Oklahoma

Scouting report: 3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats to close with a road win at Oklahoma State

Published

12 months ago

March 6, 2025

Scouting report: 3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats to close with a road win at Oklahoma State

While the Cincinnati Bearcats football team has made its way to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State in the Big 12, the UC basketball team is making its first trip to Gallagher-Iba Arena in over 24 years.

After playing less-than-engaging basketball on Senior Night Wednesday in the home finale vs. Kansas State, UC will now have to reverse course on Oklahoma State’s Senior Day Saturday.

They will go from being booed by the home fans at the end of a 54-49 disappointment to being booed by the road fans as the Cowboys try to go out on a winning note.

“The effort’s unacceptable, the fight’s unacceptable, it’s on the head coach,” UC coach Wes Miller said pounding the press room table Wednesday night. “I’m the leader of the operation. I’ve got to do a better damn job. It’s on my ass. I’d boo our butts too. I’d boo myself too.”

Cincinnati Bearcats background in Stillwater

Eddie Sutton led the 18th-ranked Cowboys to a 69-62 opening season win Nov. 16, 2001 over the Bob Huggins-led Bearcats who got half of their points (31) from Steve Logan. UC would go on to to lose just three more games the rest of the season, winning 31 and taking the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles.

Most of UC’s current players weren’t yet born and have no idea Gallagher-Iba Arena is known as the “Madison Square Garden of the Plains.” Saturday afternoon, they will play on the famous white maple court trying to end the regular season on an up note.

It won’t be easy as Oklahoma State is 11-3 at home with the losses coming against Houston, Arizona and Texas Tech, all ranked in the Top 25. It’s probably too late for Wes Miller to change his sideline persona, but there’s no question he’s agitated over dispassionate play.

“I’ve tried to be very positive,” Miller said. “Sometimes my intensity can be a lot for kids at this era of basketball. I don’t complain about players. I played, I understand what it’s like. It’s on me. I’ve got to do a better job of preparing our team. I didn’t do my job. Everybody should be mad at me. I get it. Leave the kids alone.”

Another crucial game for Cincinnati Bearcats

If it’s March and you’re on or near the proverbial “bubble,, they’re all crucial. Many bracketology people have UC’s bubble as burst. A win at Oklahoma State would put the Bearcats 18-13, even with the record they had last year heading into the Big 12 tournament. Many college hoops analysts like Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports and Fan Duel have them needing to run the table in Kansas City.

Should UC win at Oklahoma State, then two tournament wins would give Wes Miller a third straight 20-win season and eighth overall including his last five seasons at UNC-Greensboro. It would also put them in the Big 12 quarterfinals, which wasn’t enough last year. This year’s one Quad 1 win and a Senior Night Quad 3 loss is not conducive to getting flowery comments and accolades from the NCAA Selection Committee.

“We’ve got to be the team that we’ve been for the last month,” Miller said of erasing Wednesday’s nightmare. “You’ve got to look in the mirror and be a competitor. We’ve got to compete.”

Miller was shocked at the effort vs. Kansas State with so much on the line. Most of the 10,814 at Fifth Third Arena were in agreement. UC last lost a Senior Night three years ago.

“This is their last year,” Dillon Mitchell said. “Some of these guys have been here for years and gave it all. We just didn’t get the job done. It was bad. Effort is something all of us can control. We didn’t give good effort. We’ve got to be better than that. We can’t lose a game because of our effort.”

Mitchell did lead UC with seven rebounds as they pulled down 37 to Kansas State’s 36. Only he (3) and Day Day Thomas (1) finished with a positive plus/minus figure vs. the Wildcats.

3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats to win at Oklahoma State

1. Again, UC’s chances enhanced by holding opponents below 70

The Bearcats are 15-8 in games where their opponent scores less than 70 points. Oklahoma State has only won once in the 12 times they’ve scored less than 70. Unfortunately, if the Bearcats can’t reach 50, that’s an issue. Their season lows have come in the Big 12 with just 40 points vs. Kansas, 48 at Baylor and 49 vs. Kansas State. The 54 points by the Wildcats Wednesday tied their season-low, but UC was clanking at a 2-for-18 rate from three-point range and was a miserable 5-for-11 from the charity stripe.

2. UC must stop Bryce Thompson

The 6-foot-6 guard averages close to 13 points per game for the Cowboys and has had a high of 25 points against UCF. Thompson is a three-year starter the Bearcats didn’t see last year as he was out with a shoulder injury. Thompson played 39 of 40 minutes in Oklahoma State’s home upset of Iowa State Feb. 25. Wednesday he was held to four points at UCF while in foul trouble with four.

3. UC needs to remember last season’s disappointment vs. Cowboys

UC was knocked off last year by Oklahoma State in a game that featured eight lead changes, 80-76. It was one of eight Big 12 losses by five or less points in 2024. UC last led with three minutes left in the contest. The only player back for the Cowboys from that squad is Jamyron Keller, who had 14 points, missing just two shots and making all five of his free throws.

A key road win may be too late for their resumé, but they can’t let Oklahoma State play spoiler. The Cowboys have a similar predicament next week in Kansas City as only an automatic bid will get them in the tournament.

Tip: 3 p.m. Eastern Saturday (Gallagher-Iba Arena, 13,611)

TV/Radio: ESPN+/700WLW

Series: Oklahoma State leads 4-2 (Cowboys won 80-76 Feb. 21, 2024)

Oklahoma State Cowboys scouting report

Record: 14-16 (6-13 Big 12)

Coach: Steve Lutz (first year, 14-16)

Offense: 72.6 ppg

Defense: 76.5 ppg

Projected starting lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Bryce Thompson (G, 6’6″, 12.3 ppg)

Arturo Dean (G, 5’11”, 7.4 ppg)

Abou Ousmane (F, 6’10:, 12.1 ppg)

Jamyron Keller (G, 6’3″, 5.4 ppg)

Robert Jennings II (F, 6’7″, 5.6 ppg)

Cincinnati Bearcats scouting report

Record: 17-13 (7-12 Big 12)

Coach: Wes Miller (fourth season, 80-56, overall 265-191)

Offense: 70.6 ppg

Defense: 64.9 ppg

Projected starting lineup

(Position, Height, Stats)

Josh Reed (F, 6’7″, 4.2 ppg)

Jizzle James (G, 6’3″, 12.7 ppg)

Dillon Mitchell (F, 6’8″, 9.7 ppg)

Day Day Thomas (G, 6’1″, 9.3 ppg)

Aziz Bandaogo (C, 7′, 7.7 ppg)

Players to watch

As mentioned, Oklahoma State’s Bryce Thompson is a starter the Bearcats didn’t see last year due to injury. In addition, 6-foot-8 forward Marchellus Avery and 6-foot-5 guard Brandon Newman are key contributors for the Cowboys that don’t start. Between them they combine for 19 points per game.

Four of UC’s starters from last year should have long memories of last year’s defeat but a difference-maker late in the year has been Jizzle James who didn’t start last year until the final two NIT games. James had 10 points off the bench in last season’s game, but has been on a roll with double-digit scoring games while teamed up with Day Day Thomas in the backcourt. James has reached double figures in 11 straight games while Thomas has joined him in nine of the last 10.

Rankings

KenPom.com: Cincinnati is No. 53, Oklahoma State No. 101

NCAA.NET: Cincinnati is No. 45, Oklahoma State is No. 100

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property

Published

5 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property

As consumer electricity needs grow, lawmakers are discussing strategies to ease the burden on landowners who don’t want the towers and wires carrying that energy on their property.

As it’s written now, the bill would require transmission owners to pay landowners $2 per foot of line annually. During the committee meeting, Murdock said he introduced the legislation to “start a conversation.”

“ This is an idea of, maybe moving forward, if the landowners are getting a royalty off of the power being pushed across their property, it may make it a little more palatable for someone to have a transmission line go across their property,” he said.

Landowners can enter into easement agreements with companies to set aside portions of their land for the builds. But in some cases, eminent domain is used to obtain a right-of-way.

“ I’m not saying that this is going to do away with eminent domain,” Murdock said. “What I’m hoping is this just makes it a little more palatable.”

Murdock said he spoke with utility companies about the legislation, though he didn’t name them. The bill’s language could change after creating an alternative rate based on conversations with the companies, he said.

Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, said the bill could raise utility rates for consumers living in Oklahoma’s most populous counties if companies charge more to make up for the annual fee.

Murdock pushed back, noting the lines are necessary to deliver electricity to other counties.

“You understand that you flip that light on because — and have that ability to have electricity because — the people in my district have a transmission line that goes across them, getting you that power,” he said.

StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma’s public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: Mar. 1, 2026

Published

17 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: Mar. 1, 2026

Big night in downtown OKC as the Oklahoma City Thunder welcome the Denver Nugget and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is back on the floor.

Steve McGehee reports live from Paycom Center with the latest on SGA’s return after missing nine games, the Thunder’s push to hold the top spot in the Western Conference, and what getting healthy means for OKC’s title hopes.

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Oklahoma

How Oklahoma GM Jim Nagy ‘Put More Around’ John Mateer During Offseason

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

How Oklahoma GM Jim Nagy ‘Put More Around’ John Mateer During Offseason

Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy experienced great success during his first year in Norman.

Nagy, who joined OU’s staff in February 2025, oversaw the Sooners’ scouting staff as Oklahoma reached the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019. He also helped OU sign a top-15 2026 recruiting class and land several key transfer portal players after the 2025 season.

Though the wins outweighed the losses in Nagy’s first year, the Sooners’ general manager knew that there was much to fortify during the offseason.

Oklahoma’s offense sputtered late in the season, as the Sooners scored fewer than 25 points in each of their last four games.

For Nagy, a major focus was surrounding OU quarterback John Mateer with quality talent.

“(We wanted to) just really put more around John Mateer,” Nagy said on The Dari Nowkhah Show on KREF on Friday.

Nagy and his scouting team added plenty of pieces from the portal that should elevate Oklahoma’s offense.

The Sooners signed three portal wideouts — Trell Harris (Virginia), Parker Livingstone (Texas) and Mackenzie Alleyne (Washington State) — after the 2025 season to join returning receivers Isaiah Sategna, Jer’Michael Carter and Jacob Jordan.

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Sategna, who transferred to OU from Arkansas after the 2024 season, served as Mateer’s safety net in 2025. The receiver finished the year with 965 yards and eight touchdowns on 67 catches.

Harris and Livingstone are both proven producers at the Power Four level, and Nagy believes that those two will make OU’s receiving corps stronger in 2026.

“Those two, we’re very excited about both of those guys,” Nagy said.

Nagy also did plenty of work to ensure that OU’s run game improves in 2026.

The Sooners added three tight ends — Hayden Hansen (Florida), Rocky Beers (Colorado State) and Jack Van Dorselaer (Tennessee) — from the portal. They also added three transfer offensive linemen: Caleb Nitta (Western Kentucky), E’Marion Harris (Arkansas) and Peyton Joseph (Georgia Tech).

OU will have its two top running backs from the 2025 squad, Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock, back in 2026.

For those two to reach their full potential, the Sooners’ blockers will have to regularly open up running lanes — and Nagy is confident that they will.

“We have to run the ball better, there’s no way around that,” Nagy said. “Our job is to create more competition in every room in the offseason. I feel like we’ve done that.”

On the show, Nagy revealed that the Sooners added nearly 9,000 collegiate snaps to their roster during the offseason.

The general manager believes that both sides of the ball will be stronger as a result of his scouting team’s offseason efforts and their collaboration with OU’s coaching staff.

“I’ve tried to be really intentional with our communication,” Nagy said. “There’s a common goal: We’re trying to win a national championship. This is a true partnership, and we all have the same goal in mind. It’s going to continue to evolve and get better.”

Oklahoma will open its 2026 season against UTEP on Sept. 5.

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