The Oklahoma Sooners tackle the Baylor Bears in a recreation that might assist set the tone for the rest of the season because the Sooners look to complete sturdy.
Baylor is available in at 5-3 and 3-2 in Large 12 play, having picked up wins over Texas Tech, Kansas, and Iowa State. They’ve but to play TCU, Texas, or Kansas State. With wins over their last 4 video games, the Bears would earn a visit to the Large 12 title recreation. They nonetheless have rather a lot to play for.
Oklahoma has an opportunity to play spoiler on this contest if they’ll come out the gates quick and discover some operating room towards a “stout” Baylor defensive entrance. Listed here are this week’s 5 keys to the sport.
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Sluggish Richard Reese and Baylor Working Recreation
Sep 17, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears operating again Richard Reese (29) scores a landing towards the Texas State Bobcats in the course of the second half at McLane Stadium. Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Baylor Bears common 201 speeding yards per recreation. The Oklahoma Sooners enable 189 yards per recreation on the bottom. The Sooners had been significantly better towards the run vs. Iowa State, limiting the Cyclones to simply 66 yards on 27 carries.
The Bears pose a considerably more durable problem for the Oklahoma protection. They received’t fully shut down Baylor’s speeding assault, however they’ve acquired to discover a strategy to sluggish it down. If they’ll restrict the affect of the operating recreation even somewhat bit, it would go a protracted strategy to serving to the Sooners win the sport.
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Proceed to Deal with Nicely
Sept. 10, 2022; Norman; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) and Oklahoma Sooners linebacker David Ugwoegbu (2) rejoice in the course of the first half towards the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Household-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
Over the past two video games, the Sooners have considerably improved their tackling, lacking fewer than 10 tackles in every of the wins over Kansas and Iowa State. If that continues this week, it could go a protracted strategy to serving to Oklahoma decelerate Richard Reese and Baylor’s speeding assault.
Reese has pressured 27 missed tackles on the season, which is seventh within the Large 12, and is tied with Bijan Robinson with the second-most runs of 10 or extra yards, with 24, 5 behind Oklahoma’s Eric Grey.
The diminutive Reese could possibly be an issue for the Sooners in the event that they aren’t in a position to deal with properly.
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Be Marvelous
Sep 10, 2022; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners large receiver Marvin Mims (17) reacts after scoring a landing in the course of the second half towards the Kent State Golden Flashes at Gaylord Household-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
The Oklahoma Sooners had been in a position to beat Iowa State all whereas Marvin Mims had arguably his worst recreation as a Sooner. However that’s not who the participant is. Marvin Mims is likely one of the greatest gamers within the Large 12, and Oklahoma will want him to bounce again and have a stable day towards the Bears.
The Bears are top-of-the-line run defenses within the nation and permit the fewest yards within the Large 12. Their sturdy defensive entrance will put the Sooners’ run recreation to the take a look at. However the place Oklahoma would possibly discover essentially the most success is thru the air.
The Bears enable 223 yards per recreation on the season. In opposition to West Virginia, the Bears allowed J.T. Daniels to throw for 283 yards.
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There might be alternatives for the Sooners to win within the air, however they want their No. 1 large receiver to rise to the event.
Get off the sphere
Oct 8, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Danny Stutsman (28) reacts in the course of the first half towards the Texas Longhorns on the Cotton Bowl. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports activities
Regardless of their defensive success every week in the past, the Sooners struggled to get off the sphere on third and fourth down towards Iowa State.
Baylor ranks twenty fifth within the nation, changing 47.7% of their third downs 47.7% and are 18th within the nation on fourth down at 67.7%. Baylor takes benefit of all 4 downs. They’re fourth within the nation within the variety of fourth-down makes an attempt.
It’s crucial that when the Sooners get Blake Shapen into third and lengthy conditions that they maintain them in fourth and lengthy conditions. If Baylor will get fourth and quick, they’re most likely going to go for it, and so they’ll most likely convert.
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Play sideline to sideline
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – OCTOBER 29: Defensive lineman Siaki Ika #62 of the Baylor Bears reacts in the course of the first half of the sport towards the Texas Tech Purple Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Picture by John E. Moore III/Getty Photos)
Eric Grey has been a big-time catalyst for the Oklahoma Sooners. His capability to interrupt runs of 10 yards or extra has helped the Sooners tremendously this season. In opposition to a Bears crew permitting simply 112 speeding yards per recreation, it’s going to be powerful sledding for the Sooners’ operating recreation as soon as once more.
Whereas they need to proceed to run no matter its effectiveness, the Sooners want to make use of the cross early and sometimes to power the Bears to account for it, and again off the operating recreation.
Get Baylor’s large defensive tackles working sideline to sideline within the passing recreation with large receiver screens and jet sweep motion. Get the ball to Jalil Farooq and Gavin Freeman within the run recreation to offer a various method to fixing Baylor’s defensive entrance.
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Power them to defend all the area.
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Since a historic season for Oklahoma City a year ago, this team has fortified itself on several fronts just under 40 games into the 2024-25 season.
From rounding out its defense with veteran Alex Caruso, bringing on Isaiah Hartenstein to provide some rebounding padding to letting the young guns grow and blossom into their game, the Thunder has many strengths.Another massive strength of theirs this season has given them many opportunities to come back from deficits and come out on top in tight games.
There are two ways to create more opportunities for shots on the basket outside of solid team defense. The first—rebounding. Without staying afloat on the defensive boards, that is a recipe for disaster and hands the opponent easy shots on goal after the rebound and deflates a defense if it’s repeated. The second—generating turnovers.
That is what Oklahoma CIty is excelling at this season. Their rebounding troubles a year ago eventually seeped in to its playoff performance and was a large part in its ultimate exit against the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder is still in the bottom half of the league in rebounds per game this season, but that’s a massive improvement from its bottom-four placement a year ago.
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With that improved, the Thunder already gain an upper hand. But coupled with how often this team generates turnovers defensively along with greatly limiting its own turnovers has landed them in the top five of field goals attempted per game.
Through 39 games, Oklahoma City has tallied just 474 turnovers to place second in the NBA in that category. Inversely, the Thunder comfortably lead the league in steals with 451 on the season, or 11.6 per game. Naturally, Oklahoma City leads the league in both points off turnovers and opponent points off turnovers.
It’s a game-changer to have this success in taking care of the ball while also the whole team acting as a ball hound. If the Thunder sustains this, it’s difficult to see anyone in the Western Conference besting them as of now.
Want to join the discussion? Like Thunder on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
PROVO, Utah — Trevin Knell scored 13 of his 18 points before halftime and reserve Dallin Hall scored 14 points and BYU ended its three-game losing streak by beating Oklahoma State 85-69 on Tuesday night.
Richie Saunders scored 12 points and Egor Denim and Keba Keita each scored 10 points for the Cougars (11-5, 2-3 Big 12).
Jamyron Keller and Bryce Thompson scored 15 points apiece and Abou Ousmane 13 for Oklahoma State (9-7, 1-4).
The Cougars built a 17-6 lead and never trailed. BYU went on an offensive onslaught and outscored the Cowboys 25-9 in a 10-minute span and led 42-15 after Dawson Baker made two free throws with 3:23 before halftime. BYU went to the break shooting 15 for 25 and led 46-26.
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But after an 8-of-31 (25.8%) shooting performance in the first half, Oklahoma State started on a blistering 22-5 run in the first 6 1/2 minutes of the second half and drew within 51-48 on 8-for-10 shooting with Keller going 3 for 3 from 3-point range.
BYU regrouped and went on an 11-2 run for a 62-50 lead with 10:28 left and stayed ahead by double digits for the remainder.
Oklahoma State hosts Colorado on Saturday. BYU will make the 45-minute drive north on Interstate 15 to face Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday.
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New Orleans looks to normalcy as it mourns New Year attack victims
Normalcy has begun to return to a stricken yet defiant New Orleans – after a U.S. Army veteran drove a truck into dozens of New Year’s Day revelers.
In the wake of the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on the famed Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Gov. Kevin Stitt has issued an executive order creating an advisory council of first responders and intelligence personnel in hopes of better protecting Oklahomans and state infrastructure from such an attack.
Stitt issued an executive order on Monday concerning the Secure Oklahoma NOW (Not on Our Watch) Initiative. He said Oklahoma Commissioner of Public Safety Tim Tipton would lead the advisory council.
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In one of the largest domestic terrorist attacks in U.S. history, 168 people and three unborn children died as a result of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, something Stitt noted.
“Sadly, Oklahomans are familiar with the devastating impact terrorists can have on our communities,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to stay vigilant and prepared. The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety will bring together experts from law enforcement, emergency management, and public safety to develop a comprehensive guide to protect our high-value targets and major events, ensuring we are always one step ahead.”
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In addition to Tipton, the advisory council will feature the state’s secretary of public safety, Tricia Everest, who will supervise the initiative. Other members will be a sheriff from a county with a population above 500,000, a sheriff from a county with a population below 500,000, a police chief from a town or city with more than 100,000 residents, a police chief from a town or city with fewer than 100,000 residents, a chief from a university police department and a representative from the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security.
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The only two counties with a population of more than 500,000 are Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. Only four Oklahoma cities — Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and Broken Arrow — have a population above 100,000.
The 12-person council also will include the president of the Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association or their designee, the director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management or their designee, the director of the Oklahoma Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center or their designee and one at-large member appointed by the governor.
The council will create and publish a written guide of minimum security and safety protocols for use by public and private stakeholders responsible for managing large-scale events. According to Stitt’s order, the guide should reflect best practices and emerging strategies in public safety.
The first meeting of the council must be by Feb. 27, according to the order, and the first edition of the guide is scheduled to be published and submitted by May 30, with updates to be made annually.
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“In our world today, it’s more important than ever to make sure our law enforcement is prepared for any situation,” Everest said. “We have been able to mitigate multiple threats with our effective partnerships between local, state and federal law enforcement. I appreciate the governor’s efforts to streamline those partnerships and ensure Oklahomans are safe regardless of the situation.”
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