Oklahoma
Scouting report: 3 keys for Cincinnati Bearcats to close with a road win at Oklahoma State
Cincinnati Bearcats coach Wes Miller unhappy after Senior Night loss
Cincinnati Bearcats coach Wes Miller unhappy after Senior Night loss to Kansas 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
The Oklahoma State Cowboys and the USC Upstate Spartans meet in the first game of the Tuscaloosa Regional on Friday.
The Cowboys (37-20) and the Spartans (33-28) have never met on the diamond. Both enter the game on hot streaks. Oklahoma State didn’t win the Big 12 Tournament, but the Cowboys have won 11 of their last 14 games. The Spartans won the Big South Conference Tournament champions and have won 14 of their last 16 games.
The game is the first of two in Tuscaloosa. The second game features the host school, Alabama, facing Alabama State. The winners of the first two games will meet Saturday for a trip to the regional final on Sunday.
Oklahoma State fans can keep up with the game here, including lineups and inning by inning details on the game. Check out Oklahoma State On SI’s NCAA Tournament Central for everything related to the Tuscaloosa Regional.
Game Details
Oklahoma State vs. USC Upstate
Time: 1 p.m. central
TV: ESPN+ (Derek Jones & Jared Mitchell on the call). NOTE: TV is subject to change without notice. Game times and TV for games played after Friday will be announced.
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network & The Varsity Network App/93.7 KSPI-FM or okla.state/GetVarsity (Rex Holt on the call)
OSU Batting Order
The batting order for Friday’s game will be posted here when it is released by the team.
Tuscaloosa Regional
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. Venue: Sewell-Thomas Stadium (5,867).
Friday’s Games
Game 1: USC Upstate vs. Oklahoma State, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Game 2: Alabama State vs. Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Saturday’s Games
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, TBA (elimination game)
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, TBA (advances to Sunday’s final)
Sunday’s Games
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 (elimination game)
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5
Monday’s Game
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary)
(Times subject to change for TV purposes)
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Brent Swadley, owner of Swadley’s Bar-B-Q, found guilty in fraud trial
A jury convicted Brent Swadley of fraud for inflating invoices involving Oklahoma state park restaurants.
A jury convicted Brent Swadley, owner of a string of popular Oklahoma barbecue restaurants, at his fraud trial and chose prison time as his punishment.
The 12 jurors reached their unanimous verdict Thursday, May 28, in a felony case that focused on Swadley’s inflated bills for the renovation and operation of restaurants at six state parks.
Jurors found Swadley, 55, guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the state and all five counts of presenting fraudulent claims to the state.
They chose five years in prison and a $25,000 fine as his punishment for the conspiracy. They agreed on one year in prison and a $10,000 fine as punishment on each fraudulent claims count.
Oklahoma County District Judge Susan Stallings could order Swadley to serve the time back to back for a total of 10 years.
Jurors voted for the maximum fines but showed leniency on prison time. Jurors could have chosen prison sentences totaling 20 years.
Sheriff’s deputies led Swadley from the courtroom in handcuffs to be taken to jail. Formal sentencing was set for July 16.
His defense attorney, David Smith, said, “We are not done fighting.”
Still to be decided by the judge is restitution. Prosecutors said Swadley defrauded the state of at least $3.1 million.
The owner of Swadley’s Bar-B-Q did not testify at his trial but has been outspoken in the past that he is innocent.
“The state attorney general … is pushing a false, politically motivated narrative accusing us of purposely misleading the government. Nothing could be further from the truth,” he wrote in an open letter to Oklahomans in 2024 after he was indicted.
Jurors took only 90 minutes to reach their verdict. “It was pretty easy,” one juror told prosecutors afterward.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who is running for governor, told reporters outside the courtroom that the case was never political.
“Mr. Swadley broke the law. His arrogance has been illustrated for the last four years, and I’m very happy that justice has been done,” Drummond said.
Swadley trial ends in guilty verdict, AG Drummond ‘proud’ of prosecution
A jury unanimously found Brent Swadley guilty of defrauding the state, sentencing him to five years in prison and $25,000 fine.
“I think we in state government have a tendency to trust Oklahomans,” he added. “I think it’s a lesson for state actors. We need to not trust as we have before.”
In a news release, the attorney general said, “Today is a win for Oklahoma and for the rule of law.”
Swadley signed a contract with the state in March 2020 to remodel and operate state park restaurants. The agreement was finalized weeks before COVID-19 shutdowns began across the world.
Swadley went ahead with the remodeling, completing work at four of the parks in months. His restaurants became a huge hit as Oklahomans spent more time outdoors because of the pandemic.
Jurors heard testimony that many of the invoices sent to the state for reimbursement of construction and other costs were marked up. Some were inflated as much as 300%.Swadley operated the state park restaurants under the company name Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen. The last one opened in 2022.
The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department in April 2022 canceled its contract with Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen due to “suspected fraudulent activity and questionable business practices.”Much of the testimony centered around meat smokers sold to the state in 2021. The cancelation of the contracts came after tourism officials learned the smokers were used.
Swadley put the smokers in at Robbers Cave State Park and Quartz Mountain State Park. They had been in storage after he removed them from a Swadley’s Bar-B-Q in Ardmore.
He paid $23,680 each for the smokers in 2018, according to evidence in the case. He billed the state $51,346 each for the smokers in 2021.
A restaurant supplier testified at trial that he faked paperwork that Swadley used to support the bill to the state. “He told me to make them as expensive as I could,” Mike McWhorter told jurors.
Swadley’s defense attorneys maintained at trial that it was an understood standard business practice to inflate invoices.
“Their case is − and this is no joke − Brent Swadley was supposed to do all of this construction work and not make a dime,” Smith told jurors in his closing argument.
The attorney said Swadley became the fall guy for a mess created by Jerry Winchester, the executive director of the Tourism Department at the time, and Gino DeMarco, the deputy director.
Smith argued that Winchester knew the smokers were used and lied at trial. Winchester told jurors he thought the state was buying brand new smokers.
The defense attorney also told jurors, “What we’ve got here is a paperwork dispute, not fraud.”
Prosecutors told jurors Brent Swadley was greedy and had said the state contract might save his business during the pandemic.
“Brent Swadley believes the rules do not apply to him,” Assistant Attorney General McKenzie McMahan said in his closing argument.
The key witnesses against Swadley were former employees.
His former vice president, Curtis Breuklander, and former chief operating officer, Tim Hooper, testified invoices were marked up at Swadley’s direction.
Breuklander, 51, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count and four of the fraudulent claim counts. “I did all of this at the direction of Brent Swadley,” he said in his plea paperwork.
Under a deal with prosecutors, Breuklander was sentenced to probation for 10 years. He stopped working for Swadley in September 2021.
Hooper, 57, also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count. He pleaded guilty to one fraudulent claim count and no contest to another fraudulent claim count.
Under his deal, Hooper was put on probation for five years. He was fired by Swadley in 2023.
Under the state contract, Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen was reimbursed for the costs of improvements to the restaurants, up to a limit. The state also covered the company’s operating losses, at first up to $1 million a year and later up to $2,116,900 a year.
The state further paid the company management fees, at first $571,808 per year and later $1,332,000 per year.
Swadley is expected to appeal. His defense attorneys are expected to complain about the judge’s refusal to let two expert witnesses testify at trial.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
The roof of a home in Oklahoma City collapsed following a fire early Thursday morning, according to firefighters.
The Oklahoma City Fire Department says firefighters were called around 2 a.m. to the scene of a fire at a home near Southeast 29th Street and South Shields Boulevard.
After arriving at the scene, firefighters reported flames coming from the home and serious structural damage, including the roof, which had collapsed due to the fire.
Additionally, OKCFD reported this was not the first emergency services response to the home, with a call for medical services being placed to the same address only a few hours earlier.
“We know that earlier today, they’d made a medical call over here,” OKCFD Battalion Chief Greg Lindsay said. “Somebody was staying in that building, so we’re being extra careful to check and make sure that everybody got out.”
No injuries were reported. Fire investigators believe the cause was related to a cooking incident.
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