December 4, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 8

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4 December 4, 2021 Sports in the second half. OSU vs. Wichita State men’s basketball: Three takeaways On a night where little things matter, those stand out, even when an offensive funk from Cowboys’ loss against the Shockers appears to end. “He scored,” Boynton said. Jacob Unruh, The Oklaho- ton said. “But that was us to- Wichita State coach Isaac find the right mix of players to Boynton believes that, too. “He’s a scorer. He had six turn- man day. It needs to be addressed Brown watched the film of help solve the zone issues. But “Coach B and them, they overs too, though. If you’re go- and guys have to own what OSU’s loss to Oakland, when the rotations shortened with put together a great gameplan ing to be a guy that handles the STILLWATER — Oklahoma happened tonight. There’s no the zone defense first befud- the bench struggling. for zones,” OSU senior Isaac ball that much — I’m curious two ways about it.” dled the Cowboys. Only five substitutes played Likekele said. “It’s down to us to go back and see how many of State coach Mike Boynton his turnovers led to points, be- doesn’t want to overreact. So what exactly happened? He then watched five other — with Kalib Boone the lone to execute. It works. “We’re not utilizing what cause you kind of offset some Wednesday’s 60-51 loss to The Cowboys (6-2) had too games — all OSU wins — and player to have a positive in of your scoring if you’re also Wichita State hurts, though. we need to get the ball to the many self-inflicted wounds. noticed little zone defense. plus-minus — and they com- spots we want to. We gotta be turning the ball over. And not just because it was an- They committed 21 turnovers. “It kept going through my bined to score just 12 points. “I’m proud he looked confi- other confounding defeat eight basketball players and just be They shot just 9 of 19 from the head, ‘There’s no way I’m going “We didn’t really have all the better, because they got us in dent out there trying to score, games into the season. free-throw line. to sit here and play these guys options available to us that we but there is a balance to this Boynton’s Cowboys were the right positions.” And in the final 2 minutes man-to-man all night,’” Brown normally do,” Boynton said. Mr. Anderson’s night thing.” out-willed by the Shockers. and 53 seconds, they went said. That led to the Cowboys try- OSU guard Avery Anderson However, Anderson’s turn- “It’s obviously hurtful to lose but it’s more hurtful to lose scoreless. Wichita State closed The Shockers did not play ing to do too much. III’s slow offensive start finally overs led to just one Shockers when you lose to your own on an 8-0 run as the Cowboys man-to-man defense all night. For example, several turn- found a bright spot. He looked point on the following posses- identity,” Boynton said. “I’ve turned the ball over three They mixed it up, leaning heav- overs were on long, cross-court more like the scorer he was last sion. tried to build this program on times and missed seven shots. ily on a zone while also mixing pass attempts. season. Ice freezes Etienne, but toughness and resiliency and OSU was simply trying to do in other looks. “Guys try to do too much,” But it wasn’t perfect. Council too hot tonight it was — without the too much. It was the zone that was Boynton said. “But also we Anderson scored a season- Likekele’s focus was Wichita benefit of looking at the film “Sometimes you get guys most troubling for the Cow- tried too hard tonight to force high 17 points. He hit a wide- open 3 from the corner to open State star Tyson Etienne, who — obviously we did a lot of pressing to make plays while boys. the tempo and a couple of our turnovers were just reckless the game that boosted his con- entered the game averaging things wrong physically, but they’re out there,” Boynton The offense stagnated, fail- trying to play faster than we fidence. He later hit a deep 3 nearly 19 points per game. I think their will was a little said, “and I think that hap- ing to hold 10-0 runs to start needed to at the time.” from the OSU logo. There is no way Etienne for- greater than ours tonight.” pened tonight.” the game and second half. But breaking the zone is ulti- “I just wanted to keep it go- gets Likekele, either. And that’s a problem Boyn- Here are three takeaways Shots didn’t fall. Bad decisions mately up to the players. ing,” Anderson said. Likekele face-guarded him ton wants to stop in its tracks. from the loss: followed. Brown said OSU has the There were just six turnovers each time they were on the “That hasn’t been us,” Boyn- Out of the zone again Boynton said he needs to tools to solve their issues. from Anderson, including five floor together, at one point even preventing him from getting the ball and upset- ting Wichita State coach Isaac Porter Moser delivers first statement win at OU by defeating Florida Brown to the point he pulled Etienne aside and demonstrat- ed a few options to try the next Justin Martinez, The Okla- Gators, and Jalen Hill helped in 15 points. porters. graduate student then stole time. homan make it happen. “I just wanted to finish out OU started the game on a 9-0 the ball from Goldwire on the Likekele still never let up. OU held a 63-56 lead with the game and give our fans a run, which came as a welcomed ensuing inbounds pass and Etienne scored just five NORMAN — Lon Kruger 5:17 left in the game when the W,” Hill said. “I pretty much sight. The Sooners haven’t had fed Anthony Duruji for a one- points and made 2 of 7 shots. said it best. junior forward gathered a pass tried to take care of the ball the best of starts this season, “It was definitely a good Oklahoma held a one-point on the perimeter. Hill used a and hit free throws without but they also haven’t played in handed slam. challenge,” Likekele said. “That lead at halftime of its game burst of speed to dust Florida’s dumb and silly fouls or turn- front of a home crowd like the Fleming Jr. finished the pretty much was my main fo- against No. 14-ranked Florida Phlandrous Fleming Jr. before overs. I was just being smart one on Wednesday. first half with a game-high 14 cus for the night.” on Wednesday, and the Soon- soaring through the air for a and knew it was time to score.” Before the Florida game, OU points, and his second-unit But even the Shockers over- ers got some words of encour- one-handed dunk that nearly Here are three takeaways only averaged 5,933 fans in spark kept Florida afloat. The came that. agement from a program leg- took the roof off the place. from the contest: its other three home contests Gators tallied 16 bench points Ricky Council IV scored 17 end. The referee’s whistle could Homecourt advantage is a where the attendance was re- points, making 3 of 3 3-point- OU used the break in the ac- barely be heard when Florida real thing corded. Lloyd Noble Center has compared to the Sooners’ 2 ers. He scored 12 points in the tion to honor Lon Kruger, who burned a timeout, but even the Jordan Goldwire is a man of a maximum capacity of rough- entering halftime and only fourth quarter. retired in March after coaching brief break couldn’t cool off the people. ly 11,500 seats. trailed 37-36 as a result. That forced Likekele to make the team from 2011-21. OU as it went on to earn the The 9,539 spectators at “The fans were amazing,” The second half proved to be Lloyd Noble Center were dy- Groves said. “They were a huge a switch late in the game. But Kruger thanked the crowd at “big-boy” win. more of the same. Florida went Lloyd Noble Center for the love “Our hard work, it’s adding ing to erupt once OU tipped off momentum shift for us... If by then, there was no slowing on to win the bench-points down Council, who played 29 and support he received during up,” Moser said. “Young peo- against Florida, and Goldwire a lot of them weren’t there, I his time with the Sooners, and ple, they have to buy into cer- fed into the frenzy. don’t think we would have won battle 19-6. minutes off the bench. he also recognized the impor- tain things. I think these guys Gators forward Colin Castle- that game.” OU has struggled to get scor- Council hit a pull-up jumper tance of Wednesday’s contest. are believing in what they are ton drew a double team in the Sooners need more bench ing production out of its sup- over Likekele, who defended “This is a big-boy game,” Kru- doing... They are getting excit- paint on the opening play, and production well, for a 54-51 lead with porting cast. The Sooners av- 1:54 remaining. After a Bryce ger said. ed about it.” Goldwire stole a kick-out pass Florida needed a spark. eraged 29.8 bench points per Kruger was right. Hill scored nine of the Soon- by the big man before racing The Gators trailed 9-0 with Thompson miss, Council hit a game through their first four layup with a great move to get First-year Sooners head ers’ final 11 points and finished down the court. He then sank 16:09 on the clock when Flem- coach Porter Moser and his with 18 points. Tanner Groves a floater for the first bucket of ing Jr. came off the bench and contests, but that average is past Likekele. squad delivered a statement by added a game-high 20 points, the night, which sparked an got his team on the board with down to 12.5 in their last four “He’s a high talent,” Likekele earning a 74-67 win over the while Umoja Gibson chipped uproar from the Sooner sup- a pair of made free throws. The games. said. “He did good tonight.” The Graham Jam Young Guns Shine, but Rockets Extend Thunder Skid By Graham Dudley With Derrick Favors, Kenrich the bench for 17 apiece. Mann attempts. The schedule itself is another Williams and Mike Muscala all added seven rebounds, and Roby After the game, Thunder head easy answer. While Oklahoma ruled out of Monday night's had five. coach Mark Daigneault said the City's four-game November game against the Houston "Just trying to affect the game team can't get discouraged by its winning streak included teams Rockets with various ailments, any way I can," Mann said after poor shooting. like Sacramento, San Antonio the Oklahoma City Thunder the contest. "The coaches told "An open 3, I think you have and New Orleans, its losing skid were able to give more run to me that's how I'm going to earn to be OK with," Daigneault said. has featured many excellent more bench players during the playing time — getting loose "Obviously, tonight was a tough Eastern Conference teams like contest. balls, getting rebounds, and shooting night, but we can't let it Brooklyn, Miami and Paul Watson Jr. was one ben- doing some dirty work. ... So drain our energy. We can't let it Milwaukee. eficiary of the team's limited ros- that's been my mindset since dip into the things we can con- Oklahoma City even caught ter, making his season debut on they told me that." trol." Houston at a bad time; though Monday night. Watson is on a "My teammates put me in a The Thunder are now 6-14 on the Rockets are just 4-16 for the two-way contract with lot of good positions," Roby said the season and have completed year, Monday's win was some- Oklahoma City, meaning he will of his night. "Shai found me a nearly one-quarter of their sched- how their third in a row. split the season between the couple times, (Josh) Giddey ule. The Thunder won't have time Thunder and their minor-league found me a couple times. They What's behind the team's to brood. They return to the club, the Blue. But Watson's made my job really easy." recent rough patch? After all, court on Wednesday night, Dec. debut proved anticlimactic, as They were the only other play- Oklahoma City started 1, against the same Rockets the 26-year-old scored zero ers to score more than seven November hot before dropping team in Oklahoma City. Then points in 20 minutes of game points, as the Thunder struggled eight of its last nine ballgames. they'll turn around and travel to action. from behind the arc and dropped One factor was the two-game Memphis on Thursday for a 7 The real stars Monday were their sixth straight game, 102- absence of Gilgeous-Alexander, p.m. tip against the Grizzlies, Tre Mann and Isaiah Roby, two 89. Oklahoma City's 3-point OKC's best player, due to a right who will be missing star guard young players who have spent shooting, a weak link all season ankle sprain. The Thunder actu- Ja Morant. time with the Blue this season, as long, was especially futile on ally competed well without SGA, Both games mark a prime Oklahoma City Thunder guard Tre Mann well. Though Shai Gilgeous- Monday. It went 7 for 43 from especially in a nail-biter versus opportunity to snap the losing shoots a 3-point basket over Sacramento Alexander led the team with 22 deep, or just 16.3%, while Utah on Thanksgiving Eve, but skid. Enjoy them and, until next Kings guard Buddy Hield. Photo: Alonzo points, Mann and Roby came off Houston hit 32.6% on 46 ended up losing both games. week, Thunder Up! Adams-USA TODAY Sports