset the tone moving forward saying that “they’re veteran guys that know that there’s four left… but it’s one loss and we gotta bounce back and play the next four.”

The Sooners’ fortunes looked as if it would change just as Oklahoma State had them on the ropes in the early stages of the second half when Austin Reaves took over offensively.

Reaves came out of the locker room like a bat out of hell as he attacked the Cowboys defense in the paint. With no regard for his body, Reaves nearly single-handedly got the Sooners into the double-bonus with 12:40 to go in the second half.

“As a player, (you) do what you can do to see your team get momentum and move forward and just try to do what you can do to win,” Reaves said postgame.

His effort never wavered even when the game was well decided as the Cowboys pulled away late. His performance against Oklahoma State is something he attributes to his parents.

“It was just how I was raised,” Reaves said. “My parents wouldn’t let me quit on a game if we were down, even if were up. You just play to the last buzzer.”

Reaves’ play in the second half helped cut the Sooners’ deficit to six, something coach Kruger largely attributed to him.

Oklahoma will look to pick themselves up off the canvas following their three-game skid as they play host to Texas Tech on Tuesday in Oklahoma City at Chesapeake Energy Arena at 8p.m. on ESPN2.

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Oklahoma (16-11, 6-8) lost its third consecutive game for the first time all season, giving Oklahoma State (14-3, 4-10) its fourth Big 12 win of the season.

The Sooners lost 83-66 on the road at their in-state rival.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

Simply put, Oklahoma forgot how to play basketball. The Sooners were sloppy from the 10-minute mark of the first half to the final buzzer. After a hot start and holding a 10-point lead in the first half, Oklahoma fell apart under the raucous crowd inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Lack of attention on defense, cheap fouls, poor shot selection… the list goes on and on. The Sooners simply got ran off the court in Stillwater, Okla.

AUSTIN. REAVES.

Just when the Sooners needed him most, Austin Reaves became the hero Oklahoma did not want but needed. With the Sooners on the canvas, Reaves took it upon himself to nearly single-handedly put Oklahoma in the double-bonus.

Putting the team on his back, Reaves did about everything he could to get the Sooners in the game.

NO MANEK MO PROBLEMS

Brady Manek was M.I.A. against the Cowboys. Manek was one of eight from the floor and was scoreless from behind the arc. Despite scoring a career-high against the Pokes in Norman, Manek could not get anything to go tonight. Having the Sooners go the way Manek goes has its upside, but today was the lowest of lows.

Oklahoma looks to rebound from three straight losses on Tuesday when they faceoff against Texas Tech in Oklahoma City.

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Oklahoma (16-10, 6-7) and Oklahoma State (13-13, 3-10) square off in the second and final edition of Bedlam during the regular season. In their first matchup, the Sooners pulled away in the early stages of the second half to cruise to an 82-69 win.

For Oklahoma to get the sweep, here is what needs to happen.

INSIDE OUT

The Sooners need to learn how to live in the paint. With Brady Manek and Kristian Doolittle, Oklahoma should not have to settle for jump shots. Despite the more than able duo, the Sooners have been settling for poor shots in mid-range and taking contested threes in transition. If Oklahoma wants to survive and make the NCAA Tournament they should start getting the ball as close to the hoop as possible.

LET ALONDES FLY

At Thursday’s practice, Alondes Williams nearly ended Risk Issanza’s career before it even began. Williams threw down a left-handed tomahawk over Issanza to bring practice to a halt while everyone ooed and awed at Williams’ athleticism at Issanza’s expense. Williams continues to improve every day with better and better performances nearly each and every time out. If the offense stalls out, Oklahoma should do everything they can to get the ball in Williams’ hands to spark the Sooners’ offense.

CONTINUE THE DEFENSE

Oklahoma has been nearly elite on the defensive end of the floor since Big 12 play began. Keeping that energy against the Cowboys will be key to stop the Cowboys from catching fire against the Sooners. As much as the offense is important for Oklahoma, the defense is important tenfold. Look for the Sooners to set the tone on defense early.

The Sooners and Cowboys tip off at 3p.m. CT on ESPN2. For more broadcast details, click here.

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Oklahoma (16-10, 6-7) and Oklahoma State (13-13, 3-10) duke it out one last time in the regular season in Stillwater, Okla.

The Sooners are coming off two tough losses against No. 3 Kansas on the road and No. 1 Baylor at home. This edition of Bedlam is as close to a must-win as it can be for Oklahoma.

The Cowboys, having found three Big 12 wins since the two teams met, are coming off a tough loss to No. 18 West Virginia, losing in Morgantown, W. Va., 65-47.

This game means a lot for the Sooners as they are currently slotted as a nine-seed per the Bracket Matrix. For Oklahoma to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, they must first take care of the Cowboys.

Here is where you can find the game.

WHERE: Gallagher-Iba Arena (Stillwater, Okla.)

WHEN: 3:00 p.m. CT