LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 07: Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (6) appears for house whereas … [+] defended by Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and ahead Jalen Williams (8) in the course of the first quarter at Crypto.com Enviornment on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA.(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Instances through Getty Pictures)
Los Angeles Instances through Getty Pictures
The perfect groups within the NBA have celebrity duos, if not trios. The best way the fashionable recreation is performed, it’s all about having depth within the common season to beat adversity whereas additionally having elite expertise on the prime to make a deep playoff push.
Regardless of being the youngest staff within the NBA, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder seemingly have discovered their star duo of the longer term. Particularly for the reason that All-Star break, veteran Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and rookie Jalen Williams have been one of the efficient pairs within the league.
Advertisement
These two will finally be a part of a trio sooner or later down the highway, alongside Chet Holmgren or one other future acquisition through draft or commerce, at which level this Oklahoma Metropolis staff will possible be competing for a championship.
Not solely have Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams put up nice numbers for the reason that break, however they’ve additionally impacted successful at a excessive degree. The Thunder are 8-3 over this span when each of them play.
Whereas these two have been the headliners of the staff of late, it’s actually been a gaggle effort general. Mark Daigneault really deserves NBA Coach of the Yr recognition, as he’s taken a staff projected to complete within the backside three of the NBA to a prime ten web ranking on the season. The Thunder are nonetheless legitimately in play for residence court docket benefit within the first spherical of the playoffs with just some weeks left within the season.
Not solely is OKC overachieving beneath the route of Daigneault, however he’s getting essentially the most out of each single participant. All three rookies on the staff are making contributions and he’s even discovered methods to combine a number of veterans into the lineup all year long to carry out at a excessive degree.
Advertisement
The Thunder don’t have a starter over 24 years outdated, but they’re .500 on the season and inside two video games of the No. 4 seed within the Western Convention. The staff is absolutely purchased in, which can is a credit score to Daigneault and his employees.
Whereas each participant on the roster has made an influence this season, it’s really been Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams which have moved the needle of late.
Because the break, Gilgeous-Alexander has inserted himself into no less than being part of the MVP dialog whereas averaging 35.0 factors, 7.2 assists and 6.5 rebounds per recreation. When an MVP resume, his means to hold such a younger staff to the postseason given expectations is extraordinarily spectacular. No matter who Oklahoma Metropolis is taking part in, Gilgeous-Alexander is sort of all the time one of the best participant on the ground.
Alongside him, we’ve seen the shocking ascension of Williams, who was the No. 12 general choose within the 2022 NBA Draft. Whereas he impressed early within the season, he’s turned it up over the previous month as he makes his case for NBA Rookie of the Yr.
Since taking part within the Rising Stars Problem in the course of the break, he’s averaged 19.2 factors, 6.2 boards and 4.3 assists per contest whereas taking pictures 40% from past the arc. He’s one in all 57 gamers throughout the league averaging no less than 19 factors over this span. Williams additionally ranks prime ten in factors, rebounds and assists amongst rookies whereas being prime ten in subject aim, free throw and 3-point effectivity.
Advertisement
It goes past the field rating with regards to Williams’ influence as a primary yr star. Not solely is he wildly efficienct, however he’s additionally one of many extra versatile younger gamers within the league. Throughout completely different factors of his rookie marketing campaign, the 21-year-old has performed all 5 positions on each ends of the court docket.
Whereas the Thunder will proceed to herald extra excessive upside expertise within the coming years by way of the draft and trades, it seems the cornerstone duo is undamaged with Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams. As quickly as subsequent season with the debut of Holmgren, Oklahoma Metropolis may really declare itself to the league, if that doesn’t already occur the 2022-23 marketing campaign.
The Oklahoma Sooners made a splash via the transfer portal when they added former Washington State quarterback and the top player in this year’s portal class, John Mateer. But the Sooners weren’t done at quarterback, adding Western Carolina signal caller Cole Gonzales.
Gonzales started 22 games in three seasons with the Catamounts, completing 63.5% of his passes for 6,445 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. On non-sack rushing attempts, Gonzales averaged 5.4 yards per carry and ran for 701 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2023, he was the 2023 Southern Conference Player of the Year and was a two-time first-team All-Conference selection. Last year, he completed 66.1% of his throws for 2,547 yards, 26 touchdowns and threw just six interceptions in 11 games. That year, Gonzales threw for five touchdown passes three times and six games with more than 250 yards passing.
In 2024, he completed 61.7% of his passes for 2,545 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw seven interceptions this season. Gonzales was really efficient in the deep passing game, with a 45.5% completion percentage on throws greater than 20 yards down the field. That was good for sixth in the FCS among quarterbacks with at least 44 pass attempts on deep throws.
Advertisement
In the 2024 season opener against N.C. State, Gonzales threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns, completing 62.9% of his passes. He also carried the ball six times for 78 yards, according to Pro Football Focus, who removes sacks from rushing totals.
Against Furman, in week eight of the 2024 season, Gonzales threw for 620 yards and five touchdowns.
In Gonzales, the Sooners add more quarterback depth to the roster to go along with Mateer, Michael Hawkins Jr., and 2025 signee Jett Niu. He’ll have one year of eligibility remaining in 2024.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Oklahoma State’s former defensive coordinator is wasting no time finding another gig.
On Monday, Doug Samuels of FootballScoop reported that Bryan Nardo is expected to join the defensive staff at Charlotte. One of the most recent teams to jump to the FBS level, Charlotte could soon be adding a coach with Big 12 experience.
Nardo spent the past two seasons in Stillwater as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. While his first season wasn’t necessarily the most impressive, it seemed his adjustments and overall scheme were key in OSU’s ascension to a 10-win season and Big 12 Championship appearance.
However, everything fell apart for Nardo in year 2. With the Cowboys ranking among the bottom 10 in the FBS in most statistical categories, OSU’s defense was the main issue in the team’s winless Big 12 campaign.
Advertisement
However, not all of the blame for OSU’s three-win season can be placed on Nardo. OSU’s offense also struggled mightily throughout the season, but the injuries piling up for the OSU defense sealed Nardo’s fate.
With future NFL players Collin Oliver and Nick Martin not playing a snap after September, the Cowboys were without their anchors and other injuries piled up from there. With a myriad of backups and players not playing in their natural positions, Nardo had no true opportunities to run his desired scheme. Still, OSU’s horrendous rankings and results on the field were still too much to overlook as the team overhauled virtually its entire staff this offseason.
With Nardo heading east, the Cowboys hired Todd Grantham as his replacement shortly after the position opened. Nardo is also not the first former OSU defensive coordinator to head to Charlotte.
After being let go following the 2017 season, Glenn Spencer went to Charlotte and was its defensive coordinator for the 2018 season.
Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24924653/236780_Google_AntiTrust_Trial_Custom_Art_CVirginia__0003_1.png "Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps")
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25672934/Metaphor_Key_Art_Horizontal.png "There’s a reason Metaphor: ReFantanzio’s battle music sounds as cool as it does")
