Oklahoma
Projecting Oklahoma City’s 2023 NBA Draft Positioning
Oklahoma Metropolis basic supervisor Sam Presti was clear this low season that he’s going to permit this Thunder roster to completely compete and see the place they’re at. From that judgement, the group’s brass can determine the overarching route of the season.
OKC is presently projected to be one of many NBA’s worst groups, based on Vegas. The Thunder have the fourth-to-last worst odds to win the NBA Finals, solely beating out Houston, Orlando and San Antonio. When the season is all stated and executed, might Oklahoma Metropolis actually find yourself with top-five draft odds?
Final season, the Thunder gained simply 24 video games. When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey had been within the lineup, the group was way more aggressive and gained some spectacular video games early on. Because the season wore on although, the random accidents began to take a toll, and the Thunder’s sparse roster noticed the losses pile up. The choice was simple for Presti, as Oklahoma Metropolis selected to remain cautious with their star gamers and attempt to safe a high draft decide.
If the Thunder let the lineup unfastened in the course of the first few months of the season, what is going to the on-court manufacturing seem like? It’s simple to assume there will likely be a soar in expertise stage as Oklahoma Metropolis added a star in Chet Holmgren and a direct rotation piece with Jalen Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey and Lu Dort can even be absolutely wholesome after one other low season of enchancment.
The rotation down the road is loads stronger, too, making it laborious for the Thunder to decide to dropping down the stretch. Oklahoma Metropolis rested gamers like Aleksej Pokusevski over the previous few weeks of the season, however gained’t be capable to make strikes like that as usually anymore. The again finish of the bench now has good items and prospects that would make an impression on any given night time.
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Whereas the NBA has undoubtedly improved throughout the board, the Victor Wembenyama sweepstakes are an actual factor. There will likely be loads of groups that make a late run for the generational expertise.
It’s unrealistic to recommend the Thunder make a soar to the playoffs. It’s nonetheless a younger roster with loads of holes. There’s a number of growth on the horizon. However many groups contending for Wembenyama is not going to have a participant of the identical caliber as Gilgeous-Alexander. Different groups might falter early, just like the Pacers, who missed out on DeAndre Ayton, or the Kings, who’re hoping that is lastly the 12 months. Even groups just like the Wizards are a Bradley Beal damage away from selecting within the high ten. The Hornets are a sneaky participant within the lottery in the event that they want to pair LaMelo Ball with one other star.
The purpose is, there are many variables to go together with the upcoming season. If Oklahoma Metropolis can keep wholesome and decide to trip it out, it’s laborious to see them selecting at No. 5 subsequent June. The lottery continues to be affordable and anticipated, however a top-five decide would require some critical missed time from a high star. Because the season performs out, the route might turn out to be extra clear, however on paper, this Thunder group appears to have way more expertise than in years previous.
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Oklahoma
Staff predictions: Our picks for No. 7 Alabama at Oklahoma
After falling twice away from home already this season, No. 7 Alabama will look to avoid a potential trap game in its final road trip of the regular season. The Crimson Tide (8-2, 5-2 in the SEC) will visit Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5) for a 6:30 p.m. CT kickoff Saturday inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
This will be the seventh matchup between Alabama and Oklahoma. The Sooners hold a 3-2-1 advantage in the series, but the Tide won the most recent meeting, recording a 45-34 victory in the 2018 Orange Bowl. Alabama is currently a 14-point favorite for Saturday’s game, according to the Caesars Sportsbook.
Here’s how Tide Illustrated’s staff thinks the game will play out.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Offers 2026 Bixby DB Braeden Presley
The stark reality of the Cowboys future on the gridiron is up in the air. Can Oklahoma State bounce back in 2025 following one of the worst football seasons in years? Will the Pokes return next season and play with a chip on their shoulder? Only time will tell and the best way to improve the football team is for the coaching staff to hit the recruiting trail hard.
Oklahoma State will say goodbye to one of the greatest statistical wide receivers to ever wear the Cowboy orange. Senior Brennan Presley has been the cornerstone of the receiving core for the past four seasons. He is the all-time receptions leader in Oklahoma State history and has caught more than two passes in nearly every game since his sophomore season.
The offense won’t be the same in 2025 with Presley snagging catches across the middle, but the fans of Cowboy football won’t have to wait long as a familiar name will be entering the mix straight out of the class of 2026.
On Thursday, Oklahoma State looked to make it the Presley trifecta when they offered the youngest of the bunch, 2026 Bixby star Braeden Presley. Older brothers Brennan and Braylin both committed to Oklahoma State out of high school. Brennan hung around to become the all-time receptions leader in school history while Braylin transferred to Tulsa.
Braeden is the biggest brother of the bunch and measures in at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, according to 247Sports. He is unranked at the moment but still has a full season of football yet to play. The interest continues to grow for Braeden who has drawn offers from Tulsa, Boston College and Kansas.
Oklahoma State joined the mix on Thursday and is hoping to use its family ties to lock up their third straight Presley. Little is known about Presley on the field, and he has proven this season that he is a jack of all trades. He has logged a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and passing touchdown this season for the Spartans of Bixby.
A majority of his highlights have come on the defensive side of the football. He has 27 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 2024 for a Bixby team who is searching for yet another Class 5A State Championship.
The fans of Oklahoma State football may not have to wait very long to have a Presley once again under the lights of Boone Pickens Stadium.
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Oklahoma
Miami Basketball: Canes drop second straight game to Oklahoma State 80-74
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1), 80-74, Friday afternoon at TD Arena in the Hurricanes’ (3-2) second game of the 2024 Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.
Down 17 with five minutes to play in the game, the Hurricanes connected on seven of their final ten shots to pull to within six of the Cowboys, but time ultimately ran out on Miami’s comeback.
Guard Nijel Pack recorded his second 20-point game of the season, totaling 20 points to lead the Hurricanes in scoring.
Forward Brandon Johnson tallied his first double-double of the season with 12 points and ten rebounds, pacing the Hurricanes’ on the glass.
Oklahoma State took control early, opening the game on a 9-0 run. Miami cut the lead to three thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Blackmon and Pack, but the Cowboys responded with a 7-0 run to extend their lead to double-digits, 20-10, with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
The Cowboys shot 53.3 percent from 3-point range in the first half, increasing their lead to 16, 43-37, at the halftime break.
Oklahoma State took its largest lead of the game, 51-31, at the 14:35 mark in the second half, but Miami responded with an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 13 at the midway point of the frame.
The Hurricanes shot 58.1 percent from the field in the second half, and four Miami players scored eight-plus points in the final 20 minutes of play, but they could not complete the comeback.
On Sunday, Miami will play VCU or Nevada at 12:30 p.m. ET at TD Arena in Charleston, S.C.
Courtesy of Miami Athletics
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