LINK: https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...-nonconference-games-later-in-regular-season/
No. 24 Oklahoma ended No. 9 Alabama's 10-game winning streak by pulling off a 66-61 home victory despite not having starter Austin Reaves and reserve Alondes Williams, both of whom sat due to COVID-19 protocol. The Sooners locked down Bama, preventing the Tide from hitting a field goal in the final four-plus minutes of the game -- a feat no other team may duplicate against Nate Oats' squad this season. Oklahoma's win, according to ESPN's research, marks the first time since 1974 that a team can claim four regular-season wins against top-10 foes in the same month. OU already beat Kansas, Texas and West Virginia in January, the former two immediately preceding Saturday's Tide takedown.
It's easy to overlook this Sooners team, but within the context of this season -- and the perspective of the past decade -- the Sooners are due much more recognition. Do you realize that Lon Kruger's had an NCAA Tournament team all but two seasons since he arrived a decade ago? It's no surprise why OU doesn't receive more love. Unless Buddy Hield is winning Player of the Year or Trae Young is winning Freshman of the Year, the Sooners get lost in the shuffle. Maybe that changes this season. I caught up with Oklahoma assistant Carlin Hartman (a rising star who should be running a program of his own soon enough) to get more insight on what's happening.
"Every couple of of years you're going to get a really good, program-changing type of player, but for the most part we've done it with guys that are maybe under the radar," Hartman said. "But anyone that comes to our program is going to be someone who fits the mold of the university. I think that's where the consistency comes in. Recruiting the right guys and once they get here they know that it's just not about the two hours that we have within the practice time we spend. We recruit guys that love the game, love the process, that get in the extra time on their own. This is probably the best collective of guys we've had since the Final Four run."
And it's mostly transfers and lower-rated players dating back to their high school days. Oklahoma's highest-rated former recruit is De'Vion Harmon, who was the 47th-ranked player in the 247 Composite for the class of 2019. This team is good enough to be a Final Four dark horse.
No team can claim a better three-game streak this season than what OU just did: vs. No. 15 Kansas, at No. 5 Texas, vs. No. 9 Alabama. The Sooners are in the midst of a gauntlet. A road tilt vs. Texas Tech awaits on Monday, then Baylor, West Virginia and a Tech rematch come between Feb. 10-16.
"We do not talk about it," Hartman said about this hellish stretch. "Coach Kruger doesn't even allow you to think beyond the moment. He so good and so calm and all about our guys getting better every single day."
Kruger is so quiet that it makes it too convenient to overlook him and this program. Kansas is the Big 12 blue blood. Baylor might be the best team in the sport this season. West Virginia is coached by Bob Huggins. Texas Tech made the most recent national championship game with stock-riser Chris Beard. Texas and Shaka Smart are an easy sell. And even Oklahoma State has the potential No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft. Oklahoma gets lost in the mix.
"I don't know if he'll ever truly get his just due, but because he's so unassuming and he doesn't want the fanfare and doesn't ask for it, we're going to be a program that flies under the radar," Hartman said.
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WINNER: SHORT HANDED SOONERS SHOW UP VS. ALABAMA:
Oklahoma ordered a win Saturday with a healthy side of history, defeating No. 9 Alabama 66-61 and, in the process, becoming just the third team ever to record four regular-season wins over top-10 opponents in the same month. The impressive win came without leading scorer Austin Reaves, capping a month in which the Sooners (11-4) defeated No. 9 West Virginia, No. 9 Kansas, No. 9 Alabama and No. 5 Texas all within a 28-day window.
Don't look now, but OU suddenly looks like the most serious threat to Baylor (if there is one!) in the Big 12. And a warning in advance: Good luck if you're ranked No. 9 and playing the Sooners.
No. 24 Oklahoma ended No. 9 Alabama's 10-game winning streak by pulling off a 66-61 home victory despite not having starter Austin Reaves and reserve Alondes Williams, both of whom sat due to COVID-19 protocol. The Sooners locked down Bama, preventing the Tide from hitting a field goal in the final four-plus minutes of the game -- a feat no other team may duplicate against Nate Oats' squad this season. Oklahoma's win, according to ESPN's research, marks the first time since 1974 that a team can claim four regular-season wins against top-10 foes in the same month. OU already beat Kansas, Texas and West Virginia in January, the former two immediately preceding Saturday's Tide takedown.
It's easy to overlook this Sooners team, but within the context of this season -- and the perspective of the past decade -- the Sooners are due much more recognition. Do you realize that Lon Kruger's had an NCAA Tournament team all but two seasons since he arrived a decade ago? It's no surprise why OU doesn't receive more love. Unless Buddy Hield is winning Player of the Year or Trae Young is winning Freshman of the Year, the Sooners get lost in the shuffle. Maybe that changes this season. I caught up with Oklahoma assistant Carlin Hartman (a rising star who should be running a program of his own soon enough) to get more insight on what's happening.
"Every couple of of years you're going to get a really good, program-changing type of player, but for the most part we've done it with guys that are maybe under the radar," Hartman said. "But anyone that comes to our program is going to be someone who fits the mold of the university. I think that's where the consistency comes in. Recruiting the right guys and once they get here they know that it's just not about the two hours that we have within the practice time we spend. We recruit guys that love the game, love the process, that get in the extra time on their own. This is probably the best collective of guys we've had since the Final Four run."
And it's mostly transfers and lower-rated players dating back to their high school days. Oklahoma's highest-rated former recruit is De'Vion Harmon, who was the 47th-ranked player in the 247 Composite for the class of 2019. This team is good enough to be a Final Four dark horse.
No team can claim a better three-game streak this season than what OU just did: vs. No. 15 Kansas, at No. 5 Texas, vs. No. 9 Alabama. The Sooners are in the midst of a gauntlet. A road tilt vs. Texas Tech awaits on Monday, then Baylor, West Virginia and a Tech rematch come between Feb. 10-16.
"We do not talk about it," Hartman said about this hellish stretch. "Coach Kruger doesn't even allow you to think beyond the moment. He so good and so calm and all about our guys getting better every single day."
Kruger is so quiet that it makes it too convenient to overlook him and this program. Kansas is the Big 12 blue blood. Baylor might be the best team in the sport this season. West Virginia is coached by Bob Huggins. Texas Tech made the most recent national championship game with stock-riser Chris Beard. Texas and Shaka Smart are an easy sell. And even Oklahoma State has the potential No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft. Oklahoma gets lost in the mix.
"I don't know if he'll ever truly get his just due, but because he's so unassuming and he doesn't want the fanfare and doesn't ask for it, we're going to be a program that flies under the radar," Hartman said.
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WINNER: SHORT HANDED SOONERS SHOW UP VS. ALABAMA:
Oklahoma ordered a win Saturday with a healthy side of history, defeating No. 9 Alabama 66-61 and, in the process, becoming just the third team ever to record four regular-season wins over top-10 opponents in the same month. The impressive win came without leading scorer Austin Reaves, capping a month in which the Sooners (11-4) defeated No. 9 West Virginia, No. 9 Kansas, No. 9 Alabama and No. 5 Texas all within a 28-day window.
Don't look now, but OU suddenly looks like the most serious threat to Baylor (if there is one!) in the Big 12. And a warning in advance: Good luck if you're ranked No. 9 and playing the Sooners.
