Oklahoma

Opinion: Oklahoma City Should Add Another Center Out of Necessity

Published

2 years ago

January 3, 2023

Opinion: Oklahoma City Should Add Another Center Out of Necessity

After Oklahoma Metropolis’s dwelling loss to Joel Embiid and the 76ers, the Thunder’s obvious weaknesses appear to be looming giant. An already skinny entrance courtroom, OKC is desperately lacking the roster’s makeshift facilities in Aleksej Pokusevski and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, however even past the accidents, the Thunder’s lack of a real heart is proving pricey.

Oklahoma Metropolis remains to be (clearly) a methods away from actual playoff rivalry, however even outdoors of advocating for wins, the Thunder want an enormous man on the roster. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ascension to stardom has allowed the Thunder to hold round as one of many NBA’s middling groups. If a current slide continues, although, this season might shortly change to the identical tempo of the final two seasons.

The loss to Philadelphia makes it three losses in 4 video games. Including insult to harm, the losses got here throughout a stretch the place the Thunder had a critical likelihood to make up some floor. The loss to the 10-27 Charlotte Hornets, adopted by Saturday evening’s blowout, Oklahoma Metropolis now not has any momentum in any way. And not using a huge man, it’s easy. The Thunder get bullied.

In Charlotte, the Hornets entrance courtroom loved a stroll within the park. P.J. Washington netted 25 factors on 10-of-13 taking pictures, Miles Plumlee added 14 factors and 9 rebounds on 6-of-7 taking pictures and Jalen McDaniels chipped in 12 factors off the bench. Rookie heart Mark Williams, who appeared in his sixth ever NBA recreation towards the Thunder, scored career-highs throughout the board with 17 factors and 13 rebounds, recording an ideal 7-of-7 from the ground.

Whereas Philadelphia, with Joel Embiid, is a a lot totally different look than the Hornets, Oklahoma Metropolis nonetheless struggled to restrict the massive man’s affect on the sport. Embiid recorded a uncommon triple double of 16 factors, 13 rebounds and ten assists, showcasing his means to take action many alternative issues. Montrezl Harrell additionally netted 9 factors and 6 rebounds off the bench. The 76ers scored 69 first-half factors and led by 26, whereas the Thunder spent the rest of the competition making an attempt to make it look just a bit bit nearer.

If Pokusevski and Robinson Earl stay out for an prolonged time period, Oklahoma Metropolis ought to do no matter it takes so as to add an enormous man to the roster. The crew can solely study and develop a lot when hindered by such an enormous drawback from tip-off. Josh Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander want an enormous man to advance sure components of their particular person ability units, and rising as a core could be best.

In fact, Chet Holmgren was speculated to be that piece earlier than happening with a season-ending harm. However now that it’s occurred, and Oklahoma Metropolis’s entrance courtroom took two extra sizable blows, the Thunder should adapt and add one other physique on the roster. Not for successful functions, to not push for the play-in, however merely to play basketball. Oklahoma Metropolis’s lack of depth on the place is hurting greater than serving to.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma State’s Star WR Might be Most Difficult to Replace

Published

5 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma State’s Star WR Might be Most Difficult to Replace

Oklahoma State has plenty of talent to replace next season, but no one will be more difficult to replace than its star receiver.

Over the past few years, no one has embodied the OSU program better than Brennan Presley. Since he stepped on the field for the first time in 2020, he has been a symbol of consistency for the Pokes.

Although he has played significant roles on a couple of OSU teams that made the Big 12 Championship, he had no issues staying focused throughout the three-win campaign in 2024. In a season where it was easy to find the negatives in just about everything the Cowboys did, Presley remained a bright spot. Entering the season on the Biletnikoff watch list, Presley finished his final collegiate season with 90 catches for 767 yards and seven touchdowns.

The reason Presley will be so difficult to replace is not only because of his impressive numbers each season but also because of how consistent he has been at putting those numbers up.

His consistency led to him breaking the Cowboys’ all-time receptions record in 2024, becoming the first player to cross the 300-catch mark in an OSU uniform by ending his career with 315.

Without Presley out there to be a reliable target next season, there will be some growing pains for whoever suits up under center. Along with always being available for a pass, Presley could be used in a variety of ways.

While it wasn’t his best ability, Presley was also occasionally used as a rusher throughout his career. He ended his OSU tenure with 30 rush attempts for 160 yards and six touchdowns, with most of his carries used as a wrinkle near the goal line.

Of course, the five-year Cowboy was well-known for his ability to return on special teams. His most notable was a kickoff return touchdown in Bedlam in 2021, and 1,667 kick and punt return yards helped him break 5,000 career all-purpose yards.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma 8-year-old girl missing, father dead after SUV crash in Texas flood

Published

14 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma 8-year-old girl missing, father dead after SUV crash in Texas flood

An 8-year-old Oklahoma girl is still missing in Texas after floodwaters carried away the family SUV on Christmas Eve.

According to local reports in Sherman, Texas, the SUV ran off the road into a drainage ditch before succumbing to the flood. The Sherman Police Department said six people were inside the vehicle when it crashed.

Four family members were rescued. CBS News reported that the missing girl’s father, Will Robinson, did not survive. Robinson was a coach for the Durant High School Lady Lions basketball team.

By the afternoon of Christmas Day, searchers had covered seven miles of creek in the area without success.

“We are shifting our focus into the county, targeting some possible locations where we have not looked to as yet,” the department wrote on Facebook Wednesday. “Our search will continue until dark today, then we will resume searching again (Thursday) before daylight.”

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Oklahoma 111-65 Omaha (Dec 22, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN

Published

22 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma 111-65 Omaha (Dec 22, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN

NORMAN, Okla. — — Raegan Beers matched a career high with 28 points, and No. 10 Oklahoma rolled past Omaha 111-65 on Sunday.

Beers, a 6-foot-4 center, made 11 of 13 field goals and grabbed nine rebounds to help Oklahoma win its fifth straight since an overtime loss to Duke.

Skylar Vann had 12 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Kiersten Johnson added 12 points for the Sooners (11-1). Oklahoma scored at least 100 points for the third time this season after entering the day ranked fourth nationally with 90.7 points per game.

Ja Harvey scored 21 points and Cora Olsen added 15 for Omaha. The Mavericks (8-5) had won seven straight since a 79-77 loss to Wisconsin, but gave up a season-high point total against the Sooners.

Oklahoma led 52-34 at halftime, with Beers producing 15 points and six rebounds.

The Sooners exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 35-25 to take an 87-59 lead. It matched the most points Oklahoma has scored in a quarter this season. The Sooners made 14 field goals and five 3-pointers in the period.

Takeaways

Omaha: Aside from Harvey, none of the Mavericks could get going. Harvey made 8 of 14 field goals while the rest of the team made 15 of 52.

Oklahoma: The Sooners continued to bully opponents in the paint and beat them with pace. They outrebounded the Mavericks 57-33 and forced 20 turnovers.

Key moment

Oklahoma set the tone from the beginning by scoring the game’s first eight points. The Sooners led 26-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Key stat

Omaha made just 2 of 21 3-pointers while Oklahoma made 13 of 35.

Up next

Omaha hosts North Dakota on Jan. 2. Oklahoma hosts New Mexico State on Dec. 29.

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