Oklahoma

Mark Daigneault’s ‘Standard’ Lifting Oklahoma City to New Heights

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

Mark Daigneault’s ‘Standard’ Lifting Oklahoma City to New Heights

Although it may seem like it, Oklahoma City’s rise to the top didn’t happen overnight. It has been a process over the last few years, instilling a foundation and a culture to build on when the day to compete would come.

Part of that rebuild started when Russell Westbrook and Paul George were traded, but even then, Chris Paul and the team of veterans started setting the table for what was to come. When the full reset button was pressed, Oklahoma City hired Mark Daigneault to lead the Thunder through the dark days, and it has proven to be the best decision the organization could’ve made.

Daigneault holds everyone to a high standard, and that trickles down to the leaders on the team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on the team from Daigneault’s first days as head coach, and he’s demanded a lot out of his teammates. Part of that is thanks to Daigneault’s mindset and what he has demanded out of the team as a whole.

“He’s annoying,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Always nagging. But the best thing about him is that no matter who you are, he has a standard.

“Doesn’t matter if you been here five years, if you’re the best player on the team, worst player on the team. If you got here last week. There’s a standard. I think that’s what’s allowed our culture to be what it is.”

The standard was set with tough defense, discipline, and grit on the floor. Even when Oklahoma City was at the top of the lottery, they still managed to have solid defenses that put up a fight. Daigneault knew that it would translate on both ends of the floor someday in the future.

The future came quicker than expected, and Daigneault’s demanding approach as a head coach has paid off. Oklahoma City has the No. 3 offensive rating and No. 4 defensive rating and looks like a contender by every single metric. The annoying nagging that Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned is all worth it if Oklahoma City continues to play this well as a team.

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Oklahoma

Report: Former Oklahoma State guard Javon Small commits to WVU – WV MetroNews

Published

2 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

Report: Former Oklahoma State guard Javon Small commits to WVU – WV MetroNews

Feb 28, 2024; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Javon Small (12) drives around UCF Knights forward Omar Payne (5) during the second half at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Javon Small (12) (William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports)

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Darian DeVries’ initial roster at WVU continues to take shape and it appears that the first-year head coach has landed one of the top point guards in the transfer portal. Jon Rothstein reported Thursday evening that former Oklahoma State guard Javon Small has verbally committed to join the Mountaineers.

Oklahoma State transfer Javon Small tells me that he has committed to West Virginia.
Averaged 15.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG last season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 2, 2024

Small averaged 15.1 points per game last season for the Cowboys. He is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard and a native of South Bend, Indiana. Small played two seasons at East Carolina before making the move to Stillwater. In his junior season at OSU, Small dished out a team-best 127 assists. He also led the Cowboys in minutes per game (33), 3-point field goals (61) and free throw percentage (86.6).

In his lone matchup against WVU this past season on January 27, Small recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Small joins Drake transfer Tucker DeVries, Illinois transfers Amani Hansberry and Sincere Fields, UIC transfer Toby Okani, incoming freshman KJ Tenner and returning players Ofri Naveh and Aden Tagaloa-Nelson on the 2024-2025 roster.

Small played for new WVU Director of Player Personnel/Recruiting Nelson Hernandez at Oklahoma State.

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Oklahoma

BREAKING: Oklahoma State Transfer Javon Small Chooses WVU

Published

9 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

BREAKING: Oklahoma State Transfer Javon Small Chooses WVU

Wednesday evening, the West Virginia Mountaineers picked up yet another commitment out of the transfer portal landing former Oklahoma State guard Javon Small (6’3″, 195 lbs).

Small appeared in 31 games this past season for the Cowboys, averaging 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and one steal per game while shooting 44% from the field and 37% from three-point land. He led the team in scoring and assists while finishing fourth in the Big 12 in free throw percentage (86.6%) and in the top 10 in defensive rebounds (4.3).

Small is a solid two-way player that can score the ball from all three levels of the floor and plays with intensity on the defensive end. He notched double figures in 24 of his 31 games played, including going over 20 points six times. At season’s end, Small was named to the All-Big 12 honorable mention team.

The South Bend, Indiana native began his career at East Carolina, spending two seasons there. He saw limited action as true freshman – just nine minutes per game – but blossomed into a high-caliber player in year two with the Pirates, averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 assists per game.

He will have one year of eligibility remaining

WVU PORTAL ADDITIONS

G Tucker DeVries (Drake)

G Sencire Harris (Illinois)

G Javon Small (Oklahoma State)

F Amani Hansberry (Illinois)

F Toby Okani (Illinois-Chicago)

C Eduardo Andre (Fresno State)

WVU PORTAL LOSSES

G Jeremiah Bembry

G Noah Farrakhan

G Kobe Johnson

G Kerr Kriisa

G Seth Wilson (Akron)

F Josiah Harris (Akron)

F Pat Suemnick (DePaul)

C Ali Ragab

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OU Softball: Five Oklahoma Players Named in Top 26 for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

Published

16 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

OU Softball: Five Oklahoma Players Named in Top 26 for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

Five Oklahoma Sooners are in the running for college softball’s top individual honor.

Tiare Jennings, Jayda Coleman, Alyssa Brito, Kinzie Hansen and Kelly Maxwell all made the cut as top 26 finalists for the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, USA Softball announced on Wednesday.

Oklahoma’s five selections leads all teams, with Tennessee also adding three selections. Duke, Florida and Miami (OH) were the other three schools who also earned multiple selections.

Jennings is the only OU player to start all 49 games this year, and she paces the Sooners with 18 home runs, 55 RBIs and 12 doubles. She’s batting .386 in 2024, and has drawn 28 walks while striking out just nine times. Jennings made the top 10 a year ago alongside Coleman.

Coleman, the 2023 Big 12 Player of the Year, is batting .488 entering the final weekend of the regular season with a slugging percentage of .722 and a 1.266 OPS. She driven in 77 runs and hammered 11 long balls to pair with her always show-stopping defense in center field.

Hansen leads OU with a .441 batting average and has been nothing short of sensational since returning to the lineup. She boasts a .488 on-base percentage, belting eight home runs, six doubles and 27 RBIs.

Brito was again a steady hand for the Sooners at third base and an explosive bat in the lineup. She’s hit 18 home runs, four triples, three doubles and driven in 50 runs. Brito is batting .417 on the year and has a 1.369 OPS entering Bedlam.

In the circle, Maxwell has dazzled as Oklahoma’s ace. Appearing in 24 games, Maxwell has a 1.66 ERA is 16-1 on the year. She’s thrown seven complete games and four shutouts, striking out 107 batters while allowing 34 walks and holding opposing hitters to a .170 batting average in 2024.

The list of 26 will be cut down to 10 on May 15, and the top three finalists will be announced on May 20. Finally, the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed in the build up to the Women’s College World Series.

A Sooner has taken home the award four times. Jocelyn Alo won the award in both 2021 and 2022, and Keilani Ricketts won in both 2012 and 2013.

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