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No. 24 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners Preview: Not just bluffin

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No. 24 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners Preview: Not just bluffin


With just two losses on the season — by a combined four points — the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines are in a good place. Dusty May’s squad is on track for an NCAA Tournament berth but would like more, which means the Wolverines could use another solid non-conference win on the resume. The last opportunity for that is Wednesday in Charlotte, with the No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners the final Power Five opponent left on the schedule.

Like the entire SEC, the undefeated Sooners are making headlines this season. On its way to winning the Battle 4 Atlantis, Oklahoma has four wins over top-100 KenPom teams, the same total as Michigan. The Wolverines (23rd) sit higher in the analytics than the Sooners (37th), but the polls have the teams flipped. This should be a good one at the Jumpman Invitational.

No. 24 Michigan Wolverines (8-2) vs. No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners (10-0)

Date & Time: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 9 p.m. ET
Location: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
TV/Streaming: ESPN2

Oklahoma has been solid on both ends of the floor, with not many deficiencies in its profile. Freshman Jeremiah Fears, the No. 44 player in the 247Sports Composite, has been as advertised, averaging 16.7 PPG while leading the team with 4.7 APG. Fears and friends play with some pace, move the ball well, and like to take threes; this will be a test for the Wolverines after a couple rougher defensive performances.

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The last time these teams met was in the Second Round of the 2008-09 NCAA Tournament as Blake Griffin’s squad took down the No. 10 Wolverines, who rejoined the Big Dance after an 11-year absence. Present day, this is the third edition of the Jumpman Invitational, completing one rotation. Michigan lost to North Carolina in 2022 and Florida last season, with both games coming down to the wire.

One Big Question: Where is the discipline?

I am not going to talk about turnovers every single game because unfortunately they do not seem to be going away. What I do think is worth mentioning is the general concept of discipline and patience, specifically against athletic teams that like to run. Against the Razorbacks, Michigan played right into their hand by rushing passes, leading to easy looks in transition off sloppy mistakes.

The Wolverines will need to lock down Fears on Wednesday, which becomes much more doable in the half court. Oklahoma has a top-50 eFG rate, so playing disciplined defense, but also smart offense, is essential to avoid yet another subpar defensive performance. The Sooners are not a great offensive rebounding team, but cleaning up the glass also remains an area where the defense must show more attention. Michigan has a solid defense (No. 15) already, and cleaning up its wild play will only make it even stronger.

One Thing to Watch: Play the percentages

Michigan ranks 39th in adjusted offense, but has the 15th-best eFG rate — and sixth-highest two-point shooting percentage in the country. The biggest reason for this gap is obviously turnovers, but even with this frustrating Achilles heel, the Wolverines have posted over 1.20 PPP in the last two games, mostly due to an insane 68.4-percent shooting mark inside the arc. Basically when the Wolverines get a shot off, good things are going to happen; it is those shotless, turnover-filled possessions that have been limiting this team.

The Sooners rank in the 200s in two-point defense, though many of those struggles were to begin the season. Still, the Danny Wolf-Vlad Goldin combo should feast again. Wolf has seen his turnover rate slowly drop, while Goldin is hitting 80 percent of his shots at the rim over the past four games after missing some bunnies earlier this year. Eventually teams will figure out how to stop this duo (or at least sell out to prevent it), but until that comes the Wolverines should continue hammering this advantage.

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Oklahoma lawmakers ask Supreme Court to let customers join ONG rate hike case

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Oklahoma lawmakers ask Supreme Court to let customers join ONG rate hike case


As an Oklahoma utility company seeks a multimillion-dollar rate increase, two Oklahoma state representatives are asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to give customers a voice.

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is currently deciding on a $29 million rate increase for Oklahoma Natural Gas.

If approved, officials say it would mark the fourth rate hike the OCC has approved for ONG in the last four years and has led to an $128 million increase in customer bills.

Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, and Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, have filed an appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, saying customers weren’t given a chance to participate in the case.

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“The OCC has gone completely off the beam,” ONG customers Gann and Kevin West told the Supreme Court in their June 17 petition.

In the filing, they claim that the OCC set a March 27 deadline to intervene in ONG’s rate case but only set it after the deadline had already passed.

They say ONG’s customers weren’t notified about the case until late April.

“This case was rigged from the start to keep ONG ratepayers out,” said Gann. “The federal courts have said utility customers have constitutional due process rights – including a right to timely and adequate notice about these cases. We are asking the Supreme Court to uphold customers’ rights and require the OCC to change its rules to respect them. ONG ratepayers should be allowed to exercise their right to participate without being muzzled.”

The commissioners are expected to make a final decision on the $29 million rate increase later this year.

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Most Oklahoma voters didn’t cast a ballot during June’s primary election

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Most Oklahoma voters didn’t cast a ballot during June’s primary election


Just 26%, or about one in four registered Oklahoma voters, cast a ballot in the race, according to an analysis of the results.

In total, 630,085 people weighed in on a state question to gradually increase the minimum wage. It was the only race open to Democrats, Republicans and independents, who weren’t eligible to vote in partisan races.

Democrats have typically opened their closed primaries to include independents, but failed to submit the paperwork for this year’s primaries on time. Some voters expressed frustration with the system on election day.

This year’s polls drew fewer voters than in 2018, the last time there was a similar gubernatorial race without incumbents. The election included a state question to approve medical marijuana, and 44% of registered voters cast ballots.

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There are almost 1.3 million registered Republicans in Oklahoma, but the GOP race for governor only garnered about 400,000 ballots. Out of more than 613,000 registered Democrats, only about 172,000 voted in Tuesday’s election.

Even though general elections are usually better attended, Oklahoma’s numbers were also low during the 2024 presidential election. One report from the University of Florida rated Oklahoma’s turnout at the time as the lowest in the nation.





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Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho

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Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho


NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.

But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.

Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.

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Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.

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Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.

Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.

Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.

She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.

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In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.

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Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.

Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.

The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.

Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.

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The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.

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In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.

Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.

Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.

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