Regardless of how you feel, this was one cool scene this evening at LNC:
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Two very different reactions to the same piece of news as Oklahoma found out 5:12 p.m. CST Sunday evening that it was indeed in the NCAA Tournament.
On one hand, you had senior Khadeem Lattin. Known for his emotion, Lattin wasn’t afraid to voice his excitement and mob his teammates at a gathering at Lloyd Noble Center.
At the other end of the row was freshman Trae Young. Subdued is the wrong word, but with his fists shaking and his head down, soaking in the moment.
“It was … I mean … words can’t describe,” Young said. “I was nervous. I was very anxious to see if our name was being called. I’ve been very comfortable throughout this whole process until the last minute and a half. But once they called our name, all my emotions just let go.”
Once OU found out it was in, was time to find out its dance partner. OU is the No. 10 seed in the Midwest region taking on No. 7 Rhode Island. The Sooners and Rams will meet 11:15 a.m. CST Thursday in Pittsburgh.
There was one sigh of relief making the bracket, and then almost the same type of excitement learning OU would not be headed to Dayton for the First Four games. With so many national experts predicting the Sooners would be among the First Four games, it’s a great sign for OU to not be going to Dayton.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Lattin said. “Up there just looking, N, O, OK, here we go. It was nerve-wracking for sure. I’m glad that we got to do it my senior year. I’m glad we’re in the tournament. But we’re not satisfied with that. We just need to be ready, ready for a good Rhode Island team.”
If you go back two months ago, nobody assumed the Sooners would be in this position. Once 14-2 overall and ranked No. 4 in the country, OU has seen better days.
The Sooners went 1-7 in February and bowed out in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament against Oklahoma State on Wednesday evening to conclude 4-11 in their last 15 games.
Upon hearing OU is in the tournament, announcer Charles Barkley said on the selection show special on TBS that he didn’t believe the Sooners deserved to be in the tournament and predicted a quick exit with a loss against the Rams.
“I know our team has a big chip on our shoulder,” said Young, who leads the nation in points per game and assists. “Me, personally, I have a tremendous chip on our shoulder. I’ll be ready to play.
“I hear a lot of things. Not a lot people think we should be in, which is fine. The people who make the decision think that we should be and that’s what matters.
“I think we’ll have a tremendous chip on our shoulder.”
OU is one of seven Big 12 teams to make the field with Oklahoma State and Baylor being two teams whose bubbles popped Sunday evening.
The selection show capped off OU’s awards banquet for the basketball team. Young was named the MVP, while junior Christian James was named the Most Improved player.
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Two very different reactions to the same piece of news as Oklahoma found out 5:12 p.m. CST Sunday evening that it was indeed in the NCAA Tournament.
On one hand, you had senior Khadeem Lattin. Known for his emotion, Lattin wasn’t afraid to voice his excitement and mob his teammates at a gathering at Lloyd Noble Center.
At the other end of the row was freshman Trae Young. Subdued is the wrong word, but with his fists shaking and his head down, soaking in the moment.
“It was … I mean … words can’t describe,” Young said. “I was nervous. I was very anxious to see if our name was being called. I’ve been very comfortable throughout this whole process until the last minute and a half. But once they called our name, all my emotions just let go.”
Once OU found out it was in, was time to find out its dance partner. OU is the No. 10 seed in the Midwest region taking on No. 7 Rhode Island. The Sooners and Rams will meet 11:15 a.m. CST Thursday in Pittsburgh.
There was one sigh of relief making the bracket, and then almost the same type of excitement learning OU would not be headed to Dayton for the First Four games. With so many national experts predicting the Sooners would be among the First Four games, it’s a great sign for OU to not be going to Dayton.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Lattin said. “Up there just looking, N, O, OK, here we go. It was nerve-wracking for sure. I’m glad that we got to do it my senior year. I’m glad we’re in the tournament. But we’re not satisfied with that. We just need to be ready, ready for a good Rhode Island team.”
If you go back two months ago, nobody assumed the Sooners would be in this position. Once 14-2 overall and ranked No. 4 in the country, OU has seen better days.
The Sooners went 1-7 in February and bowed out in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament against Oklahoma State on Wednesday evening to conclude 4-11 in their last 15 games.
Upon hearing OU is in the tournament, announcer Charles Barkley said on the selection show special on TBS that he didn’t believe the Sooners deserved to be in the tournament and predicted a quick exit with a loss against the Rams.
“I know our team has a big chip on our shoulder,” said Young, who leads the nation in points per game and assists. “Me, personally, I have a tremendous chip on our shoulder. I’ll be ready to play.
“I hear a lot of things. Not a lot people think we should be in, which is fine. The people who make the decision think that we should be and that’s what matters.
“I think we’ll have a tremendous chip on our shoulder.”
OU is one of seven Big 12 teams to make the field with Oklahoma State and Baylor being two teams whose bubbles popped Sunday evening.
The selection show capped off OU’s awards banquet for the basketball team. Young was named the MVP, while junior Christian James was named the Most Improved player.
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